by M. Modak
She turned back toward the door and he watched her go. His mind shut down as all rational thought ceased.
Who is she?
Her clothes stretch and tighten as her body forced the folds of her uniform flattened, revealing the details of her shape. The sunlight coming through the lobby door caressed and highlighted her waving blonde hair that was cutoff just above her waist. Every part of him agreed. Time from that moment on only served to measure his love for her. He decided right then that he would do anything for her to love him.
The door opened just before her, seeming to catch her by surprise as it slammed into her arm. Her stylus fell from her hand, bounced off her knee and then rolled on the floor; stopping just in front of her.
“Oh god, did I hit you” A deep voice came from behind the door. A thin, clean-cut man stepped forward.
“It's okay Doctor,” she replied. She started to bend over toward the fallen pen.
The temptation to let her continue doing just that almost overtook Drake. He could see as the fabric continued to tighten around her waist revealing the fine details of a perfectly created butt. Then his manners kicked in. “Here let me get it for you,” he said and before she could answer, he was on the floor retrieving the stylus. Rose smiled down at him as he handed her the stylus. He stood up, inches from her face, close enough to take in her sent. She smelled like rose petals. He silently thanked God for his parents training.
“Thank you Drake,” she said with a bright smile.
He had to remind himself to speak. “You’re welcome.”
Over her shoulder, he could see a glimpse of the man’s expression just before he walked back through the door. The frown on his face spoke a thousand words. Rose turned and walked inside and he returned to his seat. After a moment he remembered he was holding something she had given him. He opened the note.
It read: Drake, you are in great danger. Nothing is what it seems but you have to play along for now if I’m going to get you out of here safely. I just injected you with my Nanos, (tiny programed machines). I designed them to counter the ones I’ll be forced to give you in a few minutes. Trust me. Sapen is aware of the new memories you received last night. He found some interesting things he wants to know more about. That’s why you’re here…and he knows about Aughra. He wants to download all your memories, so he can rebuild that machine in our universe. And Drake, there is something else. Sapen is watching our every move. When you are placed under the Memory Scanner, think of one thing and one thing only. If you do that the scanner can only register that thought but if you let your mind wonder, as you like to do, he will have all he needs to build a new kind of super weapon. Trust me and I will get us out of here.
Rose.
He sat in stunned silence as his pulse thumped in his ears. He reread the note twice and then folded it and placed it in his back pocket. Reflexively he looked around the empty room, searching for anything that could be out of place. Everything looked normal; then he wrinkled his nose as he noticed the smells again. This much fresh paint and ammonia were too much for a doctor’s office, and during business hours.
What could have happened in here that required this much paint and maintenance, he wondered.
He looked for any cameras and saw none but remembered that a camera could be as small as a dot and placed anywhere.
He had a choice, he could get up now and walk out but he would have to face Sam or some other unknown danger she had hinted at, or he could trust a woman he was sure was hiding something from him. A woman he didn’t know. But as he thought about her, and the way she smiled at him he decided the potential danger was worth it. He would rather fail at trying for her love than never giving it a chance.
After what felt like an eternity had passed, she opened the door. “Drake, the doctor will see you now.”
With a thin smile on his face, he stood up and he nodded slightly. She returned the smile but something about her eyes caught him off guard.
Did she want to say something but could not.
Rose looked away and motioned him into the room. “I’ll be waiting here until the doctor calls me back to help you.” He nodded slowly as he looked over at the doctor; it was a different man than the one who had bumped Rose a few minutes ago.
The doctor was a tall, well-shaped man, who looked to be around 50 years old. Drake had never been good at guessing ages. The doctor gave a cold professional smile, “Hi Drake, my name is Dr. Sudo,” the doctor said. The doctor thrust out a thick hand and he shook it.
“Hello Doctor.” Drake said through a dry mouth.
“Follow me,” Dr. Sudo said as he glanced at Rose. Drake looked at Rose too but she was ignoring them both. The Doctor turned toward the hallway and he followed. They past a small white walled lobby on his right with brand new, red, plastic chairs bolted to the floor. The concrete floor had also been recently stained with a black and white checkered pattern that played with his vision as it curved to the left in the distance. They passed a pair of unusually thick, steel doors that opened into a larger foyer with another hall vanishing into the darkness to his left. Walking a little further down the hallway, he stopped at the first door on the right.
He strained as he listened for any sounds from the other patients in the building. But he heard only the echoes from their footsteps and a slight ringing in his ears. He shook his head and wondered if the shock Rose had given him earlier, when she had touched his hand, might be causing the ringing in his ear.
What if she was just using me, He wondered, tricking me, but what could anyone possibly want with me. Then a flash from Lavar’s warning came. The icy feel of danger began to creep up his spine and the hairs on the back of his neck stood on ends. The doctor opened a door and asked him to step in.
