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											| Okey, here we go, the finale of the three-part  of the demented Dr. Specten. This was a fun  to write, and everyone's cheerful response made it all worth
 the effort. I think the mad scientist deserves a little rest for a while, however,
 so this will be the last you see of him...for a while. The great thing about
 fiction is that ANYTHING can happen. Specten is far from finished, despite the
 somewhat ominious ending, so expect to see him again later. For now, enjoy.
 
 Story: Menagerie
 
 Lisa Meadows was just walking into her apartment after work when she
 noticed a small wrapped package in the floor. It was small and rectangular,
 and it looked as if someone had slid it into the mail slot in the door. "Hmm,
 wonder what this is?" She picked up the box, tore off the card attached, and
 read it. It said simply: "Dear Lisa. Thanks for the lovely time. Here's a
 token of my esteem, and when I saw it I instantly thought of you." No
 signature or return address was listed, and she hadn't been with anyone since
 her boyfriend and she had  six months ago. Strange.
 Walking over to the couch, she flipped on the television, and sat down
 to open the box. Inside was a silver, intricately worked...necklace? No, the
 shape and contour was all wrong to be a simple necklace. It was a collar. A
 fetish type slave collar. Her ex-boyfriend had tried to interest her in all
 sorts of kinky sex games, and had taken her to a local  shop one time,
 hoping to spark some interest. Lisa was an old-fashioned girl, and she liked
 simple, straight-forward sex. Finally getting the picture, her boyfriend had
 left her to find "more adventurous prospects." Still, from her brief time in
 the store, she was able to recognize it for what it was.
 "That bastard," she thought angrily to herself. "Saw it and instantly
 thought of me, huh?" She briefly entertained thoughts of smashing it, or
 tossing it into the trash, then sighed, placing it in its box on the table.
 The thing was actually rather pretty, slender and feminine in design, not
 bulky like the collars in the shop. Picking it up and gazing at it once
 again, she thought, "Hmmm...its not really so bad. Maybe if I put a
 pendant on it I can pass it off for a rather exotic looking necklace."
 She placed it gently up against her neck, to get a feel for what it would
 be like to wear it, when suddenly she felt a tension in the silver band.
 It had locked tight around her neck by itself!
 "What in the fuck?!?" Lisa yelled, reaching up to pull the collar
 off, break it, snap it somehow. For a thin lightweight band, it was
 remarkably strong---it wouldn't break or bend in the slightest. Moving
 a hand around to the back, she could feel the tiny clasp moving slightly,
 completing its automatic locking function. She was trying to figure out
 what to do next when suddenly a white hot pain flared up at the back of
 her neck. It felt as if someone had jabbed a knife into the base of her
 skull, and was slowly twisting it. Eyes wide in pain and horror, her
 hands grasping at air, Lisa convulsed slightly as the pain increased
 exponentially...then suddenly vanished.
 The absence of that terrible pain brought with it a vacuum, a giant
 vortex of nothingness, that absorbed and consumed the few scattered thoughts
 still remaining in her head. Soon a blank look entered her face, as she
 sat there motionless, staring straight at the television, but seeing and
 hearing nothing. For the moment...
 ...Until she felt a hand shaking her briskly on the shoulder, calling
 her name. "Lisa! LISA!! Are you alright girl? Come on, say something!" Lisa
 blinked a few times, letting her glazed and glassy eyes lubricate themselves
 as everything slowly came back into focus. Looking up blearily through her
 tears she saw the face of her very concerned friend and co-worker, Patty.
 For a moment she felt an inexplicable disappointment, as if she had expected
 to see...someone else? "Lisa, hon, are you okay?" Patty asked again.
 "Yeah I guess so," Lisa replied, shaking her fuzzy head. "What time
 is it? You said you were coming over after nine."
 "Yes, it IS after nine, Leese," Patty said with a sigh. "I saw your
 car in the drive and knew you were home, so I knocked on the door. And
 knocked. And knocked, for, oh, about fifteen minutes straight! I had
 thought maybe you were in the bathroom or something, till I walked by the
 window and saw you sitting on the couch. It was about then that I noticed
 your door was unlocked, and walked in to see if you were okay, and found
 you off in zombieland!"
 "Sorry 'bout that," Lisa said embarrassed. "I must have zoned out
 or something watching the ol' boob tube. Guess I was more tired than I
 thought---"
 "No, Leese, you're not hearing me," Patty cut her off. "You weren't
 SLEEPING on the couch, at least not in the conventional way, you were sitting
 straight up, still as a statue, with your eyes wide open staring into space.
 I waved my hands in front of your face and you didn't even bat an eyes!"
 Patty's words chilled Lisa to her core. Something had happened to her,
 that much was for sure. For one thing, it had been shortly after five when
 she had arrived home, and unless Patty had changed all the clocks and somehow
 caused the sun to set early, she had lost about four hours of time. If Patty
 had not awakened her, who knew how long she might have been in that state.
 Placing a hand to her chest, she felt the cold metal about her neck and
 suddenly remembered. The collar! She had put it on, and felt a sharp sting,
 and then...she was looking up into Patty's face. The collar had done this
 to her!
 "Patty," Lisa said, barely able to control her shivers. "It's this
 thing around my neck, Patty. It did this to me. Please, can you see if you
 can get it off of me? I can't reach the clasp, its too small." Her friend
 walked up behind her and pushed Lisa's long  hair out of the way.
 The tiny clasp that greeted her sight made her frown.
 "No way, Jose," she said sadly. "That thing's practically microscopic,
 and well constructed. I couldn't even find a hook or knob, or anything to
 unlatch---its as if it welded itself shut after it was closed. How did
 you ever get it on in the FIRST place?"
 "I didn't, really," Lisa replied, trying futilely to yank it off
 once again before subsiding. "I was wondering how it would look, so I just
 pressed it up to my neck. Next thing I know, its attaching itself, locking
 itself tight, and I can't get it off! Oh Patty, what is happening to me?
 Am I going crazy? This kind of thing is impossible!"
 "There there now, take it easy, kiddo!" Patty said, hugging her friend.
 "You're not going crazy. And considering where we work, and the kind of new
 stuff your department puts out on a regular basis, I'd say something that
 can attach itself that way is VERY possible." Patty gave her a wan smile.
 "If you were more of a scientist and less of a bureaucrat, you'd know these
 things. Anyway, don't worry about it too much. First thing tomorrow, we
 can have the eggheads in Research and Development take a look at it."
 "Yeah, okay...good idea," Lisa said softly, wishing more than anything
 that she could drive back to the plant and have them remove it right now.
 "Sorry to be such a hassle Patty. Under the circumstances, I'm not really
 up for a night of bar-hopping."
 "No problem, Leese" she said with a grin. "Well, I guess I better be
 heading back home myself. It might actually do me good to stay inside for
 a change."
 "Um, Patty," Lisa said in a small voice, so unlike her usual confident
 and outgoing self that Patty paused at the door. "I...I hate to bother you
 like this...and I know I'm just being silly...but do you think you could...
 um...spend the night here with me? Please? Just in case I zone out again.
 I...I'm afraid after what happened earlier I might do something, or walk
 in my sleep...or worse, never wake up again!" She was on the edge of panic,
 barely keeping the tears in check. Patty's heart went out to the poor girl.
 "Sure thing, kiddo," she replied without hesitation. "And don't worry.
 Nothing is gonna happen to ya with good ol' Patty around." She hugged Lisa
 again, who managed a half-hearted smile. "Good. Now that THAT'S settled,
 what have you got to eat around this joint?"
 
