A trio of guards walked down the narrow hallway leading to the detention cells.
One side of the wall was nearly bare, only a few stenciled warnings decorated
the plain grey surface. The iron bars of the cages lined the opposite wall, cages
which held the "volunteers" captive. Shadowy lines from armored light bulbs
played across their uniforms as they paraded down the line of cells, their boots
clicking on the cement floor. The leader slowed and stopped in front of one cell,
lifted his clipboard to check what was written there, and turned to the other two.
"This is the one," he said, then turned his attention to the inhabitant of the cell
and growled, "Subject Number 040502, you've been selected."
Inside, behind the iron bars, Subject Number 040502 was resting on her simple
iron cot. She was clad in a simple blue sleeveless uniform, her body clothed in
two simple pieces of fabric held together by tied strings at the shoulders and
waist, the hem ending just below her hips, barely low enough to cover her sex.
The uniform was designed to allow access to her body by her supervisors during
her training, and to teach her to become comfortable with a minimum of clothing.
She rose slowly from the mattress, then as she had been trained, turned so that
her back was to the guards as they opened the door to her cell. She held her
arms behind her back as two metal cuffs quickly snapped closed around her
wrists and one of the guards, placing a hand on her shoulder, turned her to face
her captors and directed her out of the cage.
She did not resist as she was led out of the facility and into a non-descript white
panel van. She was placed on a metal bench seat - the coldness of the metal
causing her to gasp as it touched her skin - and restraints were placed around
her waist and across her torso. Chains welded to the floor of the van were
fastened around her ankles, as an additional level of security. A soft dark hood
was placed over her head. She heard the rear doors of the van slam shut
followed by two rapid thumps, and the van motor coughed to life.
She wasn't sure how long she had been in the van, nor how far they had driven,
when she heard the brakes squeal one final time. She heard the doors open and
some low mumblings about delivery confirmation. She felt the shackles around
her legs being removed as the restraints were released around her waist and
torso. Her hands remained securely cuffed behind her back, the hood still in
place. A strange set of hands grasped her shoulders and guided her out of the
van. She could feel the chill of the air across her near-naked skin as she was
paraded some distance across a paved walkway, then paused as a door was
opened. Another set of hands grabbed her and guided her down a hallway, the
sounds of her bare feet padding against the granite were muted by the harsh
clomping of the guards' boots. She paused again and was led through another
door before being set down in a seated position. The strong hands fumbled
under her hood, placing a collar around her neck. She felt her head being jerked
back as the collar was attached to something solid behind her, trapping her.
The hood was removed and she blinked several times, waiting for her eyes to
adjust to the bright light of the room. She could see a man behind a desk,
papers spread before him, a desk lamp, a telephone, a laptop computer, a pen
and pencil set to his right. Behind him, a wall of plaques and certificates, the
usual "Wall of Honors" she had become accustomed to in her former life as a
surgical nurse. It seemed so long ago. The man lifted a file folder and
addressed her.
"First, welcome to the Training Ward. I'm Doctor Hernandez, the head of
Research and Development at this facility." The man appeared to be in his mid-
forties, with piercing dark eyes a full head of hair cut with military precision, well
dressed and physically fit. "Second, I'd like to thank you for donating your body
for the advancement of scientific research." The woman snorted. She'd been
forced into this situation but at the time it seemed to be the better of the two
choices she'd been offered at the base commander's office. There was nothing
she could do but go along. The doctored continued.
"I've been examining the list of potential volunteers for our demonstrations and
I've selected you based on your background in medical sciences. It is my belief
that, once you understand our goals, you will help us with our experiments and
will give us your full cooperation. Please believe me when I say that we consider
you to be a very valuable asset to the program."
He paused, studying her eyes, looking to see if she would resist. Subject
Number 040502 sat passively in the chair, then asked in a low tone, "Are these
restraints really necessary?"
"The chains are for your own protection. In the past we've had difficulties with
some volunteers that have caused injury to them and to their handlers. Because I
felt that you were uniquely qualified for our endeavors, I wanted to be certain that
you wouldn't be injured during transportation and initial interrogation. We have a
few rules here, that, if you obey, I will guarantee that you will not be harmed
unless necessary. First, you are not to speak unless spoken to. Second, you
are to do as you are told. Third, you are to be completely honest and truthful in
all statements and actions you make. If you disobey any of these rules, you will
be punished. In exchange for your consent, I promise you that you will not suffer
any lasting injuries, that you will not suffer unnecessarily, and that you will be
afforded some recreational time when you are not involved in a demonstration or
an experiment. While you are here you will be under observation at all time and
during demonstrations and experiments, you will be closely monitored and all of
your actions will be recorded by multiple observers. We have taken steps to
ensure your safety during our use of your body, but you may be restrained during
exercises to prevent these safety measures from being compromised by you or
our staff. In exchange for your cooperation, since we are a licensed medical
facility, we will provide you with whatever medical and dental care you may
require during the term of your stay here. Afterwards, you will be released from
further responsibility to this hospital and may return to your former station or
interview for a permanent testing position here should you choose to do so. Do
you agree to these terms?"
