More Than a Feeling

Boston pressed the button that erased him forever.

My husband Dane.

Gone. For good.

If only I'd have been there. In the AI Reality lab when it happened.

Digitization was the dream. The molecular capture of physical cells for insertion into the digital realm. To trans-locate across the globe.

Imagine. Send anything anywhere instantly.

We were using a quantum beam to do it.

Dane nicknamed it Cells Fargo.

Real Lawnmower Man stuff.

We were so close to a human trial.

But we didn't think it through though.

Too excited. Too hasty. Too tired.

I left Dane with Boston. 

He was called that, Boston, because he insisted on playing their classic More than a Feeling constantly in the lab. There was only so many times you could hear it.

I drove home to take a long-overdue shower. Grab a bite too and bring something back for them. 

We'd been working for days without a break and the goal was tantalizingly close.

Boston had successfully targeted an apple and digitized it as a living image.

A real apple, all juice and pips, floating in a quantum Jpeg. 

You could smell it.

Boston was so thrilled that he wanted to up the ante.

A lab rat.

Something that thinks.

OK, Dane, I'm going to place the rat into the holder. Take your time with the beam. I don't want to ......

My husband was struck dead centre by the quantum ray. Boston had slipped.

The molecularisation began immediately and cell by cell my husband was removed from our world and transported to the virtual.

Josie, Josie!

The phone call came just as I was about to leave with some sandwiches and coffee.

Josie, Josie! It's Dane! He's gone! I've digitized him by mistake!

Oh no, no, no Boston! Please, please don't say that!

What should I do Josie? What in God's name should I do?

Which programme did you use?

Quantum image.

Jpeg?

Yes.

Then Dane's in a Jpeg on the computer. 

And what should I do?

Boston, you need to isolate that image. You need to clear everything else and secure that Jpeg. You need to check the trash and purge the spam before you start. You need a clear run. Do you understand?

Yes.

Do you Boston? Do you understand that that's my husband that's trapped in that picture? Do you?

Yes Josie. I do.

Then be careful. Be more than careful. I'm coming back now.

Boston was a nervous wreck. His hands were shaking when he sat at the console.

Be careful Boston!

He whispered to himself and searched for the image where Dane was imprisoned.

Josie leapt into her car and commanded the dash to replicate the computer screen in the lab. She could see Boston's cursor searching for the quantum address.

Suddenly, Dane appeared on her car video.

Josie, is that you? 

Oh Dane, my darling, yes it's me. How are you my beloved?

I'm fine. A little woozy. But it worked Josie. I'm a digital print, all blood and guts. It's incredible. You could send me anywhere and I'd be there in a flash! In the flesh! We've done it! I can smell that Nobel prize already! 

Dane, my dearest, you need to tell me where you are so I can tell Boston how to find you.

Just looking at the screen ID I'd say I'm in the spam folder my sweets.

The spam folder? Oh no, no, no! 

What's wrong Josie? 

I told Boston to purge the spam folder first. Oh my God! 

Changing channels with a split screen, still able to see Dane, Josie called Boston.

Boston Boston!

Yes, Josie!

Where are you up to? For God's sake don't ....

I'm clearing the spam folder like you said to 

....... now.

Nooooooooooooooooo!

But it was too late.

Dane screamed as he was deleted.

Permanently.

Much more than a feeling, I hear Dane's eternal agonized yell every second of every day, as I have done these past ten years, whilst frantically searching for any digital trace of my erased beloved man.