Chapter 8: Diagnosis

Her lips were warm, her kiss soft and tender, but something about it made Dave’s skin prickle with unease. His mind raced as her small tongue slid against his, the taste of tomatoes and eggs lingering between them. Wait—he froze mid-kiss, pulling back just enough to break contact. How does she know my name? The question gnawed at him, growing louder and more insistent with every passing second. It wasn’t just that she could say it—it was that she shouldn’t know it at all. He hadn't told her his name before she started saying it...

He stared at her, his breath shallow, while Liki tilted her head innocently, her green eyes flecked with gold blinking up at him. “Dave?” she whispered, her voice soft and questioning, like she had done nothing wrong.

“Liki,” he said slowly, his voice trembling slightly. “How do you know my name?”

She blinked again, her expression blank, as if the question didn’t compute. Then, without warning, she leaned in again, her hands reaching for his shoulders. “Dave,” she repeated, her voice low and sultry this time, as if the word itself was a kind of seduction.

Dave’s heart pounded. This isn’t right. He gently but firmly took her by the wrists and lowered her hands. “Liki, stop for a second.”

She froze, her body tensing under his touch, and for a moment, she looked almost… scared. Her lips parted, but no sound came out.

“It’s okay,” Dave said, softening his tone. “I just need to figure something out.”

He scooped her up carefully, her small body light and delicate in his arms, and carried her into the living room. Setting her down on the couch, he grabbed the Wimil cubes from the corner shelf and handed them to her. “Here, play with these for a bit. I’ll be right back.”

Liki’s eyes lit up as soon as the cubes were in her hands, her earlier tension melting away. She immediately began stacking them, her movements quick and enthusiastic, almost frantic. Dave watched her for a moment, his stomach churning with unease. Her cubes make her even more excited than before the reboot. Is that normal?

He retreated to the kitchen, where his laptop was still open on the table. Sitting down, he quickly navigated back to the bio-hacker forum that had saved him before. His fingers flew across the keyboard as he searched for threads about Wimils who could talk or knew their owners’ names.

The results were sparse at first, but then he found it—a year old thread buried deep in the forum, titled “Wimil Glitches. Advanced ABI or Hidden Programming?” Dave knew a little about ABI, or Artificial Biological Intelligence. Scientists created ABI in animals by tweaking their neurons and genetically altering their brains somehow.

Dave clicked on it, his pulse quickening as he read the opening post:

> If your Wimil is displaying behavior outside its standard programming—such as speech, advanced problem-solving, or knowledge it shouldn’t have—you may be dealing with a rare prototype or a hack job. There have been rumors of underground labs producing Wimils with enhanced ABI, sometimes even overwriting standard settings. These Wimils are often sold on the black market or slipped into retail stores as “special editions.” Be careful, though—these models can be unpredictable and may require specialized maintenance.

Dave’s chest tightened as he scrolled further, the comments painting a disturbing picture. One user claimed their Wimil had developed “a form of emotional autonomy,” while another described a model that “figured out how to bypass its physical limitations.” A user who sounded clearly unhinged insisted that his sister's friend's Wimil "built a time machine and traveled to 50 years ago" to kill some guy Dave had never of. A post near the bottom caught his eye:

> If your Wimil seems to know things it shouldn’t—like your name or personal details—it’s possible it’s been programmed with preloaded data. Some of these enhanced Wimils are designed to mimic human behavior to a frightening degree, including forming extreme emotional attachments. It’s not clear if this is intentional or a side effect of the ABI, but it’s definitely not standard. Check for hidden settings or backups in the system.

Dave leaned back in his chair, his mind reeling. Preloaded data? Emotional attachments? He glanced over at Liki, who was now gleefully knocking down her tower of cubes, her laughter soft and melodic. She looked so innocent, so harmless—but what if she wasn’t?

He returned to the thread, scanning for more information. Another comment caught his attention:

> There’s a rumor that some advanced Wimils have a hidden admin panel in their lower back. If you press the right spot—usually near the base of the spine—and hold it down for 20 seconds, it’ll boot up a diagnostic mode. You might be able to see what’s really going on in there.

Dave’s eyes widened. Lower back? He remembered the button he’d found there before, the one that had triggered her reboot. Was there more to it than he realized? At least he knew how to complete the neural reboot if he accidentally triggered one again.

He hesitated, torn between his curiosity and his fear of what he might find. But he couldn’t ignore this—not when Liki’s behavior was so far outside the norm.

Closing the laptop, he stood and walked back into the living room. Liki looked up as he approached, her eyes bright and curious. “Dave?”

