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I Am Tom
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After months of being on active duty, Captain Thomas Watson was eager to reunite with his family.
Tom felt extra lucky—unlike his subordinates—he kept his original body parts.
Medical science advanced biorobotics to the point that it could replace or upgrade nearly every human organ. It was common to see someone take a risk in the hope of a cybernetic upgrade. Yet, Tom proudly boasted himself as ‘100% human through and through.’
As a medic and Tom’s best friend, Jim promised to keep him organic if anything ever happened, even if it meant losing his limbs, dying, or being insubordinate.
During Tom’s final mission, he led a communications team to set up in a supposedly hidden and undetectable area.
Someone shouted, “Incoming!”
Tom heard a swarming buzz and a loud pop.
A searing pain penetrated his scalp; everything went black …
————
Tom woke up to a light shining in his eyes. “Jim?”
“Captain Watson, I'm Dr. Susan Smith. I'm sorry, but Jim is dead. You're the only survivor of an attack involving a swarm of exploding micro-drones.”
“Give me a mirror, Doctor.”
Bandages covered Tom's head.
“Captain, you've suffered a trauma.”
“Dr. Smith, I feel fine. Whatever you did, I've never thought so clearly, and I remember everything in vivid detail. Did you upgrade my brain?”
Dr. Smith smiled. “The clinic will debrief you after you return home. Recovery policy dictates that those treated for a traumatic brain injury must talk to a counselor.”
“It's because of PTSD, right? So, I'll be fixed after counselling. Fantastic!”
Dr. Smith nodded.
————
During his leave, Tom spent time BBQing and playing games with his family.
One evening, he made love to his wife, Mary.
Mary caressed Tom's face. “How do you feel, honey?”
“I've never felt better—no headaches or pains. My thoughts are sharp, and my ability to recall is incredible.”
“Wonderful! I agreed to the procedure. You have an appointment with a counselor tomorrow.”
“Huh? What did they do? Can't you give me a hint?”
“Sorry, honey. I promised I wouldn’t. Just remember who you are.”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
“Tom, of course. Who else would I be?”
Mary kissed his forehead. “That's right!”
————
Tom arrived at the cybernetics clinic.
He sat in a private room to speak with a counselor.
While waiting for the doctor, he shifted in his seat, glanced around the room, and sighed. He sat up sharply when he heard the door open abruptly. Clearing his throat, he walked to the man and held out his hand.
The doctor smiled briefly. “Hello, Captain Watson. I'm Dr. Frank Gonzalez, but you can call me Frank. Before you discuss the procedure with the other doctors, we need to prepare your mind.”
“I'll follow your orders, Dr. Gonzalez.”
“Captain, please sit up and take a deep breath. Imagine yourself with your family and say the words 'I am Tom' aloud three times. Do this whenever you think about your injury or your recovery. Let's try it now.”
“Alright, Frank. I am Tom. I am Tom. I am Tom.”
“Excellent, Captain!”
————
Tom laid on a stretcher in a lab. He overheard two doctors discuss his MRI scan and mutter something about it being a success.
One of the doctors approached him. “Captain Watson, I'm Dr. Sheila Jung. Your recovery is coming along perfectly. You spoke with Dr. Gonzales, right? Did he teach you the self-hypnosis technique?”
“Yes, Doctor. Whenever I think of my recovery or the injury, like I am right now, I must imagine myself with my family and say 'I am Tom' aloud three times.”
“Perfect! About your procedure …” Dr. Jung pulled up an image on a tablet screen. “Here's an MRI scan of your brain.”
“It’s all circuitry? No gray matter? Where's my …? Do I have any brain matter left?”
Dr. Jung shook her head.
Tom's eyes welled up as he nervously chanted, “I am Tom …”
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He Is Tom
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The doorbell rang.
“Karen, watch your brother.”
“Yes, mama.”
Mary opened the front door. “Yes? Oh, no!” She cried out. “Karen, take your brother upstairs now!”
Standing outside her door, a uniformed officer, and a goateed man in a suit exchanged a glance before directing their gaze back on her.
“And you are?” asked the uniformed officer.
“Mary … I'm Mary Watson,” she replied, gripping the door handle tighter.
“Mrs. Watson, I'm Major Samuel Jacobs. The commandant of the Marine Corps has entrusted …”
Mary nearly collapsed, sobbing, but the Marine officer caught her.
The goateed man stepped forward, waving his hand in a dismissive manner. “Enough of this nonsense! He doesn't have to be dead!”
“I don’t even know who you are! Is my husband alive, or not?” she snapped, stepping back from the two men.
“I am Dr. Ion Ionescu. Mrs. Watson, your husband, Captain Thomas Watson, can be saved.”
“Doctor, you're confusing me. Where's Tom?”
“It's complicated. May we step inside for privacy?”
“Yes, of course.” Mary gestured for them to sit on the living room couch.
————
Dr. Ionescu spoke, “Mrs. Watson, a drone struck your husband on the head. His autonomic system failed. He's been declared clinically braindead.”
“Where is he?”
“His body's in stasis. All I need is your permission—“
Mary interrupted, “Permission to do what, Doctor?”
He continued, “To make your family whole again and to transfer Tom's consciousness into a cybernetic brain.”
“Has the military done this before?”
Major Jacobs spoke up, “Yes, ma'am, on many laboratory animals. Tom will be the first human recipient.”
“A computer brain with his personality, Officer?”
“Mrs. Watson, if I can be quite frank with you, does it truly matter? Most of us have upgrades. He'll be your husband and a father to your children. They need him and you need him.”
Dr. Ionescu nodded. “The cybernetic brain will contain his every one of his thoughts, memories, and emotions. He'll love you and your children.”
“Will he know?”
“Eventually, he will.” Dr. Ionescu stroked his goatee.
“I know my husband. He'll hate what he's become.”
Dr. Ionescu nodded before reassuring her. “I understand. I'm confident our counselors will come up with a coping mechanism.”
The officer chimed in, “Tom's a loyal, duty-bound man. His love for your family will make him realize it doesn't matter what he becomes; all that'll matter is he is Tom, your husband, and the father of your children.”