BRAIN SCAM Part 3
Kim left the control room to disconnect Abrams from the brain sensors while Mike indulged in a bit of gloating over the results of the session. Abrams had confirmed all of his suspicions. His satisfaction over resolving several mysteries didn't last long because he heard an irritated Abrams ask Kim, "What's the matter? We've only begun the session. Did you screw something up?"
"No, Sir. The session was completed successfully."
Abrams' voice rose to a shout, "But Mike was supposed to ask me some questions. He didn't. WHY THE HELL NOT?"
Mike didn't anticipate Abrams' confusion but Kim was fully aware that the man would be puzzled because the memory circuits in his brain had been neutralized as part of the induced trance. Kim calmly but with remarkable confidence said simply, "He did ask and you answered. You don't remember it because you were in a hypnotic-like trance. Mike and I can describe what happened. May we go to the conference room?"
Abrams' face flushed with anger because he perceived Kim's comment as condescending and, in part, because he was ashamed that he had to be told what he should have known. To regain dominance, he demanded, "No we may NOT! You'll tell me HERE and NOW!" Abrams was anxious to know the results and somewhat fearful of what they might be.
Kim went into the control room where Mike sat nervously awaiting further angry outbursts from Abrams and worrying about the punitive consequences for both of the young conspirators. The furious man could fire his key employee although that didn't seem to worry Kim. He would most likely terminate the consulting agreement with Mike who, rather than feeling bad, would welcome the news. The primary reason to be worried was that Abrams, in his fury, would get physical. But even that wasn't a major problem because both he and Kim were young, strong, and quite able to subdue any bodily attack. Mike made a snap decision. He would explain what happened but try to shoulder all or most of the blame in order to protect Kim.
As soon as Abrams stormed into the control room, Mike said, "Settle down, Abrams. Get a hold on your tempter. I'll tell you exactly what happened. The explanation is simple but you may not understand it if you're unable to listen."
"I have a RIGHT to be upset! Something went wrong and nobody's telling me what happened!" There was no valid reason to think that there had been a problem but Abrams was not thinking logically because of his compelling need to know what he may have revealed while in a trance,
Mike gave Abrams a cold stare and said, "You also have a right to know what happened. And I've already told you I would explain. I keep my promises, Abrams, unlike others who don't." The inference that Abrams made self-serving promises with no intention of keeping them didn't register with the distraught man.
Mike seized control of the conversation. "Kim asked why I was here and why you were to be wired up to the computer system. I answered his questions. I told him you wanted to prove that you were not interested in my help in protecting your system from abuse but you were interested in my body ... and in winning my friendship so you could have sex with me. As a result, Kim revealed that about the same thing happened to him. Remember intimidating him to visit your home? It was obvious you had only a sexual encounter as a goal."
"That's not true!" Abrams objected forcefully.
"We know better, Abrams," Mike said. "Based on your efforts with Kim and your forcing me into nonconsensual sex, we agreed to use your system against you. As a dramatic demonstration of how it can easily be misused. Kim activated the computer routine that neutralized your self-restraint. Consequently, none of your answers to my questions were filtered through the fabrications that you used to win back my trust and to build a relationship ... a relationship whose primary purpose was to gratify your sexual desires."
"You've got that all wrong!" Abrams shouted. "I had no such intent!"
"It's NOT wrong, Abrams. The proof that it's accurate is on the video recording of tonight's session. I suggest you view that recording. AND thoroughly examine the way you have let your sex drive distort and corrupt your behavior."
"You have the audacity to preach to me about my behavior? You're nothing but a queer number-cruncher!"
"Yes, I'm queer. And what are you? You sucked my cock. And forced me to suck yours. But I'm honest. You're not. I'll get my sex with a willing partner. You're a scheming bastard who resorts to deception and cheap tricks to get yours. How does it feel to be a victim rather than the perpetrator? Does it finally convince you that your computer system can easily be used for evil?"
"I already knew that, dammit!" Abrams bellowed. "What I don't know is what you learned from this session. Tell me what I said!"
Mike glared at Abrams and said, "Watch the video and weep. Now I'm outta here. But before I go, I have one more thing to say. Are you listening, Abrams? Don't take out your vengeance on Kim. You can hate me all you want because I'm the one who tricked you into telling the truth." Turning to Kim he asked, "Would you like to join me for dinner?"
"Yes." Kim grinned. "Let's leave the good doctor to enjoy watching the video."
Abrams, left alone in the control room, sank into a chair. With his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands, he was miserable. All of his careful planning had been ruined. His goal of winning Mike's confidence and friendship had evaporated. He had no hope left. No hope of indulging in raw, sensual sex with a virile young man. It took several minutes to recover from his excruciating despondency. Eventually, he gathered his senses and retrieved the video of the session. He rushed to his office and closed and locked the door. The video confirmed the worst of his fears. He heard himself admit to manipulating both Kim and Mike, engaging in sex with Mike, and attempting to deceive his victim in a vain attempt to cover up his devious motives. Overpowering self-pity obscured his recalling Mike's advice to examine how his sex drive had corrupted his behavior.
<><><><><>
Kim and Mike met at an upscale restaurant. Before entering, Kim said, "That was very kind of you to take all the blame when I was the one who disobeyed Abrams' explicit orders by reconfiguring the computer system."
