The Gemini Experiment Read online

  brian pinkerton

  The Gemini Experiment

  FLAME TREE PRESS

  London & New York

  Chapter One

  Tom Nolan stared into his own eyes. They did not blink. He examined his face, a perfect mirror image. It took his breath away.

  The color and texture of his hair was a striking match, blond and wavy. His lanky frame – the six-foot height, broad width of his shoulders, narrow waist – measured up like a crisp reflection. Yet this was no illusion of light and glass. Fully clothed, his double stood in three dimensions with lifelike features and flesh tones. Everything down to shoe size was immaculately scaled.

  Tom reached out and lightly grazed the cheek of his other self. Then he touched his own cheek. There was no difference in texture and temperature.

  “I feel like I’m having an out-of-body experience,” he said. “Like I’m a spirit, looking back at myself. This is completely disorienting. I can’t put it into words.”

  Steven Morris stood beside him in round glasses and a long, white lab coat. “Perfectly understandable. It’s like nothing you – or anyone else – has ever experienced before.”

  Steven had promised the ‘great reveal’ would exceed all expectations. He said even Tom’s own mother would not be able to distinguish him from his duplicate. Tom originally accepted those words as hyperbole. Now he truly wondered if his mother could tell the difference.

  Tom kept returning his gaze to the uncanny likeness of his face. Every physical detail was painstakingly recreated, down to each mole, bump and tiny scar. As he circled his replica, it remained motionless, standing in perfect balance with exact posture.

  “This is the most sophisticated body scan and skeletal reproduction ever undertaken,” Steven said. “The surface material is the most lifelike ever developed from synthetic elements.”

  “It’s too bad you scanned me at thirty-four instead of twenty-four,” mused Tom. “I was in better shape ten years ago.”

  “This wasn’t possible even one year ago. We’ve made giant leaps in science and technology. Then there’s the financial commitment. We have the funding we need, which is a lot.”

  Tom broke his gaze from the replica to look at Steven. “How much did this cost?”

  Steven just smiled. “Don’t worry about it. We’re privately funded by a sponsor that’s sparing no expense to make sure we succeed. We’re halfway there, and the best is yet to come. The team is busy preparing for the next stage. Your twin here is not complete. You know what he’s missing?”

  Tom nodded and lightly touched the wisps of hair that fell over his replica’s forehead.

  Steven began humming a familiar tune from The Wizard of Oz.

  Tom smiled. “If I only had a brain.”

  “That will be the most remarkable advancement in modern science,” said Steven. “The finishing touch in creating the first duplicate of a living human being entirely from technology.”

  “So when do you open up my head?” Tom asked.

  “We’re still a few months away from pure digital cognition. We have to conduct several more tests. So far, we’re encouraged, but it’s not ready for prime time. We have an amazing crew working around the clock. Everything we’re doing is revolutionary.”

  “When can I tell Emily?” asked Tom.

  “Not yet,” Steven said. “We’ll bring her into the inner circle before we start the brain mapping. But not before. Confidentiality is very tight, it’s beyond my control. This experiment has gone further than anything like it anywhere in the world. We can’t risk interference – disruptions – from outside interests. If this project was wrapped up in regulations, bureaucracy and red tape, we’d still be talking about it with nothing to show. You can imagine how quickly it would become mired in political games, media scrutiny and public pressures.…” Steven turned to Tom’s replica and placed a casual hand on its shoulder. It did not flinch, eyes frozen open. “We have to look out for our friend.”

  Tom nodded, still studying his replica and marveling over its stunning likeness. “You know,” he said, “this is the best I’ll look for the rest of my life. It’s all downhill from here.…”

  * * *

  Tom’s world began to change when he dropped a jar of salsa that shattered on the kitchen floor. It wasn’t the first example of his odd onset of fumbling and stumbling, but the one that finally caused him to seek medical advice for the curious disobedience of his muscle coordination.

  For several weeks, he had suffered muscle cramps and stiffness with awkward difficulties conducting simple tasks. He struggled occasionally with buttoning a shirt, twisting a key to open a door lock, and holding a fork or spoon. Then one of his legs started to bother him, sometimes falling out of sync with his stride, acting irrational, as if it was possessed.

  While generally familiar with motor neuron diseases, the thought never crossed Tom’s mind. He visited his regular doctor, who suggested he see a neurologist. A series of tests were conducted to rule out a list of possible ailments. As the muscle weakness worsened and EMG and MRI tests could not uncover any other possible explanation, the words amyotrophic lateral sclerosis surfaced with grim likelihood.

  Ultimately, Tom was diagnosed with a progressive neurodegenerative disorder known as Lowrey’s disease. In a similar fashion to ALS, Lowrey’s disease culminated in an irreversible communication breakdown between upper and lower motor neurons, disconnecting signals that united the brain, spine and muscles.

  Tom and his wife Emily read everything they could about the disease and sunk into an immediate, dizzying feeling of terror and helplessness. There was no cure and the typical life expectancy was three to five years of worsening health. Lowrey’s was attacking Tom’s ability to control movement, poised to gradually accumulate more victims in the list of Tom’s muscle activities including walking, speaking and, ultimately, breathing.

