In a small , almost empty room , above a metal alcove lights came on , dim at first , but quickly brightning

In the new lit place machines whirred into life breaking the silence. Shortly after a hatch opened , and a coffin sized white capsule slid onto the metal table.The temperature in the room adjusted quickly , as within the container , a black gel llike substance was drained off, and on a series of lights on the capsules plastic case side turned green . The mechanised sounds of liquid being pumped out were replaced with a more human wheezing , followed by a hacking cough.

A white coated orderly entered the room with a wheelchair , and began tapping a sequence of buttons on the cover of the lozenge . It opened ,and inside an elderly man attempted to sit up .

"Hold on there Teddy" the orderly said ." You need to take it easy"

"I just feel like I was hit with sixty years of aging in about 2 seconds , who is that anyway ,Marcellus?"

"It's Tomas , Marcellus retired two years ago., he was Fillipino too so its ok , easy now , let me help you out, I have your clothes here"

The old man eased himself out , dripping the dark gel on the floor , as the attendant held his arm and tried to help dress him . The man brushed off any attempt at assistance , and started putting on the clothes.

"I'm sorry Tomas I'm usually more observant , I ..well time goes.. look I havent been out in a while" he said , pulling on a grey sweater.

"Its ok Teddy , no offence taken , we need to hurry though ,looks like you overselpt"

"Just Ted , no ones called me Teddy since I was about five.. and I'm not sure what happened , I'm usually fully aware of time , but I lost track of things "

Having finished dressing , Ted walked over to the wall and with his left hand pressed a button , A screen appeared in from of him , a second button press set it to act like a mirror.

Ted looked at his reflection , A shock of stiff white hair , face covered in a course white stubble ,cheeks sunken , one grey eye was clear , where as the other was bloodshot , and had three bone white simplants around the socket, feeling around the back of his neck he touched the round metal socket at the top of his spine , continuing on his inspection he took in the sagging skin on his neck and hands , saw the liver spots on his termbling left hand , and his right arm ..

Ted waved his stump at Tomas

"Can I get something for this?, I dont want to scare my daughter"

"I have a sling here or a I can get a prosthesis brought down"

"No the sling is fine .. I just dont want to scare here , I ..actually ..I'll need to ok some documents later ..so I might need one this afternoon"

"I'll let the office know , anyway we're really late , so ..your chariot awaits"

He gestured to the wheelchair.

Later , as Tomas had guided the chair through the corridors and elevators to a small meeting area .

"So .. are you're a Knight then? I always fancied trying that , armour , horseback fights , dragons "

"I'm not a knight , but I know a few ,you should try it if you ever get a chance, look me up , I'll send you my contact when I'm back online"

"Thanks , I'd like that!..if you need anything , just press the button on the side of the chair .The others should be in shortly.

As Tomas left ,Ted guided himself over to the conference table , and poured himself a glass of water.

A minute later a slim middle aged woman dressed in a simple linen dress ,and a younger man in a suit entered the room.

"Emma"

"Dad" the woman said

"You look great!" he replied

"I .. you look..."she said.

"It's ok , I know how I look, thats part of the reason we're here" he said , pointing to the younger man.

The three sat down around a small table

"Gary here has been filling me in on how this place is set up , how they have the man made island up top and the excavated undersea area for the ...pods "Emma said , with a slight look of distaste.

The suited young man looked awkward but used the opportunity to join the conversation .

"I really , er , admire your culture , I can understand how a life with as little technological help as possible could be .." he searched for the word " ..er ..satisfying , I couldnt live with out the creature comforts myself.."he laughed a little , trying to break the tension in the room . It didnt work.

Ted looked at the young woman ,"Emma , I know you belive in all that back to nature stuff, but , come on.. if I wasnt here ? where would I be , hardly out walking hills and tending sheep or ..whatever you Luddites do ...I'd most likely be on my deathbed in a cottage somewhere , or more likely buried under a tree or whatever."

"Dad , I ...dont really care.. no , sorry, that came out wrong , what I mean is ,this isnt for me , but you being hidden away playing games , you've always done that .even back when you and mum were together , this is just the logical progression.."

"I'm not just playing ...look I've earned this , I've worked my whole life ..I ..and I'm not hiding ..you knew where I am , hell , I even picked a centre near where you chose to live!" The old man was gripping the side of his chair with his good hand , visibly angry .

" YOU MAY AS WELL BE ON MARS! " Emma shouted . " You , know how " she stopped and recovered her composure " you know I made the choice ot to go online , and you never leave your coffin , so what difference would it make"

The young employee , looking more and more embarressed coughed , trying to get their attention.

