One original sci-fi story per day for all of 2023 | Created by screenwriter Timothy Michael Cooper, illustrated using A.I.

Replacer

Replacer

For the right price, my agency will replace anyone who died (or who isn’t themselves anymore): relative, lover, offspring, coworker, friend. Sure, our Replacement won’t look exactly the same—although we’ll find as close a match as possible. And no matter how thoroughly you answer the onboarding questions, the Replacement will still need some time (sometimes years) to get up to speed. Soon, you won’t even notice the differences, because they’re such well-trained actors; the simulacrum isn't perfect, but it's impressive. You don’t have to lose anyone ever again; you’ll be surrounded by those you trust—forever, if you can afford it.