“Hey, Liki,” he said, trying to keep his tone calm. “I need to check something really quick. Can you turn around for me?”

She tilted her head, her expression puzzled, but she complied, spinning on the couch so her back was facing him. Dave knelt behind her, his hands trembling slightly as he reached for the hem of her hoodie.

“This won’t hurt,” he assured her, though he wasn’t sure if she understood. Or at least I hope it won't hurt, he thought to himself.

Pulling the fabric up slightly, he exposed the small of her back. His fingers brushed against her skin, searching for the spot he remembered. And then he felt it—the tiny, almost imperceptible indentation under her skin right next to her bio-port. Liki's thin pink tail swished from side to side, then wrapped around his forearm, teasing him.

Taking a deep breath, he pressed in the recessed button with a pen and held it down. Dave counted to twenty.

Liki gasped, her entire body briefly going rigid. Seconds later she recovered and looked around the room as though she needed to find something urgently. Before Dave could stop her, she sprang to the kitchen in a single bound, her cat-like grace on full display, where she grabbed a black marker from the clutter on the counter. She un-capped the marker and started scribbling (or was she writing?) on the wall. Dave quickly followed her to the kitchen.

"Are you writing something? You can write??" Dave gasped incredulously. "I've got paper, you know... you didn't need to write on the wall," he added.

Dave stared at what she'd written, his heart racing. Liki was writing what looked like unfamiliar codes and commands, but one line stood out clearly:

System Override: Active

Beneath it, in larger capital letters:

Warning: Unauthorized modifications detected. Admin access required.

Dave’s breath caught in his throat. Unauthorized modifications? What the hell had he gotten himself into?

He was about to reach for the marker when Liki suddenly turned around. She looked at Dave, then glanced at the marker and sniffed the end of it. She seemed shocked by its pungent chemical smell. She giggled, stuck out her tongue and sniffed it again.

Dave slowly grasped her shoulders. "Liki, are you ok?" he said.

Liki looked back at what she'd written on the wall, handed the marker to Dave and went to the living room where she started to enthusiastically play with her Wimil cubes again.

What the hell...

Chapter 9: Excursion

Dave stared at Liki, his mind racing. System Override: Active. What did that even mean? She was just happily playing with her cubes as if nothing had happened, but the cryptic message on the wall felt like a warning. He needed to clear his head, and maybe some fresh air would do them both good.

“Come on, Liki,” he said, trying to sound casual. “Let’s go for a walk.”

Liki perked up immediately, her green eyes sparkling with curiosity. She tilted her head and let out a soft purr of approval. Dave helped her into a pair of small white sneakers he’d bought her, their size comically tiny compared to his own shoes. She wiggled her toes and giggled, clearly delighted by the new sensation.

They stepped outside, the cool evening breeze brushing against their skin. Liki clung to Dave’s arm, her fingers lightly gripping his sleeve as they walked toward the park. The streets were mostly empty, the orange glow of the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the pavement.

When they arrived at the park, a group of children playing on the swings caught sight of Liki almost immediately. One of them pointed and shouted, “Mom, look! He’s got a Wimil! Can we get one too?”

The mother shot Dave an apologetic look, and he felt a pang of unease as the mother ushered her child away. But another child, a little girl with pigtails, ran up to Liki with wide eyes. “Aww, she's so cute!” the girl squealed.

Liki seemed intrigued by the children, her instincts kicking in as she crouched slightly, her tail swishing playfully. The kids laughed and began throwing and kicking a ball, which Liki also caught and kicked with surprising agility. Dave watched from a distance, a small smile tugging at his lips despite the lingering confusion in his mind.

As the sun dipped lower and the sky darkened, the children’s mother called them home. Liki waved goodbye with a soft mewl, her eyes following them until they disappeared from view. She looked up at Dave, her expression a mix of contentment and longing.

“Let’s head back,” Dave said, offering his hand.

Liki took it without hesitation, her small fingers interlacing with his as they began the walk home. The streets were quieter now, the only sounds the occasional hum of a passing vehicle and the distant chirping of crickets.

But as they turned down a darker, less crowded street, a figure emerged from the shadows. The man was large, his body riddled with obvious cybernetic implants that gleamed under the faint light of a nearby streetlamp. His movements were erratic, his eyes bloodshot and unfocused. He stumbled toward them, slurring his words, clearly high on something.

“Ey, you. Gimme all your credits,” the thug demanded, raising an elbow that ended in a glowing, plasma-powered forearm cannon.

