Emily had never been able to picture herself wearing a suit and tie. As another training module took time to load, and the low hum seemed to place her in a waking sleep as she waited. She remembered the first time she visited downtown Sapphire Bay and the financial district, right after her family moved here, and her memories began to flow like a waking dream.

She wasn’t one to disclose it, but Rachel had been her first name until she chose to go by her middle name, Emily. Rachel’s family had an important meeting at a bank on a Tuesday morning and she had nothing to do back then but wander around a little. The tall buildings certainly made an impression on her back then, reaching for the sky and imposing their might on those below. She saw citizens in suits and ties, as well as other office appropriate clothing, scurrying through the streets and desperate to get to work on time. Back then they reminded her of machines, or parts of a larger one, like they’d succumbed to a lack of individuality in favor of being a simple gear. Losing themselves in becoming an automated generator for financial reports, or following a sales call script which might have well have been done by a bot, or fetching coffee on command for the board room as a flex of their power.

Rachel vowed that she would never be like that. That she would never be a workaholic, at least not in submission to another’s will. That she would never accept such a plain life, full of such neutral colors and such a strict schedule, full of so many rules. Grinding so those sitting at the top could get a new exotic sports car, only to crack a joke about allowing you to hand wash it as a reward for your hard work earning it for them. That she would never instinctively thank them for that, becoming the joke’s punchline, and thus becoming more like an executive’s personal jester more than someone they could ever respect. She would never conform, at least not if it meant being on a figurative leash, which is all a tie made her think of.

Then she saw something else. A confident, powerful woman in an expensive and somewhat obnoxious white suit and dark shades would move through the small sea of people, which seemed to move for her without a word as if her mere presence were a powerful wave pushing anything in its way, including the other water in the ocean, into submission. The woman was followed by a trembling man who carried her briefcase, purse, and coffee, which he handed to her to sip on any time she reached for it as she barked his orders for the day. In a crowd of people Rachel had deemed were pathetic, it looked like she had found her new hero, and confidently approached the woman.

It seemed the woman was annoyed at first, but Rachel’s determination and asking the right questions would catch her interest. Finally, she would introduce herself as Stephanie, and would send her assistant to fetch two more coffees, one for herself and one for Rachel, as she threw her empty cup on the ground for the man to deal with. 

“He used to be my boss, and because of that I let him get away with too much for too long, but now look at him.” She said, sitting with Rachel just outside of a coffee shop next to the bank. “Don’t let anyone push you around, not for a second, unless you have to swallow your pride for a well thought out long term plan. If they did so, or if they tried to keep you down? Well, if you want to last a day in this city you’ll have to destroy them when the time is right. Don’t let them crossing you go without punishment. Skip all the nonsense I went through if you can help it.”

In a way, as their conversation progressed, Rachel thought this world sounded like a nightmare. It was full of betrayal, the most convoluted alliances, unchecked greed, ego, and so much more. In a way it was also far more exciting than it looked on the surface. Then again, she felt bad that she found so many of these people weak and pathetic, as they were just trying to survive, just like her family. Still, she couldn’t deny how impressive this woman was to her, especially as she learned more about her life story. It was extremely relatable to Rachel, and even if the two would ultimately come to different conclusions and lifestyles, they had an undeniably similar demeanor and way of thinking. 

“You can’t really blame them much, they’re just so focused on survival that they forgo any free thought or free will, and that’s as human as anything else. Too much thought or choice and they’ll piss off the me’s of the world and end up on the streets. You remind me of me too much for that though. Just surviving isn’t going to satisfy you. You want far more than that no matter the risk, and it sounds like that runs in your family.” There was nothing but sincerity in the assurance she gave Rachel and the potential she saw in her, as well as her praise of the Thompsons. Stephanie had no reason to lie, as she saw nothing to gain, and was completely honest about who she was. She wanted freedom, and if that meant she had to want power and control, then she would embrace it and become that person. Rachel had never met someone so direct and genuine, who did whatever she wanted and let people love or hate her without worrying about it.

As the pair both walked into the bank, Rachel realized she’d just spoken to a high ranking employee, and after some more time had passed and their conversation had come to an end, Rachel determined that she would build something of her own. Stephanie seemed impressed when Rachel determined that her success didn’t have to resemble anyone else’s, even a powerful businesswoman’s, and soon her family’s meeting ended far more quickly than expected. They’d been approved for their own business loan, approved by the Bank President herself, which would eventually lead to a small but respectable shipping business.

That day sealed Rachel’s determination to make her own way, and a month later as an act of rebellion and expression of autonomy? She decided that her name sounded too professional, and unless she could be like Stephanie she would never wear a suit by choice nor go by such a professional sounding name. Emily, however, sounded like a rebellious rocker chick. After joining her first band she quickly found that could move small crowds the same way the rock stars she saw on larger stages did, and the same way Stephanie’s mere presence did to those downtown. Ironically she had set herself up to be the arch nemesis of Stephanie in a way, a punk rock rebel and nonconformist who would go on to build an army of anti-corporate activists, but perhaps that meant she truly understood the woman’s lesson. She had her own path to take.

Emily was still grateful Lisa had something for her to borrow, even if it was a suit and tie, and she had to admit that Lisa and Mr. E looked great in them. She was up early, choosing to watch some E’s videos before it was time to work on the case, and chose to get ready early as well. The suits Lisa brought were all identical. Jet black jackets and pants, with white button up shirts and a jet black pair of shoes for each suit. Then there were the jet black ties. The finishing touch. The discreet leash, held by the invisible hand of the corporation she now belonged to. That she belonged to as Emily. 

