You called; Answer Part 1

<<<Excerpt 1>>>

Dane: You’re sure?

Waters: Yes! Doctor Halmann said the drugs would sedate him, nothing more!

Dane: Sedate… Lisa, he’s nearly dead. See, look at this. Barely a pulse.

Waters: I know. His metabolism’s all but stopped.

Dane: But look here. Lots of brain activity. Never seen anything like this in an unconscious person… not even in REM.

<<<End>>>

 

<<<Excerpt 2>>>

Dane: He hasn’t responded to any of the drugs yet, Doctor. What should we do?

Halmann: We wait. It’s obvious he’s not dead. His pulse is still present, albeit weak. Provided nothing else happens, he might just wake up on his own. Or… not. We never know with coma patients, though with this technology, we might have an unparalleled chance for examination.

Dane: You mean the-

Halmann: Yes. Just exercise due care. We have no idea if the device will impact the patient long term. Or the user, for that matter. The initial trials were… ambiguous, to put it lightly.

Dane: Doctor, I’ve spoken to Dr. Waters about using the device. I believe she wanted to be the one to… use it.

Halmann: I’m sure she would. Mercury is a siren’s call to psychologists. It’ll either be the tool they’ll finally be able to fix their patients with, or it will be the revolution that will put them out of work. <laughs>

<<<End>>>

 

<<<Excerpt 3>>>

Waters: Alright, I’m engaging the probe now. Dr. Halmann? What is this supposed to feel like?

Halmann: You’ll feel a slight tension at the base of your skull, and a feeling akin to a rush of blood to the brain. You’ll lose consciousness shortly <audible thump> after. Quite so. Mr. Dane, if you would.

Dane: <electronic click> There. Both are showing stable brain activity.

Halmann: Now, we wait.

<<<End>>>

 

<<<Excerpt 4>>>

Mercury: Welcome to the Mercury Interface. What can I do for you today?

Waters: Synchronize and interface with patient Bruce Montgomery, terminal A.

Mercury: Interfacing, please stand by. <buzzing> Synchronization ready. Warning. Please be advised that Mercury is still under development. Mercury developers and engineers are not responsible for any brain damage or other neural anomalies directly or indirectly associated with the use of Mercury. Do you accept responsibility?

Waters: <sigh> Yes.

Mercury: <beep> Commencing interface.

<<<End>>>

 

<<<Excerpt 5>>>

Mercury: Synchronization complete. Mercury on standby.

Waters: Hello?

Montgomery: Hello, Dr. Waters.

Waters: Mr. Montgomery! You’re alright. Well. Mostly.

Montgomery: Am I dreaming?

Waters: Yes, and no. You’re in a coma. I’m communicating with you by having a computer inject your brain with chemicals that simulate my thought patterns. And vice versa.

Montgomery: Interesting. I suppose that’s why you’re fully clothed, despite my best efforts to -

Waters: Mr. Montgomery! Please! Please. Listen. I don’t know how long it’s safe to remain like this. So, I’ll make this quick. You’re in a deep coma. We don’t know how long it will be until you wake, if at all, but we’re going to be using Mercury to study your brain, and also to keep in touch with you.

Montgomery: Interesting. What else can Mercury do?

Waters: I… can’t tell you.

Mercury: Mercury is a fully autonomous neural synchronization and interface utility, fully equipped to provide a 2-1 ratio thought implantation regiment and synaptic override. Recording and communication systems in draft, beta version 0.1.126.

Waters: I’ll explain later. For now, I’ll just get you started with Mercury.

Mercury: Welcome to the Mercury Interface, what can I do for you today?

<<<End>>>