The rain is pounding relentlessly on the car roof. Every word they exchange is swallowed up by the sound of the raindrops.

"Honey," Paula asks, raising her voice to drown out the noise, "why are you so set on going to that hotel in Brest? We could just as easily spend our belated honeymoon in a small, romantic town."

Frank looks up from his laptop, annoyed. "You know I have to be reachable for work. I told the boss I'm taking my honeymoon. No one's going to call."

Both stare silently out at the rain. The steady hum of the rental car is suddenly interrupted--the engine stutters, jerks, and dies. The car comes to a stop.

"What do we do now, Frank?" Paula's voice sounds worried.

Frank tries, almost frantically, to reach someone at the car rental company. To no avail.

"I saw a hotel as we drove by. I'd rather go there in the rain than sleep here in the car." Her voice is determined, if not exactly enthusiastic.

Frank grumbles, but he can't think of a better idea either. "We'll be completely soaked by the time we get there," he mutters to himself.

And sure enough: after just five minutes, their clothes are clinging wetly to their skin.

A large stone arch marks the way to the hotel. About 200 meters ahead, a rather small building in the Breton country house style comes into view. It looks inexpensive--and temptingly dry.

They step inside through a heavy oak door. The room is lit by candles that cast a soft, pleasant glow. In front of them stands a counter bearing a sign that reads "RECEPTION."

Frank rings the bell. An elderly lady hurries over.

"I see you need something dry to wear and a bed for the night?" asked the lady behind the counter with a professional smile.

"Oh yes, that would be wonderful. A double room, please," replied Paula.

The lady glanced at her screen. "Unfortunately, I only have two single rooms left. And before you ask: I can't give you a discount. Dakor?"

Frank and Paula shrugged. "Dakor," Frank muttered. The main thing was that they got out of the rain and into dry clothes.

"Here are your room keys: Room 105 and Room 230." The woman handed Paula the key for Room 105 and Frank the other one. "The elevator is back there. First and second floors. The dining room is on the ground floor and is signposted. Once you've freshened up, one of you can come back up and check in."

Paula and Frank took the cards and looked questioningly at the receptionist. She nodded toward the left. They followed the short hallway until a door opened--revealing the elevator. The display read: 6th floor.

"I'll just quickly check in with the car rental place," Frank said suddenly. "You take care of the check-in. We'll meet at dinner--I'm starving." But no sooner had he finished the sentence than he flinched. For a moment, the elevator seemed to go into free fall, only to brake abruptly again.

The door opened. A mechanical voice announced: "Second floor. Your room is down the hall on the left."

Speechless, Frank stepped out. The door closed behind him. A strange sensation, as if the elevator had made a sudden lurch--then the door opened again. This time for Paula. "First floor. Please turn right."

Room 105

Paula stood in front of her room door. It slid open automatically. She stepped into the room--and stopped. Before her stretched a huge panoramic window overlooking the ocean. The sea was choppy, rain lashed against the glass, and lightning flashed on the horizon.

Behind her stood the bed, perfectly made, with soft pillows. "Then I'll see the ocean right when I wake up," she thought and smiled.

A gentle, feminine voice snapped her out of her thoughts: "Welcome to the Hotel Nautilus. Would you like to verify your identity now?"

"My name is Paula, my husband is Frank. My address is--"

"Thank you, Paula. We've already found you in our database." The voice sounded warm, almost human. "Would you like to take a shower now? We've laid out fresh clothes for you. A humanoid android will be at your disposal."

Suddenly, the wall next to the bed became transparent. Behind it lay a luxurious bathroom with a shower, sink, and toilet. Paula undressed, and as she stepped into the shower, she noticed: there were no faucets. She remembered a movie about the rich and famous where everything was voice-activated. Curious, she tried it out: "Warm water, please."

A stream of warm water poured from the showerhead, like a gentle rain. Through the transparent wall, she could still see the raging sea. She had to laugh. "We could never afford that."

