The main part:
My first memory after waking up was – Where am I?
The pain all over my body rang like the ringing of a bell, my head hurt so much that I could hardly think about anything except where I was and who I was. The only thing I had the strength to do was open my eyes to look around and understand where I am and what is happening around me. A hospital ward stuck in front of me, but something was wrong in it, either the walls were not painted normally, or the ward itself looked so clean and tidy that it could easily be confused with an elite hotel room. The air I inhaled seemed so clean that for a second the thought slipped through my mind that I was in the middle of a clearing surrounded by a forest in springtime. A little later, a man entered this room. Somehow shifting my gaze to the stranger, I noticed, squinting, that, contrary to strange forebodings, this is an ordinary doctor, of whom there are plenty in city hospitals and hospitals. There was just one thing that bothered me–the stranger looked pretty tired. Bruises under his eyes, pallor, it seemed he did not go out at all, there was even a feeling that the stranger was just an office worker obsessed with his computer, rather than a doctor of an elite polyclinic.
The man slowly approached my bed, holding in his hands some device that was not clear to me. His eyes seem to be directed at the floor, and he mumbles something very quietly about the ward and weeks… Approaching me, he froze, fell silent, it seems he turned even paler, even dropped the incomprehensible device from his hands in amazement. Finally, catching his gaze, a moment before the device fell, I read a stormy mixture of surprise, panic, disbelief, it seemed that the doctor saw a corpse come to life, but a moment later a spark was noticed, a glimmer of happiness and joy on his face, after which a small crash was made from the fall, which was enough for me to lost consciousness again.
Looking into the void, my last memories flashed before me, where my brother and I were playing snowballs on a cold, Sunday, January day, and I, hitting him right behind the hood of a winter down jacket, immediately burst into loud laughter, fell on my back, dreamily and genuinely joyfully looking at the bright sky. Nothing strange, we're only 17 years old, but for some reason it seems like an eternity has passed. The next thing I remembered, our father came out of the house. Clearly not hiding his anger, he began to scold us for not letting him rest on his only day off with our laughter and screams. Our mother immediately ran out to my father's screams, she immediately began to calm him down and ask him to tone down, but my father, as if not noticing her, continued to shout at us. After, apparently tired of the mother's persuasions and threats, looking at us menacingly, the father slowly went back into the house, followed by the tired mother. Before I had finished the dream, I woke up in the same room.
"Strange," I thought. - "No headache."
It was not difficult for me to open my eyes, but the body seemed so heavy and unaffordable, as if huge shackles were chained to every part of it. It didn't work out to move my hand, to get up, even more so. Noticing the same doctor next to me, who was apparently dozing with his eyes closed, I resorted to trying to examine him again. The doctor, who does not yet have a name for me, was sleeping sitting on the sofa in the corner of my room. The stranger was definitely a middle-aged man, about 30 in appearance, his long, dark-colored hair, gathered in a bun, glistened with sparse gray strands, stubble slipped on his face.
- Doctor? I called out to him softly.
My, for some reason, barely audible voice was enough for the instant awakening of a man who, at the same second, without any unnecessary actions, was next to my bed.
- William? William Collins! It's you! Tell me how you feel! William! Ui...- The doctor, looking at me with relief, constantly called me by name in the hope of getting some reaction from me, but in my head I scrolled only two questions.
- Where am I? What happened? - after my words, tears flowed down the doctor's cheeks.
"Thank God, William, you're awake! - he said happily, - I can't tell you where you are yet, so far it will be difficult for you to take it... oh, sorry, William, I need to do a detailed examination of your vital signs!
The doctor left my room, rushing off somewhere to the right, and I decided to examine the room in more detail. And just thinking how, having overcome himself, to get up, the headboard of the cot, as if by magic, immediately began to rise.
"Wow... did we have such medical equipment somewhere? Wow ..." - We lived not to say that it was poor, but we definitely could not have money for treatment in such an expensive hospital. There were more and more questions in my head, and in turn there were no more answers.
The cot rose to a comfortable angle for me. Now the room did not look like a hospital ward, although it somehow resembled it. There was the same sofa in the corner, it looked quite compact and comfortable, there was a low table top on my right side, as well as an ordinary wood-colored bedside table, on which there was a white vase with, it seemed, only plucked white lilies. The walls were painted in a soft white color, which gave off a slight yellowness. Examining the walls, I noticed that strangeness when I first woke up, there were no windows in the ward at all. But why? This hospital looks very expensive, but it does not have windows... Then why is the air in the room so fresh? A large number of questions bothered me.
After thinking a little about what was happening, the doctor returned to the ward. He was holding the same device that I didn't understand, with which I saw him for the very first time. Slowly approaching me and looking into his device, the doctor clearly wanted to voice something to me:
- I have two pieces of news for you, one good, the other bad. Which one can we start with?