Dave’s heart leaped into his throat. He instinctively stepped in front of Liki, shielding her with his body. “Alright, alright,” he said, trying to keep his voice steady. “I’ll send you everything I have. Just don’t hurt my Wimil.”

The thug squinted, confusion crossing his face. “What Wimil?” he muttered, looking around.

Dave glanced behind him, his stomach dropping when he realized Liki was gone. “Liki?” he called out, panic rising in his chest.

Before the thug could react, a blur of motion streaked from the shadows behind him. It was Liki. She launched herself upward with eerie precision. Landing on the thug’s shoulders, her thighs clamped around his head with surprising strength and the control of a dancer. His eyes widened in shock as he flailed, trying to aim his plasma thrower at her.

But Liki was faster. She grabbed his arm, her delicate fingers wrapping around the bulky cybernetic limb. With a strength that shouldn’t have been possible for someone her size, she forced his elbow downward until the glowing cannon was pointed directly at his own crotch.

“No! Wait—!” the thug screamed, but it was too late.

There was a blinding flash of light, followed by a sizzling sound. The thug collapsed to the ground, his body smoldering. Dave stared in stunned silence, his ears ringing from the blast.

Liki landed softly on the pavement, her expression calm and collected. She turned to Dave, tilting her head as if to ask, Are you okay?

Dave grabbed her hand, his pulse racing. “We need to go. Now.”

They ran, the sound of their footsteps echoing through the empty streets. Dave couldn’t stop glancing over his shoulder, half expecting more thugs to appear. Liki kept pace with him effortlessly, her small hand still gripping his.

When they finally reached his apartment, Dave slammed the door shut and slumped against it, trying to catch his breath as he slid to the floor. Liki stood in front of him, her green eyes wide and innocent. She reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair from his forehead, her touch feather-light.

“Liki,” Dave whispered, his voice trembling. “What are you?”

She smiled softly, her lips parting as if she were about to speak. But, instead, she leaned in, her nose brushing against his in a tender, cat-like gesture. Her breath was warm against his skin, her proximity making his heart race even faster than it already was.

Dave’s mind spun. System Override: Active. The message on the wall. Her strength. Her precision. None of it made sense, but one thing was clear: Liki was far more than a simple companion Wimil.

“Dave,” she murmured, her voice barely audible.

Before he could respond, she pressed her lips to his, her kiss soft yet insistent. His hands instinctively found her waist, pulling her closer as his mind struggled to process what was happening.

“Liki, we need to—” he started, but she silenced him with another kiss, her fingers tangling in his hair.

Their breathing grew heavy, the tension between them palpable. Dave’s thoughts were a jumble, but one thing was certain: whatever Liki was, she wasn’t just an ordinary Wimil. And as she deepened the kiss, her body pressing against his, Dave found it harder and harder to care about the technicalities.

Chapter 10: Acquiescence

Dave’s lips lingered on Liki’s for a few moments longer than he intended, the warmth of her body pressed against his making it hard to pull away. When he finally did, she let out a soft, contented purr, her green eyes flickering with something that felt very human. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but there was a depth to her gaze that went beyond what he expected to be the simple, programmed affection of a Wimil. Her kiss and closeness had a calming effect on his psyche, and he realized that the terrifying encounter they'd just been through was becoming secondary in his mind.

He picked her up and carried her to the couch, sitting down beside her. Liki curled up against him like a cat, her head resting on his thigh. She softly stroked his leg as they flipped through channels on the holoscreen. The news came on, the holographic anchor droning on about the Martian war, the homeless robot epidemic, and some new legislation about cybernetic enhancements. Dave felt his eyelids grow heavy, the monotony of the reports and Liki’s soothing presence lulling him into a drowsy state.

But then a new story flashed across the screen, and Dave’s attention snapped back. The anchor’s voice was serious as she reported on a Wimil recall, citing “unexpected behavioral anomalies” in certain models. Dave’s heart skipped a beat as he glanced down at Liki, who was blissfully unaware, her fingers still playing idly with the fabric of his jeans.

“Liki,” he said, his voice tense. She looked up at him, her ears twitching slightly at the tone of his voice. “Let’s check something, okay?”

He gently spun her around on the couch so that her feet were in his lap. Turning her foot over, he looked for the serial number etched into the soft skin on the bottom of her left foot. His fingers traced the tiny, glowing digits as he pulled out his phone, cross-referencing them with the list of recalled serial numbers on the news website.

