The Family You Ordered - Part 1

July 4th, 2130

City Morgue

Chicago City, Illinois

United Laurentian States (ULS)

Machinery hummed in the background, pounding through Jacob’s head like a drum as he stared through the window. Sweat pooled on his neck, arms, and chest. His body swayed back and forth like a yo-yo.

A liquid diet can stick with you even when the party is over.

Brain fog and pain battered his insides as his mind oscillated between feelings of hope and despair. The sugary aftertaste of his late-night session with Malibu Rum was no longer pleasant. Now the once pleasant taste had turned into a slowly raging burn of calories and alcohol flipping his stomach like a toxic pancake. Ten days ago, his life changed forever. He should have stopped, but now he couldn’t. 

The cold morgue interior blasted his body with the AC but Jacob stayed focused on the large Observation Deck Window, he could not leave.

On the other side of the glass stood three cylindrical capsules nestled within steel rings and ceramic plating, sitting atop a massive hydraulic platform. A large monitor hung from a wall above the three capsules providing dates and status information.

Current Status: Non-Viable for Further Treatment

Storage Agreement: Expiring

The cylindrical capsules consisted of hardened transparent plastics and glass, with additional monitoring equipment attached to each capsule’s base. Inside each capsule a person floated within transparent blue liquid, one for his father, one for his mother, and one for his wife.

Their bodies looked better than when he first saw them at the hospital, torn hunks of flesh sacrificed on the altar of the Restorationist Agenda.

Scarring was gone, cuts and tears filled in, and his mother’s legs reattached. Jacob reached into his pocket, retrieving a blue and gold flyer he saw at the hospital.

Death Is Not The End… Lifeworks Restoration, Gaia Health Incorporated.

“Mr. Smith,” a voice called out to him. It was Dr. Gina Williams, Medical Examiner, and head of Decedent Affairs Coordination. She stood outside of her office glaring at Jacob impatiently.

“A word please,” she said, motioning for him to follow.

Jacob stumbled forward, swaying side to side as he followed her into her office.

Inside he discovered Larry, an intricately muscled Morgue Technician already in the office sitting in the corner. Larry was reading over a large tome of documents, hard copy instead of on a datapad for some reason, only raising his head briefly to say hello as Jacob collapsed into a chair.

Dr. Williams shook her head as she took her seat at the desk.

“We’ve been trying to reach you, Mr. Smith. Where have you been?” she asked as she sat down.

“That’s none of your business lady,” Jacob responded, his words slurring slightly.

“Wow, okay.” she said, sighing heavily before continuing. “Mr. Smith, I am informing you that we are officially moving your mother, father and wife towards the final stage of Decedent Processing. Their bodies will be cremated seven days from now on July 11th in compliance with ULS Environmental Standard 36.”

“What? Please, no. There must be more you can do,” Jacob insisted.

She continued.

“We can provide their remains to you on the evening of July 11th, either here or at your home,” said the doctor.

“No. Please. Their doctors said that they have low brain tissue degradation after the attack.”

“Yes. Tissue is preserved. However, there is no spontaneous neural activity or interaction with external stimuli. Additionally, their neural network degradation levels are above the threshold limit for initiating the Neural Reclamation Procedure, Mr. Smith.” she replied.

“Please! I can’t lose them. Give them the Neural Reclamation procedure, like it says here.” Jacob pleaded, retrieving the flyer from Gaia Health.

“Binational Insurance will not cover that procedure,” replied Dr. Williams.

“My wife served during the Arctic War. Use her veteran’s benefits.” Jacob insisted.

The doctor sighed.

“Your wife’s veteran benefits will only cover the extended storage they are in now. To even begin the Neural Reclamation Procedure they must have a Neural Signature Scan in the Binational Database, as well as having low brain tissue deterioration and minimal fragmentation to their neural network.”

“What about my mother and wife? My mother was scanned twenty-five years ago when she was a doctor during the pandemic. The Army scanned my wife.”

