Note: this story has a pretty long buildup before any erotic parts, though I hope the reader's patience pays off in the end. It's got a minor science fiction flavor to it and a small bit of fantasized non-consent, but nothing overwhelming if you're not into that sort of thing.
*****
"Who here has experienced sensory deprivation?" The distinguished professor scanned the audience, tilting her face slightly to look through the correct part of her trifocals.
Out of a conference hall of 300 people, a handful of people raised their hands. Hillary was one of them.
"Of those who did, who enjoyed the experience?"
Twenty-five rows up, Hillary kept her hand raised and glanced around. Only three hands were now up.
Dr. Mullaney's sharp gray eyes bounced from one to the other before landing on the attractive brunette. "You," she announced, gesturing politely up at Hillary's row. "Would you please stand up and tell us your name and where you're from?"
One of the professor's assistants, a cute young woman of Asian ancestry, hustled up the steps with a portable microphone, while Hillary obediently rose. Once she had the device in hand, she answered. "Hillary Beyer," she announced. "I'm a grad student at McAdams State, studying human-integrated robotics."
"And why did you practice sensory deprivation?"
All eyes were on Hillary, but she scarcely noticed. Two years as a teaching assistant made her comfortable in front of a crowd, and even besides that, she was used to people staring. It happened a lot with her face and figure. "I was at another conference, and a vendor made the opportunity available. I couldn't resist."
"And you liked it?"
"Very much so."
"Did you experience any claustrophobia?"
"No, ma'am."
Dr. Mullaney nodded approvingly. "The perfect candidate," she smiled. "I need a volunteer. Would you mind helping us in a display of this new device?" She gestured toward a huge white sphere with which she shared the stage. The device was roughly eight feet in diameter, yet somehow still low key with its matte, dull finish.
Hillary shrugged. "Sure." She was used to this; she was always getting plucked out of crowds. Again, such things happen when you're an attractive woman. And regardless, despite her polite speech, Mullaney had an air of authority that was difficult to disobey.
The assistant gestured discreetly for Hillary to follow, and bounced lightly back down the stairs. As Hillary followed, she continued listening.
The professor, a tall, lean woman whose dark blonde hair was moderately touched with silver, swept an arm toward the sphere. "What we have here is something entirely new, and I think you'll find it intriguing. I asked about sensory deprivation, and this device works in much the same way. However, it's ironically quite the opposite. It's a sensory creator, and it's the first of its kind in the world. It reads mental stimuli and through the use of a new intelligent gel we've developed, it transforms those mental stimuli into physical stimuli. It therefore creates an actual physical experience from an experience that is being imagined by the occupant. We believe it has all sorts of uses from physical therapy to video games to occupational training."
Hillary wanted to hear the rest of it, but had to follow the assistant backstage. Once they were out of the public eye, the petite young woman turned. "Hi!" she said cheerily, offering her small hand. "My name is Lynette. I'm Dr. Mullaney's chief research assistant. Thank you for volunteering!"
Hillary shook her hand. Lynette was a cutie, perhaps 23 or so, and with impressive curves that were unexpected on a woman of her heritage. She was attractive in a very different way than Hillary, a compact bundle of energy and wholesomeness, whereas Hillary liked to think of herself as more smooth and sultry. To each her own.
"So here's how it works," Lynette said. "It's really neat. You're going to be lowered into a vat of our new sensory gel. We'll then have you imagine experiences, and the sensory orb will create those experiences for you."
"It'll create experiences?"
"You'll see. It's amazing."
She motioned for Hillary to follow her into a small room. It contained a couch, a hanging curtain, and a table with what appeared to be a heavily modified scuba mask, along with a neatly folded white bathrobe. Hillary's eyebrows rose slightly.
"I'll explain what happens once you're in the gel, but we have to get you ready quickly. We only have about five minutes. First off, the reason she asked about sensory deprivation is that you'll be completely submerged in the gel. I've done it, and as long as you're not claustrophobic it's an amazing experience and the gel washes right off when you get out."
"Completely submerged?"
"It's not as scary as it sounds. In fact, it's incredible. You'll love it."
"And what happens when I'm in the gel?"
"You just let your imagination run wild. The gel will pick up your brain waves and transfer them to the computer, which will read them and then send orders back to the gel. The gel is autonomous and can form into any shape or consistency on the surface of your body, so it generates a sense of touch that is real - pressure, temperature, anything."
