Esta entrada pertenece a la categoría "Historias de universos paralelos", pero no lo es del todo. Los relatos de esa categoría, aparte de mostrar una ventana a algo que no tiene por qué ocurrir en nuestro universo, tienen la peculiaridad de presentarte en medio de la situación de la misma forma en la que te encuentras dentro de un sueño sin saber cómo has llegado hasta ahí. Cualquiera que lea este relato tendrá la impresión de que cumple todos los requisitos para estar en la categoría correcta, pero no es del todo cierto.
Los protagonistas de esta historia llevan casi dos años en mi cabeza con una idea, pero me propuse no sacarla adelante hasta que no terminara la otra historia que tengo a medias para no dejar muchos proyectos inacabados. Sin embargo puedo hacer una excepción a esto porque este relato ocurre después de todo lo que sucede en esa historia.
Cuando un personaje habla de algo pasado en un relato de universos paralelos a veces ni siquiera yo sé a lo que se refiere, pero en este caso de verdad que lo sé todo de ellos. Profesión, gustos musicales, hacia qué lado de la cama duermen, ...
Probablemente yo sea el único que aprecia lo verdaderamente épico que es este reencuentro y no tengo manera de hacerlo ver sin contar todos los acontecimientos anteriores que me quiero reservar, pero justo esa excitación es la que me ha motivado a escribir.
Ah, y lo de que sea en inglés es simplemente porque nunca he pensado en esta historia en otro idioma. Quizás sea difícil de explicar, pero es lo que parecía más lógico. No me enrollo más.
-Monsieur
Duncan!
He couldn’t believe it. The voice he expected
the least to ever hear again had come once more to his ears.
-Lacroix…
George took a glance at the man he was talking
to, though he wasn’t sure he could even call him a man anymore. There was something strange in the way he moved and he felt the
cold and strong handshake of an iron fist when greeting him.
-We meet again.
-Nuts and bolts! H… how did you…? How is this
possible?
-You took me for dead, monsieur Duncan, and someone as practical as you would argue that
was the most predictable scenario to bet on. But I told you, didn’t I? Money
can buy everything. So I bought my life.
George was starting to notice the new details
of his old rival. Some of his new features were very visible, but he was pretty
sure there was a lot more hiding under the clothes. He was under the impression
of having a conversation with some sort of cyborg.
-You’re a maniac, Lacroix. How can you even do
such a thing?
-C’est
simple. I’m not blaming the Croatian emergency services, but when I arrived
at the hospital after our incident I requested to be treated by my own medical team. I’m sure you can imagine what it’s like. Very professional, very
efficient. I pay them a lot of money.
There was no doubt about it. He was Lacroix.
But he felt so different. Half of his face had no expression, as if it had been
rebuilt with some sort of plastic or silicone. Therefore his lips made weird and funny
moves when he spoke, which were very distracting to George.
-So, since my body was so heavily damaged, I
asked them to do something a bit risky for me. I wanted to take this downfall
as an opportunity to raise, to be enhanced, upgraded. A better version of
myself, I might add. And being the experts they are they succeeded, of course.
All the parts that were taken from me are now replaced with better working tools.
-You were disabled and built yourself a new body. Congratulations, Lacroix.
-But that’s not the only thing, monsieur Duncan. You’re just looking at
the envelope, the case that contains all the magic. Why stopping at fixing
physical damage when you can do something bigger? All the gadgets I’ve got in
me right now are fine, but why not evolve properly? I avoided death on the
edge of life, so I had to come back from that experience as a superior being. And so did I. My
researchers fully scanned my DNA sequence and modified certain parts to
genetically make me stronger, smarter and even less prone to be affected by most illnesses. You see
what I’ve developed? I just skipped thousands of generations of evolution to
obtain our species’ most optimal results.
-That’s the craziest shit I’ve ever heard.
-Haha. Tell me, monsieur Duncan. Have you exercised your chess skills?
-I didn’t have the time to.
-Neither did I! But I bet you I’m a much better
player than the last time we met.
-But what’s the point of all this, Lacroix?
-To live forever, monsieur Duncan! Mon Dieu!
I age slower now and I have replacements for all my inner organs grown from my
own cells. At least until my doctors find a more efficient way of keeping me
alive. You see, money brought me life.
-Is it even worth reaching immortality at that
cost? For Christ’s sake, would you even say you’re the same person anymore?
-Actually I think sometimes I’m not an homo sapiens anymore, considering my
genetic modifications. You’ve all fallen behind me now. But that sets a big
paradox, doesn’t it? I’m sure you recognize the man you’re talking to, even if
he doesn’t look alike. Same ideas and ambitions, but unrecognizable to the eye.
I’m reincarnated. And I owe all of this to you, monsieur Duncan. It is because of you that all this has been
possible. My most deepest thanks.
-Save it to yourself, Lacroix! No one in his
mind would thank another man for almost killing him. I don’t know what you’re
up to next, but I’ve seen enough movies to know you’re acting in a suspicious
way. I’ll have my eyes constantly on you.
-Don’t get too tired then, monsieur Duncan. From the both of us you’re the one who still needs
to sleep occasionally.
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