The Mad Professor

[DeliciousMaiden]

With thanks to Cg for agreeing to be my "Mad Professor".
This thread is now closed. Comments and feedback welcomed via PM.
I hope you enjoy our tale ... ​

Introduction:

The professor was crazy … it had been rumoured all over the campus that he had lost touch with reality years ago, but Bernadette found the man the whole of the university community termed the “mad professor” fascinating …

It wasn’t that sciences were her thing at all. The arts … literature, music, perhaps a bit of drama when she was feeling brave enough were Bernie’s interests, yet when he had taken a seminar as part of their foundation studies unit, she had listened with rapt attention. The ideas that others had sniggered at behind their hands Bernie found herself considering … what if … ?

Her studies made her a well grounded student. Those around her at times found her too serious. Her aversion to wild parties and drunken binges ensured she was not one of the “in crowd”. As for drugs … so naïve was she on that front that she moved around in blissful ignorance that “that kind of thing went on” around her at all.

And yet it was she who felt spellbound by the project the professor explained.
She remained unaware of the rolling eyes, the sniggering of her fellow students.
What IF … ? The phrase kept running through her mind as a mantra.
IF successful, she could not imagine what experiences that could lead to …
The work, the risk all seemed to dissolve away as her imagination was captured and she hung onto his every word ….

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

The auditorium was packed as usual. This was no meeting of scientific minds, just an obligatory unit for first years, mere children of 18 – 19 who were focused on the here, the now, the mundane and the material. Foundation studies was supposed to open young minds to different ways of thinking, to consider moral, spiritual, scientific issues and theories, but one lecture a week each on different subjects seemed to the professor a waste of time. “Casting pearls before swine … “ was the phrase that entered his mind as once more he introduced his subject aware already of the incredulity of the audience.

Usually he gave a vague outline of his ideas, suggested possibilities and certainly avoided mentioning his own project at all …yet it was the young girl seated but 4 rows from the front who caught his attention. As she became increasingly drawn into the lecture, so the professor continued, until it was as if he was lecturing just to her …
Only as the bell announced the end of the seminar and he was forced to bring his session to a close did he become aware of the atmosphere of the room …
He knew that from now on he would be branded by the first year as crazed, mad … some even looked on him in pity as they shuffled out of their seats, their voices muted until they passed the door, laughter clearly ringing through the corridors as they walked away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

As the lecture ended, Bernadette shook herself suddenly aware of the hubbub of noise around her as her fellow students made their way towards the door. She looked down at her pad. She hadn’t made one note, but then she didn’t need to. His words were still going round and round her head.

”C’mon Bernie…! … “
” .. Wake up! “

She turned to smile at the group who were making their way down the steps.

”At least you caught up with yer sleep huh?”

She answered the laughter that followed with a wry smile, not bothering to contradict their assumption.

”I’ll be .. right out … “

She assured the group watching them troop out then realising that her eyes met the professor’s as she stood.
Blushing guiltily Bernadette began to gather up her things.
She fervently hoped that he hadn’t heard the quip about her sleeping through his lecture.
Nothing could be further from the truth of course, but he wasn’t to know that….
And if he had heard … well … there was no way she could approach him now …
If she told him of her interest, he might well think she was just fabricating to cover up her alleged offence and after all she had no notes to prove she had been attentive.

With a sigh of frustration, she slung her back over her shoulder and made her way to the exit.



http://www.photokonkurs.com/uploads/img/2006-12-01/GLAMOUR/80435.jpg

 

[cgraven]

What If it was always the way that Professor Marcus Tiberius Williams always started his lecture for the foundation studies unit, for all the budding first yearers. True they where mere children, the lecture, obligatory for them, and if the truth be told an odious obligation for the professors. However, as in all things Professor Marcus Tiberius Williams was the notable exception, for him it was a golden opportunity to find that one special student, the one who in their academic innocence could see the possibilities, and who’s mind could eagerly echo What if

“What If…….. by the application of quantum physics time could be manipulated so that one could step from one period of time to another almost seamlessly.”

The mere mention of quantum physics brought an audible grown from the assembly and at the mention of time travel more than a few snickers and gaffs from those assembled in the lecture hall. The reaction was almost universal with a notable exception, a student, a young girl seated but 4 rows from the front who caught his attention. As she became increasingly drawn into the lecture, so the professor continued, until it was as if he was lecturing just to her. Professor Marcus Tiberius Williams knew as he watch the copper haired beauty that she was the one that one special student he had been searching for.

