13 April 2012
The doctor turned back to his patient, his office chair groaning under his shifting weight. ' I should think 20 cc's ought to perk you up and get you back in the fight' He mumbled, as he handed the ' R and R' permission slip to the patient. Twenty? 'Twenty cube cycles' thought the patient. It way above the recommended average. The 'permission' slip was anything but. Designed to fill the records with documents that created the illusion of choice, reassuring any who would delve into the catalogues of 'patient files', once they became public information, that their society still operated under the ideals of liberty. However, this permission wasn't permission at all. It was doctor's orders.
' I know what you're thinking' said the doctor, waving a finger ' twenty days sleep in the tub will keep you awake for over a month when you get out'. He paused with a chuckle. ' But this isn't your first time on an ECO is it?'
It sounded so nice put like that, thought the patient, but the Extended Consciousness Operations that he'd soldiered on before had lasted little longer than a working week. For the first time in his military career he was unsure of the information put forward to him. The thought of lowering himself once again into the dark, crystalline gel, made exhaustion wash over him. He could feel it's near freezing temperature crawl slowly up his naked skin, stimulating every hair follicle with a static like buzz as it consumed his upright body. And always the last thought being 'Will I wake up?'.
The Sergeant broke away from his thoughts of the ECO chamber that was waiting for him once he noticed the doctor watching him. Rising and saluting in one fluid motion the patient thanked his superior. 'Thank you sir, I'll let the squad know'. The doctor nodded. 'We're making a big push next month Sergeant, and we need you Daydreamers to lead the way' 'Yes sir' He gestured for the sergeant to leave, turning back to his desk. The sergeant walked towards the door. 20 days of CC sleep meant something big was coming, but he resolved to deal with that bridge when he came to it, he and his men were trained and ready for this, no use in losing sleep over it. With one hand on the door the sergeant smiled to himself. 'Losing sleep'? He'd been awake 5 days straight, it was a good sign he still had a sense of humour. Losing sleep in the Tub would definitely be the very least of his worries. ' Oh and Sergeant?' Without turning from his work the doctor caught the patient just before he crossed the threshold out of his office. The patient turned and the doctor grinned. 'Sweet dreams'
Daydreamers • Opuss № I