the EASI out

John saw that it was Chancellor Sanchez, who he remembered from the opening ceremony at orientation. He felt rather privileged that the director of such a large and honored institution would take such a personal interest in such an undistinguished freshman.

"Good morning, Chancellor. What's going on?"

"We're learning more about that with each passing minute. John ... something has happened rather like all those prophecies of the Rapture, except even stranger. The human race has suddenly lost half its population."

"Some kind of disease?"

The Chancellor shook her head. "A disease couldn't do so much so fast and so neatly. It's not just humanity, either. We're getting reports on various simian species and even some dolphins. Of all the animal species which could be considered in some way intelligent, all the males have vanished."

"Except me," hedged John.

"Yes, except you."

"But if it wasn't a disease ... "

"Have you ever heard of EASI? E, A, S, I. The European Atomic Science Institute. that gigantic atomic collider complex."

"Oh, them? Weren't they supposed to create a black hole that would swallow the Earth?"

"That was never remotely true ... although now ... we're not sure what to think. Some physicists believe that there is a kind of sexual nature to the Universe that goes much deeper than mere biology, and that something that EASI did instantly affected all the intelligent male creatures on Earth. Except you."

"So, EASI killed them all?"

"We're hoping not. There's one theory, not taken very seriously and yet hard to dismiss, that we live on one of many probabilities of life on Earth. All our men may simply have gotten 'phase-shifted' to an alternate Earth. We're still trying to sort it all out. The point being, for some reason, it looks like you're the only male left." She settled back and indicated the armed women with her eyes. "That's why we need to keep you under tight security. You see, right now we have no idea when or how we'll ever get our men back. Until then, you are the only known male -- and right this instant our world is plunging headlong into a population implosion."

"I'm not sure I understand. Might that not be a good thing?"

"Not an implosion this drastic and steep, John. I'm afraid we're going to have to take control of your life and see if you can help us to reproduce." The Chancellor smirked at him skeptically. "And please get a lot of cheesy ideas right out of your head. Right now we don't care how 'hot' the women are who you impregnate. Right now, our top priority is brains."

This was still very fine by John, who had a thing for rather nerdy girls. "I think I can be very reasonable."

"Glad to here it -- because we would like to line you up with one young woman today, and then take it from there on a trial by trial basis. I'm afraid right now that a great deal is depending upon you. Are you game?"