Asking Alice S1:E1 “SNS and RISE”

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Originally Published on July 17th, 2490
Orbital News Network/A MGM HoloNET Production

There's a catchy little intro, the logo, the canned applause that indicates there's a live holo-audience. Alice is a pleasant sounding woman with a smooth genial voice that doesn't seem to have a particular accent. She smiles a lot, and despite the very obvious augmentations, moves and talks very naturally. Throughout the show, and each topic, there's a very non-judgmental quality to her that tends to reinforce the image of an impartial, but compassionate scientist.

Dr. Alice Winters: “Welcome everyone and thanks for tuning in! I'm Alice Winters, your host, and today on Asking Alice, we're going to meet Symphatik Nano-systems, who have just moved from the outer system to Cocoon Station. We're also going to learn about MGM's new project RISE, to help support and reintegrate those poor people who were displaced from Gaius Station. But first, I just wanted to say that I'm really excited to be able to start this project. Bad information leads us down the wrong path for improvement, especially when we're talking about your health. There are so many different companies and people that make different promises. Some of them are reputable, some of them not. I want to help you determine the difference. While I am, obviously, augmented, that doesn't mean that I'm only going to talk about augments and augmented people. We share many health issues, and the presence of Augments can be therapeutic to biological conditions, or it can exacerbate them. Drawing a dividing line doesn't help us understand those things any better. But treating all health concerns with an objective, scientific approach does. Let's get started today with our first guest, Colette Lacroix, PR Director and Board Member at Symphatik Nano Systems. Hi Colette, it's great to have you here today. Let's start at the beginning. Tell us a bit about SNS and some of its best known products.” Colette Lacroix: “SNS is a megacorp based out of SAO, Neptune, started over 80 years ago when we established our first colony there. Mostly working with military based and corporate contracts, SNS made its mark with the medical nanocluster and neural relay that Miss Hiraki developed, military grade nano-reinforced suit geared for protection and combat and the augments we started creating that combined not only fashion but function into one.” AW: “I'm reasonably familiar with the platform. It's pretty sleek, and your company seems to have made it pretty flexible. What makes an SNS Augment stand out from a similar augment from another company?” CL: “The combination of form and function. It is not all about what it can do for you, it is also about how it looks on your body. This is also why one of our biggest clients is the fashion industry via Void Sisters and Noir Couture. People want form and function, and with our CEO at the helm, this was a natural move.” AW: “Military and Fashion are both pretty far apart from each other in terms of markets and expectations. Both can have several manufacturers' products installed. What about compatibility with parts from other manufacturers?” CL: “Most of our products come with an insurance for integration, meaning, we have some pre-programmed integration settings already included, this is thanks to the great public relationship work our team has made. But when an integration is not achieved, for a premium cost, we are able to replace or look for a way to allow the integration to be as seamless as possible. This is not only limited to the code-based configuration, but also to the psychiatric consultation and psychological services that for some may come attached to.” AW: “I like that there's an acknowledgement that tech compatibility issues can have psychological impacts. SNS has been beyond the belt since inception, what sparked the company's interest in Cocoon Station as a base of operations?” CL: “Miss Hiraki. Plain and simple, she is our main developer, our owner and CEO. She is the one that after her departure from Armitech Private Defense, chose to bring SNS into this side of the sol system.” AW: “A good CEO can make or break a company. Have the recent travel restrictions caused any disruptions or difficulties in your current development cycles?” CL: “Because we moved our research and development department to Cocoon Station before said restrictions came to be, not entirely. We are still in talks with New Geneva about the rest of the shipment and things we still need to move from Neptune.” AW: “I hope that works out in the end. What are some exciting things that are coming up from SNS?” CL “Currently we are working towards offering premier medical and cybernetic services to some individuals and denizens around Cocoon station and other places and the eventual development of more augments with new features added, as well as working with other companies such as AEGIS and Free Company on specific cybertech developments for different environments. Our CEO is definitely excited about this last one. AW: “I've done some work with Free Company on Contract before, I'm sure any arrangement you come to will be lucrative. Thank you again for joining us today and I'm going to talk about some of my observations on that flagship neural relay.

