 Wednesday afternoon was best. It was the only day that week that one could reserve the Cordelia Royale Hotels Conference Room, another could to fly into and out of the country without missing work, and another didn't have chair practice. The afternoon was crisp, and the clouds repealed off the blue sky. The Hotels designed with a rigid performance of professional colors and sharp geometry. Violet Mesmer stood in the executive conference room. Gray crept up the roots of her hair, and age was beginning to crack through the layers of makeup. Dark brown eyes looked down to where a car pulled in. The agents beat the valets to the door and let two people out. A voice in their earpiece said, Michaels and Young have arrived. They were in the conference room soon. The wiry Young walked in first, blonde hair was suffocated into a bun, and nature accomplished a job of makeup. Sleepless nights provided the eye shadow, and exhausted them with already at work, sculpted in the face. She took her seat. Michaels followed, the soldier with a buzz cut. He wore a jacket in spring, and he folded his aviators up, slipping them into his pocket, as he took his seat besides Young. Another voice in the earpiece, Lee is here. Cam with a no-show. Sue Young Lee appeared to be already occupied with another meeting. As she entered, she came with a phone to her ear, arguing vehemently with someone in Korean. She was short, long haired, bespeckled, and growing more upset by the second as the argument continued. Another voice over the radio, more uncertain. Green has arrived. The girl who stood at the conference room's open door wore a pleated skirt, jacket, and tie-colored to match the colors of Dawes' preparatory school. She had red hair tied into a ponytail, and glistened in green eyes. She flashed a white smile to every uneasy gaze as she walked in, carrying with her a wispy, noxious look. Green, although the name tag Red Cassandra and Mesber's file had no less than five other names, took their seat and slid her backpack under the table. She set a water bottle on two pink tablets on the tabletop before sitting back and looking at the others. Greenen. Lee's phone call ended. Security locked the doors and took their positions, and Mesber took her seat at the head of the table. The recording device sat before her. She reached over and pressed record. This committee negotiations with groups of interest on Omega-K scenario solutions began long. Dr. Violet Mesber clears her throat and speaks. I appreciate you all coming to this meeting, you especially Dr. Young, as you've apparently been taking on a few fair projects involving Omega-K. Many thanks Dr. Mesber. Happy to be invited. Dr. Mesmer adjusts herself in her seat and brings out a briefcase. As she opens it, she contains to speak. For those of you who are unfamiliar with everyone at the table, my name is Dr. Violet Mesmer, and I am a member of the Essex Committee. Dr. Mesmer adjusts to Dr. Emily Young. This is Dr. Emily Young, a prominent doctor in the Omega-K scenario, with which I'm sure we're all intimately familiar. Thank you. I've worked extensively with Omega-K, including researching under the title SCP-3984, and want nothing more than to contribute to a long-lasting solution. Dr. Mesmer nods. She removes a few pieces of paper from the briefcase and continues to speak. Right. Yes. The man on the end with the cybernetic enhancements is Captain Eric Michaels, a decorated war veteran and one of the first two experienced Omega-K's effects, at least by our records. I'm not all that important, just here for secure. I like Greek letters as much as anyone, but could you please familiarize us outsiders with that fancy term you've been throwing at us? Dr. Mesmer cites to herself as she continues to remove the final few papers from the briefcase. She turns to green. Well, as you should have remembered from the societal census program surveys you got, Omega-K is what we call the scenario that we're all forced to live with. The immortality one? I'm sure you know what I mean. Dr. Mesmer turns to everyone else. The person who just interrupted everything is Gregory Green, though I'm sure they go by a different name now. They are the spokesperson for full-body transplants from Hermitius Labs. I haven't heard Green in years. Cassie Spine. New nickname I'm trying to break in. Green smiles and waits for a response. No one replies. Anyways, many of you are already on our customer list, so I'm sure you're all familiar with the service I oversee. Yes, I've… undergone the procedure. Dr. Mesmer doesn't let Green continue their comments as she continues her introductions. And finally, we have a representative from Marshall Carter