Renewal Eternal

1.0.0: 25 Years Ago

August 18, 2042

Dr. Foli Hamstead stood, back slightly stooped, in a cylindrical room. In his opinion, it was too clean; however, the six people that conversed at the conference table did not seem to mind. Sweat trickled down his brow as his nervousness began to show obvious symptoms.

As Dr. Hamstead straightened his tie, he put on a smile he had perfected in the years since he began this arduous endeavor.

'Perhaps, it will finally be over', he thought.

Frankly, he would be surprised if the men and women in this room took him seriously. None of the others had.

"Ladies and gentleman," Dr. Hamstead said smoothly.His nervousness began to diminish as he performed his act, "Thank you for meeting with me today."

The six men and women began to finish their conversations with a modicum of indifference. The doctor sighed inwardly. It was always this way. No matter the company or government, few took his work seriously.

He had, long ago, come to the conclusion that he was given the courtesy of these meetings due to his long-standing work in robotics while at AMR. During his tenure, he helped to revolutionize its use in every-day life and thus, AMR decided he would help market the product to the business world. Although he found the work degrading and later quit due to it, the contacts he made during that time benefited him greatly.

As he unfurled a folder trapped under his arm, the doctor walked up to the table and began to hand out packets to each of the seated individuals.

"Now," Dr. Hamstead said as he cleared his throat, "In your hands, are my long term plans for the project. The technology that I wish to use in the product has not been invented yet but in twenty years, it will be feasible to build the product."

One of the women who sat at the table held up a hand and cut him off with a sharp gesture. "Twenty years is quite an investment. Our usual R&D projects consist of a ten year period. No more than that."

"Yes, well, this is quite a unique project." Dr. Hamstead said uncomfortably. Investments in projects like the doctor's were always risky investments for a company.

"How so?" The woman said, a curious tone in a voice taut with a regard Dr.Hamstead found disquieting.

"As you can see," he said as he emphasized the packets most were leafed through with looks that ranged from incredulity to mirth, "the project involves elements that delve into a realm wholly untapped by scientific endeavors."

The woman looked down, her blond curls, held high on her head, shifted slightly and the doctor caught a glimpse of a thin, but apparent, scar that trailed down the side of her face.

"Well, this is a surprise doctor," the woman said as she raised her head, a look of amusement on her lips. "We thought you were coming here with the intention of selling a new chip or design but this? Tel-North is not even in the business of..." She snorted derisively, "Immortality."