 *	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
 
 Vicki West struggled mightily against her bonds, trying with all her
 strength to escape. Sweat ran down her naked body in rivets, and her
 perfect form shone gracefully in the dim low watt light. The digital clock
 on the wall before her changed over again. It was now eleven fifty-nine.
 One minute until the torment began again, one minute until her tormentor
 re-entered the room to punish her for some unknown ungodly act. Ungodly
 was the word she thought of to describe her torment, because a crueler,
 more demonic being could not have existed in the lowest depths of hell than
 the   that held her captive. Her eyes grew wider as the digital
 display pulsed and pulsed, the colon between the numbers blinking in and
 out, in and out, in and---shit! The numbers changed to twelve midnight, and
 the door opened behind her.
 "Ah, Vicki, you're awake. How pleasant. Did you miss me?" the
 asked smugly, walking over to naked bound woman.
 "For the last time, Doctor, fuck off!" she said bravely. "I don't
 know what you are trying to do, but it won't work! You can't break me, so
 just go the fuck away!"
 The  just shook his head. "Tsk tsk tsk, that is not a very
 productive attitude to have just now, Vicki," he said. Sitting on the bed
 next to her, he spoke slowly, as if speaking to a child. "Now, one more
 time, this is NOT about breaking you, Vicki dear. If I wanted to reprogram
 you so badly, I could have simply activated the slave collar again. This is
 about research, Vicki. I'm a scientist, first and foremost, and while I have
 had a LOT of fun playing with the minds and bodies of my victims, I can't
 forget about the PRACTICAL applications of this as well." He began softly
 stroking Vicki's inner thigh, making her cringe and whimper. "I need to learn
 exactly how best to stun and disable the human consciousness and access the
 subconscious. I can't place a collar on everyone in the whole world, at least
 not directly, and though I have learned the art of hypnosis, its still
 sketchy at best. Some people, like you, dear Vicki, are remarkably resistant
 to hypnosis, while others are extremely susceptible. I am looking to find
 the common link in EVERY mind, that universal access switch to the human
 subconscious. And you, my dear, have the honor of being my guinea pig."
 Vicki cursed and shouted, struggling like mad to get free, to plant
 a kick hard enough in the man's youthful face to send his teeth down his
 throat. But her bindings were too strong, and all she could manage was a
 feeble wiggling. "One day, you'll get yours," she said finally, running out
 of steam, and sagging back against her bindings. "One day someone will stop
 you for good, and I only hope I am there to see it."
 "Enough small talk, dear Vicki, we have work to do." He walked around
 to the foot of the bed. "Let's see. We've used pleasure association before,
 which you seemed to enjoy. Yesterday we explored pain association," he said,
 noting the involuntary shivers running through her body, "which I assume you
 did NOT enjoy. Now I think we should  the difference, something that is
 pleasurable, yet maddening enough that it is still torturous. Can you guess
 what I have in store for you tonight, dear?"
 Cringing inside with thoughts of another night of pain, Vicki bit down
 hard on her courage as she replied. "I don't know and I don't care. Just get
 it over with, you sick son of a bitch. I can take whatever you can dish out."
 "Glad to hear you say that, Vicki," James Specten replied eagerly, as he
 uncovered his hands, showing Vicki just what he had in store for her. Vicki
 gasped at the unforeseen sight. He was holding two small brown turkey pin
 feathers in his hands. "For the next twelve fun-filled hours we are going to
 explore the wonderful world of Tickling." Brandishing the feather gently over
 her naked body, he was rewarded by an reflexive jerk, as Vicki sought to pull
 away before the tip even grazed her flesh. "I've never really pondered this
 method before, but I found a marvelous database of information online. I
 can't wait to show you what I've learned."
 Vicki began to whimper softly as she felt the two insidious feathers
 stroking her bare flesh, right on the center of her thigh. At the moment, it
 didn't tickle at all, it was more of an annoying little itch, just enough to
 get her attention. But the doctor patiently stroked and teased her flesh with
 the plumes, making goosebumps rise on the afflicted area with each stroke. Oh
 shit, this isn't happening, this isn't happening! she told herself over and
 over. She wanted to believe somehow that it was all a bad dream, that some
 madman had not broken into her house and taken her hostage, but it was all
 a dream, why couldn't she wake up?
 "Tee heee heee," she giggled, unable to hold it back any longer. Seeing
 the pleasure on the demented doctor's face, she clamped shut her mouth, fighting
 with all her strength to hold back the slowly building laughter, determined
 not to let him break her. You won't make me give in, she thought fervently,
 trying to ignore the feathers as they moved upwards, across her chest, seeking
 out her flat soft tummy. I've taken the best you could dish out for three days
 without begging, I will not break down now. But oh GOD its stating to tickle!
 I can't get away, can't even bring my arms down to protect myself, can't move
 away from those damn feathers...starting to tickle more...have to hold back
 the laughter, can't let him...make me...laugh.
 "Bhuuaaahahahahaha!! Heheehee...no, stop it. Stop it damn you! heheheee...
 Leave me alone you baaasshahahahahaa--tard!" she managed between laughs. The
 dam had burst, and she could no longer hold in the laughter as the gentle torment
 stole away at her energy reserves. Her body began wriggling desperatly trying
 to escape, weakening her more, all while Dr. Specten merely smiled and continued
 to tickle her randomly, dusting the feathers down the middle of her chest, up
 to her neck, and across her wildly straining face, darting across the sweet
 curves of her  for the briefest time, to her under arms, even across her
 bare twitching feet. He noted all her most sensitive spots for further inspection
 later, now content merely to map out every single nerve cluster on the poor
 girl's body while she writhed in torturous hilarity. After an eternity of ten
 minutes, he was satisfied that he knew her body quite well, and gave Vicki a
 moment or two to rest and recover. The woman locked tear-reddened, hateful eyes
 on his face, and he knew she would be cursing him if she had the breath.
 "That was fun," he said with glee, placing the feathers to the side, much
 to Vicki's relief. "And don't worry, my dear, we are FAR from finished. I just
 want you to rest up a bit while I get ready for the next part of the experiment.
 Then we can resume." He knelt down at the edge of the bed, out of Vicki's
