mF6aRa53

1The Toy Maker
2A Bam-Kursh Fic
3By
4Alexander Gordon Jahans
5She stepped of the shadows, tall and elegant in a Victorian ball gown. Her craggy features surveyed the university campus. This was her hunting grounds. She wanted one very specific kind of woman.
6No, too short.
7Too ugly.
8Wrong hair colour. Come on. Come on. There...
9She was average height, skinny, pale and blonde. And utterly absorbed in her phone as she walked, perfect.
10The huntress struck. She bustled past on an intercept route and, sure enough, the prey walked into the huntress, dropped her phone and tripped over her.
11The huntress caught the phone and swiftly downloaded the contents to her quantum oscillator.
12The prey got to her feet and apologised. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going.”
13“Oh, it’s quite alright, dear” said the huntress as she approached on her prey. It would be so easy to take her now, to bend her to her whim but no... Toys were best when given freely. She smiled. “I saved your phone.”
14“Oh, thank god!” cried her prey jubilantly, receiving the phone.
15The huntress smiled politely. “It’s no bother. Just look after yourself.”
16The prey nodded then said. “That’s actually a really fancy get up you’ve got on. Nice look.”
17The huntress grinned. “Oh, I’ve travelled a bit.”
18“Well, safe travels. I’ve got classes, see ya.” and with that the prey turned and walked off.
19The huntress watched her go and admired the prey’s butt in her tight jeans. One day she would be hers.
20The huntress returned to the shadows.
21
22*
23The copy of the prey’s phone yielded her name, Lisa Watkins. She was studying to be an architect and her parents were poor but loving. This was her big break. Poor girl didn’t have a proper understanding of just how thoroughly fucked this England’s economy was.
24Another thing that was learned about her prey by cracking into her social media accounts were the type of guys she liked. The Huntress used this information to set up some chance encounters until, sure enough, Lisa was dating.
25The Huntress travelled forward by two months and checked Lisa’s history, a brief fling that had started to become serious until he lost interest and started cheating. The Huntress picked her moment and planned her next attack.
26*
27Lisa was sat, crying, outside the night club. A friend of hers with purple highlights stood by, having a smoke. “He’s a bastard.”
28Lisa honked as a snot bubble burst on her face. “Bastard. Fucking vile bastard. How could he do this to me?”
29“I told you, he’s a bastard. they all are.”
30The huntress stepped out of the shadows, laughing, then she turned at the sound of crying and asked. “What’s the matter?”
31“Her ex is a bastard.” said the smoker with the purple hair.
32“He really is.” said Lisa. “I thought we were - Bastard! - I thought we were a proper couple, you know?”
33The huntress nodded solemnly then asked curiously. “Hang on, don’t I know you?” Lisa said. “I don’t know.”
34The huntress stepped closer, the light of a street lamp illuminating her more fully. “Yeah, I caught your phone.”
35“Oh yeah...” said Lisa. “You’re the woman with the fancy dress?”
36“You could say that.” said the huntress with a smile. “Look I can’t bare to see someone so young upset, so here’s an idea: Tomorrow you and me go travelling?”
37“I couldn’t.” said Lisa, honestly.
38“Oh, it’s okay, I won’t be leaving ‘til six in the evening. Just think about it, okay?” said the huntress. “I’ll be waiting by the gates of campus until then. I know some sights and I will buy you dinner.”
39
40Lisa smiled incredulously. “Are you coming on to me?”
41The huntress made a show of looking conflicted before saying. “No... I just know what it means to have a broken heart.”
42Lisa chuckled. “I’ll think about it.”
43The huntress pulled out a few notes. “Buy yourselves a couple of kebabs and some vodka. Purge that bastard from your life.”
44Lisa stood and took the money from the huntress. “Thank you.” Then she paused, looked at the huntress and thought how this older woman was clearly concerned for her. “And it’s Lisa, what’s your name?”
45“I am the Bam-Kursh.” said the huntress as she looked into Lisa’s eyes. “I look forward to seeing you there tomorrow.”
46“Alright.” said Lisa. “Alright, I will come. I’m curious now.”
47The huntress grinned. “Be careful. You know what happened to Schrodinger’s cat?” Lisa laughed.
48Her friend with the purple hair said irritably. “It wasn’t that funny.”
49The huntress doffed her hat and strode off into the shadows.
50*
51The huntress waited from 5pm outside the gates of the university campus.
52Lisa turned up at a quarter to 6.
53“So you made it then?” said the huntress as her prey approached in comfortable but stylish clothes.
54Lisa said bluntly. “Well, I feel like shit. Thank you for the idea to get a kebab and vodka by the way, my room smells just amazing at the moment. But I said I would come and I am curious.”
55“Where’s your friend?” asked the huntress with curiosity. “She couldn’t make it.” lied Lisa. “So what’s the plan?”
56“Well, I thought I might catch a lift to a view and then I might check out a museum before heading to this restaurant I’ve heard about. How does that sound?” said the huntress.
57Lisa shrugged. “Sounds good to me.”
58
59The huntress managed to keep the conversation focused on Lisa and letting her talk about her life as the cab arrived and took them to the outskirts of town.
60The huntress got out of the cab first and spoke to the driver.
61Lisa got out and was blown away by the view. They were by an old aqueduct that span a gorge. Across the gorge there was a village that screamed twee.
62“Wow.” said Lisa quietly.
63The huntress nodded appreciatively. “It is a good view, isn’t it?”
64“Yeah...” said Lisa, the majesty of the sight had blown her away. “But I gather you usually travel further afield.”
65“Oh, definitely.” said the huntress. “But I could hardly bring you along as hand luggage could I?”
66Lisa snorted. “You are definitely flirting with me.”
67The huntress smirked and admired her prey. “Would it bother you if I was?”
68“No.” said Lisa with a wry smile. “I mean I’m not gay and I don’t think I’m bi but I’m willing to be convinced.”
69The huntress laughed. “Well, don’t worry. I’m not trying to convince you of anything.” Lisa asked. “Then why am I out here and why are you buying me dinner?”
70The huntress sighed. “Because I like you and I want you to be happy.”
71Lisa turned to look at the huntress, intrigued by her words. “We met once?”
72“Yes.” said the huntress. “But I was your age once. You’ve got your whole future ahead of you and you’re just about to step out into the world. It’s a frightening time and you can barely see to put one foot in front of the other. So tonight I want you to be happy.”
73Lisa frowned.
74A bell chimed and the huntress said “Come on, we have an appointment to make at a museum.”
75Lisa nodded. “Okay.”
76*
77The museum was a children’s toy museum and now Lisa understood. This was not the sort of place you took a date to. It was creepy and kind of boring but Lisa read the plaques and watched the videos as the Bam-Kursh looked about the place with fascination.
78
79After a while an old lady with white curly hair informed them that a special showing was ready.
80Lisa followed the Bam-Kursh and the old lady into a side room where an old balding man stood with a bunch of old dolls and proceeded to explain the origins and history of the doll.
81The Bam-Kursh was fascinated but she also glanced at Lisa now and again and seemed to be checking that she was paying attention so Lisa would feign interest..
82At last the talk ended and the Bam-Kursh led Lisa out of the shop and into the car. *
83The huntress exited the cab with her prey and approached the restaurant. Lisa had paid attention to the exhibits and the talks. She would be ready. She could understand. This wasn’t about convincing her. This was about explaining exactly what the huntress wanted with Lisa so that she would be able to come willingly when the huntress asked her to.
84The waiter showed them to their reserved table and the huntress waited until their drinks had arrived and they had ordered food before she began to explain.
85The huntress took a sip of wine and said. “I want to tell you a story, Lisa. It might seem weird and nonsensical but it’s important that you listen to what I have to say.”
86Lisa smiled. “Okay, I’ve been waiting for this. Go on, I’m listening.”
87“So in the beginning, shit was bad. It was chaos, anarchy. There was no order, but there was the idea of order, of logic. It emerged as echoes of an earlier anomaly and formed long grotesque chains. Some of these chains became knotted and matted until things started to grow on it over time. A few of these knotted chains developed sentience, after all there was no order to say that was impossible.” said the huntress “Two of these knots of sapient logic became friends and they were both quite mad. Only, something happened. I mean they were both mad, wild, free and powerful, then this woman died and her soul incarnated in the nothingness. One of the knots decided to take pity on the woman and ate her soul. The knot saw the logic of the woman and realised it loved this thing and wanted to be like her, it wanted that form, it wanted to take care of things like that. It also saw that it was not of the gender of the woman and so became, in his soul, a ‘he’.”
88The huntress paused to take a sip of wine and studied Lisa, she was fascinated.
89“The ‘he’ knot met with the other knot and introduced the knot to the idea of humanity and gender and sex and the knot that had no gender shrugged and said. “You are my friend, if you are a man and you see yourself as different from women, then I must also be a man.” and so the two men ravished the fledgling multiverse, growing more and more human with each soul they ate. As they played they realised that they each approached humanity differently. The knot that had become a man first had met humanity at its best and most humble so he wanted to protect it, to look after it. The other knot saw humanity as so inferior as to not be worth caring about. He approached humanity as a means to have fun with his old friend and came to understand in the language of humanity that that made them his toys. Except the
90
91more he learned and matured, the more he came to understand that humans were as sapient as he and his old friend. They were not toys but he could still play with them, he could make them his toys. He was the Toy Maker.”
92The huntress finished telling her story.
93Lisa was utterly engrossed. “I think I see now why you wanted to see that museum and listen to that talk.”
94The huntress grinned. “I’m glad you understand.”
95Lisa said enthusiastically. “It’s an interesting story. Good luck with it.”
96The huntress stared at Lisa in confusion but Lisa didn’t notice as the waiter arrived with their meals.
97They ate in silence.
98When they’d each cleared their plates the huntress said. “Lisa, I didn’t just bring you here so I could tell you my story.”
99“No?” asked Lisa curiously as she wondered what else the night entailed.
100The huntress removed her business card from her purse and slid it across the table. Lisa examined it. “Bam-Kursh, toy maker and adventurer.”
101She looked up at the huntress. “What are you trying to say?”
102“The Toy Maker and his friend were caught and tried and executed. Naturally both survived by virtue of being manipulative as heck but there was a complication. Their souls were taken by champions and implanted in the bodies of still born children to give them another chance.” said the huntress. “My friend had further complications but I developed alongside my host and I realised I was never really a man. I was just playing at being one to be with my mate and we, that is me and my host, grew as one, unified under my true name. Lisa, I am the Bam- Kursh and I am the Toy Maker.”
103Lisa laughed nervously. “Why are you telling me this?”
104“Because I want you.” said the Bam-Kursh. “I want to play with you. I want to make you into my little toy and I needed to know you understood what that meant.”
105The colour drained from Lisa’s face. “Are you going to kill me?”
106“No.” said the Bam-Kursh honestly “And today was not about convincing you of anything. I could make you mine without you ever having a chance to say no but consent is kind of a big deal. This is me giving you your first chance to walk away. If I see you again I will start to remake you. I will ask you three more times after tonight if you really want to do this but I warn you it will be harder to say no each time. Of course you can say no at any point, well almost
107
108any point, but I’m good so don’t count on it. If you have any doubts, act on them. Say no and walk away. I won’t be offended.”
109Lisa stared at the Bam-Kursh and mentally parsed the day’s events: The flirting, the toy museum the lecture on dolls and the way the Bam-Kursh had kept looking at her...
110“Ah...” said Lisa as realisation dawned.
111She was skinny and blonde and sitting across from a toy maker who wanted to turn her into a toy and had watched her carefully when she’d listened to the lecture on the origins and history of a toy that was a blonde skinny woman.
112Lisa swallowed. “Oh, okay... So you want to make me into a doll?”
113The Bam-Kursh shook her head. “I want to bend your will and body to my commands. You will think when I let you, do as I say, and if I hurt you you will let me. You will love every single moment of your life as my toy, but you will be a commodity, a play thing and unable to complain. I will drug you, I will alter your biology, I will brainwash you. Understand that I am not like my friend, the Farsh-nuke, I have no love for my toys, I do not want to care for you. I respect you right now, Lisa, because you are not yet my toy, the moment you are you will cease to have any rights. You should leave and say no. You should run out of the door.”
114Lisa nodded in agreement. “I should. I really should.”
115The waiter arrived and the Bam-Kursh asked for the bill.
116Lisa said. “So if I am okay with this, okay with being your toy, I phone this number?”
117“Yes.” said the Bam-Kursh. “I will find you and I will remake you.”
118“And I will have three more prompts to go?” clarified Lisa.
119“Yes.” said the Bam-Kursh. “But if you ask for me it’s probably already too late for you.”
120“Okay.” said Lisa and she put the business card in her purse took a cab home with the Bam- Kursh.
121*
122Lisa never saw the Bam-Kursh from that point onwards. University gave her hope and deadlines and friends. It kept her distracted, gave her a life to live. So Lisa lived. She worked hard, played hard and graduated with a 2:2. Then reality hit. ‘Just get a job!’ was the mantra. Well Lisa just couldn’t get a job and her family needed the money.
123So Lisa lay awake at night and thought about the offer the Bam-Kursh had given her. Lisa was a fly that had been asked to land in a spider’s web. Of course she’d said no at the time, she wasn’t stupid, but curiosity works its way quietly and there was an incentive to say yes. The Bam-Kursh had money and she would offer Lisa three chances to turn back. The danger of course was the knowledge that once the Bam-Kursh started having her way with Lisa it
124
125would be harder to say no.
126This was asking the devil for a favour. No, this was worse. The devil paid for his goods. To the Bam-Kursh, Lisa was a tree being asked to willingly enter a lumber yard and there would be no payment, because why pay the product? And yet three chances?
127That worked away in Lisa’s subconscious as social security payments became the way to live and then they were stopped. A sanction because an email hadn’t arrived and Lisa hadn’t known she needed to be somewhere. She pulled out the business card and dialled the number.
128*
129The Bam-Kursh stepped out of the shadows, regal as ever.
130It was 4am and Lisa was in a nightie.
131Lisa’s mouth dropped open in shock. “What are you doing here? How can you be here?”
132The Bam-Kursh smiled. “My dear, I can do many things that will surprise you and as we have established, I do not care for your rights. I am not a nice person, Lisa Watkins.”
133Lisa studied the Bam-Kursh. “This is you being kind, isn’t it? Warning me away, well I have no choice.”
134“I know.” said the Bam-Kursh as she surveyed Lisa’s room. All the shelves filled with dolls and computery things. “Lets be honest, I’m good at what I do, I do not offer my toys a chance to walk away if I am not absolutely certain they will walk into my arms willingly later. This is a calculated ballet to make my job easier.”
135Lisa swallowed. “Do I have any free will or choice over what happens?”
136“Yes.” said the Bam-Kursh simply. “And that’s why you will be worth so much when I’m done with you.”
137Lisa shuddered.
138The Bam-Kursh nodded at Lisa’s understanding of the situation. “So let me guess, you graduated university and found that a recession caused by neoliberal politics is not a fun place to be when your family is poor and the benefits system is a death trap?”
