Chapter 2 - The Surgery

Countless reporters were sitting in their chairs, and they all turned to look at him. He hesitated a little and began walking to the stage where a few of his colleagues stood. After coming up the stage he coughed. After getting the silence from the reporters, he started to talk. 

"Hi, everyone. First, I thank you for all of you coming to this press conference. Today will be an especially important day for humanity because we as the science team of Cognicore Group made a breakthrough on what was deemed impossible ten years ago. However, before talking about today's news I have things to talk about. 

My name is Gunes Bulut, and I am sixty years old. I spent my entire life from 15 to 60 researching AI, chip design, and implantable brain–computer interfaces. When the catastrophe struck in 2080, I was thirty years old. As a result of a virus all public AI systems went rogue and started a killing spree. Millions died that year. 

Fortunately for us, I was working on analog CPU-assisted AI at that time and our AI was immune to the maliciously released virus. And with their help, we managed to curb the uprising. With their help, we were able to contain public order by not letting highly AI-dependent infrastructure crumble into pieces. Although their abilities were purposefully crippled, we continued to colonize space and celestial bodies with their help. And here is my AI assistant, my friend Beyaz who was always with me during my harsh days." Gunes showed Beyaz who is now projected on the stage as a digital avatar. 

Beyaz bowed his head a little and smiled. Gunes started where he left off "His help was irreplaceable during this monumental project. As you all know I spent my twenty years after catastrophe on perfecting the analog chips today powering AI`s. however, I started working on an entirely different project ten years ago. As you all know we humans are not any weaker than AI in terms of intelligence. What makes them more competent than us are their ability to multitask and Their ability to high input/output.

We all wanted to gain this ability ourselves by enhancing and enriching the ability of our brains by brain–computer interface, however, we have been unsuccessful until now. Yes, what you have guessed is true. We did it. We built an implant linking the human brain with an analog-digital hybrid computer by artificially grown neurons. They are also genetically altered to provide computer power through biological processes. With this biocomputer, you can multitask like an AI, upload or store your memories, or you may download information not just on the computer but also on your brain. What you can do is simply limitless. Well, I have finished today's speech if have any questions please free to ask my colleagues here. I bid you farewell." After saluting the reporters, he exited the salon.

Although they tried to stop and ask him questions, he didn't want to stay there one minute more. He called the CEO and asked, "How was it?"

 "It was good, but you gave a history lesson. What a long introduction you made there" replied Mr. Park with a slightly irritated tone.

"It was you who pushed me there and this is how I do things. Anyway, I need your permission to place an implant in my brain." Gunes chuckled.

"Are you crazy? You did not even do any human tests! What is the rush?" Mr. Park erupted.

"I trust my work. It will work. Do not worry. I always wanted to have that kind of capability."

Mr. Park sighed "Do what you want. I will let them prepare for surgery."

"Thanks. Bye." Gunes ended the call and began to walk towards his boat. 

The surgery will be on station number 3. It is one of the Cognicore group`s stations in Middle Earth orbit. Generally, health-related research and businesses are all in that station. After the colonization of space, many huge commercial companies started to open space stations in orbit whether for tax-related or state regulation-related reasons. Although they are not completely out of the law, the law is still very lax for businesses in space. For all these reasons Cognicore too has a couple of stations in Earth orbit.

After getting to the station, Gunes started to get ready for surgery. After getting all the Pre-surgery checks done in three days, he has gone to the surgery room. He saw doctors and one AI-operated five-armed robot. Before the catastrophe, there would just be a robot and no one else, however now there are an additional three doctors. One of the doctors came near and started to talk.

"Hi, Mr. Bulut I am your doctor for this operation. The operation will last 28 hours. After that, you will be under care for five days. After all signs look good, you can activate the implant. However, you can only use the information download or upload feature. For the multitasking module, you need to get used to the implant gradually in one year."

"I know, I know. It is me who wrote all of these." Gunes said impatiently.

"Then let's begin the procedure," the doctor replied. 

After lying down, with the humming of various gadgets and the slight noise of robot arms moving Gunes started to lose consciousness. After a while operation started. 

Two days later Gunes gradually started to regain his consciousness. Although his head still is a little bit groggy, he can feel a different part in his senses. It is as if he suddenly has one more extra arm he can control. It is a foreign feeling. It will take a while to get used to this feeling. After a while, he noticed his doctor. He must have come after he woke up. 

"Good morning Mr. Bulut. How are you feeling?" asked the doctor.

"I do not feel anything abnormal. How was the operation?"

"Operation was successful, and your implant is working as intended. Your body seems getting better too. You can be discharged after three days." Doctor said.

Gunes sighed in relief. Although he knew the failure rate was slim, it was still a little too adventurous for him to get the implant this impulsively. 

After three days Gunes got discharged. There are still fourteen days till Diana`s project ends if the test ends successfully. He and Diana are head scientists of two most important projects of Cognicore. He is working on a brain-computer interface. Diana on the other end working on a project where they are trying to break the space-time continuum. Near the end of 21. Century theoretical physicists made a groundbreaking discovery. In certain conditions, it was possible to break the space-time continuum. Right now, we do not know what is going to happen when the continuum is broken. We may even open a window to another universe, who knows? Anyway, he is going to use this time to work on his implant.