I, Me, Mine... Yours
Earth... Patagonia... Babylonia Villas. The year is 2563...
Arthur N. Taryton liked the 'Idea' the more he thought about it.
He phoned via Ether-Solar-Net, a Doctor Dewy T. Smythe, an old college chum,
there on the MSS (Medical-Space-Station), orbiting high above Mars right now.
"Hello... Dew-Bright... 'Teddy'... This is 'ANT'... Arty-of-the Party".
" Why, yes... How have you been Art? I mean, since Amelia passed on?"
"After the accident on her horse, so sudden, I was nearly Round the Bend.
But, I assert, that this Life is still very much worth living. How is your work?"
Smythe: "The distribution of my cases, around the planets, and Alpha Centauri Proxima B
keeps me hopping like crazy... Literally at Light Speed. Is there anything you need?"
Art: "Well... a 'young man' like me, 39 forever... I sure need no 'cure'. But I hope
to, with your help... To remedy my 'Single' situation. Loneliness, even for a
Trillionaire, is not much fun at all... Of that fact I can assure you..."
They chatted on a bit, catching up on the years that indeed did fly by.
Then Doctor Smythe let Arthur talk to the head nurse: an interview.
The particulars of his 'Order' were catalogued, to the smallest detail.
#
4 months later:
When the 'Package' was delivered... Arthur nearly bit a knuckle.
"Splendid... The transformation is remarkable. The Body Studio
has made my 'wishes' come True. The hair... The way Her lipstick
looks... The eyes. The Femme Fatale figure. But with a mind
that is a near mirror image of my own. She will know what I
want... Before I even know that I want it... anything at all!"
Arthur had ordered an 'improved duplicate' of his late wife,
of how she had looked back at age 27. That had been a really great Year.
Yes... and She would be the perfect mate as well. To help further build-up His
vast empire... Out to the farthest galaxy's edge itself. Nothing was impossible!
#
6 months (after duplication):
She had done well... So well, that it was Her that was running Taryton Inc.
He was now in the shadows... Of his own empire. Just a relic. Nothing more.
Art: "My Sweet... Seems you do not need me. But I still want... Need... You!"
She had the same look in those icy blue eyes (just like His). And She gave
him the same 'Oh-No-No-No' look, nearly shooting Lazer beams at Him.
"Take a vacation Dear... Maybe with the Bar Girls of Venus or Mars.
Honestly, I really don't care. Oh, Yes, I and your late wife knew of all
your past affairs... Before you became this old 'train-wreck' of the Stars.
And, besides... I am having an affair of my own, as if you didn't know.
Emil... He was the orderly when I first was awakened, and 'Reborn'.
I'll be taking a trip to Europa with him. The ski lodge there has a
nice view of Jupiter. I won't be gone too long. Good-Bye, Dear".
And with that, she put on her blue coat and an aquamarine wrap,
and strode confidently out the front door, to a waiting space cab.
Arthur felt an invisible 'slap' that left an invisible black eye,
as big as the Red Eye storm on the planet Jupiter. Oh, Yes!
(THE END?)
"Always remember, You are Braver than you Believe, Stronger than you seem,
Smarter than you think, And twice as Beautiful as you'd ever Imagined"
- Rumi