At least she wasn’t a drone anymore. The latex uniform had made an attempt to adhere to her, though it didn’t work exactly the way Lisa had imagined, but it led to Emily feeling itchy all night once it had been removed. The latex uniform now hung in the closet, and as much as Emily hated the training videos it seemed that watching them was the only way to distract herself from the urge to put the uniform back on.

She knew if she put it back on then the itching would cease, but that was nothing compared to the other way it seemed to call to her. Kf put it back on the “you are a drone” and “you are RT27 now” and “you are a machine, not a person” in the back of her mind would likely feel affirming as opposed to feeling like painful shocks running through her nerves. She was tempted to put it back on just to feel relief. Slowly, the more she resisted, the more tempted she was to put the helmet back on along with the uniform, march down to the drone hive, and say she was ready to complete her transformation into RT27. Why did she care what Spiral wanted? She didn’t have to solve the case for them.

Of course, if she tried to rebel by embracing a new life as a drone, she would be submitting to an existence in which anything but serving Spiral was incomprehensible. She would be less than even a slave, because she would have to be considered a human to be one, and she would be a machine. 

The videos were the only option which managed to be distracting enough to avoid giving up and submitting, even if she knew that the videos were working to fundamentally change her, and that deep down she felt them working as she slowly sank deeper and deeper into the dreamlike spell they seemed to be casting.

“Come on babe, the sun isn’t even up yet,” Lisa stretched and yawned. The couch wasn’t exactly comfortable, but they didn’t have anything else here. Lisa would wrap herself in a duster she’d taken from her bag for the duo to use as a makeshift blanket and walk to Emily’s desk.

Emily had now been fully sucked into Mr. E’s videos by now, but still melted as she felt Lisa’s kiss against her neck.

”I’m not really sure who came out on top,” Lisa smiled and ran her fingers through Emily’s hair, “I guess we’ll have to have a rematch.”

Emily did feel good about Lisa’s attention, she even craved it enough she felt she’d do anything for it, but for now her focus remained on the training videos. Her mind was caught in a loop of mental reward and correction, all in accordance with her answers to the quizzes placed at the end of each video, and the new asset would be forced to redo the training module until she scored a perfect 100. The current module? Dress code. Normally she would just memorize what it wanted and pick those answers at the end so she could be done with it, but each time she restarted it her mind felt blank. Like she really was a machine and someone had pressed her restart button, or she was a simple gear locked into place and set to turn whichever direction she was told to. Her resistance wearing down after so many turns, so many attempts at this module, but still turning.

Broken in.

More blank.

Deeper trance.

Stronger conditioning.

Every.

Time.

Each time she rewatched the video and retook the quiz she felt more and more comfortable in the suit and tie, slowly becoming programmed to agree that the workplace should maintain a strict standard of professionalism suitable to its unique environment and workplace culture. She didn’t even think it was so bad that Spiral Holdings encouraged its own employees, as well as those of businesses it had a controlling stake in, to maintain that standard in all aspects of life even off the clock. Hadn’t she done so, never being seen outside of the clothing which expressed her personality as a rebellious musician? Hadn’t she conformed to that image, and the expectations of her fans and peers? She couldn’t lie to herself that she’d begun following a dress code herself.

“Productive. Efficient. Cog.” The barely audible mantras, buried underneath the warm hum filling her earbuds, began to flow into her mind. Emily didn’t realize she was repeating the mantras aloud in a monotone voice. “Well. Lubricated. Gear.”

“You’re already on that part of your training? You’re already such a good employee.” Lisa cooed, smirking when she saw Emily’s glazed over eyes and blank expression.

Emily could barely hear her through the earbuds, feeling a pat on top of her head and melting, which only caused her to feel more susceptible to the conditioning.

“That’s right, Em, let me help you.” Lisa would lightly guide Emily’s hand to click on images of corporate appropriate clothing.  “This is a tricky module for someone like you, but you’re getting it now, aren’t you?”

Inside, Emily felt something begin to change as she placed a big red X over any clothing which resembled her previous style. She felt like a computer whose operating system was being updated or replaced, and with that her resistance dissolved completely. Spiral was successfully programming her, or was it just her playing into it in desperation to be done with this module? So much so that she fooled even herself? It didn’t matter. Either way she had to give it what it wanted. She barely noticed Lisa helping her, and was torn between wanting to run and giving silent thanks. 

Lisa seemed giddy. “You have so much potential, Em.”

”Spiral holding my body. Spiral holding my mind. Spiral holding my soul.” Emily began to chant in monotone. “All are assets of Spiral Holdings. I am an asset of Spiral Holdings.” A mantra which had begun to appear at the end of each video and its accompanying quiz. “I am a gear. I am a cog. I embrace my role in the machine.”

”That’s right, good gear,” Lisa kissed Emily on the cheek. “See, I’m just an agent, an investigator and an enforcer of Spiral’s will and interests, but you? Your role in the machine is going to be so much greater, Em, maybe should I say: Rachel.” 

Emily would continue to chant, feeling she needed to redo the dress code module on her own, which would make Lisa smile as she wandered off to the bathroom. It’s what a good Spiral employee like Emily would do, right? Then again, perhaps it was something that someone like Rachel would do, putting on the image of Emily until she could make sure she’d never have to fetch a coffee for anyone or be at work on someone else’s schedule again. Was it Emily who decided to get to work early today, or Rachel? 

