The Nibiru Effect

Memory 15

I awake feeling rested. The whiteness of my surroundings no longer scares me. It's soothing. I sit up, smiling, and stretch. I'm about to stand when I notice him.

A boy. He stands in the corner of the room, his arms crossed. Determining his exact age is impossible, but he seems to be no more than ten or eleven. The final detail I notice is the lab coat he's wearing.

"What are you doing here?" I ask. "Are you lost?"

The boy cocks his head and studies me.

"My name is Kidd," he eventually says.

"Kid?"

He nods. "With two 'D's."

"That's a weird name."

He doesn't react. He just stands there, smiling ever so slightly.

"Why are you dressed like a doctor?"

His smile evaporates.

"Because I am a doctor. And a scientist. Not that it matters."

"That's impossible. You're just a kid."

"Appearances can be deceiving," says Kidd with a mischievous smile.

What does that mean?

I take a moment to study him. He looks no different than the two dozen children his age who live at the orphanage. What makes him so special? Unless...

Kidd is insane. It's the only logical explanation. I should be concerned, but the truth is I'm relieved. If I befriend him, maybe he can tell me where I am and how I got here.

"So," I say, playing along with Kidd's delusional claim. "You're a doctor?"

Kidd nods.

"I'm here to verify your mental and physical health," he explains. He may be insane, but he's a skilled actor. "Shall we begin?"

I nod.

Kidd digs into his coat pocket and pulls out a strange device. It's a plain, metallic egg. It glows softly as Kidd presses it to my chest, but not much else happens. After a series of tests that last mere seconds each, Kidd returns the egg to his pocket and presses his index to his wrist. At first, nothing happens, but then a holographic screen sprouts from the fake doctor's wrist and hovers above his open palm. Unimpressed by the technological display, Kidd starts tapping away as though it were a mere tablet. As it turns out, that's exactly what it is.

I watch, stunned, as the child plays with the tablet. This odd little game goes on for nearly a full minute before Kidd seems satisfied. He shakes his wrist, and the hologram disappears.

"You're all set," he announces. "Your blood pressure is a little high, but that's to be expected given the circumstances."

I stare at him, unsure how to react. Is he insane or is he, in fact, some sort of child genius? Then again, it doesn't matter. Kidd is the only person capable of shedding light on my current situation, and I plan on taking full advantage of it.

"Where am I?"

"You're in the isolation ward of the Atlantis General Hospital."

"Isolation?" I ask, ignoring the building's peculiar name. "Why?"

Kidd gives me a placating smile.

"I realize how confusing this must be," he says, "but it will all make sense in the end. For now, let me tell you a story."

That's not exactly the answer I was hoping for, but it will have to do.

"Okay," I say. "I'm listening."