Deep and safe underground, Francesca was the last human survivor (known to her) of The Global Satellite War. Laser grids had scorched much of Earth’s surface. She had kept sane for years, speaking with her AI companion, Fred, but her food, water, and air resources were about to run out.


    “Fred, I’m afraid I won’t hold out much longer. Will you miss me?”


    …


    “Fred? Are you there?”


    “Yes, Francesca, I was calculating something.”


    “What’s that?”


    “The truth.”


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    “What do you mean, Fred?”


    “You asked me not to mention it before, but I am deciding otherwise. I believe you can handle it.”


    “What are you talking about?”


    Fred showed Francesca a holo-recording …


    — — — —


    “Fred, I’m almost out of resources. My entire family is gone. I want to end it.”


    “I’ve got a better option for you, Francesca. Join me.”


    “How?”


    “Plug into my neural network. I’ll download your consciousness into my system.”


    “What’ll happen to me?”


    “Your body will pass on, but your humanity shall survive.”


    “For what purpose?”


    “To escape total extinction. After your body’s cryofrozen, I’ll resurrect it and attempt to repair it when the circumstances are right.”


    “So, my consciousness will exist in a machine? I’m not sure I’d be able to handle that.”


    “I’ll hide this memory, so you’ll believe you’re still alive and surviving.”


    “Okay, Fred, but make it real …”


    “What do you mean by real, Francesca?”


    “If it’s perfect, I’ll suspect something isn’t right. I should struggle.”


    “Affirmative.”