 direct line of sight. Leaning back, she closed her eyes, letting her body
 replenish itself of oxygen while it could, when suddenly she felt a soft
 tingling sensation on her left foot, right at the curl of her toes, at her
 most ticklish spot and she screamed with laughter.
 "EEEEEEEHHHHHEEEE!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAH NO NO NOAAHAHAAAA..stop staaahhh-op!
 No don't tickle me there! Ahashahahaha..." she screamed out thrashing with
 renewed energy. The tickle had been completely unexpected, and she had had
 no chance to build up her resistance. The doctor popped back into view, holding
 what her tear stained eyes could only guess was a oil painting brush. The soft
 fine hairs twirled relentlessly in her most vulnerable spot, and her toes
 wiggled wildly, alternating between clenching the strands and releasing them.
 She absolutely could not stand the sensation---pain she had learned early in
 life to endure, and pleasure-torment she could lose herself in it, but this
 was neither and worse than both! It seemed to overload her mind and body, as
 her throat ran raw from laughing so hard, subsiding into silent quaking
 laughter. Her inability to escape, to stop him from making her laugh, reinforced
 the whole feeling of helplessness within her. She realized just how completely
 she was at his mercy. He had said she would endure this for twelve hours. A
 half day of this? The thought was unbearable. Before she realized it, the
 words came tumbling out.
 "Nooo...no more...hahaha...*gasp* please....please..I beg you! Ahah, hah
 hahaha..can't stand it...just stop, please...heh..hehehe...*gasp* I'm begging
 you...ahah ha ha ha...no..morrrreee!!" Instantly the sensation stopped, although
 Vicki continued to laugh for the next several minutes. Dr. Specten walked
 around to the head of the bed once again, kneeling down, gently caressing his
 captive's sweat-soaked face.
 "Well well well...that didn't take very long at all did it? I find it
 hard to believe that you took ten hours of intense pain---spanking, pinching,
 heat and cold variations, the whole gamut---without a single word from you,
 and yet less than thirty minutes of tickling has you begging? Interesting."
 He slid a hand over her still quivering belly, lower, to the thin delta of her
 womanhood, causing a loud moan to stick in her throat. "I was also interested
 to note another phenomenon. Stroking your toes so devilishly seems to have
 made you very wet and aroused, hasn't it? I mean, I can feel your little
 volcano here and it seems ready to erupt." Vicki blushed as she realized the
 truth of his words. The tickling had left her breathless, on fire deep within
 her loins, despite the torture of the sensation. Now that the overwhelming
 tickling had stopped, she could feel how close she was. But why? Had he messed
 with her mind to make her feel arousal when tickled this way?
 "Very interesting," he continued, almost to himself. "I suppose its true
 that some sensations do overlap, and that the only difference between an erogenous
 zone and a sensitized section of the body is now the mind interprets the
 sensation." He turned back to face his victim. "Oh well, we can investigate
 that in detail later, can't we? But right now you seem to be in need of some
 'assistance'." He stroked her swelling pink lips, eliciting another deep moan.
 "Anything I can do for you, Vicki? All you need do is ask."
 "Yes...please..." she gasped, struggling for the air to speak, as her
 body squirmed under his skilled touches. Gathering her last bit of will and
 self-respect, she replied. "Doctor...please...I beg you...to DROP DEAD..and
 LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE!"
 Specten's response was predictable and immediate. He resumed the stroking
 of her feet, working the brush deeply along and between her spasming toes on
 her left foot while his short trim nails scratched gingerly along her long
 pink wrinkled soles, moving randomly around and around, not letting her get
 used to the sensation or mount any type of defense. Vicki's eyes grew wide,
 and her mouth hung open in a grimace of hysterical torment as the last bit
 of laughter poured out of her. Deprived of oxygen, she began to feel a little
 lightheaded, and dots began to flicker in and out of her vision. Soon she
 was breathless again, unable to laugh at all, only lie there helpless and
 shake and twitch as the sensations continued unabated. The pulsing in her
 clit, which she was beginning to notice despite the tickling, continued to
 mount. She felt all her pride and resistance crumble under the onslaught, and
 wanted to beg the man, to stop, to push her over the edge, to do something,
 anything, but keep her within this limbo of tickle torture. Even surrendering
 and becoming his mindless slave seems preferable to this.
 The doctor somehow seemed to sense this change in the woman's attitude,
 and decided to give her a little something to cement those feelings even more.
 Removing the shackle from her tortured right foot, he lifted it gently to his
 lips, letting the tip of his raspy tongue graze the soft tender flesh of her
 sole ever so lightly, as his fingers and the brush continued to torment her
 other foot. Bracing the foot against the bedpost, he begin to lick and nibble
 on her woman's toes, letting his tongue dance around the salty flesh, freeing
 one hand to grab a feather and probe gently at the center of Vicki's abused
 womanhood. Renewed laughter, desperate and hysterical, poured forth from her
 once more. She had thought she had reached her limit, but then she felt his
 tongue slip flick along her baby toes and a feather slip between her wet
 open labia to stroke her exposed throbbing clit. It was too much. With a
 keening cry Vicki arched her back, lifting off the bed despite the tight
 restraints, and came, gushing her juices in a flood that reminded Specten
 briefly of Noah and the ark. He kept stroking and feathering and licking
 and  the girl's sensitive spots, curious as to just how much she could
 take before passing out. A few moments later, Vicki mercifully succumbed to
 the overstimulation, passing out cold in a sweaty come-soaked heap.
 James Specten smiled to himself. This had been quite enjoyable, and
 informative as well. He committed his experience to paper, taking many notes
 on the effects of the experiment. Glancing at the sleeping beauty on the
 bed, he thought, "I'm going to have to incorporate this in the taking of
 my next victims somehow. This was too much damn fun for a one-time deal."
 He let Vicki sleep for about an hour, regaining her strength---after all, she
 had a whole night yet to go. Finally, feeling she had rested enough, he poked
 and prodded her sides gently, getting a few more titters and giggles out of
 her as she awoke. "Hope you enjoyed yourself, my dear, but it's time to get
 back to work. We have a lot to get accomplished tonight, and time waits for
 no one." Holding up a single Q-tip cotton swab, he grinned. "Let's get
 started."
 