Mike smiled. "I had nothing to lose by channeling his anger toward me. You, however, may be out of work tomorrow. That being the case, I insist on paying for dinner. Mostly out of gratitude for your help but also because you may not have a salary until you find another job." Kim began to object but before he could utter a word Mike emphatically said, "No arguments! I buy dinner or we each go home and eat alone. That would disappoint me, Kim, because I really want to get to know you better."
Kim flashed his captivating smile and replied, "Okay. I won't argue. Because I want you as a friend." He paused, considering whether to say what was on his mind. "Who knows, we may become very good friends."
The unspoken meaning of Kim's comment was clear. Mike grinned, winked, and said, "I'd like that."
During the salad course of dinner, Mike asked, "So what will you do if Abrams fires you tomorrow?"
"I'm not worried or upset about it. As I told you before, I was thinking of leaving anyway. This just accelerates my plans. I have a couple of promising possibilities with other companies. I may have to tap into my savings for a short time until I'm hired somewhere else but that's not a problem. To be honest, I'm glad things turned out this way. Besides Abrams' attempt to seduce me, I've had misgivings about his computer system—specifically the part that forces people to say and do things they would never do willingly. And, worse, have no memory of it."
"That part worries me, as well, Kim. It's the whole reason I pushed him to build in some safeguards to the system. He agreed primarily to have me around and you know why he wanted that."
"I do. I still can't get over the way he tried to use me and actually used you. But let me say one thing more about Abrams and his computer system and then we can talk about much more pleasant subjects. It's simply this. You don't have to worry about Abrams or anyone else using the system improperly. I've taken care of that."
The waiter interrupted the conversation when he brought the main course. When he returned to the kitchen, Mike asked, "You've taken care of it? What do you mean?"
Kim looked around the restaurant and said quietly, "I think I'd better tell you in private. I'm afraid somebody might overhear."
Mike was left to wonder what Kim had done and said, "I hate cliff- hangers, Kim but I guess I'll have to go along with your wishes." Smiling, he added, "Just promise me this. Don't leave me hanging too long."
Kim laughed. "I won't. Since you're so curious, I won't make you wait longer than the time it takes to get to my apartment. We can discuss that ... and more ... over coffee or brandy ... whichever you prefer.'
The two young men smiled knowingly at each other for several moments. Kim was thinking, Please accept the invitation.' Mike was thinking, He said we could discuss how he took care of the problem at work ... and MORE. I hope that means what I think it means.'
"I'd be delighted to hear what you have to say," Mike said. "And coffee will be fine. I don't want alcohol interfering with what I want to do tonight."
"You had other plans for tonight?" Kim asked with a slight frown on his face.
"No," Mike grinned. "But something may come up."
Kim puzzled over the ambiguity of Mike's comment. If he had something he had to do with a clear head, why did he speculate that something MAY come up. Then, he caught the meaning and laughed boisterously. Mike joined him in laughing. Several patrons in the restaurant turned their heads toward the commotion but quickly returned to their own meals.
Kim leaned toward Mike and whispered, "If a problem arises, I'd be happy to help you solve it." He paused. "If I can."
Mike whispered back, "I'm confident you can."
The two young men settled into the living room of Kim's apartment, which was larger and more tastefully furnished than Mike's. After complimenting his host on the impressive apartment, Mike got right to the point. "Okay. Now tell me how in the world you can handle the misuse of Abrams' system if he fires you."
"I installed a Trojan Horse in the computer program."
"I don't understand. What's a Trojan Horse?"
"It's a little piece of code embedded in the program that just sits there waiting to attack the system. It will obliterate just the portion of the program that interferes with a person's moral judgment and self-restraint. All other components of the system will operate just as before. But neither Abrams nor anyone else will be able to force people to do what violates their ethical or religious principles."
"That sounds familiar. I think I read about that somewhere. But you said it just sits there waiting. If you're not working for Abrams, how will it be activated?"
"There's a `strike date' in the coding. When that date arrives, it does its work."
"What's the date?"
"Let's see. Today's the ninth. I've been resetting the date just a day or two before the first and fifteenth of every month since Abrams pulled his dirty trick on me. I planned to let it do its damage whenever it became clear that danger of abuse was imminent. I think what I learned from you and from Abrams in the session this evening removes all doubt that it's time for the Trojan to attack. That will happen just six days from now"
"He'll be royally pissed when he finds out his system isn't working the way he wanted it to. And he'll remove the Trojan Horse."
"Not likely. It would take a skilled hacker with lots of experience to find it, much less remove it."
"But doesn't he have backup? He could use that."
"All backups are also infected. I have to reset the strike date on the working copy of the program and all of the backups."
"Surely he'll know you sabotaged the system."
"Deniability! I've left absolutely no trace of evidence that links me to the Trojan. Sure, he can suspect. But he can't prove anything. Besides, he would never prosecute me even if he had evidence. That would reveal details of his project—and its potentially malevolent part. He simply cannot afford the publicity."
"I'm still worried about you, Kim. He might go off the rails and get revenge in another way. By that I mean physical harm. You'd be wise to watch your back for a long time."
"I will. But I've anticipated the lengths he might go to. I've left a sealed, detailed report with a lawyer along with instructions to open it and release it to the media if I'm ever the victim of an otherwise inexplicable beating or death."