Subject Number 040502 considered the doctor's words for a moment, then softly
murmured "yes".
"I congratulate you. You are to be admired for the contribution you are about to
make to modern medical science. Officer, please remove the shackles from the
subject."
The metal cuffs around her wrists and ankles were unfastened and collected by
the guard. She reached reflexively for her arms, working her fingers around the
skin where the cuffs had bit into her wrists, then looked quickly at the doctor to
make sure that she hadn't violated any rule he may have had.
"Go ahead. You are entitled to some comforts now." As she continued to rub
her limbs, the doctor turned to his desk and said, "you will be issued a private
room. The room is equipped with cameras, but these will only be activated
during any period that an experiment is running. As a safety precaution, we will
also be monitoring your stay in the room for the first few days you are here, just
to make sure that you're comfortable with your new surroundings. If we find that
you are having difficulties adjusting to your new environment, we may provide a
mild sedative to help you relax. You'll find your new uniform in the room. The
uniform will be collected daily and you will be issued a fresh uniform to be worn
as instructed. The uniforms will vary based on the planned activity, and you will
wear that uniform until it is removed from you. You are not to remove your
clothing unless otherwise instructed. Do you understand?"
The woman nodded her affirmation.
"Very well, then. The officer will now escort you to your room."
-----
Subject Number 040502 lay on her back doing stomach exercises. Her handler,
a muscular older man wearing a plain white t-shirt, white pants, and plain athletic
shoes, hovered over her with a stopwatch. She had been at the Kingdom Group
facility for a few days but she hadn't been allowed to leave her room. There were
no windows for her room and no clock on the wall. The guards that fed her four
times a day were careful to never wear a watch. She had lost all track of time.
Her handler had formulated an exercise program consisting of push-ups,
stomach exercises, leg lifts, and various other activities in order to maintain her
health, and she followed his instructions precisely, both because she knew the
value of exercise, and because she knew she would be punished if she
disobeyed. The meals she was given were low-fat, low-calorie, and low-sodium,
and included various multi-vitamin supplements. Urine samples were collected
after each exercise session to check for chemical imbalances. She considered
the possibility that perhaps she was already part of an experiment. Blind
experiments are not uncommon in science, she recalled. She grunted through
the last five crunches and could feel her muscles starting to tighten and cramp.
She pushed for one more but lacked the strength to finish it.
"Stop," the man barked, "75. Stand up and proceed to the bathroom, sit on the
toilet seat, and provide a sample." He followed behind her, monitoring her. The
first few times he had done this, she had felt self-conscious about being watched
while she did such an embarrassingly basic life function, but now she had gotten
used to his careful stare and had no trouble urinating on command. He collected
her sample cup, sealed it, and made a cryptic notation on the side.
"Turn around with your back to me." After she had turned, the man tugged at the
knots holding her uniform. She stood still as the fabric cascaded off her body
and collapsed into a pile on the floor. "Step out of your uniform and bath
yourself. Evacuate your bowels if you feel the need. You will be provided the
day's uniform when you are summoned." The man then turned and exited,
closing the door behind him. She could hear the metallic click of the automatic
lock sliding into place.
This was the first time he had specifically mentioned that she would be
summoned. Did this mean that they felt she was ready to be used?
She stepped into the shower and turned on the faucet. The water felt cool
against her warm body, the clean water washing the salty drops of sweat from
her skin as it fell down against her. She had been provided liquid soap but no
sponge to apply it, forcing her to use her hands to wipe the suds across her skin.
She started with the flat expanse of her tummy then moved her hands upwards
to lather her breasts and arms. She began to daydream about the last time she'd
had sex. It seemed so long ago, another life. She cupped her breasts, rubbing
her thumbs against her nipples, letting them perk and rise. It felt good. She
wondered if she was being monitored by the camera that continuously panned
across the bathroom. Her shower had no curtain and she felt exposed to the
world. Fighting the urge to answer her growing passion, she collected a pool of
shampoo in her palms and smeared it into her hair, feeling her breasts lift as she
raised her arms up to clean her hair. She could feel the tingling between her
thighs and could no longer resist the demands of her libido.
She ran her palms down the length of her torso as if to massage the blood into
her vulva, letting her fingernails brush across her hips, stroking the thin line of
pubic hair softly before slipping a finger beneath the lips of her sex. She moaned
slightly as her finger found the delicate head of her clitoris. She leaned back
against the tiled wall and spread her legs, letting the water cascade onto her
chest, trickling between the furrow of her breasts and running down her body
until it mixed with the juices of her passion. She didn't care who was watching.
She needed to feel sexual release.
Suddenly the temperature of the water dropped 10 degrees, shocking her
system. The door to her room burst open and several guards charged in towards
her. Two men seized her arms and pulled her physically out of the stall while a
third began toweling the droplets of water from her body. She closed her legs
clumsily, trying to hide herself from the patting towel of the guard as the other two
men supported the weight of her body. Another man stood back by her bed and
held a small bundle of clothing. It was this man that spoke to her.