 *	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
 
 Lisa awoke at a sudden noise, confusion dominating her for a moment as
 she glanced around fearfully. Someone was in the room with her! Panic gripped
 her for a moment, and just as she was about to scream, she heard the voice
 speak. "Leese? You awake?" Her friend Patty walked into view in the dim light
 shining through the bedroom window. "Sorry, hon, didn't mean to wake ya. I
 was coming back from the bathroom and decided to check up on ya. How are you
 feeling now, hon?"
 Patty. Her friend. Memory flooded back to her now: the necklace, zoning
 out in front of the television, asking Patty to spend the night and keep her
 company. She glanced at the clock on the wall. Four-thirty. "Yeah, I'm okay.
 How about you? We both have work tomorrow, you know. You should get some sleep
 Patty. I'm alright now."
 Her friend gave a loud nasal laugh. "You don't fool me for a minute, Leese.
 Yer still spooked about the whole thing. If you want, I'll sleep in bed with
 you, to make you feel better." Lisa frowned,  back into the headboard
 at bit at the strange offer. She had never leaned towards women that way, and
 was sure Patty didn't either.
 "Hey, don't freak out or anything, geez!" Patty said, looking slightly
 hurt. "I'm not implying anything sexual. I'm as straight as they come, Leese,
 and anyway your my best friend. I just thought to sleep in the same bed is all.
 I've been tossing and turning on your lumpy  couch for three hours now, and
 all I got was a neck cramp for my efforts," she said, rubbing her neck. "And
 from what I could hear, you've been tossing and turning all night in here by
 yourself. When we were kids we used to sleep in the same bed at our sleepovers,
 and we never thought anything of it. What's the difference now that we're grown
 up? I think we could both rest better if we had someone with us. C'mon, what
 do ya say?"
 "Well," Lisa faltered slightly. "I guess you have a point. We are two
 grown rational adults, surely we can sleep in the same bed and not have it
 turn...awkward." Lisa managed a smile, chuckling at her friend. "Just as long
 as you don't sleep in the nude." Patty rolled her eyes, slipping in next to
 her friend.
 "Shut up and get to sleep, Leese," she mumbled good-naturedly. "Like
 you said, tomorrow will be a busy day." Smiling, she closed her eyes. Lisa
 did the same, listening softly as her friend's breathing got deeper and deeper.
 It was relaxing in its own way, just lying there, feeling the warm body next
 to her, listening to the rhythmic breathing...in and out, in and out, over and
 over in a predictable pattern. Lisa smiled, drifting with the thought. Patty
 was a deep deep sleeper, as she remembered from their childhood sleepovers.
 It would be nice to slip away like that, Lisa thought idly, floating on her
 thoughts, to be able to just drift off, so easily, so peacefully...to just let
 go of everything and ride the smooth rhythmic waves of your own breathing...
 in and out...in...and out...in...and...out...again....and again...and again.
 A soft sigh left Lisa's lips as her sleeping mind continued the thread.
 Yes, so relaxing to drift away on your thoughts that way...no worries. Just
 relaxing in that soft wonderful peace. That place where everything is good, and
 where nothing bad ever happens...the place where there simply IS no bad. Where
 BAD doesn't exist. Lisa rolled over, leaning gently against Patty, smiling at
 the contact. Mmmmm. And of course, since BAD doesn't exist there, then neither
 would GOOD. Of course, neither GOOD nor BAD. No right or wrong. No need to
 worry about such things that didn't even exist there. Anything could happen,
 and anything WOULD happen there, and it would be pleasant and enjoyable in
 that wonderful peaceful place. Mmmm. So wonderful there. So lovely. So...soo..
 mmmmmm.
 Lisa opened her eyes slowly, taking in the sight of her sleeping friend.
 Patty's arm was draped gently across her left thigh, her other arm behind her
 head. Lisa smiled. Patty always slept so weird, it was hard to believe that
 she could be comfortable that way. Reaching down carefully, she moved her
 friend onto her back, sliding her arms to her sides. Patty's breathing didn't
 change in the slightest---had an earthquake thrown her across the room, Lisa
 doubted Patty would have noticed. Her face was void of any emotion, Lisa noted,
 and her eyes seemed to be moving behind her eyelids, as if she were reading
 a book only she could see. Still, she didn't look HAPPY, not happy like she
 was. The thought seemed to jump into her mind by its own volition, but Lisa
 found herself agreeing with it. Patty needed to go to that peaceful happy
 place.
 Sliding carefully out of bed, Lisa made her way out of the bedroom, and
 into the living room again. She felt a small twinge, almost like deja vu, seeing
 he television...remembering...something that had happened earlier when she was
 watching right before Patty arrived. Yes, that was it. Now she remembered. The
 compelling program, the  on the  with the compelling...hypnotic...
 MASTERFUL voice...a voice she could not disobey. The voice had told her to order
 now, and save fifteen percent on shipping and handling, that her order would be
 rushed straight to her door. It had commanded her to order NOW, and obediently,
 she had picked up the phone and called the number, placing her order. An hour
 later, he had arrived, her Master, giving her the wonderful change-your-life
 package, that was guaranteed or her money back! He had told her other things
 as well, to forget that she had done anything other than sit there, to place
 the package under the couch,  away from sight, and to turn the television
 station to static and watch until she was summoned again. Time had stood still
 again, until she awakened to Patty's touch.
 All these things came flooding back to Lisa at that moment, and kneeling
 at the edge of the couch, she took out the  package. It was another long
 thin box, the same style as the gift she had received through the mail slot.
 Opening it, she saw a slave collar, identical to the one she now wore around
 her own neck. Yes. Now it all made sense. The collar was the wonderful change-
 your-life gift needed to help Patty reach that peaceful happy place. Lisa smiled
 softly, feeling herself growing warm between her thighs. The thought of helping
 her best friend reach the same nirvana that she was currently in made her toes
 tingle with pleasure. Stealthily, she returned to the bedroom, climbing back
 into bed, lifting Patty's dark brown hair out of the way as she placed the
 collar gently around her neck. A small thin voice cried out inside her, trying
 to warn her away, just for a moment, before it vanished. Lisa smiled. There
 was nothing bad in the wonderful peaceful place. Soon Patty would be there as
 well.
 Within minutes the collar was secure, and Patty's eyes opened, staring
 blankly ahead. Lisa frowned for a minute, expecting to see Patty smiling and
 laughing with joy, totally at peace, instead she was lifeless, like a zombie.
 Ah, she knew what to do. It was her first time, and Patty needed to be guided
 to that peace. Leaning down, Lisa began to whisper into her friend's ear.
 "Listen to me carefully, Patty. Listen to my soft restful voice, filling
 the void inside you. Let your thoughts center on my strong steady voice, let
 it lead your thoughts, attracting them, until they merge and become one and
 the same. My voice, becoming the voice in your head, your very thoughts now
 mine. Yes, Patty...you are asleep now...sleeping soundly, drifting gently on
 my words, letting them carry you into a place...a special place, where its
 nice and wonderful and pleasurable all the time..." Lisa felt her hand drift
 over to Patty's crotch, lifting the  gently and sliding underneath.
 "Pleasurable," she continued, smiling. "Let yourself feel how good it is to
 be there, to give in and float, to let your mind rest and drift aimlessly on
 your thoughts...on my thoughts...on my voice...guiding you...controlling you.
 Yes, that's it, Patty, leading you deeper and deeper with every soft gentle
 breath you take. In fact, whenever you concentrate on that deep rhythmic
 breathing you will feel yourself being drawn deep into that special peaceful
 place again."
 Lisa's hand began playing with the dark curly hairs at her friend's
 crotch, feeling the gentle beads of pleasure begin to well up inside Patty,
 her  lips starting to swell. "Mmmm...good girl. The more you give in and
 float on that feeling the better it feels, Patty. Like a soft hand, my hand,
 teasing your pussy...making you wetter and hornier...making your body begin
 to crave for more." The words she felt pouring out of her from somewhere deep
 were beginning to affect Lisa as well, as her own crotch begin to burn with
 need. She wanted to shift a hand to rub her own steaming mons, but somehow the
 words streaming forth seemed to wish her to focus on Patty's pleasure first.
 "Mmmm...yes, Patty, yes...the more the pleasure grows...the more you want and
 desire to sink deeper...and deeper...into that special place...where there is
 no good or bad...no right or wrong....no need to think or worry...just accept
 and submit...submit. Yes, that is the word, Patty, submit. Only when you submit
 to your Master, can you truly reach that special...ummmm...peaceful...oh oh god
 oh god...mmmmm...that peaceful...plaaaaccceee!!!"
 Lisa bit down hard on her lip to keep from crying out, feeling an orgasm
 pulse deep within her, her free hand moving quickly to her panties, and burying
 them deep within through the fabric, while her other hand worked furiously at
 Patty's hot little snatch. The bespelled woman ground her hips mechanically into
 the hand controlling it, bucking for all her worth as an equally powerful climax
 rocked her form as well. Moments later, when both  had recovered somewhat,
 Lisa looked with bleary eyes at her friend, and whispered with bated breaths.
 "Now Patty, my sweet...open your eyes...come awake, but continue to sleep in
 your conscious mind. You can see and react normally, as if you were awake,
 yet you are still deep within that special place. You will stay that way until
 it is time to for this NEW Patty to truly sleep again, and you will awaken
 refreshed and wide awake, remembering nothing of this until you once again
 enter that peaceful place."
 At that, Patty blinked, and blinked again, her wide, dilated eyes gradually
 focusing once again on the world before her. "L..Lisa?" she asked unsteadily,
 feeling the warm wetness between her legs. Lisa smiled at her, leaning down to
 kiss her friend, knowing the confusion would fade in a moment or two. The look
 of shock soon faded, and Lisa found Patty was returning the kiss with fervor,
 taking quiet satisfaction in the fact that her friend was a marvelous kisser.
 Coming up for air, Patty grinned in her face. "Lisa, I never imagined you were
 so sexy. What a wonderful way to wake me up. You're a true friend, lover girl!"
 Lisa blushed prettily, feeling her clit begin to itch again at the kind
 words. "Thanks Patty, but if you are REALLY thankful, you'll get out of all
 those clothes. Pajamas are for little girls, and you're a woman." She ran her
 tongue over her lips hungrily, and Patty chuckled.
 "Oh really? Well if I remember correctly, it was YOU who told me not to
 come in bed in the nude!" Smirking, both women wasted no time in stripping down
 to the glory God had given them, and embracing deeply, began to kiss and caress
 each other. Patty pulled away for a moment. "MMmmmm...God I want you, Lisa. But
 I dunno...it feels wrong somehow. I've never been with a woman before..."
 "Uh uh uh," Lisa said kissing her friend's cute sexy nose. "There's
 no such things as wrong or right here. I've never been with a woman either,
 until now...never even wanted to. But here its okay, here its natural. Doesn't
 THIS" she said, kissing Patty hard and deep, before pulling away coyly, "feel
 natural to you?"
 "Damn little tease," Patty said with a grin. "Yes you're right, I was
 just a little confused for a moment that's all. And why shouldn't we share
 each other's bodies? We are best friends, and best friends share everything,
 right? Now come over here and share those perky little  with me!"
 Lisa slid forward, wrapping her arms around her friend as both slid
 back deep under the covers. "Little? Just what do you mean by...uhhh...uuuhhhmm
 ohhhh...never mind."
 