This time, on her own, she finally scored a 100. As the training module came to an end Emily would open up a new tab and begin to browse business casual clothing, considering it even for her daily life outside of work, something which has been unthinkable to her before today. The leather jackets, ripped jeans, combat boots, leather mini skirts, and so on just seemed like a past work uniform now. A style to conform within a specific setting that, in a way, she had just been fired from. Now that she was an agent of Spiral Holdings it felt appropriate to dress like it. After all, Emily had always strived for perfection in anything she did whether it was in the music she created, the jobs she took, her bartending, or her political activism. The same would apply to Spiral now, even if her employment was temporary, and she vowed to make them miss her presence when she finished her end of the deal and moved on. If nothing else that would be a fun and harmless revenge for making her watch these videos all day. Become the perfect employee and then create a void no one else can fill. The first step to being the perfect employee would be to conform to their expectations in dress. She took out her earbuds and stood up to stretch before walking to the bathroom where a now nude Lisa, finished brushing her teeth before inspecting her face in the mirror. 

Emily wrapped her arms around Lisa from behind, pleased with the way Lisa instantly melted for her. “How’d you sleep?” 

Lisa would slowly turn in Emily’s arms to face her with a big grin and bright red cheeks. “I feel like I’m still dreaming,” she said before giving Emily a kiss. “I mean, you of all people in a suit?”

Emily’s memory of the training module was already slowly fading, but as she stepped back from Lisa and turned to a full size mirror? She felt confident, and a new sense of pride. “A proper Spiral Investigation Agent must dress the part, Miss Sullivan, it’s important we maintain a strong sense of professionalism.” In a way she felt like she was looking at an alternate version of herself. A version of herself who had kept going by Rachel. It terrified her, but it was exhilarating.

Lisa giggled. “It’s a good look on you, Thompson. Maybe we’ll go on a little shopping trip if we have some downtime this week. I think you need a new wardrobe for the new you.”

”It’s been so long since I’ve had a nice shopping trip with a girlfriend, and I guess I need to pick up some things.” Emily wanted to pick out a suit of her own. 

”It’s a date then.” Lisa smiled, stepping out of the way. 

“That’s okay, Sullivan, the bathroom is all yours. I’ve actually been up and ready since four.” Emily smiled at the idea of a date. 

“Trouble sleeping?” Lisa grinned, “and I’m actually finished in here myself.”

“No trouble,” the new agent blushed, “just not tired, and I’m kind of itchy from the drone uniform trying to stick to me. I can’t sleep when I’m itchy.”

“Don’t get me started on how much I hate feeling itchy. I used to turn down assignments in hot places because heat makes me itch.” Lisa leaned against the doorway in an aloof posture. “So thank you for keeping the office borderline freezing. We keep each other warm enough for me anyway.”

Rachel blushed as she tied her hair back. “Sorry if I woke you up. I just wanted to get some of my orientation done before we got started today.” She hadn’t really thought of it as workplace orientation yesterday, but if she was going to be an agent of Spiral, it seemed appropriate. “I really need to redo my hair soon.”

”I admire your work ethic, Miss Thompson. I don’t tend to start until nine, but I think you’ve set a new standard for me today, so maybe you’ve earned taking the lead.” Lisa would begin to leave the bathroom, so that she could grab her own suit to get dressed. “Maybe I can help you redo your hair this week too. Just think about how you want it.”

”I have a few ideas. The job, not the hair. It’s too early for one of them, and one of them is crazy, but-“ Emily paused. “Well all of them are crazy, but just hear me out.”

* * *

“I’m happy I convinced you to try this one first.” Lisa said, turning the wheel of her luxury sedan as rain began to lightly fall. The time on the dash read 8:15am.

”We have all day to check out the others if we need to. You’re the more experienced agent anyway, so it’s important to listen to you, I mean you’re still my boss technically, right?” Emily sipped on a Frappuccino. “Getting the least dangerous idea out of the way first makes sense.”

”I expected a little more rebellion from you, Thompson, but we aren’t even a week in and look how well trained you are!” Lisa teased. 

”I made a deal, and if I’m nothing else at least I’m a woman of my word.” Emily gazed out of the tinted windows as they cruised through downtown Sapphire Bay. “A lot has changed for me now that I’m with Spiral, but that doesn’t change.”

”Oh there it is, a spark of changing loyalties, but you also told me you’ve never liked this girl.” Lisa turned out of downtown and into another section of the city. “Far more difficult tests of this new you will come, Thompson, but this is a very important step.”

“Can’t really go back after today.” As they stopped at a red light, Emily would look at all the warehouses and storage facilities of this district. She already missed the office. She couldn’t see herself as a labor drone in one of these windowless boxes, working up to 16 hours a day while chanting mantras and praising her Masters for giving her a purpose. “Tara won’t be at Ronnie’s, or crashing in our practice space, but supposedly she stays just outside of this district sometimes. I don’t think she has an actual home.”

”Considering that the area you think she stays in is just a few abandoned streets I’m thinking it’s a safe house. That some weight to the idea she’s another Corp’s agent. I can promise you she has an actual home somewhere.” Lisa would move forward as the light turned green, pulling out of the warehouse district and into a run down section of the city. “I’m not sure why someone doesn’t buy this up and redevelop it. Such an eyesore.”

“Slow down for a second.” Emily tapped Lisa on the arm and looked down the street. Two heavily modified, black and yellow sport bikes sat in front of an abandoned row house. 

Lisa carefully pulled down the other way and into the alley as two women walked out. They wore full black latex with yellow accents. The torso was partially yellow on the front, further highlighting their curves, which blended into a black and yellow stripe pattern which covered their hips. Protective black and yellow pads would protect their limbs, and they wore menacing looking helmets designed to resemble the image of the wasp on their shiny black leather jackets.

The agents would park in the alley and quietly exit, making their way towards the back of the house, hopping a fence to get into the yard. As they quietly made their way towards the rear entrance they would hear a voice.

