Elysium Chapter 1

Maeve uses a digital afterlife service provider; 'Elysium'. This follows her journey.

"You ready?"

          Maeve looked around the room. There was an unbearably loud silence to the place. Her senses seemed heightened. This was it, here she was, laying in an Elisyum bed, the foreboding white curved pillars either side of her head, primed for activation at the press of a button clasped in her failing hand. Maeve turned to her partner. "Juno, I ..." Maeve took a moment to find the right words. " I don't know if I want to go through with this."

          Juno stroked Maeve's hair. "Babe you don't have to do anything, you don't want to do," Juno's face twitched a little struggling to maintain her composure. "If you want to just... go home, we can, but I thought this was what you wanted , babe?"

          Maeve glanced at the pen shaped button in her hand. "I...how... Will I be me , if I go through with this?"

          "Well, babe, that's the billion dollar question." Juno looked at the pillars, then back at Maeve. " In a moment that machine will digitize your brain, your memories, everything in here." She gave Maeve's temple a little tap. "Everything that makes you, you, babe." Juno paused and it was her turn to search for the right words. "This conversation we're having right now... she'll remember it, that is to say; you will, a version of you. It'll be a seamless process for your digital clone. Is that you? I don't know, was Kirk still Kirk whenever he was transported on that show or did those teleporty things kill him and just create a clone of him with his memories?"

          Maeve clutched her locket with her free hand. "I like to think Kirk was still Kirk...Wi...Will you visit me?" Maeve trembled slightly; fearing this might be the last time she would ever see her partner.

          "You couldn't stop me. I'll visit Elysium every day."

          The two kissed in the physical world for one last time as Maeve's clasped hand shook, through tears, she squinted at Juno. Her eyes were the same brilliant hazelnut jewels that had captivated her the very first time they met.

          "I love you." Maeve pushed the button.

***

          Maeve was 14 again; at the dentist's. She had been climbing a tree and had fallen a week ago. One of her last baby teeth had been damaged and had to be removed. The mask felt strange on her face. The dentist asked her to count back from 10. The world began to blur as she sunk into a dream-like state to the backdrop of hissing from the gas canister.

          She was 20; driving a friend home from the trading card shop. A car had given way at a junction in a quiet neighbourhood but as she was passing a second car had come up from behind the one giving way then at speed jackknifed into the side of her vehicle. She remembered the smell of gunpowder from the airbags deploying, panicking that the car was on fire. Only later would she learn that's how airbags inflate so quickly. She was crawling out of the car trying to call for help but unable to catch her breath as the shock overcame her. Again, sinking into unconsciousness.

          She was 26. She had driven for hours to Gatwick. Juno was finally coming over to stay with her while she finished her education but customs had held her. Why? For telling the truth.

          "What's the reason for your visit?"

          "I'm staying with my fiance for a bit; we're going to get married one day."

          "Entry denied."

          She was inconsolable; crying in the lobby divided by a wall from the woman she loved. Not even allowed to see her. She cried herself to sleep that night.

          She was 30. The madness was over. She and Juno were finally together. The world had been a little less dark and hope springed eternal.

          She was back in the present still in her hospital gown sitting in a brilliant white waiting room of some sort. 'Elysium' was written in a basic font on the wall in front of her. The single door to the room behind her opened.

          "Hello, Maeve."

          Maeve swivelled round to see a tall woman in a white dress suit holding a tablet with a kindly slight smile on her face.

          "Welcome to Elysium."

STATIC

Elysium Chapter 2  (13+) Maeve uses a digital afterlife service provider; 'Elysium'. This follows her journey. #2339907 by M