- 5 - Agnus Cliversham

PheonX v19.9 Boot Sequence

Neuron Processor: Cortex Online

Cognitive RAM: Passed

Synapse Cache: Passed

Bio-OS: Shadowed

Optic Nerve Interface: Shadowed

Axonal Upper Limit Segment Address: n/a

Primary Node 0: Organic Drive JCE JE400BB-75CAA0

Nerve Cluster: detected

Sensory Input Array: detected

Nutrient Membrane(s): detected

Memory Test: Stability 50%

Primary Synaptic Pathway: online

Secondary Synaptic Pathway: incomplete.

Tertiary Neural Pathway: incomplete.

Secondary Synaptic Node: disconnected.

Starting BioDOS...

“System integration complete. Operational levels 1%. User identified: Agnus. Insufficient materials. Entering recovery mode.” A woman’s voice said.

Mother?

Agnus struggled to open his eyes, he was unable to sit up or speak.

Where? Where am I?

He hurt all over. His breathing was hot and raw.

What’s wrong with me?

Agnus lay on a hospital bed made of wood, it had high sides and his body was pinned down by heavily starched sheets and thick blankets.

“Do you think he will wake up today?” Asked a woman’s voice.

“Who knows, apparently it was a terrible accident.” Another woman replied.

“He seems fine to me. What happened to him?” The first woman asked.

“They didn’t tell me. I’m just here until he wakes up.” Woman number two said.

He managed to turn his head, it was hard but he tried again. Pain seared his nostrils as a hose tore loose.

“He’s awake! Get the doctor.” A woman’s voice said.

Mother!

A woman threw back the blanket and untucked one corner of the sheets.

“Take your time Agnus. You are in bed. There was an accident but we found you in time.” She said.

“My name is Harriet. I’ve been hired on as your nurse while you recover.” She said.

Agnus panicked, and with his arms loose he was able to flail about. Harriet held him down with her strong arms.

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No! Let me up! What happened? Where am I? Where is my mother?

“Hold him down damn you!” Yelled a man. “He will hurt himself, he is still weak.”

“Yes doctor.” Harriet said, pressing her body against Agnus and grabbing his hands.

“Nurse, get a sedative.” The doctor said.

Agnus felt a pinch in his shoulder and then the room faded away.

-

“Operational levels 2%. System repairs 5%. Insufficient materials. System repairs entering standby mode.” The woman said.

Agnus opened his eyes. He tried to sit up but his body was weak.

What’s going on?

He managed to drag his hand up to his face and felt that the hose was gone. Some sticky residue from the tape remained.

He searched his face with his hands and found that he had two eyes, a nose, a mouth with all his teeth, and two small round ears.

Human. A person. A man. No I’m young, just a boy.

Water dripped at regular intervals somewhere in the room. Agnus couldn’t see the source.

Am I blind? Or near sighted?

Agnus instinctively reached for a bedside table that wasn’t there.

Do I wear glasses?

His bed was surrounded by a heavy white curtain. He followed it with his eyes to find it was bolted directly to the ceiling.

Not blind, it’s a curtain.

A weak laugh escaped his lips and his throat burned.

He looked down at his chest. The bedsheets were tucked up high under his armpits. A thin hose was connected to his left arm at the wrist. There was clear liquid flowing through it.

Water. Sugar and saline. An intravenous drip system.

How do I know that word? Intravenous. Industrious. Indiscriminate. Incongruous…

Agnus’s mind rattled off a hundred more lengthy words and their textbook definitions floated up from deep in his brain before he fell asleep.

What happened to me?

-

“Operational levels 3%. System repairs 15%. Insufficient materials. System repairs entering standby mode.” The woman said.

Agnus woke up. The curtain to his right was bright from the sunlight of windows.

It’s daytime. Springtime. Northern hemisphere.

He could hear two men speaking from a distance.

“He should make a full recovery. With time.” A man said.

“Thank you doctor. You may go.” A man grumbled.

“Wait…” Agnus croaked out.

The curtain was pulled aside suddenly and Agnus tried to run.

“Hey lad. You’re finally awake.” The gruff voice said endearingly.

Agnus stared at an old man walking with a cane. His face was round and slack, one side slightly higher than the other. His hair was shocked white and coiffed back behind his ears exposing his temples. He wore a pair of mutton chops but was otherwise clean shaved.

His clothes were of expensive make but different patterns and styles. They hung loosely on his frame.

Beside him was the doctor; an unremarkable balding mustached man wearing spectacles and a white jacket over a beige two piece suit.

“Were you trying to cross over to the other side?” The gruff man asked. “You can’t die yet. I have plans for you.”

Plans? What plans?

“Where…” Agnus tried to ask but broke down coughing. When he had composed himself the doctor handed him a glass of water for him to sip at.

“You are here at my estate. There was an accident in the lab. So we put you up in this guest room.” He said gesturing at the room around them. “With a few modifications.”

I don’t remember any of that.

A memory flashed through his mind. Light. Bright. And there was a panel of glass with water, a bright light and bubbles.

I was drowning. I think.

There were wires and a green light blinking. Agnus’s hands clawed at the glass.

“Agnus. Pay attention.” The gruff man said. “You are disoriented, you may have hallucinations or flashes of memories. Give them time they will subside.”

Give them time? That’s his advice?

“How…long?” Agnus managed to say.

His mouth felt like it was full of cotton balls. He tried to spit but his mouth was too dry.

“You were unconscious for about a week, 6 days, 13 hours, give or take a few minutes and seconds.” He said.

The a nurse appeared from behind the curtain.

Harriet.

She helped Agnus sit up and propped two pillows behind him. The doctor handed him a glass of orange juice with a straw. He gave him a large white pill that was hard to swallow.

Citrus sinensis. So sweet.

“You will be hungry. Thats vitamins.” He said.

“Do you remember my name?” The gruff man asked.

Agnus stared at the old man.

Ealdric Bachelmeth. That can’t be right.

“No, I’m sorry.” He said and sipped at his orange juice.

“Poor lad, my name is Odic Von Bachman, I am your maternal grandfather’s brother.”

“My parents…” Agnus asked.

Odic gave the boy a sad look for a moment.

“My boy, I’m sorry but your parents have been dead for some years now. It hurts me to tell you, and I’m sorry you will remember more about them in time.” He said.

Dead?

A vision floated through his mind. A man and a woman. She was beautiful. A flowing green gown embracing a handsome man in fine britches and a gilded vest.

Agnus began to cry. Tears glistening down his face.

“Yes. Well, tomorrow we will meet for lunch. Of course once you are up and running.” Odic said. “You can resume your studies after lunch.”

Can I heal that fast? It seems impossible.

“Harriet, bring him another pill in 6 hours. And ask for a meal from the kitchen staff.”

“Yes sir.” She said with a bow.