New digs

I opened a shuttered window and looked out. Gloria was right: the sun was rising, and we were driving past various corporate headquarters out in wide grassy suburbia. We turned onto a road leading deep down into some woods, then levelled out.

I was impressed from the moment I saw it. Set low and amidst trees, accessible from a peculiar off-ramp, I was expecting something like the Bates Motel, but this was a tall broad white building, very shiny and new, boldly marked WISPR.

"How have I never heard of this place before?"

"We sort of keep hush-hush about what we're really all about. We even have a small campaign encouraging people to assume that WISPR is some new cell phone company."

"There's enough interest to support all this?" It was not quite hospital-sized, but it would have been a welcome addition to any city's downtown skyline.

"WISPR is an international concern, with lots of 'underground' interest and support. You've heard of Femme TV?" I nodded; it was that cable channel that programmed strictly for women, even late into the night. "Femme TV is one of our many sponsors."

Gloria drove us down into the buildings underground garage, then came back and checked on me. "I have an official WISPR gown for you -- but first, let's get this on you." She handed me some elaborate variation on the jock strap. "I want to try to get you in a sling down your leg first."

"But -- I'm erect."

"I know, I know ... but if you can ... tilt it even a bit, that would help."

I obliged her, and she was right, it wasn't too uncomfortable. With the baggy gown over it, I could pass for a regular fellow -- if you didn't focus on my "knee" hitting the gown with each step. We got out, and Gloria used some sort of key card to get us into a security elevator.

"You're going to love your new place," she assured me, "but you're also going to be right down the hall from our ARDR center, that means All Rooms Digital Recording." She winked at me. "I'm going to show you how to be the Peeping Tom of the entire Institute!"

"You would do that?"

"Hey, special privileges ... for a special man!"