New Man (excerpt)
Clean light washed the floor and ceiling. A figure in white spoke gently, melodically.
“Welcome back, Mr. Cole.”
A stranger slowly rose from his chair. Stiff muscles resisted his every move. “Am I Cole?”
The figure, whom he now discerned to be a middle-aged woman, replied disarmingly. “Yes, although the name may sound unfamiliar. Do you know where you are?”
Cole noticed featureless walls, no windows, no door. “I can’t say I do.” Something nagged at his memory.
The figure smiled. “Don’t be alarmed. You were brought to us following a neural renormalization.”
Cole’s heart quickened; one fist clenched unconsciously. “Renormalization. You mean execution?”
A hint of sadness dampened the lovely figure’s smile. “Not necessarily. In rare cases, people have been known to elect renormalization rather than endure traumatic memories. It doesn’t matter.” She stepped closer. “Whoever you were, whatever you did or went through, it’s gone now.” She took another step, resting one hand on Cole’s shoulder. “You are reborn.”
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