Read Online Candidate (Selected Book 4) by Robin Roseau - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Robin Roseau
Tags: Fiction, Science-Fiction, Literature & Fiction, Gay & Lesbian, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Genre Fiction, Lesbian, Lgbt, Lesbian Fiction
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moment then inclined her head. "You do not offer for me to call you Andie?"
"No," I said. "Administrator, you told me I would be punished if I strayed from expectations. I do not wish to do so inadvertently."
"The visor will warn you," she replied. "You should now return to your cell. The visor will begin to guide you the moment you step from the locker room." She paused. "Did you enjoy your swim?"
"I would have enjoyed it more if I could have been a little less self conscious."
"As I said, I want you off balance. I will grow weary if you continue to harangue me."
I stared for a moment. "Will you tell me why you are treating me differently than past mating candidates?"
"Perhaps, but not right now. Return to your cell, Ms. Hayes."
I sighed. "Yes, Administrator."
She terminated the call. I turned to the entrance. The blue lights appeared in the air, and they were easy to follow. I retraced a portion of my steps, climbed into the elevator, and went down what felt a short distance. I stepped out of the elevator. The blue lights told me to turn left. I looked right, and everything was tinged in red.
At that point, I contemplated misbehaving. I stood still, wondering. Could I get free? I doubted it. I didn't have control of the elevator. I was pretty sure the Catseye could readily track me. The place was filled with guards to fulfill her bidding, both the humans who helped them as well as the aliens I'd seen.
I could make trouble, but I was absolutely convinced any rebellion I might make would be exceedingly short lived. And I had no doubt in my mind the Catseye would implement a far harsher punishment than I wished to accept.
I sighed and followed the blue lights. I passed down a corridor lined with cells, but when I glanced at each, they were empty. The lights turned left and stopped at one of the cells. It looked like any other.
I stepped up to it and stopped, and a moment later, a doorway appeared. I meekly stepped through, and when I turned around, the doorway was gone.
I was their meek prisoner, and it galled me I'd delivered myself right back into my own cell.
I looked around. I couldn't tell if it was the same cell. It looked the same, but they all looked the same. But there were no women across from me. Indeed, I hadn't seen a single person since leaving the pool.
I wondered about that. I knew the visor could show me what it wished. I wondered if it could hide things it wished to hide.
I decided thinking about that would drive me insane.
I sighed and sat on the bed, pulling my knees to my chest.
* * * *
Dinner was only a few minutes. I heard a noise, and then there was a chime and a voice that told me dinner had arrived.
I ate. I cleaned up. I sat back on the bed. A minute later, words appeared in front of me.
Initiating visor demonstration.
Those words stayed there for a few seconds, and then the visor began speaking to me. It gave me a tour of its capabilities. I had to say, I was impressed.
The demonstration completed, then more words appeared.
Some features are disabled.
Oh, of course they were. I wondered if the Catseye were teasing me, and she had only enabled the boring features. But after a moment, new words appeared.
If you wish to begin the tutorial, blink rapidly twice.
I read it twice, then quickly blinked twice. The words faded, and then the visor began teaching me how to use it.
* * * *
In the end, it wasn't hard. Composing a text message would take time. But the interface wasn't complicated.
Once the tutorial was over, I browsed through the features to see which were enabled. I looked for and found every feature I could remember from the demonstration, and I couldn't figure out what was disabled.
There was an email system. I poked my nose into it. I smiled and hit the button to compose an email. Then I tried to select a recipient.
There was no way to type someone's address. I could pick from the list of choices, and there were only two: Jasmine Brighteyes and Jessica Maple. I
"No," I said. "Administrator, you told me I would be punished if I strayed from expectations. I do not wish to do so inadvertently."
"The visor will warn you," she replied. "You should now return to your cell. The visor will begin to guide you the moment you step from the locker room." She paused. "Did you enjoy your swim?"
"I would have enjoyed it more if I could have been a little less self conscious."
"As I said, I want you off balance. I will grow weary if you continue to harangue me."
I stared for a moment. "Will you tell me why you are treating me differently than past mating candidates?"
"Perhaps, but not right now. Return to your cell, Ms. Hayes."
I sighed. "Yes, Administrator."
She terminated the call. I turned to the entrance. The blue lights appeared in the air, and they were easy to follow. I retraced a portion of my steps, climbed into the elevator, and went down what felt a short distance. I stepped out of the elevator. The blue lights told me to turn left. I looked right, and everything was tinged in red.
At that point, I contemplated misbehaving. I stood still, wondering. Could I get free? I doubted it. I didn't have control of the elevator. I was pretty sure the Catseye could readily track me. The place was filled with guards to fulfill her bidding, both the humans who helped them as well as the aliens I'd seen.
I could make trouble, but I was absolutely convinced any rebellion I might make would be exceedingly short lived. And I had no doubt in my mind the Catseye would implement a far harsher punishment than I wished to accept.
I sighed and followed the blue lights. I passed down a corridor lined with cells, but when I glanced at each, they were empty. The lights turned left and stopped at one of the cells. It looked like any other.
I stepped up to it and stopped, and a moment later, a doorway appeared. I meekly stepped through, and when I turned around, the doorway was gone.
I was their meek prisoner, and it galled me I'd delivered myself right back into my own cell.
I looked around. I couldn't tell if it was the same cell. It looked the same, but they all looked the same. But there were no women across from me. Indeed, I hadn't seen a single person since leaving the pool.
I wondered about that. I knew the visor could show me what it wished. I wondered if it could hide things it wished to hide.
I decided thinking about that would drive me insane.
I sighed and sat on the bed, pulling my knees to my chest.
* * * *
Dinner was only a few minutes. I heard a noise, and then there was a chime and a voice that told me dinner had arrived.
I ate. I cleaned up. I sat back on the bed. A minute later, words appeared in front of me.
Initiating visor demonstration.
Those words stayed there for a few seconds, and then the visor began speaking to me. It gave me a tour of its capabilities. I had to say, I was impressed.
The demonstration completed, then more words appeared.
Some features are disabled.
Oh, of course they were. I wondered if the Catseye were teasing me, and she had only enabled the boring features. But after a moment, new words appeared.
If you wish to begin the tutorial, blink rapidly twice.
I read it twice, then quickly blinked twice. The words faded, and then the visor began teaching me how to use it.
* * * *
In the end, it wasn't hard. Composing a text message would take time. But the interface wasn't complicated.
Once the tutorial was over, I browsed through the features to see which were enabled. I looked for and found every feature I could remember from the demonstration, and I couldn't figure out what was disabled.
There was an email system. I poked my nose into it. I smiled and hit the button to compose an email. Then I tried to select a recipient.
There was no way to type someone's address. I could pick from the list of choices, and there were only two: Jasmine Brighteyes and Jessica Maple. I
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