  Tom and Emily pursued a second opinion, then a third, but the prognosis remained the same. They followed the journeys of others afflicted with motor neuron diseases who shared their stories online. “It’s one of the cruelest afflictions,” reported a former athlete on his blog as he entered his second year of struggles with ALS. “Your body atrophies while your mind remains sharp. You’re fully cognizant of everything that’s happening to you as you gradually lose control of your movements. You just wither away.”

  Tom fought to remain cheerful and optimistic, if nothing else for the sake of his wife and their seven-year-old daughter, Sofi. Tom and Emily chose to postpone telling Sofi until she was older and the symptoms were more obvious. They worked hard to act like nothing was happening around her. ‘Clumsy Daddy’ became a common phrase around the house and the extent of their acknowledgment that something was wrong.

  For everyone else, it wasn’t so easy. Tom, Emily and Sofi flew to Phoenix, Arizona, to spend time with Tom’s parents and allow Tom an opportunity to disclose the news to them in person. He tried to remain his regular jovial self, feeling guilty for battering his aging mother and father with such sorrow. “It’s not going to happen overnight,” he told them, holding back tears. “I’m still here. I actually feel pretty good. We’re going to take this a day at a time. They have drugs that can slow this thing down. I’ll be in physical therapy. With so many advances in science and medicine every day, who knows?”

  After completing conversations with close family members, Tom revealed his condition to his colleagues at the law firm where he worked in downtown Chicago. He minimized talking about his disease and instead focused on the transition plan for his clients.

  “Short-term, I’m still here for them,” he insiste
d. Aside from the minor and sporadic coordination issues, he could still conduct his work for the small businesses and nonprofits he counseled. He could even continue some of the pro bono work and mentorships he was passionate about. It would be business as usual until that was no longer possible.

  “Long-term, we’ll work together to move my clients to new partners,” he said. “We’ll start a shadowing process to bring you up to speed and ensure everything is seamless. We’ll have plenty of time to do this right and minimize disruption.”

  Of course, no one at the office wanted to talk about the impact on clients – they wanted to express their feelings about his condition. Tom actually preferred the former, but understood their need to come to terms with the latter.

  His bosses encouraged him to minimize his hours immediately, but Tom desperately wanted to cling to some routine. Also, his family needed the income. Emily worked as a grade school teacher’s assistant, not earning enough to cover the mortgage of their Wilmette home. The life insurance payout would help, but she was still young and there was so much to worry about – including saving for college for Sofi.

  Tom knew he would not be alive to see his daughter graduate from high school or college, or see her get married, and that was by far the hardest reality of all. He planned to create videotaped messages for her that she would receive at each of her life’s milestones – including the birth of his first grandchild.

  Emily turned to prayer. They were both devout Catholics, but Tom’s unexpected fate had Emily searching for answers.

  “Why you?” she said to him late one night in a soft voice. “You’re good, you’re kind, you’re caring. You give back to the community. You worship and serve at your church. I know – bad things happen to good people. But where is God’s mercy at a time like this? How can He allow this to happen?”

  “Life is tragedy and miracles,” said Tom. “Sofi is our miracle. Let’s not forget that. The doctors said we couldn’t conceive and look what happened. The Lord is always present. We will stay strong.”

  Having informed his family and work colleagues, Tom next began to tell his friends. Some of them were already hearing about his condition through the grapevine. He divided the names into categories: phone calls or personal visits, with or without Emily. He went through his address book and built a routine, now able to share his condition in a well-rehearsed dialogue that no longer felt strange and agonizing – it was the new norm.

  Most of Tom’s friends easily followed Tom’s gentle steering of the conversation away from the uncomfortable particulars of motor neuron disease, content with quick references to Lou Gehrig or Stephen Hawking. One old friend, however, took an interest in delving deeper into Tom’s condition and discussing the precise stages of his affliction. Steven Morris was an old high school classmate who now taught at the University of Chicago. They met for dinner at an Italian restaurant downtown. Steven’s specialty area was neuroscience. He was familiar with the latest advances to treat brain trauma victims and wanted to help. He told Tom, “There’s an entire field of study that looks at ways to record signals generated by the brain and turn them into technical commands – for instance, controlling a wheelchair or speaking through a computer.”

  “Can something like that help me?” Tom asked.

  “It can’t stop the muscle degeneration but it can make certain tasks easier. We’re using it with wounded veterans. There are advances in intelligent prostheses – artificial limbs that can respond to brain commands. It’s a growing field called neurotechnology.”

  Steven hesitated for a long moment, glancing around the dimly lit restaurant before returning his eyes to Tom with his voice lowered.

  “There’s something you don’t know. I’m on a sabbatical right now from the university. I’m part of a team working on an experimental treatment. I can’t say much more than that right now. But you – if you’re interested, you could be part of our test. In fact, you’re rather perfect for it. There are no guarantees. We’re trying things that have never been done before. But…we are making advances. It’s a big gray area with a lot of possibility. I’m mentioning this as a friend. Is it something that would interest you?”

  “Sure. I’d be willing to look into it,” said Tom. “At this point, I don’t have a whole lot to lose.”

