Body Blank

Body Blank

Presidential Body

Droth Transk wasn’t used to being scanned for weapons before a business meeting.  However, he made allowances for this occasion.  He was led through a maze of ornate vaulted hallways before coming into a vast library room where he was asked to wait.  After a few minutes he was joined by a tail gray haired man in a sports shirt.

“Mr. Transk.  I’m glad you could make it.”

“Well its not every day I’m asked to meet the Unified Global President. I’m honored President Wiston.”

“Don’t mention it.  You have a fair measure of influence on a global scale yourself.  In fact, that is what precipitated this meeting.  I’ll get right to the point Droth, if I may call you that?”

“Droth is fine sir, please continue.”

“The Senate will be reviewing Transk Enterprises’ planetary holdings soon.  It is expected the anti-monopoly panel will take some actions to diversify your company.  Transk has become so vast during the last decade it now touches almost every facit of the global economy.  Agriculture, space travel, weapons and AI development not to mention pharmaceuticals and medical technology in general.  Not even the expanded Plague Law guidelines can provide justification for the scope encompassed by your company Droth.”

“I have been busy the past few years.  But only for the betterment of all Medinans. And I see your dilemma Daniels.”

Present Daniels Winston lifted an eye brow at the use of his first name.  “My dilemma?”

“My company provides the only cure for Plague infection.  And with 34% of Medina’s population infected and dying even my obvious monopoly can be overlooked easily, by most.  I’m sure you want to be spared along with the other privileged few that can afford treatment.  But you can’t afford to be seen as an aristocrat and gain a fourth term as President.”

“Sounds like you are about to accuse me of extortion.”

“Let me be frank  Daniels.  You called me here to pressure me into providing you with a matched body using the Senate anti-monopoly panel as your weapon.  That really is unnecessary.  Your DNA pattern has been my top priority search ever sense I was informed that you were infected.  I’m in fact happy to inform you that a match has been found.  However, you’ll need to extend some of the Plague Law elements to address where I found your match.”

“Where my match was found?  What is so special about the location?”

“My company, under Plague Law guidelines, is allowed to DNA test and match anyone on the planet.  It is allowed to use diseased persons were such ... resources would be of benefit to the living.”

“Yes of course.  You and other companies can use near dead or brain dead but infection free bodies for transplants or testing.”

“The scope of this allowance needs to be expanded to cover the known outer planets.”

The President was incredulous.  “You want to harvest dead bodies from the discovered worlds?”

“Don’t worry about starting a galactic war.  We replace any bodies with near duplicates and provide regrown cellular samples to pass any DNA testing local establishments may need.”

Droth could see the President was still in a state of shock at the suggestion as he pressed on.  “Your match was found on a HRE97, Earth as the locals call it.  I have agents in place now obtaining the body as we speak.”

“Now?”

“You have little time or choice in this matter Mr. President.  Matching DNA patterns with sufficient similarities to avoid complications is against the odds even with entire planets to choose from.  I need you to support the expansion of scope in the Law.”

“I wasn’t making up the Senate anti-monopoly panel Droth.  Some are ready to take action against your company.”

“I have some influence with one or two on the panel.  I’m really not concerned about their review.  In fact I think they will return with a vote of support for my global activities.”

“Influence in the Senate doesn’t seem to be a problem for you then.  I can submit a modification to the Senate this week to expand the scope of  Plague Law.”

“Excellent President Winston  my staff will transmit the precise language that needs to be in the draft this morning.  Please express to the Senate the need to keep the changes intact to expedite aid to Medina at large.”

“Yes of course.”

“Well thank you for this meeting Daniels.  Medina’s people, and you, will benefit greatly by the change.’  Droth shook hands with President Winston and proceeded to leave the library.

Once inside his limousine he called his personal assistant.  ”Lao Panak encrypted channel.” 
A three-foot holographic cube appeared in front of Droth’s seat with a tall expressionless man centered in the display.
“Lao I expect the scope change within a week but lets not wait any longer on the match.  We’ve been using Earth bodies for some time now anyway.  Pickup the pace on this one.”

“We usually arrange a traffic accident but that requires some prep time.”

“Just pick him up.  Make it look like suicide.”

“That doesn’t really match his profile.  He seems quite stable and motivated.”

“As you know the situation come up with something that fits.  Let our resources on Earth know we need the body processed this week.  I want the President in his new clothes as soon as possible.  Close channel.”

Lao had a puzzled look on his face as Droth's image vanished.  “So, how do I kill a happy CEO in 24 hours?”