”Don’t fucking make me come back here again!” One of the bikers shouted. 

”It’s not my fault!” Tara’s voice shouted in return, “and I still have a month to pay you guys back you stupid bitch!”

Lisa would mess with the back door, attempting to pick the lock, while Emily stood guard. 

”If she sucks at this so much maybe she’d be better off serving drinks. Think she’d look good in the uniform?” The second biker said.

“We could squeeze her into one that’s just slightly too small. The dumb simps who come in love the stupid ones.” The first biker laughed.

”See? We don’t have to burn this place down to make a point, Tara. We can just stuff you in a bunny suit and put you to work, and we’ll even keep you safe from that corp that’s after you.” The second biker said. “No one fucks with our property.”

Tara’s demeanor changed and she began to plead. “It’s not my fault! The job just went hella HELLA wrong! You’ll get your return on investment, I promise, just give me more time!”

The second biker continued. “Think we could train her to do that? Drop to her knees and beg on command?”  

The voices and laughter would fade as the agents entered the house. It had little furnishing, and looked like it was in the process of being renovated. Fresh paint, new floors, and a nice new house smell would fill the air.

“Who would put money into this place?” It made no sense to Emily. This neighborhood was deemed a lost cause due to a previous disaster, and no one had really lived in it since. Even squatters had given up on it.

Lisa nodded “Why bother? Just bulldoze it all and start over.”

“At least there’s no one left here to price out I guess.” Emily mumbled, taking cover away from the front door.

As the two found hiding places and heard the two bikers speed away, Tara would enter, wearing a light blue blouse and navy blue skirt, locking the door and pressing a security bar against it. “No, I just need to stall them until we can get more investors. I know what fucking neighborhood it is, but I’m telling you, the people I’ve been hanging around? They love shit like this. Especially transplants who want to tell people back home that they live in such a rough, edgy place. They think it makes them look cool.” 

Emily listened in on at least Tara’s side of the phone call. It sounded like Tara was in over her head, and that seemed like motive enough to sell her out.

”Well it doesn’t matter if it’s not a rough neighborhood anymore. It’s about the name! The image that still invokes! Downtown is also such a short drive. Young professionals are going to pay anything we ask!” Tara began pouring a mimosa in the kitchen. “I’m done listening to you be negative. Hanging up now. No. We have nothing left to discuss unless you really can convince her. Next Friday? Yeah I can stall them until then. Okay. OKAY! Bye.”

”Asshole.” Tara downed her drink and placed the glass on the counter before tying her dirty blonde hair back. For a moment it seemed like she was going to pour another, but she hesitated and slowly turned around. “Holy shit!” She said as she saw Lisa and Emily standing before her, blocking any way she could go. “Who the fuck are you? Wait. Emily? Oh my god Emily! I’m so happy to see you!”

”What, you thought leaving me behind would work?” Emily stepped towards Tara. 

“What? No!” Tara looked genuinely shocked to be accused of such a thing. “Emily what are you talking about? I begged them to go back for you!”

”I’m Agent Sullivan. You already know Agent Thompson, clearly.” Lisa would be subtle about observing her surroundings, making sure no one else was here. 

Tara looked at Emily, to Lisa, and back to Emily. “Wait, hold on, you’re a fucking cop? I’ll flip if it gets me out of this mess, I swear!”

“Answer her question, hunting dog. Tell her. Now.” Lisa snapped her fingers. 

Emily could feel her body slipping into a light trance. It wasn’t deep like the ones she’d experienced until now, as she was still mostly herself, but became far more suggestible. In a way Emily was actually turned on by the idea of leaning into it. “I am a loyal agent of Spiral Holdings.” Her voice became monotone and robotic in delivery as she stood at perfect attention. “Agent Thompson awaiting commands.” 

”No!” Tara cried. “Em snap out of it! What did they do to you? Wait, have you always been this? But you were so cool!”

Emily remained perfectly still, though she was entertained by both the color draining from Tara, and Lisa believing that she had more control over Emily than she truly did, with most of this being Emily rather than programming.

”You left her,” Lisa’s tone was like ice, “because somebody paid you too. You sold her into corporate servitude, and you called yourself a friend?” Lisa would circle around Emily, adjusting her posture and suit as she saw fit. “Look how beautiful she is now. They almost turned her into a labor drone, but that would be such a waste of her skills, don’t you think?

“No no no I didn’t, please you have to believe me Emmy! Emmy? Em? Hey, please snap out of it!” Tara begged. “This isn’t the real you! EMILY!”

”Now I have the perfect hunting dog, and it’s all thanks to you, Tara.” Lisa gave Emily a kiss and a pat on the head. “Be a good girl, Emmy. Fetch.” Lisa’s tone, despite the kiss, was that of command that. “Yeah, Emmy is an adorable name for her, thank you Tara.”

“Yes Mistress.” Emily said, with a sense of pride and satisfaction in her voice which no longer felt like acting. That scared Emily, but she obeyed, and felt a rush of joy as she saw Lisa’s smile of approval. 

”Fuck you! Get your hands off me!” Tara cried.

“Good girl,” Lisa cooed, “you’ve earned a treat tonight. As for you, Tara, if that is your real name.”

”You bitch.” Tara stared Emily in the eyes, her arms held in place by the new agent.

”Must. Obey. Must. Serve.” Emily declared.

”Now I get it. You’re just Mark’s abandoned mutt!” The venom behind Tara’s statement snapped Emily out of her act.

”Tara, I’m warning you,” Emily snapped back.

