Observation
The door to the admissions room opened slowly as Janice peeked in, eyes darting about nervously. The room was rarely used at this time of night, but she couldn’t take any chances. This evening had been months in the planning, and nothing was going to stop her from achieving her desire. Seeing that the room was unoccupied, she slipped inside and locked the door behind her. The ceiling sensors detected her presence and brought the lights up to full glow, revealing a desk and control panel to one side, with cabinets large and small lining every wall. But it was the cylindrical sarcophagus at the center of the room that fixed her gaze. This was the processing unit for unruly patients. It was designed to prepare them for admission to the asylum, outfit them with the required uniform and restraints, and place them in an appropriate cell or pod. It was of the latest design, quick, quiet and efficient, optimizing both patient and staff safety. It was known by the staff “The Pacifier”, and it held a special allure for Janice. ...