“I’m sorry Mr. Smith. Your mother’s scan was too rudimentary. Neural Network degradation is above threshold limits for all of them.” replied the doctor.

Jacob fell out of his chair and onto his knees sobbing.

“Please I’m begging you, give them one more chance. I need them!”

“They’re gone Mr. Smith. You have my condolences.” she replied.

Jacob wept.

Emotion spilled out of him like a leaky basement pipe finally bursting under pressure.

The doctor sighed heavily, she was done with this.

Larry the Morgue Technician stood and came behind Jacob, helping him to stand back up as he led him towards the door.

Outside, Jacob saw a woman standing at the observation area looking through the window.

What was she looking at? Jacob wondered before advancing towards her position at the observation area.

He noticed her looking through the window towards the right at three other bodies suspended in transparent bluish liquid inside of separate capsules. A man in his 50s, a woman in her 50s and a younger woman in her twenties.

“Hi,” said the woman cheerfully when she saw him approach.

“H-Hi,” Jacob replied, waving slightly.

“Are you visiting someone?” she asked.

“My parents and my wife.” Jacob replied. “You?”

“My parents and my sister.” she replied, gesturing towards the people in the capsules.

“How are yours getting along?” Jacob asked.

“It was bad, they were gone for a while, but miraculously emergency responders got to them and saw their blue card.”

The woman reached under her shirt around her neck and pulled out a necklace with a small blue card pendant attached at the end.

“I keep mine on me wherever I go now.” she said smiling.

Jacob nodded but his insides twisted in knots, not knowing what else to say as he thought of his parents and wife.

“Doctors got them into storage with minimal damage to neural tissue and almost no significant brain pattern degradation.” she said.

“They’re receiving Neural Reclamation?” Jacob asked, his stomach was already stinging with the spears of jealousy.

She nodded cheerfully.

“Yes. Their Neural Signature scans were done about four years ago, that will increase their odds of revival through Neural Reclamation. It isn’t perfect but it's hope. I’m Tiana by the way,” she said, extending her hand.

“I’m Jacob,” he replied, shaking her hand.

“Are your wife and your parents going through Neural Reclamation too?” she asked.

“No. They were too far gone. The Restorationists got them in the attack.” Jacob replied.

“I heard about that. I’m sorry,” she replied again with empathy.

“Thank you,” Jacob replied. He wished he didn’t have to thank her, he wished he had what she had. Hope.

She sighed heavily.

“It’s been forty-six years since Unification. It’s scary how some people won’t move on.”

Jacob nodded.

An Hour Later…

Jacob sat alone at the bar, nursing a glass of whiskey while staring ahead at the wall behind the counter. Shelves stacked high with Arclight Vodka, green and peppery. There was Union Whiskey 2085, honey sweet with a massive kick. Kestrel Beer, smooth, hearty and dependable.

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner all in one place.

Soft velvet jazz music played in the background. Other patrons moved from the bar to nearby tables, chatting and flicking through the holographic infotainment centers at their tables.

His body tensed with emotion, remembering fishing trips with his father and snowboarding trips with his mother. Before the attack he and his wife Naomi planned a trip to Maui, they had just renewed their passports. Their future was gone.

“Careful, that’ll kill you.” said a smooth lilting soprano voice.

Jacob looked up, the bartender stopped behind the bar in front of him, wiping glasses from a nearby counter. 

“We’re all going to die,” Jacob replied.

“People usually come to this bar to celebrate.” she replied.

“Didn’t mean to kill the vibes,” replied Jacob, downing his glass and reaching to the bottle for a refill.

The bartender turned towards the service island behind the bar counter. In moments she returned and placed a cool glass of water on the counter near Jacob’s hand.

“I didn’t order that,” he replied.

“No. But you need it,” replied the bartender.

Jacob decided not to argue, he grabbed the glass and took a sip. The coolness of the water helped with the throbbing headache.

“So why aren’t we celebrating?” she asked.

“It’s hard to celebrate when you’ve lost everything.” Jacob replied.

“Hmm. You know when I was a little girl, I would pray to God to make things better.”

