"Is the patient sedated?" "Yes." "Then close the box." "Yes, sir." -- Mitchell didn't know what was going on. Was it just hours ago that the attack had been announced? The Russian states; the invasion... it was all too confusing for a bodyguard of a low-level executive of a minor corporation... He knew that most of the execs were gone. He didn't know where. They had just been taken by the other guards a few hours ago. He had some ideas of where they'd gone, most of them ideas that he didn't have the security clearance to know about at all...but those were just rumors, weren't they? Nobody would REALLY go into cryo, it was just too dangerous... But now he was alone. There was nobody to protect but himself and the building of his employers. The mobs were trying to get in, they wanted to get someplace to hide...but this wasn't a good place. Why didn't they understand that? Why did he have to keep on shooting those people to make them understand that he couldn't let them in? Another of the mob pushed his way through the crowd and tried to make a break for the building. On the way, he grabbed a rock, looking as if he was going to break his way in the window. Mitchell aimed and fired. The man dropped. What the hell was going on? -- "You're sure this will work." "Absolutely, Mr. Kirr," replied the aide. "You wouldn't understand the science -- I know I don't -- but trust me, we've added enough new techniques to the cryogenics program that you'll come out of it alive, you and every one of your execs." "Good. How long will I be in there?" "The computer will get you out in twenty years, sir." "Then take me down there." -- Mitchell had dropped twelve members of the mob over the last two minutes. Why wouldn't they just stay away? He didn't know. He did know that they were getting more rowdy, and that he was specifically ordered to take down anyone that actually tried to break in. His HUD suddenly came to life. Mitchell could read -- that was one of the few qualifications for his job -- but the words didn't seem to make sense. BLOW THE DOOR Blow the door? BLOW THE DOOR AND RETREAT Retreat? RETURN TO THE LABORATORY Return? He'd never been there in the first place! FOLLOW ORDERS He moved away from the door. Another man came to relieve him just as he left; he didn't recognize him all decked out in his combat armor. But he trusted the man. Mitchell left his sniper platform, and headed for the lab. -- Mitchell entered the lab in a run. Amazingly, he didn't hit anything, or anyone. The place was a mess. There were strewn bottles and vials everywhere, and two...cylinders in the corner. Standing next to them were two men. Mitchell didn't recognize either one of them. The one on the right wore a business suit; the one on the left wore a white cloak. "Get in the cylinder," said the white-cloaked man. "You're to be Mr. Kirr's bodyguard." "Mr. Kirr?" Mitchell said, amazed. THE Mr. Kirr? The big boss? "Yes, Mr. Kirr." The business man shuffled his feet in the corner. "Why?" "You've been promoted. Just get in the cylinder." "Why?" Mitchell didn't understand at all. He wasn't very smart. "Just DO it!" shouted the business man suddenly. He obviously was upset. "Get in the fucking cylinder NOW!" "Alright, sir." Mitchell climbed in the right-hand cylinder, which closed as he entered. He could have sworn he heard cursing as the door closed. Immediately, a speaker inside the cylinder came to life. "Mitchell, you are about to be frozen cryogenically." Mitchell, who couldn't see anything, couldn't feel anything, and didn't know who was talking, had to respond anyway. "Cryo-what?" The speaker still responded. "Cryogenically. You will be frozen in time, and thawed out in time." Mitchell was still confused. "Cryo-what? Frozen? How?" Mitchell thought he heard a sigh...then the voice resumed. "It's magic. You'll just sleep." That worked; everything was Magic for Mitchell. The speaker continued. "When you awaken, the cylinder will open. As soon as you can see, follow these instructions. Do you hear me?" "Yes, sir." "Find a green button. Do you have that?" "Find a...green button. Yes." "When you find it, press it, then put in the security code. Five-seven-oh-six-eight-four-six-oh-eight. Do you have that?" "Five-six-twelve-zillion-what?" The speaker again sighed. "Five-seven-oh-six-eight-fo..." Another voice suddenly filled the cylinder. "The building has been breeched. The building has been breeched." As suddenly as it had begun, the second voice stopped. The first resumed, this time sounding very hurried to Mitchell. "Oh my God. They're in the building. They're going to find us. SHIT! Listen, you're Mr. Kirr's bodyguard, Mitchell...you got that?" Mitchell responded the only way he knew. "Yes, sir." "Then MEMORIZE THIS CODE! Five-seven-oh-six-eight-four-six-oh- eight! Do you have that? Five-seven-oh-six-eight-four-six-oh-eight! Do you have that? FIVE SEV-" The voice suddenly stopped. Mitchell was scared. He didn't know what was going on at all... But listening carefully, he heard a loud roar. He could swear it was getting louder. It didn't sound human... Then a third voice spoke. "Initiating emergency cryogenic program." There was a great cold, and everything went white.