Notes From The Underground

Thrilled with her discovery and new toy, Karolyn felt a tingle of pleasure in her pisshonie. She was going to have a good time tonight that was for sure! And so she did, and on every subsequent night that week and the next, and the next. After several weeks any concerns Karolyn had about not turning in the handle vanished from her mind. The only problem now was that she needed to ration its use. Using it too many times in a row left her lethargic and almost sleepy during the day, something that Headmistress Echo had begun to notice. Not wanting to make the Headmistress curious (or irritated for that matter), Karolyn decided to limit her usage to four nights a week. This worked well; the only problem was the Secret was just not the same once one did the Unthinkable. Soon however Karolyn would learn that there were other Unthinkables and over these she would have no control what so ever.


Chapter 8: A Double Life

Echo finished uploading the latest updates into the memory block and sat back in her chair, fingering the grey-green storage device. This was her last day before beginning her two week vacation and it had been a hectic one. The preparation for Karolyn's 'wedding' (now only a few weeks away) was consuming more and more of her time. In addition, the young woman kept pestering her (as well as Laura and India) about Kathryn. Echo had realized that it would be hard to put her off much longer without raising some suspicion, so she had arranged for a message from Kathryn to be delivered to the school during her absence. This had been completed today. Then this afternoon in a meeting with Prudence's, India had complained about being 'over-tasked' with the wedding and all, forcing Echo to make minor (but irritating) adjustments to her plans and schedule. And if that was not enough, Prudence had voiced her concerns (again) about the possible political repercussions resulting from the publication of Echo's work. This had resulted in a (yet another) lengthy discussion in which Echo was forced to simultaneously defend her groundbreaking work while allaying Prudence's concerns.

Echo had no doubt that her work with the 5K's was indeed ground breaking and she was sure that the results would cause quite a stir in the technical community and perhaps beyond. Among other things, she had shown that the Venkatesan Modification could be enhanced using purely behavioral techniques so as to create a self sustaining positive feedback that was essentially reflexive and irreversible, despite conscious awareness and control. Naturally she was eager to publish as soon as possible, especially after nearly two-decades holed-up and isolated in this god-forsaken 'Schoolhouse' on the Island. Prudence, as usual, was worried and fretted over the possible public outcry. Although Zax was too powerful to be affected by mere public opinion, they did not like to flaunt their position or 'unnecessarily draw attention' as Prudence put it.

"I am worried that the sudden and complete release of your results could prove problematic to us" said Prudence.

"How so, Mistress?" asked Echo.

"Things have changed during the last 20 years. The public mood has shifted due in no small part to the efforts of Varinia. They are beginning to prove troublesome and I fear that when the subject of the 5K's conversion appears they will capitalize on it to Zax's disadvantage."

Echo nodded and said "Still Mistress, the law is on Zax's side. It seems there is little they can do, other than complain. Besides you said they will soon be neutralized."

Prudence shook her head and said "Technically yes. However, in matters of public opinion things are never quite so simple. We need to be careful. As such I might need for you to hold off publishing your results, at least until public attention is focused elsewhere."

Echo nodded again but began to worry. She had spent twenty long years on this damn Island, living like a hermit, consumed night and day with her work. Not that she would have passed up such a unique opportunity. Still, if Zax wanted her to wait for some undetermined length of time before publishing she might be stuck for quite some time in a professional limbo over which she had little or no control. "Do you have any idea how long we might need to wait, Mistress?"

"Unfortunately no" said Prudence. Looking at Echo, she could see the other woman's disappointment. Softening her voice slightly she added "You've done a great job here Echo and it won't go unrewarded. We can discuss this again when your return from vacation when more of the uncertainties have been played out."

