The White Singularity: A Choose Your Own Adventure

Chapter 21: Mind over Heart

You can't imagine living without your wife.  You just can't.  Besides, the two of you are young, and if your lifespans have indeed been lengthened to 300 years, then you're practically just teenagers.  You have all the time in the world to make more babies if you ever lose this one.  It's the logical choice, although it sounds cold and heartless.  But since you're being forced to make a choice anyway, this is the one that makes the most sense.  

You spend the rest of the hour with your hands placed against the glass, trying to commune with the fetus in your wife's womb.  

I'm sorry, baby, you think over and over, weeping silently.  I hope you can understand what I'm doing.  

Strangely, you seem to feel a warm, reassuring presence back, as if your daughter does understand.  

After what feels like your surprisingly short time, Eco and the doctors return.  

"What is your decision?" she asks.  

You wipe the tears away and square your shoulders. "Please separate them now."

The Atlanteans exchange glances.  "Are you sure about this?" Mira asks gently.  We want to reiterate that this will give your daughter just a 30% chance of survival."

You almost break down again.  "But my wife will have a greater chance of making it through, right?"

Eco sighs.  "Yes, that's right."

You close your eyes.  "Okay, do it."

They waste no time.  One of the doctors pushes a button, and the bed on Zell's left slides nearer until it's flush against hers.  He inputs another command, and the glassy material forming the lids of the cocoons flows and ripples to create a tunnel between the two beds.  The sheets and pillows on the other bed vanish and are replaced by a floating, transparent ovoid that slowly fills with clear liquid.  You realize that it's an artificial womb.   

Suddenly, the lids of both cocoons turn opaque.  

"The machine will now transfer your daughter to the other unit so they can develop separately," Eco says.  "It will take a long time, as it's a very delicate procedure.  I suggest you freshen up while waiting."

As soon as she says this, you realize that you're famished.  You glance worriedly at the adjoining beds.  

"There's nothing you can do for them now," Eco says softly.  "The doctors will take care of them."

"We promise to inform you immediately if there's any change," Cal volunteers.  The two others nod in agreement.    

"Okay, thank you."  You exhale, your shoulders drooping under the weight of your anxiety.  

"Come."  Eco touches your shoulder sympathetically.  "I'll show you to your temporary quarters and then to the dining area so you can get some sustenance.  Your body's been through a lot."

"Thanks."

With a last touch on your wife's cocoon, you follow the Atlantean leader out of the lab and back into the hallway.  She enters what looks like an elevator, except the walls have no buttons or touch pads.  

"We call this chamber a translocator.  Guest area," she enunciates clearly.  

"Guest area," a pleasant, androgynous voice repeats, and the elevator starts to move.  At least, you think it does because you hear a slight humming coming from all around you.  There's no sense of movement at all.  

"Are we going up or down?" you ask in confusion.

Eco laughs.  "Up.  You'll get used to it."

"How many floors?"

"Two hundred."

You nearly choke.  "What? Exactly how many floors does this building have?"

"Three hundred fourteen. A big part is underground." 

Your eyes widen as you realize how tall this building must be.

"Remember that we're underwater," Eco says, understanding your expression.  "So we're not as worried about the structure falling as we would be if it were on land."

"Oh, yeah," you mutter. 

After a surprisingly short time, the doors open.  However, instead of the clean, sterile lines of the functional areas, the hallway here is unabashedly residential.  The walls are elegantly decorated with flowing gold and silver lines, and glass panels are set every few meters, allowing you to peek into the water outside.  The diffuse light is a soft, calming yellow instead of the energizing blue downstairs, and there are even beautiful flowers with heavenly scents growing from shimmering vases protruding directly from the floor.  

If it weren't for the breathtaking vista of the glowing underwater city and the extinct or totally unknown species of aquatic animals cavorting fearlessly outside, you would think you were in a high-tech, seven-star hotel.  

"Wow," you say in admiration and amazement. "We're going to live here?"

"For the meantime," Eco says, smiling.  "Until we can relocate you to your new homes in the islands."

"Right, right."

She directs you to a door with a strange symbol carved on its surface.  She touches it, and it transforms into the number 44. 

"Touch the number," she says.  

You hesitantly place your palm on the number, and it glows softly.

"Bioprint stored," the door announces. 

"You'll be the only one who can enter this room from now on.  Go ahead, try it."  

You put a hand near the door, and it slides open noiselessly.  You peer in.  A foyer leads into a spacious living area with couches facing a panel on the wall that must be their equivalent of a flatscreen TV.  It adjoins a huge dining room and kitchenette.  Two other doors lead from the living room, which you guess must lead to the bedrooms.  Everything is decorated sparely but tastefully, in shades of brown and beige, unlike the bright white and silver in the common areas.  

Eco gestures at the suite, which would be fit for a president back home.  "This will be your quarters.  You can take a bath, change clothes, bring your personal things over from your ship, etcetera.  Once you're done, tell the translocator to bring you to the dining area.  I've already input your name into our system.  You can eat anything there free of charge. Oh, and one last thing."  

Eco snaps a flexible silver band across your wrist, which immediately glows blue.  "If you need anything, just speak into this. The resident AI Atlan will look into your needs. "

You lift the band near your mouth.  "Hello, Atlan?"

A pleasant male voice issues from your bracelet.  "Good day to you, doctor.  Is there anything you need?"

"Not at present." You nod gratefully to Eco. "Thank you for your hospitality."

"Of course.  We want you to be happy and comfortable here."

She gives you a friendly smile and then leaves with her bodyguards.  The door slides shut, and you drop into one of the couches.  There are a few things you need to do, but for now, all you can think about is if you made the right decision concerning your wife and child.  

What if you were wrong?