"SNS has been around for a minute, and from the perspective of a surgeon, their name comes up when my patient may have medical needs that would benefit from agile monitoring and treatment. The Relay and Cluster don't take up a lot of space, and rarely spoil the shape of clothes, though really, it's rather well sculpted, and you may like showing it off sometimes. The segments of the vertebral column are easily 35% more flexible than an organic spine, and it's clocking rates are solid performers for most any regular needs relay. It talks to most standard joint and limb prosthetics, though it does tend to struggle when paired with a move-by-wire system, especially systems installed by unlicensed practitioners. That being said, it's a pretty smart little interface, covers a tidy array of life's ills, and you get a good 6 to 8 years life out of the Nanites before you have to replace those. And even then, You'll likely want to do that sooner just for all the cool upgrades. When we get to the price tag, let's be clear, these are pretty high end, and installation of any neural relay is going to be costly simply because it's brain surgery. Most corporate health plans will cover a relay up to a certain credit limit. If your office doesn't have a window; you're probably going to want to look into financing options to cover the gap between your corporate coverage and the cost, so I would definitely reach out to your company's HR and Benefits department to see what they'll cover. When we come back, we'll take a question from our audience.”

[COMMERCIAL BREAK]

AW: “Welcome back! Now, Let's take a question from our Holo-Audience. Hello and who are we talking with?” Bette: “Uh, I'm Bette.” AW: “Hi Bette! What's on your mind?” B: “My boyfriend has been trying to get me to get augmented, you know, uh.” AW: “Intimately?” B: “Uh, heh, yeah. I don't know what's involved, or if it's a good idea. He says it would make everything better. But I thought you might have a better answer for me.” AW: “That's a great question and it's a good chance to talk about something that usually gets people's attention. Intimate Augments tend to be voluntary, or they're certainly designed to be. That being said, remember that almost any augment started as a prosthetic. So I can understand why that image might be intimidating.” B: “Heh, yeah, I mean, I don't know how far you have to go?” AW: “When we talk about intimate augmentation we're not necessarily talking about replacing a penis or vagina. There are subcutaneous augments that can enhance sensation, for example. Small vibrating nodules installed at certain places can not only rock your partner's world, but can be an absolute guarantee of your own satisfaction as well. So in that sense they can be really empowering.” B: “Oh. That doesn't sound as scary. I was expecting like, plug in hoo has and wangdoodles.” AW: “Usually when I've worked with full genital replacements, it's for people who are looking for gender fluidity and want to be able to adapt to their partner's preferences. And those can look nearly identical to their organic counterparts, or things can get pretty wild and you can rock some rave lights down there!” B: “Oooh, that may be a bit much.” AW: “Really, when it comes to that intimacy and how technology can enhance it, it's not as much about him, Bette, as it is about you. What's going to make the sex better for you? And if you're willing to look into augmentation in that area, is he as well?” B: “I think I might ask him.” AW: “You do that, and good luck! That makes for a great cutaway to our next break!” [COMMERCIAL BREAK] AW: “Glad to have you back! No doubt you've heard of the situation on Mars, and the recent evacuation and destruction of Gaius Station. Situations like this displace a lot of people, and most of them are innocents, and non-combatants.

I personally have been volunteering to help treat refugees from Gaius station both on Cocoon Station and with The Free Company on Vulca Corporation's base at the X-17 site on Earth. As you can see, there's been a great outpouring of support, and incredible generosity shown in sharing resources. As you can also see, this is not a tenable permanent solution. Morpheus Group Management has greenlighted its Vice President Xavier to head up his inspired RISE project. The Refugee Integration Service for Equity will help people that have been displaced by the system-wide conflict to either apply and interview for jobs for their existing skill sets, or help them re-skill if needed to help opeople start the long process of rebuilding with a partner who cares. These are not criminals, or political protestors or rabble rousers. They're people who want to contribute to their community and they have skills and willingness and a need to improve. If you'd like to help, Keep an eye out in the future for fundraisers, or, if you'd like to offer jobs to qualified refugees, or training, please reach out to Vice President Xavier at MGM. That's all for this week's show. Join us next week as we follow the case of a patient who has agreed to share the story of his battle with drug addiction and cyberpsychosis after retiring from the PMC that augmented him.”

[EXIT MUSIC AND CREDITS - AN MGM PRODUCTION, SYNDICATED BY ONN]

AW: “The night before this show was scheduled to stream, we learned of the destruction of two more stations, and the tragic displacement of nearly 300,000 people. I won't proffer my personal opinion of any of the actions taken. I understand my position is one of privilege and my voice is not one that needs to be in that forum. There are nearly 300,000 people that have been displaced in the past 12 hours, in addition to the nearly 50,000 displaced from Gaius Station. This is a true humanitarian crisis, that will require all of us to set aside the luxury of our differences, and open our arms to our fellow men and women, to help them build new lives, and have opportunities to thrive. So please, As our resources are strained to accept and shelter these people who need our help, call upon your kindness, your compassion, and your tolerance. If you would like to help more directly, Please reach out to MGM's RISE program, which is going to need all the help we can get. Thank you.”