A slight wisp of steam swirled up from Janus’s plate, illuminated by the afternoon star light. He placed himself at the dinner table, feeling the soft but firm chair caressing his back. Facing the window and squinting slightly, he inhaled the aroma of his dinner. “Real printed meat and locally grown veggies? Venn, you outdid yourself.” Janus said, the pit in his stomach dulled by the anticipation of his meal. “I know we’re resource constrained in the calorie department at the moment, but I figured you needed something extra, you know?” Venn’s serene voice spoke. "Thank you." he replied in a barely audible voice.
"I think it's time, Janus.” Venn said. A sharp sting bloomed in his abdomen, like a hole pried open from within. "Yeah, sure..." he muttered.
"Okay, Janus. I’ve run through mountains of data, just for you. I promise I won’t be witty during this session" Venn announced playfully. Janus shook his head slightly and took a bite of his meal. The meat’s texture was soft, almost melting in his mouth providing just the right amount of resistance, the gravy succulent and rich in flavour. “You don’t like me quoting protocols during these sessions, so I’ll be blunt instead. This was the fifth time you have had the same dream in five months. Would you like to tell me about them?” Venn said. “Hmm, I am not quite sure on how to describe them,” Janus said, as his heart quickened and sent a chill down his spine. “It’s like I’m falling.” his breath caught as he spoke and a lump appeared in his throat. He gripped his fork tight, feeling the dull edges dig into the flesh of his hands.
“I sense your distress, Janus. It’s okay. The falling sensation, is it a physical sensation or do you feel like you’re losing grip on something?” Venn spoke with an easy and relaxed voice. Janus sat still, barely moving. “I think it’s both. There’s something there, but I cannot get to it.” “I see. Can you describe the nature of this object or thing you’re reaching for?” “No, I cannot. Just that it’s there. The space that I’m in, I feel so very cold, and everything is muted, like all my senses are gone, it’s confusing…there’s no sound.” Janus took another bite of his meal, not tasting it, mouth dry. “Thank you for sharing. I have noticed at the end of your dream there’s something more. Care to share?” Janus glanced at his watch, eighteen twenty-five. Taking a deep, shivering breath, he answered. “There’s something happening to me… - I can see a crescent approaching, like a half lit planet or moon, my body and mind fills with an all consuming fury, pure power.” “Okay… can you tell me about what happens next?” Venn’s soft voice, almost a whisper now. “Nothing,” he whispered.” I just… wake up.”
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“I understand Janus. How does this make you feel?“ “You know that, Venn! We’re integrated… so you always know how I feel!” Janus replied, a quick glance out the window, sweat starting to bead on his forehead. “Yes, I do, but I need you to tell me, Janus, it’s part of the process.” As Venn spoke, Janus exhaled loudly. “Frankly, I’m at a loss, I’m getting the sense that something happened to me during stasis…” Janus softly spoke, the food on his plate distant in his mind, a fragment of his consciousness. “But that’s impossible… - I don’t know, Venn.”
As he said this, Janus’s mind came to a realization, an admission that this was a truth that he could not escape or ignore. A shift in perspective manifested itself as a flooding tide of clarity, sweeping doubt away as if it was a mere mote of dust against the raging torrent. Janus had completely forgotten his meal, like a far away memory of an insignificant snack. He felt his vision swirl, colors appearing at the edges. His head started to pound, dull at first, building up to an all-consuming sensation of fire. Hearing Venn’s distant voice, rushed, he could hear himself thinking. “I have never felt this before, what is happening?”