Explosion

Mark Cameron was shaving when he heard the news over the TV in the bedroom.  “Late breaking news.  An explosion has just destroyed one of the offices in Professional Temp Services headquarters here in the metro.  No word yet on fatalities...”

“Dear God!  I hope no one was...”  He raced to this bedside phone and started dialing the number to the Professional Temp Services receiving area.  But there was no dial tone.

He heard a voice from behind using a thick Australian accent.  “Sorry mate.  We took the precaution of cutting the line before we came in.  You can never be too careful.  And dead men aren’t supposed to be makin phone calls.”

“The explosion!  That was you?”

“Aye, one of my team.  Don’t worry only you were in the office when it went up.  By the ways you can call me Jacks.”

“You’re talking in riddles.  I’m here not at the office.”

Jacks smiled and gave a wink to another man who had come in by his side.  “Mr. Cameron please have a sit down on the bed there and I’ll tell you everything you need to know eh.”

Mark felt a muscular hand around both arms as Jacks’ associate forced him to sit.  Jacks produced a small gun with a plastic grip and steel barrel.  The barrel was the tiniest caliber he’d ever seen on a gun. Which was now pressed against Mark’s neck.

“Now this my friend is one cool device.  It tazes and drugs at the same time.  And really you don’t need to know anythin else mate.”

Mark jolted with pain has the tazer went off.  He fell backward on the bed limp and semiconscious.  His body was being encased in a bag of some kind.  His whole world went black as he heard a zipper seal what must have been a body bag.

Travel By Pod

The co-pilot of the Transk Eclipse was curious about how they were able to stay invisible to the planet below them.  “Explain to me again how WE don’t do anything and yet remain invisible to an entire planet.”

“Honestly I’ve never been told how its done just that no one on the planet can see us via their radar.  However, visually someone could see us if they were looking in exactly the right spot.  I guess that explains our paint job and the complete lack of reflective surfaces.”

“Eh...from what I’ve read several governments down there have radar capable of tracking objects in near orbit.”

“Agreed but I think Transk has something else going on to prevent the radar from seeing us.  Maybe he makes us look like space trash or something.”

“Ok that makes sense but what about....”  The co-pilot was interrupted by the chirping tone of a proximity alarm.  “And here comes our cargo.”

Both watched as the rocket plume from the small pod approaching the Eclipse cut out.  The pod itself was now invisible in the blackness of space as the ships computer guided it into the loading bay.

The co-pilot offered an observation.  “Well if we look like that pod against space it explains why no one can see us.”

“Yeap.  Ok the pod is secured and we are good to go for the return trip.”

“I thought you usually picked up several of these things per run?”

“Usually but this one is high priority.  They want it back ASAP.  In fact standing orders are to initiate the H drive on the other side of this moon.  But for this run I’m cleared to launch as soon as I’m ready.”

“Wow.  If anyone is looking they'll see this one.  All systems are showing green here.”

“Transferring power to H systems...now.” 

A blinding light expanded in all directions around the ship and then the Eclipse was gone. 

VIP

Dr. Trass was excitedly explaining the situation to his assistant. “Yes Transk ordered this MindImage transfer himself.  He rarely takes such an interest.  But I’ve still no idea whom the body is reserved for.  Curious.  However, he wants it processed immediately so lets get to work.”

“I’ll prep the Extractor.  The process itself is automated for the most part correct?”

“Yes, after the nodes are connected to the patients head the computer performs the other operations in sequence.  Once its complete the Image card gets cataloged and the blank goes to one of the stasis beds.”

The bed holding Mark Cameron was rolled into position under a semicircular archway.  A loose fitting rubber skullcap was put in place around head.  Dr Trass went into more detail for the assistant’s benefit.

“Now the cap will be evacuated to make an air tight seal around the head of the patient.  The sensors in the cap have tiny prongs that actually pierce the skin at this point to make a positive connection.  Honestly I’m not sure why the reading process is so detailed.  From what I know a few less invasive connections attached to the head would produce the desired result.”

“The Assistant watched in fascination as the main computer began evacuating the cap causing it to press the sensors into Mark’s head.”  In fact why do you bother keeping the MindImage cards for each patient if the entire process is just to permanently blank out the persons memory?”

“An excellent question that actually has a good answer.  Some of the components for the card are ‘Write Once’ technology.  And without the entire functioning unit the MindReader here can’t completely read and blank the patient.  As each neuron is processed and dramatized it’s information is transferred to the MindImage card.”

“Looks like that process is now proceeding.”