When the bell rang signaling their release from the “mad professor”crazed ramblings most of the students made a hasty and rather thankful retreat from their obligatory time in purgatory.

”C’mon Bernie…! … “
” .. Wake up! “

She turned to smile at the group who were making their way down the steps.

”At least you caught up with yer sleep huh?”

She answered the laughter that followed with a wry smile, not bothering to contradict their assumption.

”I’ll be .. right out … “

“Was it really that boring Bernie?”

His voice was deep smooth and dark, deep and almost caressed the ears with is velvet touch. He waited to see if this young beauty would turn and answer or go scurrying off with her insolent friends.

Marcus Tiberius Williams was what one would expect a professor to look like if one was in the 40’s long black robe, mortarboard, balding his ginger hair in wild disarray, and piercing hazel eyes that seemed that they could look right through you. This eccentric dress, never mind a tweed jack and gray slack in a world where jeans and a t-shirt seemed to be the height of sartorial taste only gave credence to the whispered rumors of his madness.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

“Was it really that boring Bernie?”

The question made her halt in her tracks and stare wordlessly.
It was the voice Bernadette had been listening to so attentively for the past 50 minutes, yet it had taken on a strangely intimate quality that the familiar shortening of her name only added to.
She continued to stare as the last of the students filed past her without a backward glance.
How could he know her? And then it registered as did the content of his question.
He had overheard the exchange of comments!
Yet many had made more disparaging remarks upon exiting the auditorium and more audibly.
Why then was he singling her out?

”N… no … not at all … Professor Williams … “

She stammered, the guilty blush contradicting the denial her eyes meeting his in a silent plea for him to believe her. She expected censure, a further reprimand, but met only the most intense of gazes which both reassured her and made her feel strangely uneasy.

”In fact … I found your theories …. “

She broke off. How could she put into words the fascination his words had caused?

” … it’s … rare that a lecture actually makes you think … “

She amended hoping a less effusive response might be more credible …

 

[cgraven]

The alluring little redhead stood there with her mouth gaping in surprise her soft amber eyes wide.

”N… no … not at all … Professor Williams ……. … it’s … rare that a lecture actually makes you think … “

For a brief moment, Bernadette had more the appearance of a guppy out of water, as she stammered her reply, than a freshman at university. Marcus found her blush quite refreshing in this jaded age where innocence was something most students lost by the time they where in secondary school if not before.

“Bernie that is exactly what a Professor is suppose to require of the student…………… to think!”

His voice did not carry the slightest bit of reproach for her, but rather was touched with a note of sadness.

“It seems the current philosophy is to make student happy rather than to make them think.”

This time his words literally dripped with sarcasm for the state of education. It softened as he continued.

“You better be running along les you be tardy for you next lecture.”

He pressed a flyer into Bernadette’s hand before returning to the podium to prepare for the second group of First Yearers who the lecture was mandated for. The flyer that Marcus Tiberius Williams had pressed into the girl’s hand announced a lecture to be held off campus at a local hall on his theories of time travel that coming Friday.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

“Bernie that is exactly what a Professor is suppose to require of the student…………… to think!”

Bernie nodded. She was enjoying her studies, but in some ways the curriculum seemed so … narrow … there seemed little scope to pursue individual tastes. Everything was set … books, artists, composers … It seemed to her Professors wanted students to attend and complete coursework with almost mechanical regularity without deviating from the set path.

“It seems the current philosophy is to make student happy rather than to make them think.”

His words took her by surprise.

” … happy ..?”

She didn’t really relate to that comment.
The professors she’d met only valued that which was measurable … assessable …
Perhaps it was because she was only a first year and working her way through the introductory units of her course, but Bernie hadn’t felt particularly … challenged … thus far …

“You better be running along les you be tardy for you next lecture.”

Bernie blinked to attention once more.

”Oh … yes .. of course … “

She accepted the flyer without glance or comment and made her way hastily past him and out into the corridor beyond.
It was only then that she lifted the paper and read the announcement of the lecture that coming Friday …

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

For the rest of the week the flyer burned a hole in her jacket pocket. The hall mentioned was a 15 minute walk from the campus and the halls in which as a first year she had chosen to board. Friday evenings were the big social event of the week. With no lectures the following day, students took the opportunity to party or plan some crazy form of entertainment designed to let off steam after the week of study.