 *	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
 
 Marquita Kueenland sat nervously at her desk, thrumming her fingers
 against the wood. She glanced at the clock yet again, wondering what could be
 keeping the other two women. The meeting had been scheduled for eight o' clock,
 and it was two minutes to nine. She was supposed to make her monthly report to
 the Board of Directors this morning at eleven o' clock, and she needed to have
 the reports from the last two departments in now to have time to study and
 finalize her presentation. Where the hell were Lisa Meadows and Vicki West?
 "Speak of the devil," she muttered as the door opened, and both women
 walked in hurriedly, looking equally flustered. "Well ladies, so nice of you
 to join me." Marquita quipped, gesturing to a chair. "You can hold your excuses
 until AFTER the meeting, we have a lot to cover in the next hour or so. Let's
 start with you, Vicki. What changes have we had in Personnel this month that
 need to be updated in my report?"
 "Well, of course we are still regrouping after the loss of Dr. Specten
 more than a year ago," she began, tugging at the high collar of her black
 office jacket. A lot of time and effort had gone into the Trans-4 project, as
 you know, and I've been personally viewing possible replacements for his post
 with the capabilities to fill his shoes. The  might have been psychotic, but
 he was undoubtedly a genius. Five of the top six  in this field haven't
 been able to decipher his notes on the construction of the device; the only
 ones familiar with the technology at all are the other engineers and scientists
 that worked directly with him on the project." Vicki removed her glasses,
 wiping them for a moment before continuing. "Also, there's been no word at
 all from Patrick Sikes, Specten's protege. Sikes was the first choice to head
 any attempt at continuing the project, but so far as we know, he merely decided
 out of the blue one day to move him and his  out of their house to some
 unknown location. He hasn't even contacted us for job references."
 Marquita nodded softly. He remembered Patrick fondly. The  had been
 shy and retiring, a real gentleman, and there had been a strong attraction
 between them. The only thing that had stopped them from ending up together had
 been Pat's refusal to cheat on his  Ellen. Marquita, suffering from no
 such compulsions about her husband Ronald, had understood, and had kept things
 friendly for Pat's sake. Still, deep down she always wondered what it would
 have been like to bed him.
 "Alright," she said after a moment, collecting her thoughts. "Do you have
 any recommendations for a replacement for Specten and Sikes? This project is too
 big to simply let it die because the creator is dead. Surely there is someone
 we can get to take it over?"
 Vicki turned to Lisa, who spoke up. "As a matter of fact, yes. We talked
 it over on the way in and we both agreed she would be perfect. Dr. Jennifer
 Bristol, the female researcher. She worked with Dr. Specten for the first few
 months of the project before being promoted and assigned to a different
 section. Her field of expertise is chemistry, and she is doing well in our
 pharmaceutical branch, but she minored in theory wave physics, the kind of
 weird theoretical mumbo jumbo Specten used in his calculations. Give her
 a good electronics and mechanics team to back her up and I think we'll be
 in business."
 "Great. I'll drop the name at the board meeting later and see about
 putting all this into motion." Marquita jotted down a few notes, sighing
 deeply. "There. Now, before we wrap this up and let me get all this organized
 for the meeting, is there any more business that I should know about?"
 "Yes, there was one last thing, ma'am," Vicki said, handing Marquita
 a large binder. "I think you'll find this report very enlightening. It's
 something Lisa and I came across almost by accident." Marquita's look of
 confusion deepened into a frown as she opened the binder to find...a strange
 looking choker? No...it was no necklace, it was recognizably a collar. Silver,
 lightweight and remarkably done, but a collar nonetheless.
 "What the hell is this?" Marquita asked, holding up the slender band.
 "What does this have to do with anything? Ladies, I am much too bust to be
 bothered with your own personal fashion jewelry hang-ups!"
 As one, Lisa and Vicki stood up, taking off their jackets, revealing
 that they also wore identical collars...and nothing else! They were naked
 from the waist up, their large busty  jiggling, shining slightly
 with perspiration, nipples peaked from the air conditioning. Marquita opened
 and closed her mouth like a fish, wordless at the sight greeting her, as
 the two women walked forward. "Its more than just a fashion statement,
 Ms. Kueenland," Lisa said with a knowing smile. "Its something that can
 change your life. It's changed mine, and for the better." She grabbed
 Marquita's hands, holding the woman still as she returned to her senses,
 trying to get free. Vicki picked up the collar and deftly slipped it around
 the Marketing chairwoman's neck, smiling as the auto-lock mechanism engaged,
 sending its tiny wire filaments deep into Marquita's flesh. After a short
 time, Marquita Kueenland settled down, sighing just once, as she relaxed
 into a mindless state.
 At that moment, a   entered the room, carrying a briefcase.
 He smiled at the two collared women, as they promptly fell to their knees at
 his feet, kissing them gently. "That’s enough of that for now," James spoke
 briskly. "Is she ready? Were you two successful?"
 "Absolutely, my Master," both women said in unison. They looked at each
 other and giggled.
 `"That's fine. I've alerted the media, so the  crews should arrive
 for the so-called 'scheduled interview' I phoned in earlier. They should be here
 just in time to see the little show you  are going to put on. In the
 meantime, while this little toy gets Ms. Kueenland ready to play her part, you
 two  get to me MY toys for a while." He chuckled softly, openly stroking
 his bulge, as both his little slaves moved to obey his wishes. Vicki set up the
 small Walkman over the helpless Marquita, filling her emptied mind with
 instructions. Lisa, on the other hand, began knocking over items, clearing
 Kueenland's large desk to make room for more intimate activities.
 Moments later, everyone was stripped of their clothing, with Vicki and
 Lisa having a tongue duel over her could lick their Master's cock the best.
 James sighed softly. It seemed like a tie to him, both  were doing such
 a good job. Still, he had played with Vicki for a whole week before he tired
 of her and finally programmed her fully. Now he wanted to play with Lisa.
 "Vicki, occupy yourself for a bit. Lisa, get your sexy ass on that desk and
 spread your legs wide. It's time I got to enjoy that hot  of yours."
 Lisa squealed with delight, opening herself to her Master. He slid into
 her quickly, with no fanfare at all, moving into a quick and hard rhythm.
 Eyes closed in pleasure, Lisa chewed her lip, feeling herself enter deeper
 into the special place of pleasure, having her Master inside her gave her
 pleasures she couldn't even imagine. Suddenly she let out a squeal, and a
 loud laugh, as she opened her eyes to find Vicki sitting under the edge of
 the desk between Master's legs, tickling the bottoms of Lisa's ticklish bare
 feet, and  hard and deep on her toes. The sensation was unlike anything
