Chapter 1
I have no idea what I'm doing here…
I applied for a job at a government research facility. I was desperate. After years of trying in vain to get a job as a professional dancer, I hit 30 en decided I was too old and needed to get my life together. Debts and the risk of losing my apartment may have made me overly creative with my resume and somehow I got a position in the lab as a "senior research assistant", even though I don't have any background in that area at all… Of course I acted as if I did, 1 month pay is better than nothing, but I never could have dreamed they would send me to the most secretive facility the government has to offer; Area 51.
Of course I knew I shouldn't have accepted the position and I wish I did now, more than ever, but it's too late; I've got to see it through till the end. Right after I said yes, they got me this enormous contract, which I didn't read, just signed. I could see the smiles on their faces getting wider and wider, while placing my autograph at the bottom of each page. After that it was like riding a rollercoaster. That night I left on a luxurious government plane towards destination unknown. I arrived early in the morning at some airport, where I was lead towards a helicopter. I had no idea where I was and nobody would tell me. The only reason I know I'm at Area 51 now is because I got a quick glimpse of a sign while being lead from the helicopter towards the facility.
After arrival, someone from security brought me to my room. It was a big room with a bed, nightstand, closet, desk and bathroom. On the walls there were some pictures of deceased high ranking government officials. The last one of a man named Jack O. Brennen, a CEO. Apparently he died only a few days ago. I sold most of my stuff to pay as many debts as possible, which made it easy for me to travel light. I threw the one bag I had with me on my bed on the left and went to investigate the rest of the room. The sheets and carpet were black; everything else in the room was white. There was a book on the nightstand called "Brain and Memory". I wanted to look inside, but I heard someone coming.
It was a short man that came in, with glasses and a white coat. He introduced himself as Doctor Brian N. Stralptan, but I could call him Brian. Before I could ask him any questions he told me to follow him. For such a short man, he was quite fast. I almost had difficulties keeping up. He brought me to an elevator where he put his card through the card slide. This brought us to a floor with an enormous lab. I followed Brian through the lab where I saw amazing and often terrifying things, terrible things… It looked as if they were preparing for a full scale war with an incomprehensible opponent. At the very end Brian lead me in to an isolated room. I had the feeling the room was screaming at me through my eyes. It was extremely bright white, as clean as can be. I had to close my eyes out of shock.
When I opened my eyes, I was lying on a table. I don't know how I got there, but it felt like I was waking up. Brian was standing over me. I tried to move, but I couldn't. I wasn't tied up, I just couldn't move. It was like I was paralyzed everywhere but my eyes. I tried to scream, but couldn't. I saw a woman standing over me as well. While there was nothing but confidence shown in Brian's eyes, her eyes showed only concern. My eyes screamed HELP, I was terrified. I didn't know what was going on. I didn't know what I could do. I saw a big glass sphere behind Brian with something floating inside. There was a brain floating in it. The woman came towards me with a syringe. The last thing I heard was a whisper from the woman: "I'm sorry…" and then everything went black.
It felt like I was asleep for days and when I later saw the date, apparently that was correct. I woke up in a recovery room in the east wing of area 51. There were bandages over my head. I knew what happened, where I was. Dr. Stralptan came in and came towards me. He held a mirror in front of me and asked; "Satisfied Mr. Brennen?". For this, I could think of only one reply…
I have no idea what I'm doing here…