"Holy crap, Kim! You're willing to risk physical harm or even death to prevent the release of his diabolical system?
"It's not a big risk at all, Mike. If he fires me—or should I say WHEN he fires me?—I'll tell him about the report and that it will become public knowledge if he tries to harm me or my family. I think that will be more than adequate as a deterrent."
"Kim, you're a genius, a crafty one but a genius." Mike smiled and added, "I'll have to be sure not to get on the wrong side of you."
Kim laughed and said, "I don't have a wrong side. Both front and back are, if I say so myself, pretty good."
Mike then laughed. "I'm sure you're right. But you'll have to prove it to me."
"Like maybe now? Can you spend the night?"
They made their way to Kim's bedroom. Both of their hearts were beating a little faster and both of their cocks were stirring in anticipation of what was to come. They stood by the side of the bed admiring each other and hardly believing what was happening. Kim broke the silence by asking, "Are you sure you want to do this? After all, we met only a few hours ago."
"Never so sure of anything," Mike replied. "You captured my attention when I first saw you. Everything you've said and done since then has increased my admiration of you. And raised my hopes that we could be together like this."
"I could say the same of you, Mike. I admit I was attracted first by your good looks but since then I've been impressed by your character and ethics. What you went through with Abrams during your sessions was unpleasant but you recovered and masterfully corrected a major problem with his system."
"YOU corrected it. I just gave you information about what happened. But let's forget all about Abrams and his diabolical system. Let's enjoy our time together."
Both horny young men grinned. Kim pulled off his tee shirt. "You're beautiful," Mike gasped as he stood and stared at the muscular, hairless chest that contrasted with his otherwise slim body.
Kim grew impatient with the prolonged inspection of his torso and said, "Am I going to be the only one naked?"
Mike chuckled, unbuttoned his shirt and dropped it on top of Kim's tee shirt on the floor. Both sat on the edge of the bed to take off their shoes and socks and then stood. Kim toyed with the idea of removing his jeans slowly to increase his new friend's arousal but discarded the idea when he realized that Mike was no doubt as eager as he was to get into bed and press their naked bodies together.
When their pants and underwear came off, neither was surprised to see that the other had a half-swollen cock. Mike was mesmerized by the abundance of jet-black pubic hair that was such a contrast to Kim's hairless chest and abdomen. Kim was uncut, another feature that caught his attention ... and envy. Too soon, in Mike's opinion, the foreskin retracted as his friend's cock swelled and rose to a near vertical position. Kim was equally fascinated with what he saw. Mike's blond pubic hair was apparently trimmed, which made his cock seem longer than it was and his ball sack hung much lower than his own.
Impulsively and simultaneously, they embraced each other and began grinding their crotches together. The stimulation was more than either could endure and they collapsed onto the bed to continue press their bodies against each other.
Kim, benefiting from more experience, took the lead. While his hands roamed across Mike's chest, his mouth was busy licking and kissing his partner's neck. He soon moved his hands downward to the abdomen and his mouth down to Mike's nipples, which he licked and sucked until they protruded firmly. Mike was moaning with delight. The moans turned to a gasp as he felt Kim's fingers gently rubbing the head of his hard cock. After several moments of stimulation, the fingers arrived at their destination and wrapped around Mike's cock that now throbbed and jerked in anticipation of an exquisite climax. Mike's mind harbored only one thought: the overwhelming sensations that radiated throughout his body. But those erotic feelings were magnified tenfold when Kim wrapped his warm, moist lips around the swollen rod and teased the tip with his tongue.
Mike tried to prolong the pleasure but Kim's expertise easily overcame the attempt to delay a climactic orgasm. Mike instinctively bucked his hips, forcing the entire length of his cock into Kim's mouth and releasing a pulsating geyser of cream. He then collapsed back onto the bed. His heart was racing. He was gasping for air. But the rest of his body was in a state of near paralysis.
When his mind finally cleared, he felt Kim nuzzling his neck with an arm and a leg lying atop his body. "Gawd," he moaned. "That was friggin' fantastic!"
"I could tell you liked it," Kim grinned.
"Understatement of the year, Kim! Understatement of the CENTURY!"
After several minutes of quiet cuddling, Mike said, "I'm sorry. I should have warned you I was about to cum."
"It wouldn't have done any good. I wanted your cum. Because it came from a guy I respect and admire. Just in case you want to know, it tastes a whole lot better than mine."
Mike grinned, satisfied that his omission of a warning was not a problem. And that Kim enjoyed his emission. But, anticipating what would happen next, he said, "I'll be the judge of that! But I'll need a mouthful of your cum."
"Help yourself," Kim laughed as he rolled over on his back.
Mike lost no time in directing attention to his friend's body but he had only laid his hands on Kim's chest when a disturbing thought crossed his mind. He looked at Kim's face and said, "I'm not sure I can do it as well as you. I've never done it before ... except with that bastard, Abrams And that doesn't count; I was, shall we say, incapacitated. Will you please tell me if I do something wrong?"
"I'm sure you'll be fine, Mike. Just enjoy it. I know I will."
