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Which Came First

Suspended Animation or No Strings Attached

By Patrick M. OhanaPublished 2 years ago 3 min read
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Which Came First
Photo by yukari harada on Unsplash

So, which came first: suspended animation or no strings attached?

“No strings attached?”

Flying but without the plane.

“Using some kind of wings, then.”

Nothing!

“Impossible!”

Are you sure about that? Our universe, and any universe for that matter, may have come from nothing. Ask Lawrence Krauss! He ended up writing a book about it.

“I read it.”

You did? And?

“It scared the shit out of me.”

Scared you how?

“Imagine a new universe coming into existence in the middle of ours.”

Such quantum fluctuations are probably atypical within the range of a former Big Bang.

“Probably!”

Anything can happen, though.

“But we would know if some object was headed our way, while a Big Bang would be instantaneous.”

Hooray for that!

“I see your point.”

Hooray for that!

“Suspended animation came first, then.”

Are you sure about that? Numerous humanoids were certainly dreaming of flying for eons before the striving to slow life processes by external means or even hibernation appeared as a wish.

“How close are we to any of these?”

Closer than you think.

“Now, I’m excited.”

Which one do you want to hear about first?

“Suspended animation! No contest!”

So, you think that it’s a good idea to be suspended in time while life goes on without you?

“If you’re sick and dying; yes!”

For how long?

“For as long as it takes.”

What if you’re reanimated some 100 years later? Everyone you knew is gone. The world is certainly different, and you’re suddenly alive and well.

“It’ll be hard at first, but I’ll adapt.”

You probably would. Most people probably would. If life could continue unabashed following the Holocaust and any other genocide before and after it, why wouldn’t it have a smooth sailing after 100 years of unconsciousness? Life is harder than we think. We look at death as the end, but it’s only our end. Life continues no matter what, and often stronger than what it was supposed to be.

“What else could have happened? Life had to go on.”

It did, with no strings attached.

“Good one!”

You’re right; suspended animation came first.

“What do you mean?”

Complete lack of feeling and remorse is like suspended animation.

“Until reanimation.”

A new technological advance introduced the cloaking of practically anything, and when it applied to the lower part of the object being cloaked, it appeared as if the object was floating with no strings attached, and as the object moved, it looked as if it was flying.

“So, it’s based on visual deception.”

What did you expect; unassisted levitation?

“Yes!”

Only the supernatural can give it to you with no questions asked, and you know what I think of the supernatural.

“I’m with you on that one.”

I’m so happy.

“But they may have a few points on their side.”

Do they, really? Any semblance of a point had been refuted and Hitchslapped many times now, and I won’t waste any time discussing their so-called side.

“But we can never be sure.”

I’m 99% sure, and I’m not the only one. Franklin said that death and taxes were the only certain things in this world, but I would easily add meaninglessness.

“What about suspended animation?”

A new technological development applied a special type of hypothermia to living things for periods of time spanning up to a few months. Many months and years are just around the bend.

“That’s promising.”

Like rain.

“Which one do you prefer?”

No strings attached.

“It won’t save lives.”

Are you sure?

“Obviously not!”

You can cloak yourself when you’re hunting for religious extremists.

“Very funny!”

I’m serious. You can cloak yourself whenever you feel exposed.

“Under the shower.”

In an office party.

“When accepting an award.”

For being the first dodo bird fresh out of suspended reanimation.

“Very funny!”

No strings attached gives you freedom by enabling you to remove your mask.

“I can see that.”

It’s like a one-night stand every night.

“I see what you mean.”

Do you?

“Obviously not!”

Obviously not!

Short Story
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About the Creator

Patrick M. Ohana

A medical writer who reads and writes fiction and some nonfiction, although the latter may appear at times like the former. All my stories (over 2,200 pieces) are/will be available on/via Shakespeare's Shoes.

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