Behind her, a deep, masculine voice spoke up: "Don't worry, Paula. The prices are the same as the hotel you originally booked. Here's your towel."

Startled, she turned around. An android was standing there--with a friendly smile and a fluffy towel in its hand.

As she left the bathroom, she dried herself off. On the bed lay underwear, a pair of pants, a bra, and a shirt--all in a simple, light beige. "Do you need stockings, too? We ask our guests to leave their shoes off in the hotel to maintain the peace and quiet."

Paula shook her head, walked to the door, and headed to the dining room.

Frank was already sitting at the table, a glass of beer in front of him. His face was beaming. "Wow, Paula, what a luxury! And no more expensive than the other hotel!"

Paula leaned toward him and whispered, "There's got to be a catch, right?"

Frank waved her off. "Oh, nonsense. You're seeing ghosts. Let's just enjoy it."

Dinner was delicious. It had been a long time since their conversation had been free of arguments--simply harmonious. This was the Frank she had once married.

After dinner, Frank accompanied his wife to their room. They stopped in front of the door. Paula asked teasingly, "Well, do you want to come in and enjoy the view?"

Frank smiled. "Coming in sounds good."

But no sooner had they closed the door behind them than he was already pushing her toward the bed. "Frank, please... gently and not so fast. We have plenty of time."

"Yes, Paula, I'm always gentle." His voice sounded rougher than usual. "But you're making me so hot."

Before she could protest, he had already pulled her pants down. His own were already hanging down to his knees. With practiced movements, he slipped on a damp condom, coated with lube. She knew the ritual--and said nothing.

He entered her. Ten seconds. Then he came, panting, satisfied. Without a word, he rolled to the side--and fell out of bed onto the floor with a dull thud.

Puzzled, he scrambled to his feet, rubbed his arm, and examined the bed. "Was it this narrow before, too?"

Paula stared at the mattress, too, in disbelief. "Yeah... it must be."

Frank pulled off the condom, pulled up his pants, and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. Then he placed the condom on the nightstand. "I'll try to reach the company again. Such luxury... but the internet isn't working."

The door clicked shut behind him.

Paula stayed lying there--disappointed, empty, almost numb. The view of the raging sea outside the panoramic window was still there. But the moment she had been hoping for was long gone.

From the corner, the android glided silently toward her. "I recommend a trip to the sauna--and to round off the evening, a gentle massage."

Paula looked up. I hadn't even noticed him when I walked into the room. "Good, Paula," he said in a voice as warm as honey. "The sauna is on the ground floor. Next to the fitness area and the self-defense training room. Take your time."

Curious, she first strolled through the gym, then into the training room. There, a woman was wrestling with an android--a fight that immediately fascinated Paula. The fighter was giving it her all. She freed herself even from seemingly hopeless holds; her breathing was heavy, her body a single taut muscle. Suddenly, she feigned an attack, spun around, and fled. The android followed her. She stopped abruptly and let herself fall to the ground. Her opponent stumbled over her and fell. In a flash, she was on top of him, her body pressed against his from behind, her arms around his neck, until he tapped out.

Paula smiled. What a strong fighter.

The sauna was spacious--and empty. Outside the cabin, Paula slipped off her clothes, took a towel, and lay down on the lowest bench. The heat enveloped her like an embrace, causing her muscles to relax. After ten minutes, she stood up, washed the sweat off, and placed the towel in the basket provided. Then she got dressed again and returned to her room.

The android was already waiting. With an elegant gesture, he pointed to the bed. "Please." It had been freshly made, a thick, soft towel lay ready. Paula lay down on her stomach, feeling the mattress mold to her body.

"May I undress you? I can't massage you properly with your clothes on." She hesitated. His fingers were already hovering over her back, as if they could sense the tension in her skin.

"I've seen you--and other women--naked before. You don't need to be embarrassed. I'm just a machine."

"I'll do it myself." Her voice sounded firmer than she felt. Slowly, almost reluctantly, she slipped off her clothes. "Yes, you're just a machine... but deceptively real."

