Mosaic

Chapter 2

Chapter 2For once, time passes quickly as you get ready for the trip. You don’t tell people much. Just that you’re going for an experimental treatment, and you’re not sure how long you’ll be gone.

It’s a long flight, but you get lucky—the seat next to you is empty, and you can relax.

The hotel is nice, too. Accessible features, a walk-in shower, and a gorgeous view of the city skyline. If you weren’t so nervous about tomorrow it could almost be the vacation, you keep promising yourself you’ll take.

There’s a car waiting for you after breakfast, but the drive over to the lab isn’t long enough to ask your driver much. They seem friendly, though.

Cute, too.

You’ve sat down with plenty of psychiatrists and psychologists before, but this one was nicer than most.

You’re not having a good day, but she just asked what could be done to make you as comfortable as possible and arranged for it.

Once you were settled and the usual boilerplate questions were done, it turned into a nice conversation, even if you didn’t quite follow some of the lines of questioning. (Did having a favorite flower matter? And who even owned a black and white TV these days?)

You’d finally relaxed when she asked the dreaded question:

“Can you tell me one thing you like about your body?”

“No.”

Her head tilts, and one eyebrow rises. “Not even the fact that it’s yours?”

You snort. “Is it? Sometimes I feel like I don’t have much of an alternative.”

Her smile gets a little wider, her eyes a little brighter. “Well, what if you did?”

“I…uh. I mean I’d…” You have to stop yourself from stammering. “I’d want to know more.”

Her voice gets quiet and serious as she slips off her glasses. “Even if I told you there’s no going back?”

You don’t hesitate this time.

“Yes.”

“In that case…”

She stands, and offers an arm to help support you, giving you the time to find your footing again.

“Welcome to the pilot group.”

As much as walking down to the exam room sucks, you can’t stop grinning. Your heart feels like you could fly, and your mind is buzzing with excitement as the therapist leaves you to wait for the head of the trial.

Whatever comes next, you’re on your way.

“Hello there!”

The doctor (you think he’s a doctor, anyway) is a friendly looking red headed man in a white coat, a black polo, and slacks. You sort of wish you’d dressed for a little more style than comfort now, but he doesn’t seem to mind.

“So, let me explain a few things.”

You’re pretty good with tech jargon but it’s hard to follow some of the denser explanations. Still, you get a pretty clear picture of what they’re looking to do.

A new method to map and model brain activity. To capture the mind and transfer it.

“There’s some debate on if we actually move your mind,” he admits, “or just create a hyper-accurate simulation. But if it’s indistinguishable from the original I find the difference rather academic.”

“But I’m still me?”

“Absolutely. Your mind, your memories, your spirit, however you wish to look at it.” His smile goes up to his eyes. “You’re still you.”

The next question is pretty obvious too.

“So where would I go, exactly?”

“Right into this,” he answers, and opens a cabinet to pull out what looks like a huge chunk of steel wool under a Lucite dome.

“This is our masterpiece. An entirely synthetic brain.”

“What’s it made out of?”

“Twenty compounds with names as long as your arm, fiber optic nerves, and quantum foam processors.” The doctor cradles the brain like a newborn. “It’s a revolutionary leap, and you’ll be one of the first to take advantage of it.”

“There’s a body to go with it, right?”

You’re willing to temporarily be a brain in a jar, but there’s limits.

Fortunately, the doctor just grins as he puts the brain back in the cabinet. “Of course! One that we’ll customize and set up based on your psych profile.”

“Entirely unique,” he promises, “and entirely yours.”

“So,” he asks as he leans in, voice hushed with excitement. “What do you say?”

You can’t hide your smile as you reach out your hand.

“When can we get started?”