Friday, January 23, 2015

Chapter 2b - Reality #WeeklyWIp #glbt #gay #mm #scifi #realityTV

In this society, humans live a thousand years and biologically mate through an unexplained chemical reaction.

When Petr Markenson's uncle figures out exactly how to mate two people, he finds himself deep inside the process...and on live television waiting to meet his mate.

Chapter 2b

“Of course, dear boy. How else do we prove that our results work? With Pier behind it, it will be shown over the entire quadrant. Every Tuesday night, people will be huddled in front of their screens waiting to see a mating occur.”

Clearing his throat, Petr opened his mouth only to close it again as the door opened and Vint walked in with a tray of food. He placed plates in front of each of them as well as glasses of water and wine before leaving.

Once the door was shut, Petr tried again. “So, how is this all going to work? On most of these programs people get cast off. But you are talking about mating couples up? I don’t see how that is going to work.”

Beaming, Victr took a drink of his wine and sat it down. “The first episode will introduce the candidates, going over their struggles to find their partner. Each subsequent episode will focus on two of the applicants, giving a more in depth history as well as showing when they meet their mate for the first time.”

“Holy hell,” Petr groaned, taking a bite of a roll. “Meeting one’s mate in front of millions of people. That could get… embarrassing.”

Laughing, Victr nodded. “Yes, all the applicants will be aware that anything they do will be filmed and could possibly be aired. There will be guards on hand to pull a couple apart if they try to physically mate on camera. But,” his eyes gleamed. “If they do, higher ratings.”

Chuckling, Petr shook his head. “So what, once they meet you put their bands on and the audience gets to watch the color turn?”

“No. That would prove nothing. People would say we chose the specific bands for that couple. They would suggest that we planned it.” He shook his head. “No, on day one, the candidates will be brought into a room where a large bowl of bands sit. They will choose one and place it on their own wrist, but the key will remain until they meet their mate. Their mates will also get the same treatment. When they meet and the chemical activates, they will rip off each other’s key and the band will solidify.” He grinned widely. “Right in front of the whole damned quadrant.” 

“Damn,” Petr whispered, finishing his meal and leaning back. “That's brilliant.”

Laughing, Victr nodded. “By the time the second episode has aired, we will have a pile of applications to go through.” He rubbed his hands together. “I can hardly wait.”

“So, when is this thing starting?”

“Ah. I want advertising to start the blitz next week. The applications should start coming in right after that. Our plan is to shoot the thing starting in three months. Each candidate will have to give up their life for three months as all of them will be sequestered for the entire time. But for the opportunity to meet their mate and be on live screen? They will not be able to resist.”

Nodding, Petr took a drink of his wine and leaned back, gazing out the fake window that sat behind Victr’s desk.

“Thought any more about whether you want to join up?”

The question did not surprise him. He had been thinking of nothing but. “Of course I have thought about it. It’s just…” Petr grimaced. “Doesn’t it sound desperate?”

“Desperate? To want to find your mate?” His uncle smiled. “I think the majority of our kind wishes to meet their mate, Petr. There have been times in my long life where I wished for one as well. But overall, I am a loner. You are not. Diria raised you to be a loving mate, nephew. You and I both know it.”

“True, but that does not mean I have to like it,” Petr shot back with a grin.

“It is your choice. If you choose not to do it at first, you are welcome to submit your name to the huge influx of applications afterward. I cannot guarantee how fast it will happen at that point. I will tell you that if you join up now. I will do my damndest to find your mate as quickly as possible.” Turning, Victr grabbed his small screen and with a few touches brought up a list. “This is a list of currently unmated individuals in all seven quadrants where we currently have a sample of SKZ-1. The number sits at just under ten thousand. Once the advertising blitz starts, I hope for it to jump to a million.” He pushed the list over toward Petr. “Your mate could be on this list.”

Petr found his hand reaching out for the list before he pulled it back. “What happens if a mating does not occur?”

Nodding, Victr turned off the screen and placed it back down. “Like I said, we cannot guarantee, but so far only three individuals have refused their mating call. They felt the jolt, the chemical called to them to give in but they refused.” Frowning, he shook his head. “Petr, be aware that a mating is not an ‘I want this and only this’ scenario. Your mate may be of a different race, social and or economic background. Your mate may turn out to be male.” He paused and nodded when Petr looked at him with surprise. “That is why those three matings did not work. The individuals involved could not handle being mated with a member of a certain sex.” Sighing, he shook his head. “Personally I do not get it. What is the big deal? But they refused and to this day are on meds to help dull the pain of the separation from their mate.”

