Lexa's bare feet stepped onto the cold metal of the chamber as the bulkhead sealed behind her. This room was colder than the other parts of the Mesmer complex, but Lexa offered no complaint at remaining naked.

She was here on her Mistress's orders, and no amount of discomfort could override the pleasure of obeying her commands.

At the center of the room sat a large robotic assembly, centered around a padded chair. Several mechanical arms lay folded at the side of the table, with modular hands capable of switching out several tools. In the corners of the room, cameras stood silently observing, while on the far side of the room, at least one figure stood observing, obscured by a thin frosted glass window that took up the top of the wall.

This was a room where experiments were made, and Lexa was the latest test of Mesmer's most secretive technologies.

“Proto-Drone Lexa: please stand still on the podium in front of the seating.” A cold, feminine voice came from the room's loudspeakers. 

Lexa had been ordered to follow the announcer’s instructions, and so she obeyed it as eagerly as if it had come directly from her Mistress.

As she stepped onto the podium, the machine arms around her immediately began to whir into motion. Cool metal manipulator hands gripped her by the wrists and ankles, lifting her with surprising gentleness onto the padded chair, automatic restraints clacking together around her limbs before the robotic arms temporarily withdrew, leaving Lexa restrained. She offered no struggle, of course. Her mind was no longer capable of even conceiving of escape - not without her Mistress's permission.

“Good. Subject remains compliant. No signs of programming decay.” The voice on the speakers noted, though clearly not for Lexa's benefit, the words fading from her attention and her memory as soon as the speakers fell silent.

“Proto-Drone: Pay close attention to the screen.”

A screen began to lower from above; descending with a hum of machinery to just above Lexa's eye level. Instantly, without a moment of conscious thought, her eyes moved to fix their attention on the center of the screen, as focused on its inactive black feed as if it were already switched on.

Then, in a rush of brilliant familiar light, the spiral returned from Lexa's mind's eye to the screen, and Lexa went away for a while.

Her conscious participation was no longer needed to program her for this stage; now her body and subconscious were being artfully retuned on a level her surface personality was incapable of truly comprehending.

And so Lexa sank deeper, away from consciousness, closer than ever to true non-existence. How long she was out for didn't matter. A second or an eternity would have felt the same - simultaneously sublime and like nothing at all.

–

“Wakey, wakey, Lexa~” An strangely familiar and unfamiliar voice cut through the haze of darkness that seemed to have weighed down Lexa's consciousness.

With a groan, she blinked, trying to stretch as she tried to remember what exactly she'd been doing. She'd been… she'd been-

Lexa's eyes widened as she woke to the same cold room, bright lights above her, her arms locked behind cold, uncomfortable restraints.

And she remembered it all. Remembered being brainwashed by that fucking puppet, Magenta. Remembered being fucked and used and violated and turned into someone else - into a thing.

And she remembered loving it. She remembered being made to love it. She remembered loving that too.

“Oh, oh fuck-” Lexa heard her throat produce a deep, strangled gasp as she struggled to contain herself, as tears welled in the corner of her eyes.

“Not yet, darling~” Mistress's- Miss Cavendish's voice echoed from the dark corners of the room, as a figure stepped closer. “We have work to do first.”

“Y-you fucking bitch!” Lexa spat in the direction of the figure, using every ounce of her strength to strain against the restraints. She had some strength augs, maybe she could find a way to break them and-

-and then find some way to get out of a sealed facility full of fucking brainwashed supersoldiers.

…

Fuck.

“You can't do this!” Lexa screamed hoarsely, watching as the figure stepped closer.

“Oh, I can't?” The voice of Miss Cavendish teased, but as the figure became visible in the lights, Lexa realised the body didn't match the voice.

As the familiar form of Magenta stepped out into the light, wearing a silver and black bodysuit that clung to her body, accentuating her curves beneath a layer of next-gen body armour. But… her eyes and suit didn't glow with that familiar electric pink. Instead, they glowed blue, and on her pale face was a cruel grin Lexa had never seen Magenta make.

