Alone in the small room with only a computer screen for companionship, Ellen spent some time just staring at that screen. Within, a minor battle was going on between her conservative, almost puritanical, nature, and a nagging, unsettling urge to try something on the wild side. Certainly not those horrible hard-core, nasty categories, but maybe something on the milder side. Perhaps that wedding night experience. While not a virgin, Ellen was also not very experienced with sex. For the most part, she had found it troublesome and not worth the effort. Oh, she was physically attracted to some men, but when that attraction drew her into a relationship, even if only a single date, there were problems. The man was too demanding, too eager to bed her down, or rather unskilled when the act finally came about. Men were either too rough, inconsiderate, and/or far too quick to reach their goal, ejaculate and lose interest - while Ellen was just getting warmed up.

Perhaps a computer program generated lover would lack these negatives and provide a more pleasurable experience. Well, one could only hope.

She touched the screen and went back to the main menu. Sexual experience or general adventure? At that point, the thought occurred to her to wonder if what she had been told was correct. Did the personal at Fantasies Inc. really have no idea what program you chose? Was no record of it kept in the computer? She would hate to find out that her choice was known by others. Those sexual categories were... well, were private. Or should be. She would die of shame if that nice John fellow were to know that she chose one of those kinky experiences. Not that she would, she quickly told herself, but any choice should be private.

Maybe skiing down Mount Everest would be best. But as her finger reached for the screen, she was telling herself that skiing down a mountain, even a big one, was never a fantasy of hers. Which led to the question of just what were her fantasies?

Her hand returned to her lap. There was some thinking to be done here. What fantasies did she have? Winning the lottery, of course, the same as thousands, probably millions of others. Then her money troubles would be over and she could live the life of the rich and lazy. But was that fantasy worth her one shot at this? In real life, she would go for it at the drop of a hat. But this was not real life. She began to understand the attraction of Fantasies Inc.

Still, there was the problem of what to choose. As if she had no control over it, her finger poked the Erotic icon. Pushing aside the urge to press the back button, she told herself, 'What the hell. They probably don't care what choice a customer makes.'

Her finger hovered over the screen. What to pick? Dungeon Delights? No way! Captured by Pirates? Well... maybe. At least that sounded like an adventure rather than a porno movie. Collared and Owned, for some reason she did not understand, tempted her. The image next to it showed a sweet, innocent looking young woman wearing a shining sliver collar around her neck. It did not appear crude and heavy like those she had seen in depictions of ancient Rome or such. It was actually rather pretty, almost like a piece of jewelry. But a functional piece of jewelry to judge by the small ring attached to the front of it.

Once again, almost of its own volition, her hand moved and touched the screen. She had picked "Spanking," and was surprised that she had. She had no fantasies about being spanked - at least, not as far as she knew.

Another menu popped up. "Mild, Medium, or Heavy," it offered her. She aimed to press the mild but missed and hit medium instead. Before she could find a way to change that choice, another submenu popped up. This one offered, "Hand, Belt or Hairbrush." Being very careful this time, she slowly approached and pressed "Hand." That sounded a lot better than belt or hairbrush.

The menu cleared and for a second there was nothing on the screen. Then a picture of a young woman appeared. She was standing with her back forward, looking over her shoulder. She was holding up a skirt with her hands and showing a bare ass that was definitely a red color. There was a tear trickling down her cheek but a smile on her face.

Ellen paused. There was something about that image that caught her attention. The girl did not look anything like her, but she somehow associated herself with that image. Shaking off that funny feeling, she pressed the icon at the bottom of the screen - the one that said "Accept."

The image on the screen cleared and a message appeared telling her that her program was being prepared and an attendant would soon be with her.

At that point, she realized that there was a tingle of excitement within. Like looking forward to your first roller coaster ride; a little afraid but also excited. She did not have time to consider if she had chosen wisely, for the woman who had shown her into Mr. Bates office arrived almost instantly.

"I'm Shayla and I'll take you to the experience room," she said. For a brief second, Ellan had the impression that this tall, good looking woman was giving her body the once over, such as she had seen men do. Undressing her with their eyes, she had heard it called. Then the woman was all business. "If you will please come with me."

The room had only a number on the door and was pretty plain inside. There was a comfortable looking couch and a console beside it. But it had only a couple dials and two switches, nothing very fancy. There were, however, half a dozen wires that came out of a hole and that ended in small round pads.

"If you wish, you can put your purse on that table. Just lie down here and get comfortable. It will be just like you are taking a nap. You'll be asleep, but your mind will be living the experience in full color and sound. Smells and touch even. It will be exactly as if you were really living it."

As she gave what was obviously a canned speech, she was spreading out the thin wire cables, three to each side of the couch.

"Comfy? Good. Now I'm going to place these pads on each side of your head. They won't hurt. There's a little bit of glue to hold them in place, but that will wipe off when we're finished. See, that one is in place and it didn't hurt."

Shayla kept on talking as she worked. Ellen guessed that it was to keep nervous people occupied. And she was becoming nervous. She had come looking for a story, not expecting to be a part of it. Still, being able to write from the first person point of view would make for a better article. "Is this like going under for an operation?" she asked.

"Not at all. You'll find yourself getting sleepy and then drift peacefully off. You'll wake up in whatever experience you chose. When the program finishes, you'll wake up here, feeling exactly as if you're awaking from sleep.

"Okay, all finished. If you'll close your eyes and listen to my voice, you'll find yourself growing sleepy. You're getting sleepy, very sleepy."

Unseen by Ellen, Shayla flipped a switch on the console. Electronics came to life, controlled by a computer in another room, and sent signals through the wire and into Ellen's brain. As she had been told, she became sleepy and found the voice she was listening to faded as if moving away from her. In a few moments, she was in a state of deep sleep.

A light came on the console, indicating that the client was satisfactorily asleep. Shayla pulled the straps out from under the couch and placed them over the body lying there. It was always better to strap them down after they were asleep. She would remove them before the client awoke.

As she left, she was wondering what program this young woman had chosen. Not too bad a body, she also thought, but a little plain. She might have explored the possibilities with this girl, but she had a life-in lover and did not really need complications of that nature.