Mike did enjoy full access to Kim's admirable body. He was more successful postponing contact with his friend's cock than he had been in delaying his orgasm. He ran his hands slowly across Kim's firm chest, delighting in the freedom to explore another guy's body visually and tactually. Recalling the erotic stimulation to his own nipples, Mike suckled Kim's for several minutes before moving downward toward the thicket of black pubic bush that had captured his attention earlier. He ran his fingers through it as the firm, fleshy pole hovered above it. Duplicating Kim's expert treatment, he teased the average sized but nonetheless admirable cock. After many years of longing, he had a guy's cock in his mouth. The taste was subtle to the point of being nonexistent but that soon changed as precum coated his tongue.
Kim, meanwhile, was euphoric. It was not his first blow job because he and his roommate in college frequently satisfied each other. But that was different—a matter of convenience. This time, with Mike, there was considerably more depth to the emotional component because he had, in a very short time, grown fond of the one who now fulfilled his need—one (Did he dare hope?) who might be his lover. Consequently, he experienced a greater degree of satisfaction.
Although Mike did not tire of sucking and stroking Kim's cock, he began to worry. It seemed to be taking much longer for his friend to reach climax. He interrupted his pleasant task to ask, "Am I doing something wrong?"
"No. It's wonderful."
"But you're not cumming."
"I'm trying not to. I just want to enjoy the feelings as long as I can."
Mike got back to work with his confidence restored. Not much later, Kim said, "I've gotta shoot, Mike. You don't have to take it in your mouth."
Mike ignored the warning, determined to receive and savor his friend's offering.
Several minutes later, as they lay in an embrace, Mike said, "You're wrong, Kim. Yours tastes a lot better than mine."
Kim chuckled and said, "Maybe there's something mystical about it. Maybe my body gave you only the good stuff because it knows you're special."
"That doesn't make sense. Semen is semen and..."
Kim interrupted. "Geez, Mike. I was joking. Do all finance specialists have no sense of humor?"
"No. I guess I'm too focused on facts and logic all day. I'll have to..."
Kim interrupted again by planting a long, passionate kiss on Mike's lips. Finally breaking the kiss, Mike said, "That was nice. Very nice. It wasn't a joke, was it?"
"No, dummy. It was a way to show you how much I like you."
Both young men had the same thought—could I have found a partner to love and be loved by?—but both felt it was too soon to express it. Instead, they settled back down into a blissful embrace.
They fell asleep clinging to each other, each thankful for having what he craved: a superbly satisfying sexual encounter with a guy he admired.
They awoke early, before seven, and took advantage of the situation by repeating their coupling on the night before but with two differences. One difference was a shift in attitude; there was a greater priority given to pleasuring his partner and less on meeting his own sexual needs. The other difference was an increase in foreplay that included frequent kissing.
After leisurely lounging in bed, they showered together and spent the majority of their time lathering and caressing each other from scalp to toes with special attention to what was midway between. Both got hard, not an unexpected result but one that was irresistible and resolved with yet another oral massage of the swollen organ.
After breakfast, Kim said, "Thanks for staying the night. It's been fabulous."
"Thanks for the invitation. There's no way I could have declined. Because I like you. You've been the perfect host. And `entertained' me in a way that I'll always remember fondly."
"We should get together again," Kim said, reasonably confident of his new friend's response yet fearful of a tactful resistance.
"There's nothing I'd like more," Mike replied enthusiastically. "We have the whole weekend to be together ... that is, unless you have other plans."
"Unfortunately, I do. I promised to visit my parents in Sacramento this afternoon. It's my dad's birthday ... dinner at a restaurant and a party at their house after. I'll stay overnight with them but come back early Sunday. Can we get together when I get home? And maybe spend Sunday night together?"
"Sure. I'd like that. Enjoy the time with your family."
<><><><><>
On Monday morning, Mike put on the business suit and tie he had brought from home in order to spend as much time as possible with Kim. Kim donned his jeans and tee shirt, his normal attire for work. They kissed each other goodbye before going separate directions for their jobs.
"I'll be thinking of you today," Mike said. "And worrying about what Abrams will do."
"I'm not worried," Kim replied, which was not totally true. "And you shouldn't worry either."
Kim entered the outer lobby of the building twenty minutes before eight. He laid a finger on the security panel next to the interior door but there was no chime signaling permission to enter. He picked up the phone and heard, "May I help you?"
"This is Kim Yoshimoto. The control panel seems to be malfunctioning. It doesn't recognize my fingerprint."
"One moment, please." Kim suspected what the reason was. His suspicions were confirmed moments later when the voice on the phone said, "Your clearance has been denied."
"WHY?"
"I don't have that information. Would you like to talk to Dr. Abrams?"
"Yes!"
"One moment, please. I'll transfer your call."
Kim waited for more than ten minutes but Abrams never came on the line. In the meantime, he saw and greeted several of his co-workers who successfully gained entrance to the lab. Then Jennifer appeared at the door and said in her customary cold manner, "Come with me."
"What the hell is going on? Why has my clearance been revoked?"
"I can't say," she replied.
"You can't or you won't? Kim asked.
She did not reply but just pointed through the open door while staring at Kim.
