Chapter #3Out on patrol by: Yote   An Indian man in a crumpled shirt and tie stands outside the sliding doors of the hospital, smoking a cigarette with several pack's-worth of stubs already littering the pristine paving stones around him. He looks you up and down as you limp closer. Last week you twisted your left ankle trying to chase down a dealer and it is still tender. For all the benefits of the amnion implant, it has left your muscles weak and your joints laxer than they should be.
"If you want A&E, we don't officially open until 9am," the man grumbles. "You'd best hobble on over to the old building. Might even meet a real doctor if you're quick."
"I hear they're an endangered species these days," you reply, flashing your badge. He straightens a little, stubbing out his cigarette. "Officer Haywood. I'm from the police. I'm just here to oversee the opening of the new infirmary."
"Should I be worried?"
"We just want to make sure everything goes off without a hitch," you reply with the smile you reserve for civilians. "The world's first fully-automated hospital going online. You've got a lot of high tech on display, over a billion dollars in robotics in one building alone. That sort of money tends to draw attention."
"And the latest in security measures too. I'm not the only one set to be out of a job soon," he says to you with a grim smile. He extends a hand for you to shake. "Doctor Gurdeep Singh." Now it's your turn to look him up and down. The guy looks a mess, unshaven, eyes bloodshot as though he's been drinking for days, shirt flapping in the breeze. If he works here, he stands in stark contrast to the gleaming modern hospital. Definitely a man long passed giving a fuck.
He rummages in his jeans and pulls out an ID badge, the smiling, shaven photograph on the front evidently from happier times. "I'll let you in. About all I'm good for these days, a doorman."
He swipes his badge and the doors slide open to reveal the foyer, all marble and polished metal and glass. You're about the step inside when the floor begins to slide under your feet and you are smoothly conveyed forward towards the reception desk. Dr Singh curses loudly as he and his collection of cigarette buts are conveyed alongside you. What first looks to be a flat, grey rat scurries across the floor and begins to hoover up the detritus around him.
In many ways it resembles an airport check-in. There are dozens of monitors set-up all the way down the length of the long desk. When opened and at capacity, this hall will be processing thousands of patients per day, though currently it is deserted aside for the sanitation robot now spraying down the region around Gurdeep with antiseptic. The conveyor belt splits, sending the doctor to one monitor, while you to another. He waves his badge angrily at the monitor and it swings aside to allow him entry to the other side of the desk with a remark of "Welcome to the Automated Infirmary, Mister Singh."
"Doctor Singh. Doctor! I thought IT said they were fixing that!" he whines.
The monitor before you trills. "Good morning and welcome to the Automated Infirmary. You are currently in the Accident and Emergency department. What is the nature of the medical emergency? Alternatively, if you are scheduled for a clinic appointment or day case operation, please select so on the screen."
"Didn't they give you your own badge?" the Doctor asks, wandering over on the other side of the desk. You shake your head. "Just choose anything and it'll let you through. I can swipe you in anywhere you want to go."
You look at the options on the screen...  indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
| Members who added to this interactive story also contributed to these: |
<<-- Previous · Outline  · Recent Additions © Copyright 2024 Yote (UN: yote at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Yote has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work within this interactive story. Poster accepts all responsibility, legal and otherwise, for the content uploaded, submitted to and posted on Writing.Com. |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
More by this author