“Have a seat here,” Dr. Sudo said.
Drake sat down on the end of the table. The room was cold and the smell of wet paint was stronger in here. A man came to the door and waited just outside the room. “Drake,” Dr. Sudo said, “this is my assistant is Dr. Pain.”
Drake’s eyes opened wide as he blurted out a quick laugh, “You’re kidding me? Dr. Sudo and Dr. Pain!” The doctor’s smile faded as a child’s might just before it ripped off the legs of some misfortunate insect. Drake felt the hairs on his arms joining the ones on the back of his neck. The doctor just stared at him. He wanted to crawl under the table he sat on. He almost got up and left right then. He looked for Rose but remembered she was still up at the front waiting for the doctor to call her.
Tim took a step awkwardly into the small room. He moved like a man who was very uncomfortable around people in general. Drake couldn't help but think this was a joke. Tim was tall, but he stood several inches shorter than Drake and he didn't weigh more than 135lb.
“Hi Tim, “Drake said with a forced smile.
Tim gave a reluctant grunt that sounded like, “hi.”
Dr. Sudo peered out from behind a clipboard. He spoke in an old southern draw, a humorous tone, “What be the problem with ya Drake. Why did Sam recommend ye com-n see us?”
Drake hesitated as he pushed away the urge to walk out.
What kind of doctors are these, he thought.
He said, “I've been feeling a little sick these last few days, probably a lack of sleep.” He paused as a feeling of caution moved through him. It was an odd feeling he had sensed before when Rose had touched him. He noticed his increased heart rate, shortness of breath and his guts seemed to be melting as they tried to evacuate.
He always had more emotions washing through him than most people did. His father told him that he had inherited, something, from his mother, but his explanations always fell short. For some reason he thought of the necklace his mom had given him as a young boy, just before she died. He always felt more alert with it on. Actually, he remembered felling everything a little more when he wore that old empty locket. When he asked his dad about it he had said, “Son, I’m just a man, a regular guy. You inherited some special gifts from your mom’s side
of the family... For a while, I seemed to have been more in touch with my senses. After your mother died, it…well it was like access to that understanding had gone with her.”
To him, his father had been more than, “Just a guy.” He was larger than life. His father was always trying to help, encouraging him. He would say, “Open up, question everything and listened to your feelings. Find what is useful, what corresponds with the reality you see around you. Match that inner knowing with what makes sense and extend yourself in those areas.” But that kind of advice was the same kind of things his mother had said before. It all only confused him more.
Then his dad would try to get him to read the old children’s stories he had written back when had just met his mother. He didn’t need children’s stories about princess’s and puppy dogs; he needed to understand who he was and why he always felt so alien around most people.
Perhaps most people are aliens, he wondered as he gave a quick laugh that the others missed.
He wished he were more familiar with all his feelings, like Joshua and his dad, but he just never really paid attention to himself.
Are these really my feelings, he wondered, or… After last night, with all the false images, voices and emotions acting as if they had come from my own mind and body, are these false images pretending to be my real feelings. He had to check twice.
He wanted to tell the doctor about the dreams, Joshua, and the Nano machines. He wanted to tell someone what was happening to him, all of it. He would be spilling it all to Rose right now, if he could. He wanted to ask about the ticking, crackling and popping noises he heard just before he passed out last night. But the feeling in his guts grew stronger, telling him that he was in real danger. He said, “I guess I haven't been eating very well lately, you know pizza, cokes, candy bars for breakfast.”
Dr. Sudo scribbled on a piece of paper as he mumbled to himself dryly, “Poor eating habits.” The doctor looked up and produced another practiced smile, “Well Drake, sounds like the normal 21 year old single adult diet.” His voice deepened a little as he tried to sound a little more serious, “I think you know that you should be eating more fruits and vegetables. A high fiber diet can go a long way when it comes to your health. I just want to do a few simple test and we'll have you out of here before you know it.”
Drake felt like they would never let him leave.
Dr. Sudo cleared his throat. The expression was a mixture of authority and mock sympathy. He said, “Drake I just got an update of your most recent medical record here and I wonder if you could explain, in your own words, what happened last night.”
Drake swallowed back his fear as he instinctively looked for Rose; she still wasn’t here. Like a cup of hot coffee on an empty stomach, his sense of dread turned into nausea. He said, “Oh, that.”
Dr. Sudo raised one eyebrow and said, “Just tell me what you remember. It might help us get you back to normal. I wouldn’t want to be forced to tell Sam you need to stay home due to your…sickness.” He gave a smile half meant in triumph and half meant to soften his words. He paused as if remembering something important, “Didn’t your Captain leave a note saying you must have permission from your doctor before returning to work?”
