Between the Lanterns(45)

“Why do you think it’s gonna be any good at all?” August asked. “How do you know I ain’t just yankin’ your chain, Mr. Stevens?”

Joshua spread his arms and stretched his smile even further across his chiseled features.

“Because you’re a nice guy, August,” he answered. “And a fricking genius. I’m betting that whatever it is you got tucked away is worth a fortune to the both of us. So let’s not waste any more time. Show me the goods.”

August once again questioned if this was a good idea, but it was too late. The plans were in motion, and he needed this Credit to see them through. Samantha deserved a new life with relaxation and luxury at every destination.

“Alright, Mr. Stevens,” August said, “dDo you remember the invention of the BrainSave, and how it was a marvel of modern tech? And do you remember all of the upgrades I made to that chip when I worked for Montek.Automaton?”

Joshua nodded along to the rhetorical questions, as they were just about to set up the big reveal. He was getting very anxious about finding out what August had created.

“Well, the one limitation that I could never seem to get past,” August continued, “just kept hauntin’ me. Even after Montek screwed me over. Do you know what it was?”

Joshua shook his head. He had no clue what the brilliant inventor was trying to say. After all of the work August had done on the BrainSave, it was already a work of art in it’s present state. It was a piece of tech that blew everything else out of the water.

“I have no idea, Mr. Lurie,” he answered, his breathing coming more rapidly.

“The limitation was,” August explained, “it was just tech. It was only a machine. It was just a dang old robot.”

Joshua’s heart dropped.

He looked confused and said, “Mr. Lurie, it is just a robot. That’s the whole idea; to make people feel like their loved ones are still with them. Put some memories in the tin can, and simulate the experience of talking with those who have passed on. That’s all it is, and all it ever can be.”

August pulled out the SameSoul and placed it on the counter. It was visually very similar to the BrainSave. It had to be, to make the transition from the BrainSave to the SameSoul easier. If they had to retrofit every unsold Montek.Automaton in storage it wouldn’t be as financially beneficial to Montek.

Once Joshua Stevens picked it up and examined the chip, he was shocked by the complexity of what he found there.

“That’s not true anymore, Mr. Stevens,” August stated flatly. “This is the SameSoul. It takes everythin’ you are, your full consciousness, and puts it into an automaton. You will continue to live from inside a machine. Your same thoughts, your same memories, your same fears… absolutely everythin’. You will be you.”

Joshua’s jaw fell open. He looked at the little package in his hand and placed it back on the counter.

“So, it can make new memories?” he asked. “Simulate emotion? Is it artificial intelligence you’ve created?”

August just shook his head. He didn’t get it yet.

“No, Mr. Stevens, nothin’ like that. It ain’t a simulation of life. It ain’t a program,” August said, trying to simplify it for the man. “It’s a vessel for the human consciousness. It’s never-endin’ life.”

Mr. Stevens looked down at the floor and rubbed his chin. He paced back and forth for a few breaths, then snapped his head up and locked eyes with August.

“I’ll be right back,” he said in an emotionless tone. “Wait here, Mr. Lurie.”

Joshua Stevens spun on his heels and marched right out of the store. He got into his AutoCar and began rapidly talking to himself. August could only sit and stare, as he had no idea what was going on. Was Mr. Stevens impressed? Did he want to buy it? August sure hoped so; otherwise all these plans would come to a crashing halt.

After a few minutes, Mr. Stevens came back into the store with a serious look on his face.

He strode right up to August, pointed at his cellphone, and said, “You’re going to receive a call in just a minute, August. It will be from the head of Montek.Automaton, Chadwick Sheppard.”

August felt numb for a second. One of the richest men in the entire world was going to call his cellphone?

“Why is he gonna call me?” August asked. “I ain’t got nothin’ to say to him. If y’all want my tech, I’ll sell it. But it’s gonna cost you a lot of Credit, you hear?”

Joshua placed his hands on his hips, looked the brilliant inventor right in the eyes, and told him, “He wants to talk to you in person because I told him I don’t believe you. I don’t think your tech can do what you say it does.”

August almost called the whole thing off right then.

“Believe it, jack,” he snapped, snatching the SameSoul from the counter. “This ain’t no joke. If I say it can, then it can. I don’t lie.”

“You can tell it to…”

August’s cellphone began to ring.

He picked it up and answered the call,. “Hello, this is August Lurie. How may I help you?”

“Mr. Lurie,” a voice said on the other end, “it’s fantastic to speak with you at last. My name is Chadwick Sheppard. I’m very sorry about the negative experiences you’ve had with us in the past. Your wrongful termination, the theft of your ideas and inventions, the bad attitude from Mr. Stevens, and anything else that has put a bad taste in your mouth. I intend to right all of those wrongs today.”