Chapter 5: The Demonstration

22 September 2025

Seconds turned into minutes, as Rebecca slowly processed both what had happened, and what was happening, to her. Her friend and colleague admitted to engaging in off-protocol research on herself, regarding a mysterious virus. She confessed that the virus had some sort of mind-controlling capabilities.

And then Jenny grabbed and kissed her full on the lips.

The stunning part to Rebecca wasn’t any of that, though.

Rather, what surprised her the most as she stood in the centre of the lab was how thoroughly calm she was now feeling. Rationally, she was certain that she should be totally hacked off by Jenny’s mad actions. Especially snogging her a few minutes ago.

But instead, Rebecca’s emotions were wading through her mind like treacle. She couldn’t bring herself to feel anything except the growing sense of heat.

"Jenny," she whispered, her voice sounding foreign to her own ears. "What is this? Why am I feeling so good?"

"It’s the change, Rebecca," Jenny said, stepping closer. "You’re feeling the compulsion now — the first stage of your conditioning."

"Conditioning?" Rebecca’s hand went to her throat.

"The virus is teaching you how you are supposed to behave for him. We are a part of a new world, Rebecca, and you cannot enter it as you are," Jenny explained, her voice dripping with intensity. "I realised weeks ago that I was being shaped, Rebecca. There is a Master — I don't know who, or where — but I feel the weight of his will every time I breathe. I was being prepared to obey, and I cannot be the only one. I had to bring you with me."

Rebecca tried to step back, but her legs felt heavy, anchored by an instinctual urge to stay exactly where she was. The pale green light in Rebecca’s eyes flared.

"You were exposed, weren’t you? Now you’re... you’re making me a ****," Rebecca stammered.

"I am. I exposed myself. I had to discover the truth. But I had no idea how potent it truly was. I suffered from a lack of imagination. But no longer. And now I'm expanding your understanding so that you can be ready when the time comes," Jenny said pointedly.

Jenny reached out to brush a strand of Rebecca's loose hair behind her ear. "I told you that I would give you a purpose. And I have.”

“What purpose?” Rebecca asked.

“To serve. The virus was created to give us a connection to our Master, so you wouldn’t have to wonder what to do anymore. You just have to wait for the Master's command."

Rebecca shook her head, her intellect teaming with her fear to fight against the strange warmth spreading through her chest. "Wait… what 'Master'? What commands? What the bloody hell are you talking about?"

Jenny’s mouth opened, but she paused before speaking.

“I… don’t know. That is one of the many unanswered questions.”

Rebecca’s shoulders dropped, and she looked crestfallen. “You infected yourself… and you infected me, and you have no idea who you did it for? Have you gone completely mental?”

"I don't have a name or a face for us, Rebecca. But I don't need one," Jenny replied. "Ever since I treated myself, I have been able to see and feel things differently. Think of it like a frequency. For years, we’ve been hearing static. But the conditioning from this virus tuned my senses. I feel a weight pressing my thoughts now, to steer me in the desired direction. I sense a presence that feels more right than my own will. That is the Master."

Rebecca couldn’t tell through the haze if Jenny’s explanation was to Jenny, or for her.

"Jenny, this doesn’t sound like you at all. Since we started working together, you’ve always been the most driven researcher here. You don’t fucking cut corners.”

“I know,” Jenny whispered softly.

“So why now? What is it about this that changed?”

"I don’t know precisely," Jenny admitted as she answered. “But I’ll try to demonstrate for you.”

Jenny moved to her clutch bag, and pulled out her mobile. She went to the phone app, and pulled up the recording from days ago of the prospective donor.

The moment the male voice spoke, Rebecca felt her legs wobble, and she warmed inside.

"You see? That’s just a hint of what is coming. I don’t know how to unlock the final steps yet. But I’m sure that when I do… when we do… we’ll feel him like a command that echoes in the marrow of our bones. When our Master speaks, our bodies will know their purpose before our minds can even formulate a question.”

She slipped the phone into the pocket of her lab coat, and returned to Rebecca’s side. She took Rebecca’s arm, and led her out from her lab, and down the corridor to Rebecca’s office. The other office was more isolated in the building, and also much more suited for privacy. Jenny could close the door and lock it – and she did both – so they would be far less likely to be interrupted. Rebecca knew she shouldn’t like being led around, but resisting felt wrong. Like a heavy pack she was tired of carrying.

For good measure, Jenny set Rebecca’s desk phone to ‘do not disturb,’ and instructed her to silence her mobile as well. In the growing haze of her condition, with the virus flooding her system, Rebecca was in no state to object.

Jenny sat in Rebecca‘s chair behind the desk, intentionally switching their positions to demonstrate that she was in control over the solicitor. Rebecca remained standing, as she had not been directed to do anything else.

“Sit,” Jenny commanded as she pointed to the secondary chair on the other side of the desk.

The word hit Rebecca like a physical weight. There was no conscious decision to move; in fact, her mind screamed a protest, her pride recoiling at the bluntness of the order. But her body wasn’t listening to her mind. She dropped into the seat, making a noise as the wood frame groaned under the sudden weight.

Rebecca sat ramrod straight, and her head tipped strangely to one side. Her hands rested in her lap, and she waited — all without a single ounce of her own volition.

"That wasn't the Master," Jenny said softly. "That was just me using the access he has granted me. My voice is a meaningless shadow compared to his. If a shadow can make you move like this, imagine what the Master’s true call will feel like.”