Chapter 3: Awakening in 2101

Silence.

An all-encompassing void pressed against the edges of Jacob’s consciousness, reigning for what felt like an eternity. In this darkness, time ceased to exist. His once sharp and defiant thoughts had dissolved into a static fog. Then, like the first rays of sunlight seeping into a darkened room, a faint hum stirred his senses. At first distant, like a whisper carried on the wind, it grew louder, resonating within his very bones.

Jacob’s eyelids fluttered; his vision swam with darkness punctuated by glowing white specks. His body felt impossibly heavy, as if weighed down by the inertia of centuries. A sharp, sterile scent invaded his nostrils, and the faint hum of machinery reached his ears.

“Subject 101, reanimation protocol initiated,” a mechanical voice announced, clinical and devoid of humanity.

Jacob groaned, his throat raw as sandpaper. The sound of his own voice, hoarse and alien, startled him. He tried to move, but his limbs were leaden. The gel-like material lining the capsule clung to his skin, reluctant to release him.

With a soft hiss, the capsule’s lid opened, releasing a ghostly mist that dispersed into the air. The chill brushed against Jacob’s bare skin, jolting him closer to full awareness. Slowly, he blinked against the blinding overhead light; the sterile whiteness of the room assaulted his senses.

“Welcome back, Jacob Thorn,” a new voice greeted him, warm yet tinged with curiosity. “The year is 2101.”

Squinting, Jacob focused on the speaker—a young woman standing a few steps away. Petite, with sleek black hair framing a face as delicate as a sculpted figure, her emerald-green eyes studied him with a mix of awe and concern. She wore a modern uniform that shimmered subtly, seeming to move in harmony with her every gesture.

“You…?” Jacob rasped, his voice coarse and foreign to his ears. He cleared his throat, a task that required effort. “Who are you?”

The woman stepped closer, raising her wrist to reveal a sleek device that emitted a soft glow. “My name is Emi. I’m your guide. Let’s start by getting you acclimated, shall we?”

Jacob stared at her, his mind sluggish and disoriented. Questions swirled within him—endless and chaotic—colliding in an incomprehensible tangle. Before he could speak, Emi pressed a button on her device, prompting a mechanical arm to extend from the wall, holding a cylindrical object.

“Drink this,” she instructed, offering it to him. “It will help alleviate the effects of cryogenic stasis.”

Jacob eyed the container with suspicion. The liquid inside glowed a luminous sapphire blue, like liquefied gemstones. “What is it?” he asked, his tone cautious and gruff.

“Hydro-regenerative solution. Completely safe. You’ll need it to fully recover.”

With no other option, Jacob took a tentative sip. The liquid was cool and refreshing, its faint citrus tang soothing the dryness in his throat. He drained the rest in a single gulp, warmth spreading through his body like a gentle wave of caffeine.

“Better?” Emi asked, tilting her head slightly.

Jacob nodded, his thoughts beginning to sharpen. He glanced around, taking in the room’s sleek design. The walls were smooth and metallic, illuminated by soft ambient lighting. Monitors displayed streams of data in a language he couldn’t comprehend.

“So this is the future,” Jacob muttered, his voice laced with sarcasm. “Where’s the dealership for flying cars?”

Emi chuckled lightly, her laughter soft and melodic. “We left that cliché behind years ago. But trust me, the advancements will still amaze you.”

With Emi’s assistance, Jacob swung his legs over the edge of the capsule. His muscles, stiff from disuse, protested every movement. His bare feet touched the cool, shimmering floor, sending a slight shiver through him. His first steps were unsteady, like a newborn deer struggling to stand.

“Move slowly,” Emi advised, staying close by. “Your body is still adjusting.”

Jacob grunted, brushing off her concern. “I’ve had worse mornings.”

As they walked through the corridor, Jacob marveled at the facility. The halls were wide and pristine; holographic panels on the walls displayed serene landscapes and abstract designs that shifted continuously. Silent drones glided overhead, moving with the precision of metallic birds in synchronized flight.

“This place is…” Jacob searched for the right word. “Sterile.”

“Efficient,” Emi corrected. “Every detail is optimized for functionality.”

They stopped before a pair of double doors, which opened soundlessly to reveal a sprawling atrium bathed in natural light. The massive dome overhead offered a panoramic view of a sky painted in hues of purple and gold. Below, people moved in groups, their attire both futuristic and practical, accompanied by glowing holographic interfaces.

Jacob froze, his breath catching in his throat. “What is this place?” he murmured, his voice a mix of awe and disbelief.

“The world as it is now,” Emi replied. “You’re in Tetenuim, one of the planet’s most advanced research and technology hubs. We innovate, create, and guide individuals like you.”

“Individuals like me?” Jacob repeated, narrowing his eyes. “How many other frozen popsicles have you thawed?”

Emi hesitated, her expression briefly shadowed. “You’re unique, Jacob. The only one to have survived stasis for this long. That’s why you’re part of our research.”

Jacob snorted derisively. “Lucky me.”

As they moved through the atrium, Jacob tried to make sense of the conversations around him. The languages were melodic yet incomprehensible, like a symphony heard but not understood.

“Struggling to follow?” Emi asked, noticing his furrowed brow.

“Are you kidding?” Jacob muttered. “I feel like I’ve walked into a bad sci-fi movie.”

Emi smiled and handed him a small, sleek device resembling an earpiece. “Try this. It’s a universal translator.”

Jacob examined the device skeptically. “What does it do? Beam words into my brain?”

“Something like that,” Emi said, amused. “Just put it on.”

With a resigned sigh, Jacob slipped the device into his ear. Instantly, the ambient noise transformed into intelligible speech. Snippets of conversations floated to him: discussions on quantum computing advancements, debates on interstellar colonization.

“Huh,” Jacob murmured, adjusting the earpiece. “Handy.”

“Welcome to the 22nd century,” Emi said with a grin.

As they continued through the atrium, Jacob’s initial unease gave way to cautious curiosity. The world was vastly different from what he had imagined—alien yet strangely familiar. He couldn’t help but marvel at the seamless integration of technology into every aspect of life.

But beneath his fascination lay an unsettling question: What was his place in this world? He was a relic, a man out of time. Could he ever truly belong here?

Emi seemed to sense his turmoil. “It’s overwhelming, I know,” she said gently. “But you’ll adjust. I’ll be here to help.”