Jennifer ushered Kim into Abrams office, closed the door, and stood by it. Abrams looked up from his desk, scowled menacingly, and commanded, "Sit!" Kim complied, fully expecting to be fired but wondering if the details of what he had done in the session with his boss would be discussed with Jennifer present. Abrams picked up a paper from his desk and said, "This is a letter that you may have when our meeting is concluded. I will read it aloud to be sure that you know what it contains. Jennifer will be a witness to what I've written and will verify—if the need ever arises—that you received the information."
Kim thought that the procedure was somewhat unusual but sat quietly.
Abrams began to read. "To Kim Yoshimoto. From Dr. Donald Abrams. You are hereby notified that your employment is terminated effective immediately. The basis for this action is your willful disobedience and failure to comply with explicit directions. You failed to perform a legitimate work assignment that was clearly within your capability and instead acted deliberately in doing the opposite of what you were told to do. I remind you of the employment contract you signed when you were hired that prohibits you from divulging to anyone outside the company what you see, hear, read, or do while at work or in this building. There is no expiration date on this prohibition. I expect you to abide by the commitment you freely made when hired. If you do not, you will be subject to civil prosecution. Your final paycheck, through last Friday, has been deposited in your bank account. Because this is a disciplinary action there will be no severance pay nor will you be eligible for unemployment compensation." He handed Kim the letter.
Kim suddenly realized that when he was gone there would be no one within the company to hamper Abrams' exploitation of the computer system for his own selfish needs. Jennifer probably didn't know why he was being fired. Only if she knew the full story would it be a threat to the misguided doctor's dangerous system. He would try to let Jennifer know by explaining his actions. "What I did was..."
"SHUT UP!" Abrams shouted. "You're here to listen! There's no excuse for what you did. Don't try to defend your actions."
There was one more thing Kim had to say so he reluctantly said, "Okay. I won't defend what I did but..."
"Did you hear me? You're here to listen!"
"As an ex-employee, I won't be denied saying just one thing. If you ever try to extract revenge on me or my family after I leave, I WILL reveal the full details of my firing."
"Jennifer," Abrams commanded, "Get this trouble-maker out of here. He'll have just ten minutes to collect any personal effects. Stay with him. And don't let him touch any computer terminal. Then escort him out."
Ten minutes later Jennifer followed Kim to the lobby of the building. She looked around before opening the door. In a rare display of concern, she whispered, "You must have really pissed off the old man. What was so terrible that he fired you on the spot?"
Kim also looked around to be sure no one could hear and said, "I'm prohibited from talking about it outside this building. But since we're still in the building I'll just say that I thwarted his abuse of power and it has something to do with his sexual preferences."
Jennifer gasped. "You mean he tried to..."
"I can't say any more, Jennifer. Except that you, as a female, have nothing to fear."
Her expression of shock was replaced by a smile. Kim had never seen her smile. He smiled back.
"Good luck, Kim. It's been a pleasure and a privilege to work with you."
As he walked out into the warm sunshine, he wondered whether Jennifer would have the opportunity and the courage to prevent Abrams from using the dangerous portion of the computer system to gratify his personal needs. Her surprising smile and cordiality gave him hope—however slim it was—that her cold attitude was only a defense tactic to discourage male employees of the company from becoming too friendly. His second thought as he got into his car was what Abrams would do when he found out that the computer system would not disable a person's moral judgment and self-restraint. He was certain, however, that he would not be able to find and eliminate the Trojan Horse that would automatically activate in a few days.
<><><><><>
Mike found it hard to concentrate at work. As soon as he got home that evening, he phoned his friend. "Kim. It's Mike. I've worried about you all day. Are you all right?"
"I'm fine. It was an interesting morning. Let's talk about it over dinner? In private. Your place or mine?"
"My place. I'll order pizza. You and the pizza should arrive about the same time. But at least tell me now. Did Abrams fire you?"
"Yes. But do NOT let that concern you. I'm happy to be out of there."
Kim arrived at Mike's apartment only moments before the pizza delivery, which left no time for Mike to ask the questions that had been bothering him all day. Finally alone, he asked, "What happened today? Are you all right? Was Abrams angry? Did he threaten you?"
Kim interrupted and said, "Settle down, Mike. Everything is okay. I got fired but I'm not upset about it."
Neither of the young men was able to eat the pizza right away. Kim was kept busy describing in detail what had happened and answering Mike's questions. Mike's hunger for information took priority over eating. Twenty minutes later, Mike's anxiety was calmed. He reheated the pizza in the oven and opened two bottles of beer.
Kim spent the night with Mike, each fully enjoying each other's company ... and body. They did the same for the next three nights. Their attraction to each other and their fondness for each other grew stronger.
On Thursday evening, as Mike and Kim were talking, laughing, and enjoying a traditional Japanese meal that Kim had prepared, Abrams was welcoming a volunteer to the lab for another in a series of experiments to gather data and to refine his computer system. The university student, Dave Hanson, was motivated by the payment he would earn. It would help defray his education expenses. Abrams' initial motivation was merely to gather more data. But the lecherous doctor was immediately attracted to the handsome young man. His need to gratify his lust gained dominance over his judgment and changed his motivation. His schemes for Kim and Mike had been disastrously unsuccessful but perhaps, he thought, the third try would be charmed. He would induce a trance in the unsuspecting volunteer as originally planned but, deviate from that standard experimental procedure by disabling his moral judgment and self-restraint. He would have Dave disrobe and masturbate. In a follow- up session he would participate in sexual activity. Abrams' cock tingled in anticipation.
