Continued from part 1 (readers uncomfortable with poop/scat can skip Chapter 9)
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Chapter 6- Living in the moment.
Alex was no longer treated as a captive. She had full clearance throughout the wings which belonged to the Oracle project as well as the common areas. She was never allowed to leave the facility, nor travel to the surface, but within its walls, she soon gained respect from the professor's team.
She got to know more about the Syndicate and its vast influence.
"The Syndicate has operated in various forms since times immemorial, preventing wars, striving to help the suffering of mankind."
"They've succeeded marvelously, I'd say," she observed sarcastically.
"Not all attempts were successful. But the world would be much worse if it weren't for their intervention." explained the professor.
She learned that the "Facility" was a vast underground metropolis, with over 1000 workers. Common laws and ethics didn't matter here. It was all for the "greater good" and she dreaded what horrible experiments were going on in other divisions.
The underground metropolis had taken decades to build and was continuously expanding. It had every facility imaginable, and Alex soon forgot she was trapped underground.
Alex was fully occupied, day and night on re-designing her life support equipment. Delays, and budgetary overruns, were the least of her worries. "I'll be hooked up to these for the rest of my life! I will not have you compromise any of it!" She stormed out of one of the fitting sessions, fuming.
In her free time, Alex enjoyed working out, swimming, and socializing. They were strictly forbidden from speaking of each other's work and knew they were under constant surveillance. Alex, with her stunning looks and athletic prowess soon became popular and the person to beat at swimming, tennis, or volleyball. She gave martial arts lessons at the Gym and most of her clients (and admirers) were men.
She wasn't afraid to take a few men and women to bed, but was careful not to establish serious relationships, and also avoided anyone connected to Project Oracle.
After six months of rigorous work, the team was ready to begin the process which would transform, Dr. Alexandria Milton, 27, the brilliant and young scientist into the all-seeing Oracle.
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Chapter 7 -- The Journey begins.
Alex took a swim in the Facility pool for one last time. As she exited the pool in a simple black Speedo, she knew all eyes were on her. She was a sight to behold. Young, tall, athletic with stunning features. She enjoyed sports and the outdoors. She would truly miss her old life.
She had already bid farewell to her gym mates, citing a transfer to another project. She did the same here and hoped no one noticed any tears.
Alex gazed at her nude form for hours that evening. Tomorrow, the first of many life-changing transformations was to occur; all her hair from head to toe, including her eyebrows and lashes, down to the hairs in her nostrils were to be removed permanently, and so were all her teeth and nails. It was a necessary procedure to ensure that she didn't need any maintenance once sealed in the Oracle chamber.
She brushed her hair for the last time. She loved her long shiny black mane. With her hair and eyebrows would go her identity. She'll become a bald featureless mannequin, the blank canvas that was to become the Oracle.
She was fastidious about her grooming, and, today, she took extra care to dress up, wearing a crisp silk blouse, a tight skirt that ended just above her knees, and pumps. She wore a simple pearl necklace, bracelet, and gold watch. They were identical to what she owned at home. After wearing some light makeup and tying her waist-length hair into a bun, she was ready to face the big day.
The professor came in and said, "Dr. Milton, we begin your transition to the Oracle today. Are you ready?"
"Do I have a choice?" she asked mockingly. The old man simply smiled.
" I must say you look stunning today," said the old man.
"It's the last time," she said, looking directly at the man, with no emotion.
It was time to say goodbye to the room she called home for the past six months. After the procedure, Alex would be confined to a new germ-free environment until she became the Oracle. She took a deep breath and said,
"I'm ready. Please lead the way."
They walked down several corridors through countless restricted access entrances. Occasionally people walked by, nodding to her and the professor as they passed. To most outsiders,(as well as those not part of the core team of Project Oracle) Dr. Milton was one of the professor's close associates. Her heels clicked on the tiled floor as she walked briskly to her fate.