When things start to get interesting. - Revision #2 - January 24, 2008 6:08:06 AM UTC

Dr. Mason smiled. He was leaning into the dark room, watching the end of the presentation. It never failed to amuse him, the fact that they let the final phrase stay at the end of the video. It gave the more observant of viewers a glimpse into the true nature and monotony of the project.

He pushed off from the door sill as quietly as he could and turned toward the near-by Sapling Chamber. He slid his card into the keycard system beside the door and pushed his way in.

Before him was a slab. On this slab was a man; a man laying motionless and seemingly without life.

"Thirty-Six," Dr. Mason said, leaning in toward the Sapling. He placed his hand on the man's forearm and brushed it slightly. "Wake up, Thirty-Six."

Thirty-Six's eyes fluttered, and then opened slowly. After a few, quick, deliberate blinks, Thirty-Six drew his gaze onto Dr. Mason, "Good morning, Doctor," he said.

"Good morning," Dr. Mason replied, "it's good to see you this morning."

"And you, as well," Thirty-Six replied. He sat up and looked around the room, "I had the strangest sensation," he said.

"Oh? When? While you were sleeping?" Dr. Mason said, falling into a near-by chair.

"Yes," Thirty-Six replied quickly, "at least I believe I was sleeping. I saw things. Wonderful things. Wicked things."

"What is it you saw? Can you describe them?" Dr. Mason said, pulling out a pen and a pad of paper.

"I saw a woman. She was tall, slender. She was calling to me," Thirty-Six said, slowly closing his eyes, "Only, she wasn't calling me Thirty-Six."

"What was she calling you?" Dr. Mason asked, inquisitively.

"I don't remember." Thirty-Six replied, lowering his head, "It was something different, however. Not something I was expecting to hear."

"Well, one thing we've all learned from this little experiment is that we can't hold high our expectations. Now, you mentioned something negative about this dream. Can you elaborate?" the doctor said.

"In my dream, I had a knife in my hand." Thirty-Six replied.

"A knife?" the Doctor asked, "What sort of knife? What did you want to do with it?"

"I do not know. I do not know why it was there. I know it was wicked, however." Thirty-Six said, averting his eyes from Dr. Mason's gaze.

"Thirty-Six," Dr. Mason said compassionately, "we must put all dreams to scrutiny, both the wicked and the wonderful."