Continuum

I woke again, for the second time that day . . . was it the same day? It was completely dark, and all I knew was that I lay on some cold, hard surface. I was restrained quite sufficiently. All I could move was my eyes. Small lights swam into view. They were all quite dim. They might have been inches from my head, or far away on some distant wall. All of them were either red or orange, and unblinking.

Where was I? Why couldn't I remember anything? What was my name?

Slowly, the realization of who and what I was crept upon me. And with that, came a nameless fear. All of my fears came suddenly upon me, with the realization of where I was!

There could only be one place! The one place I had hoped with all of my being that I would never see: The Citadel!

Panic took hold of me! I tried to move, but was unable. I found my voice and began to scream!

Sudden light! I was blinded by a fully lit room. People were coming through several doors, rushing to equipment to which I was tied. No one paid me any attention, but they all were busy at their consoles. They were busy now that I was awake again.

One face came into view. The very face I dreaded seeing again: Mr. Lerno! He smiled his death's-head smile at me briefly. He made no eye contact with me at all. Again I got the distinct impression I was only a specimen to be examined. In fact, the grim dread came upon me again, that I was exactly that! How long did I have? Why was I still alive?

How much have they discovered about the Continuum?

Lerno came into view again. This time he was looking at something, or someone off to the side, nodding his head. He raised one finger, and I felt instant pain in my head! I screamed, quite involuntarily, but I bit down on it quickly. I would never give him the satisfaction!

He then looked at me, questioning. Someone off to the side said, "We have the frequency."

Lerno came closer. I considered spitting in his face, but was unable to feel my mouth or tongue! My eyes must have blazed their disgust of him, but I could see he was extremely satisfied at something.

"Well, well! You almost got away. Who warned you to run?

His expression changed, as if he was examining a brand new thought.

"Who could have ever thought!" He exclaimed in mock credulity. "The Continuum? A bunch of Macintosh nut cases? With such extensive computing power? How long have you been doing this?"

I did not answer him. I shut down my facial expression as much as I thought I could. I knew that I could feel almost nothing of my face, my head, or anything below my neck. All I could feel was a coldness at the back of my head. I closed my eyes to hide his face from me.

"Stevo, Stevo." Lerno mocked again in a display of apparent concern. "You do not need to answer me at all. I know everything! Not long ago, you were quite happy to tell me all about your secret life. Our pharmaceutical experts are really good. I know you don't remember any of it, but I want you to know that if you wish for me to prove it to you, I had it all recorded. You can see it if you want. It is quite good. It would make for some interesting science fiction, I think."

He continued, "You know, at first I thought I had a genuine nut case on my hands! I admit that your story is astonishing. But as I listened, I realized that I have struck the Motherload of all conspiracies! Your secret Continuum is the greatest threat to our world that I could ever imagine! Here we are in this fantastic age of enlightenment, with everyone so very happy with our benevolent and all powerful WinTel, and I suddenly find that there are thousands of people who are planning our destruction! Amazing! Such paranoia in so many deluded misfits and nonconformists! Did you really think that you few people could bring down the greatest computing establishment on the planet so easily?"

I said nothing, but then I didn't have to. He was on a roll again, and I was his unwilling pupil, unable to do anything but listen. I needed to know! How much has he discovered? I tried contacting Mary, or anyone, to warn them, but the silent thoughts just echoed in my head. Lerno had either disabled my implants, or he had somehow cut off the signals with the equipment in this room. Or there was another possibility. One that I could never accept!

It was then that I felt complete defeat! Someone was talking, talking, but I didn't care! I was too far lost in my own despair over our discovery. Someone was still talking. Words came into my attention span, and I caught something that should have been important, but what was it?

"Ah. You are with us again, I see. As I was saying, and I do so want you to hear this, because you must know this one fact before you go!"

I looked directly at him, waiting, waiting, with dread to hear what I hoped that he would not say!

He smiled a small, chilling smile at me. He almost looked at me with benevolence, or pity.