”Emmy, you will only speak on command or to warn me if there are others, and I don’t need you to do anything but bark.” Lisa said with a stern tone, snapping her fingers. “Do you have something you need to get out of your system, Tara?”

“You know, in hindsight? I’m not even surprised.” Tara would stare at Emily with disdain. “You aren’t even a real punk. You’re a Karen wearing a costume, you’re just charismatic about it.” 

“Didn’t you just say you’d rat if we were cops?” Emily’s eye twitched. “and you have the audacity to say that to me?”

“Someone told them we were coming. I have known it was you.” Tara’s tone was increasingly venomous.

”Shut the fuck up, Tara.” Emily tightened her grip over Tara’s arms as her prisoner cried out in pain.

”Emmy.” Lisa ordered. “Down.”

”Listen to your Mistress, hunting dog. That’s what you get out of selling us all out?” Tara spat. “Pathetic.”

Emily wasn’t sure if she was frozen by Lisa’s command or her own anger, and her grip loosened.

Tara ripped her arms away and dusted herself off. ”Aww, what a cute, obedient puppy. I thought so much more of you.” Tara’s tone expressed cruelty as she mocked Emily, toying with the agent’s jacket. “Well, at least you’re trainable. Maybe she’ll let me put you in a maid uniform, since you like this and my new toilets need cleaned. Ready to lick them spotless?” She turned to Lisa with a big grin on her face. “She thought it was a secret, didn’t she? Did she sell us out because she misses dressing up like a maid for that Eric guy? What now? Trying to earn serving a rich executive or something full time? You and I talk, Agent Sullivan.” She would smirk at Emily. “We’ll both have a drink. Get to pouring.”

Tara almost went to the ground as Emily’s robotic hand connected with her jaw, catching herself on the counter and quickly grabbing the mimosa glass. Tara would smash it over Lisa’s head and tackle Emily, taking her to the ground, but Emily would flip her onto her back and take control, beginning what was to be a flurry of punches but only managing land two before being pulled away. 

Tara struggled to get up, spitting a couple of teeth out. “God dammit. I had fucking real estate agent pics to take today!”

”Get the fuck off of me!” Emily yelled as Lisa effortlessly restrained her. “You wanna be next?!”

”RT27.” Lisa would slam Emily against the wall, pinning her and staring directly into her eyes. “You’re still subordinate to me, understand? E passed you off to me, right? I’m your Master now, Mistress, I don’t care which one you call me.”

Emily dropped once more, relaxing in Lisa’s grip, melting. “Yes. Master.” Her tone monotone and robotic again, and while trance wasn’t as deep as it would have been in the drone uniform, she didn’t feel she could resist Lisa’s control when it was actually being enforced.

“If you’re going to live up to the potential I see in you, Em, you have to solve this case like the agent you are. Not some unhinged delinquent. Let me explain what’s going to happen if you fail me.” She threw Emily to the ground and pointed at Tara. “You stay right there, Tara. I’ll sell you to this old friend of yours, as a maid drone, get it?” Lisa was stern. Cold. “I’ll make sure you’re fully aware, but can’t do anything about it. Now wake up.” She would then cuff Tara.   

Emily would take a deep breath and bow her head against the floor. She was slowly coming back to herself, and normally would have continued, but now she knew Lisa could overpower her if she really wanted to. She kind of liked it. “I apologize, Mistress Sullivan, and I will accept disciplinary action for my lack of professionalism today.” Lisa was right. Emily wasn’t some street rat anymore. She was an agent of one of the top holdings companies, and it was time to earn the suit she now wore.

* * *

Tara sat at a table in the basement, which the agents had turned into a makeshift interrogation room. Her hands and feet were shackled while a collar connected the leash a pipe above. Emily sat across from her after taking some time to cool off while Lisa leaned against the wall, back to her typical, aloof self. 

”Are we both ready for honesty, Tara?” Emily slid a cup of water towards her.

Tara took a deep breath, slowly closing her eyes for a moment and gathering her thoughts. “So let me get this straight. You’re like a cop, but for a megacorp? I’m so confused, Em. You hate the corps, you hate cops, I’ve always admired your refusal to take anyone’s shit but now you do anything this bitch says? Honesty? Emily. I don’t even know who you are anymore!”

”You still don’t get it do you? You never really knew me and I never really liked you. I never trusted you.” Emily’s tone was cold and neutral. “So it’s very important that you’re honest with me now. Prove me wrong. Give me a reason not to have you turned into my personal drone.

”Oh no! Please don’t let her hurt me anymore! Tell her down girl, or bad girl, just donsomething!” Tara would mockingly plead. 

Lisa suppressed her laugh. “Shouldn’t my hound’s lack of training make it obvious? She only switched to our team like a day ago.” She would walk over to the table, stroking Emily’s hair, “but just look at her. Not even a full week, and she’s already under my full control. Isn’t that right, Em?”

Emily’s internal self was in turmoil. Her confidence as an autonomous person, fiercely independent and capable of leaving Spiral, was waning. She was deflated, being compared to a trained dog again, but when Lisa approached? It was true in a way. She truly was at Lisa’s command now. It didn’t matter what potential Lisa ultimately saw in her, or that she did want to see Emily as an equal. If Emily got out of line? Lisa could make her obey with ease, and the threat of being put back into the drone uniform worked wonders to keep her in line. Even without those variables, however, Emily felt disappointed in herself. If she was going to work for Spiral Holdings she needed to play the part and take it seriously, just like she would with any show she played, drink she made, or client she worked for. She needed to be professional and respect the chain of command. She had no choice, and worse, she didn’t mind that as much as she’d expected herself to. Ultimately that bothered her more than her newfound obedience and growing loyalty.

