Dreaming in Static

Chapter 19

Polaris

Strapped down uncomfortably to a padded hospital bed, Polaris attempted to look around at the decor of the clean white room. But there appeared to be literally nothing other than a blinding light stationed directly above her and four blank white walls. She couldn't even see a door.

She tried to turn her head and couldn't, finding that her neck was restrained as well. Polaris exhaled and awaited Kelley's arrival. They would be undergoing a series of experiments to better understand Polaris's cyborg nature.

Cyborg, not android. She still didn't understand. How could she have lived her whole life without knowing that she was a cyborg? An actual human?

As much as Polaris dreaded the testing, she couldn't deny that she was curious about what the results would reveal to her. And so she hadn't protested when they wrapped a slim-fitting blindfold around her head and roughly pushed her to this blank room.

"Good morning, Polaris," came Kelley's voice. Polaris tried to turn her head toward the sound and was rewarded by a sharp jolt of pain where the restraints pulled back at her neck. "Do you know what day it is?"

"No," Polaris replied.

"You need Internet?"

"Yes."

"Good to know," Kelley said, approaching her. Polaris glanced up at the face of the woman standing over her. "I'm going to oversee a few tests of your cyborg ability today. Just respond naturally to all the stimuli that comes your way, okay?"

Polaris swallowed, her heart speeding up with apprehension. "Okay."

Kelley noticed her anxiety. "It shouldn't have any long-term effects; don't worry. Do you have any questions?"

"Can you tell me what to expect?" Polaris asked.

"No. Any more questions?" the doctor said briskly.

"No."

"Then let's get started. Just relax and don't hold back. I promise you, that will make it worse. Prepare restraints," Kelley called out.

A team of other doctors surrounded the bed and began tightening Polaris's restraints until each was tight against her skin. The one against her throat was painfully tight, carving so deep into her skin that she was sure any human would be choking for air by now. The doctor glanced at her curiously when she didn't react.

In the end, Polaris was rendered almost completely immobile but for the short, shallow breaths that she could salvage from beneath the thick straps.

"Ready?" one doctor asked.

"Timer ready," another doctor replied.

"Restraints are ready," came another voice. "Hormones are ready, connections are ready. System's running."

"Containment is enabled."

"Approval?" the first doctor asked again.

Kelley's voice, now: "Go."

Polaris forced herself to keep her eyes open through the anxiety that stretched over the next moment. The click of a switch being flipped.

And then mind-bending...love.

She almost jerked out of the bed at the surprise that followed this sudden emotion, but the warmth that flowed through her was unmistakable. Polaris felt nothing but love. She relaxed into the bed, her mouth opening into a huge smile, thinking of Andromeda and Ali and—

The feeling faded away slowly, and Polaris furrowed her brows slightly, confused. Where had it gone? She grabbed onto the last tendrils of love, knowing she still had the capacity to care, the capacity to feel just as much love as she had a moment ago—so where was it? Why couldn't she summon that same intense emotion?