Wake Me In The Future (8 page)

A gasp echoed around the auditorium as almost every other person in the audience stood up.

The voice from the stage continued, ‘These people have interacted with you most of the day and no-one has been able to tell any difference. That’s the whole point of this transition. From the outside, and even to the person inside, there is no difference.’

My heart was beginning to pound now because my subconscious had reached a conclusion that it was reluctant to share with the rest of me.

The images before me disappeared to be replaced by another headline and a commentator read along; confirming the conclusion my mind had now reached.

‘The Darwin effect – evolution wins out, non-biologs outnumber general population for the first time in history.’

My body jerked as what I was realising began to sink in, ‘….Hang on,’ I shouted, ‘- what are you on about!’ My heart began to beat even faster and I was seized by a spasm of uncontrollable trembling; I just couldn’t take it in, ‘- you’re trying to tell me I am a robot,’ I shouted. ‘No, that can’t be right, No….’ I didn’t know if I was shouting with my mouth or inside my mind. Things were beginning to become hazy and the dizziness was inviting the darkness in again.

Then I heard a scream before I blacked out ‘Noooooooo!’ was that my own frightened shout I could hear fading into the distance?

Chapter 10
– State of Being

It took some time to realise that I’d awoke back in the White room, and when I looked around Ankit was looking at me with concern on his face.

‘Richard, there was no other way we could tell you. We’d hoped you wouldn’t react like that because of what you’d said about being interested in science and preparing yourself for anything you might encounter in the future. Perhaps it was just too much of a culture shock.’

I was holding my arm up in front of my face and looking at it in disbelief; as if it wasn’t attached to my body. ‘But this looks real; it feels real, how can it not be?’ The inflection of my voice must have reflected my disbelief, ‘I mean I feel all the same needs as I used to. Why do I have to go to the toilet if I am a robot?’

‘I’ve been allowed to discuss this with you Richard,’ he pointed over to the chairs opposite, ‘lets get a drink and sit down and I’ll tell you all about it.’

As we sat down I was still examining my arms and hands as if some kind of miracle had happened. ‘Its amazing, what am I made of?’

Ankit didn’t answer but started to tell me of the evolution from natural biological flesh to the artificial, durable bodies that the human race had evolved into.

‘When it was first proposed there was a vehement reaction against the change, not unlike your reaction actually. No one wanted to be turned into a Robot. Although that’s not a term that we use anyway,’ he added. ‘But as the desire to be free from the constant fear of death grew, so did the reluctant acceptance of this new transformation.’

‘That’s the reason there’s no androids isn’t it,’ I said bluntly as I remembered the conversation we’d had earlier, ‘because effectively that’s what we are.’

‘No Richard, we’re not,’ he said forcefully, then reluctantly, ‘but yes, it is a contributing factor.’

‘Is there nothing biological left anymore?’

‘There have been a few upgrades to the bodies since they were first created by Indian scientists, but essentially they’re physically the same. Nothing biological has been retained, only simulations of biological features. A layer of synthetic skin, indistinguishable to us from the biological type, covers an artificial skeleton, containing mainly energy cells to power the body. And to cater for the need of most people’s reluctance and fear of becoming something different, certain internal structures, like a digestive system were simulated.

Everything the human body did that the host was consciously aware of, it still does. It hungers, desires sex, has feelings and emotions. And as you’ve been experiencing Richard, unless you were told about this then you’d never know. You’d have to cut an arm off to be aware that there was anything different.

The body is only something that contains what you really are. Your essence - the thing that used to reside in the grey cells of your brain, is now supported by a massive neural network, even more complex than the human brain was. And it’s protected within an inch thick shell of Evantium; an almost indestructible metal that can be manipulated at a molecular level.

We call it the Brain Pod, and even if the rest of your body is totally destroyed that Evantium shell can be placed back into another body. You are virtually immortal Richard. Only extreme heat like the plasma found in the Sun, or certain weapons,’ he said with disgust, ‘could destroy you totally.’

