“You want us to beg for our lives back,” my father gasps, addressing Gravelle, who’s been quiet up until now, silently observing. “Do you need us to say it? That we wronged you when we were kids? Is that what you want—an apology?”

“It’s too late for that,” Gravelle answers.

“Too late because you’ve replaced us. And you think your path to happiness is to watch us suffer, as our lives are taken over by imposters. How sad. And foolish.”

“Nice words, coming from someone who never thanked me for gifting him with the impossible,” Gravelle answers, indicating me. “A second chance at being a father.”

“But I’m right, aren’t I?” my father replies, his voice weak but his spirit intact.

“Enough.” Seymour cuts in. “You’re entirely missing the point. My brother’s worldview is limited in scope. This isn’t about petty revenge.”

“Excuse me?” Gravelle looks murderous. “There’s nothing petty about my agenda—”

“I’ve allowed you to believe that your master plan was of the utmost importance,” Seymour interrupts, “and perhaps that was my first mistake. But we both know this is about far more than one-upping a bunch of influential families. The Duplicates—not the betas who first appeared at Darkwood, but these vastly improved models—are highly superior to their originals in every way. Thoughts and memories have been downloaded straight into their minds via receiver technology that I patented. Duplicates grow quickly, aging from birth to adulthood in as little as a year, bypassing the emotional messiness of childhood. They are free of disease, since they possess many of the capabilities that were built into your DNA, Eden. In the long run, they will actually improve humanity. If each and every person can be replaced with a more resilient, disease-free model, and all that’s required to preserve a person’s selfhood is to download the original’s ideas, thoughts, and memories in the newer version… Isn’t it obvious? Models can be periodically replaced and upgraded. Changes made, bad memories edited out and tweaked. And not only that. Duplicates will allow individual humans the ability to live forever by simply submitting themselves for upgrades at necessary checkpoints, with the new Duplicate seamlessly installed. It’s revolutionary, isn’t it?”

“Revolutionary?” Ollie looks at his uncle, disgusted. “Are you out of your mind? We were replaced without our knowledge or consent!”

“That’s how it had to be, this time,” Seymour explains. “Once the practice is widespread, everyone will request to be upgraded. I’ll admit, that may take time. In the meantime, by replacing some very influential folks, I’ll be able to spread my ideas widely, and in the right circles—via my Duplicates—so that I may put in place the proper legislation to proceed seamlessly with my plans.”