"Thank you, Paula. The illusion is meant to be as perfect as possible." His voice was gentle, almost intimate. "One big difference, though, is that I don't have genitals. Unless..."--a barely audible pause--"...you'd like that?"

Paula didn't answer. Instead, she pressed her face into the pillow and closed her eyes.

His hands began professionally, almost clinically. But with every passing minute, his movements became more deliberate, his touches more intense. No part of her body remained untouched. Even her buttocks were worked with firm, circular motions, as if he wanted to release every tension within her. When he reached her feet, he whispered, "Please turn over."

Now it was the front's turn. His fingers glided down from her shoulders, over her stomach, her hips--slowing down, growing more tender. When he reached her calves, she felt a slight pressure, a hissing sound.

"What was that?" she asked, lifting her head.

"A little vitamin boost. Nothing serious." He hesitated. "If I may ask... when you have sex with Frank--are you satisfied? Do you find that... okay?"

Paula's cheeks flushed. "That's a very private question." She sighed. "I'd like it to be different. A year ago... he used to take more time."

"I understand." His voice was neutral, but his hands weren't. They were now sliding along the inside of her thighs, slowly, exploring. "I could help... if you let me."

His fingers brushed her skin, getting closer and closer until they touched her there--gently but firmly. "I noticed how you were watching the fighter. If you enjoyed that, a trainer is at your disposal."

Paula felt the tension within her ease--replaced by a deep relaxation, a warm tingling. His touches grew more intense, his fingers more demanding. She breathed faster, her body arching slightly upward as his hand caressed her there--no longer questioning, but knowing.

And then it came. A long, trembling breath, a tremor that ran through her. The orgasm washed over her like a wave, letting her let go completely. When she opened her eyes again, the android was still there--his hand now resting motionless on her thigh.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"Total luxury--and no internet."

Frank spat the words into the room as if they were a curse. His voice was rough and commanding: "A beer. A can."

A figure emerged from the dark corner of the room. An android whose movements were as fluid as oil. It glided over to the fridge, opened the door with a soft hiss, and took out a bottle. Frank had wished for the robot to look like a woman--and so it was. The artificial skin shimmered dully in the dim light, the features perfectly symmetrical, almost eerie.

"Here you go, Frank." Her voice was warm, almost seductive. She placed the beer on the small table between them. "I have a call for you. From your company. Would you like to take it?"

Frank pressed his lips together. "Yes." A word that fell like a stone into a pond.

His immediate supervisor answered. The voice sounded rushed, as if he hadn't slept in days. "Frank, I didn't get in touch sooner because we... are planning a restructuring. Before I beat around the bush: Talk to the AI Lea."

Seamlessly--as if someone had flipped a switch--another voice could be heard. Female. Cool. Calculating. "Hello, Frank. I see you're making yourself comfortable."

The android sat down next to him on the bed. So close that Frank caught the faint scent of synthetic jasmine. "We need to rethink things. The other companies aren't sleeping. The pressure on our little company is growing every day. We want to remain independent. And that's where you come in. We need all your insights. We'll pick you up tomorrow morning. Berlin headquarters."

Suddenly, the android stood up, took Frank's untouched beer, and poured it down the toilet in one fluid motion. "You need to be in shape tomorrow." Then he walked back to the corner--and froze.

Frank hated this situation. Something wasn't right. Something was very wrong.

He left the room and went to Paula's door. Locked. A mechanical voice informed him: "Paula is in the training room."

Once there, he peered through the glass door. Several women were training, probably with androids. Then he spotted her: Paula. Alone. She was stretching, her muscles tensing beneath her glossy skin. Frank entered the room.

"Frank." Paula turned around, surprised. "It's been a long time since you've been in the training room. Let me think..." She stroked her chin. "Ah, yes. At the beginning of our relationship."

He pulled her close, his breath hot against her ear. "We need to talk."

"Then let's have a little competition." Her smile was defiant.

"Okay. I'll win anyway."

