Dream

[devilgoblin]

This is based on a rather vivd dream I had years ago. Just imagine that I was in Steven's place. All the other names are as they were in the dream.
Please comment.

A Dream of Innocence


The silent doctors moved from body to body with an almost automatic sense as though they did not feel any remorse for the tortured souls that lay before them. Their single objective did not permit them to grow too attached to the young innocents they "treated".
In one of the main beds lay a youth of no more than fourteen years old; he had closely cropped black hair that was currently tousled from lying on the bed. His face had a calm expression on it that contrasted sharply with the grey hostility of the laboratory. One of the orderlies approached him, took a reading and left, satisfied with the youth's progress.
The orderly made his way over to where one of the doctors sat at a table reading a report. "I have the report on subject number 21, Doctor Plack," he said.
"What is his progress?" Plack asked impatiently, signing another patient's death certificate.
"It looks like he's entering the final stages of phase six," the orderly informed her. "And there's no deterioration in his vital signs."
"That's the furthest we've got with one so young," Plack exclaimed. "Go and inform Doctor Baker immediately," she ordered.
The orderly nodded abruptly and hurried out of the laboratory. After he had gone Doctor Plack crossed over to the bed where number twenty-one lay and watched him silently, wishing that she had never been forced into this experiment. As she placed a hand on the youth's face the door burst open and in strode Doctor Olivia Baker, senior supervisor of the Wisdom Three Project.
"What's his condition?" she demanded, rushing over to the bed, her excitement was obvious to all those present.
"He's entering the final facet of phase six," Plack replied.
"And there's no weakening of his vital signs?" Baker asked.
"No Doctor Baker," responded Plack.
"Excellent," crowed Baker. "This is the best proof we have that the procedure is no longer dangerous," she whirled round to face the orderlies that had gathered behind her. "I want him moved out of here and placed in one of the recovery rooms," she instructed.
"At once Doctor Baker," acknowledged the chief orderly and they gently lifted the youth from the bed and carried him out of the laboratory.



While the doctors were talking the youth had regained a small degree of consciousness.
My name is Steven he said to himself, it bothered him that he could not remember his surname or even remember where he was. At present all he knew was his first name and even that was slipping further away from his mind.
My name is Steven he said again. It seemed to him that his mind was somehow not right, it seemed to be almost whispering to him: as though another voice spoke to him inside his mind.
"...I hope this isn't another fail.... damn them for..." he was confused as to what his mind was trying to tell him and the more he tried to grasp it the further away from him it went. He tried to concentrate on what the doctors hovering above him were saying but he only succeeded in falling unconscious again.



