Work Text:
Dr. Julius Gibbon and his grad student, Vern Duquette, soon to get his PhD, use the brain of another organ donor, in an attempt to fire its synapsis and map the human brain to download into their state of the art computer systems. This would be brain 625. All previous attempts had met with failure or the subject terminating. They were so close. Six hundred twenty-one, twenty-three, and twenty-four, had reached stability, but the processing had to be boosted. The human mind, apparently was capable of vast and complex extrapolations, but trying to create a system that could encompass it was a daunting task.
Vern still shuttered over the last subject. Six hundred twenty-four had just screamed and screamed. It turns out that it had been in the body of someone who died in a car accident, and it couldn’t pull itself out of the echo that ended his life.
This time, Dr. Gibbon specifically asked for an organ donor brain from someone who was at peace with their passing. Vern looked at the file and was saddened to see it was someone who was only about 42 years old. However, this particular donor was female and had many birth defects, which included little used of her body, and had never been able to walk. No wonder she was at peace with her death, he thought, it probably felt like a release from all the pain.
After test 624, Dr. Gibbon had done something he never wanted to do, use partial government funding. This meant that whatever the results came to be, it would be utilized by the military in whatever way possible. Unfortunately, it was the only way to gain access to the wet ware processors that could amplify the range of what they were trying to do. Vern knew that the government always kept state-of-the-art technology away from the public until it was of no use, or too many outside inventors were progressing without their assistance. Their way of keeping control of new discoveries.
Vern carefully placed the mapping needles, no thicker than a hair, into the various parts of the donor brain in order to commence the stimulation and mapping of 625. Gently he, as if he were carrying a new born babe, he allowed the brain to float gently into the synthetic amniotic fluid. Once submerged, he gave the nod to Dr. Gibbon to start the process.
Almost immediately, the synapsis fired and lit up like a Christmas tree. “Those damn controlling politicians, I knew this is what we needed,” Dr. Gibbon groused. His words were negative, but his eyes were filled with excitement.
There was no doubt 625 had overdeveloped lobes in the brain matter, but Vern was so proud of the work they had done because every piece of the cerebellum was being graphed. Now came the hard part—the waiting…
~
“Hello? Helloooo. It’s really dark here.” The robotic voice, very similar to the old Siri system jerked Vern awake. Realizing they were getting a response, a REAL response, he ran into the system room where the doctor was supposed to be monitoring. It had taken 36 hours.
“Doctor!” he yelled.
“Wha..ahhh!” Dr. Gibbon fell over in his computer chair. Apparently, they had both fallen asleep on the job. Vern helped him to his feet.
“Come on people,” The voice continued, “I can’t see, and don’t feel my body. You were only supposed to change out the bum ticker”. The voice didn’t seem overly upset, just pragmatically waiting for answers. For some unknown reason, Vern immediately liked her.
Quickly, Vern and the doctor set up the audio system and Dr. Gibbon began to speak. “Oh yes! I’m so sorry for the wait dear. Can you hear me?”
“Yep, what’s up doc?” She attempted to chuckle, but it sounded like digital noise, “Woah! What is up with my voice? Waaaah dooooo. We’re calling about your car’s warranty.” More digital noise-like chuckles. “I’m talking through a computer.”
A bit flustered, Dr. Gibbon, “Umm, yes dear. You see what happened was…”
“I’m dead.” She cut him off.
“Yes.”
“And I was an organ donor, so you got my brain.” She concluded.
“Yes.” He breathed out, seemingly terrified of 625’s reaction to the news.
“That’s kind of cool!” She enthused, “I mean, it sucks to be dead, but I had a really good set of lungs and kidneys that probably helped people.”
Dr. Gibbon seemed stunned, “Uh, yes, I’m sure they did dear. You seem to be taking this very well.”
“Well I knew with my crap body, there was a greater than average chance I would die from this surgery, I just hope the heart was still viable for someone else.” Despite the robotic tones of her voice, she seemed to convey worry and empathy.
Vern whispered, “Its amazing doctor. She has full sentience. Awareness and emotion.”
“Who’s that?” She asked.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Dr. Gibbons explained, “How rude of me, this is my assistant, Vern Duquette, he is on the track for his PhD in Physics & Engineering. He already has a Masters in these fields, as well as Neurobiology. As do I.”
“Neurobiology plus Physics plus Engineering. Hmmm. I got it! You uploaded my brain! No wonder I can’t see or feel anything!” She seemed enthusiastic, “Are there more like me?”
“Actually,” Vern said, “You are our first sentient success.”
She was silent for a moment. “Wow. How excited are you?”
Dr. Gibbon laughed, “Very thrilled my dear.”
Vern asked, “Are you scared?”
“A little, but I am excited too. I never was able to do anything physically. My life was all in my mind from books, internet, and television. Now, my mind gets to be at the forefront of this great scientific research that could benefit mankind. Who knows what I am capable of without the constraints of my body and my dinky little brain?”
“I wouldn’t have called your brain ‘dinky’, necessarily,” Dr. Gibbons protested. “You had overdeveloped lobes, and it was an excellent specimen.”
“Wow. Forty-Two years to get a compliment from a man and all I had to do was die. If I could blush I would. I bet my headaches were from my skull not being able to handle my Double-D brain.” More digital chortling came over the speaker. “So boys, where do we begin?”