[ WP ] The cure for death is found . But die to the fear of overpopulation on earth , people are given a choice . Stay on earth and be mortal , or be cured and go on a deep space mission .

`` ALPHABET Industries coupled with NASA brings you Forever Young: A Space Odyssey!'' 
 
 The Augmented Reality Ad hit my vid screen as I turned to enter the bar. Even in the year 2163, people still love their physical vices. Sure you could get a neurostim to give you the same basic effect, but there's just something about the warm afterburn whiskey leaves in your mouth and throat. You do n't get that sensual effect with stims. 
 
 I had heard about Forever Young from my dad a couple weeks back. He interrupted one of my VR raids I was running with my pals from college. We had just encountered a dragon when, instead of a massive fireball, my dad's face pops up. We had to restart that entire crawl. 
 
 Dad was so excited, not only could he and mom live on to see any and all grandkids, we might even be able to reverse a lot of the climate changes humans had effected here on earth. He went on about how Forever Young restored any damage to telomeres and allowed human life to extend almost indefinitely. Severe dismemberment was still possible, and death could come as a result if the dismemberment resulted in a hamburger effect, but otherwise, we could see centuries, millenia without a care of old age. 
 
 `` Yeah, but there's got ta be a catch Pops, always is with Alphabet.'' 
 
 `` The only catch is that your mom and I will finally get to see the stars! We'll hit up the old Moon landing sites before stopping at Mars Colony 1. From there, we're told we have the option of staying on Mars and helping continued colonization there or we could volunteer to visit the deeper parts of the system. Imagine seeing Neptune and Pluto first hand!'' 
 
 `` So, how long would you be gone?'' 
 
 `` Well, that was n't covered, it was just a basic overview in the orientation meeting.'' 
 
 `` Orientation? You're not actually serious are you?'' 
 
 `` Why not? We could let you have the condo uptown and I'm sure we'd come back eventually. Maybe you would be able to come out and meet us on Mars when we're headed back.'' 
 
 `` Dad, seriously Pops, do not sign anything, do n't verify anything, nothing. I'll be over in a couple of days, we can review the contract together.'' 
 
 `` Sorry son, there's an NDA on it all, we ca n't disclose anything. Either we sign up, choose immortality and travel space or nothing. Hey, your mom needs some help setting up the new bank accounts, talk to you later!'' 
 
 That was two weeks ago. I had n't talked to Dad since then. I got a secure file transfer just yesterday with all the key codes and biometric transfers for the condo to set it up under myself. I guess they were actually doing this, which meant I was too. 
 
 It did n't sit well with me. I had seen all sorts of VR vods with various conspiracies. One talked of human battery cells, powering ships and probes across the space system and farther. Another mentioned the Mars colonies and slave work or possible payments to aliens. My favorite was the sentient moon conspiracy. World governments learned the moon was actually a creature and to keep it revolving around earth, we had to feed it. 
 
 `` Personally, I think Alphabet's just trying to create an extended, cheap labor work force,'' I said to the Bar-droid, or anyone really, the whiskey was starting to impair my give-a-damn. `` I mean, sure, you get to live a really long time, but they do n't pay you to go around and do their bidding.'' 
 
 A man sitting across the room shouted, `` Yo, buddy, mind zipping it?'' 
 
 `` Mind your manners sir, not polite to interrupt!'' I said. 
 
 The droid pouring drinks sounded it's alarm, `` Please leave the premises, there is to be no dissension in a public location. You have 30 seconds to vacate or authorities will be alerted.'' 
 
 `` Why do n't you reprogram yourself!'' the man said, before throwing his drink at the droid. 
 
 To be continued... 
 

