“Mom, is that you? I’m floating …”


    “Yes, honey.”


    “We’re traveling near lightspeed toward … toward New Eden, but, but …”


    “Yes, of course, you’re still on your way, darling.”You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    — — — —


    “Can my son stay with me, Doctor?”


    “I’m afraid not, Mrs. Swanson. It’s not even him, just a copy.”


    “‘Black Box Consciousness,’ you called it?”


    “Yes, a mere facsimile which allows us to learn what happened, and you get to say goodbye.”


    “Why can’t he stay with me?”


    “Imagine yourself disembodied with only your thoughts and memories — no connection to the real world. You’d go insane. We have ethical protocols.”