Dave let out a long breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “You’re not on the list,” he murmured, more to himself than to her. Liki tilted her head, her expression curious but uncomprehending. He gave her a small, reassuring smile, but a flicker of unease still lingered in the back of his mind.

“Come on,” he said, standing and offering her his hand. “Let’s get you cleaned up before bed.”

Liki’s eyes lit up, and she took his hand, letting him lead her to the bathroom. He turned on the faucet, adjusting the temperature until the water was just right. While the tub filled, he helped her out of her clothes, starting with the “Kim Reaper” hoodie she’d been wearing since their walk in the park. She held up her arms obediently, her tail swishing with excitement as he pulled the fabric over her head.

Next were her panties, and Liki giggled as Dave tugged them down her slender legs. The sound was so endearing, so pure, that it almost made him forget for a moment that she wasn’t human. Almost. He couldn’t help but admire her as she stood there, naked and unselfconscious, her petite body a perfect blend of soft curves and delicate lines.

But then he noticed the scrapes on her thighs; small, but red and raw. They must have happened during her scuffle with the cyber-thug earlier. Guilt tugged at him as he gently ran his fingers over the marks, his touch feather-light.

“I’m sorry, Liki,” he murmured. “I should’ve been more careful. We won't take that path home again.”

She didn’t seem to mind, though. In fact, she leaned into his touch, her purr growing louder as he guided her into the warm water. She sank into the tub with a contented sigh, her tail flicking lazily in the water as Dave knelt beside her.

He grabbed a washcloth and began to gently clean her, starting with her arms and shoulders before moving down to her legs. His touch was careful as he cleaned her scraped thighs, his fingertips brushing against her skin in a way that made her shiver with pleasure.

“You’re such a good girl, Liki,” he said softly, not sure what else to say. But the way she looked at him—her eyes half-lidded, her lips parted slightly—made it clear that it was his touch she cared about, not his words.

As he moved the washcloth higher, a small moan escaped her, her body tensing ever so slightly. She clearly enjoyed having his hands near her womanhood, her reactions growing more pronounced the closer he got. Dave tried to focus on the task at hand, but it was hard to ignore the way she was looking at him, her gaze so intense, so full of longing.

Then, without warning, Liki reached out, her fingers closing around a tall, narrow bottle of shampoo. She held it out to Dave expectantly. Does she want me to wash her hair? Her tail thumped against the side of the tub as she leaned back, lifting her legs up and apart.

Dave blinked, his brain struggling to process what she was suggesting. Then it hit him, and he couldn’t help but burst into laughter, the sound echoing off the tiled walls.

“Liki, you’re a wanzing,” he said, shaking his head. His laughter wasn’t mocking—there was a warmth to it, a fondness that surprised even him. She was just so… herself, so unabashedly herself, and he was starting to find it endearing rather than concerning.

Liki tilted her head, her ears twitching as she studied him. Then, as if understanding that laughter was a good thing, she started to giggle too, the sound soft and melodic.

Before Dave could stop her, she was pushing the shampoo bottle into his hand again, her insistence bordering on comical. Her tail swished impatiently as she leaned back further, her legs parting even more, her gaze fixed on him with a mixture of mischief and longing.

“Liki, you’re impossible... this bottle is like, two inches wide! You can't take that, you little goofball,” he said, his voice tinged with amusement. But there was something else there too—something that made his heart race, his breath quicken. She was so close, so open, so wanting, and it was getting harder and harder to resist her. Her need was so genuine, that he felt bad for constantly denying her.

He hesitated for a moment, the bottle in his hand, the warmth of her body radiating toward him. Then, with a resigned sigh, he leaned closer, his fingers brushing against her inner thigh as he whispered, “Alright, you win.”

Chapter 11: Stimulation

"You win, but we're not using this," Dave said as he set the shampoo bottle on the edge of the tub, his heart pounding as he watched Liki’s expression shift from playful anticipation to mild disappointment. Her ears drooped slightly, her pink tail curling around her leg as if she were unsure of what he was planning. But then, as if sensing his next move, her eyes widened with curiosity—and something else. Something hungry.

He held up two fingers, his gaze locked on hers. Liki’s breath hitched, her lips parting as she let out a soft, almost imperceptible whimper. She understood. Her body tensed for a moment, then relaxed, her legs splaying open wider, her hips shifting slightly in the water to give him better access.

Dave’s fingers brushed her inner thigh, and she let out a tiny gasp, her tail twitching in anticipation. “Ok, settle down,” he murmured, though he wasn’t sure if he was calming her or himself.