The doctors continued to monitor Steven's progress over the next few hours until finally, whilst Doctor Plack was there with him, he awoke properly.
"Who are you?" he asked when he saw Plack.
"I am Doctor Jennifer Plack," she responded. "I'm here to make sure that you're going to be alright."
"What happened to me?" Steven demanded.
"I can't tell you just now," Plack answered sadly. "But I can tell you that you are able to get out of bed now."
"What if I don't want to?" Steven threatened.
"Don't do that," Plack advised. "Or I'm sure that Doctor Baker will make you."
"Who's Doctor Baker?" queried Steven, his brow furrowing in concentration.
"You'll meet her soon," Plack replied. "Whether you're ready to or not."
Steven looked at her with a puzzled expression on his face but Plack shook her head to forestall any questions he might have. "Later," was all she said and left.
Steven sank back into the bed and closed his eyes, trying to follow the sound of Plack's footsteps as they retreated down the corridor, but all he got was an intense pain in his skull which made him stop. When it became obvious to him that Doctor Plack was not coming back Steven decided to get up and have a look around, so he climbed out of bed, crossed to the door and opened it cautiously. The corridor outside was deserted but he was sure he could hear voices and so Steven proceeded down the hallway in the direction of these sounds. When Steven arrived at the source he found himself at the doors to another laboratory and inside he could see other children and teenagers either playing games or talking to each other. The sight fascinated him so much that before he knew what he was doing he had opened the door and walked across the room to where a group of teenagers were talking.
As he approached the group one of the older boys nudged the others bringing Steven to their attention, most of them just looked at him in confusion but the first boy began to sneer at him.
"What do you think you're doing here?" the boy demanded.
"Doctor Plack said I could get up," Steven replied, confused by the boy's hostile tone of voice. "What's your name?" he asked.
"What's yours?" the boy returned.
"Steven," he replied.
"Mine's Gary," the boy responded, he pointed to the others and introduced them. "That's Martha," he said indicating one girl. "And this is Cary, my twin sister," Gary continued, pointing to another girl, he motioned to a few others who were lurking behind him. Steven nodded in turn to each member of the group as they were introduced to him.
"Why are you all here?" he asked innocently.
Gary laughed mockingly. "Poor little lost boy," the others joined in the ridicule.
Steven looked at Gary perplexed. It had been a simple enough question and he was both angry and upset at Gary's attitude.
"Answer me," Steven demanded.
The others continued laughing at Steven who stood impassively as he glared at Gary.
Gary had taken on a far-away look and when he spoke his voice was soft and understanding. "Why are any of us here?" he asked no one in particular.
Steven stood immobile as he studied Gary's face. He was disturbed at the tears that Gary was fighting to control. Steven was about to say something when Gary laughed again; he looked at Steven with a burning anger in his eyes.
"Get lost!" he yelled. "We don't like you," as he spoke he turned away and grabbed onto his sister and marched her away from the stunned Steven.
"What the Hell are you doing in here!" it was the voice of the orderly who had taken Steven from the laboratory earlier, he stormed up to Steven and grabbed him viciously by the collar.
"If you're found in here...." he began.
"Let him go!" shouted a voice behind him. Without turning Steven recognised the voice of Doctor Plack.
The orderly looked flustered. "Sorry Doctor Plack, but you know he's not supposed to mix with the phase seven's. I was only doing my job," he said.
"You were only wrecking nine months of work. Don't you ever touch him again, or Doctor Baker will hear of it!" she snapped, then placed her hand lightly on Steven's shoulder. "Come on," she whispered softly and steered him out of the laboratory.
"Who are they?" Steven asked.
Doctor Plack smiled warmly. "Never you mind, you don't need to bother with them. It was silly of you to go there," she reprimanded him.
Already I'm growing too fond of him. I must request another assignment, before it's too late Plack thought sadly.
She took Steven back to his room and sat him down on the bed. "I think that you're ready for some sort of explanation," Plack admitted.
"Only if you think so," Steven said. "You're definitely nicer than the others."
Plack was slightly taken aback at Steven's blunt admission and had to control her emotions; otherwise she would break down in front of him.
"You're here because your parents are no longer with us," Plack explained.
"You mean they died?" Steven asked, tears brimming in his eyes.
"I'm so sorry," whispered Plack and gathered Steven to her as he began to cry openly. "I'll do what I can to help you overcome your grief," she promised.
"Steven," he said suddenly.
"What did you say?" demanded Plack, amazed.
"My name is Steven, Doctor Plack," he said again.
"You can remember your name?" Plack asked incredulously.
Steven nodded unsure as to whether he should have made such an admission but when he saw the joy in Plack's face he guessed that he had done the right thing and held onto her tightly as she began to weep too.
"Don't worry Doctor Plack," he soothed. "I won't tell anyone else, it'll be our secret."
"You're a very clever boy Steven," Plack admitted. "So we'll keep this a secret, just between us."
Steven nodded gravely and held out his hand to Plack, she smiled in understanding and shook it, winking conspiratorially.
"When can we eat?" Steven asked after they had talked for a few minutes.
"You mean you haven't?" Plack queried and when Steven shook his head she sighed heavily. "Let's see what we can do about that," she said and led him towards the laboratory.
"Why are we going here?" Steven questioned.
"Unfortunately you can't eat solid food yet," Plack explained. "So we're going to get you some tablets that will help make you better."
"Will Gary and the others be there?" Steven inquired.
"Why do want to know?" Plack asked.
"It's just that I want to make friends with them," Steven responded. "Especially Cary and Martha. Do you think they'll let me join the group?"
"Yes they probably will let you join them," replied Plack putting her hand on Steven's shoulder and stopping him. "Will you promise me that you won't annoy them?" she asked.
"Anything you say," said Steven solemnly, making Plack wish even more she did not have to be responsible for what was going to happen to anyone that reached this stage of development.
When they reached the laboratory they found the other children lined up in front of Doctor Baker and she was dispensing small packets of tablets and cups of water to the waiting children. Steven joined the end of the line and waited patiently until he reached the front of the queue where he was confronted by the tall figure of Doctor Baker.
"How are we today?" she asked.
"I'm feeling much better thank you," replied Steven, shooting a quick glance at Plack, who nodded her head, indicating that he was behaving correctly.
"Do you know my name?" Baker queried her tone of voice made Steven shudder involuntarily.
"No ma'am," Steven answered.
"I'm Doctor Baker," she informed him. "If you happen to feel any pain in your chest tell me immediately."
"Yes Doctor Baker," acquiesced Steven and took the items Baker offered him, he went to an empty corner of the room and swallowed the tablets he had been given, using the water to wash them down.



