SURVIVING ELITES

This title is narrated with virtual voice. Computer-generated narration for audiobooks. Surviving Elites by G. H. White Chapter 1 As the sun climbed higher over Pensacola Bay in northwestern Florida, its rays chased shadows from the small rental room occupied by ex-Ranger and war hero Zachary Heston. Zach stood on newly fitted prosthetic legs, watching the sunrise through a window with Pensacola's white sandy beach below. He smiled into the window. Zach's habits included speaking to his long-past father. Larry, just look at how beautiful the bay is now. Very few boats, cars or people are moving. This is the first time I could see the sunrise from this window, because it is set too high for my wheelchair. Any local tourist brochure on Pensacola would highlight it had the best sunrises and sunsets in America, with Pensacola Bay in the background. Zach would agree. Now, playfully lighting the interior room over the torn and tattered wallpaper. One could see electronic equipment crowded into many portions of this room. Zach's bed claimed the most cleared space. He had to have room around it for his wheelchair, having lost the lower part of his legs in Afghanistan in 2005. An aisle led from it to his one table that held most of his prescription medications to combat the many physical and emotional problems caused by his combat. One more aisle led to his keyboard, monitors and computers. Following the 9-11 Trade Center attack, Zach felt compelled to join the fight, like many other young men and women. He wanted to be with the best soldiers as an Army Ranger. Through his first deployment, he had proven himself many times over, protecting his squad and innocent civilians while laying waste to as many Taliban as he could. He earned citations, medals, and an eventual promotion. Barely into his second deployment, he had been riding on a troop carrier, when a triggered improvised explosive detonated under the 35-degree underbelly armor, and lifted the vehicle into the air. The explosion caused him to fall, only to land on another roadside, eyed, removing much of his legs away below the knees. Zach was secretly glad he was the only casualty of that day, sparing his beloved teammates. When he was sent back to the United States, he spent much of his time at his local Veterans Hospital, as he wound his way through heavy depression, some post-traumatic stress, and pain control. Phantom limb pain is typical for many victims that lose extremities. Even though the nerves in the limb were severed, the ones still present caused pain to the sufferer. While still in Afghanistan, the day Zach woke up after his first surgery, he had reached past his knee to scratch the leg below, only to find air and then hear his screaming and the shocked realization of the loss. Typical painkillers do little to control phantom pain, but feed Big Pharma's huge profit offers. Zach took several pills in combination, realizing the limited effect. Industry experts believe the chronic pain market could reach $80 billion in a few years. Opioids had been king, yet, over-prescribed and used, were not always successful for pain control, and accounted for 100,000 lost lives and countless addicted people in 2020. More promising work is performed in psychedelic therapy programs, usually listed as Schedule 1 drugs. These are drugs with no current medical use, and high potential for abuse and or addiction. Positive expectations were aimed at the compounds, that potentially reshaped patient's perception of pain, rather than drugging the body, as preliminary studies suggest neuroplasticity in the brain. i.e., using psychedelics can rewire the brain, to reduce pain reception. A more holistic approach comes to the market through ayahuasca from the Amazon, which is well documented to allow the user to cross spiritual and emotional dimensions. It is important to note that the ayahuasca user, should be guided by an experienced shaman, preceded by a strict diet. The preparation is vital for any traveler, since the out-of-body experience can be fear-filled for 4 or 5 hours in-state. Early experimental work with psychedelic drugs, like LSD, lysergic acid diethylamide, DMTN, N-dimethyltryptamine, MDA, and mushrooms, indicates a brighter future for treating PTSD.