"Thank Goodness you're here" Alice rushed over to to her guest and wrapped her arms around her in a warm embrace.
"Hey Alice, good to see you" Elaine said, anxious to get a quick cup of coffee.
"I can't believe you were in bed when I called. Why on earth were you sleeping at home when you should be at work?" Alice pried.
'Always the mom' Elaine thought, shaking her head with a smile.
"I was permitted leave, I kinda have the day off. Maybe tomorrow too"
"How nice. You look tired, coffee?" The VIA asked, studying her.
"Yes please" she breathed with relief.
Coffee was made and the doctor grabbed a cup. She gulped half the content in one go before turning to face the assistant, this time her gaze was more business-like.
"So what's wrong with him?"
"He's been acting strangely all day. He seems to be suffering from memory loss"
"Amnesia?"
"That's what I thought at first" Alice continued "First he woke up with a scream like he just had a nightmare then he started to ask silly questions, lots of silly questions. Apparently he doesn't recognize his own alarm, his room or even his appearance"
Elaine was perplexed, she held her cup up to her lips and sipped the coffee, listening with rapt attention.
"I decided to explain a few things to him. I mentioned the Generals and how they far out ranked the presidents. Simon had a hard time believing this" Alice said, regrettably.
"Wow that's a lot" Elaine couldn't help stating.
"Yes it is and I'm worried. As much as I hate to admit it, I'm scared."
"You haven't explained why he lost consciousness"
"That..." Alice managed to say "I told him about the second Black Death and World War III. He doesn't remember any of these events. All he remembers is the first black death which happened in the fourteenth century. He also thinks World War II was the last world War"
"And?" Elaine inquired, growing impatient.
"He asked what year it was. Crazy thing to ask. I refused to tell and told him I would say nothing else until you arrived. But he suddenly got annoyed and barked at me, it was scary." She paused, giving the doctor time to process the information "Then I told him, told him the year and he suddenly clutched his head and collapsed. He looked like he was in a lot of pain" Alice finally concluded.
"That's not good news" Elaine threw her head back and let her blue hair fall behind the chair. It was no longer in a ponytail but hung loose and free.
The doctor stood and headed towards Simon's room. To her surprise, he was sitting on his bed, head resting on open palms and staring at the wall.
"He's awake?"
"Yes, some minutes before you arrived." Alice answered.
"Then let's go see the General."
________________________________
Simon felt sick, his head pounded. He heard voices outside his room but didn't bother looking that way.
Alice's words weighed heavily on him, he considered them deeply. Questions continued to pop into his head. How? Why was he suddenly in the year 4020? And talking to a futuristic robot? In a house that looked like the heaven he never knew?
He closed his eyes and tried to remember but the harder he tried the heavier his head felt. It seemed like a powerful wall was blocking out his memories.
Simon rubbed his head and looked up when he heard his door open wider. He looked and saw a beautiful lady walk in. She was tall, had deep blue eyes and long hair that was the most beautiful shade of blue he had ever seen. She smiled at him and he did the same.
Elaine bent over and examined him like a dotting mother. She touched his chin and smiled again.
"Good to see you again, Simon"
'Again?' Simon wondered. He quickly glanced at his assistant for an explanation but she offered none, only a laugh.
"I heard you lost your head, somehow that's not completely bad" she joke.
"Are you the friend or the enemy?" he asked, puzzled.
"Somewhere in between" she winked. "Now let's get down to business" she said and the smile disappeared.
"What's the last thing you remember?" The doctor asked.
"Waking up" Simon answered.
"So you don't remember anything else?"
"Yes. And I'll like to know why it's not year 2020"
"Why don't you ask God that" she said and glanced at Alice.
"I'm serious, I need to know what happened after 2020. What's the Second Black Death! World War III? Adulthood from age 15? VIAs? Someone explain something" Simon begged.
"Medically speaking, I advise you don't try too hard to recall the past." the Doctor urged.
"Why?" Simon asked, unable to mask his disapproval.
"Take for example the explanation Alice offered, you suddenly passed out because you couldn't handle it all at once. Flooding your brain with so much information at once could cause permanent damage to your mind and health. I suggest you rest" Elaine looked him dead in the eye.
Simon protested. "I don't know who you are but I'm sick and tired of people I don't know running my life."
"Well I'm your doctor and you'll do as I say" Elaine said firmly.
"Not exactly" He turned to his assistant now, he had had enough. "Alice, I need a brief explanation of what happened to humanity since the year 2020."
"Well.." Alice looked uncertain, her eyes darted back and forth from the Doctor to the General.
"You'll do no such thing. Look at me when I'm talking to you" she growled at the General.
"Elaine, why don't we do as he says? Simon's not usually like this, let's trust him a bit more."
Elaine stopped. She looked at Alice in disbelief, totally surprised the VIA hadn't taken her side as she always did. She threw her hands and surrendered.
"Okay fine but I'll be monitoring you. If I see your body can't handle it, I'm cutting you guys off"
"Thank you, ehm" Simon stuttered.
"Elaine. Doctor Elaine" she offered.
"Thanks Elaine. Alice let's get on with it" he smiled at his assistant.
"Okay" she smiled back. "General, Doctor, Sit tight."
The lights dimmed.