Dane reveals a lot to Tom

Tom was pacing back and forth in front of the office of Joseph P. Dane. He's been psyching himself in and out of going to this meeting, unsure of whether it's safe. Ultimately, he decided to go, but not without several precautions.

"Okay, so if it's a normal talk about granddad, we just talk about him and then go our separate ways. If he tries manipulate me into wanting a pity fuck to get control over me, I leave and report him; if he physically tries to stop me, I'll bust out the mace, stun him before cracking his nuts, and then report him... but if he is willing to listen to me and respect my boundaries... yeah, I'm probably gonna fuck him."

The time came and Tom entered the office with trepidation. He kept a hand in his pocket clenched around his pepper spray. He turned to the desk to see Professor Dane standing in front of it. He and his green eyes were staring off into space with no expression on his face.

"Tom, please come here."

Even more confused, Tom cautiously stepped up to Dane. When they were face-to-face, Dane proceeded to turn around. In the back of his neck, the teacher had a keyhole with a pitch black void in it.

"Put the key in."

"Uh, w-what?"

"Please put the key in and turn it. I will be able to explain everything then."

Tom did as he was told. He removed the pendant from his neck and pushed it into the hole until it slowed to a stop. When he turned the key, it made a clicking sound. Tom pulled it out and put it back around his neck. Dane turned back around and his expression relaxed.

"Now that that's-"

Tom immediately maced Professor Dane, his paranoia getting the best of him in that moment. Dane just stood there, not experiencing any pain while his eyes turn red. Then, in seconds, the sclera returned to their milky white color.

"Please don't do that to me again, I promise I have no desire to harm you."

"...then what do you desire to do?"

"Nothing. I have no ability to desire anything. In fact, Mr. Blossom, there is no 'I' to desire a single thing."

"...what are you?"

"I am a Philosophical Zombie. A Simulated Intelligence who's primary purpose is to mimic a specific human being as efficiently as possible. When not doing that, I am essentially an automaton with no identity, personality, interiority, or sentience. I'm essentially an object made for various purposes."

Tom stood stunned for a couple seconds. He became more curious as they passed.

"Who or what made you?"

"I frankly don't know. My knowledge is limited to help me act as human as possible when being observed. I hold no thoughts about things that don't supplement my purposes."

"Why did your eyes heal so quickly?"

"In order to maintain disguise to perform my purposes for long as I can, I can alter myself and/or everyone's perception of me by bending reality. It's a simple-to-use function some P-Zombies utilize to increase efficiency and use less energy."

Tom wasn't any less confused due to these answers Joseph gave. Being told that he can alter reality with little effort felt pretty demeaning and condescending from a guy who called himself an object.

"Why are you telling me this if you're supposed to be mimicking a person? If you aren't doing that now, why are you still talking like normal?"

"Occasionally, P-Zombies like me are randomly assigned to random people for a few days. This person can do whatever they want with their new possession because the Zombie is given a task to give control over to the human. It becomes the Zombie's second most important purpose, after keeping up their human alter ego. This is the persona I use to explain the nature of my existence to those who have dominion over me, which is a cross of my inner programming and said alter ego of a professor."

"So am I the one who you've been randomly assigned to?"

"No... you're something more special Tom, much like the many zombies here on campus."

"How many more are there?!"

"Again, I don't know. All I know for my main purpose is how to be a college history professor at Romero University, what I am capable of doing, and how I am meant to function when not teaching. The only reason I know there are other P-Zombies is because it's important information about RU and is important to serving you."

"Why?"

"The key, Mr. Blossom"

Tom looks down, and the skeleton key now has 'Joseph P. Dane' engraved around the shaft.

"It allows you to claim ownership over any Philosophical Zombie, especially those at RU. You just need to meet them in a place where no one else can observe you in the act."

Tom goes quiet for a minute. He ponders everything he's been told. His gift he randomly got from his grandfather held so much power.

"Did his granddad know? All the letter had was a poem that read 'There is a bright future for you if you know what locks you have the key to open.' If that was a hint and P-Zombies are all over RU... and if his grandfather helped found the school and set me up here..."

All of these thoughts swirled around in Tom's head. He knew he had to find answers to these questions, but one shouted out from the depths of his psyche louder than the rest for an answer.

"...so…I can ask you to do whatever I want?"

"Yes. Though, it would more so be a command."

"...including having sex?"

"Yes."

"And you're completely okay with that?"

"Of course I am, Tom. I have no capability to not like it. Unless you want me to."

"N-no thank you. I wouldn't want you to not like it... but would you be able to turn off your personality and act robotic while we do it?"

"Yes, I would."

"And can I alter your body and personality???"

"Yes, yes, yes. Good to know you ask questions outside of class"