The Erotic Mind-Control Story Archive

An Executive Replaced

Chapter 1 — “Question & Answer”

“LEFT-RIGHT COMBINATION”, I yelled at Noe before I struck. She parried with her fists clenched and countered with a kick, which I parried with my elbow. Then I yelled: “GRAB!” and grabbed her leg before she could pull it back. I did not even need to twist it. As soon as I had it, she lost balance. Just a small sweep from my opposite leg against her single remaining one was enough. The most powerful woman on Earth that earned my wage of 100 years in a few days hit the floor! It was no hardwood, but I was pretty sure that one or two bruises would be the result. She groaned as she got up. “Ok, enough for today”, I heard her say. Translated, that meant “If we go on, I won’t be able to make a straight face in the board meeting tomorrow.” She was right with it but it was symptomatic for that kind of woman. The determined competitor, the focused overachiever, the shark in the tank. From one second to another we switched from equal training partners back to superior and subordinate.

She skipped the bowing, not even said thanks. When I once had asked her why, she just had answered: “C’mon, Cira. You know I appreciate what you do. You are doing a great job. No need for old, dusty formalities.” Others would have fallen for that, but I saw her say things like that all the time, even to people that had badly screwed up. I was her bodyguard. I saw her authorize the layoffs just a minute later. Back then it took her only a day or two to stop calling me “Lieutenant Marks” and simply go for “Cira”. Frankly, I never was sure if she liked me or if I was just a tool for her. An inventory item of some sort, like a lighting element or a suspension chair. Sure, she could just have used the holographic training assistant instead of me, but she said that I worked better, did not glitch up and would give her better feedback. She kept me around. It could have been paranoia of some sort, but it could also be some kind of true affection. Seriously, I never knew. Over all those years in her service.

When I saw her step into the Dresso, I watched. Not, because there was any danger for her security. Those things were live-monitored by administrations and operated behind the incredibly impenetrable firewalls of the company HQ and additionally those of the penthouse complex, which itself spanned over three connected skyscraper-roofs. I watched because I wanted to see her. Her fine body. Noe Gradd was an exceptionally beautiful woman. The classic supermodel-type, but not one of the fake ones. In the present, everyone can look like that, if enough money switches accounts. It was something else. It was how she moved that body. With some experience in full-contact martial arts and an intense security training you could tell those that got their body remade apart. She was not remade. That body was the result of genetics, combined with rigorous training and extensive care. You could substitute all of that with medical procedures, but basically nobody that did that could ever learn to walk naturally. Miss Gradd instead had gone the hard way. She always went the hard way. She had worked, fought, backstabbed and last but not least charmed her way up to the top.

Now she was the CEO Nola Inc., of one of the Big Four. The company supplied everything from drinking water to uranium shells. Ministers, Chancellors and Presidents came to her office to beg for help or changes in conditions. Most countries had abolished government and civil service a while ago, some were still reluctant. She was aiming to bring them in line. She always said that not dependable assets were of no use to her. Competition of the Big Four was fierce, ranging from stock markets to proxy wars. Her three opponents were a brain in jar, a fanatical cultist leader and a council of masked men. The world was divided into corporate influence spheres and she was the general in the high tower. At least that was how she imagined herself. The truth was far more complex and actually mattered little to me.

Important was what I saw in front of my two augmented eyes. She bowed forward, commanding the machine to provide shower and a cloth switch from sports gear to her private evening attire. Her beautiful curves and those long, trimmed legs, wet with sweat pearls sent a shiver through my spine. I was not the only one. Managers and celebrities of both genders craved to meet her. Even I got envied looks because I was near her most of the time. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not bad-looking either. At least for a woman that could tackle down a mid-size Armored Combat Infantry Bipod and rip off the plating single-handedly. Many men around me were intimidated by my physique since I had left the corporate armed forces for internal security. Quick affairs were the ceiling of possibilities. Not only because many feared I’d break them apart in the act, but more because nearly everyone who proclaimed interest in me actually just wanted to get to my boss. I sighed as the door closed and stepped into the chamber next to hers.

In my years with Noe Gradd I saw more than a dozen of proud, successful men just make way for her or stumble into the most obvious traps just because she had that special something. That inner, prideful grace. I remembered the moment when we met. And the things that we talked about since then. She had told me of her childhood, I told her of mine. We had laughed together and got the corporate NeuraNews ahead of airing, discussing the subjects. Sometimes she had made changes to the coverage following my suggestions. Yes, I came to finally realize, that woman was not only the one being I desired. Desired more than everything else. She was also the closest to being a friend, considering everyone I met since I left the military. When her even, beautiful face revealed itself and she stepped out in her black Kimono-inspired corporate garb, she looked stunning as always. It was a business suit, but in that 2040s Asia-style that she liked. Thin cloth, elaborate yet simple design, as Noe used to say. And very comfy, I had to say. I once tried it but with my body type and muscle mass, I looked ridiculous and she had burst out in laughter when she saw it.

