These Dreams…

By: Seuss Fan

(Note: I do not own Repo! or any of its characters. So, Terrance Zdunich and Darren Smith please do not sue me!)

Chapter 5: At the opera tonight…

Little by little word started floating around campus that several students needed organ transplants. At first Sasha tried her best to ignore the strangeness of the situation. It definitely seemed suspicious that close to 5,000 out of 50,000 students were suffering from organ failure. But Sasha couldn't spend her time worrying about everyone else's medical condition; she had more important things to be concerned about.

"How you feeling?" Sasha asked as she walked into Riley's hospital room.

"Not too shabby. Jenny just stopped by!"

"Didn't you guys used to date?"

"Yeah, I guess sympathy can double as a turn-on."

"Riles, you're currently awaiting a lung transplant and all you can think about is tapping some chick?"

"Basically."

"You amaze me."

"I know."

"So, did the doctor give you any news?"

"He said my condition hasn't changed, which is good. I still have to stay connected to this stupid ventilator but at least the infection hasn't spread to other organs."

"Good. All good stuff. Did he say anything about when you get you're transplant?"

"Sash, the waiting list is extremely long."

"But you don't have much time. They can't bump you up?"

"Honey, don't worry. I got time enough to wait."

"But your infection…"

"I just told you its not spreading anywhere else. It's staying inside the same lung. Look, this is just the first in s series of check-ups. This is going to keep happening every few months. They stick me in here, hook me up to a ventilator, and monitor my progress. And then after a few days, if nothing changes I can head back home to drive you and Jim crazy."

"Just like you were a few weeks ago…"
"Exactly."
" When you were arguing about blood stains…"

"I told him it was paint! Anyway, just because I'm technically dying doesn't mean my life is completely over. I have a slow moving infection. I'll most likely make it in time to get a new lung."

"You better."

"Are you threatening me? Because I think that's against hospital rules."

"It's only against the rules if I have a weapon, which I don't."

"How come you always have to find the loopholes?"

"Cause I'm that good."

"You have any more dreams?"

"No, but I wish I did."

"I thought you were afraid of those dreams. Well, except for the one about Graverobber."
"I am afraid of them but I'd think they help me deal with what's going on."

"Whaddya mean?"

"Well, a lot of people, including you need organ transplants. And in my dreams people on this island were survivors of an organ failure epidemic."

"You don't think…"

"Don't you dare say anything."

"Fine. My lips are sealed."
"I gotta go. I have a class in a half hour. You take care of yourself, okay?"

"I promise. See ya Sash!"

"Bye Riles."

Sasha left Riley's hospital room with a nagging feeling in the back of her mind. She had ignored Riley's suggestion that she was experiencing premonitions but could her suggestion be right? Sasha continued to ponder this idea as she boarded the electric blue cross-town bus.

To Sasha's dismay Riley's condition did not improve. Within two months the infection had spread to both of Riley's lungs. Without any lungs available Sasha was forced to watch one of her best friends die before her eyes.

"Dearly beloved we are gathered here today to say farewell to Riley Maxine Chester. Riley was a fun, independent spirit who dreamed of becoming a famous artist. From the time she was a young girl she always painted. If memory serves me right Riley would put paint on any surface she could get her hands on. She was never one for rules, which sometimes got her in trouble. But nothing ever stopped Riley. She was never down or upset. She never let her emotions get the best of her. If Riley was mad she might've yelled at you but five minutes later she was right there waiting with an apology hug. Riley was an extremely unique person who none of us can ever forget. So, friends, family, and former lovers please join with me in praying to God for the sake of Riley's departed soul…Eternal God, you are my shepherd, I shall not want. You make me lie down in green pastures; you lead me beside still waters. You restore my soul; you guide me in paths of righteousness for your name's sake. Yes, even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for you are with me; with rod and staff you comfort me. You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies; you have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the eternal God for ever."

"I feel so depressed."

"Jim, it's a funeral. You're supposed to feel depressed."

"I know. But it's not just Riley. I'm bothered by everyone that's dying. The FDA released a report the other day. They think we're experiencing an epidemic."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, they've found cases not just in the US but all over the world. All deaths resulted from an unidentifiable infection in a specific organ. Within 1-4 months of the infection's first sighting the patient dies."

"Do they have an idea as to what's causing the infection?"

"Not yet. They're doing tests but who knows how long it'll take before they find anything."

" Is it airborne?"

"They think so but like I said nothing's been confirmed. By the time they find anything we could all be dead."

"It's a shame."

"I know. This is bigger than the swine flu and avian flu put together. It's really serious."
"Well, at least we're both healthy."
"Not me."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you know how I thought I had an intestinal virus?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, I went to the doctor and…"
"You need a stomach transplant."

"Yes."
" Maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones."

"With the way thing are going, I don't think so. Better get your goodbyes in now."

"Jim, look at me. You're not going to die. You're going to get that surgery and you're going to live to become the Pulitzer Prize winner I know you were born to be."

"Thanks for your support Sash, but there's nothing that can fight this epidemic. Let's face it; death is inevitable."

Throughout the coming months the epidemic continued to spread. Hospitals were setting up quarantine areas for those who were infected. Schools set aside classrooms designed to teach students who were awaiting transplants. Businesses laid off anyone who was infected. Colleges sent home students who had fallen victim to the epidemic. It had become apparent that this infection was not going to blow over anytime soon.

