Cyclops Intelligence Headquarters
District 13, Mazsea, Hatermoor
23rd of January, 2157
08.45 NAM
The main auditorium started to get busy an hour ago. Many people, from politicians to journalists, were seen there. The AI robots that serve exclusive food are going back and forth, visiting them to be more patient while waiting for today's main speaker to arrive. The inaugural public presentation of the world's largest biotechnology company will be held today as proof that the CEO is not just throwing gibberish at the parliamentary congress two days ago as Rachel will present a concrete solution to her scathing criticism from yesterday.
Straight away, without much arguing.
"Good morning, Mr. Philip."
Rachel had come through the guest entrance instead of taking her place directly in the front speaker seat near the podium. She wanted to greet the Prime Minister and his staff first, who had arrived, and surely make some political pleasantries.
"Good morning, Director. It's glad to see you again." Philip replied, certainly not quite in his true sense and purpose. Rachel smiled confidently, "Very well, as it should be. Please have a comfortable seat and enjoy the show."
"Thank you, I'm looking forward to your presentation." Philip closed their short conversation, and Rachel just nodded a little then continue walked forward.
Someone whispered to Philip, the Prime Minister, "She's really pretty but arrogant, very much your type, isn't she?" The middle-aged man then smiled lopsidedly, "Indeed. Just wait for the playdate, " he said mysteriously, his eyes following Rachel's movements, who had now gone onto the podium, accompanied by applause from everyone present.
The presentation began immediately and opened with an impressively charismatic intermezzo. The woman in the red dress is good at making herself the center of attention until people don't blink. Appearance, gestures, choice of words, everything is perfectly integrated.
"In the next five to ten years, Earthlings will no longer need food, water, and oxygen to survive…"
"The Instinctive Cardinal Nutrition Generator, or ICNG-217, is a combination of genes and a microchip that will change the regulation of human nutrition from our central nervous system so that it will be able to produce energy automatically by utilizing reactive chemical compounds that are naturally present in the body."
Different reactions began to appear, followed by a boisterous little whisper, like a swarm of bees discussing in their respective languages. Journalists in various corners of the room recorded without a break the presentation, which they considered monumental in the history of human civilization, while some monitored the public's response on social media.
Despite the negative response, Rachel continued, "This project is not a utopian project..."
The images in the hologram alternated, showing the moving phosphorescent scans of the central nervous, circulatory, and digestive systems of three types of animals. It is clear that small and large molecules ranging from nitrogen and hydrogen combine to form fatty acids, glucose, and amino acids, flowing in the intestinal and blood vessels after passing through hundred circuits on the small microchip.
"Here are the nervous and digestive regulatory systems of hundreds of mammals that have been in clinical trials for two years. They are primates that have a genetic code composition, organ system, and central nervous system similar to humans, so the aggregate statistical results of this study have been validated and can be used in further clinical trials, namely human trials. "
Again, the low noise was heard.
"There's no need to worry because the first human to undergo this experiment is myself, the CEO of Cyclops Intelligence, as well as the creator of the ICNG-217 gene and microchip."
The response now sounds more and more excited.
"I will accept all the consequences and risks of failing the test as the final stage of this project. Then if this succeeds, all of you here can be the next treatment recipient."
The round of applause was heard for the first time, causing Rachel to return her formal smile once more, "In the end, one burden in this protracted environmental crisis can be overcome..."
"Poverty can also be reduced as humans no longer need to buy expensive food. Forestlands also no longer need to be disturbed for industrial development and agricultural fields."
"In this way, nature restoration can be carried out with more focus because hungry stomachs will no longer be the cause of ramifications of priority policies."
"That's all that I can deliver to you. Now we're entering the discussion session."
****
Primate Testing Laboratory, Cyclops Intelligence
District 13, Mazsea, Hartermoor
23rd of January, 2157
01.45 NAM
For the last five minutes, Rachel had been standing in front of the large glass wall that separated the control area from primates in the quarantine room. Now and then she smiled, as soon as her eyes met the eyes of a primate hanging from a tree near the glass wall. The primates were so adorable that Rachel even wanted to hug them if she dared.
"How long will you fall in love with an orangutan instead of a male?"
Someone interrupted, making the woman turns her head slightly, "Anyone who does not fall in love with them lacks the soul of an art."
"Soul? Art?" She inquired briefly, "Since when did you appreciate art? Your life isn't even that different from Tenor and Bass."
Rachel didn't answer. Indeed, that's true. Art is a word that she rarely used, but now, Rachel thinks it was because of that wise man again. Damn, those impressive words in congress seem like never left her mind.
Rachel took a deep breath, then left the quarantine to the neurology room. Lore followed her, either out of a job or waiting for the right moment to speak. "I think your presentation received a lot of responses, mostly positive. Social media is buzzing, everyone suddenly speaks like an expert," said Lore.
Rachel responded from behind a computer desk connected to a tens of millions of times magnified electron microscope. "All I care about is how these genes and microchips will successfully insert into my brain stem."
"You already know how."
"Yes, of course, and I'm confident. But with just a one-nanometer shift in the position of the microchip, I could have permanent brain defects."
Lore nodded. "That's why I suggested to you earlier, that the follow-up experiment should not apply to you directly, Rachel. This country desperately needs your precious genius brain. You can't spoil it."
Rachel took some deep breaths, "Where's Lars? I need to talk to him," Rachel asked, since the neurosurgeon hadn't seen for a long time.
"He's on his way, just dissected someone at Seawares."
Rachel frowned, "Seawares? What is that company working on? Another AI project? "
"Yes, it seems so."
"Gosh, what a monotone."
"Well, at least they're working, though who knows when their technology will come in handy?"
Rachel got up from the chair after confirming there was no problem with the adorable primate's nervous system. "Please tell Lars to meet me in the room when he arrives."
"All right. Oh, wait, Rachel!" Lore stopped Rachel before she leaves. "An archaeologist critiqued your presentation today by e-mail. You can read it. I think it will change your point of view and thought a little."