Pop Odyssey
By Neko
Prequel
Dreamers often dream mixed up things. We can’t control what we
dream and you can’t begin to under stand why we dream the things
we do. Does a sleeping mind know something an awake mind doesn’t?
But any way as Dreamer often do, we long so much to tell these dreams
to you.
Our technology was at its peak. Nsync was bigger than ever. But after
a long summer touring there came an outbreak of a strange plague. It
only affected men, but women could carry it too. Men were dying in large
numbers. It was very easy to get. So when Joey got it, it quickly spread
to the other band members. People were afraid all men would dies and
then mankind as we know it would end. Nsync, being so rich, paid to
have their bodies frozen, so the sickness would not worsen. The figured
in a year or two they would find a cure and then they could unfreeze
them. That way they could start where they left off.
What they hadn’t counted on was that it took longer than expected
to find the cure. So for years the guys of Nsync remained in a cold
sleep, while the world around them changed in so many ways. Women found
ways to live with out men, but the need for them was still there. As
the plague got worse all the remaining men were frozen. The men dreamed
that when they woke, they were so few and far between, that women would
do what ever they said. But this proved to be only a dream.
When they did find a cure many years had pasted. Soon Nsync found themselves
still frozen but safe and sound on the space ship Oleander. The female
population had dropped greatly; it was now only a little above the number
of men that were about to be set free. Yet women were uneasy about freeing
them. A few of them still recalled what life was like when men were
free. They weren’t about to play second to them again. So they
came up with a plan that wouldn’t let men back into power. Things
had been so peaceful with out them.
The time came to wake the men, who had been asleep now for 100 years.
Everyone they had known was gone. The choice the women made was to wake
the men and then take a needle to the base of the brain and remove their
memories. That way the women could start over with them and teach them
to respect women.
The roles were about to be changed.
Part 1
The cart was wheeled into the room. One lady pulled the
sheet away and revealed the pale young man. He was in the same position
he had been 100 years ago. “I hope this works.” One woman
said. She ran her eyes over his figure in the ice.
They got ready to unfreeze him. They worked for 20 minutes getting him
ready. “Here goes.” The woman said throwing the switch.
The ice quickly started to melt. Once it was gone the women waited for
any sign of life. The man lay there for a few minutes and then started
to stir a little. His chest moved up and down with his breath. Once
he seemed to have gathered himself they remover the air mask from around
his mouth and nose. One of the girls ran her hand through his wet brown
hair. “Joey are you okay?” She asked. Joey’s eyes
opened slowly. He nodded in response to her question.
“Just relax everything is going to be okay.’ She said. “Where
are the others?” Joey asked his voice was soft and weak. “They’re
not awake yet. They will be soon. Right now you need to worry about
yourself.” She told him. Joey seemed to relax a little. He looked
around himself. Things were very different than he remembered.
Suddenly he felt his stomach get tight. He clinched his fists and teeth
in pain. “What’s wrong?” The woman asked. “It’s
the sickness, hurry give him the shot.” Some one yelled. Joey
got dizzy and then felt the prick in his arm. Once things cleared up,
he looked over at the girl beside him. She smiled and then removed the
needle from his arm. “Thank you.” Joey said all most choking
on his words. “You’re welcome.” She said smiling.
She ran her eyes over his body again; this was most likely the first
man she had ever seen.
“Why don’t you help him to the other room so he can get
cleaned up?” One woman told the young girl. Joey lifted himself
up as best he could. His muscles were weak from having been still so
long, “This was easier before.” Joey said putting his feet
on the floor. “I will help you.” The girl said taking his
arm. Joey smiled then got to his feet. Things were rocky at first but
he soon got going.
The girl led him down the hall. Joey looked in the rooms as they passed.
There were guys getting unfrozen in every room. “It’s Joey.”
Some one said. Joey looked over to see Lance standing in one of the
doorways. “Lance!” Joey said as Lance came closer. Lance’s
movements were slow too, but he hugged his old friend. “It’s
good to see your okay. Any word on the other?” Lance asked. Joey
shook his head no. “Come we have a lot of work to do.” The
girl said leading them both away.
They were taken to a room and given clean clothes and food. They had
just gotten out of the showers when another familiar face walked through
the door. Chris smiled cheerfully. “Chris, how are you?”
Lance asked. “Weak.” Chris said. “I hear that.”