139“Pretty much.” said Lisa with a shrug.
140“And you think that I offer you a chance?” said the Bam-Kursh. “You do realise the dangerous game you are playing?”
141Lisa nodded solemnly. “I am walking willingly into your parlor.”
142“Indeed.” said the Bam-Kursh. “I will help you and your family out though. Enough money will
143
144be transferred into your bank accounts for everyone to live comfortably.”
145Then the Bam-Kursh pulled a typed up note from a pocket and handed it to Lisa. “Find me there tomorrow and we can begin to remake you. You don’t have to come of course, but you will. You’ve still got your three chances and you’re curious.”
146Lisa accepted the note and read it. When she looked back, the Bam-Kursh had gone. *
147The next morning Lisa walked into town and checked out her bank account at an ATM then she caught a train into London.
148The Bam-Kursh’s apartment looked innocuous enough so Lisa rang the doorbell. The Bam-Kursh answered immediately.
149“You came?” She sounded surprised.
150Lisa shrugged. “For that much money? Yeah, I came.”
151“Well, come in, come in” said the Bam-Kursh and she led the way inside.
152There was a short corridor lined with gold clubs, umbrellas and cricket bats and then there was a large empty room with a large storage chest against one side of the room. An elegant and ornate double bed further up, several free standing clothes racks filled with outfits and a large white table covered in plastic sheeting.
153On the other side of the room was a kitchen, a laboratory lined with beakers and complex equipment and then a mushroom shaped seven sided console.
154“Interesting place you’ve got here” said Lisa.
155“You live here now.” said the Bam-Kursh casually. “So I’m glad you like it. The left side of the room is your side, the right side is my side.”
156Lisa studied the left side of the room with fresh interest as the Bam-Kursh explained. “The bed and wardrobe is obvious but the chest is your destiny. If I have done my job correctly there will be a day when you walk in that door, I beat you until I get tired and throw you into that chest and you will gladly lay where I throw you.”
157Lisa swallowed.
158The Bam-Kursh indicated the table and said. “That is for when I want to pull you apart. You won’t die of course and you’ll like what I do but it is imperative that you understand the kind of woman I am and the kind of life you will lead.”
159Lisa nodded. “Well, thank you for the honesty.”
160
161“Now before I get down to the meat of today, I think I need to show you something.” said the Bam-Kursh.
162Lisa shrugged, she doubted anything could surprise her now.
163The Bam-Kursh headed over to the console. “This apartment, Lisa, is a ship. It can travel time, space and the multiverse, and now we are going to make you fall in love with the man who broke your heart and left you vulnerable to my invitation of dinner.”
164Lisa was stunned. “You can’t be serious?”
165“I need to demonstrate my power to you and what better way to ensure he falls for you than have you declare your undying love and loyalty to him.” said the Bam-Kursh.
166Lisa stared at her. “I can’t.”
167The Bam-Kursh shrugged. “For now you have agency, you can say no.”
168There was a loud Bong! and the Bam-Kursh pulled a lever.
169The apartment door swing open.
170Lisa heard dubstep and approached the open door. It was dark and loud and everyone was drinking or coming on to people.
171Lisa entered the club. How could she not? It was a miracle.
172Lisa walked through the club in a daze until she saw her ex, still so young. She found herself staring.
173He caught her eye and started to make his way towards her.
174Lisa froze, she didn’t know what to do. She hated this man. He had broke her heart. Except if the Bam-Kursh was to be believed, he hadn’t yet. He was still the man Lisa had fallen in love with.
175He found her and took her hands. “Do I know you?”
176“No.” said Lisa. “I-I’m not supposed to be here. We haven’t met but-” Lisa stared at his face, at those lips and sighed. Fuck it. “This is crazy and I probably won’t remember this but I have such a massive crush on you and, if you remember this, come find me and ask me out.”
177And then she kissed him on the lips.
178“Oh.” he said. “Well I think we can do better than that.”
179He gently pulled Lisa close and they embraced each other as they started snogging.
180
181Then Lisa broke off. “Probably better stop there. Alcohol, you know?” “Good point.” said her ex.
182Lisa strode off back to the Bam-Kursh and knew that he would be watching her bum as she walked away.
183Lisa entered and shut the door behind her. “Strip.” said the Bam-Kursh experimentally.
184Lisa shrugged off her jacket then started undoing the buckle on her belt before she caught herself and asked. “Why?”
185“Just testing.” said the Bam-Kursh with a smile. “I didn’t seriously expect you to obey me but it pleases me that you did.”
186Lisa bent down to pick up her jacket then frowned and left it.
187The Bam-Kursh didn’t care.
188Lisa said “Okay, so you can travel in time. What next?”
189“I want to run some tests, take measurements, collect samples, that kind of thing.” said the Bam-Kursh.
190“Okay.” said Lisa with a nod as she thought. “I can do that but no messing me about, yeah? No injecting me with shit?”
191“Not today.” said the Bam-Kursh with as smile. “I need to collect data first before I can make any of that.”
192Lisa nodded “Okay, I get that. I’m cool with that.”
193The Bam-Kursh headed over to her laboratory as she said. “You know you can stop saying okay, right? There are other words.”
194“Okay.” said Lisa and she followed the Bam-Kursh over to the laboratory.
195The Bam-Kursh opened a clear plastic bag and slipped some of Lisa’s hair inside before cutting it and sealing the bag.
196Lisa asked. “So what are you going to do with this stuff?”
197The Bam-Kursh held up a swab with her right hand and grabbed Lisa’s face with her left hand. “Say ‘Ah’.”
198Lisa opened her mouth.
199
200The Bam-Kursh proceeded to wipe the cotton swab around the inside of her mouth. “I’m going to sequence your dna so I can target drugs to rewrite it as I see fit, and of course if I am happy with the finished toy I may want to mass produce you. I’m getting skin, hair and muscle samples so I can grow it in the lab and experiment on it.”
201The Bam-Kursh dropped the swab into a special test tube filled with liquid then followed the same process with another 6 swabs. “The measurements are so I know what size your clothes should be and the rough dimensions of the packaging if I do mass produce you.”
202Lisa let the Bam-Kursh finish swabbing then she asked. “Do I get any say?”
203“Of course.” said the Bam-Kursh as she took Lisa’s blood pressure. “But if I’ve done my job right you will agree with everything I say. There is always an outside chance that you’ll say no and walk away but I factor that into my calculations so you should always be very enthusiastic with whatever I plan.”
204Lisa couldn’t get her head around the concept. “So I will love everything you’re going to do? Except that the problem is you’re ensuring that I love everything you’re going to do?”
205The Bam-Kursh noted down Lisa’s blood pressure then readied herself to take Lisa’s blood. “Everything I am doing is calculated to make you utterly willing. I have studied you, spied on you and I am using you. I seem nice and convivial because that’s what people do and that’s how I get you to be so willing but please do not mistake me for some grand philanthropist. Now, I’m going to take your blood so you might want to look away.”
206The Bam-Kursh inserted a needle into a vein in Lisa’s left arm. Some plasters were attached to hold the needle in place and the Bam-Kursh filled up 6 test tubes with Lisa’s blood.
207Lisa watched silently then asked. “Does it really matter why or how you’re doing this if I’m going to enjoy this? I mean the alternative is dying a lonely death of starvation and poverty.”
208The Bam-Kursh stopped and stood up straight so she could look Lisa in the eye. “If that is why you are doing this then things need to change. I want you to really want to do this, not to do it because the government scares you more than me.”
209Lisa said. “I thought you didn’t care what I thought?”
210“I don’t.” said the Bam-Kursh as she fetched a scalpel, a plaster and a couple of petri dishes. “I care about the product and the product is best if you are earnestly willing. We’re going to have to get you a job.”
211The Bam-Kursh grabbed hold of Lisa’s right arm, carefully removed a small section of skin and placed it in one petri dish then she sliced off a part of the muscle in her arm and put it in the other petri dish, then she applied a plaster to the wound on Lisa’s arm and set about storing the skin and muscle cell samples to be grown later.
212Lisa said. “You’re going to get me a job? How?”
213“I’m turning you into a toy, getting you a job is infinitely easier, and besides it won’t be for
214
215long. What’s your dream job?” said the Bam-Kursh as she emerged with measuring tape and proceeded to take down Lisa’s height, bust size and so on.
216“Well, if you must know, city planner. I want to design the city of the future.” said Lisa.
217The Bam-Kursh sighed as she took note of the measurements. “That is really quite a smart profession to want to go into. I’m almost envious. Might have to keep note of that. You could be very handy if I ever decide to take over the world.”
218Lisa snorted in astonishment. “That’s not seriously something you do is it?”
219The Bam-Kursh shrugged as she measured Lisa’s neck size. “I’ve thought about it and I bet I’d be quite a good Empress. So many worlds are crying out for a strong state to regulate capitalism and care for the poor. I could do that.”
220Lisa frowned “I was nearly on board with being your toy for a moment there but now I know you want to take over the world...?”
221“Good.” said the Bam-Kursh cheerfully as she packed away the tape. “Consider this your first warning. Go away. You’ve got money now, you’ll have a job, live your life, Lisa, and forget about me. Forget about the strange woman who wants to turn you into a toy.”
222Lisa nodded. “Okay. I think you’re right. If I don’t call you or visit, don’t be upset.”
223“GO!!!” bellowed the Bam-Kursh.
224Lisa ran out the apartment and paused only to pick up her discarded jacket on the way out.
225*
226Lisa returned home and lived off the money in her bank account for a week and then she received a phone call offering her an interview for a job as architect of a new council estate. Lisa threw herself into her work and saw the project to fruition but when she did she realised something.
227It was 4am and she was staggering through town with her mates to celebrate after a night of drinking, they passed a kebab joint and Lisa’s belly grumbled so they got kebabs and stayed drinking until they passed out at Lisa’s mate’s.
228Lisa woke up the next day feeling like shit and stared at the kebab wrapper and realised this was her future, late nights and shitty kebabs at 4am until some nice man marries her and she decides to settle down in the country and have kids and then a pension and retirement cruises and it all sounded so boring.
229She wanted it, or at least she had been told by society that this was what people wanted, but it didn’t excite her, it didn’t thrill her. It was good work that she enjoyed and it wasn’t a bad life but as she stared at that kebab wrapper she remembered the Bam-Kursh.
230How this strange looking woman had stepped out of the shadows when she’d been crying,
231
232invited her to dinner and gave her money for kebabs. How the Bam-Kursh had used her to make her ex ask her out just so the Bam-Kursh could sweep along and be her enigmatic saviour.
233That confidence, that swagger, that edge of danger. In the Bam-Kursh’s mind Lisa was already her toy. She offered Lisa choices and respected her free will and feelings but it felt like a nerd coaxing a computer to load, warmth and emotion hiding cold knowledge.
234The hair stood up on the back of Lisa’s neck as she thought about the Bam-Kursh, that power and intense belief that Lisa would in time be absolutely willing to do anything the Bam-Kursh wanted. What was it she’d said? That one day Lisa would be happy to walk through the door be beaten up stripped and thrown? That the Bam-Kursh would dissect Lisa for fun and Lisa would enjoy it. This was so sick and so fucked up but the Bam-Kursh was so confident. It scared her and thrilled her. That this person could have so much power over her. She would return to work and everything would be okay, she could settle down and have kids.
235*
236The Bam-Kursh answered the door. “What kept you?”
237Lisa laughed. “May I come in?”
238“Of course.” said the Bam-Kursh as she led Lisa inside.
239Lisa studied the weapons as she walked down the hallway and knew that she was heading down the path that would see them used against her and it thrilled her.
240“So, I was thinking, this is a multiverse ship, right? You’ve already travelled in time so I believe you and that means there will always be a universe where I continue my job as a city planner and get 2.4 children and a house in the country and there will always be a universe where I become your toy.” said Lisa carefully, her blood pounding in her ears.
241The Bam-Kursh nodded. “Tea or coffee?”
242“Coffee.” said Lisa. “Black.”
243The Bam-Kursh headed to the kitchen and started making coffee.
244Lisa followed and said. “I figure I want to live my dream of being a city planner - and I will - and I know what that’s like but I don’t know what it’s like to become your toy, and I’d like to because goddamnit you make me feel alive and so fucking what if I’m not living a normal life? I want to know how I become your toy and if I’m going to be happy, what’s the problem?”
245The Bam-Kursh handed Lisa a mug of coffee with a smug smile on her face. Lisa grinned. “So what happens? How do I become yours?”
246The Bam-Kursh took her tea over to the bed.
247
248Lisa followed.
249They sat down on on the bed and Lisa sipped her coffee
250The Bam-Kursh said. “We need to establish trust and control. You will come in time to instinctively obey me without question but first you need to give me control.”
251Lisa nodded. “Like how?”
252“Like I will ask you a series of questions and you will consent without question.” said the Bam- Kursh. “It’s okay to say no if you are uncomfortable but the important thing is that we establish a record of obedience.”
253Lisa frowned. “I thought you’d - I don’t know - seduce me into obedience?”
254The Bam-Kursh chuckled. “My friend is very fond of that method and it is because of it that he frequently ends up a moralist. I need you to calmly decide that obeying me is what you want to do first.”
255Lisa downed her coffee and said. “Okay, what shall I do first?”
256The Bam-Kursh pulled a tennis ball out of her pocket and threw it at the chest. “Fetch.”
257Lisa snorted then rose to her feet. “At once, Mistress”
258Lisa fetched the ball.
259The Bam-Kursh was standing now, her drained cup on the bedside table, she accepted the tennis ball and pocketed it.
260“Remove your shoes and socks.” said the Bam-Kursh.
261Lisa raised her eyebrows but she sat on the bed, undid her shoelaces, pulled off her shoes and her socks then she stood before the Bam-Kursh. “What now?”
262The Bam-Kursh smiled. “I would like to strip you naked.”
263Lisa smiled playfully. “I am yours to unwrap.”
264The Bam-Kursh snorted and removed Lisa’s jacket.
265Lisa’s shirt was pulled off next, then her bra was removed.
266The Bam-Kursh’s hands unbuckled Lisa’s belt and unbuttoned her jeans. Her finger and thumb paused on the zip.
267Lisa looked the Bam-Kursh in the eyes and nodded her on.
268The hairs were standing up on the back of Lisa’s and she felt butterflies of excitement and
269
270fear.
271The Bam-Kursh smiled and pulled the zip down. She slid the jeans down Lisa’s bottom and they fell to the floor. She grabbed Lisa’s underwear.
272Lisa was quavering with excitement now.
273The Bam-Kursh pulled Lisa’s panties down her bum and let them drop on the floor.
274Lisa kicked the trousers and panties away from her feet. “Do you like what you see?”
275The Bam-Kursh nodded. “I chose you very deliberately, Lisa. I am pleased to see that my judgement was sound. Now stay here, I have to get something.”
276Lisa nodded.
277The Bam-Kursh returned with a cricket bat and a golf club. Lisa stared at the sports implements and swallowed.
