Hypersleep

A big gleaming new spaceship is what I enter.

It is a three year journey in Hypersleep that awaits me, as I step on board the spaceship with my sister, and her family.

It will be a new life in the new colony with opportunities and possible promotions. That thought makes me smile and I can’t wait to be there already.

The lounge of the spaceship is packed with people being ushered into the medical bay, or towards the sonic shower, bathroom or changing rooms.

According to code and podnumber there is a tight schedule run, and people get directed to the right place.

It all is so thrilling, new and before I know it I stand in my white undergarments, ready for a three year sleep.

I press my little niece’s hand when we walk hand in hand into the corridor of the sleeping pods.

“Are you ready for this big dream, Maddy?”

The young girl looks up. Beaming a smile just as big as mine.

“Oh yes, and it will be filled with dragons, unicorns and nebula’s.” Her soft voice utters these words and the little girls eyes gleam.

I take a glance at my sister, Maddy’s mother and give her a big smile.

I know my sister is worried a bit about this whole trip.

And just as I am reassuring my niece, I want to do the same for her mother.

“Of course, it will a fantastic dream. Let me take you to your sleeping pod.” Taking the lead in this case by guiding my niece, with my older sister and her husband in tow.

The corridor is narrow with sleeping pods stacked on each side. Soft blue light shines. Easy on the eyes, yet enough to see the numbers on the pods, and the little stairs that are needed if one is up a bit higher.

Five pods are above each other, each in length, and extendable plateau gives the change to climb on, and then get drawn into the pod.

Laying stretched out is the only option. In this small corridor, my sister, and brother in law, cuddle and kiss Maddy goodnight.

Just like they would if it was just an ordinary night to go and sleep.

But it isn’t. It is a sleep lasting three years.

“I want to be tucked in by Amy,” cries out the young girl and sits up straight again, as her parents had just laid her down.

“Really?” her mother exclaims. I can tell my sister would prefer it differently.

But that’s just because she is nervous about this trip. My sister Sandy gives in.” Oh, alright then.”

She makes room for me and heads towards her own pod.

Just as I bend down to give my niece the cuddle she wants, and get her in the sleeping pod, a cough draws my attention.

As I turn around, I see a man in the required white shorts.

Yet it is mainly his well-shaped chest that catches my eye. Another cough is given, to draw attention and force me to look a bit higher.

And when I look up, I see a gleam in his green brown eyes.

“Can you step out of the way. People want to pass.” His deep voice says.

He has some stubble of beard growing and his blond brown hairs are a bit jumbled.

“Oh.. uh..I didn’t mean to…,” I start to stammer.

And I would have kept stammering, if it wasn’t interrupted by someone else all together.

“You can make a pass at me, Kane!” calls the voice of a man, a few pods away.

“No way. Because then you’ll want to kiss my ass. And I am not letting you, Mills.”

That is what the guy directly in front of me calls back.

He has a devilish smile on his face, as he looks passed me to deal out his response.

A bit shocked I turn to look from one to the other.

But dark haired guy who called out in the first place, enters his pod with a shrug.“Your loss, Kane.” He just closes his pod.

Meanwhile the scruffy handsome fellow, called Kane, steps closer. “Can you move out of the way? Since this is a small and narrow passage after all, which you are blocking.”

I step away barely. And this Kane, gives me a pointed look.

Then it becomes a smirk, as he deliberately touches my body in passing.

Nothing truly indecent, just a mere stroke but it sends sparks along my spine immediately. And his smell is musk and strong.

It is just a fleeting moment yet somehow electrifying.

And then I see that he opens the pod lowest to the ground, the one just underneath mine. He lowers himself on the plateau and it pulls into the pod.

He gives me a wink just before he vanishes out of view. The panel closes and that was that.

Quickly I open my pod and get down on the plateau, before pulling myself in, as well. Then panel closes, sealing me off.

The idea of have him sleep directly underneath me is a bit strange and enticing at the same time.

Yet the idea cannot take hold long, since I press the button and the pod starts doing it’s work; sinking me into oblivion.

~