When she woke up, the numbers 2080 struck her sleepy conscience. On a monitor beside her, the status of her bodyfunctions and a machine and, of course, the date are displayed:
Thurham, Susan
All bodyfunctions at 91%
Box temperature 21°C
Tue. 04-23-2080
Lying in a box, her conscience slowly gets clear. She recognizes the blue light and the other boxes in the white sterile room. The computer of her box activates a signal. Some seconds later, two men with white coats entered the room and open Susan’s box. “Welcome to the year 2080, Mrs. Thurham. We’re proud to congratulate you for your successful experiment. I hope you feel well.”
Susan doesn’t know one of these two men, but the nameplate pinned on the coat of the scientist who just spoke shows the name “Dr. Preston Healey”.
Now Susan finally reminds, what’s going on. Though she doesn’t know Preston or Adam Dorian, the other white suited scientist, she at least knows the name Healey.
Arthur Healey was one of her assistants during her cryonics research. They searched for a way, to freeze people and to reduce their bodyfunctions to a minimum that is needed to keep the cells alive. With this method they wanted to offer seriously ill people a chance, to be cured in future years, if there’s no cure at that time.
Susan Thurham is one of the leading molecular biologists – or at least was in 2012. She’s working on a way to immortality her entire life and the cryonics are a means to an end. When Susan and her team noticed, that in 2012 their project “Athanasia” could not be realised, Susan was shocked. She treated the solvation of immortality as her only sense of life and she didn’t except that it would have been ended by the limited abilities in that time. The technologic prognosis said it would take at least 80 years until it mashines are developed that enable further researches. Time that Susan, didn’t have. She was at the age of 38 and not yet immortal enough to survive the next 80 years. So, after several discussions, she convinced Arthur Healey to execute her conservation.
On the 13th of November 2012, Susan Thurham laid down in a coffin like machine – which at least has a big window – and got frozen.
Now, 68 years later, she aged only about two years, but for all that, she is worked up. It’s the year 2080 and not 2092. Twelve years to little.
“Mrs. Thurham, are you ok?” Preston asks thoughtfully. “Uh… yes, of course. I just tried to get behind what’s going on.” Susan looks confused, but gathers herself again. “Your name, Dr Healey, I know it. Are you related to Arthur Healey?” “Well”, he smiles “I’m his grandson. And as my father did, I follow the footsteps of my Grandpa and now, I’m also a Doctor of molecular biology.” He looks proud. Not only because of his roots, also because of meeting the famous Dr. Susan Thurham, one of his idols.
“Mrs. Thurham. We know, and you surely recognized by now, that you are rehabilitated twelve years early, but it needs to be. We need you.” Preston notices, that it is too early to confront Susan with the current problem. “Oh, I’m sorry. You’ve just been defrosted and not even dressed. Excuse my regardless behaviour. I…” ” Dr. Healey! It’s ok. Just give me a coat, help me out of the box and then in God’s name tell me what on earth is going on that I get woken up that early!”
Adam Dorian who feels a little useless, turns on his heels and rushes to into the next room to fetch an overall. “Voilà, Mrs. Thurham, I got you an overall. It’s warmer than just a coat.” he smiles peering.
“Thank you, Dr. Dorian, but come down, don’t be ashamed. I’m just a normal woman.” “Who is extremely attractive”, Dorian gapes big eyed. “Are you still out of puff, or am I surprising you?”, Susan asks sneeringly while getting out the box. Still undressed. Dorian blushes with shame and quickly turns towards a computer. “Uh, no, no. I just noticed, that I forgot to initiate an important diagnosis program.”
Preston, sovereign as his grandfather, carries off well, how much Susan attracts him. “Wait, I help you to get into the overall.” “It’s ok. I’m old enough to dress myself alone, Dr. Healey.” But she laid a long time and cannot stand on her legs. Preston catches the falling Woman. “Careful, Mrs. Thurham, you can’t stand yet.” And again Dorian runs to get a wheelchair. “You’re hilarious, Dr. Dorian. Thank you.” Susan laughs.
The three scientists go into the medical station where Susan gets some infusions that reactivate her muscles and digestion again.
“Fine, now that I’m no longer handicapped, tell me what’s going on.” Susan sits up. “Well, and please get me a coffee.”
To be continued…