The session began according to the normal protocol: calibrating the skull cap sensors to the subject's unique brain topography. Abrams then conducted the session as though it were a routine experiment. Soon, however, he asked questions that would reveal the young man's values— questions such as: "Have you ever cheated on an exam in school? ... As an adult, have you ever stolen something? ... As an adult, have you ever lied to avoid punishment?" Dave's answers were generally not incriminating but the right hemisphere of his brain was significantly more active, which was conclusive evidence that the answers were fabricated. If they had been retrieved from memory and truthful, the left side of the brain would have shown higher activity. Abrams then activated the portion of the computer program that would facilitate establishing a trance and would disable the young man's moral judgment and memory.
When the young man was in a hypnotic-like state, Abrams asked the same questions again, expecting different answers. But Dave squirmed, fidgeted, and gave the same answers, which surprised and upset Abrams. Something had gone wrong. Dave was definitely in a trance. The answers should have been different. The computer program had failed to neutralize moral judgment.
Dave said, "You asked me that just a little while ago. I've answered your questions." Abrams immediately recognized that Dave's moral judgment was still intact AND his memory had not been disabled. More troubling was that the computer program was malfunctioning. Disappointed and frustrated, Abrams brought the session to a close, thanked Dave for his time, and confirmed the appointment for the follow-up session the following week.
Abrams sat alone in his office for a long time. He was disappointed that he didn't see a desirable young stud in the nude masturbating but another problem occupied his mind. Why had the computer program malfunctioned? As he thought through the possible reasons, he recalled Mike's concern over misuse of the system and Kim's deliberate failure to enable a critical component of the computer program. Both Mike and Kim had strongly objected to its use. Could it be that Kim had sabotaged the program? If so, how? He didn't have the opportunity after he was fired because Jennifer was with him as he collected his personal effects and had explicit instructions not to let him access a computer terminal. Unless ... unless Jennifer joined in the conspiracy. That was unlikely but it was the only logical explanation. He would interrogate Jennifer in the morning.
<><><><><>
"Thanks for coming by," Abrams said when Jennifer arrived. "I need to ask you some questions about Kim's departure. I asked you to prevent him from accessing the computer system. Did you do that?"
"Of course."
"I have reason to believe that he tampered with the system before he left the building. Were you with him every minute of the time?"
"I was. He collected a few items—pictures, snacks, that sort of thing— and I walked him out of the building."
"Was the security system changed to prevent him from re-entering the building?"
"Yes."
Abrams expected Jennifer's answers but was not satisfied. "It's clear to me, Jennifer, that somebody made changes to the system. It's also clear that Kim is the only person with a motive and ability to do so. If he was angry over being terminated, he may have corrupted the computer program. But he could only do that while you were with him. Do you understand why I can't believe you when you say he didn't mess with the system that morning?"
Jennifer was incensed at the implication that she had lied to cover up something she would not and did not do. Uncharacteristically, she showed emotion—anger—and said emphatically, "You're accusing me of failing to carry out a simple instruction! You should know me better than to even think such a thing! I watched him constantly. He did not get near a computer terminal!"
"So you claim," Abrams replied sarcastically, which only fueled Jennifer's anger.
"If you're so sure I'm lying, there's a way to prove you're wrong. Put a skull cap on me and ask me again what happened Monday morning. If I'm lying, the computer will detect it."
Abrams had no choice. With the computer system malfunctioning, he couldn't force Jennifer to reveal that she had lied. He had to retreat from his attack. "Your challenge and willingness to be tested in the lab is sufficient. I'm convinced you were being truthful. I apologize for offending you."
Jennifer left the office, not completely satisfied with her boss's apology. Merely to be suspected of negligence in her duties was a painful insult. Abrams was left with no explanation for the mysterious system failure. Perhaps, he irrationally thought, it had been a random corruption in the computer program. There was a way to test that improbable theory—use the backup copy of the program. He looked up Dave Hanson's phone number and called him. "Dave, this is Dr. Abrams. I'm sorry to bother you but there was a technical problem with the session last evening. Would you mind coming by to repeat the session? You will, of course, be paid for the extra session."
The financially challenged student readily agreed. At eight that evening he was in the lab. Abrams had loaded the backup copy of the program and was confident that he would be able to induce a trance that would result in his being able to watch the young man strip off his clothes and masturbate.
But his hopes were dashed. While the attractive young student was clearly in a hypnotic-like state, he resisted giving truthful answers to questions that would violate his moral values. Asking him to get naked and masturbate would not be possible. The lascivious doctor's plan was once again thwarted. It was a devastating blow for two reasons. His lust couldn't be satisfied. More significantly, his investors—foreign governments in search of ways to subdue dissidents—were primarily interested in the part of the system that was no longer functioning. To make matters worse, he had promised to demonstrate the system's full capability to his investors within a week.
<><><><><>
Early the next morning, Abrams called Jennifer into his office. "We've got a problem," he said as she entered. "Part of the system is malfunctioning. The working copy and the backup no longer work as they did before. I suspect there's an error in the program. I want you to drop everything and work with the programmers to identify and correct the problem. It's imperative that the complete system operates flawlessly before my meeting with our principal investor. That gives you five days to find and fix the error. If it means having to work overtime, just get it done."
