Notes From The Underground

"Sit down, Karolyn" said Echo tilting her head slightly in the direction of the chair in front of her desk. "I got your exam reports back today, and they indicate that everything is normal. It seems that you are a healthy young woman ready to enjoy your new life married to Laura."

Karolyn smiled, relieved. This last exam and been very different than the embarrassing yearly ones she had previously endured. Instead of having to disrobe and expose herself in front of the Headmistress and the medtech, she had been placed into various scanners and asked a set of bewildering questions by the medical examiner. The questions had been both probing and personal and Karolyn had answered them with embarrassed reluctance.

"When was your last period?" asked the white coated woman.

Karolyn blushed, and looked at the floor. "I…I am sure exactly…five years ago I guess."

The woman made a note and asked "And your first sexual encounter?"

"I…I…don't…I…haven't…." stammered Karolyn.

The woman looked at her surprised and perhaps a bit annoyed. "Come, come, my dear, we are all adults here. There is nothing to be ashamed about. Now at what age was your first sexual encounter?"

Karolyn's blush deepened and she squirmed in her chair. "I…Headmistress Echo says sex should wait until after marriage. We…I…have not done…anything…it…"

The white coated woman looked at her in disbelief, as if she were lying or perhaps joking. But the woman said nothing, making another entry in her notes. "How about masturbation?"

"What?" said Karolyn, her voice squeaky. She could not believe the woman would use such a word. Karolyn was not exactly sure what it meant; she had of course heard the word before as Headmistress Echo had mentioned it her lecture on health, hygiene, and the 'functioning of a young woman's body'. This had been one of those embarrassing lectures about their pisshonies and, like most of her classmates at the time, Karolyn had blushed and giggled through the entire class, too embarrassed to really pay attention to the Headmistress. All she really knew is that the word was somehow associated with her pisshonie, and therefore not to be mentioned.

The woman took a deep breath and looking exasperated said "How often do you masturbate?"

Karolyn turned pale and stammered "I…I don't…really…"

"You mean you don't masturbate?" asked the woman incredulously.

"Yes…No…I…don't…no" said Karolyn not sure how to answer the question and too embarrassed to ask for clarification.

The woman eyed her skeptically for a few seconds but instead of asking her another question she made another notation and said "Alright, we are finished, you can go outside while I talk with Echo."

Karolyn had been relieved when the meeting was over, but she was also a little worried. The white coated woman seemed annoyed at her and Karolyn had fretted that there might be a problem. She especially dreaded the idea of having to go back and answer any more personal and embarrassing questions. She was therefore relieved at the Headmistress's news on the results of her examination. "So everything's all right then?" she asked.

"Yes" Headmistress Echo answered. "More than alright; you have shown great potential and promise during your stay at the school. You are perhaps our best and brightest student, and I am sorry to see you go. However I know you will excel at whatever you do."

Karolyn blushed with pride at the unaccustomed praise from the Headmistress. "Thank you Headmistress Echo" she said.

"I just wanted you to know that you should be truly proud of yourself and your accomplishment here. There are so many young women your age that have, well misbehaved and ruined themselves. Just the other day, I got a report of a young woman who was disowned on her wedding night when her spouse found out she was not a virgin. Apparently she had been sticking things inside herself for quite some time. Thank goodness you and the others are not like that!"

Karolyn stopped breathing and turned white. The implications of the Headmistress matter-of-fact statement stunned her as if she had been slapped across the face. "What…" she stammered, barely breathing, her mind awhirl with wild and hereto unrelated thoughts of Laura and the wand handle.

"Yes it's sad" continued Echo, "a young woman, in many ways just like yourself. What's the world coming to? Oh well, no matter. This is not something that you have to worry about. I just wanted to let you know the good news about your exam results and how much you will be missed."

'Thank…you…Headmistress" stammered Karolyn, still in a daze. Oh god! What had she been thinking when she decided to keep the wand handle. She should have turned it in that very night! Instead…"Headmistress…how…did…did…?"

Echo looked at the suddenly pale and stammering young woman before her and suppressed a smile. It was all so predictable. Karolyn was as taken aback and panicked as Kathryn had been. "How did what?" said the Headmistress.