Without having time to think about his words, I muttered in a weak voice.
- For starters, where am I, Doctor?
- Oh, I see you are in no hurry to find out about what is happening to you. having laughed awkwardly, the doctor sat down on a sofa in the corner of the ward and, putting a thin device on his knees, sat down comfortably, clearly preparing for a long dialogue.
- My name is Stephen Maurice, but please just call me Steve. - Steve looked worried about something. - William... Excuse me, can I just call you Wil? - I tried to nod approvingly, but a second later I realized that my body was not listening at all. All my strength was enough only for flimsy words that I could not always finish clearly.
After an awkward pause, Steve spoke:
- So that's it... Wil, let me start from the beginning. Your case is very, very rare, you can consider it fantastic, even for our time.
Thinking a little, I mumbled a question:
"Our... time?.. - a new question led me to conclude that I fell into a coma, but for how long?
- Oh, yes, Wil, welcome to 2113! - Steve said with a fake smile, with a bit of sarcasm.
After these words, I had enough jitters. Everything was mixed up in my head. How did this happen? What happened? I was screaming in my head, because for me, an ordinary 17-year-old teenager, this whole situation seemed completely absurd, something that was even hard to believe.
From a large stream of thoughts, my head began to ache violently. I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping that the pain would subside, but the turbulent flow of thoughts did not stop tormenting my mind. My mind went blank and I lost consciousness again. This time I had a strange dream, only a significant difference from the previous one was that now I was watching everything from the side. The pictures flashed abruptly, it was difficult to understand something. I saw my brother and me standing with our heads down, as if guilty. Then a broken antique vase that my father bought my mother for her wedding anniversary. After that, the red, screaming face of his father himself, and his mother, who was clearly not happy with his behavior. Having put the puzzle together, it became clear that it was my brother and I who broke the vase, which my parents valued so much, my father, as usual, began to scold us, and my mother covered up.
It occurred to me that this was a common situation, until I saw the following picture: my mother was lying on the floor clutching her chest, and my father was holding the phone in panic, calling someone. A moment later I realized my mom had had a heart attack. The next picture – we were driving in an ambulance, I was holding my mother's hand. Next, we are sitting at the entrance to the operating room, waiting for the results. I remember the tear-stained faces of my father and brother. They learned the results of the operation. After that, my memories break off and through the impenetrable darkness I hear Steve's worried voice.
- William! Wil!
When I opened my eyes, I saw Steve's worried face. He exhaled with relief and, going to the countertop, passed his hand weightlessly, at the same moment a small shelf moved out of it. At first I was a little surprised, but then I realized that now the future is already far away compared to the time in which I lived.
Taking a certain thing that I didn't understand, vaguely resembling a syringe, but without the needle itself, Steve came up to me. He gently took my hand, turned it palm up and, after a little hesitation, put this syringe to my wrist, then pressed the upper end of it.
- Don't worry. This serum consists of essential nutrients for the functioning of the body. You can consider that you have just eaten.
In fact, Steve wasn't lying. After the injection, it became much easier for me, but despite this relief, my body remained motionless. I noticed that I didn't even feel the touch, as well as the feeling of hunger and thirst. How did I even live to see this day?
- So what's wrong with me? - I asked Steve. The doctor lowered his head and, in a pitying voice, announced my diagnosis.
- You fell into a lethargic sleep... about 102 years ago. Apparently, a strong emotional shock provoked its occurrence. Do you happen to remember the last moments of your life before falling into a dream?
A small tear rolled down my cheek and I said in a low voice:
- Mom...
Steve immediately realized what could have happened, he sat on the edge of my bunk and said in a low tone:
"I'm sorry, Wil...
We sat in complete silence for about a minute and a half until Steve told me:
- There is one more news. I don't know how you'll take it, but you have a right to know. - Steve, fingering looked at me with a desperate look and said. "Unfortunately, Wil, you don't have much time left. You see, humanity has found a cure for many diseases, such as cancer, HIV, Alzheimer's disease, rabies and a bunch of other diseases of various kinds succumbed to human perseverance, but one step away from defeating aging... humanity has almost fallen.
Steve picked up his device and turned the screen in my direction. The front-facing camera was turned on, which immediately led me to the idea that it turned out to be a touchpad, only it seems more modern. Looking at myself through the screen, I couldn't believe my eyes. I looked like the same 17-year-old kid, nothing had changed on my face, the same freckles dotted from nose to cheeks, the same nose with a hump on the bridge of the nose, the same lush eyebrows and short eyelashes, but the changes were noticeable to the naked eye. The hair on my head sat very much and weakened, there was a feeling that if the wind blows on them, they will instantly fly apart.