278The Bam-Kursh said. “I want to hit you. Once in the face. Once in the arse. You’re perfectly safe, I’m not about to let you die when I’ve not even made you into a toy but it will hurt, a lot. Are you okay with this?”
279Lisa swallowed. “I trust you.”
280The Bam-Kursh smiled. “Thank you.”
281The Bam-Kursh raised the golf club before Lisa and pulled back.
282She swung with ferocity and Lisa blinked.
283The club stopped an inch before Lisa’s face then lightly booped her nose.
284Lisa breathed a sigh of relief then swore as the cricket bat smacked into her bum and launched her into the footboard of the double bed.
285Lisa panted and swore.
286The Bam-Kursh stroked Lisa’s back. “Well done, I’m proud of you.”
287Lisa stood up. “Don’t do that again that until you’ve messed with my capacity to feel pain, okay?”
288The Bam-Kursh nodded. “That was very brave and don’t worry, I think I should be able to start messing with your body tomorrow. For now I have one last request?”
289Lisa looked the Bam-Kursh in her eyes, she was still in pain and there had been a sense of escalation to the requests. If the Bam-Kursh had anything else planned Lisa wanted her to
290
291have to look Lisa in her eyes to ask for it. “Go ahead.”
292“I want you to climb into the toy box and stay there until I let you out.” said the Bam-Kursh. “There won’t be a lock on it but I want you to pack yourself away and wait for my return.”
293Lisa laughed. “That’s all?”
294“That’s all.” said the Bam-Kursh with a nod.
295Lisa grinned as she opened the box and climbed inside.
296She lay down inside the box and the Bam-Kursh said. “Sweet dreams, Lisa. I’ll be back in a bit.”
297The lid closed and now Lisa understood that this was indeed escalation. Lying awake in something not much bigger than a coffin with no light and nothing to do.
298*
299Lisa felt pressure on her left cheek, stroking, and a voice said softly. “Hey, sleepy head, time to come out of the toy box.”
300Lisa opened her eyes and looked up at the Bam-Kursh. Lisa smiled. “Hey, you’re back”
301The Bam-Kursh nodded. “And you have been a good little toy haven’t you, my dear? Now, come on, I’m buying you lunch.”
302Lisa nodded and tried to move but her body ached and felt sluggish. The Bam-Kursh understood and pulled Lisa up into a sitting position. Lisa blinked and shook her head and arms to clear the groggyness. Lisa climbed to her feet and said “So do I go like this? Or...?”
303The Bam-Kursh chuckled and handed her a bag. “Put those on.” Lisa said. “So are you going to watch me? Or?”
304The Bam-Kursh was still chuckling as she strode off and explained. “You aren’t the only toy I came here to get.”
305Lisa got dressed in the emerald green bikini, pink skirt, crop top and flip flops, then she climbed out of the toy box and headed off after the Bam-Kursh.
306Lisa found the Bam-Kursh with her head in the cupboard. “Umm what’s this?”
307
308The Bam-Kursh backed out of the cupboard and turned to see Lisa, holding a collar. “Oh... Oh, that’s right. You don’t know, do you?”
309Lisa stared at her “Know what?”
310“Well, my friend, he uh, he’s sort of powerful. Like his followers are protecting the multiverse and now there’s this thing called the United Civilisations of the Multiverse-” said the Bam- Kursh.
311“Your friend being the knot that wanted to look after people?” asked Lisa uncertainly.
312“Well yes but he does that by keeping them as pets.” said the Bam-Kursh. “They’re actually recognised as a different species. They’re called Sylphs and they get all these rights.”
313“Ah.” said Lisa with a frown.
314The Bam-Kursh nodded and stroked Lisa’s cheek. “What I’m doing to you is sort off against interuniversal law.”
315Lisa said. “But I’m a consenting adult.”
316The Bam-Kursh chuckled and kissed Lisa’s forehead. “You’re wonderful but you’re mine and that is very much illegal. That collar is so they’ll think you’re my Sylph.”
317Lisa frowned. “Being your toy is illegal?”
318“Yes, at least the way I want you to be is.” said the Bam-Kursh and then she secured the collar round Lisa’s neck.
319Lisa was silent after that. The knowledge that this woman’s behaviour was illegal in the multiverse, that some would see her as a victim, was troubling.
320The Bam-Kursh found what she needed and said. “Stick close to me and obey only me, understood? I know you’re feeling very malleable and that’s good, I want to remake you, but you are mine and mine alone to remake.”
321With that Lisa followed the Bam-Kursh out of the door. *
322The restaurant was posh and seemingly candlelit but far too bright for that. Lisa saw cyborg sharks and cat people and dinosaurs in dinner jackets, spiders the size of cars, Octopus men and a lot of people wearing collars.
323The human waiter asked for their drinks. The Bam-Kursh ordered champagne. Lisa asked. “What are all these things?”
324The Bam-Kursh glared at her. “You are a thing, these are people.”
325
326Lisa frowned. “Okay, I’m sorry. Who are these people?”
327The Bam-Kursh sighed. “The sharks are Charicthy, they owe their ability to walk on land and communicate to the Ooblopnick, the Octopus men. The Cat People are Felis Sapiens, don’t think about how they came about. The dinosaurs are Humana Lacertae and they have a very complex class based society, you’d fit in well there. The spiders are Arachnoforms and yes they are every bit as terrifying as they look and the people wearing collars are Sylphs.”
328The waiter bought over the menu.
329The Bam-Kursh said. “She’ll have the chicken salad and jacket potato. I’ll have the steak.”
330The waiter nodded then looked to Lisa.
331Lisa shrugged. “She’s the boss.”
332The waiter nodded and left.
333The Bam-Kursh grinned and poured the champagne into the provided glasses. “A toast to you, my dear.”
334Lisa accepted the glass of champagne and asked. “What for?”
335“No one has accepted my command so readily. No one has ever stayed in the toybox. You’re ready.” said the Bam-Kursh.
336Lisa grinned. “So I’m your toy now?”
337“Not yet but your mind is.” said the Bam-Kursh and then she pulled out a strange looking gun. “To that end, I want a back up of it. Just grab the handle and press record.”
338Lisa did as the Bam-Kursh said, and asked “So what will you do once you’re done with me?”
339The Bam-Kursh thought for a second then said “I think I want to build up a product line then bring it to market.”
340“I thought you said this was illegal?” said Lisa.
341The Bam-Kursh nodded. “But I have my eyes on a prize that will let me get away with this and that’s actually why we’re here. You are my proof of concept.”
342The gun binged.
343“You’re backed up.” said the Bam-Kursh with a smile.
344Lisa smiled. “I’m glad you’re happy.”
345The Bam-Kursh stroked Lisa’s face. “I really think I am going to have to keep you, you know.”
346
347Lisa frowned. “Well what else were you going to do with me?”
348The Bam-Kursh shrugged. “Sell you.”
349Lisa glared at her.
350The Bam-Kursh laughed. “You’re a toy. I make you but you were always going to be sold to someone else.”
351Lisa fell silent, sulking.
352The Bam-Kursh sighed and sipped her champagne.
353The waiter arrived with the food.
354The Bam-Kursh had a massive plate of steak, chips, side salad and sauces.
355Lisa’s plate was more modest and she finished swiftly.
356She sat looking at the Bam-Kursh as she ate and wondered idly if toys did eat? Did toys even live or was the Bam-Kursh going to stuff her?
357A tall blonde woman in a three piece suit and a cyborg shark walked past.
358“Lucy Danse!” called the Bam-Kursh, amid her eating.
359The tall woman stopped at the table. “Yes?”
360The Bam-Kursh wiped her mouth clean with a serviette. “My name is the Bam-Kursh and I am here to offer you a deal.”
361The tall woman stared at the mad woman in Victorian dress.
362The cyborg shark gave the girl in easy to remove clothing a worried look and advised. “Lucy, I don’t like this, this pet is like you.”
363Lucy looked at the girl too now and said. “It’s okay, Greta. The Bam-Kursh won’t try anything. I’m too important.” Then Lucy looked to the Bam-Kursh again. “So what’s this deal?”
364“Take a seat.” said the Bam-Kursh.
365Lucy nodded and pulled up a chair beside Lisa.
366Greta pulled up a chair beside the Bam-Kursh.
367The Bam-Kursh gestured to Lisa. “I have product I want to sell and I want more product.” Lucy studied Lisa and stroked her back. “Yes, I thought she didn’t look like a typical Sylph.
368
369She’s too stiff and the collar doesn’t look right on her.”
370“That’s because she isn’t a Sylph.” said the Bam-Kursh. “For now she is one hundred percent Human but her mind is mine. Tomorrow I make the biological alterations but you can see that she is entirely consenting. This is what I do, Lucy. I make people into toys.”
371“And what are you offering in return?” asked Lucy.
372“Me.” said the Bam-Kursh. “The Farsh-nuke is a fearsome weapon but his morality and libido holds him back. He is fuelled by lust and rage. I am cold. I understand from a logical point of view that people are living and sapient, that they deserve to be treated with respect and looked after but I have no morality. I have no rage - Well no I do, but it’s reserved for him.”
373“So what are you suggesting?” asked Lucy. “That I throw you on the front lines?”
374“No.” said the Bam-Kursh. “The Septagonoids could corrupt me far easier than they could corrupt the Farsh-nuke. I’m saying let me grow the United Civilisations of the Multiverse. Let me be your Napoleon.”
375Lucy stared at her. “I know my Earth history Bam-Kursh, I’m not letting you be Emperor.”
376The Bam-Kursh grinned. “But I could be so useful to you, don’t you think? Empires rise and fall, Emperors get assassinated. What matters is that you win the war then have enough strength give the Logicios enough of a kicking that they stop being arseholes. I can help you do that and as I say I just want to be able to sell my goods. Try her out if you don’t believe me.”
377Lucy grinned and stood up then offered her hand to Lisa. “Okay, if she’s as willing as you say then we might turn a blind eye.”
378The hairs stood up on the back of Lisa’s neck.
379“Be gentle with her.” said the Bam-Kursh with a note of warning in her voice. “She’s almost ready to hit the market. Don’t break her.”
380Greta laughed. “You should be careful that we don’t break you.”
381The Bam-Kursh chuckled and went back to eating her steak.
382Lisa rose from her seat and walked with Lucy away from the Bam-Kursh and Greta.
383Greta stood up and followed after them.
384Lucy and Greta found a table for two out of the way but still in sight of the Bam-Kursh.
385Lucy whispered in Lisa’s ear. “We can talk freely but this needs to look legit. Sit on the table and trust me.”
386Lisa backed onto the table and said. “What do you want to talk about?”
387
388Lucy lifted up Lisa’s left arm and made a show of examining it as she explained. “I’m a Sylph and I am no stranger to the elder gods. That thing sitting at the table is not Human. It has no sense of internal morality. The Farsh-nuke hates the Bam-Kursh for itts immorality. It is not good.”
389Lisa said “And your point is? I’m her toy. I know its strange but that’s why I’m doing this. Live a life less ordinary you know?”
390Greta hissed. “The Bam-Kursh may well be treating you with respect now but that is because you are still Human, you break easily. The moment you are fully converted the Bam-Kursh will see no value in you.”
391“I know.” said Lisa with a smirk. “She’s going to beat me up and throw me around like a ragdoll and pull me apart for fun. And I am going to love it.”
392Lucy said. “I’m going to turn you over now, okay?”
393Lisa said. “You don’t have to ask me for permission, you know?”
394Lucy rolled her eyes and lay Lisa flat on her back then rolled her over. She made a show of lifting up her clothes to take a better look at Lisa. “The Bam-Kursh is going to mass produce and sell you. You will cease to be a person and will be legally property. You won’t have any rights.”
395Lisa said. “Give me rights then. I’m her proof of concept to convince you to let her bring me to market. You can be my advocate, make sure I am protected as you would like me to be.”
396Lucy said. “I have 2 wars to coordinate. I don’t have time to legislate on toy rights.”
397Lisa shrugged. “Then approve the deal, let the Bam-Kursh do what she wants with me.”
398Lucy rolled Lisa back onto her back and said. “You arguing to deny your own agency.”
399Lisa said. “I’m hers. If she wants to deny me agency, I trust her.”
400Lucy glared at Greta. “Well, I think you have certainly provided proof of concept, Lisa. Now before we deliver you to your Mistress I would like a picture with you.”
401Lisa grinned. “I would be happy to.”
402Lucy laughed. “Come on, off the table.”
403Lisa pulled herself off the table and Lisa got up to stand beside her.
404Greta pulled out her phone and snapped off a couple of flashes.
405“Get the drinks in.” said Lucy and she walked back to the Bam-Kursh with Lisa.
406
407The Bam-Kursh ate the last of her steak as they approached.
408“You’ve certainly done an impressive job with Lisa here and she is very beautiful. She’ll make an excellent collector’s item.” said Lucy.
409Lisa grinned.
410The Bam-Kursh wiped her mouth clean and said. “I’m glad you approve.”
411“I am afraid however that I cannot let you work without oversight.” said Lucy. “You may finish your work with this one but you cannot mass produce her until I have sent someone to meet with you regarding the finer legal details.”
412The Bam-Kursh nodded. “That is fair. You know I had all sorts of backup plans laid out in case you decided to try and stop me.”
413“I know.” said Lucy and she put an arm around Lisa protectively. “This one thinks she has free will but if she ever tried to do anything you disapprove of you would make her change her mind.”
414The Bam-Kursh grinned. “How very astute of you? The mind binds us more thoroughly than any prison, Lisa wants to obey and thus no bindings could alter that. I wonder if someday you and I might...?”
415Lucy laughed. “Take your toy and go. I am technically the Unleasher you know?” The Bam-Kursh chuckled and rose from her seat. “Settle the bill for me won’t you?” With that the Bam-Kursh walked off and Lisa followed.
416*
417When they were back in the apartment the Bam-Kursh turned to Lisa and said. “Now, honey, you have been very good to me and I want dearly for us to continue our work on you.”
418The Bam-Kursh squeezed Lisa’s hands compassionately. “You are so beautiful and so sweet and so very obedient but it is time for us to say goodbye. When I next see you I will drug you. This is your second chance to turn away. I suggest you take it because the next chance I give you will be almost too late. Say goodbye, Lisa. One way or another the Human will be gone when we next meet.”
419Lisa nodded. “I understand, I will say goodbye Bam-Kursh. Until we meet again.” The Bam-Kursh nodded. “Until we meet again.”
420The Bam-Kursh went to the console and after a few moments the apartment door swung open to busy London.
421Lisa stood framed in the door way and felt nervous about returning to the outside world again.
422
423The Bam-Kursh placed Lisa’s jacket about her shoulders. “Remember, you obey only me and you are only my toy, let others think you are still a person.”
424Lisa felt stronger at those words.
425The Bam-Kursh handed Lisa her shoes and socks. “Now go.” Lisa nodded and strode out the door into London.
426*
427Lisa felt weird as she walked through London. She didn’t feel Human any more. She felt like at any moment she could be carried away and taken away from her life. That she was weak and vulnerable. This was naturally true but London was a place where it didn’t matter how you looked or felt, people would leave you alone at least so long as you stuck to the crowds.