Though not a great party girl, Bernie did enjoy the Friday activities. More often than not, she’d have a quiet drink at the bar before the more raucous students arrived later on and then spend much of the evening with her group of friends dancing and chatting in the drama auditorium that was always specially set up for that purpose …

The last thing she really wanted was to trek down the lanes and into the small local town when it was dark and cold out.
Yet that is what she found herself doing.
She gave no explanation to her friends and her very coyness made them assume she was had a date and was meeting some local guy.
A conclusion she did not comment on, but was happy to let them come to.

And so just before 8 o’clock, the scheduled start of the lecture she slipped into the hall wondering if there would be a crowd and hoping she could sit at the back and be relatively unobtrusive …

 

[cgraven]

The lecture was sparsely attended, it seemed the locals where about as enthusiastic as the university students. There where perhaps thirty or forty attending in a hall capable of seating three times that number. At precisely 8 o’clock, Professor Marcus Tiberius Williams stepped out on stage and was greeted by a polite round of applause. He gave a slight bow as he proceeded to the podium.

“What If…….. by the application of quantum physics time could be manipulated so that one could step from one period of time to another almost seamlessly.”

The lecture commenced as it had at the university but soon took on a different tenor in that instead of being presented as a hypothetical concept Professor Marcus Tiberius Williams was discussing the matter as if it where indeed fact. All eyes where on him as he took a piece of paper and folded in like and accordion.

“Time travel is not a matter of acceleration to the speed of light as Ernestine postulated in the 1930’s but rather the bending of time so that it lays upon itself like this folded paper making it ease to step from one period of time to another.”

The audience seemed to be listening in wrapped attention as if spellbound. They seem ed to hang on his every word. As in the university lecture hall it seemed that Marcus eyes sought out the young beauty’s and it was if he where speaking to her directly.

“……………… In time travel, the cardinal rule is to go forward in time and not back. If one travels back in time any small interaction with the past can in affect change the present and the future. One can only step from ones own present to the future. Never back wards.”

The lecture came to a conclusion a little after 10 o’clock the crowd filing out when Marcus Tiberius Williams appeared at her side.

“Bernie I am so glad you came you must tell me what you thought over a glass of sherry if that is not to presumptuous of me.”

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

As it happened there was a modest audience in the hall as Bernie stood wondering where to sit. They had all congregated towards the middle of the hall, mainly to one side so she had to walk nearer eyeing her fellow attendees uncertainly. In the end she decided to sit on an aisle seat at the end of a row, a bit more isolated than she had intended with a clearer view of the podium that she had wished. In fact she was just considering a move when the Professor came promptly out and the lecture began.

Without the snickers, Bernie was able to relax more this time round. Much of what he said was the same as the foundation studies lecture, but with a receptive audience the tone of the presentation seemed to subtly change …

She watched as he folded the paper and considered his description of time like an accordion … All eyes where on him as he took a piece of paper and folded in like and accordion.

“… making it ease to step from one period of time to another...”

“What if …?” Bernie considered again. The possibilities would be endless …
The places she could see … the times she could visit …
She could meet Shakespeare … Dickens … live through …

“……………… In time travel, the cardinal rule is to go forward in time and not back.”

His voice drew her out of her musings to attention once more.

” … If one travels back in time any small interaction with the past can in affect change the present and the future. One can only step from ones own present to the future. Never back wards.”

That cut out all her imaginings she thought with disappointment.
To go into the future … her own future..?
Would she want to see herself much older … in old age even …?
She thought not …

And yet the whole concept of time … the need to treat time travel with care and respect seemed to mark the rest of the lecture. Only when the Professor thanked his assembled audience for their attention did Bernie realise that the assembled group had all been equally enthralled into considering his theories as actual fact.

With consternation she realised with a start that it was actually 10 pm! Much later than she had actually imagined it would be. Pulling on her coat she braced herself to walk out into the cold and face the all too isolated route back to the campus.

“Bernie I am so glad you came you must tell me what you thought over a glass of sherry if that is not to presumptuous of me.”

Bernadette looked up with a start.

”Professor … “

She started her face breaking into a smile and a slight giggle as she realised he had flustered her yet again.

