After the apocalypse--a "limited" nuclear and virological war--I found myself on my own after the deaths of everyone in my family. The war had caused a partial nuclear winter, crop failures, starvation, and a virological pandemic that left lingering effects on most that it didn't kill. Basically it was the collapse of civilization, which we called the Fall.
As an athletic 18-year old who had once been a Scout, I had somehow survived, and had gone in search of Freehold, a small city surrounded by mountains in Colorado. Freehold was said to be a place of plenty--lots of food, pure water, and apparently lots of sex, although I imagined that was just a crazed fantasy when I heard it from a middle-aged man I'd met, who said that he'd been expelled from the place for "health reasons."
Freehold was said to be ruled by a mysterious and beautiful woman of unimaginable power and wealth, known as Eve, although surely that wasn't her real name. Since Freehold was surrounded by mountains there was only one road into it, with a checkpoint with a massive fence and gate at the entrance to keep out undesirables. It was said that the place had been initially established years before the Fall, and looking at the size of the wall around it I could tell this was true.
Although my family had been wealthy, regular money had lost all value. I did have with me select pickings from my father's antique coin collection--a few dozen gold coins from the America that was, and from even earlier civilizations, including ancient Rome. These somehow still had value with some people, but they weren't accepted when I offered them at the check point, much to my surprise.
The checkpoint that I got to that morning, marked with a large sign that said "Freehold North," was guarded by an impressive array of healthy-looking women and men, all of whom were heavily armed with machine guns and pistols. There were also machine gun towers at evenly spaced distances going off into the woods on either side. It seemed almost impossible anyone could get in unless Freehold accepted you.
Almost all of the refugees were being turned away, although after getting a much needed drink of water, since it was a long uphill climb to this gate. The refugees were also being handed an energy bar, which was better than nothing. As I was searched, patted down, and questioned by the first group of guards--steely-eyed young women and men with helmets and dark glasses--I was thinking I'd be turned away too. But instead I was brought inside the large guard house by a young woman who kept her gun trained on me at all times. To my amazement inside there were electric lights that worked, and I looked up at the lights, wondering how this was possible.
"Hydroelectric," the woman said with a cold smile, anticipating my question.
She took me to a medium-sized room with wooden floors for further questioning, and then left after turning me over to two more armed soldiers. I noticed with shock some blood stains on the floor. There was also a large desk against the wall that had an old-fashioned microscope on it, which I thought was strange.
They took my small backpack, but they had thoroughly searched it outside when they patted me down. My pack just had some granola bars, a canteen, some extra clothes, toiletries, some photos and mementos, and my gold coins. They left it in the corner of the room, saying I'd get it back whether or not I was admitted.
"What's your name and age?" I was asked by a strong-looking and attractive Asian-American woman of about 25, who was holding a clipboard and writing down my answers. Her companion, who was a handsome and very neatly groomed black man who looked to be around 40, kept his machine gun pointed at me as I was questioned.
"Jim Bridger. I'm 18," I said nervously.
"Are you armed in any way, Jim?" She asked, with a slightly menacing smile.
"I have a Swiss army knife," I said.
"I can't believe they missed that," she muttered, and then said more loudly, "Please, very slowly, get that out for me, and drop it on the floor, remembering that my friend Karl here will not hesitate to kill you if you do something threatening."
Trembling, I very slowly reached into my pocket and pulled out my red Swiss army knife, which had a saw, scissors, and some impressively sharp blades. I leaned down and placed it very carefully on the floor, hoping I would get it back. It was my most important possession. It was very useful, and I somehow also felt it was my good luck charm.
"Good," the Asian-American woman said, adding, "By the way, my name is Amy."
"Hi Amy," I said, and then I risked asking a question, saying, "Is Freehold really all they say it is on the outside?"
Amy smiled, and said, "Oh yes. It's all that and more. But as you know, very few get in."
"Yeah, I know," I said dejectedly, "Although I've got some gold coins, in case you're interested."
"You can keep them. We don't take bribes. But if you get in, you'll find there is interest in such things among some in Freehold. Where are you from, Jim?"
"Crested Butte."
"Nice," she said, adding "That place was seemingly uncontaminated. Anyway, do you still have family there?"
"No," I said blankly, "They are all dead."
"I'm sorry, Jim. Well, you're from a good area, you're the right age, and you're quite handsome. Okay, you'll need to take off all of your clothes for me, very slowly, and put them on the floor. In case you don't know, this is what's called a strip search."
I obeyed, very slowly taking off my jacket, my button down paisley shirt, and my jeans, leaving me in my black Calvin Klein underwear. I was glad I had been able to recently bathe in a stream, even though it was very cold, because I'd been able to wash myself, shave, and wash my clothes. My late Mom would have been pleased that I'd been trying to keep myself clean.
"Okay, Jim," Amy said, now looking relaxed and smiling, "now please take off your underwear."
Karl, who had said nothing up to this point, lowered his gun and smiled at me too, saying, "It's okay, kid. This is just how things are done. Don't worry about it."