Virtually Immortal,
I thought. ‘If that’s the case there must be some incredibly old people about; how old are you Ankit?’

The question seemed to surprise him because he paused as if trying to find a way to avoid answering it. ‘Age has only ever been a measure of how long someone’s been alive, not their condition. I know in the past that was how many people incorrectly assessed their fellow citizens, but no one asks that question anymore Richard.’

‘Oh! I am sorry Ankit; I didn’t mean to offend you. I guess I have a lot to learn about what is, and isn’t acceptable anymore.’

‘That’s alright, I am not offended. It’s one of my responsibilities to help you learn.’

But somehow there was more being said here than what was contained in Ankit’s words. I had the sense that there was some other reason he wanted to conceal his age, and it wasn’t for vanity's sake.

Before I could consider it further, he went on, ‘What you need to understand is that you’re definitely not a robot, or android for that matter. You’re an evolved human; it was always on the cards. Intelligence and the desire to survive, it's a natural evolutionary step for intelligence to seek ways to escape the chronological limits of its biological genesis.’

'I suppose so,' I said, feeling calmer now. ‘I can’t say sorry enough Ankit, I don’t know why I reacted the way I did. I should have expected something like this really. We... I mean Helen and I, always thought a biological body would be cloned for us from one of our own cells; grown to maturity without a brain and then ours would be revived and treated for any damage, before being transplanted into the new body.’

‘Well now you know what really happens.’

There was a brief silence as I tried to collect my thoughts, I just had to accept this - there was nothing else to do. I looked back at my friend, ‘You know what, with finding this out; I’d almost forgotten about the ring of planets that’s been built. They're so impressive - how many are there?’

‘The sixty forth one is under construction but eventually there will be eighty such home worlds.’ The enthusiasm in which Ankit said this barely concealed his relief at my apparent acceptance of my physical condition.

‘It’s an amazing achievement Ankit; I can’t imagine how it’s been managed.’

‘It might seem a vastly complex exercise to you Richard, but the Information System manages all human affairs now; from the orbits of the new worlds to satisfying the myriad of diverse living environments needed by the people that live
on
them.’

I ran my hands over my face to see if I could tell that it wasn’t biological skin: I couldn’t, and then I asked, ‘I was nearly 90 when I died, how was it possible to create a body that looks exactly like me when I was in my twenties?’

‘As long as there is the tiniest fragment of genetic material for the Information System to use, it can extrapolate your exact physical characteristics, even down to your looks.  It only bothers to get the face right though, as that seems to be the only thing people are really bothered about. Most people can’t remember what their younger bodies were like so are happy with the ones we provide, as long as they’re in the correct proportions.

Your new body won’t age, unless you want it to?’ and then, just like when he grew hair, he began to change. At least the right side of his face did. Within seconds half his hair had lost its colour, his ear had grown bigger, wrinkles spread across his face and a jowl began to form. He turned to his left and from where I was sitting he’d grown into an old man before my very eyes!

‘No’ I ejected’ as the older part of Ankit’s face started to grow younger again, ‘I am quite happy with this thanks.’ And then still looking at my hands as I turned them around in amazement, and with reference to one of my favourite fictional characters said to myself, ‘God, I’ve turned into Data.’

Ankit looked at me amused but dismissed it, 'You don't know it yet Richard, but you're a bit more advanced than that. And, you’ll feel better when you’re able to interact with other people in the same situation, but you do understand that we need to expose you gradually to this new life?’

‘Of course,’ I said looking incredulous at Ankit’s returned youth, ‘you know I have a feeling that this is going to be one heck of an adventure; And I am going to start by looking for Helen.’

I looked at Ankit for a moment and the realisation hit me that this man would probably become one of my closest friends in this life and who knows how long that was going to last. I couldn’t ignore the underlying sadness that I’d detected since the previous day, so said ‘Can I ask you a personal question?’

‘Of course,’ came a wary reply.

