THE MOMENT
"Chroma Corp. is lying to you," Miguel offered the flyer to a passing couple but they ignored him and his warnings. They strode past him into the giant, gleaming skyscraper with purpose. Miguel was undeterred and approached a new stranger, "They're lying to you..," he said. He was ignored again and glanced around to find someone new. He quickly turned his back and began searching in a different direction when he spotted a short woman in a black suit. She walked out of the glass tower directly toward him.
"Hello," Miguel waited until she spoke up to turn around. he did his best to act surprised that someone had snuck up on him.
"Oh! Hello, yes?" he asked.
"On behalf of Chroma Corp., I'd like to ask you to please stop spreading lies about our corporation," the woman said. Miguel laughed more obnoxiously than he needed to at that.
"HAHAHAhaha, you're one to talk...," he grinned and shook his head. "Chroma Corp. is lying to everyone about their new service!" The woman seemed genuinely struck by confusion. She blinked and shook her head as she thought about it. Then, after a moment, she extended her hand to finally introduce herself.
"My name is Ruby, I'm Chroma's daughter," she said. "Our intention isn't to deceive anyone; if you know something please share it with me," she said.
"Oh, like you don't know!" Miguel laughed again as he mocked their slogan. "Chroma Corp. promises you'll 'Never die again!'," he grinned. "I know what really happens, it's all trickery and these poor saps don't even know it!"
"I'm sorry...," Ruby shook her head. "I'm not understanding... what part of that is trickery?"
"You implant memories into a clone!" he said. He made a point to raise his voice so passersby would hear. "It's not real immortality... it's not even the same existence!" Ruby tilted her head at him and a faint smirk tugged at the corners of her lips.
"Is that what you're protesting...?" she asked.
"The people have a right to know what you're lying about," Miguel nodded.
"Mr. uh...,' Ruby looked him up and down, then she realized she didn't care. "Sir, have you gone through the procedure?" she asked.
"Of course not! I'm not stupid like everyone else." Ruby nodded.
"I must point out that we're not actually lying about anything. At no point do we claim that it's any form of 'continued existence'. And, in fact, we do outline the procedure very thoroughly. Including the cloning and memory implantation process."
"But it's not real immortality!" Miguel objected. He knew the truth no matter how she tried to explain it.
"I feel like you're getting hung up on the wrong detail," Ruby grinned. "We're not claiming it's true immortality, we sell exactly what we advertise. Our clients are okay with only being functionally immortal. Even if it doesn't live up to the definition in your mind," she said.
"But it's not even the same existence! Are you telling them that?!" Miguel asked. Ruby shrugged and shook her head.
"It didn't feel necessary," she said.
"See!? THAT right there is the problem. Who are you to determine if it's necessary or not!?"
"I'm the current CEO of Chroma Corp.; it's my job to make that decision," she said.
"So, Ms. CEO, you admit you're not telling them everything, huh?" He asked. He doubted he could ever get her to repeat the statement in any incriminating manner; but, it made him feel good to be right. Ruby shrugged.
"I'll admit that I felt certain information was unnecessary. When you subscribe to a streaming service, do you need to be told it can only be accessed through the internet?" she asked.
"Of course not, everyone knows that," Miguel chuckled, but he shook his head. "I know you're not saying it's the same thing," he said. "Telling people their existence is ending only to start a whole different one is a bigger issue, I think."
"And why do you think that?" Ruby asked. "What exactly constitutes your idea of 'existence'?"
"My consciousness here and now," he answered with a firm nod.
"I agree with that," Ruby said. "So, our clients who go through the procedure can claim the same thing; what's the trouble?" she asked.
"The trouble is you're not telling them what they're signing up for!" Miguel was growing frustrated. It had to be malice at this point, there was no way she didn't see what she was doing was wrong. "One consciousness ends and the other one starts, it's not the same existence!"
"There's no such thing...," Ruby shook her head. "Adding information to explain a concept that doesn't actually matter will only confuse our clients more."
"Of course it matters!" Miguel said. Though, once he made his argument he realized what else she said. "What do you mean there's no such thing?" he asked.
"Your concept is flawed," Ruby nodded with only a hint of smugness. "A 'continued existence' is not a thing that happens. You are consciousness here and now," she said.
"Don't try to confuse me with that bull..," Miguel shook his head. "I remember my childhood."
"So do our clients," Ruby grinned. "If you want proof that a 'continued existence' isn't how things work, you only have to look as far back as yesterday," she said.
"Huh?" Miguel asked. "What happened yesterday?"
"A day happened yesterday," Ruby said. "One simple measure of existence neatly bookended by distinct periods of unconsciousness."