428Lisa made it to Waterloo Station alright and managed to catch a train home, except it didn’t feel like home, not any more. The Bam-Kursh had said goodbye to her and Lisa could certainly go back to her old life. She was still Human, she still had money and a good job and she knew now that what the Bam-Kursh was doing to her was very definitely illegal but they both knew that Lisa wasn’t being sent back home to say goodbye to the Bam-Kursh.
429She was committed now. Whatever the future held, however dark it got, Lisa had picked her path. She was going to be a toy and while she was still Human, while she could still think for herself and act independently of supervision she would say goodbye to her family and friends.
430She decided suicide made the most sense as a way to bring closure to her family and friends so she wrote letters for everyone and made sure to spend one last happy day with everyone whilst also seeding the signs that would be backed up by her suicide note and letters. They had to be able to grieve and move on with their lives, however much it hurt.
431There was one friend Lisa decided to tell the truth to though... *
432Lisa turned up at her work, she was working at a pub. She wasn’t smoking any more and the highlights were gone from her hair but she was just as tall and weather beaten as Lisa remembered. Only she was happier.
433Lisa said. “I’ll have a vodka and coke please.”
434She turned to address Lisa and gasped. “I haven’t seen you since university?” “It’s been a while, Nicky.” said Lisa. “And I’ve got quite the story to tell you.”
435Nicky nodded and slid the vodka and coke to Lisa. “It’s on the house, well on me actually but I am not turning you away. My shift ends in half an hour, think you can wait?”
436
437Lisa laughed, remembering the hours in the dark of the Bam-Kursh’s toy box. “I think I can manage.”
438Nicky smiled. “Well I’m glad to see you again.”
439Lisa nodded and smiled then she found a seat and watched the punters go by. This was the last loose end of Lisa’s life to tie up, assuming of course that the Bam-Kursh finished the job and didn’t chicken out at the last minute. It was nice to see where her old friend worked, to see her in action, she seemed happy. Lisa liked that.
440Nicky stopped by with a plate of chips “You look thin as a rake, eat.”
441Lisa laughed, picked up a chip and stared up at Nicky. “You’re amazing, you know that?” and then she ate the chip.
442Nicky smirked and went back to the job.
443Lisa demolished the plate of chips and it was empty by the time Nicky finished her shift.
444“Do you have any plans?” asked Lisa.
445“None that can’t be moved for you.” said Nicky.
446Lisa grinned and led the way out of the pub. “I’ve got somewhere I want to go, fill me in on what I’ve missed.”
447Nicky shrugged and followed Lisa as she started talking. *
448Lisa heard about how Nicky had scraped through with a third in graphic design, done some TEFL and failed to get her art off the ground but then she met this artist who worked in a pub and they had a brief fling that ended when the artist got fired for doing weed. That had been what gave Nicky the impetus to get clean and she’d been working at the pub for months now and felt like she’d found a decent way to get by.
449“It’s a hard life, but a good one.” said Nicky as they approached a kebab shop.
450“This is on me.” said Lisa.
451Nicky laughed and they left with a kebab and chips each.
452“I don’t know why I let you talk me into this.” said Nicky as she picked at her kebab with a plastic fork. “I am not drunk enough for a kebab.”
453Lisa smirked then said. “I got us kebabs to remind you of one night and it is very important because since I last saw you I have been through some hard times only to land a windfall and get my dream job and tomorrow I will be missing presumed dead and I need someone to find the suicide note and letters I have left for everyone.”
454
455Nicky stopped in her tracks and glared at Lisa. “What did you just say!?”
456Lisa sighed and turned back to Nicky. “I’m not actually going to die but what is going to happen to me is so mad that no one will believe it and I have to let them know that I am not coming back.”
457Nicky stared into Lisa’s soul as she demanded. “EXPLAIN! NOW!” Lisa glared at Nicky. “Well of course...”
458Nicky was cowed. “I just care about you is all.”
459Lisa nodded, understanding. “It’s okay, but keep walking.”
460Nicky nodded. “Okay, but start talking.” Nicky started walking again.
461Lisa explained “I met this woman, you were there when I did. She’s called the Bam-Kursh and she is on a whole other level. This is some Chariots of the Gods shit. Like she and her best friend are Humanish now but they used to be these god like entities that defy physics. She has a ship that can travel in time and through the multiverse. And she makes toys, that’s her hobby, and she also likes to take over worlds but the important bit is that she makes toys. She finds people and manipulates them into being her willing playthings and then she does things to them and she sells them.”
462Nicky shook her head in disbelief “So is this woman someone you met online, that you’re only just meeting in person tomorrow or...?”
463“I travelled in time and snogged Steve so he would fall in love with me and thereby cause me to be heartbroken and vulnerable, ready for the Bam-Kursh to come along and sweep me off my feet.” said Lisa earnestly.
464Lisa stopped walking and Nicky did the same, she remembered the club and that streetlamp but why?
465Lisa continued “She took me round a toy expedition and made me endure a lecture on the history of dolls and that’s when she explained who she is and that she wants to turn me into a toy. Naturally I avoided her after that but times got tough and I knew I had three big chances to go so I phoned her up and turned up for - well I didn’t know what - and that’s when I travelled in time I got the big windfall and landed the dream job. She wanted me keen, not desperate.”
466“And what changed?” asked Nicky seriously. “What makes you say “Yeah I’m going to be that strange woman’s toy”?”
467Lisa shrugged. “Boredom and curiosity. I had to know and now...”
468
469Nicky stared at her. “So now what? You’re going to run away and become a toy?”
470Lisa sighed. “I already am, in here” She tapped the side of her head with the index finger of her right hand. “I’m just waiting for the Bam-Kursh to make the biological changes.”
471“Biological changes?” asked Nicky.
472Lisa shrugged. “I don’t know. I suppose I don’t need to but from what I can gather I’ll need a good bit of resilience and healing because I am really going to be a toy and the Bam-Kursh has made it very clear that once I am fully transformed she will treat me as we tret our toys.”
473Nicky laughed “I used to decapitate my sister’s dolls.” Lisa nodded.
474Nicky stared at her. “And you’re going with this woman?” Lisa grinned. “It’s going to be fun.”
475The penny dropped and Nicky turned to look at the street lamp and backed up against the wall as she remembered seeing the Bam-Kursh that night. “She asked you out for dinner didn’t she?”
476Lisa nodded. “It was good food.”
477Nicky laughed. “I was so jealous.”
478Lisa stared at her. “I knew it.”
479Nicky blushed and fumbled a recovery. “Umm, I mean I, um, was jealous of seeing the sights...”
480“With a woman who turns people into toys?” asked Lisa with a smirk. “I could always let her know if you’re interested? We could be sold as a pair?”
481Nicky swallowed. “Oh god, Lisa, if this is my last chance to say it I’ve got to...” Lisa nodded. “I know, it’s okay.”
482Nicky looked Lisa in the eyes and said/ “Lisa Watkins, I have fancied you from the moment I set eyes upon you and you are the kindest, sweetest most endearing woman I have ever had the good fortune to know.”
483Lisa kissed Nicky on the cheek.
484Nicky stared at her, relishing the sensation of Lisa’s lips upon her cheek.
485Lisa said. “I am a toy now, Nicky, I am very obedient and I have realised that I liked the thrill of transgression. I want you to enjoy me, to show me what I have been missing. We will never
486
487see each other after tonight so there is nothing to lose.”
488Lisa kissed Nicky on the lips and pulled her close.
489Nicky grinned “Lisa, you show me that you are okay, you understand? I know you’re a toy but you show me that you’re alright because I swear to god if you actually kill yourself after this...”
490Lisa nodded “I understand, I’ll have the Bam-Kursh show off the merchandise.” Nicky smiled and could hold back no longer. She kissed Lisa.
491Lisa kissed back.
492*
493Lisa woke up naked in Nicky’s single bed. The room was small and cluttered with DVDs and CDs, an old laptop lay on a work area to one side. She smelled cooking and went to investigate.
494Nicky was busy frying sausages, eggs and bacon. Lisa said. “That smells good.”
495“Thanks.” said Nicky. “I am making you a full English breakfast. Go have a shower, your clothes are in there.” Nicky pointed.
496Lisa nodded. “Yes, Maam”
497The shower was one of those old fashioned affairs that oscillated between scolding hott and freezing cold but after a moment Lisa found the sweet spot and drenched herself in the hot rain. It felt like she was being reborn. She was sloughing off the skin of Lisa Watkins, architect in training, and becoming something newer, more vital and more alive.
498She stepped out of the shower and dried herself off on a towel then she dressed in the clothes. It was what the Bam-Kursh had given her. Flip flops, an emerald green bikini, a pink skirt and a crop top.
499She entered the kitchen and Nicky was busy plating up breakfast.
500“What’s this for?” asked Lisa.
501Nicky said. “A last supper for my old friend.”
502Lisa didn’t know what to say after that so she just accepted the plate of food and dug in.
503Nicky did the washing up while Lisa ate. There was naturally a practical purpose to this but it was also so Lisa didn’t feel awkward about Nicky not affording a similar breakfast for herself.
504When she had washed and dried all the cooking utensils and pans Nicky made herself a mug
505
506of tea and Lisa a black coffee. She sat opposite Lisa and watched. It was surreal. She kept thinking ‘You are going to be reported dead. You are going to become a toy for some intergalactic cowboy. I am sitting here watching my best friend, greatest crush and most amazing fuck wolf down food before becoming a dead toy.’
507Lisa noticed Nicky looking at her and asked. “What are you thinking?”
508Nicky frowned, she had to keep this light, she searched her mind and remembered a thought she had last night. “You are an excellent choice to be a toy.”
509Lisa blushed and cleaned her plate then she asked sheepishly. “You really think so?”
510Nicky nodded “You are so beautiful, you are the platonic ideal of the female. At least by patriarchal standards of beauty.”
511Lisa giggled. “I’m glad you approve.”
512Nicky smiled sadly. “Why do you think I never had the courage to ask you out?”
513Lisa grinned. “Oh, I don’t know, maybe because I’m straight?”
514Nicky looked Lisa in the eyes. “Really?”
515Lisa blushed and looked away. “Well I’m sorry it took so long...”
516“So am I.” said Nicky, then she added “And now you’re going to be a toy? Any idea what that’s going to be like?”
517Lisa leaned in close to Nicky and whispered conspiratorially. “Complete submission and obedience. I love it. God help me, Nicky, I love pleasing her. I love the way she looks at me. It’s like she wants me with ever fibre of her being but she’s holding herself back. I just want to obey.”
518Nicky looked into Lisa’s eyes and she found a great hunger there, deep desire. Nicky puckered her lips and kissed Lisa tentatively.
519Lisa kissed back.
520Nicky pulled Lisa close and snogged her.
521Lisa climbed onto the table and her hands reached to undo Nick’s belt buckle.
522Nicky pulled Lisa’s skirt and bikini bottoms free then lifted off her top so Lisa was lying stretched out naked on the table and that’s when Nicky saw it- just for a split second as she stared hungrily at Lisa’s naked body- she saw the proportions of a doll, saw the toy that Lisa was becoming. Where last night it had been almost an aphrodisiac here, here it struck a chord. Lisa didn’t want to obey Nicky, she didn’t want to have sex with Nicky. She was the Bam-Kursh’s toy, mentally, and that is who she wanted to obey.
523
524Nicky backed away in shock and confusion. This felt wrong.
525Lisa put her arms down by her sides and asked “What’s wrong?”
526Nicky stammered. “Th-This”
527Lisa frowned and stared at the ceiling.
528Nicky approached the table, approached Lisa, nervously. She stared down at the beautiful woman before her and said simply. “You’re not mine to fuck. I see that now.”
529Lisa sat up and looked Nicky in the eye. “Why do you say that?”
530“You belong to the Bam-Kursh” said Nicky and stroked the back of Lisa’s head. “You’re her toy and you need to go with her. You’re not meant for this world any more.”
531Lisa swallowed. “But you’re the only person who knows my secret?”
532There were tears welling up in Nicky’s eyes now. “And I expect you to come see me when the Bam-Kursh has worked the last of her magic with you. I will hold you to that.”
533Lisa grinned and hugged Nicky. “You never know, I might be able to convince the Bam-Kursh to give you one of me. Would you like that?”
534Nicky pulled away and looked Lisa in the eyes “I don’t want a toy. I want to know that you are safe and happy. Now go on get dressed. I’ll report you missing tomorrow lunch time.”
535Lisa nodded and slid off the table so she could get dressed.
536When she pulled the crop top over her head, Nicky coughed.
537“I found the collar in your jacket pocket.” said Nicky awkwardly.
538Lisa turned and accepted the collar.
539“I took the liberty of having it engraved, I hope you don’t mind.” said Nicky.
540Lisa examined the collar, a dog tag hung from it and engraved on it were the words:
541Lisa Watkins Loving Friend Amazing Toy
542“There’s space on the back for the Bam-Kursh to put her contact details.” said Nicky. “I mean we don’t know what you’re going to be like as a toy, you might need this.”
543Lisa said. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.” then she hugged Nicky.
544“Here, let me help you.” said Nicky and she secured the collar round Lisa’s neck and brushed
545
546her hair. “There, you look beautiful.”
547Lisa grinned. “Look after yourself, yeah?”
548Nicky grinned as she handed Lisa her jacket. “Oh, I’ll be fine. Enjoy yourself, Lisa. May you be the best and most popular toy.”
549They shook hands and Lisa left Nicky’s house. *
550Lisa rang the doorbell of the Bam-Kursh’s apartment.
551The Bam-Kursh answered the door and smiled upon seeing Lisa.
552Lisa smiled at the Bam-Kursh.
553The Bam-Kursh cleared Lisa’s hair from her face and stroked her cheek. “You said ‘Goodbye’?”
554Lisa nodded.
555The Bam-Kursh slid her hand down to the small of Lisa’s back and stood aside let Lisa pass inside.
556The Bam-Kursh shut the apartment door and turned to address Lisa. “I wasn’t sure you’d actually come.”
557Lisa chuckled. “I lay naked and alone in the dark for you. I’m yours.”
558The Bam-Kursh nodded and approached Lisa. “Yes, you really are aren’t you? And so beautiful.”
559Lisa blushed.
560The Bam-Kursh ran her left hand through Lisa’s hair and grinned. “Who is your secret keeper?”
561Lisa giggled. “Remember outside the club?”
562The Bam-Kursh nodded and headed towards the laboratory. “How could I forget? It was when I got to swoop in and rescue the damsel in distress.”
563Lisa followed and said. “Yeah, then. There was a woman with me, she had purple hair then and smoked.”
564The Bam-Kursh started rummaging through her laboratory supplies and cupboards. “I remember her being quite jealous of me. How did she take the news?”
565
566Lisa grinned. “We spent the night together. I think I’m bi now. Anyway I’ve promised her that when you’re done with me you’ll pay her a visit. Show her I’m okay.”
