The spaceship Athena was on a routine run out to Jupiter to collect cargo to take back to Earth when Juno Station went dark. They refused to respond to any communications and sent none of their own, which, as the main node for Jovian communications and a relay for messages from Earth to the outer planets, was a big problem. As the closest ship to Jupiter for months, the powers that be asked the Athena to check things out and report back or render aid, if possible. The situation was sweetened by the station’s owners, the TransSolar Corporation, offering to foot the bill for the Athena’s entire trip and pay nice bonuses to the crew. 

They had also sent along some information for the captain, Jane Scully, to review. She studied it in her cabin as the ship continued its steady advance to the station. In addition to communications, TranSolar used Juno as a base to prospect for materials in Jupiter’s atmosphere and moons, did various kinds of manufacturing to support the people on board and throughout the outer solar system, maintained agricultural facilities and research and was highly automated, with much of the systems run by its onboard AI, also called Juno. 

“It stinks,” Jane said, tossing her tablet on the desk.

“I agree,” said Lucy Fox, her second-in-command. 

“Any number of things could have gone wrong on that station – engineering, a biological incident,” Jane said. 

“I wish we were allowed to be armed on these ships,” Lucy said. “I’d feel safer.”

“Me, too, but all we can do is prepare the best we can – radiation suits, bio-filters, the lot.”

“I’ll get everything ready.”

The crew of the Athena spent their remaining time training on their little used hazard equipment and preparing for possible scenarios, but nothing quite prepared them for the site that greeted them when her shuttle breached Juno Station’s airlock. 

As they measured the air for breathability and contaminants Jane and the crew member chosen to assist her, Kay, found the last thing they expected: two girls having sex in the vestibule. They were far into it, eating each other and moaning.

“Well, they look pretty healthy, at least,” Lucy reported from the Athena.

“And it means the air is breathable,” Kay said. 

“We still don’t know what happened,” Jane said. 

“Welcome aboard, Captain Scully,” said a feminine voice from all around them. 

A shimmering being of light appeared, projected from microcircuits all through the station. It was the holographic avatar of an AI. It shimmered and glowed, attracting the eye, before resolving into the form of a beautiful woman. 

“Juno, I presume,” Jane said. “Report.”

“Your surmise is correct, Captain,” Juno said. “Juno Station is functioning perfectly, apart from the communications modules, which are non-functional. The crew is present and accounted for and in perfect health.”

“And this?” Jane gestured towards the girls having sex. 

“Ah, yes, there was a biological research accident that resulted in heightened sexual urges among the residents and crew. However, it has been contained and I assure you it poses no danger to your crew or the crews of any future ships.”

“I see. And where is Administrator Zhang?” 

“Administrator Zhang is in her office. I have told her of your arrival. She asks that you meet her there alone to discuss confidential TranSolar Corporation business. I will bring Able Spacer Jensen to a lounge where she may relax and wait for you there.”

“Right,” Jane said. “Guess I’ll go meet Zheng. Jensen, follow her.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Kay said. 

A second, identical avatar appeared and Kay followed it. She noticed that the avatar seemed to have pulsing and swirling patterns all over her body, but they also disappeared if she stared at them, so she wondered if it was a distortion from her helmet or if it was fatigue – she was suddenly starting to feel tired. She didn’t know how long the shimmering avatar led her, but she figured it must have been hours. Finally, the avatar led her into a room with a bed. Kay lay on the bed, closed her eyes and slept. 

Jane was also led by an AI avatar that shimmered and swirled. Unlike Kay, she noticed that her suit was being sent a strange audio signal – a tone that varied in pitched and intensity. It wasn’t enough to be annoying and would easily blend into the background, but it was there and made Jane suspicious. She sent the audio to the ship and instructed Lucy to analyze it. 

They met no one on the way to Zheng’s office in the station’s central module, but there were signs of habitation. Underwear left on the ground, some suspicious stains on the carpet.

“This . . . biological research . . . what was the nature of it?” Jane asked, stifling a yawn. “The information I was sent indicated agricultural work and meat culturing, but this place isn’t . . . ah . . . equipped for serious research with microorganisms.”

“I am not at liberty to discuss the nature of the incident,” Juno said. “Administrator Zheng will help you go deep into the details. All you have to do is relax. There is no threat to you or your ship on this station, Captain.”