”A sherry … well … that would be nice, but … I wouldn’t want to leave it much later before walking back to the halls … “

She responded hesitantly, torn between her worry of getting back safely and the tempting offer of discussing the subject further …

 

[cgraven]

”Professor … “

Marcus found her shy smile delightfully refreshing and Bernadette’s girlish giggle some how quiet seductive.

”A sherry … well … that would be nice, but … I wouldn’t want to leave it much later before walking back to the halls … “

He could see that she was both hesitant and at the same time eager to accept the invitation. Never being one to let an opportunity pass Marcus Tiberius Williams seized the moment.

“Well then Bernie we better be off to the public house before we run out of time.”

Marcus linked his arm into Bernadette’s as they left the lecture hall and made there way down the lane to the “Bore’s Head” the local public house. The innkeeper seemed to know the professor and showed the couple to a private room where they could speak in some semblance of civility instead of over the din of the public room. There host brought a bottle of Sherry and two glasses.

“Well now Bernie what did you think of this evening’s lecture he asked as he poured a sherry fro them both.”

The conversation followed in a give and take as Marcus listened to his attractive young guest. He asked her a question from time to time in an effort to clarify a point. And as that conversation followed so did the sherry till nearly half the bottle was gone and the hour was past midnight.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

“Well then Bernie we better be off to the public house before we run out of time.”

Bernie found herself literally swept along with him. His casual assumption that she would partake of a quick drink with him coupled with the somewhat paternal linking of his arm with hers as he ensured she was safely escorted to a local public house“Bore’s Head”.

Bernie glanced around curiously as they entered. It was a place that discouraged the local students and offered little to the more youthful boisterous clientele. It seemed the ideal setting for a quiet discussion and was not really surprised that the Professor seemed to be known there. What did take her aback slightly is when she found herself in a private room left in seclusion with Professor Williams, 2 glasses and a bottle of sherry.

“Well now Bernie what did you think of this evening’s lecture he asked as he poured a sherry fro them both.”

She decided not to comment on the seclusion of the venue and picked up the glass sipping it.

”It was … fascinating …”

She told him, not feeling the need to hide her interest now she was free of the all-seeing eyes of her friends.

”I was thinking though … that it would be great to go back …. Into history … rather than along your own timeline … surely that wouldn’t be harmful….?”

As the Professor answered and explained, she was once more drawn into the conversation, this time questioning and reasoning. Whether it was the unnoticed passing of time or the easy flow of sherry that made her bolder and very open with her ideas and opinions was unclear, but rather than the passive student being lectured at, Bernie questioned and discussed and lost her self consciousness as the Professor in turn began to question her and challenge her preconceptions …

So much so that it was quite a shock when the chime of the clock suddenly caught her attention.

”Oh God! Just look at the time … “

Her consternation was not at having passed a challenging and educational evening, but rather at having to walk along the dark lanes back to her halls at such a late or rather early hour …

 

[cgraven]

Marcus Tiberius Williams smiled to himself as the striking redheaded beauty before him became bolder in her questions about regressive time travel. Her eyes where bright and excited as she spoke and her actions became more animated as the hours crept by and the level in the sherry bottle lowered.

”Oh God! Just look at the time … “

The striking of the village clock had broken the spell that had enveloped Bernadette. There was the most delightful pout on her ripe moist lips that called a man to kiss them yet the slight flush of pink that kissed her cheeks would stir other longings in men ant the sight of this innocent blushing beauty and Marcus Tiberius Williams was far from being immune to such desires.

He rose to help the girl with her coat and he stepped closer to her his body pressed to her back as he helped slip it on. This was the first time he had been anything but the perfect gentleman. He let the contact between them linger a moment longer than necessary.

“Would you like me to walk you back to your house Bernie?”

As he spoke the stray wisps of hair at the nape of her neck danced in his warm moist breathe as it washed over her silken skin.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Bernie gratefully slipped into the coat that Professor Williams held out for her. His gallant manners brought a deeper flush to her cheeks, though she told herself that had nothing to do with the elder man’s close proximity as helped wrap the warm coat around her.

”Thank you … “

She murmured almost shyly once more as she stood almost reluctant to tear herself away into the heavily dark night.

“Would you like me to walk you back to your house Bernie?”

The offer would have been so welcome, but perhaps he had forgotten that she was a first year. As a rule first years lived in halls and the older students rented in the town.

”That’s very kind of you, but I live back on campus Professor…”

She declined regretfully.

