The group was herded into an open air bar filled with wicker furniture. They were all given a fruit filled drink, and told to sit. The captain of the boat told them all to wait and then left the room. Everyone looked around the room and nervous laughter trickled around the room. Fortunately they didn't have to wait long. A short, lovely Japanese woman in a lab coat walked into the room and waited for silence.
"Welcome to New Temptation Island! I am Dr. Wu, your host for the next few weeks. You are here to participate in a cutting edge series of temptations to test your relationship with your partner.
"You will notice that in the papers you signed, that you agreed to various experiments and changes. I hope you all read your documents thoroughly. Those drinks you had contained the first in a series of genetic manipulation serums."
The group began to murmur. Apparently, like Jim, no-one had read the several dozen pages of 8 point type. The front page promising a tropical vacation for a couple had been enough to get Jim interested. Sharon was staring at him with an angry expression. Geez, he was going to have to explain this situation.
"Please, please! You all signed the papers, and we're now in the jurisdiction of a country that permits such experimentation. Now, for the rules of the game:
"First of all, after the tranquilizer takes effect, you will be taken to a room of your own. Post-hypnotic suggestion will render you incapable of mentioning your own name or the name of your partner. I promise you that the genetic changes that you'll be going through will render you unrecognizable to your partner.
"You will awaken in your new quarters for the next two months. You will be in a tropical beach village with forty other volunteers that have been through a similar treatments voluntarily. Your contest will be to overcome the temptations provided and, at the end of two months, decide who your mate is. If you have found your mate by the end of the time limit, you will be rewarded with one million dollars.
Jim found it harder and harder to stay awake. The constant drone of the Doctor's voice was making him drowsy. In a few moments, Jim dozed off.
When Jim awoke, he was in a bed in a beach bungalo. He stood, feeling strange. By the foot of the bed was a full length mirror that reflected the astonished Jim. Jim saw that he was now:
Sat Feb 3 09:38:43 2001