Robert asked Tabby to come to his office. "We need to find everything we can about nano-bots. Mary Beth can't live her life like she is now. She is basically a robot. That is no life. Dr. Johnson had no answers. They just wanted to get rid of her. If they hadn't needed a photo op of her leaving, she would have left that building in a box. I want you to use anything you can to learn about nano-bots. There must be someone out there working on the ability to allow the mind to control the nano-bots, instead of the other way around. See what you can do."
"Yes, sir, I will find everything I can." She left and he sat thinking. She can now do the basic things she needs to live. She can bathe, get dressed, eat, and walk around in the house without supervision. Mary has given her enough independent orders for her to operate in a normal day. She still never speaks, and they were sure she never thinks. It is always the nano-bots controlling her. There had to be a way the nano-bots can be overruled. If any layman can find whoever is working on that, Tabby, and the school she is at are the ones.
Robert went into the living room to read but Wonder and Puppy were playing there. They would chase each other around the room. He watched as they interacted. They had adjusted well together. He still had mixed feelings about bringing in a new dog. It would be better if she would come out of her delusion, but they have tried everything. If she insists on this delusion, they could at least make it livable around here. At least she isn't destroying the house.
Robert had been thinking about Anna for a while. She seemed very happy here, but she had no drive to move forward with her life. Robert didn't want her to spend her entire life with them. He didn't believe that was in the best interest of her. He talked to Mary about it.
"I am wondering if we should suggest she goes home to see her family. We can get her a new wardrobe and we can give her a story about what she does here. I want her to feel good about herself. That will come across to her family and everyone should be happy."
"I agree with everything but the story. Let her tell them what she wants. She has money and she has friends, and she is happy. What more could a family want for their daughter?"
They decided to talk to Anna about it.
"Anna, we were wondering if you would like to go home and see your family? It is time for you to get a new wardrobe anyway, and this would be cause for it. You could stay as long as you want, and we would make sure you have everything you need to have a good time. What do you think about that idea?"
Anna was quiet for a few minutes. "I have been thinking about that for a while. Would it be okay if I go?"
"Of course, for as long as you wish. We want you to see your family and have them see how well you are doing here in America." Roger continued, "Mary could go with you and the two of you would have a good time buying new clothes."
It was agreed. Roger told Mary. "Get her the best clothes. Fine tailored, expensive. We want her to feel successful."
"You didn't think I would do anything else, did you?"
Over the next two days, Mary and Anna came and went several times. They measured and ordered an entire wardrobe for Anna. The clothes arrived in three weeks. They had her model the clothes. They were wonderful, and she was breathtaking in them. Her only problem would be men hitting on her the entire time.
Robert had an idea. "Mary, have you ever been to Sweden? I was thinking maybe you could go with her and meet her family? It would be good for her and us. And you could sort of keep an eye out for the time you are there. You wouldn't have to be there the entire time."
They talked to Anna about it, and she was very happy to have Mary with her on the trip. It was decided.
Mary and Anna left two weeks later. After they were gone, Robert met with Tabby to see what she had found out so far.
"I have found a company in San Diego that is working on the approach you were talking about. Nano-bots that help the mind not control it. They have been working on it for ten years. There are no reports that are public, but the talk in the industry is they may be close."
"Get me whatever information you can." Robert asked Tabby if she wanted to spend the time the other ladies are gone with him. She was in favor and that night she came into his bed.
He loved her body. It was smaller and softer than the others. She had small breasts, just right for a mouth-sized bite. He could suck on them and get most of them into his mouth. It was a unique sensation.
The work she was researching was exhausting. Most nights he just held her and let her unwind. Sometimes he would fuck her gently, just to give her a release. The time they spend together deepened their relationship and their understanding of each other. It was very good for each of them.
A week after her first report, Tabby came into Robert's office. Both "dogs" were sleeping in the beds they had put there for them. "I think I have something we can use. Modern Healthcare Technologies is the name of the company we were talking about. I found a research paper that is supposed to be private that confirms they are working on nano-bots that will work with the mind, instead of just controlling it. The President of the company is Thomas Reynolds. He lives 50 miles south of here. If you could find a way to meet with him, maybe you could convince him to try it on Mary Beth."
She gave Robert the man's personal phone number. He didn't ask where she got it.
Robert put a call into Thomas Reynolds. When he picked up, Robert tried to talk to him, but all he wanted to know was how Robert had gotten this number. He told Reynolds he had a lot of things. Several things Reynolds might be interested in.
"Who are you, anyway?"
"My name is Robert Wilson. I have had an experience in your field you might be interested in." He had one card to play. He had to wait for it.
"What experience can interest me?"
"I have two words for you. Futuristic Technologies." Here it is.
"We can meet at my health club. It can be private." Reynolds gave him the address. They were to meet in two hours.
Robert got there a little early. All he had to identify him was a picture Tabby had given him. When he saw him arrive, he followed from a distance. He wanted to wait and see him alone. He followed him into the locker room and walked up to him when he was alone."
"Come with me. I have a private room near here. We won't be bothered." He led Robert to a quiet room. Robert wasn't going to say anything traceable in a room he didn't know.
When they got to the room, Robert told him, "I can't say anything in this room. If you follow me outside, we can meet where no one might be recording this meeting."
Robert thought he saw a flicker of anger just for a moment in his eyes. But then it was gone. "I will come after you."
He followed Robert out of the room and into the hallway. They went out the front door one after the other. Robert stopped behind a small stand of trees. Reynolds looked around and followed him in there.
Robert started. "I am sorry for the caution. You know the problems Futuristic had. I was there, but no one will ever know that. The people who own that company are the type you don't piss off, if you understand what I mean." Obviously, Reynolds was aware of who owned them because he only nodded.
Robert began. "I know you are working on making nano-bots answer to the host instead of bending the host. I need to know how far along you are."
Reynolds had enough. "First of all, I have no idea what you are talking about, and secondly, I don't know you from Adam's house cat, and I am not talking about my business."
"If you are close to testing, you will need someone to test it on." Reynolds stopped and looked at Robert.
"You have their test subject, don't you?"
"Yes, they were going to destroy her, and I used my connections to solve their PR problem in exchange for her. I need her mind returned to her. If your process works, you can program the nano-bots to give her mind control over them. That would be the best of both worlds and would be worth a fortune for you. Your problem is you are not allowed to test on a human being, and yet, that is the only way you can know if it works. Quite a dilemma."
Reynolds looked at Robert closely. "The logistics of this would be a mess. Neither of us would trust the other."
"I don't need anything from you. My only interest is the girl. She already has a release with Futuristic. Now her mind is fried. I am trying to get her mind back. If you are willing, we can test your work on her. She can be no worse off than she is now, and this can be off the books. If it works, you can find a way to move forward without admitting this test. I have no interest in your company or profits. I can sign papers, but I can't admit to anything about her or a test. You will have to find some other thing I can sign for that will protect you." Robert could see he was thinking.
"Give me a number where I can reach you."
"Fine but be careful what you say on the phone." He gave Reynolds his number and left.
He didn't hear from Reynolds for several days. During that time, Tabby gathered more information on Reynolds. He was being squeezed financially and needed to show progress soon. That was all Robert needed. He knew he would hear from Reynolds.
He heard from him in a couple of days.
"Great park, ferris wheel, three hours."
"Agreed."
Robert walked up to Reynolds and smiled. "Thanks for considering my offer. We can cover these conversations by you selling me a few shares of your company. That will be what we are talking about. I don't really want any. However, if you succeed, they might be worth something several years from now."
"You will need to bring the girl to my lab. We are ready for the test. We want her day after tomorrow at 6 pm."