  “I’m under a strict confidentiality agreement, so I have to ask that you please not mention this to anybody right now. Not your doctors, not even Emily.”

  “I can do that,” Tom said. “I mean, I barely know what you’re talking about.”

  “We’ll stay in touch,” said Steven. “This could be very interesting for both of us. I want to help you. And I think you can help me.”

  Several days passed and Tom researched neurotechnology online. He read about brainwaves and robotics. It provided optimism for retaining some control over movement and activities as Lowrey’s disease shut down the communication between his brain and nervous system. But the death sentence still loomed with inevitability.

  Steven arranged for their next meeting at a restaurant twenty minutes from Tom’s house. When Tom pulled up, Steven was waiting out front. He immediately led Tom to his car. “We’re not staying. I’m going to take you to meet the team.”

  “Team?” Tom said.

  “I’ll explain in the car.”

  “Well, this is mysterious.”

  “Trust me.”

  Tom climbed in the passenger seat of Steven’s Camry.

  Before Steven started the engine, he handed Tom a clipboard with some papers and a pen. “It’s a nondisclosure agreement. Being a lawyer, I’m sure you’re familiar.…”

  “Of course.”

  “I can’t leave until you’ve signed them. I hope you understand. Take all the time you need.”

  Tom read them carefully. He was under no obligation to participate at this stage; it was merely a promise to keep everything he was about to see and hear confidential. It was slightly ominous, but nowhere near as intimidating as his condition. Tom fumbled a moment with the pen – cursed his hands – and signed the sheets.

  Steven started the engine and headed for their destination. During the ride, he outlined what to expect. “I’m bringing you to a facility where we are conducting highly confidential lab work to test the physical integration of technology and human biology.”

  “Sounds very sci-fi,” Tom said.

  “Perhaps. But more science than fiction at this stage,” said Steven. “I think you’ll be impressed. When we get there, you’ll meet the staff and we’ll give you a more complete picture of the work we’re doing. One year ago, I was recruited to join a team of top scientists in their field – neuroimaging, neuroscience, robotics, prostheses. They come from Stanford, Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon and major research centers across the country. We’re independent, fully funded and all focused on one outcome: the technological reproduction of a living human being. Not only physically, but enabling the transfer of mind and memory through highly evolved digitization.”

  “Like a clone?” asked Tom.

  “Not exactly. A clone would indicate a duplication, a set of twins. This is more like a transfer. It involves the physical reconstruction, artificially, of the source to create something virtually identical that, I suppose, could be considered a clone. But the most important part is the relocation of consciousness. Once that takes place, the original source expires. It is no longer functioning.”

  “You move the brain?” Tom began to feel queasy. The whole thing sounded improbable, like an old Frankenstein movie. In all the years Tom knew him, Steven had never seemed crazy – meticulously rational, in fact – but this was mad-scientist material.

  “We don’t relocate the brain,” said Steven. “We replicate it. We penetrate the brain tissue. We pick up electrical fields generated by the brain. We record the electrodes. We fully map the interior. We reimage it. It’s very invasive and creates ir
reversible damage. The original brain does not survive.”

  Tom’s head was swimming. “So is this artificial intelligence?” he asked.

  “No. The intelligence is human and real. It’s just ‘backed up’ to a new hard drive, as it were. The body is artificial.”

  “And this is the experiment you want to recruit me for?”

  “Yes,” Steven said simply.

  Tom couldn’t get over a small but real feeling of rescue. Perhaps God was watching after all and had sent him a miracle.

  “Everything I’ve described,” said Steven, “is a best-case scenario. I want to be upfront about that. At the end of the day, it’s one big experiment. We’re guessing. We don’t know what will happen. And there are risks. This is a delicate process.”

  “I understand.”

  They arrived at a medium-sized building at the back of a dull, quiet industrial park in the Chicago suburb of Lake Forest. The building drew no attention to itself, aside from a plain, innocuous-looking sign that said ‘Perking Institute’. Five other cars were parked in front.

  “Who’s Perking?” asked Tom.

  “Nobody,” Steven said. “It’s made up.”

  Steven led Tom inside. After passing through two levels of security, requiring codes and thumbprints, they entered a long, narrow lab space. The area was filled with computer equipment. Several people in white lab coats came up to greet them.

  “Tom signed the papers and I’ve given him a general briefing, so you’re safe to talk with him about the Gemini Experiment,” announced Steven. “Tom, this is our dream team.”

  “Hello, I’m Alan,” said a middle-aged man with dark hair, a thick beard and heavy eyebrows. He offered his hand.

  “Alan is one of our team leaders,” Steven said. “He’s a brilliant scientist.”

  “On some days, perhaps,” Alan said with a modest smile.

  Tom shook Alan’s hand and met several others in a short receiving line. The team members commented on hearing about Tom from Steven and expressed their hopes that Tom could support their research. Soon, the discussion deepened, with probing questions about the stage of Tom’s disease and current mobility and health. They outlined a potential sequence of steps for the coming weeks, beginning with a full-fledged physical and advancing to a process they called ‘body scanning’.