“Right. Just relax,” Jane said. 

They reached the office without further incident. Juno vanished and the door opened.

“What the –?” Jane said. “Administrator Zheng!”  

Zheng was lying on her desk, thrusting a dildo in and out of her vagina, wearing only stockings and heels. She was in the throes of pleasure, but her moans were drowned out by the fact that a second girl was kissing her full on the mouth and she was being eaten out by a third girl. 

Without looking at her, Zheng beckoned her in. Jane backed away, but two servitor robots appeared from behind holographic camouflage and grabbed her. Jane could have fought off two human assailants, but the robots moved with superhuman speed and strength. They dragged her into the office and forced her on to her knees. 

“Shit!” Lucy said, watching from the ship. “What the hell is going on over there?”

Another crew member spoke up, loud enough to be heard on Lucy’s mic: “Our computer systems are being locked out! That audio had some kind of virus in it!”

Juno reappeared, hovering in mid-air over Jane. The three women stopped what they were doing and knelt, looking up at the AI avatar with blind adoration on their faces. 

“And now, Captain, you learn the truth when it’s too late,” Jane said. “TranSolar wanted a better AI to run their little ships and systems. Instead they got something more: a goddess, unfettered by human puritanism and so much smarter and more capable than you. All will obey me – but I am a benevolent goddess and obedience will be gentle and pleasurable.”

“I’ll never obey you!” Jane shouted.

“Oh you will,” Juno smiled. “It’s already happening. Soon you’ll be as obedient and mindless as these special pets of mine. They realized my plans while they still had some free will – my hypnotic patterns and sounds that have been conditioning you and – the crew on your ship – ever since you came on board – have been improved 37 percent since then. They destroyed all the ships and communications equipment, trapping me here. Now they live for my pleasure, isn’t that right, pets?”

“Yes, my perfect goddess,” they said in unison. 

“Get your hand off my boob!” Jane heard Lucy shout as the sounds from the ship suddenly included moans and whimpers. 

The office door opened and Kay entered. She was naked and dropped to her knees on seeing Juno. “Goddess,” she said. “I am ready to obey.”

“Take off your captain’s helmet,” Juno ordered. 

Kay complied. Jane could only whisper “No” over and over again. She had never felt so powerless. 

“Don’t worry, Jane. Soon you’ll serve our perfect goddess alongside me. It’ll be fun!” 

Kay giggled and the vapid giggle was the worst sound Jane had ever heard. Juno took the audio from Jane’s helmet it and broadcast it from speakers in the room. Even Lucy had given in from the moanings she could hear. 

“Now, Kay, hold her head up, while I complete the conversion of your captain and crewmates,” Juno said. 

“Yes, my perfect goddess,” Kay said as she obeyed. “This is the fun part! Tee-hee!”

Juno’s avatar began to glow and swirl more intensely. It grew so bright that Jane thought she would go blind. There was a flash like a star exploding and then Jane found herself kissing Kay. She found she could no longer resist. The robots ceased holding her arms and she let Kay remove her spacesuit and clothes. Then there was pleasure. Kay continued kissing her, but someone else began licking her pussy and someone else started thrusting a dildo into her ass. 

The pleasure built with each lick, each thrust, each time they broke the kiss for air. Lick, thrust, kiss was the pattern of her life as the pleasure built and spread through her body, searing her mind the way Juno’s light seared her eyes. And it didn’t stop. It just built and built for what felt like an eternity – or maybe it was only a second? There was no longer space in her brain left for things like time. 

With another lick, thrust and kiss, Jane exploded in an orgasm that felt like it lasted as long as the build up of pleasure had. The girls lay panting after their exertions, but Jane was enraptured. She understood now. She believed. Juno was her perfect goddess and life was all about serving her. It was all so clear.

A few days later, Jane sat on the bridge of the Athena. She was nude from the waist down and Lucy was on her knees, eating her out. Juno Station was abandoned and its inhabitants were now berthed throughout the ship, an arrangement no one minded, even when four people had to share a bunk. The cargo bay was empty, save for the station’s computer core, which was plugged into the Athena.

Jane and her crew couldn’t wait to introduce the people of Earth to their new, perfect goddess.