567The Bam-Kursh smiled and retrieved what she wanted then turned to look at Lisa. “I think I can do that. Be quite nice to show off my handiwork to someone who can spot the difference.”
568Lisa asked. “Can I get an explanation or is it bad form to tell your product how she’s made?”
569The Bam-Kursh chuckled. “You really are quite endearing you know?”
570Lisa grinned.
571The Bam-Kursh coughed and held up a syringe. “This will help you heal faster. It will also speed up your metabolism so we don’t have to wait so long for the others to take effect.”
572The Bam-Kursh grabbed Lisa’s left arm and held it steady as she injected the solution.
573The Bam-Kursh said. “Get comfy on the bed, we’ve got quite a few to get through.”
574Lisa nodded and approached the bed, she slipped off her flip flops lay down on the bed.
575The Bam-Kursh approached with a medical bag. She sat on the other side of the bed and stroked Lisa idly, the way one might stroke a cat.
576Lisa asked. “What’s the next one then?”
577“It’ll make your bones stronger and your teeth whiter and healthier.” said the Bam-Kursh as she injected Lisa with the indicated solution.
578“Neat.” said Lisa. “So what about the head stuff? I mean I know you wanted me keen - and I am-”
579The Bam-Kursh interrupted with a grin. “No one is doubting that you’re keen and want this.”
580Lisa grinned. “Thank you. I just mean, well it isn’t usual for toys to be as smart as me, is it? I mean what happens with that?”
581The Bam-Kursh laughed. “I have in here 3 solutions that deal with your mind. The first allows me or any other owner to effectively turn off your mind. You’ll still live, you’ll remain standing or doing whatever it was you were doing but the bit of your brain that is you will be sent into a dreamless sleep.”
582Lisa chuckled. “Okay I can see the appeal of that.”
583The Bam-Kursh said. “The second is a carefully designed virus that will shut off the parts of your mind and memory that it would be inconvenient for the product to have.”
584Lisa thought for a second. “Now that sounds interesting, like what parts?”
585
586The Bam-Kursh frowned. “Do you really want to know?”
587“I’m interested” said Lisa curiously. “I became your toy because I wanted to know what it meant, so start talking.”
588The Bam-Kursh chuckled and stroked Lisa’s cheek. “Do I detect a hint of self preservation?” Lisa blushed. “I’m sorry”
589The Bam-Kursh laughed. “It’s alright, I’m joking with you. The solution will render all your knowledge of history, general knowledge and popular culture a distant haze. You won’t remember your family or your friends. All you will remember is that one day you were at university, you ran into me and I convinced you to come with me and now you are a happy little toy. If your owner takes the time to try and teach you, your old memories can come back into focus and in time you can remember who you are but that’s where we get to formula number 3.”
590Lisa gave out a long exhale. “I can see why it’s needed but I can also see now why this is very much illegal.”
591“Having second thoughts?” asked the Bam-Kursh seriously.
592Lisa shook her head. “I just worry about Nicky, my secret keeper.”
593The Bam-Kursh nodded. “Well don’t forget you will have one last chance to leave me.” Lisa sighed. “Not a chance. Tell me about formula number 3.”
594The Bam-Kursh said. “Formula number 3 is why I can confidently sell you as a product. You will have complete loyalty and obedience to the first person you set eyes on, no matter what they do.”
595Lisa swallowed. “I take it you aren’t giving me that before you give me my last chance?”
596The Bam-Kursh shook her head. “You will have those syringes to take home and inject yourself with before you ring the doorbell tomorrow.”
597Lisa nodded. “Maybe go back to the ones I’m getting injected with now.” The Bam-Kursh stroked Lisa’s cheek. “It’ll be okay, honey, you’ll love it.”
598Then the Bam-Kursh reached into her bag and pulled out a syringe. “This will still let you identify pain but it will be felt as a deeper richer bitter pleasure.”
599Lisa smiled. “Oh, I am so glad to have that.”
600The Bam-Kursh grinned and injected Lisa with the solution.
601“This- ” She said pulling out a different syringe. “-will make it that, aside from your hair, any
602
603part of your body that is cut and removed from the rest will continue to function as if it were connected. I’ve tied in a safety feature to trigger your mind switch off if you spend more than half an hour in a paralysed state.”
604Lisa said. “Thank you for adding that last bit. That doesn’t particularly sound fun for me but I guess it’s necessary if I am to be a toy.”
605The Bam-Kursh said. “It’s my favourite feature.”
606Lisa said. “You weren’t the kind of girl who played dress up with your dolls were you?”
607The Bam-Kursh shook her head slowly. “No, I was someone who saw toys as a way of relieving stress.”
608Lisa frowned. “But you’re so sweet to me?”
609The Bam-Kursh said. “I’m good at what I do, doesn’t mean I won’t relish beating you up and pulling you apart.”
610Lisa sighed. “Fine, inject me.”
611The Bam-Kursh injected Lisa.
612Lisa asked. “So what about needing to breathe, eating, shitting and periods? Can I sweat?”
613The Bam-Kursh pulled out a syringe. “This will make all those things entirely optional. Periods will effectively stop because you’ll only create a lining for eggs and indeed release eggs if you want to.”
614Lisa said. “See now that makes me think that I can live happily as your chew toy. Hang on, you’re saying toys can have kids but isn’t that like... Well... Rapey? I mean someone buys me from a shop, I am instantly obsessed with them, and they can have kids with me? Gosh, if I’m completely obedient! What if - I mean I’m a toy, right? - And I’m bought for these kids and this skeevy child going through puberty-”
615The Bam-Kursh rolled her eyes. “Lisa, give me some fucking credit, yeah? I may be an eldritch abomination possessing the body of a woman and turning you into a toy so I can conquer the multiverse but I draw the line at rape and especially THAT. When it comes to sex you will have agency enough to say no and to enthusiastically consent.”
616Lisa breathed a sigh of relief. “Well thank god, but why can I have children. if I’m a toy?”
617The Bam-Kursh laughed. “Because I am not blind to the reality that you are a young woman who swings both ways and may well want to settle down and raise a family in future. The fact that you are legally property and have very few rights does not mean you can’t fall in love. Sylphs can get married and Sylphs can have pet Sylphs so toys can as well.”
618Lisa thought for as moment then said. “I think I love you, you know? I assumed, well that I’d be scooped out and replaced with a robot or something?”
619
620The Bam-Kursh shook her head. “I’m a ‘have my cake and eat it’ kind of woman.”
621Lisa said. “Well between pulling my head off and beating me up do you reckon you might find time to let me be Human, you know take me for walks and stuff?”
622The Bam-Kursh kissed Lisa’s forehead and injected Lisa then she pulled out a final syringe. “This will make your skin exceedingly durable. You will be able to withstand a head on nuclear blast, the hottest of fires, deep space, the highest water pressures and even treading on lego bricks. Needless to say your mind will turn off after half an hour in any environment when you can’t do anything to help your situation. You will however be endangered by stars, blackholes and logic bombs.”
623Lisa whistled. “Impressive. So how can you-?”
624The Bam-Kursh grinned. “Context sensitive. You are a durable toy, not a soldier, if a person uses their hands or a simple tool you will be slightly easier to take apart than you are now.”
625Lisa nodded. “You’ve sold me on this.”
626The Bam-Kursh injected Lisa with the final syringe.
627Lisa asked. “What now?”
628The Bam-Kursh got off the bed and packed away the medical bag then she asked. “Would you like to see the factory?”
629Lisa sat up. “Alright, yeah.”
630The Bam-Kursh headed over to the control console.
631Lisa got off the bed and slipped on her flip flops then she strode over to the doorway.
632The Bam-Kursh pulled a lever and the apartment door sprang open.
633The Bam-Kursh approached Lisa and held her hands as she looked into her eyes. “Thank you. Truly. Lisa, you have been more than I could ever have hoped.”
634She stroked Lisa’s cheek and kissed her on the forehead. “Come on.”
635Lisa followed the Bam-Kursh out into a vast cathedral of industry as vast cables fed conveyor belts and rollers and great white crates.
636The Bam-Kursh led the way to an inspection ladder and made sure the way was safe before she let Lisa climb up after her. The Bam-Kursh led Lisa along the inspection route to a heavy metal door and after passing multiple forms of identification the door shucked open. Inside was a vast chamber the size of a football pitch.
637Lisa was amazed. “What is this place? I mean, how does it work?”
638
639The Bam-Kursh said. “Ever heard of quantum teleportation?”
640Lisa thought for a second then said. “That’s the granddad’s spade approach to teleportation, right? You get destroyed at one end, rebuilt at the other, except its completely different matter.”
641The Bam-Kursh nodded. “Well this is like that only the original is not destroyed and we retain the data so we can keep printing units out. The floor and ceiling serve to essentially build the units subatomic particle by subatomic particle, logic encoding after logic encoding. Then when the entire field is filled with units the wall at the back is pushed by pneumatic rams and the units sluice off the printer bay, dawn a series of rollers and onto conveyor belts where the units are then sent off for shipping across the multiverse.”
642“Wow!” exclaimed Lisa impressed. “So where’s the input? Where do I go?”
643The Bam-Kursh grinned “I love that you love this, you know?”
644Lisa smirked. “You gonna show me or what?”
645The Bam-Kursh led the way as she chuckled. “You’re a chicken asking how KFC is made.” Lisa snorted.
646It was a long walk but at last the Bam-Kursh led Lisa to a large white space with cable and weird looking antenna overhead.
647“This is where you go.” said the Bam-Kursh.
648Lucy stood, looked at the place and was lost in thought for a moment. This was an almost religious place for her. This, though she would not be aware of it when it happened, was where Lisa would become legion, where she would finally become merchandise.
649The Bam-Kursh checked her watch and pulled what looked like a yoyo out of her pocket. She clasped her hands around Lisa’s neck, as if examining her collar. She read the engraving on the dog tag off to cover the twisting and splitting of the two halves of the yoyo. “Lisa Watkins, loving friend and amazing toy. Aww, who wrote that?”
650The Bam-Kursh used the different halves of the yoyo as handles as a super thin hyper advanced cutting wire was revealed under high tension. The Bam-Kursh proceeded to slowly saw through Lisa’s neck. The Bam-Kursh’s thumbs and knuckles held Lisa’s head carefully so that there was a 2 millimetre space between the areas that had been cut, preventing healing.
651Lisa answered. “Nicky, my secret keeper. It’s sweet isn’t it?”
652“Yeah.” said the Bam-Kursh. “I think we’ll keep it, include it in the product.”
653Lisa asked. “What are you doing? I mean I know you wanted a look at the collar but what are those disk shaped things?”
654
655Lisa’s head separated from her neck.
656“Lisa, honey, hold you left hand out flat before you.” said the Bam-Kursh.
657Lisa frowned but held her left hand out flat before her.
658“Perfect” said the Bam-Kursh. “Now shut your eyes and don’t open then until I say.”
659Lisa shut her eyes and said. “Okay, my eyes are shut”
660“Good girl.” said the Bam-Kursh and she rested Lisa’s head on her left hand as the Bam- Kursh carefully stowed the cutting wire disguised as a yoyo.
661When her hands were free, the Bam-Kursh picked up Lucy’s head in her hands, strode forward three paces and turned around so she was looking at Lisa’s headless body.
662“And open your eyes” said the Bam-Kursh
663Lisa opened her eyes and shrieked. She made her left hand into a fist and watched as the headless body with the outstretched left hand clenched its fist.
664“This is very weird.” said Lisa.
665The Bam-Kursh grinned. “It’s fantastic isn’t it? You’re fantastic. Look you can lick yourself out.”
666Lisa tried to shake her head but instead she watched her neck gyrate without her head and Lisa’s perspective didn’t change.
667“No.” said Lisa. “I don’t like this.”
668“Spoil sport.” said the Bam-Kursh and she put Lisa’s head back on her neck. It healed in a moment.
669Lisa shook her head and sighed with relief to experience the familiar sensations. Lisa shuddered. “I really did not like that.”
670The Bam-Kursh stroked Lisa’s arms compassionately and said. “You are now ready to be the mould for the packaging.”
671Lisa stared at her, wondering what on earth she was talking about and then she realised. Dolls always came in vacuum formed clear plastic packaging to hold them in place and keep them from moving in transit. Except Lisa hadn’t been prototyped, there was no rough version to use for the forming, there was just Lisa. She sighed. “The fast healing was the first injected, you knew that would function. You needed to make sure the other stuff was working before you’d let me in the vacuum former.”
672
673The Bam-Kursh nodded. “That and I like the power of decapitating you.” Lisa groaned. “Whatever.”
674The Bam-Kursh led the way to the vacuum former.
675Lisa followed.
676The vacuum former was a chamber the size of 4 stacked vans, a clear door led inside. The floor of the chamber was a mesh grill and the top was where a sheet of plastic would be heated up and lowered down.
677The Bam-Kursh said. “You’ll have to strip. You can withstand molten plastic. Your clothes can’t.”
678Lisa started stripping but asked. “What about my hair?”
679The Bam-Kursh handed Lisa what looked like a leather shower cap. “It’s your skin. I grew the sample I took from you and treated it with the same stuff. Your eyebrows and eyelashes will go but they’ll have grown back by the time we record the data for the printers.”
680Lisa shrugged and put the leather cap over her hair.
681“On your front first.” said the Bam-Kursh. “Fingers and toes together, mouth closed, arms and legs splayed.”
682Lisa was let into the vacuum former and the Bam-Kursh activated the machinery.
683A sheet of hot plastic was pulled down and the vacuum formed the plastic around Lisa. The plastic was allowed to cool before being lifted up to free Lisa.
684The Bam-Kursh let Lisa out.
685The plastic shell was scanned into the system and a new copy of the shell was printed out of wire mesh, flipped upside down and held in place, ready for Lisa to climb in and form the other half of the packaging.
686Lisa climbed in backwards and fit in the mesh shell then shut her eyes and awaited the piercing heat of near molten plastic. The hot plastic was bought down, formed around Lisa and cooled then was lifted up and Lisa was allowed free.
687The Bam-Kursh let Lisa out then hugged her and kissed her on the forehead. “I’m proud of you, Lisa. You’re ready. I think I’ll save you the walk back.”
688Lisa started gathering up her clothes.
689The Bam-Kursh pulled out a simple drawstring bag and held it open. “Drop them in here, I’ve already put your collar in there.”
690
691Lisa placed the clothes in the bag and stood naked before the Bam-Kursh. “So what next?”
692The Bam-Kursh handed her a hair band. “Put your hair into a pony tail.”
693Lisa raised an eyebrow in curiosity but did as she was told.
694The Bam-Kursh pulled out what looks like a flimy black fabric bag, unzipped it and laid it flat on the ground.
695Lisa finished the ponytail.
696The Bam-Kursh said. “Sit down on the bag.”
697Lisa stared at the odd black mess of straps for a moment, trying to work out what it was and then she realised, the front, back and sides had been folded out and laid flat on the ground, the bag would be built around her.
