The White Singularity: A Choose Your Own Adventure

CHAPTER 18: Transformation

"Living completely underwater would be too much of a culture shock," you say with an embarrassed laugh. "I think I'd rather stay more like the way I am now, thank you very much."

Zell tilts her head. "Personally, I think it would be interesting to breathe through gills, but I don't want to force my husband out of his comfort zone," she says with a grin. "We'll stay on the islands."

Eco nods. "Excellent. Your assimilation into our culture will be much faster once you're more like us. When would you like to start?"

Zell frowns. "Would it be safe to proceed despite my pregnancy? Maybe we should wait until I've given birth so there won't be any risk to the baby."

"There'll be no risk," the Praetor promises. "In fact, it might make it easier for your child, as the procedures and hormonal treatments will change her into a full-blown Atlantean islander even before she is born."  

"Oh, okay," Zell says. "In that case..."

"Where do we do it?" You ask, trying to rein in your excitement.  

"The clinic is in this very building," Eco says, smiling,  "Come, let's go there now."

You follow her out of the viewing chamber and down a hallway into a futuristic room with a few cocoon-like beds surrounded by all sorts of monitors and glowing machines. Three Atlanteans, two men and a woman, garbed in silver overcoats stand around with a clinical air, and you know instantly that they are this society's equivalent of doctors.  Eco quickly introduces them as Shein, Cal, and Mira. Cal, the most senior one--although only his air of authority distinguishes him from the others, as they all appear equally youthful--gestures towards the beds.  

"Please lie down, both of you," he says soothingly.  

You hug your wife impulsively, and she squeezes you back hard.  

"This is all happening very fast," she whispers in your ear.

"I know," you say. "Are you sure you want to go through with this? We can still back out if you're not sure. We can just tell them we'll stay as we are, short eighty-year lifespan and all."

Zell laughs shakily. "What's the point of staying if we don't take every advantage we're offered? I want to go ahead."

"Okay, if you're certain." You give her a final kiss and help her onto her bed. You watch with a twinge of anxiety as it slowly envelops her. She smiles at you reassuringly before her face and entire body are entirely hidden from view. One side of the tube lights up with a mass of scrolling readings you don't understand. Two of the doctors pore over it and start making lightning-fast adjustments to the control panels. You feel slightly reassured by the fact that they seem to know exactly what they're doing.  

"It's your turn," Eco says.  

You sit down on your bed and look up at her. How long will this process take?"

"Just a few hours. You'll be asleep the whole time. You won't feel a thing."

"And when I wake up," you say slowly, "I'll be like you?"

"Well, there will be a few differences, seeing as you weren't born here. But in the end, you'll be more like us than the people you left back home."

"I see."  You take a deep breath. Well, here goes nothing."  You lie back and close your eyes so you don't see the walls closing over you, triggering an attack of claustrophobia. You can hear it, though: the soft, hissing sound of glass and metal panels sliding shut. If you have any second thoughts, it's too late to do anything about them now.  

You hear a soft, pleasant voice in your ear.

"Please count back from ten."

"Ten," you say obediently. Nine, eight, sev..."

Before you can finish, everything fades away.  

TURN TO CHAPTER 19.