“Confused? Don't worry, dear Magenta's still in here, watching.” Cavendish tapped the side of Magenta's temple. “She's just been a naughty girl, and she needed to be taught a lesson.”

Cavendish-Magenta reached forward to cop a feel of Lexa's breasts, gently stroking at the skin with her gloved hands. “You are my beautiful volunteer, here to help me with a little magic trick Magenta here is going to do for me, to prove she can behave.”

Cavendish beamed with Magenta's lips. “She's going to make you disappear!”

–

“You're a fucking monster.” Lexa growled, wishing she could find some fucking way to get away from this megalomaniacal bitch. Her heart was hammering in her chest as she strained against the restraints, the cool metal digging into her shivering, sweat-covered flesh.

Cavendish-Magenta had the audacity to look thoughtful. “Well, they do say things about absolute power, don't they…”

She reached down and twisted one of Lexa's nipples, drawing a sharp whine from her throat and a rush of need between her legs that she hated herself for feeling.

“But I've found that being corrupted absolutely just feels so fucking good, don't you agree?”

Lexa was dumbstruck. This woman was beyond deranged. She didn't know someone like this could be real - acting as if she'd walked off the pages of a bad comic.

But Lexa knew her threats were deadly serious. And she had her life in her hands.

Lexa struggled to think of something fast, but nothing came to mind. What bargaining power did she have against this Corpo with a god complex?

“Please - just let me go-” She settled for begging, feeling the warmth of genuine tears streaming down her cheeks, “You know I'm not even that good a fighter, I won't be useful to your team in the Holosseum!”

“Shhh.” Cavendish placed Magenta's finger on Lexa's lips. “We both know you're far better than they ever gave you credit for. You and I aren't so different, you know. We both just needed an opportunity to shine. And my conditioning will make you shine so very brightly, my Amethyst~”

Lexa's eyes widened in confusion as she strained to pull away from Cavendish's puppeted hand. Every thought that emerged in Lexa's overwhelmed head was screaming at her to do something, to get away. 

“That's what I think we'll call the Drone we make out of you, Lexa.” Cavendish chuckled. “You do look so good in purple.” 

Lexa was beyond desperation - she could tell Cavendish was deadly serious with every megalomaniacal promise she made. In this moment, as much as she'd fought and struggled to be recognised in the arena, to become a name people remembered, she hated that Cavendish was right.

She was a damned good asset in the arena, and if she didn't find a way to get out soon, that was all Lexa was going to be.

Cavendish stood up, walking away for a moment before turning to stand at the front of Lexa's chair. “But of course, this lesson isn't just about you, you cute thing~” 

Cavendish clapped her hands, and for a moment Lexa saw the lights of Magenta's implants flicker pink again.

“Magenta, darling~” Cavendish's voice hummed in the Drone's throat. “I know you're there, dreaming in the back of this skull, watching through these eyes.” 

She looked back down at Lexa, flashing her a conspiratorial smile. “We like to tailor every Drone's conditioning to suit them. More fun that way. And under Magenta's is just the smallest spark of defiance. Never enough to break free. Just enough to make things fun.”

Lexa's breath hitched. Had Magenta… been struggling for control this entire time? Could she use that to escape? 

“Magenta…” Cavendish spoke again, and her posture began to shift for a moment.

“Yes, Mistress. This Drone is aware.” This time it was Magenta's voice that passed through her lips, that same gentle, calm tone that had first entranced Lexa. Then in an instant, her expression shifted back to that smug look, her posture returning to that uncharacteristic confidence.

“It's time to prove you can still be a good girl.” Cavendish giggled, tilting her head as she smiled down at Lexa's horrified expression. “But first, admit something for me: You like this girl, don't you?”

“Mistress?” Magenta asked, her iris implants flickering pink as a blush dusted her pale cheeks.

“Admit it.” Cavendish forced Magenta's lips into a grin as her voice took command. “You like her. You even feel sorry for her. Come on, I can tell you do. Tell the truth, now~”

“…” Magenta frowned, clearly holding something back.