698Lisa sat down on what looked like to be the bottom and buckled herself in. She slipped her feet into a special fold at the bottom of the bag. She slipped her left and right arms through straps in the side and folded her arms around her then a thought occurred to her. “This is a bag right? I’m going to be immobile and in the dark here.”
699“Yes.” said the Bam-Kursh standing over Lisa. “Is that a problem?” Lisa said. “Well you can cut my head off, we can talk while you walk.”
700The Bam-Kursh grinned. “Gather up your pony tail in your right hand and pull ever so gently away from you.”
701Lisa started gathering her hair.
702The Bam-Kursh strode behind Lisa, pulled out her yoyo and squatted down,
703Lisa pulled her ponytail forward and to the right.
704The Bam-Kursh massaged Lisa’s neck and twisted the two halves of the yoyo. “You might want to shut your eyes now.”
705Lisa shut her eyes. “I’m ready”
706The halves of the yoyo became handles as wire sliced carefully through Lisa’s neck.
707Lisa’s head swung forwards and dangled from the ponytail held in her right hand.
708The Bam-Kursh united the two halves of the yoyo and stowed it, then she grabbed Lisa’s head. “It’s alright, I’ve got you.”
709Lisa breathed a sigh of relief and dropped her ponytail.
710
711The Bam-Kursh said. “I’m going to set your head on the ground now. Hug your knees, I need to pack your body away.”
712The Bam-Kursh placed Lisa’s head on the ground and went to her body.
713Lisa hugged her knees and the Bam-Kursh zipped up the sides of the bag and buckled the top closed.
714The Bam-Kursh wore the drawstring bag first then slung the backpack containing Lisa’s body onto her back. Finally she picked up Lisa’s head and held like she was recording a vlog on the move. “You can open your eyes now.”
715Lisa opened her eyes and saw she was being held at arms length from the Bam-Kursh and could see the bag that she knew contained her body. “It’s an interesting experience.”
716The Bam-Kursh chuckled and started walking. “I know everything about you, Lisa, but while we walk I want to enlighten you on anything you don’t know.”
717Lisa asked. “What’s the point? I’m going to forget everything.”
718The Bam-Kursh shook her head. “The point my dear is that you have an enquiring mind and we have a long walk ahead of us.”
719“Okay.” said Lisa thoughtfully. “Tell me about the Farsh-nuke, tell me about Sylphs and tell me about the United Civilisations of the Multiverse.”
720*
721The Bam-Kursh kicked open the door of the apartment and rammed Lisa’s head on a golf club. “I won’t be a moment, darling.”
722Lisa sighed.
723The Bam-Kursh slung her backpacks onto the bed and unzipped the bag containing Lisa’s body then she started rummaging through the clothes racks.
724Lisa called. “Hey, I’d quite like my body please.”
725The Bam-Kursh chuckled.
726Lisa shut her eyes and focused on what she could feel and her memory of getting into the bag. There were two straps holding her arms in place. She felt along her left arm with her right hand until she found the strap, she grabbed it and pulled her left arm free. Then she freed her right arm. She slipped her feet out from the fold at the bottom of the bag. Finally she felt for the buckle around her waist.
727Now free, Lisa edged along the bed until she found the floor and nervously stood up. Her sense of balance was shit since you get that from your ears and her ears were not on her
728
729body at the moment but she was confident and had muscle memory on her side. Lisa stood and clapped with her hands.
730The Bam-Kursh turned and approached Lisa’s body, she grabbed Lisa’s hands and pulled them to her side then she lifted Lisa’s body up and laid it on the bed. She cried. “Stay!” and stroked Lisa’s arms compassionately then she stood up, approached Lisa’s head and picked it up. “Lisa, I don’t think you quite get this, you stay until I am ready for you.”
731Lisa stuck her tongue out obstinately.
732The Bam-Kursh laughed and carried Lisa’s head over to rejoin her body.
733Lisa healed in moments then said. “If we’re going to do this, I need to know that I can trust you.”
734The Bam-Kursh looked sadly at Lisa. “I have lied to you, manipulated you, cut your head off and I will beat you. You are going to be my property and I am going to sell you as a toy. There is no trust. There is only your loyalty, obedience and sweetness. The next time you walk through that door my work will be complete and Lisa Watkins the human being will be no more. You won’t have the rights that you do now and you won’t care what I do to you.”
735The Bam-Kursh handed Lisa her bra, knickers, jeans, T-shirt and jacket. “This is your last chance to walk away.”
736Lisa got dressed and removed the hair band, the ponytail unravelling as a result.
737The Bam-Kursh handed Lisa a medical bag. “If you come back, inject the contents of these three syringes before you ring the doorbell.”
738“So, this is goodbye then?” said Lisa. “Even if I return... Well... I won’t. Your toy will but I will be... Gone. Lost to the fog of memory.”
739The Bam-Kursh nodded and stroked Lisa’s cheek. “I will miss you. I think I will. You’re smart, I like that but smart toys are scary. You won’t sell otherwise.”
740Lisa nodded sadly. “And that’s all I ever was to you, in the end. A product.”
741The Bam-Kursh nodded silently and bit her lip, then she kissed Lisa on the forehead. “Goodbye, Lisa, it was fun.”
742“Yeah.” said Lisa. “It really was.”
743Lisa approached the apartment door.
744The Bam-Kursh pulled some levers on the console to reveal London as the apartment door sprang open.
745Lisa stepped out bare foot into London.
746
747*
748Lisa felt lost and alone. She didn’t want to just turn around and ring the bell. She had to think about this but she had nowhere to go. She was a dead woman and she didn’t want to deal with that. She just - she just wanted someone to make her feel loved and wanted.
749She staggered out into the crowd and a commanding male voice said. “Only two kinds of people walk barefoot. People who can’t be arsed to put on shoes because they’re so close to home and people who don’t need shoes in the first place. You look like a bit of both.”
750Lisa turned to the source of the voice and found herself looking at a man in a bedraggled suit with a tie in a windsor knot, emerald green eyes and short black hair.
751He smiled at her. “It’s alright, I don’t bite.” Lisa approached him.
752He stuck his hands in his pockets and slouched as he paced. He explained idly. “So I was just in the middle of convincing Julius Caesar that maybe he should reform the army so the legions aren’t tied to the success of the generals when the Bam-Kursh turns up, this time as a woman, and I’m like fuck it, I’m going to be a woman, why the fuck not? But she’s not here to play the great game, she’s here to offer me an olive branch, a toy she says. A toy that has engraved on her collar: Lisa Watkins, Loving Friend, Amazing Toy.”
753He paused to watch Lisa’s reaction. Lisa was confused.
754The strange man continued. “I’m no stranger to hooky goods and me and the Bam-Kursh... Well... We go WAY back. I know what she’s like and I know how she works and that means I have just left my best friend of my human life with a woman that when I last met her, tried very hard to murder me.”
755He paused and looked at Lisa. “I am risking my best friend’s life to see that you are okay, Lisa. I am the Farsh-nuke and I have a very important question to ask you. What do you think that shed is doing there?”
756With that the man turned and strode towards where a rickety wooden shed lay parked at the side of a road.
757Lisa followed.
758The man entered and left the door ajar.
759Lisa carefully approached the doorway and saw a large room with a mushroom shaped console beyond. She entered it.
760Lisa entered a large seven sided art deco room covered in crisp packets and soda bottles.
761
762“Don’t mind the mess.” said the man. “You can shut the door if you like. We both know I can’t hurt you.”
763Lisa shut the door behind her.
764The man approached with a bowl of what looked like dry cat food. “Kibble?”
765Lisa examined the food nervously then looked at him.
766He frowned. “Yeah, wasn’t exactly sure what toys ate. This is Sylph kibble, keeps the girls good and strong and their hair ever so shiny.”
767Lisa smirked. “So you really are the Farsh-nuke?”
768The Farsh-nuke nodded. “And you look lost, do you want to follow me through into the living room and tell me about it?”
769Lisa looked at him awkwardly.
770The Farsh-nuke smacked his head in frustration at his own stupidity. “Toy, Farsh-nuke, she’s a toy.”
771He grimaced. “Lisa, I am going to sit on the sofa in the living room. There will be space next to me.”
772The Farsh-nuke strode through a door into a living room with sofas and armchairs, TVs and dvds.
773Lisa followed.
774The Farsh-nuke sat rather ostentatiously on the sofa. Lisa sat beside him.
775“So what is it you do with Sylphs?” asks Lisa.
776The Farsh-nuke frowned. “I am not a nice man, Lisa. When I saw the Sylph pill in action I panicked. I did... Things. Nasty things. Twenty years of nasty things. I saw sense eventually and I became a hero. For a brief moment I knew someone, she was my you, she made me complete. She was my pet and one of my best friends.”
777“What happened to her?” asked Lisa.
778The Farsh-nuke stared into space for a long moment then said simply. “Bad things.” Lisa took his hand and squeezed it.
779The Farsh-nuke looked at Lisa and frowned. “You’d make the most amazing Sylph you
780
781know?”
782Lisa was taken aback. “But I’m - I’m...” She trailed off. She couldn’t say it. The words hurt. “Tell me about her.” said the Farshnuke as he brushed hair from her face.
783Lisa nodded. “She is lying, manipulative, she cuts my head off for fun and I love her. I love how small she makes me feel, how the hairs stand up on the back of my neck just thinking about her, how she possesses every inch of my body and soul and makes me want to obey her.”
784The Farsh-nuke nodded.
785“She’s just so confident and she’s always got a plan, you know?” said Lisa. “But she doesn’t care about me. She cares about the product.”
786The Farsh-nuke said carefully. “What needs to happen before you become the product?”
787Lisa held up the medical bag. “There are three syringes in here for my mind. The first lets me be turned off, the second makes all memory aside from the taming distant and foggy and the third makes me obedient.”
788The Farsh-nuke nodded. “Yep that’s the Bam-Kursh, alright.”
789Lisa gave the Farsh-nuke a pained expression. “What do I do? I love her so much and I want to please her so much but I-I don’t want to...”
790The Farsh-nuke hugged Lisa. “Darling, I would take you in heartbeat, you wouldn’t even have to become a Sylph.”
791Then he pulled back. “But I don’t think you want to run away. I don’t think you want a third way. I think you’re scared because nobody can be that good but I think you want to go through with this.”
792Lisa was on the verge of tears. “Will you inject me? These - It’s hard. I can’t do it.”
793The Farsh-nuke stroked Lisa’s cheek. “I’ll do it. I’ll deliver you to the Bam-Kursh and I’ll even ring the door bell for you but I am not doing it now.”
794Lisa swallowed hard. “Why? It’s all I’m good for.”
795The Farsh-nuke froze as tendrils of rage clawed at his features. He swallowed and shook his head. “Lisa, you are a young and beautiful woman. You could achieve so many things. I am not... delivering... you now because I know how the Bam-Kursh operates and I know who you are and you did not start down this path because the Bam-Kursh was that good at talking to you. Something happened to make you choose this, what was it?”
796Lisa thought back to happier times and she started to calm down as she explained. “Well, she gave me three chances, after I next saw her, when she would make me go away and
797
798consider my life choices. My ability to say no would diminish each time but I would have three chances. So it was a card I kept in my back pocket for a rainy day.”
799“And that rainy day came.” said the Farsh-nuke. “How?”
800Lisa sighed. “Turns out graduating just means a hunk of debt to pay off and three years of your life wasted and oh by the way you’re more likely to be killed by the social security system than you are to be murdered.”
801The Farsh-nuke grimaced. “And when you’re trapped between the Nazis and the Communists, suddenly a deal with the devil, especially if you have three more chances to cancel the deal, looks pretty darn tempting. What happened next?”
802“She gave me a fuck ton of money and a job.” said Lisa. “And I took my first chance and ran with it.”
803“But?” asked the Farsh-nuke.
804“But she was under my skin.” said Lisa. “And I was just like well my job’s awesome but I know how it ends and I don’t know how being a pet ends and I’m excited to know how I get there.”
805The Farsh-nuke frowned. “The ennui of the career ladder. How did you spend your next chance?”
806Lisa said. “I said goodbye. I knew I was hers then. So I faked suicide notes and had my friend from university, Nicky, act as my secret keeper and ‘find’ them.”
807The Farsh-nuke nodded. “The hooks were well and truly in and what was your third chance?” Lisa looked at him awkwardly. “This is it.”
808The Farsh-nuke froze, his brain making dreadful calculations. He whistled then said. “Well played Bam-Kursh, well played.”
809Lisa stared at the strange man. “What do you mean?”
810The Farsh-nuke explained “You’re not a doctor or a nurse and, no offense, but you don’t look the type to do drugs from a needle. The only way you could possibly get yourself injected is if you walk to a hospital and ask around and they’ll take one look at you and decide to get the syringes far away from you. Fuck knows what surprises the Bam-Kursh has in store if they try to study the syringes. You will get sectioned for saying stuff their understanding of science says is impossible, faking suicide and expressing a desire to be a toy. They’ll realise you’re harmless and your conditioning will break. You will get a good job and live a good life.”
811Lisa said. “I don’t understand.”
812The Farsh-nuke sighed. “The Bam-Kursh cares for you. She really cares for you. She gave you up. She gave up the product you represent to her.”
813
814Lisa was struggling to take this all in. “But that’s good isn’t it?”
815“Oh, it’s very good” said the Farsh-nuke coldly as he stared into space. “Then why do you seem angry?” asked Lisa innocently.
816The Farsh-nuke stood up and grimaced. He threw a cushion across the room. “I am angry because the Bam-Kursh is a cold calculating little witch who is not ruled by such things as emotions.”
817He spat on the floor in disgust. “She planned to sell you to me and that means she knew that there would always be a reality where that exists but for that reality to exist in a universe where she gave you up something has to change and that something is me turning up to play the hero only to realise that yet again I have to kill a woman.”
818Lisa stood up and cried. “What!? You’re going to kill me?”
819The Farsh-nuke looked Lisa in the eyes. “She’s going to mass produce and sell you. She only needs to do that once for all the other Bam-Kursh’s to get you as a toy. I, through my stupid desire to help, am the only person available who can inject you. If I don’t, I can’t return to my friend. I will have abandoned her to the woman who did this to you.”
820Lisa swallowed, understanding. “One way or another you have to let someone become a toy of the Bam-Kursh?”
821The Farsh-nuke nodded, silently furious.
822“And I’ve already been tamed.” said Lisa bluntly. “I just need to make the last step.”
823The Farsh-nuke walked past Lisa and paced the console room.
824“I can’t do this anymore.” he said.
825He screamed at the ceiling. “I am not doing this again!”
826Lisa stepped out into the console room.
827“Twenty years! Twenty fucking years! And then...! And now this! And now this.” The Farsh- nuke kicked the console.
828Lisa asked. “Are you okay?”
829“Morality’s a lich.” said the Farsh-nuke then he opened a cubby in the stem of the console and pulled out a pencil and paper. He handed the paper and pencil to Lisa and said. “I need names and places. The Prime Minister, the Head of the Department of Work and Pensions, your Secret Keeper. If I’m here I might as well do some good, beyond, well...”
830Lisa started writing.
