Chapter 8

Testing was ... interesting, at least from Kim’s perspective. She was still tied up and naked but could use her hands. Why she was still in that state, she didn’t know. The first test started with simple reading and writing. All recruits had to be able to do that at least, and she could conduct those without a problem.

They were simple, non-classified tests. After that, things started the breakdown. The VIs’ limitations became evident, and they had no centralized intelligence to moderate themselves. Medical protocols fought with research and training protocols. Each has its own VIs to manage them. None were true AIs and couldn’t leap to the next level.

Fortunately for the VIs, Private Isula stayed in the warehouse and was absent from her training. There wasn’t any notice that Isula wasn’t where she was supposed to be. The research VI noticed her in its territory and was gathering data on her actions when the need for human oversite was needed.

The relationship was strange. Technically the VIs were higher in rank than the human squad members. They were limited to the parameters set by the central intelligence, usually a human. They could monitor training, and they could even conduct it. The training VIs couldn’t develop the curriculum. Since the battle, the current trainees were treated as if they were on the weekend. Tasks were simple, cleaning the barracks, showing up for the morning parade, and getting their kits in order for inspection.

Left to her own devices, Isula was playing with the devices she had found in the warehouse. She left her uniform, including her footwear, near the door. She didn’t want her clothes to get in the way as she wandered utterly naked through the rows of crates. The Research VI was in the middle of running an experiment when the need for conflict resolution happened. The question it wanted to answer was what would Isula do when she found a maintenance bot had removed her clothes? Unfortunately, that question would have to wait till later.

“Private Isula!”

“Yes, sir?” She snapped to attention, dropping the gag she was examining.

“We require your presence in the testing lab. Report there at once.”

She turned to go back to the entrance to snag her clothes.

“At once, Private Isula!”

She went to the offices naked, giving the maintenance bots a chance to clean up behind her.

“Private Isula reporting!” She saluted quickly. The naked girl’s body was entirely on display, and she seemed to enjoy reporting to authority in that state.

Kim was waiting in her chair in the testing area when the door opened behind her. She turned and saw Isula slip in, “Hi Slave, did you miss me?”

“What are you doing here, private Isula? Why are you naked?”

“I’m not naked, see!” She held out her arms.

“You have a collar and some cuffs! You’re still naked.”

“Yes, wrist, ankle, and elbow cuffs, aren’t they sexy? And we have matching collars too. And matching blindfolds and gags, if we weren’t so different in height, I’d call us Sally and Cally!”

“Sally and Cally?” Kim shook her head to clear the confusion.

“Yeah, they’re the twins in the squad. No one can tell them apart.”

“But I don’t have the cuffs!”

“Let me fix that for you.” Kim was helpless to refuse as she was still bound. She found herself wearing steel cuffs that matched her collar. Each one has four D-rings on them, and each has a glowing LED flashing an ominous red.

“What are you doing here, private Isula?”

“Call me Slave 1789232, this collar has overwritten my ID.”

“You want me to call you Slave? You’re weird!”

“Oh yes. It’s better than Private Isula.”

Kim couldn’t seem to process what was going on. Why would the redhead want to wear those things? And now she was stuck in those cuffs too. Her fingers ran over the polished steel of the cuffs, trying to figure out where the seam was. But, unfortunately, those fingers explored the cuffs more than they should have, distracting Kim with the feeling of the cold metal.

“They’re not explosive, are they?”

“No, they aren’t, disappointing, isn’t it? They’re magnetic and shock.”

“Shock?”

“Yes, they should match the collar, and when the collar shocks you, the electricity should go all over your body.”

“How did you pass the psychological tests?”

Isula put her hands on her hips, “I’m perfectly fine! Besides, they always need infantry people. And it’s tough to get out of conscription. Unfortunately, not all of us are as lucky as you and get out of it like you did.”

“What do you mean? I want to serve. It’s a family tradition! How did I get out of it?”

“You got captured by slavers, of course! Silly!” The redhead was getting more and more excited, and Kim couldn’t understand why at all.

“That’s not a good way to get out of conscription. So where do you come from that that’s a good idea?”

“I’m from Deneb V.”

“The pleasure world ... They actually have kids there?”

“Of course they do, can’t have lots of adults without kids showing up.”

Kim looked to the ceiling and counted to ten under her breath. “Why. Are. You. Here. Isula ... Owww, owwww, owww ... Slave?”

“It works! I’ll have to tell the VI.”

“I recorded the events Slave 1789232. Thank you for aiding in the experiment.”

“It was my pleasure, Master Research VI.” The woman cooed.

Kim was trying to process this as she got back to her feet. The chain still bound her, and the complete body shock surprised her.

“What worked, slave?” She asked in a small voice.

“The VI was sure there was a simple voice processor built into the collar. If you’ve been told to use submissive and dominant names and you don’t, it’ll shock you. Since I told you to call me Slave 1789232, you can’t even call me Isula anymore without it shocking you.”

“Ughh, you’re insane! Why are you here?”

Isula pouted but still answered, “I was just looking in the research warehouse, and the VIs called me to resolve a conflict for your tests. They’re not good at that.”