"Hello, Jennifer, my daughter. And Karen, my wife. I have an announcement to make." I gathered my family to inform them that I would be entering cryostasis sleep for the next three years starting next week. Of course, they didn't seem concerned about whether I would be gone for three years or ten. All they cared about was whether their monthly allowance would decrease.
"Yes? What is it? I have a party with my friends in three hours. If you hadn't threatened to cut my allowance, I wouldn't even be here," Karen sighed. "Oh, by the way, I heard you got sick? Will you die soon? Are the inheritance papers done?"
"Well, I'm sorry to say that my company isn't doing well. So, I have to be away for the next three years managing various business matters. As a result, I have to reduce your monthly allowance from 100k to 50k dollars."
"What!?" both my daughter and wife shouted. So, this is what they cared about, huh? While I appreciated their love for money, it was disheartening to see them take the parasitic route. Moreover, their financial decisions were not exactly stellar.
"Yes. Don't worry. I will make sure to attend your graduation ceremony, Jennifer. I promise. If you need more time or, even better, graduate faster, please contact my lawyer, Mr. Bradley. He will keep me informed."
"Wait. I need money. We're going to Bali next week. And what about my trip to New York next month!" Karen was furious, but what could I do? Despite being a successful CEO earning over 500K each month, paying more than 4 million dollars upfront for cryostasis required careful consideration. Furthermore, entering cryostasis would reduce my earnings to passive income, likely less than 200k.
"This decision is final, Karen," I stated firmly.
"Ughh… Why was the allowance cut down?" Jennifer pouted.
"Well, if you're so upset about it, my dear Jennifer, how about starting your own business? 50K should be enough to start something, right?" I suggested.
"Ugh…. Dad…"
"Well, I hope you study well and graduate, okay? Don't forget to work at my company," with that, I closed the meeting. We are billionaires. We have to use time efficiently. I skipped all the tedious things about cryostasis and moved on.
"Alright. Are you ready, Mr. John?" Mr. Jack said as he led several researchers to modify the tubes for the next week when I will enter the cryostasis chamber. There wasn't a lot of preparation for me. I just needed to sign several papers, and we were done. Sometimes, it was good to disregard laws. It made everything smoother.
"Oh, you're going to do this personally? *cough* *cough*" I coughed and immediately grabbed my painkiller. The pain rising from my stomach to my chest soon receded.
"I am a scientist first and foremost. I'm not afraid to get dirty. Hahaha. Now, strip off all your clothes and get inside the capsule. Try not to move too much, even if it's painful. Alright?"
"Wait? It's painful?"
"Hmm? Yeah, maybe?" He shrugged.
"You should have paid more attention to customer service. How could you sell this thing if it hurts the customer?" I sighed.
Stolen novel; please report.
"That's the job of lower-level researchers. I am at the cutting edge of science! I will not waste any time doing such menial tasks. Hahaha!"
I smiled in return. We might follow different paths, but I acknowledge that we share the same passion. The tube was cold to the touch, with only a thin metal veil covering it. Mr. Bradley, my lawyer, attended the process from start to finish as I lay down on the hard surface inside. The space was suffocating as I realized the tube wasn't cylindrical but more like an oval shape to minimize empty spaces between the body and the tube's sides. I understand why they did that, but I wonder if they sell a more premium tube for me. The liquid coolant used in this experiment was expensive, after all.
"Mr. John, as per our contract, I shall manage your assets while you are away," Mr. Bradley said. "I hope for your safe resuscitation."
"Yes. Thank you."
"If the resuscitation fails, I shall act according to your last will and testament."
"Thank you." With that, the tube slowly closed, and the world suddenly turned dark. Liquid poured out from the sides. It was warm and soothing, like relaxing in your personal spa after a hard day's work. Then the tube was flipped upside down, and cold water started to rise from my head to my feet.
Cryostasis didn't work like in the movies, where you just pour liquid nitrogen into a human to freeze them. First, the body is cooled down to 5 degrees Celsius by submerging it into warm water, then slowly replacing the water with colder water. This is done in stages to prevent shock to the body. However, it must be done swiftly in under a minute, or the body will undergo hypothermia.
Then, several needles are inserted into the aorta and other arteries to reduce blood flow without killing the person. This method creates spaces in the arteries so that when the blood freezes over, it doesn't rupture the blood vessels. After a sufficient amount of blood is taken out, the liquid is changed again, this time to -10 degrees, and stopped at the head for three minutes before continuing to the rest of the body. Mr. Jack said it would be easier to resuscitate if the head froze first. If other vital body parts, like the heart, were to fail first, there could be nasty phantom pain or even shock when the resuscitation process began.
Then, the liquid is changed again and again, each time getting colder until it stops at -80 degrees Celsius. At this point, a refrigerant is attached to ensure the liquid stays at that temperature. And then, the cryostasis is complete. The resuscitation later will be done in reverse to this process.
As the coldness spread, I felt dizzy and went to sleep. I didn't feel pain at all, just cold.
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
"Why! He is about to die soon, anyway. Why can't I sell his stocks or shares? He has that neuron-something incurable disease, right?" Karen shouted at Mr. Bradley a year later. "I have to divorce him and get married to Mr. Kevin. He could give me more than 60k dollars a month."
"He is not dead yet, Mrs. Karen. And he will not die anytime soon. You may divorce him as you wish, but let it be known that according to the prenup you signed, you won't get his inheritance if you initiate the divorce." Mr. Bradley almost spat out his words at her insolence. Mr. John has been giving this bitch an allowance of over 100k over the past seven years, and now that it dipped a little, she wanted to leave him in a drop of a hat?
"Damn it. He is supposed to die already. Where is he?"
"He is currently unavailable, Mrs. Karen."
"Lies! He must have been dead already! I knew that disease was incurable! You just wanted to steal the inheritance my husband left behind!"
"I certainly am not, Mrs. Karen. Mr. John has already informed you that he will return after three years, am I right?"
"He didn't even answer his phone for a year!"
"So? That doesn't prove anything. Well, if you are so inclined, he already left a will and testament if he failed to return three years later. But nevertheless, the situation will stay as it is for three years."
"Why did Jennifer get extra money when I did not?"
"Mr. John has some savings under my jurisdiction, and it is up to me to use it. Jennifer needed some money for her tuition. Although I must say she lacked the financial skills to manage her monthly allowance, I could not let her studies fail," Mr. Bradley explained.
"This is discrimination."
"We will let Mr. John decide next time he comes home," Bradley said with a venomous remark. Karen, being the woman she is, didn't hear him and walked away, irritated.
Karen harassed Mr. Bradley four more times after that, and Mr. Bradley always gave the same response. The day of Mr. John's awakening finally came three years later, just a month before Jennifer graduated from college.