"Yes Mistress" said Echo. There was no point in arguing with Prudence. If things went well, then the entire matter might prove moot. However, Echo was still worried for she knew that Zax, and in particular Prudence, could tie-up publication indefinitely if they wanted to. For an organization like Zax, time was measured in decades or centuries. Not publishing for a few decades would seem inconsequential to Prudence, a mere blink of Zax's intuitional eye. The memory blocks were her ultimate insurance policy (and one she never hoped to use). Not that Echo had any illusions; crossing Zax was always dangerous and almost certain suicide. Still, it was at least psychologically comforting to know that she had an 'option'.

The idea of keeping her own personal copy had occurred to Echo several years ago, after a similar discussion with Prudence. Echo had decided to make a copy of her records, now twenty-odd years worth, and store them in a safe location off the Island. She updated her copy whenever she went off-Island, which happened at least a couple of times a year, usually for vacation. Ironically the last update had been only a few weeks before when she had gone to the city on a business trip. The latest update she now held in her hand would bring the records current. They included K1's conversion and her first few weeks in the dungeon. She would add it to the rest as soon as she arrived in the city tomorrow. When Echo returned from vacation, she would help Zax convert K2, and then the rest of the 5K's. In less than a year, it would all be over and after that, she would wait and see what happened.

As for K2, matters were progressing satisfactorily, as they had with K1. In fact a pattern was emerging, that if successfully continued, would reduce the entire end-game to a rote and mechanical exercise. As Echo thought about the remaining girls she automatically slipped into 'Headmistress' mode. As the Headmistress if the school, Echo was perhaps one of the very few women on the Island that actually referred to the 5K's by name. This was dangerous since if she was not careful, she risked loosing her objectivity not to mention her emotional detachment which was critical to her work. Over the years, Echo had to constantly and consistently remind herself that these girls were research subjects and part of a job she had been contracted by Zax to perform. Remaining detached and dispassionate was part of her job. However as Headmistress of the school, Echo was forced to relax some of her professional discipline. Looking at the image of the five girls on her desk she smiled warily to herself. In a very real sense, she was a mother-figure to the girls. As such, some familiarity could not be avoided and Echo had learned to automatically switch been research mode (where she referred to the girls by their K-designators or numbers) and Headmistress mode where she referred to the girls by name and as a result thought about them somewhat less dispassionately. The image she kept of her five young charges was telling. Taken about three years ago, it showed the girls dressed in full school uniform arranged by age, with Kathryn, the oldest, in the center, flanked by Karolyn and Krystyn on her right and left with the two youngest girls, Krystal and Kourtney next to them. The frozen black and white showed five young women their faces full of youthful exuberance and promise. The most interesting thing about the image was that none of the girls was smiling (although if one looked closely a hint of humor in their faces was evident from the slightly upturned corners of their mouths and the sparkle in their eyes). The lack of a smile on their faces was not coincidental; Echo had chosen this particular image for just this reason: to remind her of the seriousness of her task and the fact that emotion played no role in it. Although Echo always remained focused and on-task it was not possible to remain completely dispassionate.

As Headmistress of the school, K2 or Karolyn was Echo's favorite (though she strictly avoid any outward signs that this was the case). Echo liked Karolyn because she was the most precocious and overtly sexual of the five girls. This was not to say that Karolyn was any less naive than say, Kathryn. However she was relatively less easily intimidated and influenced than the others, and more willing to explore and question. This was not surprising considering her biological mother, Candy. Before becoming a diapered slave, Candy had been emotionally tough, unconventional, and a bit rough around the edges; a real 'punk' to use an archaic piece of descriptive slang. Karolyn seemed to have inherited some of her mother's more outgoing and aggressive traits, which made her harder to discipline and control. Not that Echo minded; she admired spirit and that was probably why she liked Karolyn the best. Smiling slightly, Echo recalled the first time she spanked Karolyn in front of the class after the girl had entered puberty.

Echo had been instructing the class in manners and etiquette and Karolyn (who did not regard such matters highly) had been giggling and joking with Kathryn. After warning her twice she had persisted and Echo called her out the third time "Maybe you would like to explain to the class exactly what is so humorous, Karolyn."