“You know how good it feels to obey.” Cavendish emphasised that last word, and Lexa watched as it drew a shudder from the brainwashed Drone.

Eventually, after a few moments of hesitation, Magenta almost involuntarily seemed to begin speaking.

“This Drone likes… I like … Lexa. I… I don't want this to happen to her.” Magenta finally admitted, the relief of finally obeying seeming to relieve some of the turmoil in her eyes.

“Magenta…” Lexa pleaded. This was it. This would get her out. Magenta could resist.

“And there we have it!” Cavendish clapped Magenta's hands with glee. “Does it feel good? To have that off your chest, pretty girl?”

“I…” Magenta's implants flickered pink again, her hands shaking as she seemed to fight to find words to say, words that didn't come from the programming burned into her mind. 

“Magenta, please - focus on me.” Lexa shook her restraints, trying to focus the Drone's attention. “You and me - we can get out of here!”

The implants flashed back to blue, and Cavendish let out a snort. “She won't even leave this room without permission. All that power, and she's wrapped around my finger.”

“Don't listen to her!” Lexa screamed, sweat beading down her forehead. “You're a fighter, Magenta. You never give up. I've seen you in the games - you can do this!”

Lexa didn't really know if what she was saying was even close to the truth. But Magenta was her only lifeline in that moment, and she had to grasp for it with everything she had.

"You know, if you actually had anything resembling real strength or principle, you would have fought through the programming. Face it, beneath all the hypnosis and conditioning, it felt so good.” Cavendish teased, doing a cheerful twirl as she puppeted Magenta's body around through her implants. “No one else can give you what I can, and you can't give it up. Prove me wrong, Magenta. Show us both how strong and brave you really are. We both know you could walk out of here, if there was even a shred of will left in you."

Magenta's eyes flickered pink again, and she turned to look down at Lexa, her placid expression giving way to a pitiful look of confusion. 

“This Drone could… walk out of here?” She asked, the words sounding painfully lost as they passed her lips.

“Come on. Please.” Lexa whimpered, unable to mask the fear in her voice.

“Of course you could, my beautiful, powerful warrior…” Miss Cavendish assured Magenta in that delighted, proud tone of voice that sent chills down Lexa's spine… and then she reached down to grip Lexa's face in her hand, fingers pressed around her cheeks as she forced her to look up into her stolen eyes. “But this sad little girl could never make you feel as good, as whole as I can…”

The look in Magenta's eyes, as they briefly flickered pink and contorted into an expression of utter despair, her hands pulling away from Lexa as she shrank backwards, was as pitiful as Lexa herself felt.

The worst thing was that Lexa knew what she was up against. She knew how good it could feel to obey, to stop thinking. 

Fuck, it had been wonderful. She'd never felt so blissfully safe, so content. She knew she'd never feel that good again as herself.

But she had to resist, and so did Magenta. What Mesmer was doing here wasn't right - and who knew what they were doing with this technology beyond the Holosseum games?

“You know, this isn't really Lexa anymore. You already broke her for me.” Cavendish took control again, miming a mocking whisper. “All that programming is still sitting there, running a cute little pantomime for me.”

Lexa frantically shook her head. “N-no… no no no no… that's not true…”

She was real. She had to be, right? She had to be…

Cavendish twisted Magenta's features into a look of pity, reaching down and putting Lexa's hair. “Oh, pretty girl, don't worry- you're doing such a good job for me.”

“I'm gonna fucking kill you!” Lexa shrieked until her voice went hoarse, her arms scuffed and aching from struggling against their restraints. “Why are you doing this to us?”

“Magenta, how could you be so cruel?” Cavendish's voice mocked, ignoring Lexa's pleas. “Can't you see how much this is hurting our poor Lexa? If we let her go, what would she have in this cruel, cruel galaxy? A failing career, without friends or family? A lonely, cramped apartment? You can give her everything she wants right now. You just have to obey.”

