OBSIDIAN: Birth to Venus

2120

Jai enjoyed getting lost in the sentient world. It was hard not to. For once, the long life she knew she would live appeared less daunting, less dreary. And, after so many years alone, her body yearned to touch and be touched; to be with her new family and be seen. As the months passed, Joy watched the brightness grow in Jai’s eyes, a brightness eclipsed only by the worsening of Joy’s condition. Jai first noticed it when Joy began sleeping for greater and greater lengths of time. Her quips and loving chides began to stop short, mid-sentence. Jai never broached the subject. She just caught herself holding her breath, as she witnessed her mother’s deterioration. “Time’s slow now,” Joy admitted, with humor in her voice.

That spring, they decided to take a trip back to Napa, where her father had established a vineyard in what ended up being the last few years of his life. Joy loved to walk barefoot along the rows and rows of grapes. “I swear, Jai, my toes know the difference!” She said it in all seriousness. “My toes can tell Napa’s terroir from Bordeaux’s!”

But, soon, Jai had to transport Joy along. To help, Jai developed a new carriage, a personalized travel system that allowed Joy to switch to automated prosthetics for a smooth, weight-bearing ride. Jai’s company had brought it to market and, due in large part to her mother’s unrestrained and honest input, the newest medical biotechnology division was doing well. “There’s no such thing as a bad review,” Joy would say.

Eventually, though, even a short stroll wore Joy out. She had her bed moved to another bedroom, on the eastern side of the estate. It connected to a conservatory, an expansive glass enclosure where she could watch the sunrise and sunset across the vineyard, without making the trek outside. She became increasingly quiet then, and seemed to go on longer trips in her mind.

Jai sat on the edge of her mom’s bed. “We need to do something, Joy. Why don’t you let me arrange it?” Jai pleaded with her. “I’ve found the most capable scientist. He’s just a call away. We can see if my blood will make a difference.”

“No, Jai.” Joy grinned at Jai, who lay down across her lap. Joy stroked Jai’s hair from root to tip and watched it shine in the sunlight.

Jai sat up straight. “But, Mom, you’ve seen it for yourself. My blood’s kept me young and strong all these years. Just imagine what it could do to help you now. You’re not even sick. Your mind’s still strong. My blood could strengthen your body, maybe help you move around more easily. Who knows what it could do? It may even give you another ten years.”

Jai hoped Joy would listen. She had searched secretly for a sentient scientist to help them. Unlike the rest, Dr. Kevin Mace had a particular interest in speciation. Jai remembered the first time she’d seen him, on the cover of Time, with wavy brown hair that fell loose over a disconnected undercut, cropped close to his scalp. A friendly smile and blue-gray eyes made him look boyish, but he was well respected in the scientific community and in the news. Indeed, they’d nicknamed him the Rising Star of sentient science.

Still, when Joy’s health declined, Jai approached him with a healthy amount of precaution. She called him, introduced herself as if she merely had a fascination with his published work, like she was just a fan; she donned her mental cloak; and, she masked her voice. She also placed conditions on her sponsorship: he must never inquire into her business, who she was, what she did, and, most certainly, whether she was sentient or human. He didn’t even know her name. He didn’t care, though, given Jai’s overwhelmingly hands-off approach. Jai had given him an exorbitant sum of money to do the science he wanted to do, satisfied that its purpose was for scientific exploration. It was a dream come true. All scientists would have loved the freedom, to be creative in the lab without having to bend over backwards to meet precise funding requirements, some from institutes with ill-advised directives. With her support, he was able to focus on his research: how sentients had likely evolved, what made one sentient different from another at a mechanistic level. Not grant writing. And, she became the most significant patron of his lab. Soon, he was able to continue working absent any other funding. Moreover, he was not one to sugar coat, embellish, or make false promises. It solidified Jai’s decision to place her trust in him.

“The media has high hopes for sentient blood transfusions. Are sentient-to-human transplants possible?” Jai asked, trying to contain her enthusiasm.

He warned her. “You have to remember that, even between sentients, the body can spurn foreign cells. In that respect, sentients are just like other species. Rejection is always a potential threat, whether we’re dealing with allotransplantation between two of the same species, or a xenograft between two separate species.

“Plus, human-sentient cell interaction testing is only in its infancy. There’s certainly a market for it, with a long list of humans who would like to participate. The problem is finding enough sentients to participate. It’s sad to say, but most in our community care little for the human population. That’s why current studies, at least for the time being, are sentient-specific.