Slowly, gently, he pressed his fingers against her entrance, feeling the warmth and wetness of her. She was already so ready for him, her body betraying just how much she wanted this. He pushed in, just a little at first, watching her reaction. Her eyes fluttered shut, her breath coming in short, shallow pants as she gripped the edge of the tub.

Her walls clenched around his fingers, and Dave let out a shaky breath of his own. She was so tight, so warm, and the way she responded to him... He began to move his fingers, slow and deliberate, curling them just enough to find a spot inside her that made her entire body tremble.

Liki’s reaction was immediate. Her back arched, her hips jerking up to meet his hand, and a low, throaty purr escaped her lips. Her tail lashed wildly under her, splashing water over the side of the tub as she clung to the edges, her knuckles white.

“Good girl,” Dave whispered, his voice thick with something he couldn’t quite name—lust, affection, maybe a little of both. He moved his fingers faster, his thumb brushing against her clit, and Liki let out a sharp cry, her body jerking violently in the water.

Liki stood up in the tub with Dave's fingers still inside her. Her hands flew to his shoulders, her nails digging into him as she climbed out of the bath, her legs wrapping around his waist. Liki's wet body soaked Dave's shirt and pants. She was kissing him before he even realized what was happening, her lips crashing against his with a feverish intensity. Her tongue slipped into his mouth, hot and demanding, and Dave groaned into the kiss, his free hand gripping her hip to steady her.

He could feel her getting closer, her body tightening around his fingers, her breath coming in ragged gasps against his lips. He pressed harder, faster, until she was practically writhing in his arms, her entire body trembling with the force of her pleasure.

When she finally came, it was with a sound that was half-moan, half-scream, her body clamping down on his fingers with an almost painful intensity. Her orgasm seemed to go on forever, her body jerking and shuddering in his arms as she clung to him, her nails digging into his back.

Dave’s fingers were still buried inside her when she finally collapsed back into the tub, her body limp and boneless, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. Water sloshed over the sides of the tub, soaking the floor, but neither of them seemed to care.

Dave sat back on his heels, his own heart racing as he stared down at her. Who the hell programmed her ABI to be this horny? he thought, half-amused, half-concerned.

Liki’s eyes fluttered open, her gaze finding his, and she smiled—a slow, satisfied smile. She reached up, her fingers brushing against his cheek, and he felt something lodge in his throat.

“Alright, let’s get you dried off,” he said, his voice rough.

Liki didn’t protest as he helped her out of the tub, her movements slow and languid, like a cat basking in the afterglow of a good nap. He wrapped a towel around her, rubbing her dry as she leaned into him, her head resting on his chest.

When he tried to hand her the fresh clothes he’d picked out for her, she shook her head, her tail swishing lazily. Instead, she held her arms up to him, her eyes pleading.

“Serious? You just want to stay naked tonight?” Dave said, but even as the words left his mouth, he was scooping her up, cradling her naked body against his chest. She nestled into him, her wet hair dampening his shirt, but he didn’t care.

He carried her to her Wimil bed in the corner of the living room, and carefully laid her down. She watched him with heavy-lidded eyes as he plugged the mnemonic uploader into the bio-port just above her tail. Her breathing slowed almost immediately, her body relaxing as she drifted off to sleep. Dave stood there for a moment, staring down at her, his mind racing. She was so… everything. He came to the gradual realization that it was no longer Liki’s behavior that concerned him the most. It was his own feelings for her that were scaring him now.

When he finally crawled into his own bed, he was exhausted, but sleep didn’t come easy. His mind kept replaying the feel of her around his fingers, the sound of her moans, the way she’d looked at him.

The next morning, he woke to the sound of clattering in the kitchen. For a moment, he thought he was dreaming—until Liki appeared in the doorway, holding a bowl of… something.

It was a mishmash of food, absolute culinary nonsense: toast slathered in peanut butter and mustard, cereal tossed on top like garnish, and a single, carefully-placed slice of cheese. It was sloppy, messy, and absolutely adorable.

She climbed onto the bed, her tail swishing behind her, and set the plate on his stomach. She was wearing one of his t-shirts—the one with the logo of Reno Numbers Channel, one of his favorite Skaggaeton bands. It was huge on her, the hem hanging down to her knees, a shoulder poking out the top, but she looked absolutely gorgeous.

Dave couldn’t help but laugh as he picked up the plate and eyed the strange toast combo. She knows how to use a toaster now? “Mmm, peanutmustardcheesecerealtoast. My favorite. Is this your way of saying thank you?”