”I wouldn’t want to drag you back up there.
I’m sure I’ll be Ok … there’s no one around at this time and it shouldn’t take me too long to get back … “

 

[cgraven]

”I wouldn’t want to drag you back up there.
I’m sure I’ll be Ok … there’s no one around at this time and it shouldn’t take me too long to get back … “

“As you wish Bernie…………………”

His hands slowly slid down the arms smoothing the fabric of her coat as they went. He paused about half way down his body still pressed to hers the warmth of his caressing hers through their clothes.

“…………………………………..Bernie is short for?”


His hands slid down to hers, the tips of his fingers brushed the back of her hand, lingering for a moment before dropping away.

“Good night Bernadette…….or do you prefer Bernie?”

Reluctentanly he let he go stepping back from the ravishing young beauty the physical contact them broken. He watched as the young girl turned into the lane that would take her back to the university. His eyes turned to the heavens the skies clear and a trillion stars looking down on the world that was young Bernie’s.

Yes a trillion stars and one pair of unseen eyes that followed her ever move. Little did Bernie know that she would not reach the sanctuary of her room and that the concept of time travel was about to become all to real for her as a brilliant light engulfed her just before all was submerged into pitch blackness..

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

“As you wish Bernie…………………”

Only after he had spoken the words did Bernie realise that she had hoped he might insist. The pang of disappointment was instantly replaced by one of confusion as she felt his hands moving and almost moulding her into her coat.

“…………………………………..Bernie is short for?”

His words again forced her to focus.

”Um … Bernadette … it’s short for Bernadette … “

She found herself stammering again, his hand lightly brushing the back of hers not helping her to clear her mind at all.

“Good night Bernadette…….or do you prefer Bernie?”

He stepped back allowing her to draw a steadying breath.

”Oh … either … “

She did not elaborate that Bernie was the name only friends and family tended to use and that it had felt strangely familiar, yet not unpleasantly so from his lips.

”Good night Professor Williams … “

The cold air hit her like a wall as she stepped outside and caused her to inhale deeply. The cold was sharp in her throat, though the warmth of the sherry and the room and the company prevented her from shivering as she burrowed into her thick coat and began to walk rapidly down the road in the way back to the university.

Glancing up, she saw the stars, which always accompanied the coldest nights. The moon was bright and helped her find her way as she left the main street and eyed the narrow lane ahead. It would take her but 10 minutes at most if she continued at this pace. Glancing around she noted that there was not a soul in sight, a fact which she told herself was reassuring …

Hands stuck deep in her pockets, head down, Bernie forced herself on and put any fears to the back of her mind. Soon … sooner … the lights of the campus would come into sight and then she could focus on those and continue towards the welcome security of her own room.
Never given to paranoia Bernie refused to let herself be plagued by fears as she made her way back determinedly. Any vague feelings of being watched or followed she put down to an over active imagination, though she did berate herself for losing track of the time and then not allowing the kind Professor to escort her back safely.

As she turned the corner she raised her head expectantly.
She was almost there.
This was where the security night lights around the campus would first become visible.

”What …. !?! “

She had no time to exclaim further as a bright light dazzled her as she stumbled back. She turned her head away, but the light seemed to be all around her, blinding her. Even when she closed her eyes against the brilliance the light was so intense that she was forced to cover her eyes, yet even then the beams seemed to pierce through and burn behind the eyelids ….

And that was the last sensation she was aware of before the darkness overtook her …

 

[cgraven]

That brilliant light that enveloped her supple young body merged with it became part of her very being, her very essence. Then suddenly Bernadette seemed to be split intro a thousand points of life, body and form slipping, shifting, and flowing like water effortlessly before pooling and congealing again into the supple form of her body that she knew so well. The dark country lane that lead to her university gone, the chill of the night replaced by the darker chill of the unknown, whose fingers curled around the heart and soul of the shy young beauty, her heart racing in its grip.

Bernadette found herself in a very clinical room, surrounded by an antiseptic halo of bright white light. Spread just in front of her the Milky Way stretched like an endless carpet of jewels as far as the eye could see. Just one step forward and Bernie would tumble into the dark abyss that the floated in.

“Beautiful are they not?”

The voice was low, and dark as the velvet night, it resonated in ones soul a sensually seductive whisper. The owner of that voice was a tall masked figure wrapped in a midnight black robe.

“So you want to swim in the tides of time do you my young Dove?”