and Dark, Miss Su Yun Li, though we were expecting Mr. Jusu Kim to arrive. Su Yun Li pulls out a note card and begins to read. Miss Su Yun Li is unable to make any binding agreements associated with the Product Hypnotchaline. She is unable to make any statements on Marshall Carter and Dark's behalf, and anything that has spoken of Miss Su Yun Li is to be considered an opinion. Su Yun puts away the note card. Mr. Jusu will not be coming as he does not speak English. Not surprised they send us the diplomatic equivalent of a middle finger. Aside to Su Yun, no offense. I don't think that's quite appropriate. No need to be crude, Captain. This is actually good. We can tear apart Marshall Carter and Dickey's newest product right here. Please. I was of the understanding that this was going to be a serious discussion. My bad was just hoping we'd actually make something come of this, not just complain to the underlings. Michael's is silenced by a glare from Dr. Mesmer. I'll drop it. Dr. Mesmer straightens the papers in her hand and begins to read the first page. The meeting here today is to actually address both Prometheus Labs and Marshall Carter and Dark's arguably immoral practices regarding their long-term solutions to involuntary immortality. Dr. Young and Captain Michael's are present to provide alternative solutions from both a professional and a civilian point of view. Arguably immoral, that… that thing is a human trafficker and butcher. Ms. Su Yun points towards Green. Please, apart from Mr. Michael's, we're all decent women here. Yes, he's wearing another person. Your people give people inescapable nightmares. We'd like to figure out a way to put an end to both of those things, and since our usual methods haven't exactly worked, we were hoping to make a deal. And I have to reiterate, I am no longer responsible for nor capable of affecting Hypnotchaline marketing and distribution. There was all due respect, Ms. Su Yun. Why are you here? Dr. Mesmer passed along a pair of pages to each of the members present, detailing the potential fallacies of Marshall Carter and Dark's business plan. I would like to show everyone some information regarding Hypnotchaline and its boot-led competitors. It's quite obvious that Marshall Carter and Dark benefits when their competitors fail. And while that might mean that more people have access to a safe alternative to eternal life and a closest equivalent of death, this does leave millions trapped in their bodies in some form of torture after having been exposed to faulty products. This not only leaves large portions of elderly and unhealthy population unable to recover in any form, but it also causes them to become a further burden than they were in, quote-unquote, life. Dr. Young briefly reviews the article. Oh, buck, I was not aware of this. Well, I am aware of this. I will also state that until Hypnotchaline would move to Mr. G. Su Kim's control, there were no manufacturer competitors. What's the prognosis for these people? Do they wake up? I cannot disclose that information. If you take a look at the files I just handed to each of you, they detail the various ways these competitors tortured their customers in the long term. Of course, the most famous defect is permanent sleep apnea. However, other issues include sleepwalking, which as you might guess is far more dangerous when you're unable to awaken and, of course, permanent vegetative states rather than comatose ones. While defects in medicine is something common enough in the pharmaceutical industry, the rate and extent of these defects is detrimental to both people who purchase and use these drugs, as well as society as a whole, for needing to simply adjust to their new burdens as their family becomes much more difficult to care for. This, this is awful. It's economics. Ms. Su Yun, you mentioned something about there being no competitors until ownership was transferred. Is that related at all? This is a recorded conversation. I cannot disclose marketing strategies while an active competitor who may have necessitated management changes is sitting at this table. I think we're a bit beyond that. If Pyongyang wants, I could put my fingers in my ears. See? Diplomatic middle finger. I can't tell which one is the finger. This isn't a soundbite or a pre-recorded message. Any actions that affect the marketability of Prometheus lab services will affect hypnotic lines. The product is extremely vulnerable to any and all external changes. Dr. Mesmer prepares another stable section of papers to pass out to the people at the table. Whatever the case may be, Ms. Su Yun, your company is still arguably has the more moral solution, despite the immoral actions