Dreamscape (part 2 of 3)

 Dreamscape (part 2 of 3) 

By Len Morgan

“Is there anything you would add to improve the amenities here Kevin?”

“I’m into crafts, woodwork, painting, playing music, and I haven’t yet found the library…”

“Actually, all of our books are now on computer, you can access any books, newspapers, music, quizzes, all on your consul over there in the corner. Turn it on and ask the AI librarian for what you want. You are already signed in. If you prefer paper books the AI will print them for you.”

“I’ve never been much of a sports man, but would love to learn to play golf.  With all this money I’m earning I could afford to take it up…”

“We will arrange an instructor for you.”

“Amazing!” I said ‘Am I dreaming?’ “Guess it’s dream time, I’d best get ready to dream…”

“Ah, that’s the surprise, they’ve completed the new observation dome, from it you will  be able to view a greater area of sky, and can be rotated to centre our area of interest.  Follow me to your new sleeping quarters,” she explained.

From a prone position I would be able to view the sky magnified many times… “Will you be able to centre the circle as the earth moves?” I said.

“That’s the clever part, the dome revolves to keep the target centralized.” She said.

“So what is our next target?”

“Uh, no pressure on you tonight, we are planning to test your limitations, by targeting a nearby star system 4.2 lightyears. It’s ‘Proxima Centori b’, we want to view a rocky planet within its Goldilocks zone…”

“What is a light year anyway?”

“light always travels 5.88 trillion miles in a year. You can do it in one night?”

“No pressure then,” I said.

.-…-. 

Next morning I went to the gymn to workout and splash around in the pool for half an hour. Then went for breakfast; porridge then a full English, and three glasses of milk, I’d never felt so hungry in my life.

Three men in white coats entered, and approached my table.

“Good morning Gents, have you ordered?” I asked.

“Mr Monaghan…”

“Call me Kevin please,” I said.

“We’ve been observing you since you first arrived. You engaged in a much heavier exercise routine and you have consumed twice your normal calorie intake. How do you feel now?”

“Well, to be honest I still feel hungry, I was about to order a second breakfast, Do I have to pay for extra’s?”

The spokesman smiled, “Of course not Kevin after the trip you’ve just taken it’s quite understandable, 4.2 light years in a day?”

“Where’s Milli?” I asked.

“She has been reassigned…”

“Why is everybody being reassigned?”  I sniffed my armpit, “Is it me?”

“I’m afraid that is above my pay grade Kevin,” he said.

“Is there any point in me asking your name, or will you be reassigned?”

“My name is Jak, as to reassignment, I don’t know…”

“Don’t tell me, it above your pay grade Jak?”

“Quite!”

So I ordered A SECOND English breakfast. “I would like to check my bank balance so would you get me to a terminal. I’d like to check that the money I’ve been promised has actually gone in.” At which point my breakfast arrived.

“There is a terminal available to you just as soon as you have eaten your breakfast.”

“Thank you Jak.” I was famished so I tucked into and quaffed two cups of coffee. “Tell me Jak are you a man or a cybertron?”

He smiled neither confirming nor denying his status. “Milli as well?” I asked.

“What alerted you.” He asked.

 

Since retiring I had not imagined receiving £1000 a day free of tax.  I’d spent nothing, the balance was beyond my expectation then I saw the date on the statement. “What is the date Jak?”

He answered immediately “28^th August 2056.”

“Then I’ve lost a day,” I said.

“No, you slept for 56 hours continuously, but the dreamscape only recorded the last 36hours; that is its upper limit. We thought to wake you in case you were in difficulties.”

“Why?”

“Your our only asset, and we love you...”

“A joke?  Ha ha, so you do have a sense of humour Jak.”

‘So, Dreamscape is subject to the passage of time, that’s interesting,’ I thought.

Jak cocked his head slightly left, “The director wishes to speak with you, it seems quite urgent!”

I closed down the portal and stood up, “lead the way Jak.”

“Please sit Kevin. I’ve received sad new concerning your wife, Linda …”

“She has Alzheimer’s and stage 4 cancer…” I said

“She passed away yesterday evening; please accept our condolences. Arrangements have been made for her burial in two days time, and travel has been arranged for you, a car will be waiting at the front gate when you’re ready. Your flight will take off in two hours.  Take as long as you need to grieve.” 

.-…-. 

We took three days to mourn and settle Linda’s affairs. My life had been turned upside down.  We had shared some good memories, and some bad; very bad; since my retirement. The dogs welcomed me home, they were comforting. 

.-…-. 