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

The darkness enveloped Bernie. It seemed to swallow her.
Her external senses seemed to cease to function.
She was unaware of sound or sight.
All of her being was focused upon what was happening within her own body. There was nothing she could do but ride the strange rollercoaster of sensations until she became aware once more of being surrounded by darkness and chill…

But nothing was familiar. She realised that very quickly.
Again it wasn’t that the country lane had disappeared, rather it was something indefinable in the heaviness of the atmosphere around her.
Totally disorientated, she blinked trying to steady her nerves.
The silence was a deafening roar, the roar of her own breathing the only audible sound at that moment.

The only sound until a shocked gasp escaped from her lips as the brightness surrounded her.
Blinking, Bernie stared around and was met by the same clean, crisp whiteness, somehow not blinding, yet not allowing her sight of anything else …
… until she turned her head and saw a play of lights beyond,.
It was as if someone had taken the clearest of skies adorned with the brightest of stars and laid them at her feet.

“Beautiful are they not?”

The voice though unexpected did not make her jump; instead it drew her gaze to alight upon a shadowed form.
Bernie stared, the slightest nod in answer to his enquiry as she took in his stature, the only feature aside from his voice she could make out as he stood as if swathed in the darkness.

“So you want to swim in the tides of time do you my young Dove?”

His timbre of his voice was hypnotic, calming somehow and yet his words did not make sense.

”I’m .. I was walking ba … “

The explanation froze as the import of his words struck her.

”…the .. tides of … time…?”

Part of her reasoned that this was some prank, some stunt pulled by friends to ridicule the fact she had been out to the lecture … they must have found out somehow … or perhaps the Professor … or ….
Even as he mind raced attempting to find a rational explanation to keep her fear at bay, Bernie glanced around her and knew … knew … something … inexplicable … had happened to her … but had no idea what …

”… I .. don’t understand … “

She concluded her attention returning to the shadowed man.

 

[cgraven]

He watched with an almost clinical detachment as his newest little dove flittered and fluttered in confusion. He saw it all played out in her soft eyes disbelief, fear, confusion and wonder as her gaze turn to look out on the jeweled carpet of stars at her feet.

”… I .. don’t understand … “

“Sweet Dove it is not necessary that you understand it is only necessary that I need you for my experiments in time travel.”

He stepped from the shadows and towered over her by a good four inches, his build was muscular and vaguely familiar. His face encased behind a leather mask that hid its features from Bernie.

“Name…………Now come, come the question is rather simple.”

He asked a series of questions age, height, weight and so on dutifully recording her responses.

“Now be so kind as to disrobe completely for your physical.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

“Sweet Dove it is not necessary that you understand it is only necessary that I need you for my experiments in time travel.”

… time travel … experiments …

Bernie’s head reeled as his words hit home.
He needed her … but … she did not even know … where she was … perhaps even … when … she was …

”But … “

Her response froze on her lips as he stepped towards her.
As he neared her he seemed even taller and more intimidating despite the way he had spoken to her.
Yet the thing that shocked her most was the mask, the leather mask that hid his features from her.
Belatedly she realised he had spoken to her.

“Name…………Now come, come the question is rather simple.”

His reprimand made her respond..

”Bern… Bernadette Simmons … “

She murmured and watched him write it down.

One by one the questions came … impersonal … basic statistics … which for some reason she answered as she might during a medical.


“Now be so kind as to disrobe completely for your physical…”

The words pulled her out of her passivity as a bucket of ice water might.

Finally she moved, backing away from him shaking her head wordlessly until she found her voice.

”Ohhh ... no … no way … “

Though soft, her voice was decisive.

”I … I don’t know what’s going on here but … “

She looked around as panic rose in her.

”I don’t know where I am … or … who you are … “

Again the illogical sequence of events hit her anew.

” … but I did NOT sign up for any of this … “

The protest having run its course she met the eyes within the mask and shuddered.

”I want to go … go back … “

 

[cgraven]

”Ohhh ... no … no way … “

If Bernie was expecting some marked reaction from the masked stranger, she was sorely disappointed, His features, what she could see of them remained relaxed, has posture not changing one little iota. He seemed detached and clinical as ever as he listened to her rambling demands.

I did NOT sign up for any of this …I want to go … go back … “

“Really Miss Simmon? Then would you kindly explain your signature.”

