Rent-A-Body Inc.

Mark and Betty at the restaurant

"So, what do you think we should eat?" Betty asked.

"Crab meat are the main course, but there are so many other choices available," mark said.

"Oh, I almost forgot," Mark interjected, reaching into a brown paper bag. From it, he pulled a flat sphere with a black square in the middle. "Wow, is that what I think it is Betty said.

"Maybe," Mark replied cryptically. He handed her the sphere. As she set it down on the dinner table, she pressed a button at its base. The sphere's center square projected an image of holographic flowers , slowly revolving in a circular motion.

"Betty, come closer," he said. She moved closer, and within seconds, a spray diffused a scent of amber delight and spice . "That's beautiful, Mark. Thank you so much."

"It's really nothing, Betty. I care about you." "Are you ready to order?"

The waiter with a white robotic face and dressed in a black tux approached. He was a rental android, identifiable by the series of numbers under his left arm.

"Yes, we've decided on Crab meat special , two corn on the cobs, and two glasses of sweet tea spiked with Royal Rum 3000," Mark replied. "And we'd like the hologram special for another 400 ZIN please."

"Very well, sir," the waiter acknowledged. "We're experiencing some issues with our food base data collection system, but your order will be ready soon."

"That's fine. We're in no rush," Mark assured him.

There was an intensity between Mark and Betty, a lingering gaze full of unspoken desire. Mark found himself repeatedly drawn to her allure.

Meanwhile, back at Mark's residence, a robot emerged from the wall, holding two buckets of liquid protein. The scent was nauseating, mimicking smashed Crab meat and squashed corn. This concoction was augmented with flavor-enhancing injections designed to trick the brain into believing the food was delicious. The robot dumped the chum into a feeding reservoir connected to Mark and Betty. Then, it secured a feeding tube into Mark's mouth.

As this process unfolded, the waiter returned. "Your RAM has been cleared, sir. And your companion's as well. Here is your main course."

The holographic meals were placed in front of them. Their appearance was convincing, and as they began to mimic eating their food, the real food traveled through clear tubes and into their mouths.

In their homes, their organic human bodies were connected to the tubes, with waste exiting through a separate line into biohazard red bags.

Mark picked up his holographic fork and dug into his food, as did Betty.

"Do you like it, Betty?"

"Oh, yes. It's very tasty, especially with the Tea rum. "

"Come over here and look out this window. We're above the clouds."

"Once I give my speech tomorrow about the new permanent synthetic rent-A-body units, I think things will change around here. But Betty, there's a secret nobody knows."

"What's that?" Betty asked, simulating stuffing her mouth with holographic crab meat.

"Do you ever wonder where these units come from? We have a production line, yes, but we're doing the city a favor with the Gohera biodome," Mark confessed.

"Isn't that where the poor live?" Betty asked, suddenly serious.

"Yes, Betty, they do. Their economy is failing, and they live off the streets in tiny cardboard homes, surviving on unfiltered water. Our waste becomes their waste, our trash their makeshift furniture. They make do with our leftovers of all the crap we give them ."

"You sound so masculine and enticing," Betty said .
"Are you ready to go to the hotel and let me fuck you hard"? " oh Mark, you nasty bad boy, she pushed her breast up from her bra, teasing him.

Mark grinned. "There are many more things in store for you, Betty."

Mark raised his hand to signal the waiter, "Check, please. We're ready to leave."