The forceful determination resonated within Debbie’s voice. A concerning prospect given the possible consequences of her questionable actions, Sarah thought. She was at a crossroads as to where this conversation would go from here, but chose the one which felt like the only viable option left.
“Listen, Deb.” She began. “I see that you’ve already made your decision and far be it from me to try to dissuade you. But I consider you like family to me and just have to ask if you’ve thought this through thoroughly. I mean, really done so. This will add a life changing attribute to his life and there is no going back. No second chances.”
Debbie rocked James ever so gently from side to side in her arms causing his smooth, soft eyelids to close shut once more. However, Sarah knew this signalled the first sign of a growing annoyance in her. A more careful approach to any upcoming exchanges were needed, she thought.
A slight frown broke out across her face as she eyed Sarah with suspicion. “Look, I know how I’ve been for the last couple of months, maybe more. I shut myself away and came to terms with Brandon’s death in my own way. A way I was only too aware of and that would work for me. And I feel it has done to some extent. Allowing me to see and prepare for things much more clearly now. James will thank me for this decision one day, you’ll see.”
She stood her ground and made no qualms about her strong convictions, but Sarah felt the rising need to get to the crux of the matter as quickly as possible and avoid a mental game of cat and mouse. ”But do you honestly feel comfortable with the fact that he’ll have his own unique, personalized blockchain embedded within his brain for the rest of his life? At this early stage of it's technological development? To be honest with you, I feel the clinical trials haven't run their course long enough to give any real indication of any long term, possibly harmful, side effects.”
Debbie gave her a sharp look, as if an unspoken truth had somehow been revealed to her. ”Jesus, Sarah. You make it sound so… dramatic. Like I’m trying to alter the future of mankind or something. You know, there are people that have already undergone the procedure and are out there at this very moment. Enjoying life and creating precious memories for themselves. Stuff they’ll look back on one day and refer to as keepsake treasures. Reliving those special times again and again and again. Can’t you see the advances in technology and all the benefits that come with it?” Her teeth gnashed together as she spoke. Sarah was all too convinced that she herself did not even realise she was doing this, but decided to persist with her line of reasoning given the magnitude of the situation.
”Deb, just consider my words. That’s all I’m asking.” She continued. ”The operations were performed on adults who are already fully developed human beings and willingly participated in the experiment. In fact, that’s how this procedure is still referred to, even by the doctors and the engineers themselves. An experiment. We have no idea of the after effects yet. We are now barely into the seventh year of testing those few people who received their implants. In these types of rare monumental discoveries where you are dealing with ground-breaking human trials, they can take decades to perfect, perhaps more. Why subject James to be…”
“Go on, say it.” Debbie hissed. ”Some sort of guinea pig? A lowly, expendable animal waiting to be brought forth to the slaughter? Is that the kind of mother you see me as? Is this your way of not trying to change my mind as you mentioned earlier?” Sarah hung her head, lost in thought as to the best way to handle this delicate topic.
”Look at me, Sarah.” She said under clenched teeth. When Sarah’s gaze met hers, she saw her seething with rage beneath a thin veil of calm. Was this really her passionate belief being exerted or some kind of involuntary reflex action due to the stupor she had been living in all this time? There was no way of knowing for sure, but regardless she let Debbie speak.
”Why can’t you see it, Sarah? The bigger picture. Remember when blockchain technology first came to fruition and the horrifying resistance it garnered from the public at large? Nowadays, it’s a regulated part of our everyday life. Almost every conceivable machine on the planet now has it’s own implementation of it. Hell, our global system of currency is now built upon it and functioning beautifully might I add. So what was the end result for all those angry protestations and violent outbursts from all those naysayers? Well, in the end they all caved in and accepted it for what is was. The advancements it offered the world at large and our civilization. There was no denying it and there still isn’t.”
Sarah held up a hand and interjected. ”I see that, Deb and agree with you. But the distinction between the financial markets and biology are so extremely divided…”
”I haven’t finished yet.” Debbie retorted back with a stern glare, eyes pulsating with frustration. ”The bigger picture, Sarah. Open your mind and look deeper. I've read up on all the literature the company provided me with so believe it or not, I am quite clued up at this point. All that’s required for my James are a few simple incisions to the scalp and three microchips placed into certain areas within the cranial cavity. That’s all. After a recovery period of only a day or two, James’s memories will be digitally mapped into his new secondary subconscious. Every detail recorded in the highest quality possible. Before he can contemplate what a memory even is. One year from now, he’ll go through the procedure and transform into a technologically superior version of his normal, everyday counterparts. We are an evolving species and on the brink of unlocking our hidden capabilities which were lying dormant for all this time. Our old, tired, faded system of biological thought process and recollection will be a thing of the past. Can't you see the scale and benefits it can create for us all as a collective species?”
The excitement to almost throw the words out of her mouth caused her to breath harder than normal. In a way, Sarah could understand why it was of such great importance in her life. The fact that she was so desperate to cling on to her own fading memories of Brandon, the impulsiveness to recapture all those moments that she simply chose to ignore on a daily basis, yet now pined for given the new circumstances. This seemed to Sarah like some sort of knee-jerk reaction to his passing, yet with possibly disastrous repercussions. From Sarah’s point of view, the risks were just too great at this juncture, though she dare not utter Brandon’s name for fear of a very destructive vocal reprisal.
”Deb, please. I’m not your enemy. I just think it’s too early for these… in effect, responsibilities… to be placed upon his tiny shoulders. There are so many ethical and moral questions yet to be answered in this unexplored field we are entering. What if he didn’t want to see or remember certain things, yet those images would be collected and retained within his second mind's eye to possibly view at a later date. I mean, you can’t be sure the kind of impact this could have on him. Add to that the fact that he will have to pay the companies involved to have permission to sift through and choose those memories he wishes to keep. You must have heard what they’re talking about in various medical journals across the Internet. A certain quota of memory extracted from the chip in his head in exchange for a hefty sum of money. It seems to be a huge business venture with very real and dangerous caveats. My point is that it’s all progressing at this stage by trial and error. Little James may end up being the test subject for an experiment gone bad. Really bad.”
Debbie tilted her head to one side and sneered at her. ”There you go again, acting like a third rate drama queen. You don't think that all those who contributed towards the conception and carrying out of this procedure don't deserve some type of remuneration? It should all be done for free, right? No, I’ll tell you what will happen, Sarah. He’ll have memories starting from this early stage of his life all the way through to adulthood and beyond. I spoke extensively to the team directly. They are professional individuals who will oversee and look after him every step of the way. Almost like an extended family. Caring for him, even after I'm long gone.” Sarah noticed a glimmer of satisfaction from her at this last statement. ”He’ll be in good hands throughout the entire process. Any issues or problems will be dealt with accordingly. Unfortunately, the same thing can’t be said of you. I really thought you saw things differently or at least would offer up some much needed support for us. As the concerned family member you claim to be.”
Sarah reached out a hand and placed it upon her arm. ”I am there for you, Deb. You must believe me. It’s just the worry I have for the both of you. I don’t want to see you or James hurt, that’s all. Please, believe me when I say that. It’s God’s honest truth.”
It may have been the sincerity in her eyes or the fact that she had simply unloaded a torrent of pent-up anguish, but Debbie seemed to calm down nearly as fast as when she had flared up. She stared into Sarah’s soft, brown eyes and said in a blank repose. ”This is happening, Sarah. James will have this operation and we will make it work. I have done extensive research into what is to be done and what is required afterwards. Now, I’ll ask you one more time…. And please, let me hear the right answer this time.”
”Are you with us… Or not?”
(The End)
