Chapter 1

Date: 2180 AD. Planet Earth, American Conglomerate, Chehalis WA, Outskirts of Dead Zone - Former Seattle.

Susan

“Susan, the immersion compatibility rate for humans has now reached 98 percent… Susan…. the rate is…”,

“Yes, Aira I heard you the first time”. I responded back a little more grumpily then I intended after waking up groggy from a brief nap at my desk. Aira is my Artificial Intelligence Research Assistant (Aira for short). When the personal AI programs were first developed, my husband Phil, ordered one specifically to help with our immersion research. The fact that it ended up female was because, my husband claims, female voices are more calming to the average person. The fact that he had always wanted another woman in the house to conduct “research” with, was just a coincidence to this fact. It is possible I might have encouraged this line of thinking a time or two, especially in our youth, but let's just say, it was all his idea for now! Despite this, our years that have been spent with Aira have been extremely productive and provided invaluable data. We no longer see her as just an AI but as a valued member of our team and basically a part of our family.

“Susan would you like me to connect you to headquarters of the Earth Immersion Company (EIC) and let them know of our success?” Aria had started to automatically compile the research into a neat and tidy format that could be quickly compiled into a presentation for us, she then brought up the contact number for the EIC headquarters number, waiting for my go-ahead.

I pushed my chair back and stretched. My bones, cracking due to the lack of movement for the last four hours. Yes! Finally, we got 98% for the human population! I could not believe it, I began to twirl in my computer chair as slight tears of joy came. Coming to a stop my smile was so big, and I was so happy I felt intoxicated!

“Not yet. I would like Phil to be here when we make the call”. Climbing the stairs to the kitchen and living area to find tissue to wipe my eyes with. It was a small house with a small kitchen, dining area, and living room we barely used. The second floor had our small bedroom and bathroom tucked into the eaves. The basement was where we spent the vast majority of our time and spent most of our money on upgrading. It contained our laboratory consisting of state of the art equipment, was negatively pressurized and Phil liked to chuckle calling it the evil lair for masterminds. Everything we owned was minimal as it was just the two of us, and most of our time was spent in our lab here or at the local EIC branch. We just had no time for entertaining or socializing or even personalizing our home.

Phil and I had been married now for nearly 15 years. We had met in college and just got married when the Nexit Corporation came to Earth. After the first failed attempt at immersion, my studies in medical-grade neurochemistry and Phils studies in AI neuro-engineering development proved invaluable. After graduating we both landed jobs with the Earth Immersion Company (EIC). We had talked about having children soon after we married but by the time we were ready, it was no longer possible. So instead, we devoted our remaining years in helping to perfect the immersion process in hopes that one day we could go to Nexitus and have everything that was not possible on Earth.

Phil interrupted my thoughts as he entered the house carrying a small bag of groceries. I gazed at him from the kitchen. His hair turned grey long ago and his shoulders now stooped from long hours working in the lab over computers and simulators. Even still it did not diminish his six-foot presence. Hidden behind his glasses his eyes were still their icy blue of his youth. Still brimming with that fire and passion that made you want to be near him. His frame had become lean, his muscles a fraction of what they used to be due to working in the lab for long hours. But a slight gut had formed from all the quick instant meals that we had made so often or had delivered on those late nights after being in the lab all day. Even as he is now, he is still attractive to me.

His eyes met mine and that electric shiver ran down my spine all the way to my toes. The fire in them burned brighter as I continued to stare at him wondering what he thought as he looked at me. My five foot seven, mossy blond, shoulder-length hair pulled back in a clip with a plain shirt and faded slacks under an old lab coat. The same stooped shoulders from leaning over computers. A fluffy curved frame from all the past failed Invertero Fertilization treatments. Eyes a dark blue pool that had dark circles under them, and still puffy from my recent crying.

“Hey, you doing ok? You look like you have been crying. Did another test fail?” He gently set the groceries on the counter and took me into his arms. I snuggled into the warmth and strength that they offered.

“No, quite the opposite,” I said looking up into his face. “They worked! The projections are ninety-eight percent.”

“Ninety-eight percent… Aira is that correct? Did you run the algorithms again? Did you account for…” Josh rapidly shot off to Aria. I felt his excitement increase as his arms got tighter around my shoulders.

“Yes, Phil. All currently known variants have been accounted for. I ran the algorithms again knowing you would ask me.” Aira sounded a little exasperated with Phil’s response.” They still project the ninety-eight percent. Would you now like me to contact the EIC? I need to fulfill my program directive to report all advancements made in the immersion process within twenty-four hours.”

I sighed, regretfully pushing myself away from Phil. “Aira I would like us to have our lunch then we can call EIC. Please send in a request for a meeting as soon as possible and set up a request for an EIC Auto cab to the main office once we have verified the meeting time.” Looking at Phil “Unless you think differently I believe it would be best if we presented our findings in person to the board of directors.”

“No, I completely agree” he replied to my questioning look.

“That can be arranged. I will contact The EIC and set up a meeting for 1500. Will, that be enough time,” Aira asked?

“That will work out fine, thank you Aira,” Phil said in answering her question. Turning to me Phil stated, “How about I start on making our lunch though so you can go and start getting ready. I'll join you when food is in the oven.” With a slight slap on my rear, he shooed me towards the stairs going up to our room. Once we were dressed and ready, we compiled our testing into the finished format for our presentation, while slowly picking at our lunch of BLT sandwiches.

During the hour before our meeting, we talked softly to each other about the last set of testing and our upcoming presentation for the board. Both wondering what could happen and what plan of action will be adopted by the EIC. While I was hoping they would resume human trials, I was attempting to dampen my enthusiasm. Another disappointment was not something I looked forward to.

We were discussing who would be the first to try the new immersion process when Aira quietly interjected our train of thought with a reminder that our EIC A-cab had arrived. She also informed us that she had already had our presentation uploaded to the secure EIC network for easy access to present our findings. We hopped into our EIC A-cab, a nondescript grey vehicle with no obvious driver, and confirmed our destination with the AI driving the automobile. Sitting close, we provided each other for comfort, reassuring ourselves, as we held hands and we started the drive. Driving through the quiet streets our excitement for our future grew, and all thoughts of doubt left our minds as we drew ever closer to headquarters. Nexitus was the future and it was so close I could taste it.