| |
Watching movies for several days had become more boring than Magnus and Sylvia had ever expected. While they had watched movies, Carter spent most of his time researching data on the Sleeper Chips, trying to figure out why they weren’t one hundred percent efficient.
Magnus expressed how stir crazy the shuttle was becoming, even with movies, games, and exercise. Carter suggested that they start their first month’s hibernation cycle to see how well they adapted after awakening.
Magnus thought they should stay awake for at least another week, but after more discussion with Carter about the situation, Magnus reluctantly agreed. Carter convinced them that they needed the medical knowledge about how the Hyber-Sleep affected their reactions, their cognitive abilities, and their overall strength. Understanding those results earlier in the trip allowed Carter to estimate the best time for them to awaken so they could rebuild their mental reflexes and strength, and be at their best prior to entering the Earth’s atmosphere.
Carter gave them each a high mineral drink to flush their colons before they were set inside the Hyber-Sleep chambers for the month.
Magnus sat down and shook his head. “Man, that’s some rough stuff.”
“I wish you had warned us about that procedure ahead of time,” Sylvia said.
“I know it’s unpleasant, but it’s necessary,” Carter replied. “You don’t want to harbor a lot of solid waste inside you while you sleep. The toxins are dangerous, and you can’t exactly go to the restroom.”
“I understand.” She winced and held her stomach. “I think.”
“I might opt to remain awake the rest of the trip now,” Magnus said. “Rather than go through that again.”
Carter smiled. “That is an option. I’m not sure what you’d entertain yourself with though.”
“Books,” Magnus said.
“Okay. We can discuss that after this sleep session is over. But if we decide to hibernate again we need our muscles to be strengthened enough for landing. So, what we’re testing for now is muscle loss or weakness.”
“I understand that,” Magnus said. “But don’t you think we need to be awake in case Grayson tries to negotiate a new deal with us?”
Sylvia nodded. “I agree.”
“No,” Carter replied. “I don’t think Grayson will be offering any deals this early in our departure from Mars.”
“Why not?” Sylvia asked.
“Honestly, why should he? He’ll wait until we’re closer to Earth. Seven months is plenty of time for Grayson to scheme. My guess is that he won’t offer us a deal at all. He owns the ship, and essentially, like Magnus already stated about the miners and their contracts, such agreements were phony. His actions seem to imply that he owns us, too. Why negotiate with someone you already believe is your property?”
Magnus shrugged. “I agree that that’s the way he probably views the prisoners, but I’m not so certain he thinks that about his guards, staff, and scientists.”
Carter sighed. “When I first signed on, I believed that, too.”
“And you don’t now?” Magnus asked.
“No.”
“What changed your mind?” Sylvia asked.
“To lay the groundwork for a Martian civilization will take decades. At least a couple hundred years,” Carter replied. “I’ve been thinking a lot about what Magnus said about the prisoners’ health. The prisoners are aging at a rapid rate due to being overworked without getting adequate food and sleep. They aren’t aware of what’s happening, so they can’t protest or revolt. Magnus is right. The majority of them will never live long enough to reap the monetary promises and benefits that Grayson has promised them. Even if they did, they’ll be too feeble to work their land.”
“That’s a shame,” Sylvia said.
“Perhaps,” Carter said. “But with their violent backgrounds, would you ever want to see them without the Sleeper Chips controlling them?”
Sylvia shook her head. “No.”
“Eventually, a lot of those chips will fail,” Magnus said. “My chip deactivated because of outside help, but the miner that killed himself after his malfunctioned only did so because it was defective. Out of the hundred or so prisoners here, the odds are that there are many more chips that will short out.”
“I have no doubt about that,” Carter said. “Grayson has money, and while most of his goals are usually achieved, he rushed on the development of the Sleeper Chips because he wanted to stake his full claim to the mining rights on Mars. He should have tested the chips a year or so longer.”
Magnus stared at the hibernation seats. “So you really think we should go ahead and take a long nap?”
“Yes. Pick a seat,” Carter replied.
Sylvia and Magnus took a seat while Carter prepared to administer their first month of hibernation. Sylvia watched Carter set up the vital sign monitors and unraveled the feeding tubes. She was extremely nervous.
Carter’s brow furrowed as he focused upon tightening different attachments.
“I’ll be right back,” Carter said. “I need to get some sterile I.V. needles.”
Magnus nodded.
“I’m sorry to inform you. But if you thought the enemas were bad, the worst part of this is that I have to get catheters, too.”
“Shit,” Magnus said with an intense wince. “Never thought of that.”
After Carter left the passenger cabin, Sylvia looked at Magnus. “I’m nervous. Are you?”
“A little.”
“What are you going to do about Digger?” she asked.
He shrugged. “Actually, there is a pet housing room back there. Since maintenance uses ferrets to squeeze through those narrow passages, I imagine they must transport some of them aboard these shuttles from time to time. He’s going to be okay. He’ll be set up like a king.”
“Good.”
Magnus chuckled. “Besides, I doubt these seats are fashioned for little ferrets.”
She smiled. “Probably not.”
“He may get a bit lonely over the next month. He might get fat, too.”
“Poor little guy. How do you think we’ll feel after a month of sleep?”