that you may commit in the name of sales. Dr. Mesmer once again passes out copies of the documents describing the various processes that Prometheus labs entails regarding full-body transplants. I'd like to draw your attention to the kidnapping and preparing of subjects, the disposal of brains, and the distribution of false information to certain customers about the body source. I believe the rest of the document will speak for itself. It's not really kidnapping. A moment of silence passes as those present read. Michaels. I still can't believe Joyce is okay with this. With due respect, Captain Michaels, you're the only person at this table who has the enhancements necessary to avoid this stuff. I was born in 1989, and it's, what, 2130? Raise your hand if you've not undergone the surgery. Only Captain Michaels raises his hand. Not surprised, still disappointed. If FBT didn't exist most of us would be dead, well, not dead, but worse, asleep perhaps. I myself am ashamed of what I've had to do to continue my research, but I'm proud to say that I've only had the one transplant. Oh, what is this? Are we putting the bottled water industry on trial next? Dr. Mesmer turns to green, glaring. Are you comparing bottled water to human lives? No, I'm comparing bottled water to disposable lives. Look, what do you think happens to the people we use for the procedure? The answer is, nothing. Thousands of people are snapped up off the planet every month for organ harvesting, slavery, and so on. They're screwed from the get-go, and their future is screwed as well. Is it really fair then to just let them go to waste when those of us with the will to live get turned into rotting mummies? Sometimes it's not their choice. I know. Hard to imagine when you grew up with a silver spoon in your mouth. Look, what's your name? Young, is it? Let me pull up your file. I can tell you exactly where your current… outfit came from. Give me a moment. That's a bit rich coming from a grown man wearing the skin of an 18-year-old girl. Lavita Loka. At least I had a reason to change beyond getting bored of my current genitalia. Ah, here it is. Young, you were fessed off the streets of Lithuania. Your body grew up in the theater, and got its showers and bathroom stalls. You clicked your heels and danced for change in a hat and your parents were, oh, what a surprise. Gone. Now, that body is doing jolly good work for the illustrious foundation. It's healthy, vigorous, and blah, blah, blah. If we hadn't gotten it, it'd just be another maggot hive sooner or later. Living fertilizer scraped off the street and dumped into the mud. I don't know about you, but I like to view the industry as a recycling one. Dr. Young audibly gags. I've got your other files too if you're curious. Please, this is not what we came here to do. You're absolutely right. We should do something, and Prometheus Lath would like some money for it. What? Of course you would. You really don't expect us to hand resources over to you, unless you are able to find a way to humanely deal with the problem at large, the foundation will not contribute to your company. Dr. Mesbert turns to Ms. Su Yun, or yours for that matter, if you'd like to tell your higher upset. Fine. Ms. Su Yun takes out her phone and sends a text. I'll tell you if they get back to me. I mean, I couldn't help but notice that one of your issues against this service we all use is disposal. Sure, we could say launch all the spare brains into space that was on the table during inception, but that's expensive. And just to have living people floating around in space, what's the benefit of that? You realize that it's not like the problem is solved because you've hidden it a couple hundred thousand feet above sea level. Same goes for your landfills, they're still there, they're still suffering. Marshall Carter and Dark is willing to take actions against certain competitors in exchange for a subsidy. Is that what they texted you? Yes, I would be less vague otherwise. I'll take bullshit for $400, Jim. Come on, the McDonald's people aren't going to dismantle every drug network in the world just because you lined their pockets. And as for the disposal, I didn't say launch the brains into the stratosphere to create a big jelly ring. I meant far, into the sun. The fucking sun? You're seriously proposing throwing people into the sun? I mean, Mars is also a free real estate if you want to be picky. Did you hear a word I said about them still being alive? You know, once I got my credentials back, I checked on what Dr. Michaels did with 3984 after I… left. Dr. Mesmer slams a fist on the table, causing her briefcase to clatter closed. Is everyone here going to