Reset

Amanda looked down at the pet curled up on the metal table, unable to stop the tears from rolling down her red cheeks. It was the day of her 27th birthday and also the saddest one in memory.

“Must we really?” She bawled, petite hands covering her Greek nose.

“Yes.” Dr. Walters replied, the hypodermic needle on the ready. “And the sooner the better.”

“But I don’t want to! It’s not fair! He’s my favorite pet in the whole world!” Amanda leaned against the table, dirty red hair falling over its chin.

“I know but once you reach this degenerative state, it’s the most humane thing to do.”

“There has to be another way, something else we haven’t tried!”

“Honey, there isn’t. We’ve been through this so stop torturing yourself. I’ve been doing this for more than twenty years and the alternative is far less agreeable. You don’t want to go through the agony of watching it wither any further. Let me administer the shot. We have a dozen of replacements in the back waiting for a chance if you decide to change your mind afterward.”

“How dare you speak of replacements!” The pet owner vociferated. Were she not learning to control her temper, she would have cracked her skull on the spot.

“I’m merely trying to do what’s best for you and this is it. I know it will never be the same but it’s just the end of a cycle, nothing more.”

“Fine!” Amanda retreated to the other end of the room, back against the wall. “Do it already and put me out of my misery.”

“You’re doing the right thing.” The doctor picked up the syringe and blocked the view with her light blue lab coat. It was a quick job, the cool liquid inside the barrel finding its way into the agonizing companion. The pet squirmed on the table, exhaled one last painful breath, and then…

… stood up, eyes defocused, all of its language skills returning but none of its previous memories. He stared blankly at the two women, a single drop of blood marking the spot where the needle had reset its entire existence.

“Welcome back, slave.” Dr. Walters said.

“I’m sorry, do I know you?”

“You used to, but you’ll do it again in time.”

“What happened?”

“Your NAM-approved identification implant reached the end of its lifespan but, instead of safely decomposing inside your body, it started poisoning it, instead. You would have perished in terrible pain in the coming months had we not intervened. Unfortunately, the cure also required a complete synaptic rewrite. Do you understand?”

“I… no, not really.”

“Well, that’s irrelevant anyway. This is your owner. She will take good care of you going forward.”

“Ah, yes… of course.” He mumbled, lost in Amanda’s spellbinding visage. “Forgive me for not recognizing you. It seems I lost a significant part of me.”

“You did, but it’s not your fault.” The younger woman held his hands together and kissed them. “Stupid technology! Don’t worry. I’ll train you again to my liking and everything will be all right, I promise.”

“Thank you.” He instinctively dropped to his knees. “It’s what I want the most in this world.”

“See?” Dr. Walters lit up a cigarette and smirked. “And you were crying your eyes out just now! Not everyone has the chance to completely start over in a Mistress/slave relationship so you better make it count.”

“I will.” Amanda nodded, pressing his head against her thighs. Even without his memories, he was still hers to command. The new training program would start right away.

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