This routine lasted for several days and soon Steven became bored with it, the only times he looked forward to were the quiet talks he had with Doctor Plack, whom had taken the place of his lost mother in his eyes. The methodical practice lasted for another week during which time Steven was allowed to join in with activities of the other children. He soon became a part of Gary's group, with Cary and Martha making sure that Gary never bullied Steven and that he always included Steven in their games.
Everything looked slightly less threatening to Steven until one day, while playing an innocent game with the others, Gary suddenly collapsed screaming, hands clutched to his chest. The orderly standing at the door immediately shouted for help and when Doctor Baker rushed into the room Gary was taken away. Steven and the others never saw where they took Gary and even though they pleaded with Doctor Plack, she refused to answer them even though Steven could see in her eyes that she desperately wanted to tell them of Gary's condition.
After several days Steven finally convinced Cary that it would be better not to worry about Gary and soon the two of them became best friends, even though Cary was several years Steven's senior. It was not long after this that Steven caught a glimpse of Gary turning down one of the corridors but when Steven reached the corner a few seconds later, Gary had disappeared. Steven assumed he had imagined the incident and therefore never told Cary or Doctor Plack about it.



One night, as Steven was having a particularly bad dream, he suddenly woke up with a burning pain in his chest, and the only thought in his mind was the tablets in the dispenser and how they would be the only thing that could stop the pain. He left his room and made his way slowly down the corridor but as he reached the door to the laboratory he was racked by another spasm and collapsed to the floor, screaming. He was still in pain when he reached the dispenser but before he could take the tablets out of the machine the lights flicked on and Doctor Baker and the orderlies hurried into the room.
"What's going on?" Baker demanded.
"He's advanced to stage eight," reported an orderly, checking Steven's condition with his hand-held scanner.
"Already?" gasped Baker.
"It looks that way," he replied.
"We'll need to operate immediately then," Baker shouted. "Give him the injections and bring him to the theatre."
Doctor Baker dashed from the room just as Doctor Plack arrived and as soon as she saw Steven curled up on the floor she realised what was happening and rushed after Doctor Baker, hoping to forestall the inevitable.
Meanwhile Steven was still trying to reach the dispenser but the orderlies were holding him down and as he cried out in pain again as one of them stuck a syringe into his ankle. Almost instantly Steven felt the pain lessen and he began to lose consciousness, before he passed out though he felt another injection. This time it was in his chest and it caused more pain than he had felt previously, he tried to fight it but he could not resist it and fell into unconsciousness.



