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I’ve had a chance to tell.” She looks to see who’s around, drops her voice, and continues, “Technically I’m supposed to get everyone checked in and take care of that, but some of the doctors like to deliver the news themselves.” The annoyance in her voice is unmistakable as she grabs my wrist and takes my pulse. Poor Mary must be assigned to Emily, and I wouldn’t put it past her to keep all the fun stuff for herself.
    “Typical of some doctors; they take all the fun and glory, and leave the real work to the nurses.” My attempt at humor is poor, but Mary smiles.
    “True. I guess some things don’t change, even on the other side of the Milky Way. So was biologist what you were hoping for?” She places a blood pressure cuff on my arm and starts pumping it up.
    An unrelated thought hits me, and I blurt out, “Insomnia.” I see Mary’s brow furrow in confusion, and I clarify. “I don’t sleep well and I often suffer from insomnia. Could that have caused me to wake up too soon?”
    “Hmm, it’s possible. I’ll tell Dr. Lambert about it,” she says as she re-inflates the cuff.
    Returning to her previous question, I say, “I’m not really sure what I wanted; I only knew what I didn’t want. But I think I’ll like it.” I smile at the idea and Mary sticks a thermometer under my tongue.
    “It’s strange. So far everyone that I’ve asked has been happy with their assignments. Who would have thought all those silly tests really meant something?” I nod – the thermometer is still under my tongue. “Well your vitals are good. Just take your time, and let me know when you’re ready to go. Biologist sounds pretty cool; I hope you enjoy it.” She sounds genuinely happy for me.
    “Thanks, Mary. You too.” I smile as she walks toward another patient.
    I start to look around me at the girls in purple and black uniforms. Most are wearing the same dazed, am-I-really-here expressions that I know I have on my face.
    “Hi. I’m Suzie.” The girl next to me holds out her hand.
    “Hi, I’m Brett.” I shake her hand. “Are you a biologist too?”
    “No, I’m a botanist. Everyone in our group is a type of scientist.” She gestures to the others just woken around us. Briefly, I wonder what waking up had been like for them. “They must be waking everyone according to what field of study they belong to,” Suzie contemplates, shrugging.
    “That makes sense.” I nod, unsure of what else to say.
    “Well it was nice meeting you, Brett. I think I’m ready to go now. I’m sure I’ll see you around, at least at work.” Suzie motions to a nurse that she is ready, and the two of them set off together.
    I sit and chat with the people around me for a while. Suzie was right; they’re all scientists. I imagine working side-by-side with them all; it would sure be something. But I’m also sure it’s only be a matter of time until there is an argument over the classification of a new species, whether it belongs in the Felinae sub-family, Pantherinaeby sub-family, or a whole new sub-family by itself.
    Whoa, I don’t remember learning that. Weird.
    I try to think of other scientific things I know, and realize I know everything a biologist possibly could. Dumbfounded, I just sit with my mouth hanging open.
    “So you’ve just realized everything you know, right?” Nurse Mary asks me. “That’s the real reason we have everyone stay here as long as we do. It takes a bit of getting used to. Just remember to breathe, and you’ll be fine.” She pats me on the shoulder, but I don’t feel reassured.
    I manage to snap my mouth closed and look up at Mary, bewildered. All I can say is, “How?”
    “Your brain has been bombarded with information the whole time you were in cryogenic sleep; you were bound to learn it, one way or another. It’s a great feeling knowing everything necessary to do your job; it takes all the uncertainty out of it. At least, it does for me. People are people. Your job will have a bit