“Yes this man’s mind is now being both written to the card and biologically blanked out simultaneously.  In a way he’ll be immortal now.  Its almost poetic. The computer is concurrently destroying the subjects complete consciousness in one body and regenerating it in another … machine body.  You could call it soul transference.  However, immortal or not I couldn't imagine being reduced into a circuit card.”


Disembodied

Mark woke up with a Sharpe pain in his head.  “Aaaaah!  What’s that about?”  The pain quickly faded and Mark tried to figure out where he was.  He quickly realized something frightening.  He had no sense of his body.  Disembodied without sight, touch, hearing, smell...he was alarmed to put it mildly.

“Am I dead?”  He thought about everything he had ever believed about death and what came after.  Mark thought of himself as a Christian and the utter solitude didn’t fit with his idea of Heaven.  Nor Hell for that matter.

“I’m not dead!  Not this way!  I must be in a coma or frozen or something but not dead.”
With that thought he relaxed a little.  Then he noticed a yellow glow ... in his mind.  The glow became a bright light that seemed to pulse with a life of its own.  Expanding wave patterns of bright and then soft light were ‘touching’ every part of his brain.  The rhythmic waves where calming and peaceful but stimulating at the same time.

“Where ever I am someone is watching over me, even if it’s just a light.”

Released from all the usual senses Mark began to mentally feel things about his body.  He could sense his arms and legs even though he couldn’t complete the connection to his limbs.  He reasoned that he was paralyzed but he was certainly not in a coma.  It was then that he felt something, movement.  Through some strange sense he was able to feel spatial change. 

His body was being moved swiftly somewhere and he could ‘feel’ it.  He remembered holding a spinning top in his hand as a boy.  He remembered feeling the changes in the vibration of the top as he moved his hand around.  Through some quirk he could now detect motion with a similar feeling now but not through his hand.  He could feel every nuance of vibration as something moved his body.  There was a cycle to the motion...as if he was being moved on wheels.  The intensity of the vibrations changed.  He reasoned that the wheels were moving over an absolutely unyielding surface and then over something softer.  Then for a split second he was queasy with motion.  He was in freefall!  Then there was a crash ...

Anonymous  Parcel

Kaine could hear the pleasant sound of birds chirping outside in the morning air.  It almost made him want to get up,  almost.  “I don’t want to get out of bed.”

The maid rolled up to the bed.  “Time for your meds Dr. Kaine.  And were you talking to yourself?”

“What if I was Ruth?”

“People might think you’re strange or unbalanced.  Oh what am I talking about?  That boat sailed long ago.”

“Very funny.  Now where are the meds?”

Ruth produced a small orange pill.  A wisp of vapor was visible as Kaine took the frozen capsule from Ruth’s hand and swallowed it dry.

“I will be a happy man when nanites can be taken at room temperature!”

“No you won’t.  You’ll find something else to complain about.  Now get down stairs before your pancakes get cold.  And I have a surprise for you.”

The robot quickly wheeled its way out of the room to avoid questions about the surprise.  Kaine made his way to the kitchen table and had just topped off the pancakes with a glob of syrup when Ruth returned.  She placed an unmarked box next to his plate.

“I found this when I checked the parcel box this morning.  It was laying on the ground just outside the service door.”

Kaine examined the box for some indication of its origin and began mumbling to himself. “Very curious. “

“Open it.”

Kaine mused.  “Whom could it be from?”

“Open it and I’ll tell you.”

“You don’t know either.”

“Well there is probably a note on the inside.  Can I open it if you don’t want to?”

“Ok I’ll open it!”  Kaine opened the side of the parcel carefully and pulled out a small circuit board.  Two lights were visible on the card’s edge: POWER and ACTIVE.  Both glowed with a rich green light.  The ACTIVE indicator pulsed harmonically.  “Fascinating.  Either someone has dropped off a diagnostic MindImage card.”

“Or.... or?”

“Or someone’s mind has been delivered to me on a MindImage card.”

“I didn’t think they were ready for human testing yet.”

“I suppose we shall see exactly what they are ready for now.  I’m going to the workshop.”

Kaine mumbled to himself as he made his way through debris on the workshop floor.  He moved to one of  the more cluttered tables and turned on a small black box.  Kaine carefully inserted the blue circuit card into the reader and watched as a number of diagnostic messages scrolled across the monitor.  After several seconds the box produced a flat tone indicating its tests were complete.

“All tests normal but no linguistic link.  Hmmm.  Time to wake up Fred.”  Kaine glanced at the corner of the workshop were some discarded mail lay on top of a man sized barrel.  “Fred!  Fred wake up!”

