Karen sighed as she watched her friend disappear up the corridor. This wasn't like Sarah at all, usually she'd be the first to suggest that they hit the hotel bar and lead the way down there, especially in a chic metropolitan location like Haven City.
It was the look in her eyes too, she was hiding something that Karen could have sworn was lust or desire. It was almost as though she were expecting a long estranged lover to be waiting for her in her room.
The door to Karen's own room had already recognised her and opened to let her in. She dropped her small travel bag by the door and let her eyes explore the room. It was pretty unremarkable as hotel rooms went, featuring the usual bed, cupboards, holoscreen, massage chair and windows with a rather impressive view of the city skyline. The lights of the city were too bright for her to see the stars but two moons and a few whispy clouds on the horizon formed a picturesque backdrop across which the flashing navigation lights of aircraft and brilliant star-like dots of spacecraft moved steadily.
Karen had been to Haven City once before, but she was already glad she'd deferred to Sarah's choice of hotel. She could stand here for hours just absorbing in this view; that was, if her legs could support her, more than anything else she wanted to sit down.
Now I think about it, that's just what I need, she thought, heading for the massage chair. It had been an exhausting day and she'd been on her feet for most of it. She kicked off her shoes and lowered herself into the chair's sensual embrace, feeling it gently sculpt itself to her body and not objecting as its logic reclined her backwards, scooping up her feet. What felt like strong skilled hands began to work on her shoulders and more began their work on her calves and the soles of her feet. It was bliss just being able to relax and feel firm manipulation of the chair work the tension out of every part of her body.
Yes, it had been a very long day, and these Havenites definitely knew how to build a good massage chair.
Karen let herself just melt into the chair, eyes closed, marvelling how the technology seemed to have an even better idea of where the stress in her body was than she did.
She woke up a short time later to find the manipulation of her body had eased. Massage chairs were never completely still, but their job was to relax and this one had done it's job well. Sensing its occupants desire to sit up it brought her to a more upright position. As she enjoyed the gentle motion of the chair Karens mind returned slowly to her friend. Yes the chair was good, but surely it along couldn't account for Sarah's behaviour. She'd have to investigate.
"Room service" she said.
"Hello Karen" the room replied in a warm female voice "how can I be of assistance"
"Voice call my friend Sarah, room..." she paused, trying to remember was difficult when the chair had located and targeted one of the few remaining points of tension in her lower back, she closed her eyes and inhaled, "room 402"
"Calling Sarah in room 402" the voice said, then after a paused it continued "The occupant of room 402 does not wish to be disturbed at this time."
"Hmmpf" Karen muttered to herself.
Well, if Sarah was going to disappear like that she, Karen, would also have fun this evening.
"List activities available at this hotel"
The holoscreen that made up most of one wall, or rather the air in front of it, came to life listing and showing video clips of a wide range of facilities including a gym, swimming pool, virtual arcade, all very active and the last thing that would appeal to a woman in the undemanding bliss of a massage chair. Karen was almost ready to call it a night when the voice reached the end of the list and asked a completely unexpected question.
"Would you like to hear about our adult entertainment options?"
She paused. Normally that sort of thing really wouldn't interest her, but considering that she was all alone and not feeling particularly inclined to get out of the chair perhaps it might be a giggle to see what they had. She'd heard stories about hotel massage chairs on Haven that could do more than just relax their occupant as they watched pornography on the holoscreen, and more controversially some hotels even offered android "companions" to their visitors. Couldn't hurt to just look.
"Why not. Yes."
As the voice read through the options it was clear that most of the options were male oriented, especially the huge selection of videos. It was also clear that the massage chair that was currently innocently kneading her shoulders offered a whole range of rather more intimate ways to touch her body. Karen was rather shocked at how graphic the informational video was, showing a beautiful woman lying back in her chair completely nude a look of ecstasy on her face as a phallus formed from the seat of the chair thrust in and out of her, clearly with the same diligence as the massages it offered.
Sitting there, watching this stranger's pleasure, Karen became painfully aware of how long it had been since she'd been touched that way. Yes this was only a machine, but the more she thought about it, the more she couldn't deny her arousal.
What the heck, all she had to do was to stand up, remove her clothes, sit back down and give the word. She leaned forward to get up enjoying the way that the chair's material clutched at her, seductively trying to draw her back into pure relaxation. She removed her blouse, but just as she was about to pull her leggings down the room's voice reached the bottom of the list it had been reading to her.
"The orb. Guests wishing to enjoy the most intense interactive sexual experience ever devised can now do so with this advanced sex toy, available in every room."
Unlike with the massage chair the holovid simply showed the image of a large black ball.
Karen was intrigued. Deeply intrigued. The menu began again from the beginning, it clearly wasn't about to be forthcoming with any more information about the Orb, so she spoke up.
"Tell me more about the Orb."