He handed Bernie a clipboard with a sheet of paper attached to it. He watched as her eyes scanned the document the words seeming to belie what she had just protested.

“ Would you if given the opportunity willingly become a test subject in time travel?”

It was a questionnaire that she had filled out as a lark at the evening seminar. Yet there below the damning statement was to her chagrin was her name scrawled in her own hand.

Bernadette Simmons

Remove your clothing Miss Simmons so we can get on with your physical.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

“Really Miss Simmon? Then would you kindly explain your signature.”

Bernie took the paper and glanced down. It was the final sheet of the questionnaire she’d filled in during the lecture. It was supposed to gauge interest and response … but as she read it now the words hit her anew …

“ Would you if given the opportunity willingly become a test subject in time travel?”

”Remove your clothing Miss Simmons so we can get on with your physical.”

Still she stood motionless.
The man before her seemed so impersonal.

”But … I don’t know anything about this … and … why would I need a medical …?”

She glanced round still not knowing just where she was.
Still he stood before her expecting her to begin to undress.
She tried again.

”… is this a hospital..? A … laboratory ..?”

She felt more and more uncomfortable at the lack of response.

”Who’s supposed to be carrying out this physical anyway….?”

Surely there must be some doctor or nurse if this was truly essential for whatever experiment he thought he was going to put her through …?

 

[cgraven]

”But … I don’t know anything about this … and … why would I need a medical …?”

The darkly robed masked figure watched Bernie’s eyes dart about as she tried to get a better sense of where she was and if this was really happening to her and not just some childish prank.

”… is this a hospital..? A … laboratory ..?”……”Who’s supposed to be carrying out this physical anyway….?”

The edge of panic in her voice rose as her stream of questions came tumbling across her ripe moist lips. The girl’s soft amber eyes where wide with fear and uncertainty. The masked man took a deep breath and laid aside his clipboard for the moment.

I can assure you this is not a hospital nor is it a laboratory in which unmentionable and hideous experimentation will be conducted on you. This is a device for time travel and as you will be the first person from earth to travel in it, I must examine you to ensure that you will be able to take the journey safely.”

His voice was deep and soft as he tried to answer her questions, it seemed some how familiar as did his build. There was something about that voice his demeanor that reminded her of someone she knew or had met before.

““Miss Simmons……… Bernadette please disrobe now my dear.”

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

”I can assure you this is not a hospital nor is it a laboratory in which unmentionable and hideous experimentation will be conducted on you.”

His words reassured her. The whole idea of medicals and experiments didn’t appeal somehow.

”This is a device for time travel … “

Her eyes widened as she took in the information.
A … time travel machine … !?!
Surely this couldn’t be real …?
But then Professor Williams had always stated … “What if …?”
What if .. somehow … she had been chosen..?
But by who? And … why … ?

” … and as you will be the first person from earth to travel in it, I must examine you to ensure that you will be able to take the journey safely.”

She blinked as the voice continued.
The reasoning seemed strangely logical …
She stared at the shadowed figure, the mask was still in place and yet …
There was something … indefinable about him.

“Miss Simmons……… Bernadette please disrobe now my dear.”

She hesitated in confusion, torn between the impulse to flee and her curiosity to find out more.
But where would she flee to?
The physical examination would not oblige her to take part in the … experiment .. no more than that signature would, she reflected.
No one would make her do anything she wanted she thought determinedly as her hands moved to the buttons of her blouse.

Slowly she unfastened them and slipped the garment from her body.
Perhaps the less impersonal manner had coaxed her into disrobing, but as she reached for the waist of her jeans, she could not quite prevent a blush as she
unfastened the button and drew them down over her hips…
Telling herself that his was all ... necessary ... Bernie kicked off her shoes and socks and quickly slipped clear of the denim.
Pausing now as she stood in her underwear, Bernie shivered, not a reaction to cold, rather uncertaintly.

”What .. kind of … examination … will be needed … ?”

She queried, realising anew that it was the unknown male whose identity she had no idea of who obviously intended to carry out this examination himself …

”This ... experiment … it ... won’t be dangerous will it … ?”

She questioned realising that rather than dismissing his words as nonsense, she was beginning to talk about this time travel claim as fact …

 

[cgraven]

From behind his mask he could see the ageless dram played out in her soft amber eyes he could see the flash of fear that mindless fear that cause one to run. Yet he saw the seductive call of curiosity, what if it where true, then she would be the first from earth to…….