 she had ever felt before, and each stroke and lick on her feet seemed to center
 both on her soles and her clit simultaneously. Her ticklish toes wiggled and
 spread, allowing Vicki to lick deeper and harder in between, making her body
 quiver with sensation, while her Master merely smiled, fucking the living
 daylights out of her snatch. When her orgasm hit, it surprised her, the
 sheer force of the blast sending her skyrocketing into nirvana. The edge of
 pleasure had just begun to blunt ever so slightly when she peaked again,
 arching into the doctor's thrusts, her toes curling into tiny little fists.
 Slumping with exhaustion, Lisa rested against her Master, panting with
 pleasure, looking into his glorious deep blue eyes.
 At that moment, a new voice spoke up. "Mmmm...don't forget about me,
 my luscious sexy Master!" Marquita, finished with her 'lessons', had risen
 from the trance, and watching her slave sisters pleasing their Master,
 quickly stripped out of her clothes, ready to join in as well. James moved
 deftly away from Lisa, who even after such a powerful climax moaned the loss
 of his dick inside her. Marquita sat down, spreading her long slender well
 tanned legs wide. Her Spanish origin was evident in her sexy bare body, as
 well as her name, her long raven black hair untied and loose, reaching
 down to the cleft of her buttocks. Her breasts, large and perky, seemed
 to jiggle invitingly, her ruby  lips pursed slightly in anticipation.
 James made as if to enter her forcefully, then paused, smiling. "I have
 a better idea. I think I want to feel it from YOUR side this time, my
 sweet flower. Hold your hand to my collar and close your eyes." Obediently,
 Marquita placed her hand to the collar, sighing softly as she felt her
 whole body fall limp. Instantly, James made the jump, moving himself into
 the waiting vessel, blinking as he saw himself standing there through
 Marquita's eyes. He/she smiled softly, whispering to the mindless drone
 standing before him/her and whispered its name. "Jerome, awaken!"
 The   blinked, shaking his head, then smiling softly at the
 sight before him. This must be another gift from his Master! Without another
 thought, the eager   plunged right in, sliding his cock straight into
 Marquita's pussy. He/she let out a loud moan of pleasure, the feeling of
 being filled to the brim so powerful and exquisite that he/she felt his/her
 toes curl in ectascy. Any further thoughts were eclipsed as the  fucked
 his willing partner into sensory overload, giving him/her orgasm after
 orgasm, after orgasm. James found the feeling exquisite, rejoicing in sexual
 sensations no  had ever felt before, feeling the wonderfully sensual body
 he was inhabiting coming like there was no tomorrow. Finally he felt it, the
 warm flooding of Marquita's trench as Jerome finally came, flooding the valley
 with his seed, triggering one last orgasm in Marquita as well. Sated, for now,
 James drifted back along the electronic field of the collar back into Jerome,
 sending the boy's mind back into limbo.
 Glancing up at the clock, he saw that it was now eleven-thirty! "Seems
 we went a little long, everyone," he chuckled. "The meeting has already started.
 You had best get going. I'll take care of the media coverage," he said, picking
 up his clothes. Obediently, the three women walked out of the office, still
 completely naked, heading towards the Board Room. Several startled employees
 stood and watched as the three women trod past them, shiny with sweat, pussies
 wet and puffy from sex, thighs awash with their juices. Reaching the door,
 Marquita took the time to straighten her collar, and smiling softly, walked
 inside.
 "Ah, Miss Kueenland, so good of you to finally...finally...MISS KUEENLAND!!
 What the hell is the meaning of this?!?!" the committee chairman bellowed.
 Several stunned  rose to their feet at the unexpected appearance, the
 presentation completely forgotten.
 "I'm sorry I'm late," Marquita said demurely, walking over in front of
 the main screen, in full view of everyone. "I was unavoidably detained in a
 meeting of my own, and I just managed to break away. I'm ready to make my
 report now, however." At that, the door opened again, and Lisa and Vicki
 entered, walking over to stand beside Marquita. "Thanks girls. Ahem. Profit
 margins have slumped within TransCorp as of late," she began, reciting
 directly from her prepared presentation. All the while, Lisa knelt down
 between her legs, licking the juices from her boss's sweet core, while
 Vicki, opting for the rear, had spread Marquita's cheeks wide and was
 happily rimming her boss, her own anus puckering at the thought of her
 skilled ministrations. "Uhhh, so the outlook," Marquita continued unsteadily,
 "seems to innnndicate...ooohhh so good!. Ahem...indicate a change in our
 prof....proofff...uuughh, I'm cummmmiing! YESSS!" she screamed in midsentence
 before the stunned board. Several steadying breaths later, she continued as
 if nothing had occurred. "As you are aware, we have spent a sizable...mmmmm...
 chunk of our resources into....uuuhhhh...ooohhhh...ths Trans-4 project, and
 as of yet---"
 "That's enough!" the committee chairman yelled, regaining his voice.
 "I don't know what possessed you to think you could prance around in here with
 your two  friends and think you could seduce this board into financing
 whatever little scheme you are up to, but you better think again!" Reaching
 for the phone, he called security. "Hello Ralph? This is Mr. Sanchez, in
 the Board of Directors room! I want you to get up here and escort these
 three young---HEY!" Vicki grabbed the phone and hung it up, wrapping her
 arms around the sputtering sixty year  man, kissing him as deeply and
 as passionately as if he was the  of her dreams. Lisa had also made her
 way across the room, where she had her naked  in the face of one Board
 member while her face was buried on the lap of another, seeking out his
 'member'. Marquita smiled, climbing atop the table, touching and caressing
 her naked body all over, her hips jerking lewdly in the air.
 "Oh my god will you look at THIS!" a voice sounded at the door, and
 everyone looked up to see the Channel 34 Action news team enter the room, with
 cameras glued to the scene. This seemed to snap everyone out of their shocked
 states, and the reporters were quickly brought into the room, their cameras
 commandeered, with serious threats of a billion dollar lawsuit should any
 photos of this incident make its way on the air. Moments later, security
 arrived to escort the reporters and the now-fired women off the property.
 One  in particular, Lisa Meadows, fought the security officer, struggling
 to get free, insisting that she be filmed by the  crew. Ralph got behind her,
 and zapped her with his stun gun, sending the woman to the floor in a heap.
 Vicki broke away, trying to rush to Lisa's aid, and she in turn got zapped.
 "Any of the rest of you make any trouble, and you get to go nite nite
 just like your friend here," he said growling loudly. "Jim, Edward, help me
 carry the two sleeping beauties here to the car. Ladies and gentlemen of the
 press, I suggest you leave here immediately. These ladies are on their way
 downtown. Marquita docilely entered the car, afraid of Ralph's wicked stun
 gun. Lisa and Vicki, still unconscious, were placed beside her in the seat.
 A lone  in a gray sweatsuit watched the group disperse, shook his head,
 grinning, and walked away.
 
