New Chapter 1

"Some people get trapped in the cocoon stage, some stay as caterpillars and try to make it in the world, some cocoon for a bit but then turn their shell to armor to better deal with the world, halting their growth. We all deserve our chance at flight though. It's a beautiful part of our brains, we keep the possibility of transforming into a butterfly, no matter what. Let's mold you some armor and get you some rest.”

"It's okay, everyone asks, why risk your life like that? I say we're always risking it all, there are just some things we are very sure about. We are extremely confident we won't be hit by a quasar next week. Nearly all of humanity could die in the event, as we have no underground cities populated. We've been doing meditation for at least 7 thousand years, we know it works. Neuroscience has come a long way, we can observe all of the neurons in a brain. We're no longer walking blind into the brain, I came into the program because after decades of shuffling in the dark, I thought someone needed to take the first major step forward into the light. And the Doctor is that person. Is it the right time? It is well past the time for progress, this field is inately hindered by human sensibilities, simple continuous improvement could unlock so much more. The Doctor has proven the impossible several times to me, I trust his hand over that of time."

"Timing is everything in tech, traditionally a breakthrough happens and it is continually improved upon as it benefits the market. But when a monumental breakthrough happens in tech it can also mean a new nuclear war. Or worse, the possibilities are endless, computing power and memory can live and grow forever. I asked myself, "The first gods are being dreamed up now, how many other people are dreaming of becoming the first immortal? How do I get myself a seat in the pantheon?" I tried out/failed in several related subjects before settling on psychology and philosophy. I wasn't going to be the best scientist that then tests on their own brain, I needed a unique angle to get into the best study at the right time. I made myself an expert in the psychology of modern neuroscience. And science fiction... and cosplay. I played all my cards together shamelessly, I was trying to do some proper spy shit, you know? I acquired access to several facilities. That's when my observation stage began."

Keith didn't enter like the others, rather he was forced out of everywhere else. "Why am I here? Why are you here with a camera?" "you signed the waivers, right?" "yeah?" "Then legally I cannot answer any questions and legally you have to answer my questions on camera." "...I came, for help." "Help with what?"

Chapter 1

I knew what I had found, or at least I knew I had found something. I was convinced, by my own personal experience and by my limited knowledge of neurology. Once upon a time, it was thought that the heart was where the 'soul' or conscousness resided. Now we say it is the brain. But we know that there is a lot that the brain does that our direct consciousness is not involved in, breathing, sleep, balance, regulation of the pumping of blood, translating stimuli, etc. It starts to add up to a lot of the brain, so to call ourselves the brain is inaccurate. We are more the activity of a certain region of the brain, connected to the rest, that serves as the chief executive of the brain (CEB?). The primary region that is us is the Prefrontal Cortex. It's part of the NeoCortex. Higher thought, incidentally, is found higher in the brain and that upper region of the brain where I found 'them'. I use 'them' or RB (right brain) to describe the potential other conscousness(es) in my brain. We, as the executives, are the only ones with the keys to spaceship that is your body. They are stuck inside, maybe able to see out a port, maybe not. In particular I refer to right brain, as that is where the neuroscience led me. If you perform a lobotomy on someone, if you cut the connection between left and right, the brain does strangely well. The person isn't obviously different, but their two sides exhibit different conscousnesses. Set up a sight-blocker beween the test subject's eyes, so left side is separate, they can't see the same things. Show the person's left eye a note saying 'pick up the red ball with your right hand', the subject will pick up the red ball. Asked why they picked up the red ball, they make up a reason, they don't know that they were shown the note, but their brain made up a reason for them. Now consider again, for these procedures, they were tested not long after, they didn't have growth spurred by massive loss. Implying, their brains operated in some similar fashion prior. Are these separate pieces of consciousness divided? Does your brain dream without you? What is my relationship with my potential hostage/partner consciousness? Those were the questions I set out with, and I think it's about time I share the truth of what I, or rather we, found.

ch 2

(Interviews with patients follow)