Wincing, Petr asked, “What about the mate they refused? It would be worse on them I would think.”

“It was. Two of them committed suicide. One shut down mentally and while she works and helps out her family, there is no life in her.” He sighed again. “So, before any applicant can be accepted, they will be interviewed by someone who will make sure they are ready to accept their mate, no matter what.”

Driving home, Petr could not get his uncle’s words out of his mind. How horrible would it be to find one’s mate and have them reject you? He shuddered at the possibility. The opportunity, however, seemed too good to pass up. And yet at the same time, the thought of being in front of a camera while finding his mate was horrid. Not to mention what would happen if his mate – if he found her or him – refused him?

Groaning with the stress as well as all the real food his uncle had been feeding him lately, he walked into his house and sat down, chuckling when his pets climbed all over him demanding their meals. “All right, you two. Dinner coming up.” Pulling himself up, he fixed their meals and grimaced at how sore he felt. “Guess I am going to have to start working out. In my last career it was part of the job. Now, it will have to just be something I do.”

*****

As Petr worked on the two projects Victr handed off to him, he was so busy he never got the chance to find out how things were going with the new project until a week later.

“All personnel to the screen room please.”

Stretching out his muscles from having been bent over the table trying to make sense of his uncle’s shorthand, he grabbed a mug of water and left his office, following the other VPs down the hall.

The screen room sat in the middle of the offices, completely cylindrical in shape, with four doors equidistant leading in or out. Rows of hard wooden chairs were arranged facing a large screen on one end. As soon as they sat down, Victr Bry’on strode into the room. 

“Ladies and gentlemen. Today we launch what will be the next boost in Bry’on Manufacturing’s business. First, let me say that Bry’on Manufacturing has been a leader in the mate bonding industry for several centuries and we have striven to bring the most enjoyment to such a wonderful trade. As of today, we take over the industry.”

A small buzz of excited voices met that announcement.

“In one hour, Bry’on Manufacturing will be just one part of a new company called Bry’on Mating Limited. Not only will we keep manufacturing the best mating accessories around, but we will also become the number one mating company. And this will show you how.”

The lights dimmed and the screen went from gray to green, turning into a woodland scene. Petr realized it must be their advertisement for the new program. 

Victr pulled a seat up to his nephew and leaned in. “This is it, Petr. Are you in or not?”

Swallowing, Petr watched the advertisement play out. It showed happily mated couples, all wearing the signature Bry’on mating band of course, as well as un-mated individuals from all walks of life. As the ad turned into an explanation of the program and what Bry’on Mating Limited would do for its candidates, he tried to slough it off, for once unable to ignore the stinging pain in his shoulders when he did so. Maybe this was a change he should take. So he would be putting himself in front of the camera. Why would that matter? For one thing, he would be able to help his uncle steer any conversations or actions he might want to have happen. It seemed easier to convince himself to do this for the sake of his uncle’s company.

As the advertisement ended, he turned and looked into the deep steel eyes of his uncle. “I’m in.”

A grin spreading across his face, Victr stood up and went back to the front of the group. “Yes, this is exciting. And we already have our first candidate.” He waved toward Petr. “My nephew will be one of those searching for his mate. 

“Most of you won’t see too much of a change in your departments over the next few months, but you will see an influx of personnel. A formal announcement will be sent later on today. If you have any questions, please let me know. Back to work.” With no further words, Victr turned and walked out of the room, his head held high.

“Hot damn,” one of the other VPs chuckled. “This is gonna make us one hell of a lot of money.” He smacked Petr on the shoulder. “Good for you for volunteering to be the company guinea pig. I couldn’t do it.”

That seemed to be the general consensus – that Petr was doing this for the good of the company and he preferred it that way. It made things easier as time went on to focus on the program and the show rather than the fact he was getting physicals, having blood drawn, getting psychological evaluations, as well as having his physical appearance slightly altered. 

He tried to put his foot down on that one, but Victr had been gone that day and Asha would not be denied when she brought him to a room that had been turned into a salon. His brown hair turned black, his eyebrows sculpted, and the rest of his facial hair ripped out. When they took wax to his body, he yelled, but they ignored every filthy word that came out of his mouth.  His tan skin from so much work outside was considered ruddy and the fact it was not all-over concerned the sadists who had been assigned to him. For three weeks afterward, he had to lie in a tanning bed for an hour until he was the same dark tan all over.

After that, he was screen-interviewed as well as had to sit for a whole slew of photographs. By the time Asha pronounced him ready, he wanted to just go hide for a few years. When the time came for the first ad for the show to go live, he felt sore and on edge. His family had not been informed yet what he was involved with and he was not looking forward to telling them. For one thing, they would tease him about his new appearance. He looked like a damned model, a career he had sneered at for as long as he could remember.

