Free Surrogate by James Ellison Page B

tactile pressure to Katrina. She
concentrated on Katrina while gently stroking her own arm. It took
a few attempts, but it eventually worked. She watched the monitor
in surprise as Katrina suddenly moved, grasping her arm with her
hand. The experiment was a success but she was most impressed with
Katrina's reaction, not on her arm, but in the place she was really
concentrating her efforts. She saw the slightest hint of a smile
work its way across Katrina's soft pink lips, and even though the
monitor did not give the best view, she saw Katrina's nipples
suddenly press against her tee shirt through her thin bra. That's
when Holly considered the experiment a success. That was the real
aim of her real efforts.
    Katrina and Doctor Mueller finished their
work and met in the middle of the long desk. They nodded to each
other, satisfied the equipment was ready.
    "Looks like everything’s ready," Doctor
Mueller said. "Would you get our subject, Marla, hooked up for
monitoring, while I go through some last minute details with
Holly?"
    Katrina nodded, and squeezed past the
Doctor.
    "Holly, let me fill you in on some
last-minute details." Doctor Mueller said as Katrina stopped short
of the door to gather up some electrical wiring from a hook high on
the back wall. She was still watching Katrina as she answered the
Doctor.
    "Sure thing," she said. She was anxious to
get the experiment started.
    "There's been a small change to the
experiment." The statement finally broke her stare, and she looked
at Doctor Mueller to see her pushing her finger along the smooth
surface of the long stainless steel table. "Due to the intimate
physical, dare I say …sexual nature of our experiment, our sponsors
decided they want the remote influence attempted …without visual
aid."
    "You mean, I won't be able to use a video
monitor to establish a connection with the subject?" She crossed
her arms over her chest. "Impossible."
    Doctor Mueller stopped rubbing the table and
looked directly at her. She could see the worry in the doctor’s
eyes. In reality, she thought she could possibly make the
connection without a visual, but a devious thought was forming in
her mind. She looked at Katrina, who had stopped short of the door,
her hands buried within a mile of wires and connectors.
    "Would it help if we allowed you to see the
subject beforehand?" The Doctor was looking at the table again,
this time tapping her finger on the table in some kind of nervous
rhythm. "Maybe some kind of chance encounter so you can establish a
connection?"
    No, that would compromise the experiment,"
Holly said. "I should still be able to establish a connection to
the subject, but I'll need something to help focus tactile feeling
from—I'll need a surrogate."
    "You mean another person?" The doctor said,
her mouth melting into a frown. "We can't find someone on such
short notice."
    "Then, I may not be able to project to the
subject, not without a visual indicator."
    "I can't postpone this experiment. We've
already paid for the time in the clinic.
    "I need a surrogate," she retorted, venturing
a quick peek at Katrina, still standing frozen at the door."
    "Would anyone work?" Doctor Mueller asked. "I
could find someone in the building, but they'd have to sign
waivers. We'd have to find the funds to pay them."
    "Anybody would work." Holly looked directly
to Katrina as she spoke this time. "One of you could even do
it."
    She looked back to Doctor Mueller, waiting
for her to make the connection. She watched as the Doctors eyes
flashed inspiration and she snapped her head to the side, staring
at Katrina.
    "Katrina could do it," she said. "I mean,
would you be okay with that, Katrina?"
    Katrina frowned and a small vertical line
formed between her eyes. "I don't know. I've never ..." Her voice
trailed off, as she appeared to retreat into herself as she thought
about it.
    "Look," Holly said, fearing Katrina was about
to say no. "It's purely professional," she lied. "I'll be all
covered in wires