- See? Steve asked sadly, looking at my eyes running across the touchpad screen. - Unfortunately, you can't live long in your condition. Lethargic sleep freezes all vital processes of the body, even aging. Now after your awakening, the body will begin to make up for lost years. Previously, there were such cases similar to yours, but most of them woke up at the age of 50 to 70, and after aging before their eyes, they lived out their allotted time. Since you have slept for over a hundred years, every hour you are getting closer and closer to the inevitable.
His words sounded like a fantastic story, to tell the truth, at first I even found it hard to believe in his words, but looking at the touchpad screen, light wrinkles on my forehead became noticeable. As much as I would like not to believe it, but the result was not a face. The bitter realization that no matter how much you don't think, no matter how much you don't believe and deny, this won't change my situation, the only thing left was to accept and accept my situation. All my relatives and friends have died a long time ago and the only thing I have left is this hospital ward, which will be my final stop.
Putting the device on the countertop, Steve, turning away, wiped the gas with the sleeve of his robe. I felt sick looking at him, because for the whole time I was here, I didn't see anyone but him. There was such an opinion that he was completely alone here.
"Steve," I muttered in a weak voice.
The doctor immediately turned around and it was noticeable how his eyes were shining with small tears.
- Why did you say that humanity has fallen? I asked indistinctly
"It's a long story, Wil," he said as he sat down on the little sofa in the corner. - Let's start with where we are now. This place is called “New Life”, it is considered a large residential complex built on Mars. It was founded long before I was born. Specifically, you and I are in the neuro-surgical department, or in the right wing. The left wing was intended exclusively for sleeping and leisure, and in our, past the hospital department, there is a sports room, a research room, a laboratory, as well as a botanical garden.
Incredibly, if you believe Steve's story, then I am now lying in the Martian hospital of the future, I swear, I would have thought it was nonsense earlier, but I don't know why I fully believe him.
Steve, resting his elbows on his knees, hanging his head down, said:
- Unfortunately, the left wing was destroyed, depressurization occurred in the connecting corridor between the two wings. I was the only one left in the right wing late, and decided to go to bed in one of the wards. I was woken up by the sound of an emergency siren, and I ran to the crossing. When I arrived, I noticed that it was closed by the emergency system and I decided to check the emergency corridor, which was also locked. This meant that the left wing was completely filled with the harmful atmosphere of the planet.
For a second I felt uneasy. For a moment I imagined what Steve was going through then. Having lost so much, he still remains sane and fulfills the duties assigned to him. I felt sorry for him and with that, came admiration for this man.
- Steve, you're doing great. I said in a barely audible voice.
He raised his head looking at me with shining eyes, smiled slightly, nodded his head approvingly and said:
- Thanks, buddy, you too.
As soon as I started to think about what could have happened to our home planet, Steve, as if understanding my curiosity, continued:
- You probably wondered why we are on another planet? The fact is that for this period of time, the Earth is in a deplorable state. It all started with a scientific breakthrough of a great medical scientist, whose name I can't tell you yet. He developed a kind of “panacea”, a substance capable of curing almost any ailment, healing almost all wounds, making a person essentially almost immortal, but his medicine had one drawback – it was very addictive. This man announced his scientific achievements to the whole world and announced the development of a new drug for all diseases, called “Dawn". Oddly enough, the major powers were immediately interested in his work and were ready to do anything to get the first sample. Most of the money, the scientist secretly invested in, at that time, a fresh project called “New Life”, simultaneously developing “Dawn”, but a step before its completion, unexpectedly announced that he was not going to continue it anymore. The countries sponsoring the development of the drug were not happy with the scientist's statement and one of them stole the formula of the test sample, after which, having found out about the theft, the countries financing the project began to suspect each other. Approximately, about 10 years, from 2040 to 2050, there was a lull before the storm. The tension between the countries grew every day, until information slipped through that the stolen country had completed the scientist's drug, and a war broke out in the world. For 8 long years people lived in fear, the population of the planet fell by half, there was a worldwide famine and some cities began to be empty. The last straw was the hidden announcement of the abductor country about the offensive of their army with the aim of uniting humanity into one superpower. Unable to do anything, from every corner of the world it was possible to contemplate a nuclear starfall that marked the "beginning of the end".
Steve's story gave me the creeps. I didn't want to believe that in the pursuit of immortality, humanity had ruined itself, with its own hands, but, again, I had no reason to distrust.
- That's all for now. Steve said, leaning on the armrests of the chair to get up. - It's getting late, I need to get some sleep. - making a deep yawn, he said.
My curiosity subsided, only the last question remained:
"Who is he?" I whispered
- Who is he?.. - My interlocutor asked in surprise.
A couple of seconds later, Steve answered.
- I understand, you want to know the name of the scientist who developed the fake panacea? I'm sorry, Wil, I can't tell you his name yet. "Good night, Wil," Steve said warmly, leaving the room.
