Chapter 1

It took several years longer than expected, but finally in 2030 Covid ended. Unfortunately it claimed a lot of lives with it. The latest variant proved so deadly it killed most within a day. This meant the virus was able to kill itself off but taking the host with it. The final death toll was high, very high. A lot of business collapsed without workers and the population had become much smaller. Luxury businesses, or ones less important to the survival of humanity quickly diminished leaving essential workers as some of the most important. However, humans are adaptable and life quickly resumed at its normal pace, with life being a bit less crowded.

Many of the political fights ongoing ceased as surviving was much more important. The fight to overturn Roe vs Wade was abandoned and, given that it was no longer considered essential, abortion was abolished completely. No matter what anyone believes, the truth is America is a patriarchal society as men, from hunter-gatherer tribes up until now, have always ruled. As such the creation of life was deemed very important and the rules had changed.

Suddenly what certain states considered statutory rape wasn’t. Nor was it worth being deemed a sex crime. With the population shrunken so small, a lot of rules had been overturned and the “rights” of females everywhere had begun dissipating. Being a stay at home mom to raise kids slowly became the expectation for many women. With the abolishment of all birth control with the exception of condoms, pregnancy became a real threat when it came to any unprotected sex.

Tyler woke that morning feeling alright. He looked in the mirror at his average frame. He wasn’t overly attractive but far from ugly. Standing at 5’7” with brown hair and blue eyes he wasn’t fat, but didn’t frequently work out either. As a team leader at Walmart, he wasn’t exactly a man of high rank either in the world, but at 28 it was a respectable job. However, Tyler knew that was all about to change that day.

After a quick breakfast he went to check the mail and found the envelope he was waiting for. It was a large manila envelope and delivered first class mail. He held it for a moment thinking it was lighter than it should’ve been. He hurried inside and delicately ripped it open, though there was no need.

He tipped it upside down and out fell a laminated card. It was much like a drivers license in that it had his picture and some basic info, though not nearly as much. He admired the card fiercely and said aloud, “I have my stud card finally.” He was referring to the slang term which people used. Few of them were issued based on vigorous background, personality checks, and more. But Tyler, a quite average guy, somehow qualified. Unfortunately, he didn’t have much time to ponder the card as he had to go to work. Regardless of his status, he still had bills to pay and set off to get ready for work. But he had just enough time to read the first part of it:

“Women are the source from which human life is reborn, her body the gateway through which we all enter the world. For nine months she carries a developing human being in her womb, endures the agony of labor and childbirth, and faithfully cares for her newborn afterward, nurturing it with her milk, her touch, her warmth, and her voice. Throughout the life cycle of her child she remains in service to this growing person’s needs, selflessly extending her mind, body, and spirit for his or her well-being.”

“Great sacrifice and devotion to those she cares for are not unusual acts for the female. Even women who have little regard for motherhood often still have within them some spark of a nurturing dimension—the intuitiveness of feminine empathy, a natural softness, and an often innate desire to please. It is no mystery a woman will often use these innate qualities to please her mate, too. When her heart is captured, she will do anything to make the one she loves happy and comfortable, often placing her needs as secondary. It is our belief these natural qualities within the female, given the right environment and guidance, serve as a foundation upon which a realized submissivity may be built.”

He was quite surprised to read such a card. It was a clear devotement to motherhood and subservience in women. It was very interesting and simultaneously almost turned him on. However, he needed to get to work and time was short.

Tyler always worked the closing shift, so he arrived at work at 3pm and met his manager in the electronics department. Walmart was not what it used to be and was much smaller than it had been years ago. Several sections had been closed off and the product was much smaller in variety. Until the world was up and working again it’d remain that way. Tyler was his boss and one he genuinely liked. Tyler was a hard worker and fair. He never expected more out of his employees than he did himself.

Despite being a team leader, he was in charge of the store around 7pm when all other managers left. This meant that Tyler got around a lot and knew most of the employees quite well, especially with such a small store. His department, electronics, didn’t have much going on after 7pm, so he spent most of his time walking around and talking to people and making sure the store was running smoothly. Except for a few crazy customers and small crises, there typically wasn’t much to do. He made his way to the front to figure out who was working with him that night until closing at 11pm.

As he approached he saw Chloe, his front end supervisor. She was only 19 and about 5’4”. Her hair was always some dyed color and today it was a bright pink turning blonde. She was the youngest front end supervisor and sometimes quite mature for her age. Tyler had known her whole family for well over a year and was considered a family friend. Chloe’s best friend Tessa was also up front managing the self check out area along with Kierra, a very short but nice girl.

“Hi Chloe, what’s going on here tonight?” Tyler asked politely.

Chloe instantly smiled. “So glad you’re in charge tonight. I only have us three but I’m trying to see if I can get Ethan to come in and close 8-11 since Kierra is only 16 and has to leave at 10.”

“Well I trust you, just keep me informed, alight?”

Chloe nodded. “I will, and if anything goes crazy I’ll call you.” While there was a PA system, they frequently called each other as it was quicker to get their attention. “Also can you take me out to practice driving this Sunday?”

Sunday was Tyler’s day off and he’d often take Chloe driving, in which he’d teach her how to drive so she could get a license. “Sure, I’m off tomorrow too.” Tyler usually had Saturday and Sunday off, of which he didn’t have much to do. “But let me know if you get someone else in.”

“Sure,” Chloe replied and walked off to check on her cashiers.

