Cyberpunk: Ultimate Cyborg System-Chapter 537: Brain.
"Anyway, the thing with souls is that they have a shape."
"No shit?"
Dante squeezed his eyes shut, pressing his mouth into a line as he held back his temper.
"Souls have shape, and that shape matches the shape of the bodies they inhabit,"
"Are you going on about the vessel theory?"
"The what?"
"The body is a vessel that contains the soul, and if that vessel changes or gets damaged, the soul leaks out, and you die," taking a puff from his cigarette, Larry added. "That’s the vessel theory."
"... so you knew already?"
Dante suddenly felt exasperated. Of course, he knew. Larry was one of the most accomplished bionic surgeons in the world. If anyone knew about something like that, it would be him.
"It has been a popular theory a while back, though it had died out a while back since..."
Pausing, the doctor turned to him with narrowed eyes.
"What? Are you finally going to accept it?" Dante smirked.
"No, it just occurred to me that you’re talking like one of them Gear cultists," Larry said. "Don’t tell me you were going to say something about CDR being a result of the soul not fitting the altered vessel."
"Man, you’re making this really difficult for me," Dante said, rubbing the back of his neck. Explaining something you think only you knew, just to realize the listener was an expert was embarrassing, to say the least. "What does this have to do with the cultists, anyway?"
"It’s one of their main beliefs," Larry replied.
"Damn..."
The Gear Cult has been on Dante’s mind for some time now, mainly because he wanted to get more of their white androids. He was also concerned about the rumor Larry told him about before, but he didn’t think he would have the chance to investigate it any time soon.
"Mind skipping to the end, please?" The doctor said. "I really don’t like talking about this stuff."
Drawing his brows together in a frown, Dante paused to gather his thoughts, having trouble remembering what he wanted to say.
"Well, I have been thinking about how only my brain would remain once I’m a full cyborg."
"If you make it that far, sure," Larry said.
"No, I have no doubt about it." Dante looked down at his hand. "We have already crossed the line. I doubt ripping off my legs will be the last straw."
Larry chose to hold back on the snarky remarks this time, returning his gaze to the ceiling as if it was far more interesting than the conversation they were having. A few seconds later, he tapped the small ashtray on his desk and sighed.
"So? Don’t tell me you’re having second thoughts now."
"No, not really," Dante replied. "I was just thinking if I really need my brain."
The statement must have been quite shocking, going by the doctor’s sharp inhale, which caused him to swallow the cigarette he held in his mouth. He went into a coughing fit for a while, but even then, he kept trying to fix Dante with a glare.
Opening his storage, Dante selected a water bottle and dropped it on the Doctor’s desk. Larry took it, ripped the cap off, and downed several gulps. Only then did it look like he was going to calm down.
"If... it I hadn’t cracked your skull... myself, I... wouldn’t believe that you had a brain... to begin with!"
"I know it sounds crazy, but-"
"But what!? Did you think you could just swap your brain like you swapped your kidneys?"
"Well, kinda?" Dante shrugged. "I mean, I swapped everything else just fine. Why would this be any different?"
Dante’s theory wasn’t as nonsensical as it seemed. To him, at least. He was basing it on the fact that his soul changed shape to fit his entire body, which told him that it wasn’t contained in his brain. With that being the case, wouldn’t that mean it’s possible to keep his soul contained within his body, even if his original brain is removed?
"No, it’s not crazy," Larry shook his head. "Batshit insane, that’s what it is!"
The doctor’s reaction was understandable. There is a popular saying about people being nothing more than brains operating mechs made from flesh and bone. The idea that a person is their brain was perfectly rational, considering what science has proven so far. But Science has not proven the existence of souls, and that left an opening.
[The human brain is something of an interface,] Volcan said, interrupting Dante’s thoughts. [It is the component through which the human soul interacts with the material world.]
’... what?’
[To put it simply, the human brain is the link between the soul and the real world. Think of it like a central processor for an android like Jake. Without a processor, the AI would be nothing more than data. It requires the processor to interact with the world.]
’I get it, but... wouldn’t that mean it’s impossible?’
[With the level of human technology currently at, yes,] Volcan said.
’... wait... are you trying to say...’
[It is theoretically possible, but it would require two things. The first is a processor that can serve as a link between the soul and the real world. As for the second...]
’... C’mon, don’t tell me your data is corrupted or-’
[Unfortunately, the specific data seems to be missing,] Volcan replied.
’Goddamn it!’
[All I can say is that the second requirement is something that stabilizes the soul, allowing it to anchor itself in the new processor.]
Dante heaved a long sigh.
"Did you come back to your senses yet?"
Larry was furiously trying to work his lighter, biting on the but of a new cigarette. One would think he would hold back on smoking after what just happened.
"Yeah, turns out human tech can’t make bionic brains," Dante said. "It might be a while before I can replace mine."
Staring at him blankly, Larry raised his brows, appearing convinced all of a sudden.
"... You know what? That makes sense," he said. "You really need a new brain."
"That’s what I’m saying," Dante grinned, parrying the insult.
"Guess all that alloy is messing with your head," Sighing, the lanky doctor gave up on his cigarette, pressing it to the ashtray. "Fine, I will come to your stupid party." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮
"What? Changed your mind?"
"After everything you just said? I’m definitely gonna need a drink."
