“I knew you’d appreciate it. We think alike, you and I. Stackism seeks out mysteries, then gathers data in order to arrive at logical explanations. You could say cryogenics was an early application of Stackism. I mean, let’s face it, it takes a serious set of balls to be among the first to freeze yourself in goo.”

“I’m sure your friend, Alec, would agree.” I stared at the sarcophaguslike chamber. My plan had always been to declare every male aboard Oceanus normal, then excuse myself from being frozen, but what if GOLEM ordered me put to sleep?

“Jason, let’s say you were held in stasis and you got caught up in a really bad dream. Is there a way to wake yourself up?”

“You’re talking about an emergency flush. Sorry, it’s been written out of the mission protocol.”

“Why?”

“Ask GOLEM.”

I lowered my voice. “What if I don’t want to ask GOLEM? What if I wanted my chamber to maintain an emergency flush as a backup?”

Jason smiled, leaning in close enough for me to smell the tomato soup on his breath. “I couldn’t do it on the Europa flight, but on the training mission … on just your pod? Yeah, it’s doable. See, your pod isn’t rigged to GOLEM, it’s independent of the Omega twelve.”

“I’m listening.”

“The emergency flush is activated neurologically when you recite a passage or code word in your dream.”

“How do I do that?”

“Omega-wave sleep is different from REM sleep. You maintain access to all memories. The dreams seem very real. Recite the code word and the pod drains, exposing your cells to oxygen.”

“Do it. Hook my pod up with the emergency command and the moment we get back to the States, I’ll arrange for one of the ABE-100 units to be surgically implanted in your brain, my treat.”

“Done deal, dude.” Jason Sloan punched the control panel, popping it open. Using a set of jeweler tools and a pair of magnifying specs with a built-in light, he set to work on the circuit board.

Three minutes later he was finished.

“That’s it?”

“Not yet. I removed the override, but you need to program the system with a password or phrase. Something unique that only you would know.” Jason opened the cryogenic pod’s lid, exposing the inside of the tank. A myriad of flex tubes and wires ran throughout the assembly, connecting to a central tub composed of soft plastic, shaped like a seven-foot biped.

“Who’s this for? A professional basketball player?”

“The internal suit shrinks when you lay down in it, molding to fit all body types.”

“Including Yoni?”