"What's the nature of the problem?" Jennifer asked. "Which part isn't working?"
Abrams had hoped he would not have to reveal that it was the suppression of moral judgment and self-restraint. He might then have to explain how he had discovered the problem. But he also realized that the programmers could waste a lot of time inspecting the majority of the massive computer program when it was just one small part that didn't work as it should. He reluctantly told Jennifer, "A trance can be induced in the subject. That part is fine. But moral judgment and self-restraint cannot be disabled. Obviously, this cripples a major advantage of the system. During hypnotherapy, it's often essential to uncover information that the patient would not otherwise reveal."
"I'll get right on it," Jennifer replied. But as she returned to the lab, she recalled what Kim had told her and recalled seeing Dave Hanson, an attractive young man, come in recently as a volunteer test subject. She made a leap of logic and speculated that Abrams had tried to compel an unsuspecting subject to do something sexual. If that were the case, it would be intolerable. Unethical. And, significantly, illegal.
After assigning the three programmers the task and emphasizing the urgency to find and fix the problem, Jennifer decided to investigate her suspicions. She retrieved the video recording of the two sessions with Dave Hanson and reviewed each carefully. Most of the recordings were standard stuff but there was an anomaly in both. Each recording ended abruptly before the test subject had been placed into a trance. What had happened after the recording ended? It was important to know the answer to that question because it could provide a clue to the nature of the malfunctioning system. Jennifer easily imagined what her boss had tried to do—to and with—the hapless young student. But the attempt to coerce unacceptable behavior had been thwarted. Abrams then erased that part of the recording to destroy evidence of his unforgivable manipulation of the situation.
Later the next day, Jennifer reported the preliminary results of the work. "The coding in the trance part of the program matches exactly the printed documentation of the code. In both the working version of the system and the backup. The programmers have suggested, however, that the problem could have been caused by corrupted code somewhere else in the system. They estimate it would take at least a week to thoroughly inspect and verify the rest of the code."
"That won't do!" Abrams exclaimed. "If they have to work around the clock, the problem must be corrected within three days!"
"They tell me that's impossible," Jennifer said assertively. "They tell me that there's only one chance—a slim chance—to speed up the diagnosis. Only Kim Yoshimoto has both the familiarity with the entire system and the expertise to do the job."
"Unacceptable!" Abrams shouted. "Just tell the programmers to work harder and faster!"
Jennifer left to deliver the bad news to the programmers while secretly enjoying the satisfaction of knowing that her boss was paying the price for abruptly firing of Kim.
Later that day, Abrams answered the phone and was immediately panicked when he heard the heavily accented voice of his primary investor. "Doctor Abrams, I'm pleased to say that an official from our Secret Service will fly in to attend the demonstration of your system."
Trying to stay calm and reassuring, Abrams replied, "I'm afraid we've encountered a small technical difficulty and we'll have to postpone the demonstration."
There was a long pause before the caller said, "ANOTHER delay? You assured me last week that everything was ready. The delay is most troubling."
"I assure you that we can resolve the problem soon and that you will be completely satisfied with the results."
Another pause during which Abrams' anxiety increased. His mood was further dimmed when he heard, "I will notify my superiors. They will NOT be pleased." The caller hung up abruptly.
A second call from the investor the next day was anything but friendly. "I have contacted my superiors. They have directed me to cancel all future funding of your work. They instructed me to tell you that their confidence in your ability to deliver what you promised has been destroyed. They had serious doubts at the beginning, as you know, but it is now clear that you cannot deliver what we want."
In desperation, Abrams replied, "All I need is a little more time. I'll soon be able to give you exactly what I promised. Please tell your superiors."
The caller interrupted by saying, "Their decision is final! There will be no more funding!"
"But..." Abrams began. He couldn't finish his plea because the caller hung up.
The infusion of money was critical. Without it, he could not meet payroll and other expenses. He had depleted his personal retirement funds and was deeply in debt. The company faced looming bankruptcy.
Over the next two weeks, he contacted other potential investors and venture capitalists. None of them were willing to subsidize the development of a system that seemed to promise the impossible. The most encouraging response he got was, "If you can prove your claims, we might be interested." Without immediate funding, the desperate doctor's dream would not survive. His hopes for fame in the scientific community were dashed. He would leave no legacy for generations to admire.
Abrams' despair was crippling and blinded him to what caused the catastrophe. He fired the one person who could salvage the situation. Kim, the lead programmer, had disobeyed an order but firing him was no more than an act of revenge, something that the arrogant doctor did not acknowledge to himself. Nor did he suspect that Kim, before being fired, had planted a bomb deep in the computer program.
When employees arrived for work one morning, they were shocked to see a notice posted at the front door of the building. "With profound regret, I am forced to dissolve the company because of a lack of funds to continue operation. Your final paycheck will be mailed to you after liquidation of the company's assets. Dr. Donald Abrams."
<><><><><>
Mike returned to his office after lunch to find a voice mail message. "Hi, Mike. This is Jennifer. I apologize for calling you at work but I don't have Kim's phone number and I thought you might. I have some interesting news. Call me when you can talk. Okay? You can reach me at 555-1241."