On my return to Scotland, I felt guilty that I was not contributing enough to the workings of the community.  Since retiring I have become a pretty good cook, or I could be a cleaner, even a filing clerk, any roll that would justify my existence in the project anything rather than being a sponger which is how I currently feel. I requested a meeting with the director to let him know how I felt.

“I don’t want to be a spare part, I want to work in some capacity sir!”

“Let me assure you that you are contributing.  You are the only one so far that is giving our work meaning.  We have tested thousands of dreamscape gamers so far, and you are our only success to date.  You are providing us a window into the future of humanity. The search is worldwide but so far no other country has discovered an asset like you Kevin.”

“So how can I help with the day to day running?” I asked.

“I would suggest you look around and offer your services wherever you think it’s needed.”

“Will that be enough?”

“Honestly I don’t know Kevin, just give it a go and let me know how you are progressing.” He said.

“I’ll do it!” I said.

“The doctor feels that a weekly insulin patch is advisable, your other medication can also be extended to last a week…”

“Is there a new target for me sir?”

“Yes, but it would be a voluntary task; given that ‘Teegarten’s Star b’ is 12.5 light years away but, it is potentially the nearest habitable exoplanet.  It’s 3 times the distance to Proxima Centauri; that took you 2 days. This journey might take you 5-6 days.”

“I understand that at my age it could be a risk, but there is nobody else available,” I said.

“It’s your choice Kevin, I’ll not try to influence your choice. I’ll just say that you would be acting in the interest of all humanity.  The UK is not alone in this search. There are scientists the world over sharing in the knowledge we gleen from this search…”

“I’ll do it!”

At the hospital wing Dr Hussein explained the plan they had devised to ensure my safety, while placing a canular in my arm, “This will be used to feed nutrients to your body when necessary.”

That night in the dome, I was orientated towards ‘Teegartens b’.

“Good luck Kevin,” said Jak.”

“I smiled, “Thanks Jak.  Will you be here on my return, or will you be reassigned,” I asked.

“Who can say?” he said.

.-…-.

Three days later I resurfaced…

“It’s Milli, how are you feeling Kevin?”

“Would you believe tired?”

She laughed, “hold still while doctor Hussein removes your canular and checks you over.”

“Well Doc, am I still alive?”

He removed his stethoscope & said, “You’re as fit as an 80 year old,” he smiled.

“But I’m only 70 Doc,” I said alarmed at the implication.

“Heh heh! You must allow me my small wimsey. Your as fit as you were when you took your long sleep. Your body has responded well to medication so I’m happy to pronounce you fit for all normal activities.”

“I thought I would be starving hungry, but I’m Not!?  Si I intend to exercise, swim, and eat breakfast in the canteen with my friend Mili! Any objections to that doc?”

“Go for it Kevin! You’ll live to be a hundred,” he laughed.

“Where’s Milli, where are my clothes?”

.-…-.

I was tucking into a delightful Fettuccini Alfredo, best I’ve ever had. Milli sat beside me.

“We’ve got one Kevin! Come view what you found on ‘Teegartens b’ it’s incredible…”

The Dreamscape recording was in colour; “Never realized I dream in colour. Water was flowing over rocks stained with green and brown. That’s life Kevin that’s water and there’s an atmosphere. We don’t know what the gases are but the water is H20, which means the exoplanet id definitely Earthlike, and ready for exploitation, It’s so wonderful!” She kissed me, and I kissed her back...

“So what comes next?” I asked.

“We go to your old accommodation…”

At which point Jak joined us. “What news!” He said.

“The Director wants to see you,” he added.

I wiped my plate with a pulled slice of Pugliese bread, and we all headed for the directors office.

“They’ve told you the news!”

“Yes, so I guess you you wont need me around any more?”

“Are you resigning Kevin, you want a rise? I can justify doubling your

salary on the strength of this discovery,” He said.

“No! An increase would be very welcome but I’m quite happy…

“Doctor Hussein wants to run a full program of tests to ensure you will be able to keep up with the pace of our schedule.”

.-…-.

“I’m ready Doc do your worst…”

“The thing is, you are our only reliable subject, so we have to keep you fit and healthy, we don’t want to overtax you.”

“I’ve been thinking about that problem. It seems to me that all the people you have been testing are Gamers, and under the age of 35. We olduns don’t have much interest in gaming.”

“What are you implying Kevin?”

“Well, I wasn’t a Gamer so you only found me by accident. My age group have a different mind set. Maybe widening your search would show results Doc?”

“I think we should run it by the director…”

(To be Continued)

 

Copyright Len Morgan