continue to argue about ridiculous ideas or will you allow me to present an actual idea? Sorry, Dr. Mesmer, I just want to drill into green how idiotic he… she is. Mesmer sighs and motions for young to continue. Dr. Michaels tried to incinerate the brain to see what would happen. Nothing. The brain breaks up, except all the cells are still alive, and we had no way of knowing if those animals were still conscious or not. The sun won't fix anything. Dr. Mesmer glares at everyone. She pinches the bridge of her nose. Christ almighty, you're all hundreds of years old and you still act like children. Dr. Mesmer places her hand back down. Apologies, well, technically. No one cares, Green. You're not a kid. Dr. Young, I personally am aware of your findings and regards the incineration of the brain. In fact, a secondary reason that I have brought Captain Michaels along to this meeting is because he is the solution we are looking for. Dr. Mesmer gestures towards Eric Michaels. I actually have to show them, don't I? Dr. Mesmer nods. Eric takes off his shirt to reveal his cybernetic replacements. Captain Michael's cybernetic implants have been able to not only keep him healthy, but keep him healthy by pre-Omega K standards for the last century. With proper funding and research aid from both Prometheus Labs and Marshall Carter and Dark, this could be expanded to more complex organs or body parts, or even to android carapaces that can be used to house brains and can be shut off at will. A combination of both of your products, if you will. So Young gets up and makes a phone call in the corner of the room. Captain Michaels, what's the, uh, long-term outlook for your condition? And by long term I do mean, long term. I mean, parts degrade, but they can be replaced. Anymore than that, I don't know. I just do what the docs tell me. What sort of androids are we talking about? The sort that are just robots that think good or the fleshy ones indistinguishable from normal humans? Entirely depends on the funding. Ideally, the bare minimum is a carapace that does not require oxygen to operate. This would also greatly help the overpopulation process, as that would mean that humans could live in areas that were not previously habitable, such as the ocean. Do we even have enough metal in the plan to do that for everyone? We don't have enough food or water as it is. So Young Lee returns to the table and places her phone face up upon it. Mr. Jisoo is listening in. Please continue. Oh, I see you've finally worked your time. Pleasure, Mr. Jisoo. Glad you could join us. Continue with the speech foundation. I was told there was a language barrier that prevented you from arriving. Dr. Mesmer looks at Ms. Soo Young disdainfully. In any case, the proposition was simply combining the aspects of both Prometheus Labs and your own, creating androids capable of housing brains for the human population. The market isn't necessarily about the product, but about the upgrades and replacements that would need to be made as it decays, much like a phone, actually. I know you are very focused on market, and I figured this would be a good midpoint for both of our needs, and to address your concern, Dr. Young. Dr. Mesmer takes out her phone and begins tapping. I am sending you an email regarding potential resource usage should this plan go through. This is currently for Foundation Eyes only, until we receive further funding from other sources. Understood. I can't speak for our friends in Korea, but I can tell you that I am, honestly, not focused on the market. I am focused on quality of experience. If you can assure me full customization and accuracy with your little Android project, then I'll pitch it, but that's all. Accuracy being the key word, right, Cassie? Customization is of equal weight. I can't believe you're still hung up about being able to fuck 100 years down the road. Simple things for simple minds. And I will add that we have far more repeat customers than first-timers, in case anyone thinks I'm an exception rather than the rule. Customization is currently higher on the projection table. Being able to look human is less important currently than being able to do certain actions, such as walk and eat and such. Most of those actions are unnecessary, obviously, but considering people still like eating despite their tongues rotting away and their stomach exploding, having those as an additional feature seems appropriate. Dr. Mesmer pauses, looking at green. She sighs before continuing. However, accuracy may be something we can commit to should we get substantial funding beyond initial projections. Even I have to admit that we do have to retain some humanity for this to be