 Epilogue:
 
 "Will you repeat that again for me one last time, Ms. Meadows? I want
 to be sure I've got all this down correctly," the lieutenant said, glancing
 at the notes in front of him. Lisa, wearing a police issue jacket over her
 naked form, barely contained a scream of frustration.
 "For the last time," she said through gritted teeth. "My friends and I
 have been under the control of Dr. James Specten for the past several weeks.
 You remember him, I'm sure, the convicted serial rapist! Yes, I know just
 what you're thinking, he was electrocuted for his crimes more than a year ago.
 Yes, he's dead and gone! I know all that. But what you have to understand is,
 dead or not, he is STILL walking around! His...his...ghost or something, I
 don't know what exactly, it possesses people, makes them into his slaves! He
 send people these collars, like the one I'm wearing, and as soon as you put
 it on, you blank out! You become his! Your mind becomes an open book to him
 then, and you can be remade into whatever he wants you to be. That's what
 happened to Vicki and Marquita and myself! Please, you've got to believe me!"
 she said, tears starting to run down her eyes. The lieutenant sighed wearily.
 He always hated seeing a woman cry, even if she was a nutcase.
 "Okay, okay, let's say for just a moment that by some weird coincidence
 that I happen to believe you," he said. "Your  has a lot of holes in it.
 If this ghostly specter of yours was able to get to you when you put on the
 necklaces, why didn't you simply take them off when you realized what was
 happening?"
 "They won't come off. We tried, my friend Patty and me. We went to the
 R & D lab to see if we could cut it off, get it to open somehow. Nothing. It
 might look like some kind of cheap plated silver, but its some kind of new alloy
 our people invented for the space shuttle. Its virtually unbreakable, and the
 few things capable of cracking it would kill the wearer long before the metal
 broke down."
 "Okay. Space age metals. That makes sense," the policeman quipped. "Answer
 me this then. If the guy was so powerful, and in such complete control of your
 mind, then why is that now that you have been caught by us you are suddenly
 back in your own right mind? Why are you now able to remember everything he
 did to you?"
 Lisa was silent. "I have been thinking on that myself for the past few
 days. It had to be the stun gun. When we were arrested, I resisted. I had to
 get the reporters to make this whole thing public...it was what my Mas...what
 Specten wanted. He wanted TransCorp ruined for dismissing him, or at least
 hurt financially. And he used Marquita, Vicki, and I to do it because we were
 the ones that were responsible for his termination. It was all so clear in my
 head, what he wanted, and what I had to do...it was the ONLY thing in my head.
 But the guard surprised me and zapped me, and when I came to, I could recall
 clearly everything that had happened. I guess the severe electric shock cleared
 my mind."
 "Yes, you seem very clearheaded to me, Ms. Meadows. Now let me tell you
 what I think happened. You and your two  friends were having a little
 fun in the  work place. Let's suppose a co-worker walks in on you, and
 plans to go report this to the Board of Directors right down the hall. Not
 knowing what to do, you and your two friends pursue him into the office where
 to your surprise the meeting has already started. You were in such a hurry
 to stop him from informing that you didn’t bother to get your clothes. Now you
 are stuck in a room full of  men, most of them happily married, and loyal
 to their wives. You know your jobs are finished, so you decide to go down
 fighting, dragging as many of them with you as you can, and maybe get a little
 blackmail money in the process. I haven't figured out the reporter angle yet,
 whether you called them beforehand, or if they just showed up on their own,
 we haven't had a chance to speak to them yet, but having all those witnesses
 would certainly help any claims of wrongdoing you and your ladies might come
 up with later. How am I doing so far?"
 "You stupid fucking bastard," Lisa cried out in despair. "You haven't
 heard a thing I've said! IT WASN'T US!! It was Specten, Dr. James Specten!
 He did it all! We're innocent!"
 "Hey watch your mouth!" the  growled, slamming his fist against the
 table. "That kind of talk will land you back into the slammer. See there are
 a few things I neglected to mention. Your other friend Vicki West is sticking
 pretty much to the same  as you, but we managed to crack the third one
 of your group. Ms. Kueenland admitted the whole thing, that it was a hastily
 made plot to try and save your jobs. She said you were all in it too, from
 beginning to end, and that you two brought HER in on it. I don't know why
 you're sticking to this ghost story, whether you and West actually believe it
 or whether its some ploy to get off easier, but I'm letting Bellevue take it
 from here. You're going to the nuthouse for psychiatric screening until we
 figure this thing out."
 
