Captain Steve Michaels was dreaming he was floating on the ocean when his alarm went off. It was a common dream among those in zero-gravity environments. He rubbed his eyes and then checked his daily schedule: light duty and recreation. He was glad it was finally the weekend.
Michaels was part of a three-man expedition to Mars. He was in the tenth month of a journey that would last three years. His other two crewmates were in their sleep chambers where they would remain for the next two years in suspended animation. His first job of the day was to check on their vital statistics, although if there were anything wrong he would have already been notified by the shipboard computer.
"Good morning, Captain Michaels," said the female voice of the ship's computer, a Carol 2300 model. A female voice had been chosen because it could be sympathetic yet authoritarian when needed. Carol was Michaels' constant companion. "You have light duty today followed by exercise and entertainment. After dinner you are required to complete Procedure 77."
"Thanks for the reminder, Carol. Breakfast?"
"Coffee, eggs, bacon. A Saturday pastry, as well."
Light duty consisted of making the rounds in their small capsule. It was boring work and not really that necessary because Carol monitored everything. Michaels thought that the Agency was just trying to keep him busy so he wouldn't go crazy. And who wouldn't go crazy stuck in a metal box hundreds of thousand miles from the nearest, conscious, human - his only companion a disembodied voice? He was jealous of his two crewmates. Their journey to Mars would take, for them, one good night's sleep. But it was deemed necessary that one crew member had to stay awake on the slight chance that something went wrong. Michaels sighed and stared out of one of the tiny capsule's windows, wondering if it all was worth it.
The day went by slowly, but it picked up considerably with the two-hour entertainment package newly received from Earth. Michaels enjoyed a condensed version of the World Series Game 6 - Yankees versus the Yomiuri Giants from Tokyo. Carol even provided him with a non-alcoholic lager.
When the game ended the computer spoke. "Captain Michaels, you will now get ready for Procedure 77."
"Yes, Carol, I know," Michaels replied. "Just a moment, please." He knew it couldn't be true, but he sometimes felt that the computer was obsessed with Procedure 77. It was the fourth time it mentioned it today.
The computer, perhaps sensing hesitation, changed to it's most soothing voice and told him, "This is a necessary function, Steve. Please undress and enter the chamber."
It was always a bit odd when the computer called him by his first name, but it worked. He floated towards the plastic-enclosed chamber and began to remove his synthetic one-piece suit.
The EX-12 was a small multi-function chamber where an astronaut could shower and eliminate waste. The additional function of sexual release was added just for this mission. Years of research had determined that regular intervals of sex, simulated or otherwise, were a necessary part of surviving long periods in space. In the interest of both mental and physical health, Procedure 77, otherwise known as the Protocol Concerning Mandatory Male Orgasm, was required weekly of all male astronauts on missions lasting longer than 12 months. He oftened wondered if there was a Procedure 78 for female astronauts. Michaels was always left cold by the machine and did not always look forward to it. And the fact that he knew all of his actions were monitored by a score of doctors and researchers did not help. He couldn't help but feel like a lab rat.
Fully naked he entered the chamber and sealed it shut. He placed the Virtual Reality Visor over his head and attached velcro braces to his ankles to minimize float. There were hand holds on either side of the chamber. Astronauts more clever than he had dubbed this position "riding the invisible motorcycle."
The computer's voice, still in soothing mode, said, "Steve, please concentrate on the images so that you can attain an erection. I will assist with stimulation."
"Always eager to help, aren't you, Carol?" Michaels said. He felt smooth mechanical "fingers" begin to caress his penis.
"It is my function to make sure your experience is favorably executed."
A beautiful, naked woman with long blonde hair appeared on his VR screen. She was rubbing her very large breasts. One hand moved towards her vagina and the woman squealed with delight. It wasn't working for him and Michael's penis stayed flaccid.