marketable. Some? I don't want to see terminators bonking. Thank you for that mental image, by the way, you weirdos. I'll pitch this. Hell, I'll even support it if you agree to put Prometheus' labs in charge of the aesthetic side of this endeavor. Define aesthetic side. What exactly does that entail? Skin, hair, eyes, tongues, fingernails, the works. So long as you don't get those fingernails from Eastern Europeans. Very funny. Is that the Lithuanian speaking or the humanitarian? Oh fuck off. And no, they'd be synthetic, but lifelike, ideally. How much do you project that to cost? The majority of the funding we need is gathered in resources, testing and construction is minimal in comparison. Hang on, hang on. Before we do that, I'd like to hear what the thing with two heads but doesn't talk has to say. That's questions for you, not me. Do not want. Hangs up. He says yes. You do realize I just spoke some Korean to you, yes? Would that not make you immediately think that I could understand basic Korean phrases like I don't want this? Kim is only in charge of Hypnotroline because the project is so easily pushed to the ropes. I'm smarter, more qualified and far more stable than he is. I'll pitch your idea above his pay grade, just as he did to me. We will get back to you on this. Heh. Never thought I'd see the middle finger turn itself around. You're pointing right back at your boss. Well, that's definitely a pleasant surprise. You're sure you have the credentials to do this, Ms. Soo Young? I don't like Mr. G. Soo. I don't like what he's done to approximately 8 million people if that number is still holding. I'll be happy to make the sales pitch. I don't need credentials. I have a more stable product to offer, with hopefully decreased expenditures and excellent PowerPoint-making skills. Green slowly claps. Dr. Young, Captain Michaels, do you two have any opinions on the matter or are you in agreement? I'm willing to let the kid help with the science project, but she'd need some supervision. Our supervision. It's the only solution proposed so far that isn't completely abhorrent. Are we taking a boat? Unless anyone else happened to bring a solution they believe would appeal to us as well. So far as I can tell, it's robots or the sun. I've already stated that I don't much care either way. This life we all have is actually rather fun, so let's stick to ensuring that. It won't be for much longer. I hope no sudden revelations appear if we do this. If there are no more questions, shall we put it to a boat? I. I also vote I. Captain Michaels, Ms. Sue Young, Cassie? I. I can't act on behalf of Marshal Carter in dark. I'll send my I in the mail once I'm back at the wheel. It's a school night and I'm beat. I. Just remember who you'll be trusting the design choices to once you get your money. It's like you're trying to make me regret this. Perfect. This meeting ended sooner than expected, which I'm sure is convenient for those of us who had plans for the night. Shall we adjourn or does anyone else have any final words? Green, you're not actually going to school, right? Hey, Levita Loka. Let's just fix Levita for now. End log. All five exited the conference room in a calm quiet. Lee and Cassie took the first elevator to the lobby, both smiling to themselves. One was much more brazen and smug than the other, but then again, teenagers aren't exactly the subtle types. The other three took a second elevator. Eric and Emily bid farewell in the parking lot as they walked to their car. Back to the airport, I suppose? Eric asked as he slid into the driver's seat. Not yet. We need to head out west a little ways first. Really? Why? Our flight back is in a few hours. I know. We have plenty of time. I promised I'd show your sister something. I mean, I might be breaking a few rules doing this, but the place has been abandoned for some time now. Wait, Joyce blew out here? Young, not as slowly. It's important enough for the airfare. Well, I guess we do have time. Great. Emily started punching in to your dress. Eric pulled out of the parking lot and made a left onto a one-way street. Where are we going anyways? To see your brother. Eric shot Emily a confused look as he pulled up to a stoplight. You know his grave is like two states over, right? I'm not talking about the grave, Eric. I'm talking about the body. Eric froze. He let the words sink in for a few moments. Then the questions came flooding in. Why is the body here? What's there to see? What happened to Tony? He decided that maybe you didn't want to know, but Young wasn't giving him a choice. You know, the light's green. Oh, right. Eric pressed the pedal to the floor, and the car raced towards site 2718.