Mary flew down a long tunnel of sorts, like a giant version of those PlayPlace slides at a McDonald’s. As she went, she still tingled from the chamber, and all she could do was scream. She wanted to hurl obscenities, but she couldn’t really control what came out at the speed she was going.

She mentally kicked herself for falling for whatever trap the professor had set for her, and now here she was, shrunken, and sliding down a tube to God knows where…it was infuriating, and yet she only had herself to blame, she thought.

Blasts of air started shooting into the tunnel to slow her descent, and soon she landed in another chamber. The glass doors of this new chamber hissed open and a friendly face greeted her.

The face belonged to a woman, not much older than Mary herself. The woman had her long brown hair tied in a bun, and wore something similar to a toga, with a fancy belt around her waist.

“Welcome, Mary Sinclair! We’ve been expecting you.” She said smiling. “I am Tracy Arnold, I work for Professor Strickland, Please step over here” she said, guiding the speechless Mary to a spot marked on the floor. She quickly stepped away from Mary as several jets of water burst open and poured onto her head. Mary gasped and sputtered as the cold water covered her naked form. She shivered as the water stopped and the girl brought over a towel.

“Just to clean any grit from the old world off” she smiled. “Now let’s get you measured” she said as she grabbed Mary’s arm. She brought her over to a place on the wall were different heights were marked, like a parent might have for a child. Mary stood there as directed and the woman smiled.

“Six Inches, Exactly. The Professor is getting pretty good at that. When he first started, he wasn’t perfect at getting the right size.” She said motioning to herself.

“I myself am five inches tall. Not that I mind, but it’s nice to know he’s getting better. Well, now then. Someone is waiting for you” she said as another door hissed open. Mary slowly walked through, still quiet. There stood Alex, wearing a white toga like outfit as well.

“Mary!” he said running over, and hugging her. A young man behind a desk reached below and grabbed a toga for Mary and handed it to Alex.

“Here, put this on” he said before gushing. “Oh it’s so good to see you again. When I first joined, I thought I’d never get to…well…here you are” he said with a grin. She finished putting on the white robe and then turned to Alex and slapped him across the face.

“Why didn’t you warn me?! Tell me that a mad-man was going to make me knee high to a Barbie doll!” she shouted.

“Dear, Professor Strickland and I agreed that telling you would mean you wouldn’t have done it.” He said.

“So you were selfish.” She added with a raised eyebrow

“Yes. I apologize for not telling you, but I so wanted to hug you again, and let me tell you life here is the best. No worries, everything is provided for us, and…it’s peaceful. Do you like your robes?”

She didn’t like how he was trying to change the subject, but she looked it over. “It’s fine enough, I guess. Didn’t know “Logan’s Run” was the In look.”

“Mandated. The Professor thinks we shouldn’t have different fashions. Inspires less jealousy.” He stated.

“Peachy. Now…what do you do here?” she said glumly.

“Well, we each have a job that we do, to help out around the community. You’ll work with me until you get settled, and then you can find your own job, if you like.” He said.

“And where will we be working.”

“Oh, that’s the best part. Follow me” he said as he walked out the sliding door into the open streets.

When she hit the streets, she felt the strangest thing. A breeze. As if she were standing in a real city, and the buildings around her looked entirely real. She couldn’t believe it. She knew she was indoors, yet it felt entirely real.”

“Simulated Climate!” Alex said over the hum of the city. “Strickland is a genius”

“You can say that again” Mary said to herself as she looked around. It was awe inspiring, and she almost forgot she was six inches tall. Almost.