Tyler went to the break room deciding to take a 15 minute break. If they needed him he could hear the PA or one of the departments would call his phone. He sat down with his backpack and pulled out the manila envelope he’d received in the mail. Aside from the ID card was a rather large booklet detailing the appropriate and inappropriate times he could engage someone for “the purpose of procreation.” Which is literally how it was phrased and he found it to be somewhat funny. However, it did include a clause that you could not interrupt the work of a business or place, meaning he wouldn’t be doing much while working. This was a bit disappointing. There were other rules, but he’d worry about them later and read them over when he got home.

Sighing he set down the booklet and wondered if he’d even get to use his newfound privilege that day even. He put the ID in wallet and began putting everything back in the bag when he heard the door open and a girl walked in, Jaylen. He looked up at her surprised. “What are you doing here?”

Jaylen smiled and sat down at his table. She flipped her blonde hair and said, “Chloe couldn’t get Ethan and asked me to come in.” Jaylen was 17 years old and fairly skinny. She still had the look of someone who was closer to 16 or so and only had the slightest hints of hips showing. She wore a simple gray top and skinny blue jeans that hugged her waist. Technically she was out of dress code, but given that she was showing up late at night, no one was going to care. Once she finished high school, there were no major plans for her future. She always claimed she was taking a year off to decide.

It was then Tyler got an idea. “Well thank you for showing up tonight Jaylen,” Tyler replied. “I’m assuming you’re closing?”

She nodded and pulled out a Lunchable snack. Tyler had no idea why, but everyone seemed to enjoy them, likely because they were one of the few businesses with a name brand that existed.

“Well,” Tyler said standing up, “thank you very much. I gotta get back out there but I appreciate you coming in. I’m here till 11 tonight, so page me if you need anything.”

“Okay, thank you,” she said cheerfully.

Tyler left the breakroom and wandered around a bit. He headed back up front around 10pm and stopped by Chloe who was getting ready to leave. “Are you heading out now?” Tyler asked.

She turned and smiled. “Yep, You got Tessa and Jaylen till 11.”

“Good,” Tyler smiled. “At least I got some decent people on tonight.” He wasn’t lying either, both girls were very capable and rarely had to call him up for anything, which he appreciated.

Having nothing else to do before the store closed in an hour, he followed Chloe out to where her mother was picking her up. Being friends with the family, he always stopped to talk to them. Her mother was a kind woman, who’d foolishly had Chloe at 14 years old. She then went on to have a son and twin daughters later on. However, she was a good mother and Chloe’s real father was nowhere in the picture. The father of the twin’s and her son were around though typically not present. Her mother Julie was a kind woman and adored Tyler. Being a single mother to 4 kids kept her very busy, but thanks to the Government Grant program, they never lacked much for money.

“How is work?” Julie asked.

“Boring as Hell, the way I like it,” Tyler joked. “Got two cashiers, all departments are closed and I just have to wait for them to count the tills and all.”

“Are you coming over tomorrow?” Julie asked.

“I probably will,” he replied. Most days off he spent at Julie’s house. They’d either talk, watch tv, or play video games with her boyfriend and sometimes her kids would join as well. “I was thinking of going back to school so I have to call a few places, but I should have time.”

“Good, you know we can’t win anything without you there,” she replied joking.

Being good at video games was about Tyler’s only claim to fame in any capacity. He was about to reply when Tessa came running behind him.

“Alright, I have to go back in. We’re about to close and I have to get a few things ready so I can leave on time.” He waved goodbye and let them go heading back inside. He checked to make sure all departments closed appropriately and then headed up front. Aside from making sure the tills were deposited in the cash office there wasn’t much else to do.

Once 11pm hit, Tessa told Tyler she was leaving and headed out. Self checkout lane required nothing more than turning off the system and logging out. Jaylen however, had to give Tyler the till and witness him bringing into the cash office where they’d count it the next day.

As she handed him the till he asked her, “how are you getting home today?”

Jaylen didn’t drive and usually took the bus. Frequently he drove the people who closed home as it was a small neighborhood and easier than taking the bus. She sighed. “I’m walking, because I don’t think I’ll make it to the bus in time.”

“Want a ride home?” He asked, walking to the locked door. He unlocked the door and brought the drawer in while Jaylen waited outside. He stepped out and ensured it was fully locked.

“If you don’t mind, sure,” she replied.

“Okay, I just have to run to the breakroom. Want to come with me for a minute?”

She nodded. “I have to grab my stuff there anyway.”

Together they walked into the break room and she walked over to her locker while he waited at the door debating. She stood only 5’5” and definitely wasn’t stronger than him. He wondered how he should approach this situation as he’d never done it. Once he flashed his ID, he was free to essentially do whatever he wanted. But should he be so blunt or try to seduce or what?

Finally he made up his mind and walked forward. He put a hand on Jaylen’s shoulder. “So, you’re back here with me for a special reason. I can make this pleasant or unpleasant.”

She turned around looking at him perplexed. “I did something wrong?” Obviously she’d assume it was work related. The ID was issued to maybe 10 people in each state and no more. A guy could get an infinite amount of females pregnant, so they needn’t issue too many. As long as a woman wasn’t married, they were essentially free game.

“No not that,” he replied smiling. He pulled out his wallet and grabbed the ID. He held it up for her to see.

She stared at it a moment, probably expecting some sort of law enforcement and related to something she did at work. In truth many people broke rules at work, but being so short staffed, each business took what they could get. Finally it seemed to dawn on her. “Wait i that-”

“It’s a stud card,” he replied. “And you’re the lucky one I’ve chosen.”