“Emily,” Tara looked heartbroken, “what have they done to you?” She slid her hands palms up across the table, as if to invite Emily to grab them. 

The look in Tara’s eyes was just like an hour or so ago, when she was laying into Emily, but Emily saw what it actually was now. Sadness. Disappointment. Heartbreak. “You guys left me behind. They were going to turn me into a drone, Tara. What did you guys get out of it? Extra money?” Emily tried to maintain her composure, but a single tear would escape as she reached out and grabbed Tara’s hands. She was surprised at how comforting that felt. “Whatever I did to you guys couldn’t be worse than what we were doing to Spiral, but they’re giving me another chance. You guys couldn’t even have a conversation with me?”

”I hope it was worth it. Now one of the most talented rebels and strongest leaders is ours.” Lisa bragged as she stepped away to search the basement fridge. “Your movement is finished.”

”Rebel?” Tara narrowed her eyes. “I’m really not judging, Em, I mean music is just a hobby for me-“

”Yeah, I can tell.” Emily interrupted.

”This is what I mean!” Tara exclaimed. “Emmy it’s not an attack, but you’re not a rebel. You’re not the badass rocker girl image you market. You’re a businesswoman. The difference between you and the people who are supposed to be your actual peers is that you’re willing to get your hands dirty alongside your subordinates, because you’re a badass boss bitch!” Hell, you’re really fucking good at being your real self too, way too good to be on a leash.” She would look at Lisa, who couldn’t help but smile as she opened a beer she’d taken from the fridge. “No offense, Sullivan, but you’re the one who should be barking on command.”

“Just tell me what you really want to say.” Emily commanded with power and authority. She was surprised to find that in herself, but what Tara said sparked something strange in her.

”That’s really why I was mean earlier. Seeing you leashed? You, Emily?! That desperate to please your Mistress?” Tara scoffed. “The Emily I know would never!”

Emily wasn’t sure what to say. Tara was right about the Emily she knew, but Emily had no choice. Even if she did, Lisa’s teasing about the spark of changing loyalties stuck with her, and pointing out to Tara that Spiral actually gave her another chance only made that new spark of loyalty stronger. In a way she had been proud to represent her new Masters today. It was so much to process. “You said it yourself. I served as Eric’s maid, right? Maybe I didn’t process what I actually am until Spiral showed me.”

”Bullshit, I just said that to get at you, plus he was your boyfriend. That’s different.” Tara rolled her eyes. “It’s not like the simps I turn pussy free, and then turn into straight women. Those guys, well ladies now, they never had a chance with me. Get the difference?” 

“Tara, what the hell?” Emily looked back at Lisa, who was equally caught off guard, quietly shrugging.

“What? You two can’t even wait until you’re clocked out to do this whole blahblah blah you’re my dog, sit girl, attack girl, you’ll get a treat later, good girl thing but if I think it’s funny to turn misogynists who harass me into women? To brainwash them to crave men and reframe their relationships with women as only being friendships, ever? I do that and I’m the weird one?” Tara scoffed. “Ridiculous!”

“No. Tara. I mean Thats a lot to just drop but I just didn’t expect you to be so,” Emily paused for a second, “interesting.” 

“It actually sounds kinda hot.” Lisa said, before catching Emily looking at her with a silent “really?” Lisa would give an exaggerated shrug. “What?! You didn’t think me calling you my hunting dog was weird!”

”She did such a good job too. You really trained her well.” Tara grinned. “I can’t wait to see what a year does to her, if this is only like, a day!”

Emily was red with embarrassment. She just wanted to solve the case but she couldn’t deny how hot Tara’s idea could be, or that she wondered how it would feel to be leashed, sitting on the floor, while Lisa sat in the chair and carried out questioning. 

“It actually hurts my feelings that you don’t like me, but maybe that’s my fault.” Tara gave a smile. “Maybe if I had been honest about who I really was instead of doing that dumb stoner act, we’d be friends, here’s me fixing that now. Complete honesty.”

”Why did you answer our ad? You knew we were a serious band, and you don’t show up to practice and can’t play on time?” Emily demanded to know, trying to get her mind back on track as she tried to ignore the desire between her legs.

“Working with you was a golden opportunity. At the beginning of the year I came into money and wanted to do something with it. Flipping an abandoned neighborhood and turning it around? I could be a real estate mogul! I could be famous for bringing East Elm back when no one else could! I just needed to figure out how to market it. Who better than a bunch of random punks, metalheads, and hipsters? So I gauged how many of them would be thrilled to see that area revived, or see more housing in spite of where it is. Historically it’s a cool area. Great location. Plus, it meant I could talk to venue owners and they could help me meet other business types. Most of the people I met at the shows the four of us played or went to were annoying, frankly, but you?” Tara looked star struck. “You’re really something else. You may not be an official leader of all of these activist groups, but they really do just follow you for the most part, and when you’re up on that stage? You’re their Queen!”

”Ridiculous.” Emily scoffed. “They don’t believe in that sort of thing, Queens.”

“You’re lying to yourself, Em. Sure, they’d tell you to fuck off if you told them to install hostile architecture or something, but you direct them to do good in their communities. Yeah you’re a businesswoman in denial, and yeah sometimes the work you direct them to do benefits you somehow, but I think you’re sincere about wanting this city to be a better place. You still have values.” Tara assured her. 

“The Benevolent Queen Thompson,” Lisa teased as she sat a drink from the fridge down for Emily. “My Lady,” she said as she kissed Emily on the forehead.

“Great, I inspired you to become a fucking landlord. So punk of me.” Emily rolled her eyes and took a drink. “Maybe you’re right. Holy shit.” Part of her wondered if she’d been a sleeper agent the entire time, and if her capture was orchestrated to avoid her cover being blown before a big bust.