“As you know, not all sentients are created equal. We might’ve ended up in the upper echelons of our chosen fields, but not all sentients are blessed with the same skills. The only similarity among all sentients is our ability to siphon. So, lots of sentients want what they don’t have, and sentients are willing to pay a lot of money for other sentients’ blood. That’s why most private funding is focused on sentient-to-sentient transplantation. But, even there, many factors play a role, and success is never guaranteed. There’s a dearth of data.”

But, Jai had to ask. “What about sentient-to-human transplantation, within the same family?”

“I see where you’re going. I’m sorry to say, studies for interfamilial transplantation are non-existent. What’s common is the family unit being torn apart. Most humans, like my family members, have and will reject their ‘non-human’ sentient. Actually, most sentients I know left home and never looked back. I don’t bear my human family any ill will (I’ve forgiven them now), but the overwhelming sentient mentality is: why expend limited resources to donate our blood to humans, to extend a bloodline…a species…that rejected you, precisely because your blood isn’t like theirs? Now, I don’t share that view, but I can understand where it’s coming from. It’s an altruistic leap most sentients are not prepared to make, not even within the scientific community. The funding’s just not there.”

Jai pressed lightly. “And, what if the funding became available?”

Jai could sense his breath skip a beat. “If a suitable human and,” with skepticism, “willing sentient could be found, I would love to do the transplantation, off the books.” The excitement was rising in his voice. “When can we start?”

“I’ll be in touch,” was all Jai could say, unsure if the human she had in mind would be willing. A week had passed since her talk with Kevin. Now, she looked at her mom, resting in bed.

Joy laughed. “What’s with that look on your face? Now I know you’re up to something.”

Jai took her mother’s hand. “I’ve been asking some careful questions, developing relationships with the right people, privately,” she assured. “I’ve found a way we can test my blood, to see if it’s compatible with yours.”

“Jai!” Joy shot her a stern look. “Not again. Must we fight about this for another decade?”

“This is different, Mom! When we spoke about it before, it was just a vague possibility. Things are different now. It’s been four years since sentients were discovered. Scientists study us now; they can even perform sentient-to-sentient transplants. This is the first time I’ve found a sentient scientist who can perform a sentient-to-human transplantation. And, he’s trustworthy. I promise. Please, let’s try it.”

“No, Jai.” Joy shook her head. “For decades, we’ve worked so hard to maintain your anonymity. I will not have you identify yourself, especially not for me.”

“I wouldn’t have to! There are ways to remain anonymous. I mean, that’s a pro to data sets and double-blind studies. And, just look at how far technology’s come. I’ve been able to remain hidden all these years. I’ve talked to this scientist many times, and he has no idea who I am; whether I’m male or female; human or sentient. All we have to do is send him blood samples. There’s no need to reveal ourselves. Certainly not at this stage.”

“No, Jai.” Joy’s face darkened and the conversation took a serious tone. “Do not forget. There’s always a way for someone to trace things back to you.” Joy had drilled that message into Jai, first, when the demand for sentient testing had increased; and, later, when sentient numbers had increased, and there was an even bigger market for sentient-to-sentient blood transfusions. With so many sentients willing to pay for other sentients’ blood, private and public companies, alike, were eager to incentivize the blood donation process. As long as you were sentient, companies were willing to pay for your blood. They spent millions mailing solicitations to every household, without even knowing if a sentient lived there. And, when the scientific data showed that sentient traits strengthened with age, the demand for older sentients’ blood skyrocketed.

No matter what had happened, Joy discouraged Jai from being tested or donating blood, to anyone, for any purpose. Clearly, her position had not changed, no matter how many years had passed. She would stop at nothing to protect Jai’s safety. And, with a quick pull, Joy pulled the bedspread over her chest. “Now, let me rest,” she said sternly and turned away. Conversation ended.

Jai looked away, exasperated by yet another dead-end. But, she knew better than to bother her mom any further. If anything could match her mother’s love, it was her temper. Joy never raised her voice. She didn’t need to. Her disapproving glares and matter-of-fact pronouncements were nothing in comparison to the anger Jai could feel bubbling inside. And, not because Jai was prying. Jai respected her mother’s privacy and mind-synced only when Joy wanted to be open. Jai had even tried to close her mind, to give her mother some privacy as she’d turned away in bed. But, Joy had no intention of closing herself off. She broke the floodgate, and a river of rage filled Jai’s mind. It was the most expedient way to communicate, after all. The answer was a resounding no.