But Karolyn could not bring herself to ask what she was so desperate to know. How could she tell the Headmistress what she had done? It was impossible to mention the Secret to her, little lone the Unthinkable. But what was she going to do? If Laura found out…"

"You look pale dear, is anything the matter?" asked Headmistress Echo.

"No… I'm fine" stammered Karolyn again.

"Are you sure?" said Headmistress Echo. "You look pale suddenly. Are you sure you are not ill?"

"No I'm fine" said Karolyn recovering her composure at bit. "Just a bit tired, I guess."

Headmistress Echo eyed her for a few seconds and said "OK then. Go get some rest."

"Yes Headmistress" said Karolyn getting up and walking towards the door.

"Remember your wedding is only little more than a week away and you need to be one hundred percent for that."

"Yes Headmistress, I will" said Karolyn walking out the door.

Echo smiled to herself as she watched Karolyn leave. One more thing to check off her to-do list. Soon the list would be as empty as Zax's Schoolhouse.

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Karolyn went straight to her quarters and flung herself on the bed. Oh god! What had she done? If Laura found out about the Unthinkable and disowned her, well, well…but the thought was too terrible to contemplate further. What was she going to do? Taking off her clothes, Karolyn sat in the center of her bed and examined her pisshonie. It looked the same to her…still she had nothing to compare it to. She had never really seen another woman's pisshonie and perhaps there was some physical difference or change she was unable to recognize…Maybe one needed to know what to look for...

God! How she wished Kathryn was here! Her friend, now an experienced married woman, would have surely known. But the only contact from Kathryn since her marriage had been the brief message that arrived while Headmistress Echo was gone: 'I'm very busy and having an interesting time. We'll talk soon, love Kathy.' "Where are you Kathy? I need to talk to you now!" said Karolyn out loud to herself. But it was no use, Kathryn was not here to help her and it was not likely she would be anytime soon, despite what her message had said. Sighing Karolyn put on her nightgown and got into bed and attempted to go to sleep. However sleep would not come and she spent the night tossing and turning in her bed as she mulled over what she had done and what might happen. The next day, was perhaps the worst in her life. Classes seemed to drag as she sat exhausted and listless, unable to think of anything but the impending doom that awaited her in less than two weeks. As she sat at dinner picking her food, Krystyn said "Karolyn are you alright?"

"Huh?" said Karolyn, hearing only her name.

"Are you alright?" repeated Krystyn.

"Why?" asked Karolyn.

"Well, you've been uncharacteristically quiet all day. And now you are just sitting here picking at your food, not saying a word. Are you feeling OK?"

"Yes…I'm alight" said Karolyn fighting to keep from crying.

"You don't look alright", Krystyn persisted. "If I didn't know better I'd say you were in trouble or something."

Krystyn's words were too much for Karolyn and she stood up and ran to her quarters, fighting back her tears the entire way. When she reached her room, Karolyn threw herself on her bed and began sobbing. About five minutes later a soft knock on her door interrupted her crying.

"It's me" came Krystyn's muffled voice through the door.

"Not now!" said Karolyn.

"Please!" Krystyn pleaded, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. I was just worried."

But Karolyn did not respond, hoping Krystyn would go and leave her alone. But her friend persisted "Please Karolyn let me in."

After a few more minutes of pleading, Karolyn went to the door and let Krystyn in, returning to her bed immediately, to continue crying.

"Look I'm really sorry" said Krystyn, "I did mean to upset you. I was just worried. Please, Karolyn, tell me what's wrong."

But Karolyn just sat on the bed, shaking her head, tears dripping from her face onto the comforter.

"Kari, please" pleaded Krystyn. "Is it about the wedding?"

"No" said Karolyn, "Yes."

"Is it Laura? Is she mad at you?"

"No…yes…I…"

Krystyn looked at her friend perplexed by her nonsense answers. "You said something to Laura, and now she's mad at you?"

"No" said Karolyn, shaking her head. "It's nothing like that."

"Well what?" said Krystyn becoming a bit frustrated. "Are you worried about the wedding?"

