"Don't leave me here alone," Cat whispered to her aunt as the gate rose and let the car through. This was the site, according to the email, where Cat would first need to report for her pre-graduate school screening. The email had not given any more details, only that, since Cat had been accepted into their Modified Expanded Living Program (MELP), an elite research unit meant to facilitate the most secretive government testing, she would need to undergo an advanced medical screening. Cat had expected to report to a normal doctor's office and get a regular check up, and maybe, if she was unlucky, get some dreaded blood work. This was anything but, instead a low and windowless set of buildings in what looked like a heavily guarded industrial park.

They drove up to the kiosk where a seemingly overworked lady took their details and sent them to the first waiting room. It was more like a waiting room at the DMV with other women, some her age or older, alone, some younger waiting nervously with their mothers. Cat was starting to sweat. She didn’t like being surprised. She was a very rigid person. She fumbled with her phone.

Her name was called and she went up to the window where a woman was waiting behind glass.

“First and last name?”

“Catarina Raiola.”

“Date of birth?”

“March 13th 2001.” Catarina gulped, “is there a toilet?”

“You can’t go until the exam.” The woman looked annoyed, “blood type?”

“Oh, I think B? I don’t really know.”

She rolled her eyes, “and you filled out the form?”

“Right here,” Cat slid it through the window, “is that all?”

“Please put your cellphone and keys in the bag. Anything else on your person will be removed during the procedure.”

Cat looked shocked, “when do I get it back?”

“When the exam is complete,” the woman answered, annoyed, watching Cat slip her cellphone and keys into the plastic bag.”Please follow the nurse at the door,” a door opened and a tall nurse wearing a mask appeared, “and visitors cannot accompany,” she mentioned as Cat’s aunt began to stand up.

Cat sighed in distress but figured there was no arguing with that. They had her phone now. She looked over her shoulder at her aunt and tried to make a brave face and wave, turning back to the woman behind the glass. She was afraid to look at the nurse, “uhm, can I just ask, what kind of exam is it?”

“I’m not at liberty to disclose. You may ask your provider,” the woman said, “please,” she pointed, “follow him.”

Cat followed the nurse who wasn’t reacting to Cat’s attempt to make small talk about the weather, making Cat even more jittery. They entered a small room that had a sealed door with a bunch of warning signs on it, the nurse guiding Cat inside. The room had a wall with glass and a small intercom as well as a huge vacuum system above, the steel walls lined with sprinklers. On the ground sat several plastic bins.

The nurse began talking, the same stern, rehearsed droll.

“This room is the sterilization room. All contaminants must be removed from the outside of your body, including your hands, feet and hair. This is to ensure your safety and the accuracy of our examination. Please remove your clothes and place them in the plastic bins at your feet. Once you have disrobed you will receive two medicated showers and a depilation treatment. I will be on the other side of the wall giving instructions on how to proceed.”

Cat looked up at him, mortified. She understood that such a research facility had much higher standards than a regular office, but she just hadn’t been prepared. No way she could do this. She couldn’t think of what to say. “Uhm, do I get any privacy? During all this?”

“Your comfort is important to us. However, I need to observe the decontamination procedure to ensure it was properly completed.”

Cat nodded.

“Are you electing to comply?”

Cat nodded again and gulped. She didn’t really feel she had a choice. The nurse disappeared out the door and reappeared on the other side of the glass. She began to disrobe, first her shoes and socks, then her pants. Her thin tan legs were slightly stubbly but lean with muscle. She looked up to check if the nurse was watching. His eyes met hers. She turned red. She pointed to her ponytail and the hair tie.

“This too?” She tried to smile, but it was too awkward.

“Yes.” The nurse said, switching the intercom on, “please remove all clothes and accessories.”

Mallory nodded, looking downcast. She flung the hairband into the plastic tub before taking her shirt off. Time to get this over with, she thought. She stood in her old sports bra and panties for a minute. It wasn’t worth asking if she could keep them on. Nudity wasn’t such a big deal anyway, he was just a nurse, right? He’s probably seen a million people naked. The government just wants to be extra careful, of course. She lifted her bra and stepped out of her panties before trying to cover her privates with her hands. She had two soft pink nipples and a small amount of light hair between her legs.

“Thank you for your compliance,” the nurse stated, “please seal the bins and place them in the deposit to the side of the door. Your belongings will be fumigated and returned to you when the examination is complete. The first shower will commence when you lift your hands and place them on your head. The first shower is a ‘dry’ shower consisting of air and powder. Then a wet shower with a powerful detergent. The less you move the shorter this process will be.”

Cat nodded, glancing up. What looked like fire sprinklers were beginning to emerge from the corners of the room. She placed her hands on the side of her head reluctantly, trying not to look down at her naked body and screwing her eyes tight shut. The overwhelming scent of chemicals, like a mixture of lye and bleach filled her nose as her body was covered in pinkish-white powder, clinging to her hair and everywhere. She coughed, lowering her arms.

“Please keep your hands above your shoulders during this procedure,” she was corrected. She coughed again before forced air began to blow down on her, the powder flying off into the air and out through a vent. She grimaced. She wondered what she looked like, standing there like a powdered donut, toes turned inwards as she tried to close her thighs.

“Now for the wet shower,” the guard stated before the sprinklers were retracted, replaced with wide-angle hoses spraying warm, sudzy water. The soap smelled like something you used for horses and burnt her eyes and skin. She yelped involuntarily as the hose passed over the back of her calves and up her buttocks, strong enough to send a ripple through her fat and causing her skin to burn and turn red. She froze in fear.

It wasn’t more than two passes before the soap changed to cool water, soothing her scalded skin and rinsing the harsh soap out of her hair. Before long the fan turned on again, this time warm and dry. She was afraid to open her eyes, but maybe it was over.

“Now that the baths are complete I will administer the hair-removal treatment. I will pass the wand over your skin that will singe the hair and burn the cuticle. It is only a temporary removal.”

“Cheaper than a wax, I guess?” She tried to joke. The nurse continued.

“I will also give you the proper gown, mask and hair net. You will wear these throughout the examination and anytime you are in this building or other research facility. Afterwards you will be escorted to a room where your vitals will be taken and you’ll be given a preliminary examination. The research team may elect to collect a variety of samples at this time. You will need to consent to this testing to continue in this program and continue this examination, do you understand?”

“I understand,” Cat said, covering her breasts with one arm, “what kind of samples?”

“That is up to your team’s discretion.” Cat grimaced at the answer, “One moment. I will join you now.”

The nurse disappeared for a moment and Cat looked at the door.

She wondered if it was locked…