#systematic abuse

For the entire length of the presentation the whiteboard upon which Penny's slideshow had been projected had been flanked by one individual in particular, a giant bear of a pilot of callsign Liger. Liger was a Pilot that needed no introduction, being the third generation pilot of one of the Foundation's main arms of propaganda, the Great Pulsar Liger, a garishly-coloured Frame marketed to children and their nostalgic parents alike. He – for the Foundation's branding consistency was very clear that this Pilot was to be considered a man for all – had just been allocated to Penny's command, and she wasn't about to waste such a valuable resource. She'd wasted no time in using him effectively, launching new Liger-branded marketing campaigns and media projects alike.

At the very start of the presentation, Penny had brought Liger in, stood him to the side of the projector screen and instructed him to take a signature heroic pose. Then in a very clear voice she had enunciated the word “STAY”. Penny proceeded to treat him as nothing more than a glorified cardboard cutout and, throughout the entire presentation, Liger hadn't moved a muscle.

Before she started talking again, she walked over to a little round table bearing nothing but an electric kettle and clicked the button down. Without explaining why it was there or what it was for, she returned to waving her telescopic pointer at the projector screen. “With the revolutionary new practice of neuro-ablative conditioning, the job of a Handler is more hands-off than ever before. From now on, all you have to do is remember to be COLD.”

Click

“Construct their leash. Interrogate them for details about their life. Focus on their insecurities, especially regarding authority and regret. This will allow you to tailor the conditioning programme to each pilot. The structure of every programme is uniform so that it can be filled with the specifics that pertain to each individual asset.”

Click

“Objective language. We're long past the days of beatings and verbal abuse. No more screaming, 'at ease faggot!' until they do what you tell them to.” Her example was underscored with a Full Metal Jacket-style aggressive finger pointing to some imaginary pilot beneath her, accompanied by a polite tittering from the assembled audience. “To our pilots, everything you say should be treated as an objective fact. This does require a calm, authoritative manner, but this can be easily trained for with conventional acting classes.”

Click

“Lifeline. The central thrust of your conditioning programme is to create a scenario in their head that the Foundation is the only thing that can give their life purpose, and that without the Foundation they're as good as dead. They're dependent on you for whatever subjective psychological needs they have, and your provision of these needs is their salvation. Of course, the implicit threat of withdrawal of their Lifeline”, she tapped the word on the screen with the pointer, “means that failing to live up to your expectations of them will be tantamount to losing a reason for existance.”

Click

“Don't fuck the dog. Simple enough. You are to position yourself as an absolute authority figure in their life. Based on their history, this could look like a parental figure, a schoolteacher, a religious leader, a military commander, a feudal lord, a god, whatever kind of authority holds the most sway over their insecurities. Sexual encounters will be one of your most important structures for both rewards and punishment, and as such the idea of sex with their Handler should be tantalising and an unreachably lofty fantasy. Of course, this also means that you don't actually have to, you know, be good enough at sex to fulfil this fantasy.”

Another chorus of titters.

And now for the coup de grace.

“HEEL.” Immediately, Liger sprung to action. He proudly, confidently strode across the room to Penny's side, smiling to himself with endless self-assurance. Reaching Her side, his rightful place, made him feel so calm. Everything was okay. He was the hero, and his girl was by his side. He would do anything to protect his girl, because that's what heroes do.

“Be a good boy and fetch me that kettle would you?”

“Yes Miss!”

By now a thick gout of steam was issuing from the kettle's spout. Liger practically bounded over to retrieve it, presenting it to his Handler like labrador carrying a ball. “Good boy,” she said, and ever muscle in his body relaxed. She reached up with gloved hands to ruffle his hair. She would never touch him with bare skin. He didn't dare to dream of such an impossibly wonderful thing.

“Now, strip.”

He did so without question or hesitation. First came off the boots, socks and flight suit trousers. His legs were incredibly muscular, the result of a carefully managed gym schedule. Then he removed the flight jacket and compression suit top, revealing his foundation-mandated chest binder. He'd been on HRT for too long to hide the fact that he'd grown breasts, but there was no point in surgery to remove them. It would risk complications, but more importantly it would cut down on his uptime, and there was no excure for that. He was too important an asset to the Foundation.

He stood there, beaming. If he had a tail it would be wagging.

“STAY.”

Immediately every muscle in his body froze up once again. He might have been a statue for all the difference it would have made. It wasn't even clear whether or not he was breathing.

Penny popped the lid and nonchalantly threw the kettle of boiling water all over Liger's midsection. She made sure not to get the face. It was too important. He remained entirely still as his skin turned red and began to blister and burn, smiling all the while.

“And there you have it.”

She let the absurd sight linger for just a couple of moments before snapping her fingers. All of a sudden movement returned to Liger, and he doubled over, his face twisted in surprise and pain. It was all he could do to stop himself from screaming.

“Okay, take your clothes and go and get a cold shower. It's next door, turn left as you go out.”

He was gone as soon as he could get his wobbly legs underneath him. After the door closed Penny smiled and turned to the audience and the camera.