"Where are we?", Jay asked, as he stepped through the doorway, into the larger building beyond.
Outside what Jay thought was the interrogation room, was a massive complex. The roof was some three hundred feet above him, and a series of cat walk structures littered the compound, taking a person to parts unknown within. The building resembled one of the newer dome stadiums some major cities now sported for their athletic teams. But this was something much more than an ordinary dome.
Jay, still enthralled with what he was seeing, turned back to Pat, who was smiling at him.
"What did you call this place again?"
"The Fleece", Pat said.
"Is that some sort of codename, or something?", asked Dr. Blake, who had finally decided to speak.
"No, no codenames. No deception here. What you see is what you get", replied Pat.
"So how did we get here?", asked Linda.
"What do you remember about coming here, Mrs. Trent", asked Pat.
"I remember being put in a squad car...", she paused for a moment. "...and that's it."
"That's all I remember too", added Dana.
"Same here", said Larry.
"Did you drug us? Some sort of sleep inducing agent?", asked Dr. Blake.
"Do you remember going to sleep?", asked Pat.
They all thought for a moment, but none could recall actually losing consciousness. It was just as if their minds had all drawn a blank on the whole trip.
"I don't remember anything after getting into the car", said Jay.
"It's called Pense", Pat stated, matter of factly.
"Pense?", replied Dr. Blake.
"Yes, an amnesia drug administered topically. More powerful than conscious sedation could ever be. Only instead of sedating...", Pat was interrupted by Dana.
"It immobilizes the subject. They can still move freely, but have no recollection of the events occurring around them", Dana finished.
"You've done your homework", Pat smiled at her.
"Wait, wait, wait? So you drugged us and brought us to this feast?", said Larry.
"Fleece, THE Fleece", replied Pat.
"Call it what you want, but that's kidnapping, pal."
Everyone else agreed with Larry, but Jay stood silent, staring at the floor below in deep thought.
"Would you rather have us leave you in the custody of the police that, at this very minute, are trying to compile a fraud case against you all?", said Pat.
Everyone got quiet with that remark.
"They think you're all in on some scheme to acquire further funding for Dr. Blake's research and that this 'deadman walking' fiasco was just a hoax, for publicity's sake."
"It was no hoax", replied Jay, looking dead at Pat now.
Pat looked over at him and smiled, "We know that, Jay. That's why you're here."
"How do you know?"
"Because we've been keeping an eye on you and this whole situation you have succumbed to. We were quite curious to see what the scans may reveal and got much more than we bargained for. Your condition, shall we say, is...unique."
"What do you mean by 'unique'?", asked Jay, moving towards Pat.
"And who's 'we'?", asked Larry.
"Gentlemen, if it's answers you seek, they are right outside this room. We're not hiding anything from you. So please, shall we?"
Pat motioned for the others to leave the room and join himself and Jay in the rest of the complex. Pat seemed more than willing to provide comfort and answers, something that made them all a little on edge. But they were willing to tempt fate and take Pat at his word.
"Jay, if you would please proceed down the catwalk, I'll tell you which way to go as we move along", said Pat.
Jay hesitated only for a minute, then turned and proceeded in the direction Pat suggested. They all began moving that way.
"The Fleece...", Pat began an almost tour-like narration, "...is a research facility, in the purest form. There is no military backing, or government involvement. No fabled hypocrisy to conceal an absolute truth. All we are interested in is truth and how to understand it, nothing more. The Fleece is a consortium of international servitude to the grandest truth of all, human existence and unknown possibilities that lie at the very heart of that existence. The facility is run by physcists, theologians, scientists, doctors, right down to everyday people like yourself. Truly a land of the free in the most genuine sense. Because all of the people running this facility have the common goal seeking truth, they came up with a name for themselves, known only as Jason, spelled with a G."
"Wouldn't that be Gayson?", asked Larry, as they pressed on.
"Turn left, Jay. No Larry, it's Jason, but the G is symbolic. It stands for a profound wisdom beyond our reach, that we can only hope to obtain", said Pat.
"You mean like God?", asked Linda.
"Perhaps, Mrs. Trent. Of course, they try to refer to that using something less...stereotypical", said Pat.
"Don't tell me, 'The Force'?", said Larry, turning to face Pat.
Pat just smiled at Larry again, "No, too many fair use issues there. Jay, go left and down the stairs now."
They all followed Jay through the endless maze of corridors it seemed.
"No, we believe in a higher influence, if you will, that can set everyone and everything on whatever path is intended. Because of interconnectedness, or the 'Laws of Attraction', everything requires all things to journey down the chosen path. It's inevitable and irreversible.
"But lately, we've been seeing something...different."
Jay stopped and turned to look in Pat's direction, who was at the end of the group. Some of the others walked into one another because of Jay's sudden stop.
"I'm not much for interconnectedness when I crash into things", said Larry.
"What's different, Pat?", asked Jay.
Pat moved towards the front of the line, right in front of Jay, as they all stood in the corridor.
"Well, put simply, Jay, you happened."
"Me?"
"Yes, you, Jay. You see, for some time we have been studying others with the same issues you have been experiencing. That's why we've been monitoring you, to choose a certain point when to bring you in."
"Bring me in for what?"
"You're not alone, Jay, the others like you are here as well, experiencing similar issues to the 'dreams' you have been having."
"Like my dreams? Like I'm in some other place?"
"Yes. Except, as you and your friends, colleagues, and family have discovered now, these 'dreams' aren't dreams at all. They are real places, just as real as the reality you currently perceive."
"Wait, reality? Like alternate reality?", asked Dr. Blake.
"In a manner of speaking, yes, Dr. Blake. But it exist only inches away from us. Again, it's that interconnectedness that binds, Jay. This is not some far off universe in a deep, distant cosmos that might take thousands, even millions or billions of years to reach. They are all right here, as one. You, Jay, along with these others have found a way to tap into those realities, but you have done something even more profound."
"What's that?", asked Jay.
"You brought something back with you."
"How did I do that?"
"That's the real question here, Jay, and the only one I can't give you an answer to. We're hoping you can help us figure that part out."
Jay was beside himself, trying to take in what Pat just said. Pat could see the wheels turning in Jay's mind. The rest were quiet, unsure what to say or do. Then Linda spoke up.
"Wait, before we go any further, what are we talking about here? Dead things that live? Other worlds? What about our lives? What about our...", Linda put her hand to her mouth, completely having forgotten one important thing, "Our children! We have to get back to our children!"
"Mrs. Trent, I assure you, your children are fine", Pat said, looking at her smiling.
Linda just stared at him, tears had welled up in her eyes.
"In fact", said Pat, turning to look back at Jay, "They are right through this door."
Jay turned to his right to see a door with a handle barely visible. In the lighting of the hall, he had missed it.
"All you need do is open it, Jay. Then you'll receive even more answers."
Jay looked at Pat for a few moments. Pat continued to grin at him. Jay saw no maliciousness on this man's face. He seemed genuine to him, as genuine as the words he had spoken so far. Jay immediately reached for the door, pulled the handle, and opened it up.
When the door opened Jay walked inside the room, his mouth now agape. What he was seeing was beyond his imagining. As he walked in all he could utter was, "Oh my God."
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