– What are you babbling about? Are you malfunctioning? Spouting some nonsense.

Nia tried to repeat her words, but the guards interrupted her, not understanding what she was talking about. They clearly weren't prepared for such an unusual case.

One of the guards said, grabbing Nia by the arm:

– Alright, that's enough. You clearly need diagnostics. We'll take you to the Disease Study Center, they'll figure out what's wrong with you.

Nia tried to pull away, but they were stronger. They grabbed her and led her away, towards the exit. She resisted, shouted, tried to explain that she was fine, she just didn't remember anything, but it was all in vain. The guards didn't listen to her, considering her defective or crazy.

As soon as the guard pressed a button on his wrist, a wave of numbness passed through Nia's body. She could still see and hear, understood what was happening around her, but she could no longer move. Her body felt foreign, beyond her control. Fear gripped her heart. What was this technology? And what were they going to do to her?

The guards waited for the arrival of a strange vehicle. It was a streamlined capsule on an anti-gravity platform, most resembling an ambulance, only without any identifying markings. One of the guards explained something to a gaunt person (or robot? – Nia couldn't be sure) in a light blue suit, and she, motionless, was transferred to a gurney and wheeled inside the capsule.

Chapter 2

The ride was short. Nia watched in horror as the futuristic landscapes of the city flashed by outside the window. Where were they taking her? What awaited her? Her surprise was great when the capsule stopped in front of a building that didn't match its surroundings at all. It was an ordinary hospital, as if taken from an old photograph. Brick walls, windows with curtains, a green lawn in front of the entrance. No glittering technologies, no futuristic constructions. Just people in identical light blue suits scurrying back and forth with worried faces. What was this? A secret base? Had a time machine transported her to the past?

Nia was transferred to a gurney and wheeled through long, convoluted corridors. She lost track of time, listening to snippets of conversations echoing around: "…unusual case…", "…cognitive impairment…", "…requires full diagnostics…". What are they saying? In what language? Although…somehow I understand them, the girl wondered.

She was wheeled for so long that Nia completely lost her sense of direction. Where are they taking me? What are they going to do to me? And why does this hospital look so old-fashioned? Is this some kind of secret facility? She tried to sit up to look around, but her body still wouldn't obey her.

Suddenly, someone leaned over Nia and gave her an injection. A very ordinary injection, with a syringe. It was so unexpected and archaic that she didn't even have time to get scared. An injection? Why? Her vision went dark, and she fell into oblivion.

Nia woke up in a bright room, connected to many wires and sensors. People in light blue suits crowded around her, discussing something animatedly. They were talking out loud, in normal voices! After the silent streets and emotionless faces, it seemed incredibly strange and even a little scary to her. Did they even see that she had woken up?

"…unusual indicators…", "…complete amnesia…", "…no signs of brain damage…", – snippets of phrases reached her. Nia tried to understand what was happening, but no one was listening to her. Doctors and technicians continued to perform some manipulations, take tests, scan her body. Like a guinea pig. What were they looking for? She tried to say something, but her throat seemed to constrict.