The cylinder in the corner began to twirl which spun the mail off onto the floor.  It stopped its circular movement and started to make its way over to Kaine.  Twice the heavy frame careened from side to side as Fred’s support wheels crushed circuit boards among the debris.

“You know...if you gave me another arm I could clean up this place.”

“Yes.  Yes.  Next thing on my list Fred.  Now could you link to the ImageReader and check the language functions please?”

“I’m linking to the ImageReader now.  All memory pathways show nominal brain activity.  The sensory nerve inputs and outputs appear to show normal activity and response.  The diagnostics did show some linguistic signals, but it was indecipherable by the Reader.  This is interesting.”

“What?”

“This isn’t one of your cards.  This unit has increased memory capacity and some other circuits I haven’t seen before.  I’m also seeing much more neural activity than your usual cadaver cards generate.”

“Someone has apparently upgraded my M9 version then.  And for the record I have no idea where this card or the image it is holding came from.  Would you try to find a linguistic match please?”

“Starting a comparison on the card’s signals now.  But how is it that someone has upgraded your card when it isn’t in production yet?”

“Apparently someone has been accessing my research.  That doesn’t necessarily bother me as I was going to make it public domain eventually.  But the possibility of using my research to strip a human mind from a body before the process is fully tested is unconscionable.”

Fred interrupted.  “Found it!  Found it!  Aaaaahh.  Who do you know on another planet?”

“No one.  Most of the worlds are off-limits for one reason or another.”

“I’ve updated the ImageReader database.  Take a look.”

The ImageReader’s screen now showed the language found on the card. 
Language:  HRE97:17  NATIVE REPRESENTATION:  ENGLISH
ORIGIN:  HRE97              NATIVE REPRESENTATION:  EARTH

“So your story is...someone used your technology to strip an alien’s mind from their body and then leave it on your porch.  I’m thinking you need a better story.”


The Card Gone Missing

Droth watched as the sun’s first rays were diffused through the semi transparent skyscraper East of his own business tower.  A myriad of tiny rainbows cascaded randomly over the entire Droth complex within the first few minutes of sunrise.  It was a spectacular view that always impressed visitors to the complex…and himself.  He turned his thoughts toward his personal secretary.  Who was now 10 minutes late.

“Open Channel to Lao Penak!” 

A holographic view of a starkly white room expanded in front of Droth’s desk.  A small text representation of Lao’s location flashed for a moment at Droth’s eye level.  “Droth Medical Systems 2100 Tyee Drive, Castelle”

“Lao, its 7:15.  I’m here in my office.  I have no status reports.  I have no schedule.”

“Yes sir.  Dr. Trass called me this morning with disturbing news.  Apparently one of the cards can’t be accounted for.”

“One of the cards?  What kind of….”  Droth cut off his sentence in mid breath.  Professor Trass could only be alluding to one kind of card.  A flash of  searing anger crossed Droth’s face.  Lao averted his gaze.  Droth quickly got his emotions under control and began speaking in a pleasant voice.  “So good doctor, one of our cards has gone missing has it?

Lao’s image was joined by that of a short, balding man with an obvious affinity for food.  “Yes.  Well.  I’m afraid, that…ah the last imprinted card has been misplaced.”

“So after processing the mind from your last patient you or one of your colleges lost track of  the MindImage card?”

“Oh I’m sure it hasn’t been destroyed.  Just misplaced.”

“I’m sure it was good doctor.  Lao will assist you in finding it.”

“Yes of course.  I already have a security detail combing the building.”

“You may proceed with your next patient doctor.  Thank you for bringing this to our attention.”

Trass’s image nodded and then walked toward Droth’s office wall until it flickered and disappeared.

“Lao.  I’m sure you realize that the card was not misplaced.”  There was a nod from Lao. “Schedule a MindImage session for each senior member of the transition staff.  I want the lot of them processed by the end of the day.”

Lao blinked and then injected.  “Including Trass?”

“Can his alternate handle the job?”

“I suppose so.  But Trass has been the project leader from the beginning.”

“Process him first of course.  If we need information from him we can get it later.”  Droth paused momentarily to gather his thoughts.  “As you are occupied I’d get the daily status reports from Global.  Make finding the card your priority after taking care of the staff issues there.  Clear channel.”

Droth’s image faded from beside Lao.  Lao turned on his heel sharply and walked to the next office.  “Dr. Trass,  what does your morning schedule look like?”