“Oh, you have something to say about me buying property? Don’t even get me started on you secretly owning half of that bar, really like half of that whole five story building, which means you collect half the rent from the other business there and from those apartments above. How much is that?” Tara’s words were like a spear. 

”Tara stop.” Emily quietly begged. “The owners are preparing for retirement. I’ve known them for so long. They thought I’d be a good person to pass it to. We all just want it to be in good hands, and the tenants, I mean you don’t want a corporation to buy the place and charge more, right? How do you even know any of this?”

”Well there’s one thing I actually think your Mistress should train out of you. You’re too defensive.” Tara leaned forward. “Emily. I’m not judging you. I respect it. You’re so much more than this image you put on. I mean look at you now, the suit, it looks so good on you!”

”I don’t know what’s happening to me, Tara. I’m not the same Emily.” Her eyes silently begged for help as she continued. “I don’t know what they’re doing to me. I miss the office, I like my suit, we drove by a warehouse earlier where I played one of my first shows and you know what I felt instead of nostalgia? That I could buy it and use it for something productive and profitable. Tara. Please. Help me. I’m betraying everything I stand for.” 

”What do you mean? You don’t seem much different to me.” Tara checked her nails. “You’ve just found a new truth about yourself is all. I can help you, Em, but I don’t think I can help you the way you’re asking.” 

”Tara please. It’s conditioning. It’s programming. I’m aware it’s happening but I can’t stop it, and it’s like there’s some version of me deep down that’s accepting it. This never would have happened if they hadn’t left me behind. I’d still be me. I’d still be Emily. Now I’m just an agent of Spiral Holdings.” Emily sighed, wiping a tear away. “You said you begged them to go back for me?”

Tara wiped a tear away and nodded. “I was so happy to see you alive, and like, can I be honest? This really suits you.” She smiled, grabbing Emily’s hands again. “Maybe this is a new beginning for us? I’m sorry we got off on the wrong foot, but maybe we can be actual friends now. The real Tara. The real Emily.”

”Tara.” Emily shook her head. “It’s not me. I’m not the Emily you remember. I’m an image of her. A product. My new employers, or really my new Masters, they’re in the process of creating the me they want and I don’t know what’s on the other side of that. I might as well just be a robot they built in your friend’s image. You can’t trust me.”

”What if it is though? What if part of you wants this?” It was becoming clear. Tara liked Emily not for her rebellious act, but because she saw through it. Tara saw this darker side Emily had been trying to suppress for years, only for it to come out anyway. “How would you have ever known how much this suits you if you hadn’t tried it?”

Emily tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come.

”So what if they have you programmed, trained? We all become trained to do as someone says, and we all become programmed to follow routines. It doesn’t matter, and you’re only hurting yourself by denying it.” Tara said, looking Emily in the eyes. “You said I don’t know you, but I can see it. Most people just see Emily the performer, or the face of a movement, but I’ve seen the real you. I see the you who should be up in that fucking board room, not this obedient slave they made out of a woman I admire. Embrace it. Stop denying your potential!”

”I guess my routines were just routines. I never thought about them anymore. Programming. Performing, speaking, making drinks, something about this though?  It is thrilling I guess, losing myself, my personal destruction. My transformation into a corpo.” Emily’s heart sank. She’d have to give up so much if she truly embraced this path. A part of her was screaming inside, telling her to stop giving in, that she was turning into a traitor and becoming everything she hated. 

Part of her was smiling inside. Warm. Affirmed. All those years ago when she vowed to never be controlled by those at the top? Maybe being on top was the only way to ensure that just as Stephanie had taught her. Maybe she’d misjudged Tara. Maybe Tara just wanted the best for someone she thought was her friend.

“You’re still denying it,” Tara continued. “I’ve seen the real you, behind the scenes, and I’ve seen the look on your face when I’ve brought you the soda you requested. No, commanded! Or when I’ve carried your bags or set up your equipment while you did whatever you wanted to do. I didn’t even mind, honestly. You’re my boss.” Tara smiled and assured her. “I’ve seen the way you bask in everyone scurrying to please you, and Em, you’re going to hate this next one but someone has to say it.”

”Tara, I shouldn’t have been so bossy. I should have treated you like,” Emily would be interrupted by Tara putting up a hand to stop her from speaking.

“You’re my boss, Miss Thompson. You have every right to give me commands. You love giving commands, and that goes with what I’m about to say.” Tara smiled, thoroughly pleased by she was going to say next. “Emily, don’t freak out about this one, but I’ve seen satisfaction you get when you enforce your will and get exactly what you demand. One time they didn’t make your drink right at a venue, and the bartender was pretty rude in all fairness, but you went right to the manager and corrected it. That wasn’t enough though. When you turn into some sort of werekaren, you become the final boss of Karens! You got on that stage and you humiliated her. She bought your drinks and food for the rest of the night out of her own pocket. Bowed her head. Called you Ma’am. I saw how proud of yourself you were, and I loved every second of seeing it. They may be training you to embrace it, and validating what you’ve tried to bury for so long, but Emily?” 

“Tara…”

”I need you to say it. I need you to look in my eyes and admit it.”

”Tara, no, stop” Emily begged. She knew that Tara was just trying to help in her own way. In a way she was impressed with the way Tara had manipulated the band and local scene in her effort to become a famous real estate giant. All Tara’s words were doing, however, were reinforcing Rachel in Emily. Emily in an internal sense began to feel small, engulfed by the her from the incident Tara described, and was horrified that she felt good about humiliating that bartender. She’d turned the poor woman into her personal servant for the evening.