Drake waited for the crease at the corners of the doctor’s lips to disappear before continuing. He said, “Well…I don’t believe there is much more than what the nurse said. I think it was…heat exhaustion? Yeah that’s it, heat exhaustion. You know it can get hot in those transport trailers.” The doctor gave him a tired look. Drake knew that look too well. He spoke in a slow solid tone, “I don’t remember very much about that day. If you would like to know more you have my permission to call the nurse who wrote that report.” He decided not to mention the long police report containing his full recollections on the incident.
The three men shared a moment of silence. Dr. Pain spoke up. He sounded whiney and impatient, “Drake, a poor diet affects every part of your body and that includes your brain. When your brain is starved well let's just say people don't react to that very good. They can have fainting spells, delusions, even hallucinations.”
Drake had an urge to slap him. He couldn't believe how much this man got to him. The note Rose had given him came to mind. He had chosen to trust her. He would stick to that path.
Dr. Sudo said, “Drake I’m sure all you need is a few good night’s sleep and a hot dinner. These tests won't take long. I'll have Mrs. Rose take some blood samples.” He reached over to a cabinet and opened a small door. “Put this gown on so we can do some body scans.” Drake nodded as he took the gown. The two doctors turned and left the room. Drake took a deep breath; and to his relief the air tasted cleaner.
He changed clothes, sat back down on the table and looked around. The room felt empty as if it were missing something. It had the usual tight spaced feeling but something was missing. Then he realized that there were no medical posters on the walls. The smell of fresh paint was still the most detectable thing in the air just above the dank medicine odor. In the corner of the room, on the floor, sat a very old Shell computer with the monitor sitting up on the table, there was a printer next to it but there were no cords attached to any of them anywhere.
I have to stop myself from thinking so much, nearly all computers lack cords, though this one did looked old. Stop it, he told himself. Now I’m getting a headache. He closed his eyes, took a few deep breaths, and pushed the image of the Great Tree he had glimpsed during Joshua’s journey to the front of his mind.
It stood next to a wide flowing river where dolphins and other creatures swam. He could hear the water flowing, the wind was barely moving and the sun was shining at just the right angle to place everything in a moment of magic. The image cleared his mind and he started to calm down.
“Knock, knock,” the door sounded.
“Come in,” Drake replied.
Rose walked in and said, “Hi Drake.” She paused and pointed to the paper gown he had on. “Didn't think I'd have you half naked so soon did ya?” She gave him a wink and a bright smile, but as the door closed, she nodded to him as her smile turned serious.
Drake’s boyish grin withered as she whispered, “You need to take this pill.” She pulled out a single white pill and placed it into his hand. Then she leaned closer and spoke even softer, “I will be giving you other Nano machines later but don’t worry, they’re not like the ones you had in you last night.”
Drake sat up straighter; he decided to test his theory. He said, “How do you know about last night?”
“I was there,” she said quietly.
Drake nodded slowly then said, “How could you have been there? I only saw… I didn’t see any-body there but me. What the hell is going on?”
“I can’t tell you right now. There are too many things I need to consider first, but I will help you get out of here safely, as I have given my word to do.” She retrieved a small bottle of water, opened it and handed it to him. “This pill will also relax you and prepare your body for the Nanos I will be giving you in the scanner room. I’ll be taking some blood from you too.”
“I hate needles, and Nanos? I’m sure I don’t want any more Nanos.” he said.
“Don’t be scared of the Nanos, I’ll take good care of them.” Though her eyes were saying trust me he knew there were deeper motivations, she was hiding something.
Drake took the pill and stared at it. Taking this pill will be crossing a line, a point of no return. He looked up at her. She didn’t blink as she nodded, “Take the pill and wash it down with the water.” She laid a hand on his shoulder. “I will protect you with my existence if I have to. But you are too valuable to everyone Drake to be harmed today, so don’t worry.”
Don’t worry, he let her words find their way down into his soul and through his sense of truth. There was something, factual, in the way she spoke. Friend or Foe she would do as she said. He obeyed, and after taking several deep gulps of water he sat back on the table, leaned forward and propped himself up on on
e elbow. He looked into her eyes and let out a deep sigh. “Rose, you can take whatever you want.” She gave him a naughty look then quickly picked up the syringe. She walked over to him and rolled back the fabric of his gown revealing his large forearms and biceps. He tried not to flex but it was too late. She didn't seem at all impressed.
He watched as she leaned forward. Her cleavage, although mostly covered by a loosely fitted shirt, was magnificent. He tried not to stare. But thoughts whizzed through his mind carefree. The two beautiful globes reminded him that God only created perfection, or at least a good doctor had improved on the model. She was, in fact, his very idea of a perfect looking woman. Rose bent closer. He tried to look away but when his eyes turned she asked him, “Does this hurt?”
Drake looked to see a finger pointing at a swollen vain, “Uh yeah, I mean no, I mean that looks good.”
She looked up and said, “I'm not going to hurt you.”