Exploding

Dr. Jase Richardson ran into the lab when he heard the explosion. His colleague Dr. Marissa Charles had been working on a new pharmaceutical drug for brain stimulants.

He saw her standing there staring straight ahead. Her hair was blown back, her blouse was shredded, and soot was on her skin and clothes.

"Dr. Charles, what happened? Are you OK?" he asked, knowing she insisted she be called by her title even by her colleagues. Everyone else went by first names.

She just stared straight ahead.

"Dr. Charles, tell me. what happened?"

"I misread the meter on the new Bunsen burner, and the flame leapt up and apparently came into contact with the fumes from the drug's chemicals." She did not change her expression.

"Are you OK?"

She kept staring.

"Tell me, are you OK?"

"I don't seem to be seriously harmed."

"Why are you only talking to me when I tell you to?"

She said nothing.

"Tell me, do you like the fact your breast is exposed."

"No."

"Hmmmm, thought Jase. "You really are doing whatever I tell you, or is this a joke. Let me test this."