”It’s just honesty. You have always been destined for the side you’re on now.” Tara would give a smug grin. “The side we’re on. You are bossy. You are a leader. You are a Corpo. Everything that comes with that, for you? It’s warranted, Em.”

”No, Tara I-“

”You are a loyal agent of Spiral Holdings? You are a Corpo? Say it. I. Am.” Tara commanded, “but you deserve more than barking on their command.” 

”You’re right. It doesn’t even matter what I was before. I captured you, on behalf of Spiral, and there’s no going back after that.” Emily’s eyes were downcast as she followed Tara’s command. “Any true punk or rebel would have told them to fuck off, better to die than become a slave, but I took the deal. I chose my side. I knelt to them, and now I serve them.”

Tara nodded. “That’s right. There’s no going back. You chose your side. No one really made you. We could have taken your partner together, had you really wanted to escape. Say it out loud.”

”I didn’t want to escape. It never even crossed my mind. I obey Spiral. I serve Spiral. I am loyal to Spiral.” Emily declared.

”It must feel so good to finally admit it.” Tara smiled. “Don’t worry, I still like you, I mean all of that delinquent punk stuff was an act for me too. Maybe you didn’t like me because deep down you could tell what I was, and you could tell I knew what you were.”

Emily bowed her slightly for a moment. “I’m your boss. I should be telling you what to do.”

“There it is.” Tara gave a satisfied smile. “Continue.”

”You’re right that I deserve more. Soon, Spiral holdings will be my personal Queendom.” Emily smiled. “Call me Rachel for the rest of this conversation.” In an instant her smile dropped. Her demeanor cold.

”Your middle name, right? I thought you hated it, but I can do that for you. It really suits you, like Emily does feel more rocker girl but Rachel fits this lovely you that I’m seeing now.”

”Then tell me everything you know. Why the Vespids were at your place. Why you sought us out. Where Mark and Ronnie are. Everything.” Rachel looked on Tara the way a Queen gazes upon a loyal subject. “Earn my forgiveness, and tell me who told you about Eric.”

“When you and Mark broke off, and honestly I’m still confused why, Ronnie and I started trying to transfer the money. I needed my portion so that I could pay back the Steel Vespids. I needed another investor to cover costs but couldn’t find one, and so know how hard it is to get a loan? This is my first real estate project, and a project that big? You can only get a loan from a certain type of person. A bank isn’t going to do it.” Tara sighed.

”Why not partner with a corp?” Lisa asked, raising an eyebrow.

”So they can take most of the profits? No. I wanted my own thing, like Em- um, sorry, Rachel. So I took a risk.” Tara sipped her water. “Problem is they want it back faster than they agreed to. They knew it was going to take time to get them a payment. Best to do it all at once with all that money, right?”

”So, what happened?” Rachel felt some warmth when she was called her new name.

“You’re too hard on Ronnie, Em, ugh. I’m sorry. Rachel?”

”It’s fine,” Rachel waved her hand dismissively, “just tell me what you mean.”

“I wish you could have seen how fast he was destroying their security system. He thought it seemed weird but I told him not to slow down. I should have listened, I mean he knew something was wrong, and a few minutes later everything went to hell. We only managed to transfer $500,000, but we don’t know where it is. Ronnie couldn’t tell if it was a separate attack from the outside or some sort of security feature. Then the security drones came. I managed to help him trigger a temporary glitch and made them all freeze in place. Mark comes sprinting, ready to attack, until we yell at him that they’re frozen in place for another half minute at most. He’d hired an extraction team, but” her voice trailed off as she took a deep breath.

“We’ve never hired one. Why would he do that now?” Rachel sipped her drink. 

”I don’t know, Em. I can’t really ask him either.” Tara let out a long exhale. 

”Why?” Lisa would finally pull up a chair to sit down. 

”Can’t find either of them. They’ve vanished. I’m worried man, the extraction team knew they weren’t going to get paid up front, but somehow they got word that it all went wrong, and they’re pissed. Maybe I’m safer with you and Spiral than I am out there.” Tara sighed.

”Against my better judgement I think I actually believe you. I’ll keep you safe, but I want 50% ownership.” Rachel checked her nails, putting on a casual and aloof act, keeping her voice neutral. 

”You can’t be serious. Rachel. No!” Tara tried not to yell. 

”Take it or I throw you to the wolves. You’re going to be an asset of Spiral now anyway. I have a way out, but I don’t know if you will. My assets are in limbo pending my success, and I’m free once this is solved. Give me ownership and I’ll keep it safe. I’ll return your half when this is over.”

”Then how much does Spiral take? Your loyalty is to them now. You’ll give your Masters something, anything, and does that leave me with?” The question was rhetorical. Tara’s answer was no. 

”They only seize my assets if I fail. I’m allowed to have them. It makes no difference whether or not we build our own thing or if you join me at Spiral. My leash will be removed soon enough.” Rachel was feeling confident now.

”You can keep 20%. That’s a major stake. We’d both hold enough that no one could do a hostile takeover.” Tara crossed her arms and stared into Rachel’s eyes, refusing to even blink. 

”We’re skipping the rest of the negotiation. The middle point we’re going to hit is 30%.” Rachel refused to break eye contact herself. 

Tara smirked. “I really do think you’re way cooler like this. We have a deal. I just hope I can trust you.”

”I’m a woman of my word. As long as you’re telling the truth, you’ll get your portion back. Now. Who told you about Eric?” Rachel finished her drink and stood up.” 

Tara started to look nervous. ”Can one of you go get my phone? I’m not really sure how to explain this without showing you.”