Dreamwalkers: The Awakening

CHAPTER 17

Dr. Milton greets us with a subdued excitement as we step into the corridor that leads to the pod room. It's clear he's looking forward to the welcome gala this evening, but he does his best to maintain a level of professionalism. "I see our stylists are very well trained," he offers as a compliment. "Now, shall we commence the tour of the most exciting part of our facility?"

He begins with an explanation of the rooms on the other sides of the seamless glass walls encasing the hallway. "Here in our research facilities, you see some of the top minds in the world, hard at work on new technologies to aid the lost dreamwalker." The room buzzes with people wearing safety goggles, lab coats and paper caps, studying information on computers. A large viewing screen flashes between foggy images and static, capturing my interest. "What is that?" I ask Dr. Milton, noticing the miles of wires descending from the screen to a bed.

"New technology for use in our long-term care facility. We're learning to translate information from brainwave patterns and neuron signals into images."

"You can see what's happening in someone's dreamwalk?" Zoë asks pressing her hands against the glass wall.

"It still has a way to go. The longer the individual has been asleep, the more difficult it is to interpret information. But we're making steady progress." He clears his throat, ready to move on. "Let's continue, shall we? Just ahead is the pod room."

As we approach the double sliding glass doors at the end of the hall, my stomach twirls. Dr. Milton leans into the facial scanning device, opening the glass doors.

Even though I've already seen it from a viewing deck, I'm completely taken aback by the enormity of the pod room once we step inside. Much more daunting up close than they were from the observation deck, the pods are also much larger than I expected. Each one looks to be about eight feet long and more than half that in width.

A tall woman with very dark, distinct features approaches us, her face covered in a smile. Dr. Milton introduces her as Dr. Farrah El-Amin. "Dr. El-Amin is head of the pod room."

She steps forward with confidence and greets us with a polite nod instead of the handshake I was expecting. Her presence is powerful, giving off the impression that everyone does what she says, regardless of their own opinions.

Dr. El-Amin leads us to an area of the room devoid of hectic chatter and beeping equipment, ignoring the clandestine stares of curious staff members. "These pods are where your care will take place." She presses a button on one of them and the glass bubble covering the bed seamlessly retracts as if evaporating into thin air. Moving around the pod, she points out each individual monitor, explaining their functions in detail.

A look at our apprehensive expressions has her dialing back the medical jargon. "I know it's quite intimidating here. This is, first and foremost, a medical facility. But as I tell my children daily, knowledge is power." Overwhelmed by the information being thrown at us, I can't even remember one of the multitude of questions from my mental list.

She leads us around the room, introducing other doctors and nurses who will be caring for us. Each one of them has already elevated Zoë and me to hero status, evident in their beaming smiles and lingering gazes. The unwanted attention makes me feel awkward and uncomfortable. It takes everything I have to restrain myself from running away. Finally, Dr. Milton offers us an exit. "Ah, look at the time," he exclaims. "I must be getting Miss Owens and Miss Carver to their dressing rooms in preparation for tonight's gala. Dr. El-Amin, thank you for your time and expertise."

"My pleasure. I look forward to seeing everyone at dinner."

Zoë and I follow Dr. Milton out of the pod room as he gives us details about the gala. I have a difficult time listening to him blabber on about the countless people I've never heard of who will be in attendance, the spectacular entertainment and delectable dinner. But I stop dead in my tracks when I hear a dreaded phrase escape his mouth. "Did you just say I'll need to stand up in front of everyone and speak?"