Who Does He Think He Is?

By Ed Errington

The public records show it was just another beautiful day in New Queensland. Martin Shore had engaged the external air seals and descended slowly to walkway level 0. He had taken a deep breath before stepping out of the cool shade of the HumPod9. Nothing unusual about that.

It then seems he remembered to adjust his Circadian Monitor before moving closer to his objective: a meeting at a Living History site labelled the Olive Branch Café which he frequented as a student.  

He wondered if the café would still be there. And if so, why it hadn’t shown on the Living History Matrix. Shore said he regretted not having rechecked the location before setting out. 

He was overheard to say: ‘Who cares? I’m time-rich. You watch, I’ll arrive with 100 chrono units to spare. I wonder what she looks like?’ 

Time-rich indeed.

Yesterday Shore received a Flash-Chatbot from Linda Kerr — asking him to meet her at the Olive Branch Café —- their old student haunt. 

He recollects how thoughts about Linda Kerr used to fill his day — stating he would be most surprised if thoughts about him had ever filled any part of her day. And how odd it was to hear from her after five decades. As students they had shared green tea Matchas — exchanged thoughts, facts, beliefs, and opinions on issues that mattered. When studies ended, Linda Kerr took a job with an AI company in New Sydney, while Shore went to live off-world and become an inter-galactic business agent. Shore regretted parting had seemed quite matter-of-fact, but changing times meant creating new lives — apparently without each other.

Then Shore arrived at his destination — the Olive Branch Café. He was surprised to find it exactly as he remembered. He glanced through the café window but saw no sign of Linda Kerr. 

Being a little unsure of what to find inside, Shore entered the café. He recognised familiar wooden tables and high back chairs — atop the same threadbare carpet.

At this point, the likely café owner had stepped out of the shadows.

And then to Martin’s surprise the figure addressed him: ‘The usual Matcha Mr Shore?’

Shore did a double-take in response to the question. He must have sounded confused when he muttered, ‘Yes, but how? I mean, aren’t you Shay O’Callaghan?’ 

O’Callaghan had replied in a friendly tone: ‘It is Himself Master Shore. So glad you remembered me. Many forget so easily. I may as well be the Invisible Man. Maybe I am that. I’ll be along with the Matcha this very moment.’

Shore recollects he nodded almost mechanically — not sure of what to make of this Shay O’Callaghan. The Shay he remembers would be at least seventy by now, and this one didn’t look a day over twenty. Shore thought maybe he had just met O’Callaghan’s grandson. But how could O’Callaghan’s grandson remember him? When Martin was last in here, Shay’s grandson would not have been born. Some kind of weird joke at his expense? 

All of a sudden in walked Linda. The sight of her grabbed Shore’s attention. Yes — this was Linda alright. As with O’Callaghan, Linda looked as if she was still in her twenties. Unsure of how to respond, Shore greeted her with an awkward hug. She smiled and sat on a chair opposite. Shore could only stare at her. Not sure how he could be looking at an earlier version of Linda Kerr.

It was at that moment, O’Callaghan brought over two green Matchas and returned to the café kitchen.

For a while they sipped the Matchas. Shore could wait no longer; he had to ask: ‘How is it possible for you and Shay to look so young after all this time?’

‘Good to see you, Martin. What you are staring at is simply a younger version of me. This is the new transformative reality.  It took decades to reach this point. Humanity is resuming its rightful place on the evolutionary ladder. Hand in glove with advancements in Hyper-cognitive modelling.

‘Imagine being able to change your perceptions of reality at the blink of an eye. Over your lifetime Martin, you’ve faced many challenges. Each involved making personal choices — and you ended up following this or that path. Given the many alternative paths you could have taken, you chose, one at a time. Some led to happiness, others to regret. Each path — whether taken or ignored — generated another edition of Martin Shore. Versions of you now exist in an infinite number of parallel worlds. 

‘So, here we are Martin — sharing one brief moment of a chaotic present — an ever-changing point between past and future. You are experiencing this position from the perspective of one single Martin Shore. Guided by your own idiosyncratic belief system. 

