New Sight

Prologue: A Special Chance

18. 06. 2723.

Soleil only had a few minutes left in this year, in this century even. They had given him plenty of time to say his goodbyes and he had considered it. There were a few people who came to mind, who he would want to sit down and let them know just what they meant to him before he disappeared from their lives.

But in the end, he'd decided otherwise. They didn't matter to him as much as he'd once thought.

If he really had attachments, would he even been able to go through with this? The fact that his family was gone and his friends meant nothing made things easier. There would be no goodbyes for him.

His last few minutes were spent in silence.

Finally, the door of the white room opened and a man in a lab coat walked in. He was holding a clipboard. Soleil couldn't see his face.

They were both quiet for a moment and although Soleil couldn't see his eyes, he imagined the scientist was observing him carefully. It was almost like he was asking 'This is the man we're entrusting such an important mission to?', but if that was really what he thought, he didn't voice it.

Instead, when he finally spoke, he did so in such a monotone tone that he could have been mistaken for some sort of robot.

"Soleil Picard. Male. Twenty-seven." Soleil nodded as their faces (and not their eyes, because he didn't have a view of them in the slightest) met. The scientist repeated the gesture before putting down his clipboard on the table. He reached into wide pockets Soleil hadn't even realized he'd had and pulled out a syringe.

"You are aware of what's going to happen?" The scientist confirmed, his voice as dull as before.

"Yes." Soleil stuck out his arm, watching passively as the needle was stuck into his vein. Whatever weird liquid was just shot into him was supposed to ensure he'd survive with the pod.

"And you've signed the contract." He continued, not so much a question as a statement.

"Yes," Soleil repeated. He just wanted to get this over with.

Another syringe was taken from his pocket and Soleil wondered how many he had. "This one will knock you out."

Finally, the scientist gave him the final once-over before leading him into another room. This one was as white as the last and he did not bother to look around. After all, when he awoke, there would be plenty of time for that.

The pod's door was opened. Many other scientists flanked it, all watching Soleil as he stepped in.

"Three hundred years," one man said to him.

"Good luck," another said with a firm nod.

And then the door was shut.