The Helical Saga

Story by Fot1234

I stared at the recruitment center. I couldn't seem to make up my mind. I thought about what it would mean to walk in that door, and what would happen to me. But I also knew it would be temporary, and eventually I'd get my life back. Staying on public assistance would likely be forever - I didn't have what the corporations wanted for the remaining jobs. I took a deep breath and walked in, and there was my first in-person Helical.

They're a tall race. This one was eight and a half feet, and while she didn't appear overly muscled, just toned, I knew she could take a tank apart with her bare hands. I'd seen the YouTube videos, and I imagine you have too. I learned later that they picked her for this job because she's relatively short, and they felt she would be less intimidating for people seeing them for the first time in person. Maybe they're right - I might have turned around and walked right out if I'd seen Serial or Cranberry first. Like all Helicals, she was a strange combination of feline and humanoid features. I'm told that just after Contact humans found them disquieting - they move almost like a human, but not quite, and that sets people off - but I'd been exposed to their their low-level integration nanites all my life, and she didn't bother me at all.

She stood up, smiled, and said hi while shaking my hand. I tried not to stare as she carefully engulfed it - I could tell that she was being careful not to hurt me. It was an unusual sensation, usually as a guy it's the other way around. Her English and mannerisms were perfect. I knew that she was likely running a program to get everything right, Helical culture is actually pretty extremely alien, but they like to blend in. She introduced herself as Kali, and her voice was incongruous. I expected it to be deep, but if I hadn't seen her I would have assumed I was talking to random American girl. She asked me why I was there and I found myself hesitating. But I plunged ahead and met her eyes.

"I'm Sam. I'd like to become a Helical Companion." And swear to god, she squealed and clapped her hands like a school girl. I stared at her, nonplussed, and she giggled at me. I could feel my caution fading away - it's hard to be scared of someone who just giggled at you.

With an effort, she controlled herself, but I could see the excitement lurking. She turned briskly professional. "I'm sorry about that - it's just that we don't get many new Companions these days, so I was excited. You'll need to take the three classes, of course, and pass the basic knowledge test. And there's a minimum 30-day waiting period..." she stopped as I held a hand up and shook my head.

I fished in my pocket and brought out my phone. Placing it on the counter brought up the integration, which I approved, and I flashed over the documentation I'd filled out from the net. "I've been thinking about this a while. I just hadn't fully decided yet. But I took the classes online and filled out the declaration two months ago." She nodded at me, and I saw her eyes glaze. I realized she must have an integrated HUD system. Her eyes flickered from side to side, and then she smiled at me. For a second I thought she would break into another squeal, but she managed to control herself this time.

She beamed at me. "That's wonderful, Sam. Then you just need to take that basic knowledge test here. We have a room just over here." I sighed, but I'd known I'd have to do this on location - they don't accept any outside certs for this test. I followed her as she walked into the next room, my eyes taking in her form as I walked. The swell of her breasts visible on each side. Her taut ass. And her cock, just barely visible between her legs in the trademark Helical semi-transparent clothing. I shuddered a bit, but steeled myself and kept walking. I hoped she hadn't noticed.

* * *

The test itself was long and confusing. Some of it seemed obvious - questions on Contact. The Companions Treaty. Basic Helical history that any human nowadays knows, from the Gene Wars to the Elder Reformation. Basic background on what exactly a Companion was (a disturbing section for me, but I waded through the questions determinedly). But a lot of it seemed... weird. They asked about my favorite color. If a baby was more valuable than a 5% improvement in power generation for a city over a 6 month period. Coke or Pepsi. Donuts or hamburgers. I thought about asking Kali what was up with the test, but she'd just told me to answer as much as I could and then left me there. It took me three hours to work my way through it, and I felt drained and half-dead at the end.

Kali came into the room. I saw her go on her HUD again, checking my results. She seemed to be happy with what she was readin

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