"Thats the reason I brought you here , "said Ted, "look , I ...I dont want to fight with you especially since this , ...this is probably the last time we'll meet like this ..Gary , could you fill her in"

Gary looked at his tablet , and spoke to them both

"yes I ..er ..Mr Spencer is aware of this , but Ms Duvall, your father's health has been gradually failing , as you may be aware we've treated his pancreatic cancer , and some other related disorders with removal and synthaetic organs , and given the nature of his lifestyle we could continue on this way for an indefinite amount of time , but..".

Gary paused , seemingly to give the woman a chance to react

Emma had been gradually been growing paler as he'd spoke , and looking first to her father and then Gary , said " please go on"

"Over the past few months we've noted increasing synpatic failure in Mr Spencers' brain , given the family history of dementia , and diseases like Parkinsons and Alzhiemers , we're worried that this would lead to damage that we..couldnt repair"

"Basically they can swap out any of my parts except this one" Ted said tapping his head

"Based on this we very strongly recommend digitisation, basically over a short period of time Mr Spencers' brain functions would ..nueron by nueron be rerouted to a ..digital brain ..an emulation ..eventually once his full cognative self was transferred , his physical body woudl be allowed to gradually shutdown , its a process called the Belfast path.It's been around for a while now , and it's very safe. "

Emma looked at Ted and seemed about to say something , but stopped and composed herself.

Ted spoke up "Basically , for me it would mean not being able to wheel myself out to a room like this every so often ..and any contact with the outside world would be virtual ..so ..basically very little difference ..I've checked and there is a fairly easy way to make a phone call , to your settlement , even a video call if you guys ever stop beliving cameras will steal your souls or whatever."

"But you'd be dead ..there'd be a copy of you talking , but YOU , would die though?"

Gary leaned forward . "It's one for the philosphers , as to wether its a copy or real ..and we have a lot of literature on it , scientifically theres a lot of research into the nature of concousness , and quantum entanglement .. I'm not allowed to say anything officially , but me ..I believe that its afterwards , its the same person , that they continue to live "

Ted said " its a gamble , but I've seen what its like to gradually lose who you are , I saw my own Dad basically end up not knowing where he was or who he was in his last days ..either way I've made up my mind ,Emma love . I hope you can understand ?"

"If ..it's its your choice I cant stop you,but ...God! this is a lot to take in !! "

"When it happens , I've already willed everything to you .. I dont have that much, but I've a little saved up , other than a stipend of money to pay for my reant and board here , you'll get any money I have ..hey! since I'll take up a lot less room and a lot less feeding they better give me a discount!" he nudged Gary in the ribs and laughed ,making Gary appear even more uncomfortable than he'd looked previously.

"Under European Coalition law , Mr Spencer would continue to be classed as a citizen, post mortem , but for matters relating to other countries , like say the Central United States , he would have no rights so usually we'd will his ..well himself to you in the agreement , as an item .. I think legally he'll be listed as an application that you'd own , its one of those legal loophole things"

Ted smiled at "The only stipulation is that you give my leftovers a good send off , cremation and scattering in the sea ..And a wake, a proper irish one ..somewhere outside that Ludditite compound on Aran Mor so I can go to it , in at least a screen or as hologram , I dont have many real life friends left out there , but see if you can round up some , and possibly that grandson of mine if?..well ok dont worry about it ."

Gary got up .

If its ok , I'll go and arrange the documents .They need to be signed in person on actual paper ..lawyers seem to hate trees. Mr Spencer , when you want to go let the orderlies know . If you want to visit topside to see the sky or anything ..sometimes people want to look out at nature before they...em ..well if you want to take some time to do that let me know"

Emma nodded , and Gary practically ran out of the room

"That poor guy ...I think it's his first day , I thought he was going to start crying at one point" Ted said.

"Are you ok ? I"he continued " I know this is a lot to take in , but it'd not an end , just a change"

"I'm fine ..look I love you dad , I'll always love you , but .. you havent really been part of my life for a long time , you just sort of drifted , even when I was a kid , and as soon as I was an adult you drifted off."

Ted slumped in his chair , looking even older than he had before .

"I did , didnt I ? I'm sorry .. I just , well I always planned on sitting down and planning on how to change everything and be a better dad, a better husband to you mum, a career that actually meant something ..instead I put everything off and just ..yeah you nailed it ...drifted ..ha! why didnt you tell me that 40 years ago!" he said , trying to make a joke .

"I did dad, you just ..well you just didnt really seem interested, even then " she said quietly.

Later , after the document signing , the awkward hugs , more awkward goodbyes and an orderly getting his chair through more lifts , Ted stood looking out at the sea . His talk with his daughter had left him with a bad taste in his mouth and a burning desire in his gut to try and fix things .His other had always told him " tommorrow is the first day of the rest of your life" , but he realised that given the circumstances he may have left things a bit late...