When Steven awoke he sensed that someone sat beside him and when he turned his head he saw Gary sitting beside him. Steven was shocked to see how much Gary had changed, he now wore a one piece black uniform and his face was paler. What scared Steven the most was Gary's eyes, they looked at him with complete indifference, as if the owner could not care about anything anymore.
"Hello Steven," Gary said in a hollow voice.
"Where am I?" Steven asked fearfully.
"You really have to ask?" teased Gary.
Steven closed his eyes and concentrated. "No," he admitted, "I know where I am."
"I've been sent by Doctor Baker to tell that if you're hungry there's a kitchen at the end of the hall," Gary informed him.
"But I can't eat normal food," complained Steven. "That's what Doctor Plack said."
"That was before you had the operation," corrected Gary. "Now you've had it you can eat normally."
Before Steven could say anything more Gary stood up and left the room, as he did so Doctor Plack came in, tears still apparent in her eyes.
"Are you alright?" she asked, her voice catching in her throat.
"Yes," Steven replied simply. "I know everything now, about my life and about what Doctor Baker is doing."
Plack hung her head. "I'm sorry Steven," she said. "It shouldn't have happened to you, you were too young."
"But it has happened," Steven insisted. "And I'll make sure it won't happen to my friends."
"It's too late for Gary," Plack told him sadly.
"I know," Steven admitted. "He's completely under Doctor Baker's domination now."
"What are you going to do?" Plack asked.
"It's better if you don't know," Steven said. "I think you had better leave now," he suggested.
Plack nodded and stood up to leave, before she reached the door Steven reached out and put a hand on her face.
"You've been my mother here," he admitted. "Goodbye Jennifer."
Plack burst into tears at Steven's very adult statement, realising that he had lost something of himself - his innocence. She fled the room in tears leaving Steven alone with his thoughts.
Steven got out of bed and put on the black uniform that lay at the end of his bed, he then opened his door and strode down the corridor towards the laboratory.
When he reached the door he could see Cary and Martha inside, looking very sad and lonely, Steven came to a decision almost instantly and walked into the room. Cary and Martha just gaped at Steven when they saw him walking over to them, and as Steven approached he saw that Cary had been crying.
"What's happened to you?" she asked.
"Doctor Baker's doing something evil here," Steven explained. "And I'm going to get you out of this place before the same thing happens to you."
Steven grabbed Martha and Cary by the arms and hustled them into their rooms. "Get your things," he ordered and when they had done so they crossed to one of the windows. As the two girls watched Steven ripped the wire mesh from the window and flung it open, he then motioned for them to climb through. Martha nodded briskly, realising that something dangerous was going to happen to them if they stayed, and climbed out onto the window-ledge.
"I can't go," sobbed Cary. "Not without you and Gary."
"It's too late for Gary," Steven snapped. "Doctor Baker controls him completely, and soon she'll try for me."
"Come on Cary, trust him," urged Martha. "It's the best thing for us."
"What about you Steven?" Cary asked tears streaming down her face.
At that moment Steven heard voices in the corridor; Doctor Plack and Doctor Baker were outside the room. Fortunately for Steven, Doctor Baker stood with her back to the door so that she could not see them through the glass slot in the door. However, Doctor Plack stood facing the door and as she glanced over Doctor Baker's shoulder she saw Steven and the girls in the room, with Martha already outside on the window ledge. To Steven's astonishment she said nothing to Doctor Baker and after a moment or two Doctor Baker walked away down the corridor. Once she had gone Doctor Plack opened the door and slipped inside.
"What are you doing?" she demanded.
"Getting out of here," Martha confessed.
"He told what happened to Gary?" Plack asked.
Cary nodded and gulped down her tears. "Is there really nothing we can do for him?" she pleaded.
"I'm afraid not," explained Plack, and turned to look at Steven.
"Don't stop me Doctor Plack," Steven warned.
"I'm glad you're leaving," she stated.
"I'm not, they are," Steven replied and pushed Cary to the window where Martha grabbed her and pulled her onto the ledge as well.
"Come with us Steven," Cary begged.
"I can't," said Steven sternly. "I've got to stay and help Jennifer stop Doctor Baker."
Plack glanced quickly at Steven and saw the resolution in his eyes; she nodded to herself and crossed to the window.
"I'll take care of him," she promised. "Now go before Olivia realises you're gone and comes looking for us."
Cary gulped down her anguish and jumped to the ground after Martha, she looked up at the window and saw Doctor Plack and Steven wave at them briefly and then they turned away from the window and headed off to confront Doctor Baker and put an end to Wisdom Three.

[No_one]

Generally I liked the story, it holds a lot of promise.

There were a few things that I did not understand, like what happened to Gary. His eye were absent does not tell me much.

Also you say when he woke up he was suddenly aware of everything that had happened and why he was their. I feel the story needs a little more explanation than that.

What had happened?
Why was he there?
What was Doctor Bakers evil plan?
Also how does he suddenly know Dr Plack’s first name?
Why was the door to his room not locked if it was so imperative he did not mingle with the others?
What was the operation and why was he not kept from the others like Gary was?

I did really like the story and would love to see it finished I just feel it needed more dept. Try answering some of these question and think of some of your own.

[Sparker]

Hiya Devilgoblin,

I agree totally with the critique given by No One. The story has a great deal of promise and once those questions (all of which I also found needed answering) have been addressed it will read very well.

Was your decision to call the twins Gary and Cary an intentional rhyme? Did their parents (assuming they had parents initially) like the idea of similarly named twins...? It doesn't affect your story too much because the pair are rarely mentioned together, but I ask out of interest...

Regards, Sparker