The training mat squeaked beneath their bare feet. No boxing. No distance. They stood locked in a clinch, forehead to forehead, hands clawing at each other's necks to break the balance.

Frank immediately relied on his physical superiority. He shifted his weight, pushed Paula backward, and tried to control her arms to force her to the ground. His muscles were burning. "You're playing it safe today, Paula." He was breathing heavily.

"I'm just waiting for you to make a mistake." Her voice was strained but calm.

"Tell me what you want to say."

Paula felt the pressure Frank was exerting. She knew that if she resisted with brute force alone, she would lose. So she did the opposite. The next time Frank lunged forward with force, she suddenly gave way--and used his momentum.

With a lightning-fast movement, she let herself fall backward in a controlled manner, placed the sole of her foot against Frank's hip, and pulled him along by the sleeves of his sweatshirt. A perfect Tomoe-nage. Frank lost his footing. He flew over her in a high arc and landed on his back with a dull thud.

"I think I'm in danger." His voice was a hoarse whisper in her ear. "They want to squeeze me dry. And then I'll be worthless. We have to get out of here."

But the fight wasn't over yet. Frank was agile; he immediately rolled to the side to get up. But Paula was faster. Before he could tuck his knees under his body, she slid over him and went for the ground fight. Her legs wrapped around his hips--the guard position.

Frank was trapped in her grip. He tried to sit up, to push Paula away with his elbows, to use his sheer mass. Sweat dripped from his forehead. He managed to free one arm and pressed her against the mat.

That was the opening Paula had been waiting for.

She spread her legs, threw her left leg over Frank's neck, and closed her ankles behind his back to form a perfect triangle. At the same time, she grabbed his isolated arm and pulled it across his own throat. The triangle choke was locked in.

"Damn..." Frank gasped.

The more he struggled, the tighter the noose tightened around his carotid artery. There was no escaping it by force. Paula increased the pressure in a controlled manner, locking eyes with him. Her eyes were icy--and yet full of concern.

Frank's face turned red. He raised his hand and tapped Paula's thigh three times hastily--the signal to give up.

She immediately released the hold and rolled to the side. Frank lay on his back for a moment, staring at the ceiling and taking a deep breath while rubbing his neck. Paula sat back on her heels, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and looked down at him. A triumphant yet loving smile played around her lips. "Your guard was open on the ground, honey."

Frank coughed, but then had to laugh. He reached out his hand to her. "You're a beast on the mat. I'll remember that."

Paula leaned down toward him as if she wanted to kiss him--but then she whispered, "Then we have to get out of here right now. Follow me. I have a plan."

They left the room and walked down the hallway to the sauna. Paula undressed. Frank did the same. Both entered the steamy room. She pushed him onto the bench and lay down on top of him, as if they were about to make love.

"I think there are sensors in the clothes to spy on us." Her breath was hot against his ear. "I could be wrong. But we have to try. Otherwise, we don't stand a chance."

Frank nodded in agreement. But he made no move to get up. On the contrary: he pulled her closer to him.

"You really only have one thing on your mind." She smiled. "But now it's my turn to be pampered."

Paula sat up, sliding her bottom over Frank's face. "You're welcome to pleasure yourself, too."

Frank knew how to satisfy Paula. With the memory of the lost battle still in his muscles, he rubbed himself. The heat of the sauna, the sweat on her skin--everything blended into a numbing rush.

When they were both satisfied and the heat became unbearable, they went to take a shower. The water splashed over their bodies.

"Follow me."

Naked, they walked down the hallway toward the emergency staircase. They climbed the stairs quickly. Before reaching the front desk, they passed a window. It was already dusk outside.

They climbed out and ran along the cliffs to avoid being seen. A small settlement appeared ahead of them. Laundry fluttered in the wind. Only women's underwear. But it didn't matter. The main thing was, they had something to wear.

The clothes were too small for both of them. They had to laugh when they looked at each other--at how they looked in them.

But the laughter faded quickly. The night was long. And they were far from safe.