Liki didn’t answer—she didn’t need to. Before he could stop her she disappeared under the covers, her movements quick and agile; a flash of limbs and tail and giggles. Somehow she was in his lap, her hands already tugging on the waistband of his boxers.

Dave groaned, his head falling back against the headboard. “Liki, seriously? You thought that breakfast in bed was going to distract me so much that I wouldn't notice you under there?”

Dave lifted the covers and peeked under at her. She looked up at him, her eyes wide and innocent, and let out a soft, almost imperceptible purr.

Damn it, he thought, his resolve crumbling as her fingers slipped under the fabric. Should I just let her have what she wants? I want it too, so why am I denying both of us?

Chapter 12: Seduction

Dave felt his stomach flutter as Liki’s fingers brushed against him under the covers. Her touch was tentative, curious, and maddeningly gentle. He reached down, his hand wrapping around her wrist to stop her. “Liki, I need to get up for work,” he said, his voice strained. She tilted her head, her green eyes flecked with gold staring up at him with an expression that was equal parts innocent and mischievous.

He sighed, reluctantly pulling her hand away. “You’re killin' me here, you know that?” he muttered, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. Liki let out a soft, almost imperceptible purr, as if she understood exactly what she was doing to him.

Dave headed to the shower, hoping the hot water would clear his head. But as he stepped under the spray, he heard the bathroom door creak open. He glanced over his shoulder to see Liki slipping into the room, her movements fluid and silent. She stood there for a moment, her eyes fixed on him, before she slipped his Reno Numbers Channel shirt over her head and stepped into the shower with him.

“Liki, what are you—” he started, but she cut him off by pressing her small, soft body against his. Her hands roamed over his chest, her touch warm and exploratory. Dave’s jaw tightened as he felt his body respond to her proximity, despite his best efforts to resist.

He tried to focus on the water cascading down his back, but Liki’s presence was impossible to ignore. Standing front to front, their wildly different heights put the tip of his erect manhood almost in the middle of her chest. Suddenly, her fingers wrapped around it, keeping him from turning away. Her expression was one of pure curiosity as she gripped him with both hands. “Liki,” he groaned, his voice hoarse. “You can’t just—”

She tilted her head, her eyes locking with his as she stepped closer, her body pressed against his. Almost defiantly, Liki gave his shaft a long, slow stroke with both hands and watched his face for a reaction. Dave tightened his hands on her shoulders, closing his eyes as he tilted his head back. Liki seemed satisfied by the reaction, and started to move her hands again, her grip getting tighter; still gentle, but firm. Dave’s resolve wavered as her hands continued to move up and down along his length, her touch sending sparks through his lower body. He reached out, his fingers tangling in her wet hair.

The steam from the shower surrounded them, the heat of the water mingling with the heat of their bodies. Dave’s hands moved down, roaming over the smooth skin of Liki’s shoulders and back, his touch growing more urgent as the intensity between them grew. Liki slowly opened her mouth as she pulled his erection toward her face with both hands. At that moment, the last thing he wanted in the world was to stop her, but couldn't let her continue. Reluctantly, he pulled away, his breathing heavy. His hard cock slid out of Liki’s soapy fingers, and she closed her mouth sadly.

“I have to get to work,” he said, his voice rough. Liki pouted, her lower lip jutting out in a way that made it almost impossible for him to say no. But he forced himself to step out of the shower, wrapping a towel around his waist as he headed back to the bedroom to get dressed, heart still pounding. Maybe you'll get me next time, Liki... in fact, I know you will. I'm just not strong enough.

Dressing for work felt like an eternity with Liki’s eyes on him the entire time. She watched him with an almost predatory focus, her gaze lingering on every movement. Dave tried to ignore her, but he could feel the heat of her stare, the way it made his skin prickle with awareness.

Finally, he was dressed and ready to go. Liki was still naked though, so he grabbed her pink hoodie off the floor, and held it over her head. She stuck her arms in the air, and she let Dave pull the hoodie down over her, until her round face appeared in the hood. He knelt down in front of Liki, his hands resting on her shoulders. “I’m going off to work, okay?” he said, his voice soft. She leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips before pulling away with a soft purr. He went out the front door. Looking back he saw Liki standing at the window watching him walk away. Her expression seemed blank, but she gave a small wave. Dave waved back.

The day at work was long and exhausting. Dave spent hours wrangling a dozen AIs on an important systems project, but progress was slow and frustrating. He attended a holo meeting with his bosses, their faces floating in the air in front of him as they discussed deadlines and deliverables. By the time lunch rolled around, he was ready for a break.