‘As for me, I have learned to watch and listen through the eyes and ears of many Linda Kerrs — including this one you once knew. 

‘I am here to offer you the same opportunity to move freely — from your current self to some of the many other versions of Martin Shore out there.’ 

Martin recalled his response: ‘Are you really happy Linda — spending so much time exploring a myriad of alternatives — instead of focusing energy on one authentic self? Isn’t one enough?’

Linda smiled and replied: ‘Martin, we have so many selves to learn from. Those deep within us and many others across outer worlds. I have learned how to manage my own space-time signature. You could do the same.

‘Four decades ago, my team uplifted sensory-rich brains from human volunteers which we transplanted into regenerative physiological systems. These humans pursue rich and happy lives. Fenescian wave length cognition has boosted the ability to enter the minds of alternative selves. One day we hope to occupy the minds of others — with their permission. We will offer reciprocal opportunities for hosts to see what we see, hear and feel. We are all sentient beings together.’ 

Martin remembers asking: ‘Faced with so many possible selves, how do I find an appropriate version of myself to achieve a positive understanding? There must be as many dud versions of me out there as authentic ones. Devil incarnates and angelic guides alike. What are the criteria for making the right choices?’

It appears Linda Kerr ignored his question, and continued: ‘Martin, we implant into prospective travellers a combination of cognitive features assisted by immersive self-hypnosis to achieve true homeostasis. Besides travelling down your own flowing time stream — to past, present or future — you would learn to move within universal spacetime itself. Assume any age you prefer while still maintaining all knowledge, qualities and faculties that constitute your own self.’

 Martin felt compelled to ask: ‘Why me out of the many you could have chosen? Gift or curse?  Am I required to make a Faustian contract?’

From Linda Kerr’s reaction, Shore realised this was not a question she had been expecting. Clearly, those lucky enough to have the chance to explore alternative self-realities had usually leapt at the opportunity.

Shore continued: ‘How would I know when the process is working?’

Instead of responding directly, Linda Kerr said: ‘Dare to ask yourself intriguing questions, such as, what would happen if, or maybe what might have happened when? Actors engage in these kinds of hypotheticals when building a fictional character. They consider alternative life views from which characters are drawn; they explore a range of viewpoints they may never considered before. 

‘So — it is with you Martin — only each of your characters is real — each is another version of you. Each one tells something about a Martin Shore.  Observing a range of Martins, you would be in an ideal position to find out more about yourself. You decide who you really are by coming to realise — through other Martin Shores — who you are not. Walk in as many of their shoes as you like. Discover who you are...’

As Linda Kerr’s voice trailed away. Martin Shore found himself standing in a space where the Olive Branch Café used to be…

This is all we have of Shore’s report. Clearly some parts are missing. It has been a decade since he was last seen. He seems to have vanished off the face of the planet — and his adopted off-world location. This case is closed.

***

Across an infinite multiverse harbouring an infinite number of Martin Shores, a trillion versions are engaging external air seals and descending slowly to walkway Level 0. They wonder if the café they half remembered still exists.

‘Who cares?’ each one says. ‘I’m time-rich. You watch, I’ll arrive with 100 chrono units to spare…’ 

But, many of the Martin Shores are confused — unable to remember why they are wearing an outlandish red brocade shirt and a comical black cloak that almost touches the ground. 

As if part of some inter-galactic presentation, each and every Martin Shore lifts their eyes to the heavens without knowing why, and speak in unison: ‘This outfit is so unlike me, I’d forget my own head if it wasn’t screwed on!’

About the Author

Dr Ed Errington lives a charmed life as a would-be retiree and wallaby wrangler. He lives with his wife and a dozen hedonistic rock wallabies in Tropical North Queensland.

Ed’s writing interests focus on Stanislavsky’s age-old question of ‘what if,’ and the many consequences that could flow from a response.

‘What if’ - the world we accept as ‘real’ is instead a monolithic simulation - sophisticated ubiquitous, and yet invisible? Are we humans mere players within its confines?