Mike was puzzled. What possible reason would Jennifer have to call Kim? And what was the interesting news? It had to be something about Abrams. What dirty tricks was he playing now? He picked up the phone but had second thoughts. He suspected that the conversation might be confidential and he didn't want his comments to be overheard. The return call would have to wait.
Frequently that afternoon, Jennifer's message came to mind but he forced himself to concentrate on work. As soon as he left the building and was safely inside his car, he could wait no longer. "Jennifer, it's Mike. I got your message but this is the first chance I've had to return your call. What's going on at the company?"
"Nothing at all," she replied. "Abrams has folded the company. It came as a total surprise when we showed up for work and couldn't get in. A memo was posted saying that he had to dissolve the company. Something about a lack of funding but that's all any of us know. Except this: the computer program got corrupted somehow. The old man was furious. He had us working around the clock to fix it. But he shut the place down before we could find the problem. I suggested he call Kim since he's the only one familiar with the entire system and has the expertise. You can imagine his reaction. Dogmatic. Irritated. I've never seen him so out of control."
"So the system is not fixed?" Mike asked.
"Most of the system works. It's just the disabling of moral judgment when in a trance that doesn't. It's strange. That seemed to be—I'm speculating—the most important component to him."
"Why do you think that?"
"It's something that Kim said after he was fired and I escorted him out of the building. Something about Abrams' sexual preferences. He wouldn't elaborate. But it made me consider the possibility that he was using that part of the system to... How can I put this? To gratify his needs with handsome young men like you and Kim."
"Your suspicions are correct, Jennifer. But don't ask me how I know."
"I don't think I have to," she said. "It explains another piece of the puzzle. The video recording of the session with you ended abruptly ... as if it had been deliberately erased. I do, however, have one more question that you might be able to answer."
"I will if I can. That is, if I know the answer and am free to talk about it."
"You examined the company's financial records. Did you find anything that might indicate a problem big enough to cause Abrams to dissolve the company and declare bankruptcy?"
"No, I don't. Wait. There were several infusions of cash from anonymous investors. That's quite legal but unusual. Perhaps they lost confidence in Abrams' ability to deliver a marketable product."
"Hmmm," Jennifer mused. "Do you think the failure of just one part of the computer system caused the investors to back away?"
"I can't say," Mike replied. "I don't mean I WON'T say. I mean I just don't know."
"Well, thanks for returning my call. I thought you might be interested in what's happened. And thanks for answering my questions. Pass along the information to Kim if you have his phone number."
"As a matter of fact, I'll see him tonight. I'll tell him then. But I have a question for you. You're out of a job now ... along with everybody else at the company. Are you all right? Can you find another job?"
"I'm all right for a while. I've updated my resume to send out and will apply at several companies in the area."
"I wish you nothing but the best, Jennifer."
<><><><><>
That evening over dinner, Mike told Kim in detail about the unexpected call from Jennifer. Kim's reaction was unusual. "I don't know whether to feel proud or guilty."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm pleased that the Trojan Horse I planted did its job and Abrams can't victimize anyone else. And I'm flattered that nobody could find and eliminate it. On the other hand, there are some fine people who are now out of a job. I was fired for not doing what Abrams wanted ... although we both know the real reason—revenge. But my co-workers lost their jobs for no fault of their own. I feel responsible for that."
"Look at it this way, Kim. You prevented who knows how many times Abrams would have abused unsuspecting young men. That's an achievement to be proud of. You had no way to know that the old man would close the company. I agree it's unfortunate but your colleagues' losing their jobs was HIS doing, not YOURS. And consider this. I urged him to build in a patient safety feature. An impartial guardian would have to authorize the disabling of moral judgment. He promised that he would do that but obviously he didn't keep his promise. That's another example of his disregard for anyone other than himself. It's Abrams, not you, who brought down the company. He and he alone is responsible. Unfortunately, others got hurt. But it was NOT because of what you did. Instead, you prevented him and probably many others from harming victims by misguided and unethical manipulation of unsuspecting people."
Kim thought about what Mike said for a while and replied, "Thanks for the comforting words. Abrams deserved what he got. He shit in his own bed and now has to sleep in it. But I still feel terrible about my friends losing their jobs."
"Abrams did do one thing right."
"What was that?"
"Although it was not his intent, he brought us together. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, Kim. Let's drink to a long, happy life together."
Kim raised his eyebrows and asked, "Is that a proposal? We've never talked about becoming partners."
"No, we haven't. But there's nothing I'd like more than to share my life with you. I've grown to love you, Kim. If you think I'm rushing things, I'm willing to wait ... as long as we can be together."
"No need to wait, Mike. Because I love you, too, and I'm honored and delighted that you would want me, an oriental computer geek, to be your partner."
"First of all," Mike responded, "That you're oriental is completely irrelevant. As for your being a computer whiz, I admire your talent. But what really matters is your character, your compassion, your integrity." Mike chuckled. "And, of course, your exquisite body."
Kim laughed and returned the compliment. "It takes one to know one. I recognized your personal qualities at our first meeting in the control room. And your desirable physical traits the first night we spent together."
They kissed long and passionately to seal the new, permanent bond between them and made their way to the bedroom to join as one in a devoted lifelong partnership.
The end
Author's Note: Thanks, Iatia, for your valuable editing help, your priceless encouragement, and your treasured friendship.