A minute later, the light went out and thinking about today's story, the dream gradually enveloped me in its alluring veil.
For the next week, Steve came to my room, injected me with medications, from which, apparently, I did not feel my body, as well as nutrients, which, according to him, are needed to maintain brain activity, and after he told me some details from his life, I in my the queue tried to answer him and ask questions as much as possible.
As it turned out, Steve spent his whole life at this station, he gave all his 38 years to the knowledge of medicine and other equally important sciences, such as: history, astronomy, geography and psychology. He was raised by his father, who was in the station's settlement team in 2055, and he also laid down his love of knowledge and zeal to develop. He does not remember his mother, since she died immediately after giving birth, but his father told him that she was a strict woman with her own rules, had a doctorate and spoke seven languages, even if he did not know her, he seemed to be proud of her anyway. I also found out that 3 more people who voluntarily underwent cryo-thermal freezing of the body, due to incurable diseases at that time, were lying in the hospital department.
After another 3 weeks, after the morning procedure, we had a conversation. As usual, he sat down on the sofa in the corner and unexpectedly asked me:
- Do you remember a month ago you asked about the name of the scientist who developed the drug? So, his name was David Collins, as far as I know, your own brother. As my father told me, he started searching for a “Panacea” only for the sake of his sleeping brother, and specifically he asked to take you along with the first group of settlement, in the hope that you would wake up after all.
Tears rolled down my cheeks. My thoughts were confused again
"My brother, trying to heal me, contributed to the death of humanity?"
The question was playing in my head like a vinyl record. I could come to terms with the fact that the time of my life was coming to an end, with the fact that I had slept for a whole century, but with the “good deed” of my brother... no…
My mind was clouded again, it seemed that my brain wanted to stop my thoughts, but nevertheless Steve's words kept spinning in my head. The violent pain began to echo again, like a TNT charge ready to detonate at any time. Closing my eyes, unable to bear it, I was ready to believe that my end had come, I heard Steve's voice.
"It's all right, Wil," he said soothingly, sitting on the edge of my bunk.
- I believe that your brother was not looking for a cure out of spite, he did not want such a deplorable outcome, he just wanted to hear his brother's voice again. People themselves, having the opportunity to live in peace in their hands, chose such a fate.
His words instantly brought me to my senses.
"True, he only invented the drug, but, unfortunately, he did not get the right to use it."
The headache subsided and a feeling of calm came, which immediately pulled me into a dream.
Days have passed since Steve told me about his brother. He still continued to come to me every day and tell me about various details. He said that his father and my brother worked closely together, Steve's father supported him in every possible way in scientific research, and he, in turn, passed on his knowledge in the field of neuroscience and pharmacy. As it turned out, they were the ones who created the nutrient-based serum in order to replace droppers and use it more effectively for paralyzed patients, but despite the regular care and medications taken, both Steve and I realized that there was practically no time left for me. I stopped talking at all and looked like a wrinkled old man.
Steve told me today that one of the other patients was on the mend. He said that it was a woman 10 years younger than him, she had a severe form of cardiovascular disease IDS, which is why she was sent to the station. According to her, there should be no problems in treatment and after 3 months she will be able to undergo rehabilitation.
At the end of the day, after taking the drugs, Steve, as usual, sat down in the corner and began to talk:
"You know, Wil. I am truly grateful to you. My last 5 years spent here consisted only of cyclical work schedules, classes and research. I haven't had a chance to talk to anyone for a long time and have been spending my days alone. A second later, he continued, "Thank you, Wil. Thank you for being with me all this time. I'm really going to have to pick you up.
He covered his face with his hand, but it was still noticeable how his tears, like a small rain, dripped from his cheeks to the floor.
With the last strength that remained in my body, I smiled slightly, with a decrepit smile and said.
- And you, Steve.
He didn't say a word, just smiled, wiping his face red from tears with the white sleeve of his doctor's robe, and just before leaving the ward he said:
- See you tomorrow.
Sources involved:
To write this work, I studied scientific articles by two specialists:
Basko M.V. (Psychotherapist, psychiatrist, child psychiatrist)
Poluektov M.G. (Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Nervous Diseases and Neurosurgery)
Some details about the Lethargic sleep, in the story, were redone by the author. In itself, this is really a disease that almost completely freezes the functional of the body, putting a person into a certain state of suspended animation, only most cases of this disease turned out to be lethal in the future, the person simply died in his sleep.
There were also cases of awakening and, indeed, people looked like before the manifestation of the disease, but a year later they aged to a certain age.
Colonization of Mars is not such a distant future. At the moment, in Internet sources, there are already many variations of colonization of this planet. The author only provided one of the possible ones, in his opinion.