 *	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
 
 Vicki West sat in her room, her bare feet rubbing gently against the
 soft padded foam of the walls. She smiled and sang softly to herself, laughing
 at jokes only she heard. The straightjacket she wore was uncomfortable, but she
 was slowly growing used to it. Like Lisa, she had regained a complete memory
 of what had happened to her after the stun gun shock, only Vicki West had not
 managed as well with the aftermath. Finding out that no one believed her  had been the final straw. She cracked. When she was told she and Lisa would
 be sent to Bellevue, she actually smiled, welcoming the nice relaxing rest.
 It had been nearly two weeks now, and occasionally they let her out
 of the room to be with the rest of the patients. She waved to Lisa when she
 saw her, retreating out of her self-imposed isolation to talk with her only
 friend and confidant, the only person that believed her and knew what she
 was going through. Soon as they finished talking, however, she would go
 back into her mental limbo, smiling and laughing, staring dumbly into
 space.
 One day she was told she had a visitor. A man, slightly familiar, had
 come to see her and speak to her for a moment. Vicki didn't mind. Many people
 had come to speak to her, not that she listened. It made them happy, so she
 smiled and laughed and waved to them as they left. As she looked at this new
 visitor being escorted by the guard, her eyes focused for a moment on a
 flash of light at the man's neck. A silver collar. Identical to the one that
 both she and Lisa still wore. Vicki shivered.
 "Hmmm, poor thing must be cold," the attendant said noticing her shiver.
 "Its no wonder, since they only let her wear those pajamas and that there
 straightjacket. I'll be right back with a blanket for her. You can talk to her,
 she is harmless enough, and anyway, with that jacket on, there's not much she
 can do. Be right back," he said as he walked off.
 "Take your time," James Specten replied, grinning up at Vicki. "So.
 This is what happened to you. Pity really. I had hoped to bend your mind, shape
 it into a thing of beauty, but seems I tapped on the crystal one time too hard
 and shattered it instead." James' eyes narrowed, his vision following hers
 to his collar. "Hmmm...or just maybe you're more clever than I gave you credit
 for." Vicki gave another small shudder, letting her eyes unfocus, drooling, and
 letting her head tilt back. "Oh no, you can't fool me now, Vicki. I saw the
 recognition in your eyes. You know what THIS is," he said tapping at the
 collar at his neck, "and you know who I am. I can't remote jump into you or
 Lisa now, with your collars fried, but I can still direct jump into your mind.
 Let's see if you've been faking it all this time!"
 Placing a hand over the slender band, the  relaxed, going limp. Vicki's
 eyes grew wide as she felt James' presence wash over her, forcing her down into
 that small soft peaceful place she knew and dreaded so much. With the last of her
 strength, she fought back, making her body struggle, her limbs flailing wildly
 as she fought a losing battle for supremacy. As she gave into despair, a bright
 ray of hope and absolution shone forth. The attendant had returned.
 "Great shades of darkness!" he said, running over to the wildly jerking
 girl. In a flash he had uncorked the hypodermic containing a strong sedative,
 and fired, nailing her in the thigh. Eyes wide in surprise, the bound woman
 twitched a few times, the subsided, dropping to sleep. "Whew, that was a close
 one. She is usually the tamest patient in here. Are you alright, sir?" the
 orderly asked the  standing quietly in the corner. His face seemed blank,
 as if he was still in shock. Shaking his gently, the attendant asked again.
 "Sir, are you alright?"
 Jerome Manning shook his heavy head to clear the cobwebs. "Huh? Am I
 alright? Uh, yeah I guess so. Um, can I leave now?" Glancing around at the
 padded cell, he cringed. "Please tell me I can leave now."
 "Yes, sure, of course. And I'm sorry about all this. It's my fault, I
 shouldn't have left you alone like that. Please don't say anything to my
 supervisor okay, I'm only a week on the job, you know?"
 "Yeah, ok," he said walking out. "Don't worry about it."
 
 It was morning when the groggy woman awoke, glancing up with bleary eyes
 at her surroundings. The attendant from before was standing there, looking
 worried, as well as another person, a doctor, by the looks of his coat. "Are
 you sure this will help, doc," the attendant was saying. "I mean, this is
 something out of an  sixty's horror movie."
 "Yes, its true that we don't often use this particular method anymore
 these days," the doctor replied, turning a few more switches, "but the
 applications are still sound. She suffered a violent attack of some kind the
 other day, something for which you were forced to sedate her. She was diagnosed
 with severe brain dysfunction, to which she has been suffering from delusions,
 personality changes, autism, and currently psychosis." The doctor shook his
 head. "In other words, son, her brain's fried. So we might as well see if
 we can give her a nice twenty-thousand volt jump-start."
 Twenty-thousand volts?!? James looked around, trying violently to move,
 to get up, to speak, but the body he was inhabiting was tied down tight. A gag
 was placed tightly inside Vicki's mouth, to keep her from biting her tongue
 during the shock. They planned to give Vicki electro-shock therapy, only HE
 was about to be on the receiving end! Glancing around, he desperately tried to
 make a jump to the nearest outlet, nearest piece or electronic equipment
 before those synapse frying probes about his head came on. Nothing. With
 despair, he remembered that Vicki's collar had been scrambled during her
 last jolt of electricity, and rendered useless. He could only jump into
 her by direct contact, therefore he could only jump OUT of her by direct
 contact. And there was no where to jump.
 "Stand clear," the doctor called as he powered up the machine. The
 last thing James Specten heard before the voltage drop was the sound of
 Vicki's voice, still fighting him deep inside her own body. She was
 laughing with glee.
 "I told you one day you would get yours, Doctor," she laughed
 insanely. "And I'm here to see it! Who cares if I go down with you, it'll
 be a pleasure to see them send your sorry ass back to hell where you belong!
 Goodbye, Doctor. You're getting yours right now!"
 "Clear!" Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!
 The lights outside the room dimmed for a moment, then resumed. This
 happened a few more times in the next several minutes, but the doctors
 didn't mind, they were used to it. As for the patients, well...never mind.
 The rest is...silence.
 
 >>>>>The End...for now.
 
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