The FDA and other organizations were pressuring pharmaceutical companies around the world to create something that could counter act the effects of the infection. Sadly, pharmacists were baffled by the infection's make-up. The bacteria involved didn't resemble anything that they had ever seen before. And the fact that it attacked people in a different organ every time only added to the confusion. As the death toll continued to increase the global health community came to a consensus: finding a cure for the infection was not going to help. They needed to resort to getting those who were infected the transplants they deserved.

Those were infected were pushed to the top of every transplant list. But even this was not enough. The supply of organs was not enough to meet the demand. To make matters worse patients who were lucky enough to receive new organs later died because their bodies rejected the new arrivals. Doctors and hospital officials across the globe were in a state of panic. There seemed to be no end in site to the turmoil that the world was facing. And then, as if by some miracle, a biotech company was established that promised artificial organs that had a 90% guarantee of not being rejected. Headed by Italian entrepreneur Rotti Largo, GeneCo seemed to be the answer to everyone's prayers.

Jim called Sasha late one night with the promise of exciting news. She hoped that he was going to tell her that he had received a transplant. But the news that Sasha received that night would change her life forever.

"Hey, Sash! Come on in!"

"You know Jim, for a hospital patient who was just removed from quarantine you seem to be in pretty good spirits."

"Well, I have some good news."

"Oh, I just knew you would get that stomach!"

"How'd you guess?"

"Dude, it's written all over your face."

"Yeah, gotcha."

"I'm so happy for you!"

"Thanks, I'm so glad GeneCo could pull through!"

"GeneCo?"

"Yeah, they're giving everybody organs now."

"But, they…"

"What? Have you been out of the loop for the past six months?"

"I guess so. Um, I gotta go."

"Wait, Sash! I thought we could talk."

But before Jim had finished speaking Sasha was already halfway down the street.

Sasha arrived fifteen minutes later at Riley's grave, her face covered in tears. All this time Sasha had ignored Riley's suggestion. But she was faced the frightening truth that she had in fact experienced premonitions. Sasha was unsure of why she had come to the cemetery. Even though Riley had been right it wasn't as if she could help her now. Sasha slowly rose to her feet and began to walk back to her apartment. Without her best friend to help her Sasha had to take GeneCo on alone. She knew that the task would be difficult. The allure if GeneCo was highly appealing. Artificial organs that would save your life and make your insides fashionable that came complete with organ financing. Unfortunately, this so-called organ financing really meant that GeneCo would take your kill you and take your organs back if you couldn't cough up the money. And Jim would become one of GeneCo's first targets.

"He won't believe me but I have to try." Sasha mumbled to herself as she sprinted back to Sanitarium Regional hospital.

"Sash, I thought you had to leave?"

"Jim, when you first told me about your stomach I was so upset that I closed myself off to the rest of the world. All I did was pray for you. I didn't even go class. Maybe if I had been more aware of what was going on in the news I could have warned you sooner before you made the decision to sign your life away."

"Sasha, what are you rambling on about?"

"In my dreams the citizens were living in a post-apocalyptic world in which an epidemic of organ failures had taken place. GeneCo had come and saved those who were left."

"So, that crazy Riley was right. Who would've guessed?"

"Yeah but that's not the point. If the patients who received organs did not pay GeneCo would reposes their property.

"Sash, not everything in dreams is accurate. The real life GeneCo isn't so bad. I met Mr. Largo and spoke to him. He said that everything would be taken care of."

"Jim, of course he seemed nice! He was trying to sweet talk you! Jim, you're extremely intelligent and I understand that you've been under a shit load of stress lately but you can't let that cloud your judgment. I know that your life depends on this stomach but you have to break your contract with GeneCo."

"Sasha, I get that you're concerned and the realization that you have experienced a series of premonitions has just hit you but I know what I'm getting myself into. I'm going to have my surgery on Thursday and then I'm going to become the award winning writer that I have always dreamed of being."

"Fine. But when the repo man comes to collect your stomach don't come crying to me!"

Having lost her first battle, Sasha stormed out of the ICU determined to continue her fight.

Sasha spent the next three months fighting a single-handed fight against GeneCo. She put flyers around campus, used a megaphone to harass passersby, and even called GeneCo's headquarters on a daily basis to insist that they revise their organ financing options. No matter how hard Sasha worked she could not get anyone to pay her any amount of attention. To make matters worse Sasha had begun to suffer from frequent heartburn. As much as she dreaded the experience Sasha took a break from her busy schedule of trying to save the world and went to the nearest cardiologist.

"So, Doctor is there anything wrong with me?"

"Sasha, please have a seat."

"That can't be good."

"It's not. Sasha, I'm sorry but you're infected."

"I beg your pardon?"

"You have the incurable infection. You're going to need a heart transplant."

"You can't be serious."

"I am. Like I said I'm truly sorry. But I do have good news."

"And what would that be?"

"This hospital has a direct connection to GeneCo. You could have your new heart by the end of the day."

"No."

"Sasha you can't refuse this heart. Without it you'll die!"

"I don't care."

"Sasha, please try to listen to reason."

"That company is fueled by evil and greed. I will never accept anything from them!"

"Nurse, please bring me some sedative."

"Sedative? You're going to drug me! Are you insane?"

"Sasha, I understand you're scared but you need this heart. GeneCo is not evil. They are here to help you. Now, if you won't willing let us perform the surgery I'm going to have to do it by force…"

"That's against the law you psychopath!"

"No, it's not. Ah, thank you nurse Margaret."

"No, let me go! NO!"