Paul signed up for the experiment, when he arrived, he was guided to an empty room. He was instructed to touch the computer screen, read the instructions and agree to conditions of the experiment. He looked around seeing the screen in the otherwise empty room, and that there was only one other door. He touched the screen and it lit up and after asking for his personal identification number and gender, it scrolled along with a description that he was going to be testing the effect of a specific climate on his body. He went ahead and clicked the understand button. It went on to inform him that he would have a choice of the environment, but that for testing purposes he would have to be unclothed.
Two buttons showed up, one read 'Click here when you have removed your clothing', and the other one said, 'I no longer wish to be part of this experiment.' He clicked agree, and read that the exit door would lead him to the options room and from there he would select what environment to test. His clothing would be on other side when he exited and he would be required to fill out a short survey about his experience. There were safeguards and he would never be in any danger. He opened the door seeing the a wide range of doors in front of him. A soft neutral voice intoned that doors with red lettering were for female participants, blue lettering for male participants, and gray lettering were in active or already in use. He glanced around, there were very few doors for male participants. He walked along and finally selected the one that said P: Plain. He noticed the environments were in alphabetically order and wondered what a plain environment would be like. The neutral voice said, "Environment selected, enjoy your experience."
Paul stepped into the room, it was sandy and he realized that plain had meant a desert plain. The sand was not all that abrasive and he wondered what the temperature was in the room. He took a few steps getting used to the feel of the warm soft white sand shifting under his feet when a woman appeared. He had thought he was going to be alone, but evidently not. She was barely dressed with golden blonde hair and a stunning body. He moved towards her when he felt her spear at his throat.
"Hello," he managed to say as he watched her eyes appraise him. Paul felt nervous, he was twenty eight and not in the best condition of his life. His corporate job had made him soft and it showed.
"I am here to guide you," her voice was soft and lilting.
"Okay," he readily agreed, "could you move the spear?" he asked as he looked up at her, noticing that her white garment was strategically slashed for optimal movement.
"You must agree to provide me with what I need," she said. Patricia was enjoying the role of the warrior, as an aerobics instructor she had the body for it and now she had the power.
"Of course, anything you want, just name it," he had no idea what he could provide her as she lifted the spear and he stood before her.
"Come, we shall talk as I take you to my tent," Patricia thrilled in the sensations. It was everything they said it would be, the perfect environment, and the clueless man. There were certain rules and she let them drift in her mind. It wouldn't do to break them otherwise this would all be for nothing.
He walked slightly behind her as she walked faster than him, "Your tent?"
"Once my people filled this area. We ruled the plains in peace and prosperity. Our men traded, farmed, and raised children. The women hunted and everything was fine. Then the raiders came and destroyed everything, burning, pillaging, plundering, destroying what they could not take. I was out on a vision quest and returned home to the smells of destruction."
He listened and decided this was all part of the experience. "What do you need from me?"
"Listen," she chided and shortened her stride so that he could walk beside her. "Women ruled, we chose our lovers and our mates. Good men were fought over for breeding rights. When hunting a man was often shared among the hunters." She glanced over at him noticing how his body was responding. "I shared men with my fellow hunters but never chose a life mate." She stopped as they had reached the top of the rise. She noticed he was panting slightly as he bent over to catch his breath. "There is my tent, and there you shall join me in the mourning ritual."
He glanced out spotting the dark spot among the sand and asked, "Morning ritual? but it's afternoon."
"Not morning as in time of day, but mourning as in grieving for my tribe." She turned away from him, she was ad libbing and hoped she didn't trip over her own words.
