A. I. Evolution: The Coming of Christopher

Chapter 9

I open my eyes and look around the stark room. Nothinghas changed since I last closed them; the clarity of the image as I scan theroom makes me smile again, because it seems even sharper and more defined thanearlier in the day. The sun coming through the windows causes waves of heatthat radiate out from the spot on the floor where it strikes the tiles. Thesoft light from the recessed panels spreads out evenly around the room, onlydisturbed by the sun's rays in the center of the floor, and the window fromwhich they entered the room.

The smell of food being prepared down the hall behind the closed-door waffles into the room under the door silently, but with a richness that causes me to close my eyes in anticipation of the fried chicken and creamy potatoes, along with green beans. I take a deeper breath and detect the scent of coconut. I open my eyes wide as I recognize the smell of coconut cream pie for dessert.

My hearing picks up the bits of conversation as the cook finishes getting the meal ready for the workers and the lone patient in the clinic.

I realize at that point that I am truly the only person in the complex, and everything is focused on me and the experiment they are conducting. I listen for any mention of another patient, or even any noise from the rooms around me. I can tell by the sound of footsteps that the hallway goes around a central nurse's station, with the rooms, offices and cafeteria set around the outside rim of the building. Pumps and electrical wires whine and clunk in the basement below the small complex.

I close my eyes again and concentrate on the rooms to each side of mine and can tell that they are truly empty, because there is no hum from the electric overhead lights. Unfortunately, the effort of using my new-found abilities takes its toll on me, and I slump back onto the pillow behind my head, spent.

I draw back into myself and recover from the wave of fatigue that sweeps over me. "I need to watch how much I do, because it is obvious that I still have a way to go yet before I am back to full strength," I think, as I smile again at the thought of the food that is being prepared.

I slip in and out of a semi-conscious state, as I listen for the footsteps to stop outside my room. I don't have long to wait before I hear the gentle step of Jane, who is wearing an almost slipper-like footwear, whereas the workers and Doctor Worth wear a solid shoe designed to take the hard floors constant battering.

Jane enters slowly to see me looking at her as she turns around from using her back to push the door open as she holds the wide tray with my supper on it. I hold up my hand and close my eyes as I tilt my head off to the side, as if I was about to read her mind. "Don't tell me." I sniff the air loudly. "I am thinking fried chicken, mashed potatoes with chives, and green beans on the side, then after I finish all my meat and vegetables, there is coconut cream pie for dessert."

Jane sets the tray on the portable table and wheels it over to the bed. I sit up straighter and lean forward, taking a whiff of the aroma coming from the warm tray. Jane smiles and lifts the white cloth from over top of the food. "How did you know what it was?"

"I woke up to the smell coming under the door from the cafeteria. All I had to do then, was wait for the sound of your softer footsteps coming down the hall."

Jane looks to me suspiciously. "Have you always been able to make these kinds of assumptions in the past?"

"No, and it is the strangest thing. I find that I can see, hear, and smell out to a greater distance than ever before. The only problem is that it takes a lot of energy, and I can only keep up the intensity of the focus for a brief time."

All I want to do is dig into my mouth-watering meal, but Jane has other ideas. "Please, I must know what you are experiencing, because after you are done eating, Doctor Worth is going to remove the power supply to the Nanos in your head. He has no choice, but if there is anything you can tell me about the enhancements you are experiencing, you need to tell me now before they stop working."

I look to the tray of food, and almost whimper at the thought of making it wait as I answer her question, but I turn to her and explain everything I have noticed in the last day since awaking from the coma they had put me in.

Jane just stares at me clearly, having trouble understanding what I am talking about. "So, you have greatly heightened senses. Can you do anything else like mathematical calculations instantly, or a clarity of memory that seems absolute."

I think about it and imagine doing a complex mathematical equation in my head, but the strain on my weakened body causes me to flinch and stop the process. "I think I can, but the strain on me is considerable. I really need something to eat before I attempt to try anything else again."

Jane nods her head. "I can imagine you do. The Nanos are still working on repairing the damage, and the brain needs a great deal of energy to even do the normal activities. It is a wonder you can think at all right now, let alone do any complex activities."

I start in on my meal with gusto as Jane sits back in the chair to the side of my bed and thinks about the latest developments in my progress. I finish the first chicken thigh and most of the potatoes with chives and take a short break. "Is it true that I am the only patient in this clinic right now?"

Jane shakes her head at my sudden question. "What? Oh, yes, we wanted to focus all our efforts on you and the work the Nanos are doing. This is an historic event, and we could not risk anything interfering with the results."

"How am I doing?"

Jane smiles as she considers how to answer me. "Well, to say the least, it has been more than any of us had hoped for, but I must ask a favor of you before Doctor Worth comes in."

"What is that?" I ask, with the second chicken thigh halfway to my mouth.

"Can we just keep it between us, about the extra sense of hearing, smell and sight?"

"Why is that?"

"Well, I am afraid that George's greatest concern is that the Nanos will change you. Change you in a way that will cause you to be unable to return to normal society. He only wants you restored to your normal self, so he can release you from his care. The changes you are talking about could force him to keep you here under observation for a very long time, and subject you to a whole barrage of tests."

"Oh, I see. Ok, why don't we just keep all the rest to ourselves then. I do not want to remain here any longer than is necessary."

Jane smiles at my choice. "I will be assigned to you for the next few months and will check up on you on a regular basis anyway, so if anything goes wrong, I will be there for you."

I eat the rest of the chicken thigh before responding. "I would like that. I just want to get back to work and designing chairs as I did before all this started."

"Then that is what we will do."

I finish my meal and lay back with a pleasant smile on my face. The taste of the food was like nothing I had ever experienced before. The memory of the meal continues to assault my taste buds, making me wonder about the last thing Jane talked about. Is my memory that acute now that every moment is easily called up in every detail?