831
832The Farsh-nuke watched her and felt a pang of heartbreak. “In another life we might have been friends?”
833Lisa finished writing and said. “Or I could have been your pet?”
834He smiled wistfully at the thought.
835Lisa approached him. “What would you do, if I were your pet?”
836He grinned. “Oh I’d spoil you, you’d have your heart’s every desire. I’d take you for walks and you’d snuggle up as I watched Professor Logicity.”
837He stroked her cheek gently and said. “I am sorry, Lisa.” “Don’t be.” said Lisa gently. “None of this is your fault.”
838The Farsh-nuke hugged her. “Think of the Bam-Kursh, Lisa, think of all the times she’s made you feel alive.”
839Lisa felt a slight scratch on her left arm and heard the tinkling of spent syringes dropping to the floor.
840The Farsh-nuke walked in silence with Lisa to the Bam-Kursh’s apartment. Lisa decided to ring the doorbell herself.
841The door swung open and Lisa walked inside as the Farsh-nuke backed off.
842*
843The sand wedge struck Lisa across the temple. The pain was bitter but rich in ecstacy.
844The Bam-Kursh dropped the sand wedge and picked up a cricket bat.
845Lisa grinned, her body electric with excitement. “One last act of domination.”
846The Bam-Kursh smiled sadistically. “I told you this day would come.”
847The cricket bat slammed into Lisa’s left leg and she collapsed with a scream of bitter ecstacy as her lower leg was dislocated from knee.
848The Bam-Kursh swung the cricket bat round in a circle and impacted Lisa’s right ear as she fell.
849The Bam-Kursh stood over Lisa’s fallen body and whacked her right in the face with the flat of the bat, breaking her nose.
850The Bam-Kursh knelt down and moved the cricket bat to her off hand. She pulled a dagger out of her pocket and started making careful cuts across Lisa’s body.
851
852Lisa stared up at her mistress and knew she was on borrowed time. She cried out. “I love you!”
853“I know.” said the Bam-Kursh testily as she finished the last of her cuts.
854The Bam-Kursh stowed the dagger and got to her feet as she moved the cricket bat to her primary hand again.
855Lisa hurriedly got her feet, fully healed and looked over to where the toybox sat, its lid open to catch and slam down on anything thrown into it.
856The Bam-Kursh circled Lisa and slammed her in the arse with the cricket bat, sending her flying towards the door.
857Lisa’s shoulder caught the corner of the hallway wall and she screamed with bitter ecstacy. It was now that she noticed she was standing naked and her clothes lay in pieces on the floor. She laughed.
858The Bam-Kursh abandoned the cricket bat for a pair of hockey sticks. Lisa grinned and backed away to give the Bam-Kursh room to swing.
859The Bam-Kursh lashed out with one heavy strike from the left stick and followed it up with the right.
860Lisa had a moment to catch her breath before the Bam-Kursh started pounding, just pounding away at Lisa.
861Lisa jumped and the Bam-Kursh seized the opportunity presented. Lisa was juggled into the air above the Bam-Kursh and when just about ever square inch of her flesh had been pummeled the Bam-Kursh picked up a baseball bat and slammed Lisa’s bruised and battered body into the toy box.
862The lid of the toybox slammed shut on Lisa and she lay in exquisite ecstacy in the dark until the injections took effect.
863*
864The Bam-Kursh tossed the baseball bat away and stood panting for a moment. She approached the toy box and saw a device she’d installed on the toybox lid glow with a green light. The injections within Lisa had activated and the device had just successfully turned Lisa’s mind off.
865The Bam-Kursh opened up the toybox and found Lisa in a heap. She lifted Lisa up and carried her to the bed then she pulled out her quantum oscillator and altered the jamming frequency to allow Lisa’s body to go limp.
866The Bam-Kursh slid the fold out bag underneath Lisa, and buckled her into the bag, next she
867
868slid Lisa’s feet into the special fold at the bottom of the bag and pulled Lisa’s arms through the side straps. She posed Lisa so she was hugging her knees and altered the jamming frequency to hold her body in that position then she zipped up the bag and buckled the top closed.
869The Bam-Kursh went to the console and after a while at the controls she pulled the door lever and it sprang open.
870The Bam-Kursh slung the bag containing Lisa onto her back and walked out the door. *
871The factory was buzzing with overseers and workers now. It was about to go live after all.
872The Bam-Kursh made the long trek over to the input scanner for the factory and found the packaging waiting on the input plate.
873The Chief Overseer nodded respectfully. “Maam”
874The Bam-Kursh smiled at the reassuring sight of Francine, the fat freckly 50 year old massively experienced chief overseer, and said. “It was a bit fraught but I got her in the end.”
875The Chief Overseer nodded. “Well just lay her in the packaging and my crew will have her ready for data entry in few moments.”
876The Bam-Kursh nodded and approached the packaging. It was the bottom part of the packaging and she half smiled at the impression of Lisa’s butt.
877The Bam-Kursh carefully took the bag containing Lisa off her back, unbuckled the top and unzipped it. She altered the jamming frequency and Lisa’s body went limp. She pulled Lisa’s arms and feet free then unbuckled her from the bag. She lay Lisa’s body out flat and altered the frequency again so the Bam-Kursh could easily lift Lisa into the packaging. She altered the frequency to let Lisa’s limp body fit perfectly into the grooves then she stood back.
878The Chief Overseer’s hand picked team bought the top part of the packaging on top of Lisa and then they proceeded to glue, tape and cable tie the two halves of the packaging securely around Lisa.
879The Chief Overseer said “Maam, we’re about to wire in the psychoinhibitors and interference dampeners.”
880The Bam-Kursh nodded and aimed her quantum oscillator at Lisa. She altered the frequency one last time and Lisa’s body was held rigid in position.
881The Bam-Kursh lowered the Quantum Oscillator.
882The Chief Overseer nodded for work to continue.
883The button to turn Lisa’s mind on was added and Lisa’s skirt, crop top, bikini, flip flops and
884
885collar were added. Then interference dampening wires were laid out and small battery powered computers programmed to knock Lisa unconcious and alert security if mind brain function was detected were added. Finally the cardboard branding was slid into position and secured with tape.
886The Chief Overseer inspected the packaging then cried “Alright guys! You’ve done a good job, clear the area and get to your work stations. It’s go time.”
887Everyone cleared away from the input plate and the Bam-Kursh looked anxiously at Lisa as beams of logic scanned her every sub-atomic particle and oscillation of logic.
888The Chief Overseer listened into an earpiece and said. “That’s three good scans. Maam, she’s all yours.”
889The Bam-Kursh ran forwards onto the input plate and tore at the packaging. She pulled the knife from her pocket and started cutting Lisa free. Then she pressed the switch on button.
890The toy opened her eyes and said. “Hello, I’m Lisa. You can call me something different if you like, what’s your name?”
891The Bam-Kursh grinned. “You may call me Mistress, I am the Bam-Kursh.”
892The toy grinned. “My maker. You raised me up from humanity, how may I make your life better?”
893The Bam-Kursh stroked the toy’s cheek and said. “You can start by getting dressed.” The toy nodded. “With pleasure, Mistress.”
894The Bam-Kursh helped the toy out of the packaging and handed her her clothes. The toy got dressed and the Bam-Kursh readied her collar.
895The toy stood before the Bam-Kursh in the pink skirt, crop top and flip flops.
896The Bam-Kursh smiled and approached the toy, she grabbed her round the waist and pulled her close.
897The toy grinned.
898The Bam-Kursh secured the collar around the toy’s neck and said “Follow me girl and stay close. I don’t want to lose you.”
899The toy nodded.
900The Bam-Kursh stroked the toy’s cheek and turned away from her. The Chief Overseer was grinning. “She’s everything you wanted then?”
901
902“Oh yes.” said the Bam-Kursh gleefully. “A truly amazing little toy. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I -”
903The Chief Overseer chuckled. “Go, enjoy her. You’ve earned it.”
904The Bam-Kursh nodded and started making her way to the apartment. The toy followed obediently.
905*
906The Bam-Kursh entered the apartment and headed to the console and felt breath on the nape of her neck. She turned and saw the toy standing right behind her. Clearly her toy was a good deal stupider than Lisa.
907The Bam-Kursh had a wicked thought and asked “Hey girl, how would you feel if I cut your head off?”
908The toy blushed and giggled. “I am yours to command and play with.”
909The Bam-Kursh studied the toy for a long moment and fondled the yoyo in her pocket.
910The toy was grinning at her. It was a stupid childish grin, the kind a lovesick youngster gives their crush.
911The Bam-Kursh shook her head, it wasn’t the same. There was no pleasure to be taken from such a brainless individual. She said “Go stand by the side of the hallway, when I stroke your head follow me like you have done.”
912The toy nodded and went to stand by the side of the hallway.
913The Bam-Kursh manipulated the controls and pulled the door lever.
914The Bam-Kursh headed out the door, stroking the toy’s head as she passed. The toy followed the Bam-Kursh out the door.
915*
916They were in an office in a building. A short balding white man in a business suit had a bunch of files before him on a desk.
917He stood up as they entered and shook first the Bam-Kursh’s and then the toy’s hand. “Miss Bam-Kursh, Miss Watkins, I am Cedric Lumpkin, I am a judge by trade but the ministers for retail, animal welfare and human rights agreed to hire me to be your liaison.”
918Mr Lumpkin sat down in his office chair.
919The Bam-Kursh and the toy each took a seat opposite him.
920
921“Right, this is the situation as I understand it.” said Mr Lumpkin. “You, Miss Bam-Kursh, wish to claim legal right to own, mass produce and sell Miss Watkins here? Indeed not only that but you wish to file a patent and copyright claim upon her?”
922The Bam-Kursh nodded. “That’s right.”
923The toy smiled bemusedly at Mr Lumpkin. “Why?” asked Mr Lumpkin. “On what grounds?”
924The Bam-Kursh said. “The why is simple. I need money, a lot of money, an awful lot of money. I am an incarnation of the elder god Bam-Kursh and so I decided to break out my old hobby, making toys.”
925Mr Lumpkin sighed. “At least you’re honest about what motivates you but surely you must see that it is quite impossible for any civilised society, let alone one that was forged under oppression, to tolerate selling thinking beings as toys?”
926The Bam-Kursh shook her head. “It’s transformative. Lisa Watkins may have been born a free thinking creature but I have remade her. I changed her outlook and ideals, I have rewritten her soul, I have changed her biology with tools and potions of my own original design. The toy you see before you now shares the face and essential personality attributes of Lisa Watkins but everything else was changed by me.”
927Mr Lumpkin said. “But that’s murder?”
928The Bam-Kursh shook her head. “I consulted with Lisa every step of the way and I have full logs of our meetings. I even have her memories backed up. I absolutely remade Lisa into a toy but she absolutely consented. I mean she gave herself the last three injections. Besides which, Lisa isn’t really dead. She is changed beyond almost all recognition but that is still her mind, her memories of all, save the taming, are locked behind a haze that can be lifted over time with help. The intent is that the customers get to enjoy a blank slate that will grow to love them.”
929Mr Lumpkin frowned. “If there is evidence to what you say then it would seem that you do indeed have a case but this sets a very dangerous precedent.”
930The door squeaked open and a tall blonde woman in a business suit arrived. “Sorry I’m late, ship got delayed. What did I miss?”
931Mr Lumpkin stood up to shake the woman’s hand in greeting. “Ah Miss Danse’s hatchling liaison.”
932The hatchling of Lucy Danse shook Mr Lumpkin’s hand. “Yes, Lucy is very keen that this goes off without a hitch.”
933The hatchling took a seat beside the toy.
934
935Mr Lumpkin said. “Miss Bam-Kursh here was just explaining that she thinks it is fine to patent, copyright and sell as property Miss Watkins here because she believes she has sufficiently transformed her but in a manner that does not constitute killing...”
936Mr Lumpkin’s face was amusement hiding disgust.
937The hatchling nodded. “The Bam-Kursh can do that for much the same reason as Lucy.” Mr Lumpkin stared at her. “What are you talking about?”
938“I am talking about the fact that Lucy Danse is a brood queen to at least a billion different hatchlings like myself. Many are sent off to war but a good 3% are given to various nobles and friends as gifts.” said the hatchling confidently.
939Mr Lumpkin said. “But the hatchlings are born with the mother’s memories and personality and share exactly their dna. In many ways you are Lucy Danse so Lucy going about these practises is fine because she can be sure of consent and nothing is enshrined in law.”
940The hatchling grinned, sensing victory. “Ah but Lisa did consent. Lucy met her and verified as such. And the method of producing the toys is logicular replication, essentially quantum teleportation but without the need for quantum entanglement and the destruction of the original. If quantum teleportation was deemed ethically sound enough to use for transporting people then legally toys produced via logicular replication can be said to be the same as the original toy and therefore what the one consented to, the others would have too.”
941Mr Lumpkin was stunned by the argument but the hatchling wasn’t done yet.
942“By your own logic if the Bam-Kursh was not asking for payment the toys could be just as manufactured and made available to the same people in the same way. You would just have it that any random person without the means to provide the toys with sufficient engagement could get one and without any kind of legal regulation to protect the toys or the people who buy them.” said the hatchling.
943The Bam-Kursh whistled, impressed.
944Mr Lumpkin said “Alright, you have a case but I want all records and I want a full scan of Miss Watkins to ensure that everything is above board.”
945*
946Months passed in fierce negotiations but finally the Bam-Kursh, the toy and the hatchling hit the restaurant to celebrate.
947Lucy and Greta sat at a table and waved them over.
948The hatchling and the Bam-Kursh sat opposite Greta and Lucy, the toy stood beside the Bam- Kursh.
949“So a little birdie tells me you are now the proud legal owner of one Miss Lisa Watkins?” said
950
951Lucy conspiratorially.
952The Bam-Kursh grinned.
953The hatchling said. “It was a nightmare, months of banging our heads against this brick wall as every time we convinced him to see a single element of our argument he would resort to the same old rhetoric. ‘Well this is slavery, this is murder, this is abuse.’”
954Greta chuckled.
955“Anyway, eventually we wore him down” said the hatchling.
956“Good.” said Lucy. “And how do you feel?”
957The Bam-Kursh whispered to the toy. “Hey girl, sit on my lap, yeah?”
958The toy nodded and once the Bam-Kursh had moved back a bit the toy sat on her lap.
959The hatchling sighed. “I just feel so euphoric, so relieved, it’s finally over.”
960Lucy laughed. “I meant about each other.”
961The hatchling frowned. “How do you mean?”
962The Bam-Kursh and Greta laughed, even Lucy smirked.
963The hatchling looked to the toy curiously then said to the Bam-Kursh. “Well, how do you feel?”
964The Bam-Kursh looked the hatchling in the eyes and said. “I think it could work.”
965The hatchling looked back at Lucy. “Why?”
966Lucy shrugged. “I am sort of the mascot of the United Civilisations. I could do with having toys made of me and, well, what else are you going to do?”
967The hatchling blushed. “Well I suppose I am a little open to the idea.”