No…yes…well not exactly" said Karolyn still crying.

"You're not making sense" said Krystyn. "I can't help you if you won't tell me anything."

"It's not the wedding…exactly…it's the, well you know, afterwards."

"Oh" said Krystyn blushing. "You mean your wedding night." The taboo subject left Krystyn feeling less confident. There was not much she could offer in the way of help there. If anything she probably knew less than Karolyn, who had, after all, been spending a lot of time with Aunty Indy and Headmistress Echo discussing the wedding, as well as the wedding night.

"Yes" said Karolyn softly.

"Are you…worried.." said Krystyn not sure exactly how to proceed. The wedding night of course was the one thing everyone worried about. All the girls avoided the subject preferring to trust Headmistress Echo's assurances 'not to worry' that 'everything would be fine.' When the subject did come up it was usually quickly dismissed, usually amid giggles and hushed whispers.

"Yes" said Karolyn again.

"But Headmistress Echo said there is nothing to worry about" parroted Krystyn.

Karolyn shook her head, tears falling steadily onto the bed top.

Sitting on the bed, next to her friend Krystyn rubbed Karolyn's back and said "Please tell me what it is Keri."

"I can't" said Karolyn "it's too…too…personal."

The word 'personal' used in this context was the girl's code word for 'embarrassing' or for a subject that was too taboo to discuss. "Oh" said Krystyn continuing to rub her friends back, and thinking.

"Perhaps" she said, "you could discuss it then with Aunty Indy. She seems to know everything and she is very nice and understanding."

Karolyn stopped crying and wiped her face with the back of her hands. Yes! That was it! Krystyn was right, Aunty Indy would know. Still…it would be difficult to bring up such a personal matter even with her. "You think so?" asked Karolyn looking at her friend.

"Yes, most certainly" said Krystyn relieved to see that Karolyn had finally stopped crying.

"Really?"

"Yes, definitely."

She was right thought Karolyn. Besides what else could she do? All her options were bad. Telling Headmistress Echo, even if she could bring herself to do so, would at a minimum, result in punishment and the wedding being canceled. If she waited till her wedding night, and as the Headmistress claimed, Laura found out she was not a virgin and disowned her, well…Karolyn was not quite sure what would happen but she was sure it would be worse than having the wedding canceled. Her only real option was to confide in someone who knew about these things and hope for a sympatric ear and perhaps some help. Aunty Indy was, of course, the ideal person in this regard. She knew everything and was always sympatric and understanding. Perhaps she might even provide a solution to her problem.

"OK" said Karolyn who had stopped crying completely. "And thanks!"

"Sure" said Krystyn getting up. "Let me know what happens, OK?"

"Yes, for sure" said Karolyn, and thanks again Kristi! You saved my life!"

"No problem" said Krystyn, relieved to have helped her friend, but still perplexed by the whole matter.

But things would soon become clear to both of them; all too clear.

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Prudence sat curled up in her office chair and looked at India, her face unemotional and unreadable, as usual. India was in her penthouse in the city, preparing for her tip to the Ranch; the scene behind her showed several items of clothing scattered across her bed and an open travel bag.

"Varinia can be expected to make their move within the next few days, or at most a week. As you know, your role is critical to our success. Alex tells me that she has explained everything to you. Our agents will be waiting for your signal."

"Yes Mistress" said India. She had been hurriedly packing when Prudence had suddenly and unexpectedly contacted her. Kelly would arrive in a few minutes to escort her back to the Ranch and India was now feeling extremely pressured. As it was, she was nervous about her 'role' in this entire sordid affair. The unemotional Prudence always made her feel uncomfortable and anxious and India could feel herself becoming frayed by the pressure of being a participant in one of Prudence's notorious schemes. At first she had been flattered to be included in Prudence's plan for neutralizing Varinia and her role and seemed simple and innocent enough. Now India found herself completely entangled by the very plan she had been asked to help execute. Instead of being interesting, novel, and fun like she had hoped, the whole affair had turned out to be confusing, dogged, and grim. Worst of all was the feeling of being under constant scrutiny, not to mention the veiled threats if she made a mistake. India would be much relieved when the whole matter was over and although it would provide her with great bragging rights, she had vowed to never to participate in another of Zax's intrigues. In short, India Carrera had learned her lesson.