He met Savitha, a coworker, at a nearby café. They sat down with their food, and Savitha immediately leaned in, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “So, did you finally get that Wimil, like you said on Friday?” she asked, her voice teasing.

Dave nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Yeah, her name’s Liki. She’s… a real wanzing," he said, using the term that he'd heard some of the younger people around the office say lately.

Savitha raised an eyebrow. “A wanzing, huh? Did you get a Full, you dirty dog?”

"A Full size? Ha! I'm not a billionaire. Nah, I can only afford a Standard size. I saw some Fulls though when I was looking. Some of them cost over five million credits. Plus, Fulls needs so much more space, food, special maintenance, all that," said Dave.

"Oh, my cousin has a Mini. She's so fun to play with. We dress her up like a little doll, and she dances with us. Oh my god, when she first met my cousin's cat, the cat didn't like her, but like an hour later they were in love. They cuddled together and it was so cute... Anyway, tell me about your Standard... Liki?" Savitha said, leaning in.

Dave hesitated for a moment before launching into a description of Liki. He talked about her curiosity, her playfulness, the way she looked at him like he was the center of her world. As he spoke, he noticed a strange man in a hoodie sitting at a nearby table, his eyes flicking in their direction. Dave’s instincts prickled, but he brushed it off, focusing on his conversation with Savitha. Was the mystery surrounding Liki making him paranoid, or was he really being watched?

Savitha’s eyes lit up with excitement at Dave’s description of Liki. “Oh my god, she sounds adorable! You have to send me videos of her. I want to see her doing stuff! Does she do tricks or anything? Like, can she dance or do stuff around the house?”

Dave chuckled, shaking his head. “She’s not a robot dog, Savi. She’s like kinda… independent. But yeah, I can send you some clips. She’s pretty entertaining, even when she’s just doing her own thing.”

Savitha clapped her hands together, her enthusiasm contagious. “Yes, please! Send me anything. I need to see this little bachi. Does she have any favorite toys? Or does she just follow you around like a duckling?”

Dave smiled, thinking about Liki’s antics. “She’s definitely a follower. She’s always right there, watching me like I’m the most interesting thing in the world. It’s kind of unnerving, actually. But yeah, I got her those Wimil cubes and she loves them... no idea why though. She goes crazy with them. I’ll snap a holo-vid of her with them.”

Savitha leaned in, her voice lowering conspiratorially. “You’re not, like, teaching her to do anything… weird, are you? I’ve heard some people get… creative with their Wimils.”

Dave’s cheeks flushed, and he quickly shook his head. “No, no, nothing like that. She’s got her own personality, and I’m just along for the ride.”

Savitha laughed, leaning back in her chair. “Alright, alright, I believe you. But seriously, send me those videos. I need something cute to distract me from this endless grind.”

Dave promised he would, and they finished their lunch, the conversation shifting back to work. But as they left the café, Dave couldn’t shake the feeling that the strange man in the hoodie was still watching him. He glanced over his shoulder, but the man was gone. Paranoia, he told himself. It’s just paranoia.

By the time Dave got home, he was exhausted. He stepped into the apartment, greeted by the sight of Liki curled up on the couch, her eyes lighting up as she saw him. She leapt over the arm of the sofa and crashed her body into his legs at full speed, almost knocking him over. Liki wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her head in his stomach. "I guess you're happy I'm home, huh?" said Dave, laughing. He walked to the sofa, with Liki still wrapped around him, her feet standing tip-toed on his shoes.

As he sat down, there was a knock at the door. Dave got up to answer it, finding a drone waiting outside with a package. He brought it inside, opening it to find three Wimil swimsuits he’d ordered for Liki to wear when the weather was eventually nice enough to use his building's pool. He held them up, showing them to her. “What do you think?”

Liki tilted her head, her eyes wide with curiosity. Dave chuckled, pulling her to her feet. “Let’s try them on,” he said, his voice soft.

He helped her into the first swimsuit, a cute one-piece with a floral pattern. Liki turned in a circle, graceful and languid as she modeled it for him. Dave’s breath caught in his throat, his eyes tracing the lines of her body as she moved.

Next was a second one-piece, this one a solid blue color. Liki slipped it on with ease, and Dave helped to get her tail through the small hole in the back. Her green eyes locked with his as she posed for him. Dave’s heart raced, his fingers itching to reach out and touch her.