"Subject Number 040502, you are hereby summoned to participate in an
exercise in the study of the human body." The man extended the clothing
towards her." You will dress yourself in this outfit. Any hesitation will be deemed
to be disobeyance of an order and grounds for punishment."
The guards released the woman's arms as the man let the material unravel,
revealing the outfit. It was a near-duplicate of the uniforms she had worn before,
but the material was sheer, slightly pink in color, with trim along the edges. Like
the other uniforms she had been forced to wear, this one was open at the sides
and cut high on the leg. Ties held the two halves together. Frustrated by the
intrusion of the guards during her moment of private pleasure, the woman
snatched the clothing from the man's hand and angrily slipped it over her head.
She quickly tied the knots at the waist and dropped her hands to show that she
was dressed. The man gestured towards the door as the guards stood ready to
escort her to the demonstration room.
-----
"At ease, Lieutenant, and please have a seat. This shouldn't take long but you
might as well be comfortable."
Lt. Malia Hernandez relaxed and sat in the guest chair in front of the base
commander's desk. She straightened her medical service blouse as she sat
down, curious as to what this sudden meeting was about. Whatever it was, it
was important enough for JAG to send down two attorneys. And important
enough to pull her off her daily ward assignment and transfer her tasks to the
other nurses.
"Lt. Hernandez, this Captain Thom and Major Christopher from JAG. Captain
Thom is here to represent the interests of the Air Force and Major Christopher is
here to represent you in these discussions. I'm going to be blunt, Lieutenant.
We know you have been AWOL several times during your stay on this base, as
recent as last night. We also know why – so that you could engage in sexual
relations with a married man at a local hotel. This conduct is unbecoming of an
officer of the United States military and normally we would hold a tribunal for a
court martial. Fortunately for you, a series of circumstances exist which may
work in your favor. First of all, there is a shortage of trained medical personnel.
The private sector has been making aggressive recruiting efforts and many
highly trained people have ended their military careers in order to accept other
opportunities. This has created a vacuum that we've been struggling to fill. To
address the shortage of personnel, the base hospital here has been designated
to be a training hospital for new medical cadets. This has created a new problem
– finding training equipment and instructors. I am prepared to offer you an
opportunity in the base hospital in the training section. If you decline this offer,
my only other recourse is to have you court-martialed and you will be given a
Dishonorable Discharge, which most certainly would ruin your nursing career in
the private sector."
Lieutenant Hernandez weighed her options. The choice was obvious, but it
seemed too easy to make. She had learned that, in the military, there's always a
catch.
"Would I be an instructor? Or just an aid?" she asked.
"Neither. You would be 'training equipment'", the commander replied.
Malia was puzzled. The commander explained that one of the shortages was in
research and development.
"You want me to be a human guinea pig?" she challenged.
"Something like that. You wouldn't be harmed, of course. Most of your
involvement would be restricted to medical training, such as being used by
medical cadets learning to give gynecological exams. I'm certain, given your
career experience, you're aware that checking for proper uteral and ovarial
development requires a skillful touch and a learned hand." Malia nodded. She'd
witnessed it first-hand herself. The commander continued. "You may be
subjected to some rigorous exercises, such as testing of g-force limitations in
new flight suits, improved lightweight helmet designs for women, and that sort of
thing, but nothing that would involve a high risk of permanent injury."
Malia was silent, weighing her decision.
Major Christopher said, "I know you're apprehensive about this, but I've reviewed
the paperwork and, while there is some risk involved in what they have planned,
there are steps being taken to ensure your safety at all times. Considering the
alternative, this would be a short amount of discomfort with a long-term benefit;
for you and the Air Force. All you would need to do is volunteer for the training
assignment."
Lt. Hernandez studied the Major's face, then looked at her commanding officer,
then at Captain Thom. They had her backed into a corner.
"Ok, I'll volunteer," she whispered, submitting to their pressures.
"Very well, sign these transfer papers and then my assistant will escort you over
to Receiving where you will be processed and assigned new quarters during your
orientation period."
Lt. Malia Hernandez quickly signed the papers, not bothering to read them since
they just appeared to contain nothing but disclaimers and legal mumbo-jumbo.
She slid the papers towards Captain Thom, who countersigned and placed them
in a manila folder.
"Oh, one more thing I should add," Captain Thom said, "since you've
demonstrated criminal tendencies and a propensity to leave the base, its been
agreed upon by the Air Force and Major Christopher than you would need to be
restrained when you are not otherwise in your quarters. Corporal!"
The door opened and a burly guard in duty fatigues opened the door. "Yes, sir!"
"Please restrain Lt. Hernandez and escort her over to Detention for processing."
"Yes, sir! Lieutenant Hernandez, please place your hands behind your back,
ma'am!" the corporal said firmly.
Malia complied and two strong silver handcuffs snapped shut over her wrists.
"Come with me, ma'am," the corporal barked, placing his hand on her back and
pushing her towards the doorway.
It would be the last time she would be referred to as Lieutenant Malia Hernandez
of the United States Air Force.