“I’m sure that worked,” Jacob said sarcastically, making circling gestures at the interior walls of the bar.

She chuckled.

“This bar is the good part. It came after I seized my will and then I regained my power. I stopped hoping, stopped running and I started doing.”

“Nietzsche would be proud. After all, God is Dead.” he replied sarcastically.

“That’s not what he meant.” she replied.

“Sure, it is,” Jacob retorted.

“I think he would say… Mourn the past. But then create new answers when the old ones no longer fit. All I’m saying is, don’t drink yourself to death. Not here, not anywhere.”

“Or what? You’ll miss me?” Jacob replied.

The bartender smiled. “He might.” said the bartender gesturing behind him.

Jacob looked back. A man in a sharply tailored black and grey suit was making his way towards the bar, his eyes fixed on Jacob, an overcoat draped on his arms.

“Mr. Smith,” said the man in a calm, almost sultry way. “Good to see you. I was told I could find you here.”

“I’m not interested buddy,” replied Jacob.

“My wife will be relieved.” replied the man as he sat down at the bar, placing his coat on a chair next to him.

“Look man, I just want to be left alone,” said Jacob.

“Being alone doesn’t suit a man, neither does living without a family.” the stranger replied.

Jacob turned in his seat, locking eyes directly with the stranger.

“Who the hell are you?” he demanded. His insides clenched with burning anger and annoyance.

“I’m Dr. Henry Almeida Shaytan, and I am here to make you an offer.” The doctor glanced at the bartender who nodded and began to move off to the other side of the bar.

“Offer?” Jacob replied, not knowing how to respond.

“The Morgue is wrong. Neural Reclamation will work; I can bring back your family.” said the doctor.

“But they told me it wouldn’t work.” said Jacob.

“They lied to you.” replied the doctor.

“What?” said Jacob.

“People at the top tell this lie so that the masses stop asking for what they deserve. You could have children with your wife, like you both intended.” said the doctor.

Jacob shook his head.

“Is this a sick joke? I’m not playing along.”

The doctor shifted closer towards Jacob.

“It’s real Jacob.” The doctor pulled a card from his breast pocket and placed it on the counter near Jacob. 

Jacob picked up the silver metallic card. Etched on the card was an image of a dove grasping the sun. The words Lazarus Initiative embossed in the center, below it the name Dr. Henry Almeida Shaytan, Abbadon Incorporated.

In the lower right corner of the card was a raised gold diamond shaped button. Pressing the button and holding the card near your Echobud called or messaged the person immediately.

“What would I owe you for this?” Jacob asked.

“Nothing monetary, but we would require a favor.”

“Of course,” Jacob sneered.

“They’re cremating your family in several days. What do you have to lose?” replied the doctor.

Jacob sighed. It was probably illegal. So what?

“What do you want me to do?”

Dr. Shaytan smiled.

“You have a background in IT and Cybersecurity.”

“Yes,” Jacob replied.

“Keep the card, I’ll be in touch,” said the doctor.

Later that Night…

City Morgue

After breaking the window Jacob slipped into the Morgue basement work office. Nobody there.

He stepped lightly out of the basement office and headed down the corridor towards the staircase leading up to the observation deck and offices on the next level.

A part of him wondered if he would feel guilt for what he was about to do.

He ascended the stairs to the next level. The moment he reached the next level, he froze, his ears picking up footsteps and the whirring motors of a maintenance bot advancing towards him.

Breathing heavily Jacob moved quickly towards Office 17. His breathing eased when he reached the office door, quickly opening it with a spoofed keycard. He went inside, closing the door softly before ducking under a desk.

Moments later a hand reached and grabbed the office doorknob. The door was locked and did not open. Apparently, that was the only check the security guard needed. They moved on down the corridor, the maintenance bot following.

Jacob waited until their sounds disappeared in the distance and then he rose and went towards the computer on the desk.

From his sling bag he took out a cubed device and plugged it into the computer interface. The interface opened and he began to search.

