Kimberly Mayes entered the cold metal research laboratory, closing the steel bulkhead door behind her.
Felix lay on a hospital bed. IVs had been inserted at the insides of both elbows. EKG sensors taped across his chest cavity. O2 sensor on his left pinky. A brain monitor helmet secured to his head. Covered with a thin bedsheet, but otherwise nude.
“Felix Cassian, it’s nice to meet you again. I hear you have been very active these last few weeks.” She started.
“Its been educational, Dr.”, He replied. “Could I ask the reason for the honor of the visit?”
Kimberly chuckled. “Hopefully not sarcasm.” She paused for several seconds; holding the room.
Felix chuckled in turn, but not out of discomfort. “Not sarcasm, Dr. Just testing. No offense implied.”
She took some notes on a legal pad and made her way to a pleather covered hospital chair, blue. She smiled again. “Thank you for that. It seems your humor is intact.”
Felix leaned forward slightly, whispering, and looking around for eavesdroppers in jest. “Not to speak ill of the other company, but they aren’t the best conversationalist. Maye it’s my hearing, but we don’t seem to have much in common.” He grinned.
Kimberly chuckled again, understanding the joke that the lab technicians wear masks and can be somewhat difficult to understand. That and, most of them use English as a second language. “Well, I’m sure they are great entertainment under less sterile circumstances. We may never know.”
“Ehm, that’s ok. It’s probably better if they view me as a project rather than a person. I’ve been told I’m magnetic, and we wouldn’t want anyone to get attached.” He winked.
She took a note. “Airman Cassian.” Felix straightened at the obvious end of their banter. She continued “I do appreciate the light heartedness; I truly do. But my time is limited. Would you mind if we covered a few topics? Try to be as honest as possible.” Kimberly glanced towards a series of monitors just out of Felix’s view. He guessed they were likely displaying his vitals in real time.
“This isn’t the most comfortable couch, if this is a therapy session, Doc. But we work with the tools we have. Fire away.” Felix relented and laid his head back on the pillow.
“It would be very helpful if you told me about your childhood. Start as early as you can recall, and please try to be descriptive. Including how the events made you feel really establishes a good baseline. Remember, this isn’t leaving this room in a way that any other human might be able to read or interpret. I am personally sworn to secrecy, and you have active immunity. The purpose of this visit is to help us, our data really, understand how a person like you does what you do.” Is that something you can do for us?
“You’re asking me to divulge my history. My deepest secrets?” Felix clarified.
“Yes”, she answered succinctly.
“Well, it all started with a bright light.” Felix laughed at himself. “I’m sorry, couldn’t resist” he grimaced at the bad joke. “It really started with the screaming…”
Felix launched into a description of a childhood of abuse, moving around, shattered friendships, culminating in joining the military to escape. But the common thread beneath it all was an alien feeling of non-belonging. He described observing others and their rituals of pain and superiority, perpetual hypocrisy, and the apathy of time. Felix admitted several attempts to right injustices only to watch relationships shatter under the weight of his observations, ultimately leading to his ostracization.
“So, that’s where I live now, Doc. Alone but content. Don’t get me wrong, I love people, but when you’ve seen what people can do, what they can be, it’s better to love them untouched. Like cacti, or orchids. Best not to get too close or things change.” He concluded.
Dr. Mayes had been scribbling relentlessly throughout the diatribe, never interrupting. Never asking “How did that make you feel?”, knowing the distancing that would have on a subject like Felix. Instead, she let him ramble, taking her notes as the camera hidden in the corner of the room documented it all.
Artavus Quill 