No Limits – Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers

Photo by: The Storyteller’s Abode

No Limits

Wealthy financier Burton Holbrooke gazed at the coffin-shaped sensory derivation tank. “Dr. Tam,” he said. “This research is hardly new. What’s the payoff?”

She opened her arms. “The outer limits of the human mind.”

“Seriously?”

“Unrestricted by external senses, the human mind can alter reality itself.”

“I doubt that,” scoffed Holbrooke.

“I’ve seen things that shouldn’t be possible.”

“For instance?”

Tam pointed to the tank. “This is our most experienced VR researcher, Dr. Horst. Last we knew, he was waiting for a train in Victorian England. Since then the IR sensors stopped working. That shouldn’t be possible. We can’t see what’s happening, so for safety’s sake we’re pulling him out of VR. Curiously, he’s resisting it.”

“Is that common?”

Tam grimaced. “It’s supposed to be impossible.” She pointed. “Ah! He’s coming out.”

Dr. Horst opened the lid and stood. A woman in antique clothing stood up beside him.

“That can’t be?” gasped Tam.

“What?”

“Just minutes ago, he was alone in the tank!”

Dr. Horst said, “Dr. Tam. I’d like you to meet my wife…from 1884.”
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Author’s Notes:

Isolation (Sensory Deprivation) Tank: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isolation_tank
Featured in the movie, “Altered States.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altered_States

Written for the Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers weekly writing challenge. Look here to see the wonderful stories other folks wrote: https://flashfictionforaspiringwriters.wordpress.com/2015/09/01/fffaw-challenge-week-of-09-01-2015/