Eventually Jacob found two applications in two different parts of the computer’s storage. One of the programs was marked by a red Plus Icon, the other program marked by a green Plus Icon.

He opened the programs side by side. Doing a search, he found his parents’ and his wife’s files under the Red Plus Program. He selected their files and dropped them into the Green Plus Program.

The Green Plus Program updated ending in a dialog prompt, stating, “Patients Approved for Neural Reclamation”.

A pit formed in his stomach when he went back into the Green Plus Program and found the names he was required to remove. Ola Okeke, Diana Okeke, and Ayana Okeke.

He selected the names and prompted the program to delete them. A large dialog prompt box appeared asking if he was sure and asking for ID Clearance.

Guilt? Why should he feel guilty? These people were basically dead, he was just keeping them that way.

Jacob entered the ID he had been given and then deleted the names from the Green Plus program. A large sense of relief filled his body. His part of the deal was done, and it was easy.

Next Day

City Morgue

Chicago City, Illinois

July 11th, 2130

Jacob entered the morgue and ascended the stairs towards the observation deck. His breath caught and his insides shook with anticipation and something he hadn’t felt in weeks, hope.

When he reached the Observation Deck Level, loud yelling and desperate screams deafened his thoughts. Tiana, the woman he had met before, was now in a desperate rage, flinging a datapad and documents at Larry and other Morgue attendees who were trying to calm her down.

“They were scheduled for Neural Reclamation! I have the papers right here! What is this!” she yelled.

“Miss Okeke please try to calm down,” cautioned Larry.

“Don’t tell me to be calm! You’re trying to kill my family!” she yelled.

“I’m sorry ma’am, but they were misdiagnosed.” Larry said as he inched closer to her.

“No! Stay away from me!” Tiana’s eyes locked onto Dr. Williams who had stepped out of her office.

She rushed towards the doctor. Larry stepped in between them, keeping Tiana back.

“Gina, they’re trying to take away my family! What’s going on? You told me they were good for Neural Reclamation, you signed the transfer yourself!” Tiana pleaded.

Dr. Williams sighed, looking to the side, not eager to answer.

“Please, Gina. I need them, they’re all I have left.” Tiana said repeating her pleas.

Dr. Williams finally responded.

“I’m sorry, Tiana. All the doctors from the hospital who observed your parents and your sister are reporting a misdiagnosis. Neurologists at the Terry Fox University Hospital in Toronto confirmed the same thing. They don’t qualify for Neural Reclamation and all of the medical charts and data they sent me were based on faulty information, and faulty science.”

“No, no.”

“I’m sorry Tiana. There’s nothing else I can do. Larry will see you out.”

Larry seized her by the shoulders and began to lead her toward the exit.

Tiana’s anger failed and gave way to grief and remorse; she couldn’t fight any more as they took her away.

Jacob ducked behind a nearby plant, partially obscuring himself as she passed by.

Once she passed, he advanced towards the Observation Window. Relief came over him when he gazed at the bodies of his father, mother and wife Naomi. A monitor above their capsules with a simple message read, “Updating Status.”

“Mr. Smith,” said Dr. Williams.

Jacob turned. The doctor advanced towards him, glaring at him suspiciously as she glanced out towards the capsules holding his family.

“I am required to inform you that your family has been removed from Decedent Processing. They will not be cremated at this time; their status is being updated.” Her voice was tense and controlled, it sounded like she was trying to suppress her anger.

Did she know?

It was time to go.

45 Minutes Later…

Jacob exited the driverless Honda Sprite and began walking towards his apartment complex. He paused as his Echobud pulsed in his ear. He tapped the button.

A bright Augmented Reality Screen appeared in the air in front of him with a new unopened message. He lifted his hand and tapped into the air onto the message.

The message opened, “Welcome to Project Lazarus. Neural Reclamation Has Begun, for patients 0180 Josiah Walker, 0285 Marie Walker, and 0305 Naomi Smith. Healing Our Family and Yours, Abbadon Incorporated.”

Jacob smiled. Things were finally changing.

The End…