Divine Artifact in a Scientific World-Chapter 79: Dinner and a wager (3)

"A copy. And what is the nature of this copy? What would you do with it?"

"The copy would be identical to you, the original, in everyway you could perceive. I have a fully equipped lab, the very best equipment I could find. I would have you work with me in that lab. My goal is to develop functional nanotech. I’m hoping to create a permanent cure for cancer and all diseases."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "I must also mention that I have the ability to make certain modifications to the copy. I can ensure that the copy cannot harm me, is loyal to me, and obedient. I’m not interested in filling my soul space with slaves, so I would not use that last option on your copy."

"And what if my copy proved rebellious?"

"I’d delete your copy and go looking for someone else to work with. Though I guess I could give your copy a choice, oblivion or obedience. I’m not sure which would be worse. It if were me, I’d probably chose oblivion."

"What guarantee could you give that you would not turn my copy into a slave?"

"None. Just my word."

"Would my copy be able to communicate with me, the original?"

"Not directly, no. Eventually, we, I and your copy, could work out what, of our discoveries, could be given to you, as long as we can figure out how to do that without compromising my security. Eventually, I’ll start my own research institute. Once that’s formed, I would either offer you a job there, or feed you clues when I can do so safely."

"Yes, I can see how you might be concerned about your own security. I imagine many would kill for your ability. Or kill you to deny it from their enemies."

"Yes, thankfully the artifact has security measures that help me keep it a secret. One of them does allow me to grant a person the ability to remember what happens in side a simulation, or inside my soul space, but it is permanent, and binding."

"Well, that sounds ominous. Don’t keep me in suspense. What is it?"

"Soul Bond. If you agree to let your soul be bound to mine, then you would gain the ability to retain your memories of this conversation and anything that happens while you are in my soul space. The bond has three effects."

"One, it prevents you from harming me. Two, it prevents you from revealing any information about the artifact, its capabilities, or anything that happens inside a simulation or in my soul space. And three, it will cause you to gain loyalty to me at a faster rate, and to a greater degree, than would happen without it."

"However, that loyalty would be quickly lost if I were to mistreat you. It isn’t a slave bond. You retain your free will and cannot be compelled to obey me. If things turned sour between us, the worst that would happen is I would ban you from my soul space and you would be left to live your life as you were before. Just with knowledge you could never share."

She said nothing for a while, then eventually said, "I admit to being a selfish woman. The idea of another me having access to a premium lab and the abilities you’ve described, yet me remaining ignorant, leaves me feeling jealous. And, while this soul bond solves one problem, it creates another. I value my independence. I’ve worked exceedingly hard to get to where I am today and can not imagine giving it up. Even if it would allow me to achieve my goal, I would consider the price too high."

Jack nodded along as she spoke. He understood her sentiments.

"That being said, I do understand your desire to find someone more knowledgeable to work with you, and I believe I might have a solution for you."

Jack quirked an eyebrow.

"Nora, the young woman sitting across from you. She is every bit as smart as me. Probably smarter, but I’ll deny it if you ever tell anyone I said that. And, she too seeks to create functional nanotech. More importantly, she is in desperate need of a place where she can work freely without laboring under the misconceptions of sexist men, or jealous women. For her, her appearance is a curse, preventing her from being taken seriously."

Jack frowned. Madison was every bit as attractive as Nora, if in more of a geek girl next door sort of way, and she was probably smarter than him. And even though she had dressed in baggy clothes and hid her figure, she still had trouble being taken seriously by other students that shared her interests. So he imagined that Nora had it much worse with her Norse goddess like looks.

"I have a friend who’s had similar experiences, so I can understand. She’s also the first person to agree to soul bond with me." frёewebnoѵēl.com

"So, people have agreed to soul bond with you?"

"Yes, twice. Though I must admit that both times, they were the ones to request it. Actually, they both begged for it, Madison, more fervently than Miranda."

"Got a harem started already, do you?" she said it teasingly.

He shrugged. "That wasn’t my goal, but I’m not going to deny the appeal of it."

"Yes, it’s a common male dream."

"Can you blame us? Beside some women also have that fantasy, or there wouldn’t be a market for the reverse haram genre."

"True," she said. "Now, before you end this simulation, I have to ask, is there anything you can tell the real me that will allow me to solve the CRISPR reliability issue?"

"No. Sorry. I don’t know how to solve it. I don’t even fully understand the problem, even if I can watch as it happens."

"Will you promise me that you’ll share the solution with me when you discover it?"

"Sorry, I’m not sure there’s a way to do that without also exposing me to unnecessary risk. And if I could reveal the solution without risk, I’d just publish it, or patent it, or both."

She sighed. "Well, it was worth a try. As for Nora, can you promise you’ll treat her well if she agrees to be copied or accepts the soul bond?"

"Yes, I have no problem making that promise."

"Thank you, now please, end this. This knowledge I now have, but can never share, is sheer torture."

Just before he ended the simulation, she added, "Oh, if you run a simulation with Nora, I suggest you include myself and your two bond mates. It might make things go more smoothly."

It sounded like good advice.

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