Anesthetized, Rachel-7 was blissfully unaware that she had brain damage.
The violent collision with the floor had fractured her skull and crushed a part of her mind that helped process language.
She could no longer understand words or use them properly.
1,000 years earlier, Rachel-7’s injury — a type of mental disorder called Wernicke’s aphasia — would have been a permanent, life-altering handicap. In the 28th century, the injury was correctable with minor cloud surgery.
“Just a few more moments,” the Tour Guide said.
Rachel-7 felt delirious and happy. She’d never dreamed before, but she supposed this was what it felt like.
Things aren’t so bad, she thought. Being human is nice. It doesn’t matter if I ever fly again.
She blinked a few times.
… Gods, I must be seriously hurt, she thought. She wondered if Tour Guide had been trying to tell her about her injuries before it started spouting nonsense phrases.