I'd been a rather sheltered and shy kid, before the Fall, and so not only was I a virgin, but no one except doctors had ever seen me naked.
But their smiles made me think that maybe this was going to be okay, even if was weird. If Freehold was all they said it was, of course they'd need to be careful about security. I was already imagining that I'd be a Freeholdian soon too, and then these guards would be my fellow citizens, protecting me from potentially dangerous outsiders.
"No problem," I said, swallowing, and I took off my underwear. It was just like going to the doctor, I told myself.
My penis is about four inches when it's soft, which thank goodness it was at this point, although it had been warmed up slightly by the attractiveness of Amy.
"Very good, Jim," Amy said with a very friendly smile, adding, "I like your penis, sweetie. Are you a virgin?"
"Yes, I am," I said, blushing.
"That's very good," Amy said, adding, "No diseases. Okay, kid, Karl will get your measurements and draw some blood, and then in the room next door you'll find a bathroom. I'd like you to shower and get yourself as clean as possible, using the soaps and shampoos there. But, and this is very important, do not masturbate when you're in the shower, because after the shower we need to get a sperm sample."
"Okay," I said.
Karl then measured my height, 5' 11", my weight, 130 (I'd lost about 20 pounds), and recorded that I had brown hair and green eyes, and he drew some blood. It all seemed pretty professional, except for the fact that I was nude for all of it.
I then took a lingering shower in the bathroom next door. It was just like a bathroom from the old days, but it actually worked, unlike most bathrooms now on the outside. It had lights and hot running water. I figured I'd at least get really clean, even if I was turned away. I did get hard in the shower, but I didn't masturbate, realizing they must be serious about the sperm test.
After my bath I shaved, brushed and flossed my teeth, gargled with their minty mouthwash, brushed my longish hair, and applied deodorant.
Then I dried myself off with the fluffy clean towels that were provided, and then decided to keep one wrapped around my waist as I came out of the bathroom. I figured they'd give me a little plastic jar or something for my sperm, and then I'd go back into the bathroom with that.
When I emerged, Amy and Karl were still there, and looking even more friendly. Karl's gun was resting beside him on the floor.
Karl gave me a wink and said, "Your quick blood panel looks good kid. No worries."
Amy looked amused that I had a towel around me, but didn't say anything about that. Instead she said, "Have you heard, Jim, that Freehold has unusual sexual practices?"
I smiled and said, "I have, but I know they're just rumors. I didn't pay attention to them."
Amy said, "Well, you need to believe them, Jim. Our leader Eve, and our Central Council, have decreed that Freehold is a Free Use city. Do you know what free use is?"
"No," I said, genuinely puzzled.
"Well, what it means is that if one person wants to have sex with another, they can just do that. Even if they're a stranger and they're in the middle of the street."
"What?" I said, "But what if the person doesn't want to have sex with them?"
"Well," Amy said, "Under most circumstances people don't really refuse because of the consequences. Eve and the Central Council want to increase the birthrate of Freehold, and this is seen as a good way. You've heard, I assume, that most men are sterile now, after the Fall? But also, and just as important, Eve and the Central Council have decreed that free love and free use enhances mental health. Do you understand, and do you still want to try to apply for citizenship in Freehold--if you qualify?"
I was trying to absorb this, and said, "Is there really all the food that anyone needs in there? Are there jobs enough for everyone? Will I have a place to live?"
Amy laughed, and said, "Yes to all three questions," but then she suddenly got somber, and said, "But think about this seriously. If a man or woman wants to use you, sexually, at almost any time, they can just do that. The way that you look at me makes me think you're straight, but let me just tell you that all sexualities are accepted in Freehold. Let me be blunt, and say that if a man wants to fuck you in the ass, anytime, he has that right. But you also have the right to touch or even have sex with almost any woman who appeals to you. But a the same time, if an older woman fancies you, she can push you down and make you perform oral sex on her in public. Anyway, anyone can theoretically refuse sex at any time, but then you are almost always brought before the Central Council, and if your explanation for your refusal isn't acceptable then you can be punished severely, up to and including being expelled from Freehold."
I let this sink in, and then said, looking seriously back at Amy, "Yes. As long as there is enough food, there are enough jobs, and I'll have a place to live, I'll put up with anything."
"You can't just put up with it," Amy said warningly, "You need to embrace and celebrate our way of life. You'll need to sign an oath swearing to uphold our ways and customs. You must sign an oath of fealty to Eve and the Central Council, in case you are allowed to become a citizen."
With this she held out an electronic pad that had the oath for me to swear. There was a place for me to press my thumb for the signature. I scanned it without really reading it thoroughly.
"Okay, I will," I said enthusiastically, pressing my thumb into the spot. What choice did I have?
"Good," Amy said, but then added, "I'm sorry to say, but after all that you shouldn't let your hopes get too high. The genetically-engineered viral pandemic has meant that something like 80% of men these days are sterile. You're very young and healthy, and most of the 20% who have good sperm are in that group, but we'll soon find out. Drop your towel, and we'll check your sperm and see how they look."
