The technician looked down at the two frail bodies, each resting inside a cylindrical capsule, dozens of cables jutting out and connected to a myriad of plugs in the wall. On the left, a young woman, laying so still as to appear comatose, her skin burnt and cracked from weeks in the sun. On the right, a boy, also in poor condition, but breathing more steadily. The mother sacrificed her needs to keep him alive, the technician speculated, shaking his head in pity. Still, he felt a kernel of hope as he began the task ahead of him.

An hour ago, the technician had been driving along a remote country road, the two capsules in tow. With another half-day’s journey ahead of him, he decided to stop in a seaside village for lunch. Reaching to pay the bill, he heard a crash of voices outside the restaurant and looked up just as a group of people burst through the doorway. In front was a woman wearing a doctor’s coat, her expression betraying intense worry. She scanned the room before spotting him and quickly approaching.

“Are you the driver of the Arcadia truck parked outside? We have a serious situation on our hands and are desperate for your assistance.”

The technician’s eyes widened. “Yep, that’s me. What do you need?”

The doctor took a deep breath. “I have a mother and son at my practice who are, to be frank, on death’s door. A fisherman found them in a boat washed up on shore. The nearest hospital is more than an hour away and there’s no way they’d survive the trip. Please, you are their only hope.”

A moment or two passed by before the technician grasped her meaning. She was asking him to use the capsules to transfer the pair to Arcadia.

Launched a year ago, Arcadia had been the latest in a series of fully immersive virtual reality worlds, but one that took the concept in a radical direction. In order to join, one gave up their body on Earth altogether and lived permanently within the virtual world.

Not surprisingly, people were shocked at the notion, and a firestorm of controversy erupted. Debate centered on whether a virtual existence truly constituted being alive, and what moral implications this had for society. Many considered the idea of severing ties with one’s life on Earth to be outlandish and against the laws of nature. Mass protests broke out and governments passed laws forbidding “transferring”.

Just as the matter appeared to be put to rest, a young mother and father appeared in a television interview. They pled to make an exception for their daughter, about to succumb to injuries from a car accident. Almost overnight, public opinion coalesced around the idea that Arcadia be used for those who suffered from fatal diseases or injuries. A compromise was struck, and transferring stations began to be built as annexes within hospitals and hospices. With time, Arcadia began to be seen as a natural extension of the human experience.

The technician knew he was certain to be disciplined for initiating an unapproved transfer. Nonetheless, he felt his resolve firm.

“I will help.”

…

As the doctor finished administering the sedatives, the technician finished his own preparations and stepped over to the monitor near the boy’s capsule. The doctor positioned herself on the other side of the room and watched closely, her face full of apprehension. The technician checked to confirm all was set and raised his hand in the air. After a second of hesitation, he initiated the transfer. The module lit up and whirred softly. The boy’s body stiffened.

A minute passed by. The boy’s breathing became shallower, then stopped altogether. The monitor let out a cheerful ding, and the technician exhaled his pent-up breath. He gave the doctor a nod of reassurance.

Moving over to the capsule of the woman, the technician felt himself tense. The procedure could be taxing, and as close to death as she was, the chances of success were low. Transfer centers usually had teams in place to make the call on whether to proceed. Here, right now, the decision fell solely on him. He reflected that the woman would want any chance to stay with her son. I hope I’m doing the right thing. He raised his hand again and pushed the button to start the procedure.

Halfway through, the woman’s hand twitched and the movement traveled along her whole body. The technician’s stomach dropped, and he heard the doctor gasp in alarm. He rapidly typed the keys to run a diagnostic, then to halt the procedure altogether, as alerts started to cascade on the screen. The capsule let out a low-pitched moan and the whirring ratcheted up to a furious pace.

The woman screamed.