>certainly not with a robot created for his own pleasure and companionship.
>However, he felt the need to set the mood, if only for his sanity.
>he decided to skip the medical exam
>“Why don’t you get changed into some nicer clothes, Astro. Then we shall sit down and talk about your duties.”
>Half an hour later, Dr Harvard was sitting in the lounge area of his staff quarters.
>He had poured himself a glass of whisky and removed his coat and tie.
>The plain fact was that he felt nervous. It was absurd, he knew, to feel nervous before a date with a perfectly submissive android.
>But he felt nervous all the same.
>After a knock at the door, Astro entered.
>She greeted him politely, then occupied the sofa opposite him when invited to sit.
>Charles had shown her to her quarters, where a fully fitted wardrobe was ready for her to choose from.
>He noted to himself that she had chosen one of the more innocent outfits.
>It consisted of a grey pencil skirt, which tightened above her knees and accentuated her curves.
>On top, she wore a tight-fitting white blouse, which revealed just enough cleavage without ceasing to be demure.
>He had become especially aroused when pre-selecting this outfit for his new doll.
>As she sat, Astro crossed her legs gracefully. >When given a drink, she sipped it as casually and coyly as a Hollywood starlet on set.
>Charles wondered if she had been studying female behaviour and mannerisms prior to their meeting.
>She was equipped with internet access, and was capable of handling huge amounts of information in short spaces of time.
>She put down her drink and re-crossed her legs, this time giving Charles a tantalising glimpse up her skirt.
>The white of her knickers was visible to him for perhaps a fraction of a second...
>but it remained in his mind’s eye throughout their conversation.
>Was that another move she learned, Charles wondered.
>“Why am I here, doctor?”, she asked.
Attached: Cloud Atlas 1080p-QT3.14.mkv_snapshot_00.26.58_[2013.04.20_02.14.34].jpg (1920x804, 249K)