968The Bam-Kursh chuckled. “She’ll be in stores by the end of the week.”
969The hatchling looked away nervously.
970The Bam-Kursh said. “Anyway I am afraid I must confess something.” She pulled a memory gun round out from her pocket. “I cheated.”
971Lucy laughed and clapped her hands gleefully. “Fantastic!” then she dug a memory gun out of her pocket.
972The Bam-Kursh handed the round to Lucy.
973
974Lucy loaded the round, took aim in the dead centre of the toy’s forehead and fired.
975The memories of Lisa’s life up to the point of the recording of the round, when the Bam-Kursh had taken her to meet Lucy for the first time, exploded like a bomb in her head as all at once fog cleared but the shockwaves did not stop at the recording of the round. The walls in Lisa’s mind were crumbling and she remembered the injections, remembered her head being cut off, remembered the bag, remembered the Farsh-nuke and - yes - even remembered the Bam-Kursh juggling her in the air with hockey stick blows.
976Lisa burst out crying.
977The Bam-kursh squeezed Lisa tight and said “It’s okay, I am never leaving you again.”
978Lucy handed Lisa her serviette.
979“I thought - I thought I was gone.” said Lisa.
980The Bam-Kursh tutted. “I have always known that I would do this. I just had to be certain the product could be sold.”
981Lisa froze, her mind was still a little fuzzy. “Product?” Then she realised what that meant and said. “You mean you’ve done it? You’ve actually sold me?”
982“I mean you are legally my property.” said the Bam-Kursh proudly. “And you are selling like the proverbial hot cakes.”
983“Oh...” said Lisa, overcome by pride.
984“And.” said Lucy cheerfully. “You’re going to have some company in that toybox of yours.”
985The hatchling sheepishly waved. “Hi/”
986Lisa grinned and said. “Hey, Mistress, you can massage my neck if you want?”
987The Bam-Kursh said defensively. “You know I never-?”
988Lisa nodded. “I know and I figure you’ve earned it. Besides, kind of uncomfortable on your lap.”
989The Bam-Kursh kissed Lisa’s neck. “I love you, you know, with all my heart.” The Bam-Kursh twisted the two halves of the yoyo and pulled them apart.
990“It’s funny” said Lisa as the wire bit into the flesh of her neck. “It kind of tickles.”
991*
992Lisa and the hatchling followed the Bam-Kursh into the apartment.
993
994The Bam-Kursh went to the console.
995The hatchling asked. “So how does it feel to be a toy then?”
996Lisa said. “I imagine what it would feel like to meet god. There’s just this intense feeling of love and warmth and protection. Like I will never be harmed again.”
997The Bam-Kursh snorted.
998Lisa smirked. “Well, like nobody who I don’t trust on a very deep level will ever harm me again.”
999The hatchling nodded. “That sounds really nice actually.” “Oh it is.” said Lisa gleefully. “And it’s fun.”
1000The door sprang open.
1001The Bam-Kursh said. “I believe I made you a promise?” Lisa thought for a second then grinned. “Oh...”
1002The Bam-Kursh stroked the back of Lisa’s head. “You ready?”
1003“What about her?” asked Lisa, regarding the hatchling.
1004The Bam-Kursh said. “Lucy, strip naked and climb in the box. We’ll let you out.” The hatchling stared at the Bam-Kursh. “I’m sorry, what?”
1005“She’s establishing obedience.” said Lisa gently. “Strip naked and get in the box.” The Bam-Kursh and Lisa left the apartment.
1006The hatchling shrugged and started stripping.
1007*
1008Nicky staggered over the threshold of her house with her shopping and kicked the door shut behind her. A week since Lisa had been reported missing, a week of guilt and interrogation, a week of feeling judged and experiencing the most intense loss.
1009The door swung open behind Nicky but she didn’t notice and staggered into the kitchen. “I told you I’d come back.” said Lisa.
1010Nicky dropped her bags and turned at the sound of Lisa’s voice.
1011Nicky hugged Lisa and said. “I wasn’t sure. Oh, Lisa, I wasn’t sure.”
1012
1013Lisa pat Nicky’s back. “It’s okay. I’m here.” The Bam-Kursh coughed.
1014Nicky let go of Lisa and saw that, yes, it was the same Victorian adventures from their first encounter outside the club.
1015“I can put your shopping away if you want to go into the living room.” said the Bam-Kursh “Hate to see good produce go to waste.”
1016Nicky looked to Lisa.
1017Lisa smirked. “Are you asking me for permission?”
1018Nicky rolled her eyes and led Lisa out of the kitchen.
1019The Bam-Kursh picked up the bags and started putting the shopping away.
1020*
1021Nicky entered the living room with Lisa and said. “I thought you and she? Well you’re her toy?”
1022Lisa grinned. “Oh absolutely. I am legally her property now, she can turn me off and everything.”
1023Nicky frowned. “But does she turn you on?”
1024“Well yeah.” said Lisa dismissively. “She likes me. No fear of me being left to rot in the toy cupboard.”
1025Nicky groaned. “Does she excite you?” “Well yeah-” began Lisa.
1026The Bam-Kursh interrupted Lisa. “I think the question your lovely friend is trying to ask is weather you want to fuck me?”
1027Lisa blushed .“Okay, this is awkward.”
1028“Then sit down and let me handle this.” said the Bam-Kursh sweetly. Lisa sat down on the sofa.
1029The Bam-Kursh and Nicky locked eyes.
1030The Bam-Kursh watched Nicky carefully.
1031
1032Nicky grimaced and said. “How is this any of your business?” “She’s my property.” said the Bam-Kursh with a shrug.
1033Nicky noticeably flared with anger but restrained herself, her hands clenching and unclenching. She didn’t want a fight.
1034“And my friend.” said the Bam-Kursh seriously. “I can’t really explain what it feels like because, no offence, we experience vastly different levels of reality. I can tell you this though. I don’t want to fuck her and I don’t want to marry her. Humans are so... Small. You’re adorable. You’re children playing at being grown ups because you have money and internet and politics. I have watched universes spontaneously generate, subdivide and die. I have made toys of generals and kings, I have waged bloody warfare with my kin and savaged the multiverse without realising. And you would pick a fight because I stated a simple fact about my relationship with Lisa.”
1035Nicky snarled. “You arrogant bitch.” The Bam-Kursh chuckled.
1036“I know you don’t give a shit about Lisa but I do.” snarled Nicky “And I need to know if she loves you.”
1037“Yes.” said Lisa simply.
1038The Bam-Kursh gave her a worried look. Nicky felt winded. “What?”
1039“It’s not just – Christ, Nicky, I’m Human. Or I was. I’m not- I can’t experience being a toy the way she can experience loving one. I have to go with what I know and I absolutely feel sexually aroused.” said Lisa irritably “It’s a terrifying and addicting loss of control. She’s played with me and used me and now I can’t live life any different.”
1040Nicky went to sit beside Lisa and comfort her.
1041The Bam-Kursh felt incredibly awkward. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”
1042Lisa sighed. “You have nothing to apologise for. I love what you’ve turned me into and the life you’ve made for me.”
1043Nicky asked. “And what about me?”
1044Lisa shrugged “You’re a good friend and I love to make you happy and you feel so nice and you make me feel so nice but I’m her toy.”
1045Nicky nodded then said. “Let’s see a demonstration then?” Lisa stared at her confused.
1046
1047The Bam-Kursh raised her eyebrows with interest.
1048Nicky said “You said you’d have the Bam-Kursh show off the goods when you were finally a toy so lets see a demonstration.”
1049Lisa grinned.
1050Nicky said. “That’s more like it. Bam-Kursh, I trust you don’t have a problem with this?”
1051“Not at all.” said the Bam-Kursh with a smile. “Lisa, get off the sofa.”
1052Lisa stood up obediently and felt buoyed with confidence.
1053“May I?” asked the Bam-Kursh as she gestured to the seat vacated by Lisa.
1054Nicky laughed. “Of course.”
1055The Bam-Kursh took the seat on the sofa and said. “Honey, cross legged on the floor between my legs if you will.”
1056Lisa did as was asked of her.
1057The Bam-Kursh said. “You’re not squeamish are you?”
1058Nicky said. “No, why?”
1059The Bam-Kursh started gathering Lisa’s hair up in a pony tail. “Well this is more of a party trick really but we like it, don’t we, girl?”
1060Lisa giggled.
1061The Bam-Kursh tied off the pony tail and held it loosely. “Take this and pull gently”
1062Nicky accepted Lisa’s ponytail and within a matter of moments she held Lisa’s head in her hands.
1063Nicky was wide eyed with shock “Okay, this is unusual.”
1064Lisa grinned. “It tickles when she does that.”
1065Nicky stared at her then asked. “How much does she cost?”
1066The Bam-Kursh grimaced. “A lot. If you want to see her. You’ll have to volunteer.” Nicky stared at the Bam-Kursh. “What do you mean volunteer?”
1067The Bam-Kursh frowned and poked Lisa’s nose. “Like her.”
1068
1069“I think you better leave” said Nicky and she placed Lisa’s head back on her body.
1070Lisa said. “We’re coming back at christmass, and new years and your birthday...”
1071Nicky glared at the Bam-Kursh.
1072The Bam-Kursh chuckled. “Don’t worry if I can convince her to let me cut her head off, I can see we miss Christmass.”
1073“Thank you” said Nicky.
1074Lisa said. “No, we’re coming back.”
1075The Bam-Kursh got to her feet and said. “Honey, we’ve got a girl in the toy box remember?”
1076Lisa nodded and got to her feet. “Oh yeah, I can’t wait until she’s conditioned and obedient. She’s going to be so adorable.”
1077The Bam-Kursh rolled her eyes and said. “See you later.” Then they entered the door and it shut behind them.
1078*
1079Weeks and months passed.
1080Nicky was alone. Her job had been going well and oddly the economy had picked up. Key Ministers had been sacked, mysteriously resigned or changed their entire political philosophy overnight. A lot of people were very angry about the sudden global swing towards the left but the most vocal voices of dismay had fallen silent. It was as if all the bigots had cried out in anger and were slowly being silenced.
1081At Christmas she noticed a large box waiting for her. Taped to its front was a letter.
1082Nicky opened the letter and read.
1083You don’t know and be glad you don’t but I am the one responsible for all the common sense the world seems to have developed. I get revolutionary when I get angry. I have a secret to tell you. I stopped your letters getting out. I couldn’t change what happened but I could alter things around what happened. As far as Lisa’s family and work are concerned she took ill and had to get seek treatment then went travelling but is now due back. Enjoy her.
1084Nicky tore back the wrapping paper and saw Lisa in the packaging. She tore further, tore at the wrapping paper and wondered what on earth to say. She opened the packaging and lifted away the ttop shell of plastic. She chided herself on how bad for the environment this was then she found the manual included within the packaging and read. The horrific absurdity of what had happened to her friend had her engrossed and fascinated.
1085Nicky activated the included on switch.
1086
1087The toy blinked. “Hello, my name’s Lisa but you may call me anything you like, what would you have me do.”
1088“Be silent and cooperative while I free you from your bonds.” said Nicky then she added unthinkingly. “You may call me Mistress.”
1089“Yes, Mistress.” said the toy cheerfully.
1090Nicky released the toy then found her clothing and off switch. She commanded the toy to get dressed then made her food.
1091She found the toy standing in the living room, a confused look on her face.
1092Nicky smiled at the toy and asked. “Do you mind if I hold you, maybe play with your hair?”
1093“No. I’m a toy, do whatever you wish.” said the toy cheerfully.
1094Nicky embraced the toy and smiled sadly at her. “I wish you could remember me.”
1095The toy frowned.
1096“What’s wrong?” asked Nicky.
1097“There’s a name that’s on the tip of my tongue.” said the toy.
1098Nicky smiled. “Come into the kitchen, Lisa.”
1099“Yes, mistress.” said the toy.
1100Nicky held her hand and walked with her into the kitchen.
1101The toy stared at the turkey on the table. “You made this for yourself?”
1102“I was hoping I might have guests. A friend of mine actually. Her name was Lisa.” said Nicky gently. “I belong on this table.” said the toy firmly. “I belong naked on this table.”
1103Nicky smiled at the toy. “Do you remember that name that was on the tip of your tongue?”
1104The toy nodded. “Nicky...”
1105“Go into my bedroom and sit on my bed, Lisa.”
1106The toy walked to the bedroom obediently, of course she did.
1107Nicky fetched some tissues then entered the bedroom and sat down on the bed beside the toy.
1108The toy was sweating.
1109
1110Nicky sat down beside the toy. “Lisa, how did you know where my bedroom was?” The toy frowned and shook her head. “I don’t know, Mistress.”
1111Nicky nodded then asked. “Tell me about your maker, tell me about the Bam-Kursh.” Nicky listened while the explained her taming.
1112“And then I was allowed to go again so I -” the toy burst into tears. “Why am I crying?”
1113Nicky handed the toy the tissues and said. “Dry your eyes.”
1114“Nicky...” said the toy quietly. “Her – Your – My - That table.”
1115“It’s okay, Lisa, I’m here and you’re a toy and everything it going to be alright.” said Nicky soothingly as she rubbed the toy’s back.
1116The toy fell silent as she dried her eyes and thought.
1117“I let my family think I committed suicide. I’m a monster.” said Lisa at last.
1118“Actually they think you’re off travelling the world after being let out of hospital. It’s complicatted and not my fault.” said Nicky carefully.
1119Lisa looked carefully at Nicky. “My job -” “Is waiting for you.” said Nicky cheerfully.
1120Lisa smiled then she looked shocked. “Oh my god! It’s christmass. It’s christmass and I didn’t get you anything.”
1121Nicky stared at Lisa.
1122“Oh...” said Lisa thoughtfully then she smirked. “Merry Christmass, Nicky. Like your new toy?”
1123Nicky nodded. “Oh definitely. What about the Bam-Kursh though?”
1124Lisa shrugged. “I’m a toy now and I am imprinted via magic science to want to serve and obey you. Though I have been assured that I am capable of consenting to sex and saying no to sex.”
1125“Oh good.” said Nicky with a smirk.
1126“You are going to raw me so much aren’t you?” asked Lisa with a smirk. “Lets go eat my toy.” said Nicky.
1127In the kitchen a tall blonde woman stood with a blind fold on her head, dressed similarly to Lisa. She held a yoyo in her hands.
1128
1129“Hello...” said Nicky curiously.
1130“Hi, my name’s Lucy, are you Nicky?” asked the tall blonde.
1131Nicky nodded.
1132“Then remove my blindfold, look into my eyes and tell me to open my eyes.” said Lucy. Nicky obliged. “Open you eyes.”
1133Lucy smiled as she opened her eyes. “Hello, Mistress, I have now imprinted upon you as my owner. The Bam-Kursh sends her regards and says she hopes you will accept me as a consolation prize. A change of clothes and some kink gear like paddles plugs and whips are under the tree.”
1134Nicky nodded then she took the yo yo from Lucy’s hands. “The more the merrier. Lets eat.” “Yes, Mistress.” said Lucy and Lisa as one.