At the same time, the desire to find his mate had increased for some inexplicable reason and while he had not asked, he was wondering if that subliminal thought had already been placed, thus upping his body’s production of SKZ-1.

“Telling the family?” Victr asked him as they made their way to their vehicles after work.

“Yes.” Petr sighed. “I wanted to be the one to tell them before the ad came out.”

“Good luck. And if Diria gives you too much trouble, have her call me.”

“Thanks, uncle.”

The drive home went too fast, as did feeding his animals and changing into a pair of jeans and a button-down shirt. All said, he arrived at his mother’s house thirty minutes before he was ready to. “Damn.” Everyone’s cars were already there and taking a deep breath, he walked in. “Hey, everyone.”

Once again, silence greeted him. Only this time it was accompanied by stares and gawking.

“Oh my!” Sasha squeaked, slapping her hand over her mouth. “What did you do with Petr?”

A few people snickered at her comment, but for the most part, they seemed to not know what to say. Dermt cleared his throat. “So, is that the Bry’on look?”

Shrugging, Petr perched on the arm of his brother’s chair. “Something like that. I wanted to tell all of you about something that was happening before you heard about it.”

His mother took that moment to walk in. “Okay, I made something spe-” Her words died as she took notice of Petr. “What the hell happened to you!”

Groaning, Petr leaned back. “Mama, I’m just about to explain.”

“Well, do so quickly, because I am wondering why my son does not look like my son!” she snapped.

Grimacing, he stood up and paced for a bit. “Well, see Uncle Victr’s company is starting up a new program. It's to help find mates for unmated individuals… like me.” The words tasted like sand paper coming off his tongue and the pleased look that appeared on his mother’s face just made it worse. “Anyway, it's going to be on television and so they took a team of specialists to make me look good.”

Turning to the screen, he walked over and turned it on, turning to the Pier Broadcasting Network. “The first ad for it appears tonight. I wanted to tell you about it before you saw me on here.” Walking to the back of the room, he once again perched on his brother’s chair.

Dermt cuffed him on the arm. “You want it this much?” he asked seriously.

Shrugging, Petr both nodded and shook his head. “I’m not sure. I want it and yet… to be on television is damned scary.”

Snorting, Dermt nodded. “Yeah, I wouldn’t want to do it.”

A warning screen came up as a smooth female voice began to speak. “The following program is for our adult viewers. If you are under the age of consent in your quadrant, please leave the room now. Thank you.”

Two seconds later, the warning screen left and the front room of Bry’on’s mansion came into view. Victr sat on a long, leather sofa smiling at the camera. “Good evening, friends. For centuries I have worked tirelessly for the mated couple. As you know, Bry’on Manufacturing puts out some of the finest in mating gear and we will continue to do so. But now, we are furthering our desire to help mates meet each other.”

Images of happily mated couples filled the screen. 

“I have been studying couples and mating for a long time. Two of my studies have given me knowledge that supersedes what most people know about how the mating chemical reaction works. As such, I have decided to use that knowledge for the greater good.”

The images left and once again the camera was back on Victr. He held up a mating band. “How many hunger to have one of these around their wrist, knowing it matches the one on the wrist of their mate? What if I told you that I could make that a reality?”

Several of Petr’s family gasped at the statement.

“A few weeks ago we launched Bry’on Mating Limited, a company focused on helping individuals meet their mate. We had an overwhelming response to our request for candidates for this first program. Pier Broadcasting Network has offered its services to record this first time and we are grateful for the assistance. It allows us to do what we do best. 

“On the screen are the pictures of thirty individuals.”

Slowly images came up along with a first name. Petr’s was fourteenth. 

“These candidates will be brought together in an unknown location for three months. Over those three months we will introduce them to their mate.” He smiled. “Yes, you heard me right. I know who their mate is and will be introducing them during the show.

“This kind of program has been attempted, but never with the knowledge I possess. I assure my audience. What you will see is the real reactions of thirty individuals as they meet their mates for the first time. When this program is complete, we will be opening our doors to the larger communities. Oh,” he said with a chuckle. “And the ages of our candidates range from sixty-two to six hundred seventy-one.” He winked. “Yes, I guarantee the mating can happen after the first century and I am going to prove it.”

Victr continued to speak as images were splashed across the screen, giving as much information as the advertising division had deemed necessary and not a bit more. But Petr was only slightly aware as every member of his family turned and looked at him in surprise.

“Petr, are you sure about this?”

(Chapter 3a next week...)

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