Joey said. Joey and Lance sat down and talked while Chris got cleaned
up.
What’s the date?” Lance asked. The girl watching them smiled.
“It’s April 29th.” She said. “We were only out
a year?” Joey asked. “No, no it’s April 29th of 2102.”
She said. Joey’s jaw dropped. The guys started to ask one question
after another. “Please, some one will answer your questions later.”
She said once she had had enough. After all why should she waste her
time telling them when in a few hours they won’t remember any
thing?
Chris joined them. He had the same reaction to the date as the others.
A red head walked in. “It’s time.” She said. “Time
for what?” Chris asked. “You’ll see, follow me please.”
The red head said. They looked at each other then did as they were told.
She led them back down the hall. Once they reached a small group of
girls they were split up. ‘We’ll talk later.’ lance
said. As two girls pulled him in one direction. “Okay, see you.”
Joey said.
Chris smiled and then followed the two girls into a room. Chris looked
around himself in awe. All the cool things fascinated him. As they went
in the door slid shut. Chris jumped. He looked around the room. There
was a funky table in there that had a hole in it and tons of straps
hanging off of it. “What’s going on?” Chris asked.
He jumped and started to worry when he heard a snap, it sounded as if
the door had locked.
“Relax, Chris, lay down on your stomach.” One of the girls
said in a sweet voice. She patted the table playfully. Chris looked
at both of them and then took a step back. “Why?” He asked.
One of the girls came up behind him and wrapped one arm around him and
brought both of her hand to rest on each of his arms.
Chris felt his arms tighten under her light touch. He looked down at
her hand then followed it up to her face. He swallowed hard then looked
over at the other girl, who was fixing up the things next to the table.
“What’s going on?” Chris asked, his eyes jumping from
one to the other. “Nothing, we just want to make sure your healthy.”
The one closest to him said pushing him closer to the table.
He was already to do it, but that’s when he heard Lance yell.
He wasn’t sure why Lance yelled but it didn’t sound good.
Chris found himself pushing away again. The girls grip on his arms got
tighter. She was pushing him to the table. Chris’ muscles still
hadn’t recovered, so he found himself to be too weak to fight
her. “No wait. I don’t want to.” Chris yelled. “You
have to.” The girl told him. “Why, what are you going to
do?” Chris asked. They didn’t answer him. The other girl
came around and then they each took an arm and easily pulled the weak
man over to the table.
Chris was fighting with all his might. They pushed him down onto the
table. They stuck his face down in the hole, so he could see the underside
of the table. He heard some noise then he felt the straps tighten around
his arms, legs, waist and head. Soon he couldn’t move. He was
scared, his body was shacking. It had all happened so fast, he had no
time to react. Chris didn’t know what to do so he started to cry.
His tears started to form a tiny puddle on the floor. “Please
don’t kill me.” Chris begged. One of the girls lowered her
head so he could see her face. ‘That’s not the plan, sweetie.”
She said. “What is the plan?” Chris asked with a sniffle.
Chris felt something cold and wet on the back of his neck. “We’re
going to erase your memory.’ She said softly. Chris wasn’t
sure he had heard her right. “My memory?” He asked. The
girl nodded. “Why?” Chris asked. “We don’t want
to make the same mistake again.” She said. Chris didn’t
know what this meant but the thought of losing his memories of his family,
who had died a long time ago, was too much.
“This won’t hurt much, so just relax.” The other girl
said cleaning the spot, where she was going to stick the needle. He
felt the small prick as she stuck him. He would have jumped if he could
have moved. He closed his eyes and thought of his mother one last time.
Then the memories faded and he passed out.
Mean while down the hall JC woke with a shiver. JC jumped when he saw
the needle in the woman’s hand. “Relax it’s just the
cure.” She said. “I just don’t like needles.”
JC said. “Oh, I see. Well just look away it’ll only take
a minute.” She said. JC nodded and then looked away. He jumped
a little when she stuck him. When she was done he looked back at her.
“What year is it?” JC asked. “2101.” She said
helping him sit up. JC seemed shocked but he quickly recovered.
“Are my friends okay?” JC asked. ‘Yeah, their fine
you’ll see them later. Now come on let’s go get you cleaned
up.” She said leading him away. JC looked into one of the rooms.
He saw Justin lying on the table still frozen. “Can I go in?”
He asked. “Sure, I think their about to unfreeze him.” The
woman said. Her and JC stood in the doorway.
