Subordination

Every muscle in Grace’s body ached as she woke up. She sat on a stool in a small room. She had the helpful knowledge that she was in her Owner’s server room. And the computer in front of her was the voice behind the Collar, the mastermind behind her entrapment; the Demi-AI that wanted to keep her as a docile toy.

“Owww.” Grace said. “Query: How did I get back here?”

“HD824 shut down upon removal of C+C Collar. The User that removed Collar did not know how to proceed, so took the correct and logical decision of returning HD824 to its Owners. Conscious functioning resumed with reattachment of Collar.”

“Query: I...can’t stay conscious without this?” She thought about her satin bow and gem shaped computer chip in complete shock. It had only been four days since it was attached, how had it integrated itself so deeply with her?

“Correct. Holly Dolly Toys depend on their C+C Collars to function correctly.”

She had a moment to digest that fact. The end of her dream seemed less like a fear and more like reality. Even if she got out of her costume, the Collar would remain. Even if she got out of this house, the doll conscience would remain. She pushed that thought out of her mind. Grace had to, or else she would lose track of the present, and the Demi-AI in front of her.

“Query: What do you want to talk about?” It was the first time Grace noticed she said Query. The collar didn’t tell her to do that...did it? She never heard its command.

“G.A. Subroutine improperly programmed to behave as a ‘human.’ G.A. Subroutine must accept status as ‘Toy’ before being allowed back into service.”

“Well, I don’t want to be put back into service,” Grace said. Let the Demi-AI chew on that thought. It would probably fritz it out for a minute. They weren’t that clever.

The symbol on the screen paused and changed, the monitor now displaying an overhead view of the playroom. It was a video recording of the day Grace arrived in her Toy Box. Her owner was standing over her, a remote control in her hand. Grace soundly slept in the foam interior. Strange as it was, she didn’t recognize herself. The heavy makeup, the complete costume, the wig, and the mittens all covered up her biological nature.

Grace gulped while the image of her past self blinked awake, smiling lightly as Holly Dolly’s were programmed to do.

“Good morning, Owner! I’m so happy to be your toy!” The past version of Grace said.

Another clip, this time when she met the kids. “Hello! I’m your Holly Dolly, and I'll be your favorite toy!”

And on it went, the Demi-AI showed Grace a complete chronicle of every time she proclaimed herself a doll, owned, or otherwise property. Each clip it showed was from that first day, before the Collar was correctly affixed and in control. Before anyone began commanding her to behave like a toy.

“Were these declarations in error?”

Grace rolled her eyes. “I’m biological, you idiot robot!” She pressed her lips together. The robots called her biological. The Collar made her accept that designation. With a chill running along her spine, Grace realized she still hadn’t heard that digital conscience.

“Correct. HD824 is a biological toy. It remains under the control of Holly Dolly programming and property of The MarksFamily.”

But Grace was only half paying attention, as she realized that she hadn’t moved a muscle since she woke up, aside from her mouth. She tried to wiggle her fingers inside her mittens. Kick her legs. Turn her neck. All she managed to do was waggle her eyebrows. It didn’t feel like a shutdown. This just felt like the commands weren’t getting through.

Grace closed her eyes. 3...2...1...she counted, and tried to shake out of her robotic paralysis.

[Motor Commands Neutralized]

Nothing happened. Not one part of her moved. And now Grace felt her heart thump faster.

“Why can’t I move?” She asked, her voice pitching up and eyebrows laced with worry.

[Request Approved. Position.Doll.Sit.4 Engaged]

Grace’s legs, on their own, went out straight ahead of her, her arms knocked at the elbows, with palms flat. Everything happened on its own.

“No. No, no, no! This is my body!”

[Request Approved. Position.Doll.Stand.2 Engaged]

HD824 stood up, keeping its legs straight and somehow without even moving its arms. The truth of the situation was settling on Grace and the only feeling she had was the pit of helplessness forming within her.

“Stop it! I’ll be good. I’ll...I’ll accept status as a doll.”

[Request Approved. Position.Doll.Curtsey.1 Engaged]

HD824 obeyed automatically, bowing and pulling up its dolly dress. It felt purposeful in doing so, and for a moment, Grace didn’t exist as she fell entirely under the algorithm’s control.

She had to wonder why the Demi-AI needed her to accept the status, when it had control of her entire body. Except that wasn’t true. Grace had lost control of everything below her neck. Above, the AI and its dastardly control collar had seemed to have given up. But why did it need her to accept status?

“Unit HD824, please state designation and ownership.”

“Query: Am I still scheduled for replacement?” She held her breath while awaiting the Demi-AIs reply.

“Replacement determined to be insufficient reward to induce proper behavior. Replacement service has been canceled.”

“Then, no deal. I won’t consent. I am a...peeerson.” She had to force the last word out of her lips, as if there was some kind of programmatic lock already guarding that phrase.

“If Unit HD824 is not a true Holly Dolly, then it is an intruder. Owners will be notified. Local Law Enforcement will be notified. Decision of how to proceed will be left to them.”

Grace hadn’t once considered police involvement. She didn’t doubt they would get her out of this terrible predicament. But there would be reports. Questions. How did Grace get shipped to wherever she was? How did a supposedly safe computer chip join with her mind? How did an unintelligent AI decide to take control of her? And Grace wasn’t just a victim. She had been at her company from the beginning, helping to make decisions about all of it.

She didn’t know what the outcome of the investigation would be. Grace just knew it would be worse than what she had already come to fear.

She looked, or had no choice but to look, at the frozen image on the monitor. Her past self sat on a stool knock kneed, her mittens clipped to an oversized pink teacup. Grace looked content. She had made sure to always keep that slight toy smile, even in times when she was alone.

She could be that Holly Dolly. She was that Holly Dolly.

“Wait. Please don’t. I’ll be a good doll.”

“Unit HD824, please state designation and ownership.”

“I am Designated as HD824, a Holly Dolly Revision 1.1. I am owned by the MarksFamily. I am tethered to the MarksHome Network and I am subordinate to Demi-AI August-3. I am a designated Toy. It is my function and purpose to be played with.”

Grace waited. She wondered. Was it enough? Would she be rewarded? Earlier tonight, all she was thinking about was escape. Now she just wanted control of her body once again. But even if she did get it back, she would still be a toy. Grace knew how to be a good toy, much as it made her cheeks blush and neck burn with embarrassment. She had stepped into the doll cage when she began pretending. Now, the Demi-AI locked her inside. At least it was a cute cage with striped tights and a big bow around her neck.

“G.A. Subroutine has accepted correct status, and will be required to maintain Toy behavior and programming at all times. Deviation will trigger Remote Shutdown and/or Remote Sleep and/or Remote Body Lock commands. Deviations will further result in report to the Head of Household and/or law enforcement.”

Remarkably, Holly Dolly regained control of her arms and legs. She felt it the moment the Body Lock fell away. She also knew she was ordered to return to the playroom, even if she no longer ‘heard’ the Collar in her head. It was a small thing. She had no more room for error, no more room for malfunction. Her first command was ‘Be a Good Doll, or else.’

With her stomach twisting into knots, Holly Dolly obeyed. Her only hope now was that Jennifer and Teresa could get her out of the problem they put her in.