Mason's phone rang, and he looked down at it. Monica was calling. Crap.
"What's up?" Mason said, answering the phone.
"Hey, Mason. Did you want to go to a strip club tonight?"
Mason had not expected that to be the reason for Monica's call. "Are you going to bring the brain along?"
"Of course," Monica said after a brief pause. "Why?"
"No reason..." Even Mason wasn't convinced by that answer.
"Look, if you want to give the brain a whirl, you could just ask," Monica said. "Lord knows I've been putting it through its paces."
Mason was curious what she meant by that, but the compulsion he was under didn't care to sate that curiosity. "Okay, where's the club?"
"It's Nitro Club over on 6th. The show I'm interested in starts at 7, so be there a little before then."
"Okay, be sure to bring the brain. I love you, bye."
There was an uncomfortably long pause at the other end. "Bye, Mason."
Mason hung up and sighed heavily. What was he going to do? He needed to find a way around the professor's orders. He looked at his watch. He had two hours before seven. Maybe he could come up with something with the time he had?
* * *
Mason arrived at Nitro Club at 6:50. He paid the cover charge to the bouncer, and walked into the venue. The inside of the club was dark and filled with smoke. The only brightly lit part of club was the stage where Mason could see a naked brunette dancing to some bass-heavy rock music.
Mason tore his eyes away from the stage, and scanned the patrons looking for Monica. He was a bit surprised to see her sitting on the rail, waving a tip intended for the dancer on stage. Mason watched as the stripper gave Monica a short private show in the middle of her performance as she artfully collected the tip. Monica cheered.
Mason just stood watching until the song finished up. Monica was the only girl he had ever seen naked up until now (at least as far as he remembered), and he was transfixed by what he saw.
The DJ spoke as the brunette left the stage. "Thank you everyone. That was the lovely Angel! Be sure to stick around, because our next dancer is the incomparable Crystal!"
Mason took the opportunity to sit down besides Monica at the front of the stage.
"Hey, Mason!" Monica said a little too loudly, leaning in to kiss him.
Mason returned the kiss passionately, and when their lips unlocked he could smell that she had had a few drinks. "Hey, Monica. Where's the brain?"
"You've got a one track mind," Monica said smiling. "Patience. Lets enjoy the show. There's time for the brain later."
Mason didn't like that answer, but he resolved to keep his compulsion under control long enough to enjoy the show. The professor hadn't given him a time limit, but Mason had felt the anxiety of a command unfulfilled in the back of his head ever since he had left the professor's office, and the two hours between Monica's call and arriving at the club had been agonizing. Mason worried what he might be pushed to do if Monica didn't hand the brain over soon.