This time, I took a deep breath and commanded the machine to dress me as I had pre-programmed it. A sleek evening-gown, designed to bring out the very best of me. It was not my combat gear that I usually wore. I took the black dress, ripped deep and with fine shoulders. The bracelets, the lipstick, the new hair. I planned it out perfectly. When I stepped out, I looked like a real lady. Not, that I could hold a candle to her appearance, but that was not my intention. She was my friend and I owed her this last try! When I stepped out of the machine, she looked irritated. Not interested, not curious, not positive, not surprised. It was that kind of irritation she used to display when a subordinate was in the process of disappointing her in some major way. My heart sank into unnamable depths. I gripped it tightly. Now or never! I gave her my brightest smile and asked her the central question that I had carried with me for months, maybe even years. “Noe, do you want to join me tonight?” There. It was said. There was no going back.

My heart wanted to throw itself out of the window down the 183 floors. Then I saw it. That twitch of her eyelids. TROUBLESOME EMPLOYEE DETECTED it meant. After that, she gave me her most beautiful smile and said: “I’d love to. Really. You are such a great person.” She gave me her best sigh. “But you know…professionalism first. We’ve got responsibility…” That was it. I stopped listening. I knew what was to come. Her usual “It’s not you, it’s me”—Bullshit. Seen it happen too many times. I had been wrong. That woman, Miss Noe Gradd, who’s life I had saved around 7 times until that point, really just saw me as a tool. I had been wrong. And right. My prediction, that nagging truth behind the hope, had been right. My high hopes—they had been mere illusions. In that very moment, I realized. Shame and bitterness were all I felt. It was clear what was going to happen. And it happened exactly like I knew it would. My acoustic perception sprung back into action, no longer just mentally blocking her words. I just heard “…so sorry. I seriously mean it. Now, please get changed. I need you at your best.”

I nodded silently, mumbled an excuse and turned around to re-enter the Dresso. The usual stuff. Advanced security service uniform. Armored, agile, armed. Whatever made it through the myriads of security systems would hit its final stop at the muzzle of my railrifle. That armor would protect me against up to category 4 firearms and the implants for reaction speed and precision could match the best. Nothing of that could protect me in these minutes. My heart had crashed onto the pavement in front of the corporate HQ. Its blood dripped into the auto cleaners. I realized it and I clenched my fist. All those years lost. I made a decision, just as she made hers. I knew what was about to happen. She would requisition a replacement, effective from the next guard shift. That was 4 hours and 14 minutes away. When I stepped out as usual, she nodded and thanked me. Then we went to dinner. As we set down and the kitchen served the already prepared meals she said: “I understand, if you need time.”

I nodded silently. When I saw into her familiar face, it was undyingly hard to say the following words. “Yes…thank you”, I mumbled. It was a terrible act. She got up, took her dishes and wished me a good night, before she went into her enormous bedroom with panoramic view over the metropolis. When I heard the door lock activate behind her, I knew it was over. She had already gotten her NeuraLink-communication open, likely making the requisition. But I had a requisition to make too. I decided to pull through with it. I drew my communicator. My other hand shoved a glass over the edge of the table. With a sharp noise, it shattered and the shards rolled and tumbled all over the floor. Timestamp, authentication, request for new glass. I waited two seconds and pressed send. Next, I opened my security console to access the installations of the penthouse. Bedroom-door lock closed, balcony door lock open, set to clearance level 5. My level. Vibration sensors into maintenance mode, system deep check initiated. Vibration sensors offline while analysis is performed—Confirm? After a quick hesitation, I flicked [YES]. Next, I checked the equipment deliveries. Indeed, there was an empty standard equipment/ammunition container due to be delivered in around half an hour, nearing midnight. It definitely had not been there before. That meant it had worked. The message was sent, all preparations were done. I closed the application and put the communicator back in my pocket.

Then I sighed. At least it would not take long. I activated the auto cleaner for the floor and lifted my feet as the glass shards were cleared. After reconsidering for the shortest of moments, I took a drink. A fancy one, no alcohol. Never drink on a job, even if it’s your last day. Like that I waited.