Even before Bernie’s trembling fingers went to the buttons of her blouse the masked man knew what her choice would be. He smiled behind his mask at the maidenly blush that kissed the girls cheeks as Bernie fingers hovered by the button that held her jeans closed. With a little sigh she unfastened the button and drew them down over her hips.
Bernie kicked off her shoes and socks and quickly slipped clear of the denim.

He had known that she was an attractive young lady but as she stood there barefooted, shivering, and clothed in nothing but her bra and panties and a most seductive blush. He realized how ravishing she truly was.

”What .. kind of … examination … will be needed …? ”This ... experiment … it ... won’t be dangerous will it … ?”

“Bernadette if you follow my instructions the experiment will not be dangerous and you may even find them rather pleasant. Now as for the examination it will be a complete exam so kindly remove your underwear and climb up on the exam table.”

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

“Bernadette if you follow my instructions the experiment will not be dangerous and you may even find them rather pleasant.”

She nodded, reassured and curious as to what exactly he meant …

”Now as for the examination it will be a complete exam so kindly remove your underwear and climb up on the exam table.”

Bernie stood frozen in indecision.
To strip fully in front of him … well … it didn’t seem … right …

”Could I have a gown or … surely there’s a nurse or … “

She blushed not wanting to imply that he had any … improper … ideas, but she couldn’t bring herself to lay naked before this man … could she?

”I … don’t feel comfortable about this … “

She told him apologetically …

 

[cgraven]

”Could I have a gown or … surely there’s a nurse or … “

“Bernadette……………..”

The masked stranger sighed in exasperation.

“…………………….if a nurse where present than why would I be wasting my valuable time in a simple routine matter such as this physical? Further to what point would a gown serve as it is a complete physical it seems a waste of a gown wouldn’t you agree?

This strange masked man or at least his voice and authoritarian manner would suggest he was an man. Yet other than his voice the gown he wore hid any indication of gender. Suddenly his head snapped p and his eyes bore into hers.


“Miss Simmons if you made out a false application to partake in theses time travel experiments, I am afraid I’ll have to turn you over to the galactic police force.”

He really seemed to be upset now as if a false application carried the most dire consequences.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

“Bernadette……. if a nurse where present than why would I be wasting my valuable time in a simple routine matter such as this physical? Further to what point would a gown serve as it is a complete physical it seems a waste of a gown wouldn’t you agree?”

His tone was exasperated, but he seemed to have totally missed the point and seemed unaware of her … shyness …
More and more Bernie got the feeling something wasn’t quite right here … yet his explanations all seemed so … reasonable…

“Miss Simmons..”

His tone was accusatory as he continued.

” … if you made out a false application to partake in theses time travel experiments, I am afraid I’ll have to turn you over to the galactic police force.”

Bernadette shook her head wordlessly.
Things were rapidly escalating and she felt more and more out of control.
It was not the time she judged to remind him that she had not made an application, that the paper was merely part of a questionnaire and as to the “galactic police force” …
Whatever he was threatening her with, whatever was happening here was way beyond her experience.

She stared at the exam table torn.
She was trapped, or at least it felt like it.
And part of her was becoming annoyed at the fact he was just issuing instruction after instruction assuming she really had signed up for all this ...

”Ok … fine … “

Her quiet response held just the edge of terseness as she consented.
The only option it seemed to her was to get this over with.
She’d get through the exam, she’d learn if she was fit for whatever experiment he had in mind and then … then in the cold light of day … she’d tell whoever he was just what she thought of his manner, of being ambushed on the way home.

Taking a breath she unclipped her bra and eased the waist band of her panties downwards, resolutely banishing the blush that threatened at revealing her shaved sex.
It wasn’t as if he would notice her nudity. This man was merely fixated on his project.
She held that thought in her head as she moved towards the examination table.
Without comment she slid onto the edge sitting with her legs over the side, her arms modestly, but not too obviousy crossed over to cover her sex as she finally met his eyes, the only feature she could see behind that mask.

”Ok … where do you want me … ?“

She asked with a sigh, waiting for instructions as to what position she should lie in.
Surely if she could bare 10 minutes of being poked and prodded and told to lay down, stand, breathe and whatever she could get out of here.
The room was beginning to give her the creeps and she prepared herself to
so whatever it took so she could get her clothes back on and get out of that weird room.