The smile on Karolyn's face vanished instantly and her slightly flushed face became white. Karolyn knew she had gone too far and was in trouble with the Headmistress. Echo was both strict and stern and most of all unforgiving when the rules were broken. Damn! Her Headmistress was always so strict and humorless and she always seemed to be getting into trouble for one thing or another lately. Thinking fast, she offered an immediate apology hoping to mitigate the consequences of her behavior, "I am sorry Headmistress, it won't happen again."

"You are right on both counts" said Echo keeping her face expressionless and cold. "Come here now young lady!"

Karolyn stood up slowly her knees shaking. Damn! She was in for it now! Walking to the front of the class she stood at the place on the floor where the Headmistress was pointing, trying to avoid eye contact with her class mates.

"It seems you need tangible reinforcement in the subject matter we were just discussing: good manners", said the Headmistress. Walking over to the side of the room, Echo removed her spanking paddle from the wall, where it hung as a silent reminder to the class of the consequences of displeasing the Headmistress. Echo had not used the paddle in sometime, several years in fact. The girls had learned at a young age to behave after directly experiencing or witnessing a first hand demonstration of its persuasive powers. However after entering puberty, the memory of the paddle had receded in the girl's minds; they associated it with childhood and the past. Now at fifteen, Echo would refresh their memories.

In reality, this was all part of Echo's plan. She knew that at five and six years of age, the pain of the spanking had been the worst part (although Echo never hit them hard enough to even cause minor bruising). At that age, their sensitivity to the physical aspect of the punishment had been the primary deterrent, the humiliation and the sexual aspect although important, was secondary and subconscious in their minds, though clearly present. Now at fifteen years of age, things would be reversed and ironically have a much greater impact on their minds and behavior.

As Echo approached Karolyn with the paddle she said, "You can pull down your bloomers and pull up your petticoat and skirt, young lady."

Karolyn turned pale and started trembling. It had never occurred to her that the Headmistress might spank her in front of the class. None of the girls had been spanked in years, and although the paddle hung on the wall near the front of the room, everyone ignored it, as if it were invisible. In fact, Karolyn had completely forgotten that the paddle existed, even though it hung in plain sight. But the thought of being struck by the paddle was not what terrified her most. Rather it was the thought of exposing herself in front of the entire class. Karolyn's body had changed considerably in the last few years. When she was 12 hair had started to appear on her pisshonie and her breasts had begun to swell. Now at fifteen her pisshonie was covered with hair and her bosom quite full. "Please Headmistress…not…that…please…I'm so sorry…" she stammered as she stared transfixed at the paddle.

"Now!" commanded Headmistress Echo. It was all she could do not to smile. The mortified look on Karolyn's pale face as well as her disbelief was humorous in its predictability. And that was not all. Out of the corner of her eyes, Echo could see that the other girls were fidgeting nervously in their seats and had also turned pale (although in their case, shock was combined with startled curiosity at what was to come next). Echo knew that each girl including the unfortunate Karolyn was experiencing an unbidden tingling in her 'pisshonie', a small sexual thrill, designed to reinforce the association between punishment and humiliation with pleasure and desire. Tonight they would, unbeknownst to each other, all masturbate to they memory of what would happen next.

Shaking, Karolyn pulled up her skirt and began to pull down her bloomers. Echo watched her carefully as tears started to flow from her eyes and drip down her cheeks. Although Karolyn was clearly upset and scared, she still managed to function. This is why Echo has singled her out rather than her shyer compatriot Kathryn who she suspected would have fainted. When her bloomers were down around her ankles Echo said, "Now pull up your skirt and bend over, back to the class."

