The MRF

Michelle was proud of her body. She worked hard to keep it in shape, and there was nothing she enjoyed more than jogging through the park.

What Michelle didn't know was that, right on the edge of the park, there was a highly classified Military Research Facility. And today, the military was testing something new.

Inside the MRF's gymnasium, twenty carefully selected cadets stood in perfect formation.

The drill sergeant marched slowly up and down the line.

“Soldiers! You have the honor of participating in the first test of the IRHF—the Inhibition Reduction Hypnosis Field. Every one of you is in peak physical condition. But our scientists believe you can achieve even more once the mental restrictions holding you back are removed through hypnosis.”

Twenty faces remained completely expressionless.

“Let's find out. Corporal, activate the field.”

The technician flipped a switch.

A low hum, just above the threshold of hearing, filled the gym.

The drill sergeant raised his voice.

“Strip!”

The cadets immediately obeyed. Fortunately, they were already wearing their athletic gear underneath their uniforms.

Unfortunately, the technician had turned the field up far too high. The invisible signal passed straight through the walls. And Michelle wasn't wearing anything underneath her running clothes.

Strip.

The command suddenly appeared in her mind.

Michelle stopped running.

What?

She had no idea where the voice was coming from.

“No,” she muttered.

Her hands disagreed. They grabbed the hem of her running top.

Oh, you've got to be kidding me.

She knew this was ridiculous.
She knew she was standing in the middle of a public park.
She knew there were people around.

Most importantly, she knew she was taking her clothes off.

And yet somehow, knowing all that made absolutely no difference.

“Don't do this,” she whispered to herself.

Her hands continued anyway.

She squeezed her eyes shut, desperately refusing to watch the inevitable spectacle.

This is insane. I am actually taking my clothes off.

A moment later, her running clothes were lying on the grass.

Michelle stood frozen in the warm sunshine, still wearing her running shoes and absolutely nothing else.

A couple of joggers were staring.

A cyclist had stopped.

Someone on a bench was very obviously pretending not to look.

Michelle sighed.

Then another command entered her mind.

Stretch to warm up.

Michelle stared into the distance.

“No.”

/