“Our minds might be refreshed,” Magnus said. “Not sure how our bodies will react though. I imagine our minds will be a bit foggy, too, like waking up with a bad hangover. At first, it will probably be hard for us to find the motivation to exercise. At least we’re not going to stay sedentary the entire trip. That would be too hard on us.”
“You’re right.”
Magnus smiled at her. “I’ll be happy when we reach Earth and get back to our normal lives.”
“Do you think we can return to normal?”
“I don’t know, but I’m going to try my damnedest.”
Carter returned with two packages of I.V. needles and catheter tubes, but he didn’t have his briefcase. He ripped open each plastic bag and after several minutes, he had Sylvia’s I.V. ready to insert. Her hands trembled when Carter rubbed alcohol on the back of her wrist with a cotton ball. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
“Don’t be so worried,” Carter said. “The worst part will be when I insert the needle. Okay?”
She nodded but kept her eyes squeezed tightly shut.
Carter looked at Magnus. “I have the computer set to awaken you in thirty days.”
“Aren’t you going into hibernation mode, too?” he asked with a puzzled expression.
“Yes,” Carter said, nodding. “I meant . . . us. We’ll awaken in thirty days.”
“You sure you’ll be able to do that by yourself?” Sylvia asked, finally opening her eyes.
He gave a hesitant smile and nodded. “Yes. That won’t be a problem.”
Sylvia’s nervous eyes stared into Carter’s. “Are you certain that we’re going to be okay after this?”
“The computer monitors everything,” he replied. He placed a gentle hand on her cheek and smiled. “Should something happen, the computer will awaken us.”
“Good,” she said with slight relief, but her frightened eyes exposed her doubt in fully trusting that what Carter had said was true.
Magnus stared at Carter with the same type of scrutiny.
After Carter set her I.V. monitor and the computer commands, he turned his attention to Magnus. He inserted the I.V. needle for him, and typed in the commands for his seat. The overhead enclosures lowered. Metal clamps locked around Magnus and Sylvia’s wrists, perhaps to reduce any extra movement during the hibernation stage. Magnus thought it might be possible for a nightmare to cause the dreamer to fling up their arms and unknowingly disconnect the I.V. needles, thus the reason for the added precaution of securing them to the seats.
Carter faced them. “You both should start feeling some drowsiness in a few minutes. That’s the sedative taking affect.”
Magnus closed his eyes. He pictured Boony and her smile the night they had talked over drinks at the Vortex. He thought about how pleasant a month of sleep would be if she were the one occupying his dreams. Although he didn’t really get to talk to her as long as he wished he could have, he was thankful to have met her. He liked that he had been able to gain her trust enough that she let him continue on his mission to seek justice, or at the very worst, carry out his ultimate revenge.
His heart raced when he thought about delivering the justice to his enemies that they deserved. He didn’t want to let down his ex-girlfriend’s cousin, Darnell. Since Boony had generously allowed him to help hijack the shuttle and return to Earth, he didn’t want to let her down, either. She seemed to have believed in him somewhat, or otherwise, he reasoned, she would have turned him over to Jonas. She hadn’t. For that, he was grateful. He swore not to ever give her up even if Grayson captured and tortured him for answers. He chose not to dwell on that possible outcome for another second because he didn’t plan to get caught.
Magnus hoped that whatever forthcoming nightmares might occur once they reached Earth didn’t override their most pleasant dreams during hibernation. Upon awakening, he was fearful how things in their lives might have already changed. He possessed a growing uncertainty in what Carter was doing, what his true plans were, and if the doctor was actually being truthful to them. But he agreed with Carter that Grayson wouldn’t offer them any deals. Most likely, Grayson planned to capture them once the shuttle landed. Quite possibly, Sylvia’s plan for them to use parachutes wasn’t something Grayson even expected. At least, he hoped Grayson wouldn’t.
As Magnus’ eyes grew heavier, he wanted to tug out the I.V. needle, but with his wrists clamped inside the metal cuffs and the enclosure lowered over him, there wasn’t anything he could do until the computer brought them out of hibernation.
He glanced at Sylvia. She was already sleeping. Perhaps due to his large size, the sedative took longer or he simply needed a higher dosage. Movement caught his attention on the other side of Sylvia. It was Carter. The doctor didn’t have another I.V. needle and didn’t seem to be getting ready to join them in the hibernation phase.
“What the hell are you up to?” Magnus thought.
Magnus fought to keep his eyes open.
Carter crossed his arms and stood watching Sylvia and Magnus. His eyes were strangely dark, sinister, and an odd smile spread across the doctor’s lips. Quite disturbing was the best way Magnus could describe it. Carter wasn’t prepping himself at all, and that disturbed Magnus more than the fear of possible nightmares. At this particular moment, Carter’s intent was far worse than anything the Sandman might deliver.
Carter stared at them a few moments more, turned, and headed down the aisle. Seconds before Magnus’ eyes shut in sleep, his last thought was to get free of the hibernation chamber. He flexed his arms and desperately tugged, but the metal restraints didn’t budge.
“Where the hell are you going?” Magnus whispered as he faded from consciousness and drifted into the hibernation stage. He no longer expected Boony to dominate his dreams. Nightmares of what Carter might do while they slept haunted him.