Magenta's shaking hands reached for one of Lexa's restraints as Cavendish monologued with borrowed lips. Lexa's eyes widened as she saw them grip the cold metal tightly, their warmth brushing against Lexa's skin.

“This Drone…. This Drone exists to obey.” Magenta forced the words out, but it was clear by the sudden turmoil in her expression that she wanted to say something else.

“That's right~” Cavendish hummed seductively, pulling one of Magenta's hands away to caress her own breasts. “I know this is all very confusing for you, but you know how good it feels when you're a good girl for me. When I… reward you.”

“...Reward?” Magenta's eyes widened, looking suddenly desperate in a way that made Lexa's heart sink.

“Wait, Magenta, don't-”

“That's right, beautiful.”  Cavendish's voice returned, the woman grinning cruelly at Lexa's desperate expression as she shared a knowing look. “Bringing a new champion into our fold is a massive success for the corporation. How could I not reward such a good girl?”

“Good girl…” Magenta's eyes trailed off, looking into nothingness as she mumbled those words, her face flushed with arousal. Her remaining hand fell away from the restraints, limp at her side.

“Good girls make more good girls. Good girls get to cum.” Cavendish reminded the Drone. “You know how good that feels. You want Amethyst to feel good too, don't you?”

Lexa desperately shook her head, unable to find words.

“Yes, Mistress…” Magenta's voice trailed off, and now she looked down at Lexa with a sense of calm and fondness in her eyes that sent a chill down Lexa's spine.

“Good girl. Then you won't mind activating this for me…” Pulling a small tablet away from her belt, Cavendish activated it, offering Magenta the final button press. 

Magenta's dull eyes stared down at the tablet. “This Drone wants Lexa to… be happy. Obedience… is happiness.”

“Please…” Lexa whined, her voice hoarse and small as she looked up at Magenta.

“I'm so proud of you,” Cavendish spoke warmly. “Go on, Magenta. Say goodbye to Lexa.”

Lexa's eyes darted between Magenta and the deactivated screen above her, her heartbeat racing furiously.

“Goodbye, Lexa.” Magenta said robotically, calmly, as she tapped the tablet in front of her and the machinery around the chair once more whirred with power.

“No-no-no-” Lexa shrieked, but it was already too late.

The screen activated, and she saw it, her eyes locking on instantly to the familiar lights above her, filling the room with the intensity of their artificial glow.

The pretty spiral that she had been programmed to focus on without distraction.

Lexa heard someone let out a blissful sigh of relief, and she dimly realised that person was her.

She could feel the tension and panic leaving her body as she relaxed in the chair, a smile overtaking her face.

It was so pretty to watch. 

What had she been so worried about? For a moment, Lexa felt like she desperately wanted to say something, do something, but the idea quickly slipped from her mind. But that was okay. It felt so perfect, so right, to just stare blankly into the center of the spiral.

Whatever she'd been so upset about clearly didn't matter.

The spiral erased all worries.

And soon, it would erase her.

–

As Lexa's body lay in the conditioning chamber for hours, unable to perceive anything but the light of the spiral - and the high intensity data stream contained within - she at last received the true programming Mesmer Holo–Technologies had developed to ensure absolute loyalty.

This wasn't like the proto-Drone programming, designed to imprint a temporary sense of absolute devotion.

Slowly but surely, the framework of Lexa's mind was rebuilt from the ground up, neural pathways reprogrammed to create a personality for whom obedience and loyalty to her Mistress was an absolute truth.

And of course there was pleasure. Pleasure between her legs, dripping down her skin, burning through every nerve in her body like the heat of a fever.

Pleasure enough to ensure that she was incapable of perceiving her programming as anything but the greatest - and first - thing to ever happen to her.

At last, she understood what it really meant to be a Drone:

No more fears, no more struggles, no more complicated emotions, no more betrayals…

Only pure, mindless obedience. Being, thinking and doing only whatever she was told, and desiring nothing else.

And the Drone that had been Lexa fucking loved it.

She no longer had any choice not to.