“Mom, is that you? I’m floating …”

  “Yes, honey.”

  “We’re traveling near lightspeed toward … toward New Eden, but, but …”

  “Yes, of course, you’re still on your way, darling.”

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  — — — —

  “Can my son stay with me, Doctor?”

  “I’m afraid not, Mrs. Swanson. It’s not even him, just a copy.”

  “‘Black Box Consciousness,’ you called it?”

  “Yes, a mere facsimile which allows us to learn what happened, and you get to say goodbye.”

  “Why can’t he stay with me?”

  “Imagine yourself disembodied with only your thoughts and memories — no connection to the real world. You’d go insane. We have ethical protocols.”