‘I noticed that you’ve not been yourself over the last few days, as if you’re depressed in some way. Is there anything wrong?’ and knowing I had no way of acting on my next words I added, ‘is there anything I can do?’

He hesitated as if considering whether he should answer the question, then sighed and said, ‘unfortunately Richard we still have problems and issues similar to those in your time. My wife and I have decided to separate and it wasn’t my decision so that’s why I am so sad.’

‘Oh, I am sorry. Can’t you take a break or something?’

‘No,’ he said with a forced smile, ‘my work gives me something else to think about. I prefer to be here, and I’d prefer not to talk about it anymore if that’s alright.’

I felt a wave of sympathy for this man. He was so nice and had been so kind to me, I wanted to put my arms around him and comfort and hug him but I just didn’t know what the norms were, or what was appropriate anymore.

Then he started to get up, ‘I have to go now Richard, but I’ll be back in the morning.’

‘Thank you Ankit, I do appreciate everything you’re doing for me. I just hope I can return the favour in the future.’

‘I am glad to be able to help you reconnect with the world Richard.’

I smiled back at him, ‘At least I’ve got the worst of it out of the way - the biggest shock to my system I mean,’ and making a joke of it said, ‘there can’t be anything more shocking than finding out I am living in an artificial body can there?’

But he only offered a forced grin and worryingly didn’t reply.

‘Can
there
?’ I insisted, putting an emphasis on the last word and immediately becoming serious.

As he walked towards the exit he turned around and looked back at me with sadness in his big brown eyes, and then sighed deeply before saying, ‘yes - the answer’s yes. There is something else, and I really hope you can cope with it Richard, because it’s much more significant than what you’ve learned today.’

And with that, he was gone.

Chapter 11
– The Biggest Shock

I spent the rest of that evening going over and over what Ankit had said. What could possibly be more shocking than what I’d already learned? Try as I might I couldn’t come up with anything that was remotely close to the revelations I’d already discovered about this world.

As I dozed in that state that led to sleep, ghosts came visiting from my previous life, as if on a mission to distract my mind from the extreme scenarios I’d been considering since Ankit had left. A riot of familiar faces tumbled into my mind; visions of people I’d not thought of since being revived. My adoring Mother and strong overbearing Father; they’d been so proud of what I’d achieved and I’d taken pleasure from their pride. And there, in front of me was Pete, my best mate, whose cheeky face was grinning at me across the years. It made me want to say hello out loud and tell them all about this strange new place.

I missed them all terribly, but most of all I missed Helen, the aching in my heart -
if I had one
– was almost physical and had begun to make me uncomfortably tired.

Some of the memories were painful, especially those from my school days. In one of them I was watching my so called friend Jason Wentworth bullying and stealing from a pair of first years in the school dining room. The atmosphere was tense because everyone around knew what was happening, but no one even looked in their direction. One of the boys, probably the stronger of the two, because he didn’t have tears in his eyes, looked up defiantly, only to have his defiance knocked out of him seconds later, by the back of Jason’s hand. As it hit him hard on the cheek the boy was knocked off his chair and onto the floor, where he stayed trembling with fear and shock.

It had been so long since I'd thought of these terrible things I’d seen and been part of, and I was unable to restrain the overwhelming feeling of shame that washed over me.

I thought I felt a tear run down my face and had to touch it to make sure this body was capable of reflecting my feelings. My hand came away wet and I was satisfied. They’d done a good job. As I finally entered deep sleep, the faces from my past looked on through the years. And as they faded away all I could think was,
I miss you
, before they left me to deal with my dreams, less haunted now by the prospect of what tomorrow might bring.

When I woke I felt remarkably refreshed considering the images that had visited me during the night – because despite the soothing visitations from the past, I’d also been woken several times by exaggerated nightmares of the torment my earlier self had tolerated.

But at least no one else had tried to enter the room; somehow I suspected it had been well and truly sealed to anyone other than Ankit.