Karolyn blushed but complied, knees shaking and hands trembling. God! This is too embarrassing she thought. Everyone would see her pisshonie fully exposed! The humiliation was worse than the pain she would soon experience and would last longer too! However the worse thing of all was the tingling in her pisshonie. It felt like it did just before she started rubbing herself at night. How could this be? But Karolyn had little time to contemplate this troubling sensation, for as soon as she was in position, the Headmistress moved beside her and rubbed the wooden paddle over her exposed ass cheeks. Another tingle of pleasure rippled through Karolyn pisshonie traveling through her body and ending in the erect nipples of her breasts. Unconsciously she let out a soft moan before reflexively stiffening her body. Although she could not see her classmates, they were equally excited as they sat transfixed in their seats squeezing their thighs together and holding their breath in anticipation as they stared wide-eyed at Karolyn's bare bottom and her exposed adult pisshonie.

When the first blow came, Karolyn barely felt it as her mind was too overwhelmed with the humiliation and embarrassment of her predicament. It seemed to take several seconds before she became aware of the burning and stinging sensation on her bottom. The Headmistress was taking her time between swats maximizing the full effect of each blow. However after the second swat the stinging and burning had spread over her entire backside and there was no ignoring the discomfort.

"Since you like to talk in class, you may count each swat, out loud for all the class to hear" commanded the Headmistress. "And make sure we can all hear you. If I can't, I will repeat the swat". With that, Echo swung the paddle again, which landed with a satisfying smack on Karolyn's reddening bottom.

"Three!" yelped Karolyn crying, tears falling on the floor below her face.

However Karolyn did not 'break' but took her full punishment (10 swats) without missing a count. When it was over, she pulled up her bloomers and resumed her seat next to Kathryn, wiping the tears from her face. Although Karolyn would have been surprised, Echo was secretly pleased at how she had handled herself. It would be interesting now, three years later, to observe her behavior when she became a diapered slave. Echo suspected she would give her new Mistresses quite and interesting time.

When Echo got back from vacation she would take Karolyn for her 'exam' clearing her for the wedding the week after that. Rubbing her eyes, she sighed. It would be nice when this was all over with. If things went according to Prudence's plan, her life would change dramatically in slightly less than a year. Zax had offered her a permanent position as part of the dungeon medical staff. Her research would continue as she followed the lives of the 5K's (as well as the other diapered slaves) as they were forced to continually cope with their never ending predicaments. In addition, just recently, Echo had read about new treatments that could reset the clock, so to speak, on the mind's perception of experienced events with out effecting memory. In essence, a 'new' experience (like say sky-diving) could be felt over and over again as if for the first time. Currently psycho-tropic compounds were available to reinforce certain emotions, like embarrassment, for example, but none were capable of making, say a second bare bottom spanking, quite as embarrassing as the first. The new tempo-experiential treatments promised to completely remedy this situation, in essence making each spanking as embarrassing and humiliating as the first. She had discussed the possibilities with Katrina, who had instantly seen their promise, but had requested further information. Yet another report to write!

Of course the possibilities were endless and needless to say applications of these new treatments at Zax would not be as benign as in the thrill industry or for that matter, in the criminal justice system. For Echo, the dungeon would be the perfect laboratory to experiment in. Still, it had been a long twenty years and she yearned for a break, and yes, the lime-light that publication of her results promised. Perhaps she would even take a professional break and marry and have a child (after all she was of that age). It was an enviable problem for sure, she knew but one that would not be decided tonight. It was already late and the transport left early the next morning. Picking up the memory cube, Echo left her office not looking back at the pictures of the five girls on her desk.

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"You were right" said Stacy. "It's the crackers."

Erin straightened her body and leaned forward. "What did you find?"

"Well I am not exactly sure how to pronounce it…the name has more letters in it then there are seconds in a year: one-pentahexamethylcyano something or other. In any event it's a bio-coloring agent used for dying common fowl, in particular, the feathers and skin. Works almost instantly and depending on the particular molecular-engineered configuration used, it can cause the legs, feet, wings, or tail feathers to turn various shades of blue ranging from cyan to cerulean, the later being favored for commercial applications."

"Interesting" said Cathy. "Anything else?"

"Yes" said Stacy. There are some hyper-glycemic compounds, basically modified sugars that are not part of the standard ingredients. I researched a few but they all seem fairly innocuous. My guess is they are energy enhancers.