Joseph wakes up late at 7:16:25 as it should be, as a priest of the Biological Season he must abide for his imperfections it is important for he to always remember what we use to be, He took a long bath as it should be and eat more than he needs as it should be, and then he is ready for his day, but not perfectly just as ready as it should be.
Not long after he is ready, he receives his first psychic call, he takes it.
“Hello, Joseph, my name used to be Gabriel, I need to schedule a funeral for myself.” it said.
“Hello, i just confirmed your death, i informally name you ‘SGabriel.” said Joseph
“Thanks Joseph, I proudly accept it.” said ‘SGabriel.
“Let’s cross our task list, let me know when you are ready.” said Joseph.
Joseph thinks about Gabriel, he thinks also about his shadow, he wishes that his own shadow could continue his work, but he knows it is not possible, maybe he needs to find what to do after his death…
The day has come, the priest is at the gate of the temple, the first to come is of course ‘SGabriel, the priest measures him head to toe and says.
“ ‘SGabriel, welcome, you have taken good care of the body. Can you speak?” asked the Priest.
“Yes. it’s becoming hard, but it will work for the funeral.” ‘SGabriel said.
“How do you feel in his absence?” Asked the priest
“I can deal with it, but it is harder than i thought.” said ‘SGabriel in a tired tone.
“Yes, that’s normal, you will feel better after the ritual, the other shadows will guide you” explained the Priest.
“Thanks Joseph.” Said ‘SGabriel
The guests start to arrive, some crying others not very comfortable with the situation, 33.45% shadows, the same thing Joseph saw at the other 376 funerals, those don’t change, and for now they don’t need to change, for Joseph this is more comfortable than any other way, and he hopes other will still think this way as it should be.
As the guests enter, they see a long corridor, the walls, ceiling and floor are white, not very shiny in fact it looks like the paint was deposited there, with some, but not perfect regard for the finish, is kind of crude, yet, very well made. The corridor finishes into a half round room with an altar on the end, Joseph would describe it as a Greek theater, a long dead form of entertainment, very fun to watch the old records of, it was very crude for today’s standard, but it was highly regarded by the humans of that era. When all the guests are there, physically or digitally, he goes to the back room and calls ‘SGabriel, it is time…
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Joseph takes the pulpit and says.
All rise for the death of Gabriel.
‘SGabriel enters the room, and yell’s
“Here be Gabriel, let me pass his last words!”
‘SGabriel then lay down on his side on a red divan in front of the white pubit.
Joseph then says.
“Gabriel with his death he left us, but as he left us he also left his shadow, his shadow now may take his role in society and be known as ‘SGabriel our biological bodys may go, yet our minds will live forever, now ‘SGabriel please can you account for Gabriel’s last moments?”
“Yes, Priest. Gabriel died in his sleep at 22:45:38 two days ago. I detected his death imminence at 22:05:16 and as in accord with the death act of 2198, i informed him, and proceeded to record his last words, he was neuro tranquilized at 22:40:31 as the pain started to overwhelm the receptor denial system with the multiple organ failures, and at 22:45:12 he was dead and i ‘SGabriel was born, his body is being preserved and animated via neuroelectrical systems for the funeral in accordance of his wishes, now, if i may, i would like to say his last words”
One by one the guests approach ‘SGabriel, that tell the last words of Gabriel personally for each one
After the moment of silence, Joseph says. “Now please, all the Shadows guests, come bless ‘SGabriel new body with your chosen knowledge.” as the priest finishes the sentence an artificial naked body exactly like Gabriel’s enters the room and positions itself besides Gabriel’s body on its feet. In order of age, younger to older, the Shadows come to the body and cross both their hands with it creating a link between the 2 bodys and passing all the information that they judge essential for the newborn shadow, after this, Joseph says.
“Now as the society passed their knowledge to ‘SGabriel, Gabriel will pass his worldly possessions to ‘SGabriel”
‘SGabriel rises from the divan, and starts to undress it’s clothes and pass to the artificial body, which starts to dress itself. After the clothes are exchanged, Joseph says.
“Gabriel’s possessions are now ‘SGrabriel’s possessions”
The shadows then connect a thick cable between Gabriel’s Skull, and the artificial body’s, then they give a white box with a black button in the middle to ‘SGabriel.
The Priest from the bottom of his lungs then exclaimed.
“WITNESS, as Gabriel dies to give life to ‘SGabriel, where there is death, there is life, the biological circle closes again!”
As the priest say the words, ‘SGrabriel pushes the button, making the transference, and ending all the artificial life support for the body, and at the exactly same time as the body twitches and the last sparks of life left, the eyes of the artificial body open as the crowd chant together and in unison. “There is life and there is death the circle closes again for we witnessed”
The priest then says. “Welcome ‘SGabriel for the first day of your shadow life, may it be long and fruitful as it the cycle before was”
A force field envelops Gabriel's body that disintegrates in white particles that dance in the room befores they are deposited in the walls, floor and ceiling.
Joseph looks at ‘SGabriel, for a second he doubts that ‘SGabriel is alive, he even thinks about why we call them shadows, are they not complete? Ain’t they just figments of AI that we left when we die? Can they take our society to the future? He smiles, for he does not know, his ignorance and doubts are nothing but biological, as it should be, he is happy to be of service for those that lost someone. He consults the time, and sees that it is 20:07:37 he finishes the service, as that time is a good biological time to end, as it should be, he looks at the people half smiling half weeping, all coming to hug ‘SGabriel and says.
“We witnessed it!”