He woke up in a cold sweat. The dreams were coming back again. "Lights on" He said while rubbing at his face and eyes. The apartments lighting system turned on. He glanced over at his wall clock, 03:48 it read. He groaned at bit at this as he didn't actually have to be up for a few more hours. "Well, not going back to sleep now. Coffee, full pot dark roast." He told the apartments computer. Within moments the aroma of fresh brewed coffee could be smelled all throughout.
The dreams. He hadn't had one in a long time now. He thought he had moved past them. He set both his hands on the counter top and closed his eyes.
White, sterile... medical tools. Tanks of liquid notum.
He quickly snapped his eyes open. "What was that?" He thought out loud. "I've never had that happen before." He shook his head trying to clear the daze away some. He stood back up straight and took a few deep breaths. After a couple of moments, when he felt it was past, he reached for his favorite coffee cup. It had a picture of General Geers in a swimsuit on it. He looked at it and smiled, then sighed and frowned. "Geers... what the hell are you doing?" He set the cup on the counter and reached for the coffee pot. Grasping the handle he began to pour the black gold into the cup...
Tubes running from the tanks... hooked into... his arms? His legs?
He dropped the coffee pot onto the floor, shattering it. Stumbling back a few steps he brought his hands up and covered his face, pain racing all through his body.
Doctors? No... scientists... putting the tubes in... cutting openings for them...
The pain became unbearable, he let out a scream. The automated computer kicked on, "Sir, would you like me to contact Omni-Med Emergency services?" He didn't even hear it. He had become the pain, he was not part of it, he was it. A loud thud echoed as he fell to the floor.