Finally, he handed her the bikini. Liki looked at it curiously before slipping it on, her movements slow and deliberate. The bikini didn’t have a hole in the back for her tail. Instead the rear waistband plunged dramatically in the center, allowing her tail complete freedom. Dave’s gaze traveled over her body, his pulse quickening as she turned to face him. The sight of her in the bikini was almost too much for him to handle, and he found himself enjoying watching her put the swimsuits on and take them off more than actually seeing her wear them.

As Liki modeled the last swimsuit, there was another knock at the door. Dave tore his gaze away from her, heading to the door to find Mia, the Precog Foodz delivery girl, standing there with a bag in her hand. “Hey, Dave,” she said, her voice cheerful. “Your daily delivery.”

Dave stepped aside, letting her in. Setting the bag down, Mia’s eyes immediately fell on Liki, her expression one of surprise and curiosity. “Oh, hi Liki,” she said, her voice soft. "She's so cute in her little swimsuit."

Dave opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, Liki stepped forward fluidly as she closed the distance between herself and Mia. Mia’s eyes widened as Liki reached up, her fingers brushing against her cheek. Mia backed against the wall, and Liki followed, pushing closer.

“Oh... uh,” Mia stammered, her cheeks flushing as Liki pulled Mia's face down to her level. Mia seemed to be humoring her, letting Liki take control. Liki stood on her tiptoes and brought her lips to Mia's.

Dave’s heart skipped a beat as he watched the scene unfold, his mind racing. What the hell is she doing? he thought, his body frozen in place.

Mia’s eyes fluttered shut as Liki deepened the kiss, her hands reaching up to tangle in Mia’s hair. For a moment, Dave couldn’t move, couldn’t think, couldn’t do anything but watch as Liki pulled Mia closer, their bodies pressed together. "Mmmf," said Mia, her mouth encased by Liki's.

Mia lost her balance and sat on the ground with a thud, her back now to Dave. Still kissing Mia, Liki straddled her lap, facing Dave; Her eyes were open in the kiss, and she was looking directly up at him. Liki wasn't just kissing Mia, Liki was kissing Mia for Dave. As Liki slowly began to put her hand up into Mia's shirt, Dave finally found his voice. “Liki, stop! No,” he said, his voice rough.

Liki clearly heard him but didn't stop, her eyes still focused on him, as her hand slowly slid further up Mia's shirt... almost as though she was daring him to stop her.

Dave stepped forward, his heart pounding in his chest as he reached out to pull Liki away. But before he could, Liki let go and Mia’s eyes flew open, her face flushed. "Wow, uh... I guess she likes me now? She's a friendly girl! She didn't seem like it yesterday, " she said, laughing nervously.

Mia stood, straightening her clothes, her cheeks still flushed but her breathing steadying. She looked at Liki with a mixture of surprise and curiosity, her lips parting as if she were about to say something but couldn’t quite find the words. Then, her expression softened, her eyes narrowing as she took in Liki’s presence.

“She smells… really good,” Mia finally said, her voice softer now, almost wistful. “It’s like… I don’t know, like a memory from when I was a kid. Something I can’t quite put my finger on, but it’s familiar.”

Dave raised an eyebrow, his confusion momentarily overshadowed by intrigue. “A memory? What do you mean?”

Mia shook her head, her fingers absently brushing against her lips where Liki had kissed her. “I dunno. It’s not a specific smell, more like… a feeling. Something warm and safe. Like being hugged by someone you love, but you can’t remember who.” She laughed softly, a hint of self-consciousness in her voice. “I mean, but... never mind, it's silly.”

Liki tilted her head, her green eyes fixed on Mia, as if she understood every word. She stepped closer again, slowly but deliberately, except this time she didn’t touch Mia. Instead, she simply stood there, her presence almost magnetic. Mia didn’t back away. Instead, she seemed to relax, her shoulders dropping as she exhaled.

“She’s… a funny little thing, isn't she?” Mia said, her gaze shifting to Dave. “I mean, you always hear about Wimils, but I’ve never actually met one before. She’s so… alive. Not like a robot.”

Dave nodded, his eyes lingering on Liki. “Yeah, she’s… special.”

“I—I should go,” she stammered suddenly, turning and practically running out the door.

Dave stared after her, his mind reeling. He turned to Liki, his voice tight with confusion and frustration. “What the hell was that, Liki?”

Liki tilted her head, her eyes wide and innocent, as if she didn’t understand what she’d just done. Dave let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through her blue-purple hair. What am I going to do with you? he thought, his heart still racing as he struggled to make sense of what had just happened.

Curious, Dave smelled Liki. She smelled good. She always smelled good, but she didn't smell like a memory from his childhood, or however Mia had said it. Weird.