It was the last week of the last year before "open season" for me, so I was wrapping up a bunch of college courses on sexual theory--the law of, anatomy, public health, etc. I was voted overwhelmingly to be the subject of a hands on demonstration in the "Submission Technology in Action" course. When Professor McVoy called me to the front of the room, I was light headed with stage fright.
The professor continued to lecture from the front of the auditorium as he opened the suitcase with the test control collar. I leaned back on his desk next to him wearing the sweater and jeans I thought would arouse the least interest in my body. But I had trouble finding a place to look in the audience where I didn't see boys undressing me with their eyes. Even some of the girls looked lusty. I finally met my bestie's gaze, Ally, who gave me a reassuring smile.
Prof McVoy, "All of modern history is a delicate balancing act between individual autonomy and survival. Of course we could just choose autonomy, but then we wouldn't be here today would we?"
He pulled my long blond hair out of the way and tightened the metal blue device around my neck. It was cold and heavy. My heart beat faster. I had a crush on McVoy, which added another layer of awkwardness and anxiety to the experience.
He continued, "So something had to be done to keep the minimum natural processes in place to preserve the genetic quality of humankind. No artificial substitutes have been found, although it is a much researched subject."
"Researched by women scientists," came the insolent voice of a boy I recognized from grade school, Eric. A few of his friends laughed. I thought I saw even the professor smirk a little. I knew Eric had captured my mother multiple times and upstairs from me while we were at home. I remembered her desperate animal moans and swore to myself not to give him a chance.
Professor McVoy pushed the drive to match the test collar into an outlet at his wrist, and I felt a little stab of electricity. I was now slaved to his control device.
"I'm going to put on the screen behind Claire the commands I'm feeding her device. Claire, try and look at the screen please."
I tried to turn feeling sick with trepidation at what he would have me do. This was only supposed to be an example session, but I knew from my law class the latitude he had with me once I was slaved to his controller. But I couldn't turn, I just too anxious to look.
"Class, who would like to help Clair out? You, Sarah."
Sarah was a bookworm who seemed to be taking the course with the same emotional detachment she aced her other subjects. She said, "Claire, the professor put a mental block so that you can't make yourself look at the screen."
"Thank her, Claire," the professor commanded and I heard myself say, "Thank you, Sarah." I wondered if I had made the choice to say that.
"Relax, Claire" chuckled prof McVoy, "Everything you're going through is perfectly normal for a young woman. Let's play a little game to demonstrate the power of the collar." He paused to think and a lecherous smile crept across his face.
"Tell me Claire, what are you so nervous about?"
I knew I should lie, so I suspected he was making me tell the truth, "I'm nervous you'll make me get naked and put on a show for the class." My face burned and I stared right at Ally, who was trying to give me a reassuring smile. But when the new commands appeared on the screen behind me, her smile turned to pity as the rest of the class laughed. I stared at the floor.
"Go sit there to the side in the TA's spot, I'll call you back when the time is right." I felt relief like a cold glass of water on a hot day. The TA's seat was at the front of the room facing the audience, but it was near the exit and no longer at the focus of attention by the desk and podium. Maybe I would get a break for a few minutes.
The professor continued to lecture imitating the thick voice of a proto-human, "Cave man see girl, like girl. Girl run from cave man. Strong, fast cave man get girl." He continued, "Thousands of years of history and dozens of derelict planets have taught us we cannot replace this dynamic with genetic engineering."
I tried to follow the lecture, but the classroom was too hot and stuffy. I guessed it didn't matter if I took off my sweater. I was wearing a tank top anyway even though no bra, and it was *so* hot. So, I peeled it off. Ally caught my attention with a wave and she held up her notebook, I squinted to make out what she had written until the droning of the professor caught my attention again.