Prudence eyed her coolly. India was of course, the 'weak-link' in the chain of her plans. Her role was relatively simple, but essential. "You can expect them to leave just after dark, and from your perspective, suddenly and without notice. I suggest you keep the bio-transmitting agent on your person at all times. The darkness will aid you in its deployment."

"Yes Mistress" said India suppressing the shiver that wanted to run down her spine. All this formal talk of 'bio-transmitting agents' and 'deployment' made her nervous. Why not just say that it will easier to scatter the cracker crumbs in the dark? But India held her tongue. Better to keep quiet and get this over with sooner.

"There is a very high likelihood that you will be taken along. If so, stay next to Kelly, if you can."

India turned a little pale and gulped. She had not really expected to go along on the raid of the storage facility. However now that Prudence mentioned it, it did make sense that they would take her. Still…"And if I can't?"

"Then one of the others. It will be safer that way."

This time India could not prevent the shiver from going down her spine, and her body shuddered involuntarily. "Safer?" she squeaked.

"Don't worry. We don't anticipate any trouble."

"Yes Mistress" said India, still worried, and only marginally more enlightened. God! She couldn't wait for this to be over!

"Any questions?"

"No" said India, shaking her head. She was not sure what to ask anyways. Prudence was clearly ten steps ahead of her at least, as was clear from their conversation. She was probably better-off not knowing anymore of the details; she was nervous enough as it was.

Prudence nodded. "Good luck then" she said and terminated the contact.

India sat down on the bed and took a deep breath. Why did her conversations with Prudence always leave her feeling so anxious? Getting up she put the items scattered on the bed into the travel bag, her hands shaking slightly. Yes indeed, she thought, it could not be over too soon. As she placed the last item into the bag, her door chimed. Kelly was here; time to go.

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Kathryn sat across from Phoebe in the recreation room. They had just finished their breakfast and Kathryn's second re-telling of the previous night's events. At first Kathryn had been upset at her return to the dungeon. Katrina had clearly said that they were to be together and she could not believe that Laura had insisted on taking her away. Not that she was in a position to argue or even resist. Whatever else, Kathryn knew better than to disobey or question Laura. Still, she had been upset and it had taken Phoebe a good half hour to comfort her before she was calm enough to relate what had transpired the previous night.

"OK, let me see if I have this straight" said Phoebe. "You spent the night with Katrina in her quarters. Katrina said that she loved you."

"Yes" said Kathryn. "She said that she loved me more than anything."

Phoebe looked at the young women in disbelief but continued her questioning. "And she told you last night was your wedding night?" Phoebe, of course knew about wedding nights, but was not so sure why Kathryn attached so much significance, if not mystery, to it.

"Yes. She said this was our wedding night." Kathryn blushed at this reference to the previous night as memories of the shameful things she had done returned to her mind. She had of course, omitted these details when she told Phoebe her story. Much to Kathryn's relief (and somewhat surprisingly), her mentor seemed uninterested in this part of the tale and had not pressed her to elaborate. In fact Phoebe seemed more interested in what was said, rather than what they had done.

"Incredible!" said Phoebe clearly astonished, but still disbelieving. It was simply not possible that Katrina had actually married Kathryn. The idea was absurd. The young woman must have misunderstood or worse yet, been completely misled. "And then?"

"Well we…we…we…well…you know…had our wedding night" said Kathryn blushing from her hairline to her waist.

"Hmm" said Phoebe, thinking. "What else did she say?"

"Well she said she knew my mother and she told me a little about her."

"Interesting" said Phoebe. But not particularly enlightening either. There was clearly something more about this strange young woman than met the eye: Kathryn's sudden appearance in the dungeon, her odd familiarly with some of the most powerful women on the planet, and now this mysterious link between Katrina and her mother. None of it made much sense.

"Anything else?"

"No, that's pretty much it" said Kathryn, still blushing. "At least till this morning. When I got up Katrina was gone and the Laura brought me back here, saying that Katrina wanted me to have more training."