In the Year of the Cat (Queen or Freddie Mercury Fanfic)

66. Simple Twists of Fate, Part One

"Honey, that's why you never sign anything on blind faith," my dad told me via hands-free Bluetooth.  "There's always some sort of string that ties your hands, where these tests are concerned."

"I know, Dad, I'm sorry," I sighed, and tried not to roll my eyes.  I loved my dad, but it seemed he really never ceased to be a lawyer; by blind faith, he was referring to all the waivers and release documents I had signed, which completely prevented him from going after Dr. C or Stuart or anyone else remotely involved in the T-Rod Incident (as it would come to be known).

Scott tapped me on the shoulder from the back seat once the phone call ended, and tried to stick his phone in my face.  "Hey, Chris, look at this!"

I shook my head, not even turning around to meet my brother's eyes.  "Show me later."

"But it's that new YTP from Al-"

"I won't find it funny right now, Scott," I said.  "Show me later when these meds have worn off- or the shock, or whatever the hell this is."

My mother shot me a look of surprise, and I corrected myself.  "I'm sorry- whatever the heck this is."

We were on our way back from the hospital.  Since my condition had remained stable all day, I was discharged that night as promised.  However, I was not permitted to drive myself home, as my reflexes and thought processes still hadn't completely recovered, so I rode the whole long way back with my mother and brother.  Dad was in a separate car; he had driven straight from work to come see me and follow us home. 

She sighed and nodded.  "Epilepsy.  How strange.  There's no history of epilepsy in our family."

"I don't think it's epilepsy, Mom.  I mean, doctors get it wrong sometimes.  They didn't even give me any seizure medications to keep taking."

"I hope not.  I mean, I hope it's not epilepsy."  She thought a moment.  "That intense of a virtual reality, though, for that long- it's amazing to me you recovered as quickly as you did.  No brain damage or anything.  You're like Wolverine."

Now my mother was half talking to me, and half to herself.  "Oh, Lord, I hate VR.  I hate all this technology, back then when I was growing up we didn't have all these screens, these backlights, screw with your head.  Julia, we were so worried about you, why didn't you at least let us know?  Call us or something?"

"I tried to, but my Magic M- uh, my phone's signal kind of died on me.  By the way, do you have it?"

"Have what?"

"My phone."

My mother frowned.  "You lost it?"

"I don't know.  Maybe C and K have it.  They took my ring, maybe they took my phone."

"What ring?"

"Or maybe there was no ring in the first place."

"Julia, what are you talking about?"

"I don't know," I sighed, rubbing my face wearily.  "I don't even know why I did it at all."

"You did it for grades, is what they told me."

"Mm-hm.  I forgot about these, uh- research studies we had to sign up for, worth a good portion of the grade.  Then Dr. K-"

"Who's Dr. K?" Scott interrupted.  "Was that the creepy one who talked like a pedo stoner?"

"Scott, come on," my mother groaned. 

But I nodded my head.  "Dr. Kurzweil.  He's not anymore, though.  I mean, he is not and was never a pedo, never, but he was a stoner once.  I think.  It would make sense if he did.  But anyway- he was the one who said I'd get full credit for those studies if I took part in the experiment- the test."