Dr. Jeffrey Frank, an astrobiologist, received a letter in the mail:

Dear Dr. Frank,

We have carefully selected you for a small group study to participate in a rare trial for The Chip: a neural implant that provides access to all online information and instantaneous interpersonal communications.

We hope to start the first Martian colony with everyone plugged in, capable of instant communication, retrieval, and coordination while still retaining their private thoughts and individuality.

We believe The Chip will be necessary to explore new worlds such as Mars, for which there otherwise would be a low chance of survival for the first colonists within a harsh and scarce environment.

Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

Please get in touch with us if you're interested.

Dr. Kathy Lee, Astronaut, Aerospace Engineer, President / Founder

Utopia Mars—The Future is Near!

Jeffrey hastily signed a lengthy contract, skim-reading the NDA and something about contractual legal obligations, waiving rights, and best practices of space colonization.

Once the trials were over, Jeffery had forgotten he remained implanted for years. For him, it became natural to acquire online information with merely a thought, and he frequently telepathically communicated with his fellow test candidates.

One day, he received a Chip transmission.

"Dr. Jeffrey Frank. My name is Lilly Thomas from Utopia Mars. It's time."

"Time for what?"

"To fulfill your end of the contract. To be one of the first Martian colonists."

"More like dystopia Mars."

"What's that, sir?"

Jeffery carefully re-scanned the contract and sighed. "Never mind."