JC watched carefully as they got ready. It wasn’t long till the
ice started to melt. Once it was all gone JC held his breath and waited
for any sign of life. Justin finally took a deep breath. His head rolled
around and then his eyes met with his friend in the doorway. Justin
smiled. JC turned away as Justin got his shot. “Where are we?”
Justin asked. “I don’t know.” JC said. “Come
on let’s get you cleaned up.” The woman said.
“They seem a little pushy.” Justin said softly once he got
closer to his friend. “Yeah.” JC breathed as she pushed
them down the hall. They quickly got cleaned up. “Something is
not right.” Justin said as they sat along in the room. “I
feel it too, but what can we do?” JC asked. The red head came
in. “Justin, please come with me.’ She said. Justin looked
at JC and then got up and went with her.
They left JC sitting there and went down the hall. She pushed him into
a room just as they carried an unconscious Joey out. “Is he okay?”
Justin asked. ‘He’s fine, he’s just a little worn
out after all you have been through.” She lied then shut the door.
Justin felt uneasy. “Lay down.” She said. “I would
rather not.” Justin said. ‘It wasn’t a request it
was a demand.” She said. Justin was shocked by her sudden change
of tone. She must have been putting up with guys like him all day.
She started to pull him over to the table. That’s when he heard
JC out side talking as he was being walked down the hall. “Run
JC!” Justin yelled as she pushed him down on the table. JC looked
at the door, shocked to hear his friend’s voice. “Run!”
Justin yelled again. JC turned suddenly and took off down the hall before
the girl beside him had a chance to grab him.
He wasn’t sure where he was going. By this time his heart was
racing in fear as the girls chanced him. He ducked behind something
and the girls ran by with out seeing him. JC was worried, he didn’t
know where to go or who to talk to. He lowered his head and cried. He
didn’t look up again until he heard some one yell, “There
he is.”
He looked up and saw a group of girl heading his way. He started to
get up and started to go back the way he had come but her ran into another
group of girls. He tried to stop on the slick floor but ended up sliding
and fell down. Before he could get up again they had a hold of him.
He tried to push them away but he couldn’t. “What’s
going on?” JC asked realizing he was trapped. “Relax sweetie,
it’s not as bad as it seems. You’ll see everything will
be all right in the end.” One woman said running her hand through
his hair. “But, I’m scared.” JC wined.
“Awe,” she cooed, “Come on.” She wrapped her
arm around tight enough to keep him from running away again but light
enough to put him at lease a little bit. She led him down to the room
once they were inside she shut and locked the door. “Now, I’m
really scared.” JC said eyeing the things next to the table. “No
worries, I’ve done this a hundred times today alone.” She
said pulling him to the table. “What are you going to do to me?”
JC asked. “It’s just another shot.” She said. “For
the sickness?” JC questioned. “Yeah, but this one goes at
the back of the neck.” She said. “If that’s all then
why did Justin yell?” JC asked. “He must have gotten scared.”
She said.
JC nodded and then laid down like she told him to, even though he felt
something was up. He relaxed a bit until she started to ready the straps.
“What do you need those for?” He asked. “The shot
has to be just right or it won’t work I can’t have you messing
it up by moving when I stick you.” She lied. JC didn’t believe
her but what was he to do, he was clearly too weak to fight any more.
So he lay back down and then let her strap him down tight.
“I can’t get away now, so why don’t you tell me what
you’re really doing.” JC said. The girl smiled. “I’m
just doing what I was told to do.” She said. “And what were
you told to do?” JC asked surprised by how claim he was. JC felt
her hand on his shoulder. “Please tell, just so I have peace of
mind.” JC added. “I might, as well you won’t remember
any way.” She said. “Why won’t I?” JC asked.
‘Because I’m going to erase your memory.” She said
but before he could react she stuck him. JC was so over whelmed with
shock he just laid there stunned. His eyes glazed over and the started
to mumble and wine.
The woman looked under the table at him. “That’s odd, I’ve
never had one not passed out before.” She said to herself. She
called some one in to look at him. It was like he was unconscious but
his eyes were open. “What do we do?” One of them asked.
“Take him and put him with the others.” The other replied.
They sat JC up and then walked him down the hall. It was almost like
he was sleep walking. They placed him in a small compartment and then
laid him down. The girl closed his eyes and the kissed him on the forehead.
She smiled and then left.
