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damned_institute2009-11-15 04:22 am
damned-intercom.livejournal.com) wrote in damned_institute2009-11-15 04:22 am
Day 45: Intercom, Afternoon
"Hm!" The Head Doctor gave a small, thoughtful exclamation just after the intercom jingle came on. "It's only afternoon and yet I'm already feeling a bit tired. I suppose it's because I had such a busy night last night. Some rare occurrences that caused a great deal of paperwork, I can assure you..."
He trailed off, as if realizing he'd let some of his Nighttime fun slip into his Daytime facade. He cleared his throat and continued.
"In any case, it only seems natural that such a well-behaved patient body should be rewarded by some very fun activities in the Game Room, doesn't it? Ha ha ha... Remember that today is a day that should be celebrated, not frowned upon, and those of you who are still struggling should be happy for your fellow patients instead of trying to dissuade their progress.
"But now I'm simply being unfair, aren't I? Yes, yes, we all have to go at our own paces, though I am sure some of you will soon be making your way out of the Institute and perhaps be making some more room for the very new batch of patients that has already begun to join us.
"In any case, I've rambled on for quite long enough, haven't I? Enjoy your fun and I'll be back to speak with you later!"
The intercom clicked off.
He trailed off, as if realizing he'd let some of his Nighttime fun slip into his Daytime facade. He cleared his throat and continued.
"In any case, it only seems natural that such a well-behaved patient body should be rewarded by some very fun activities in the Game Room, doesn't it? Ha ha ha... Remember that today is a day that should be celebrated, not frowned upon, and those of you who are still struggling should be happy for your fellow patients instead of trying to dissuade their progress.
"But now I'm simply being unfair, aren't I? Yes, yes, we all have to go at our own paces, though I am sure some of you will soon be making your way out of the Institute and perhaps be making some more room for the very new batch of patients that has already begun to join us.
"In any case, I've rambled on for quite long enough, haven't I? Enjoy your fun and I'll be back to speak with you later!"
The intercom clicked off.
M??
That or he'd simply been moved. Which made, perhaps, even less sense. Hayes knew every part of the Starbase he commanded and there was no room like this, and he couldn't quite reconcile it with the design of a Cruiser or the Vindicator either. Those were really the only good possibilities, which left him with bad ones.
In which case, it was best to find out more as soon as possible. He swung his legs off the bed, noting in passing that he was now wearing more than the underwear in which he habitually slept. The shirt had a yellow smiley face on it.
Another Human thing, Hayes reflected. I can probably rule out the Hierarchy, unless there are some Androsynth out there with a very strange sense of humor.
He was about to check the nearby drawers when there was a knock at the door, the kind knocked by someone who had no intention of actually waiting for a response. Sure enough, the door opened immediately afterward to admit an unfamiliar young man in what appeared to be an old-fashioned nurse's outfit. This was just getting weirder and weirder.
"What's going on?" Hayes demanded. Better to take the initiative right away than wait and let his captor, if that was what he was, control the conversation. "Why am I not on the Starbase?"
The faintly bored expression of the nurse turned annoyed at the first question, then softened into a kind of frustrated pity. "Not again," he muttered. "Mr. Abrams, you're not on the Starbase because there's no Starbase. Don't you remember?"
Hayes' eyes darted around the room just in case there might be someone else around, but it seemed that by "Abrams" the nurse meant him. "I remember the Starbase perfectly well," he said firmly, "that my name is Daniel Hayes-- though from you I think I'd prefer Commander Hayes-- and that I was not in this room when I last fell asleep. I'd like an explanation."
Pity creased the nurse's face again, to Hayes' annoyance. "You've forgotten again. I'm sorry to hear that, Mr. Abrams. This is Landel's Institute, and you're here to get help for that."
Re: M??