The Start

By: Christopher Lavallee

What am I doing here? The question repeats itself over and over in my mind. The whole ordeal begins to run through my mind as I take in my surroundings, the white walls and ceiling, the bright lights, the monitor, the tray of food, the bed, the straps, the bars over the windows, the guards. All of these things were slowly implanting themselves in my mind as I tried to remember. Who am I?

The guards stepped aside to permit a man dressed in a white robe to pass. He walked toward my bed and flashed a light into my eyes. He began to look over the monitors and jotted down notes onto a clipboard he carried. He leaned over me and began to talk, “Denis, can you hear me? My name is Dr. Herman. I am your Spectator and I am here to help you with your transition.”

“What are you talking about?” I replied, slowly beginning to remember snippets of my life, my existence. I remembered being in charge of something, something important. I remembered trying to use it and almost dying because of it.

“You were a Leaper.” The doctor stated, expecting me to completely understand just from that one word. I’ll admit my brain began to work faster with that statement but I still had no idea what the answer was to the one question I had. Who am I?

“Allow me to explain,” he started, “you and several others volunteered to take part in an experiment. You were to enter the Start. A computer program designed to help with overpopulation. The results of the test were satisfactory and so the Start was launched. Your brain was wiped and placed permanently into the Start program.”

“Recently you were found to have been glitching in the Start and so we have decided to bring your brain out of the Start and reconnect it to your physical body. When we tried to convince you, you refused. So we had to send in the Reconciliation team to retrieve you. Thus the restraints. However as you seem to have no recollection of the events, I think it should be safe to release you.”

With that the two security guards walked over and undid the straps and helped me sit up. I rubbed my wrists where they were sore from trying to break free and tried to process over the situation. The doctor stood there watching me and the guards kept their hands on their hips where I could see a holster containing some sort of gun shaped weapon.

“This is all sort of like the Matrix.” I began. Suddenly Dr. Herman interrupted “Almost, except the Matrix was run by Artificial Intelligence and The Start is run by live people.” “True,” I began again, “But how can I trust you that this is reality?” “Well,” Dr. Herman started thoughtfully, “I guess you’ll never know for sure.”

I sat for several minutes, thinking over the situation. I realized that I could never be completely sure of the truth. Perhaps I was in reality but what if I wasn’t? How would I be able to tell? I guess he’s right. I’ll never really know for sure. But what am I going to do? Maybe if I try to ask about my past he’ll help me remember.

“So, Dr. Herman. Who exactly am I and what can you tell me about my life? And by that I mean my real life. Not the virtual one.”

“Well, from your charts I can see that your are Denis Henry Barrymore. You are 26 years old and you originally lived in Memphis, Tennessee. You were relocated to The Start when you were 23 in 2318 at the launch of the program.

“Aside from that there really isn’t anything that I can tell you about your life. I honestly wish I could cause I believe it would help you with your transition.”

“Hey, that’s okay. I’m glad you’ve helped me this much. I would like to know where all these random memories are coming from.”

At this time the doctor looked at me very surprised and then he regained his composure. He motioned toward the door and the guards left the room. But I noted they simply moved to right outside the door.

“Memories? Memories of what?”

“I don’t know. Something about a big mission. Something I tried to do I wasn’t supposed to. I can’t remember exactly. Everything is very blank.”

“You seem to be remembering your time in the Start.”

“You act like that’s a bad thing. Is there something wrong with that?”

“You’re not supposed to remember anything from the Start. It’s supposed to be like a dream. But one of the ones that you forget as soon as you wake up.”

I began to wonder. What was it that the doctor was trying to avoid? Me realizing something about my time in the Start? Or something worse? I had to get to the bottom of it. But I don’t know how. Maybe if I get out of here. I simply have to escape. I jumped off the bed. I ran to the door and with skills I never knew I had, I disarmed the guards before they realized what happened.

I ran down the hallway, carrying the silver pistol shaped weapons. Just to test I fired it ahead and instead of the bullet I expected a blue energy force shot out. It had no effect on the wall but I assumed it would be very effective against any opponent. I barely heard the alarms blaring through the hallway as I ran down the hallways.

I got to a set of double doors and slammed my shoulder through them. And ran right into a group of about ten or fifteen guards with weapons drawn. They all fired at once and I went down. I only had time to realize before my mind went blank that I didn’t feel a thing. Then everything went black.

“Is the subject restrained?”

“Yes”

“Are you sure he’s out?”

“He’s not awake if that’s what you mean.”

“Ok, bring him back online.”

What am I doing here? The question repeats itself over and over in my mind. The whole ordeal begins to run through my mind as I take in my surroundings, the white walls and ceiling, the bright lights, the monitor, the tray of food, the bed, the straps, the bars over the windows, the guards. All of these things were slowly implanting themselves in my mind as I tried to remember. Who am I?