Realizing that the human body was still light-years ahead in complexity vis-à-vis man-made computing accomplishments, the amazing

The human brain was chosen as the basis for Phrenicea's architecture.

human brain was chosen as the basis for Phrenicea's architecture.

Today we completely understand the relatively simple functions of human blood, yet are unable to synthesize it artificially from scratch — which is incredible given our self-described scientific sophistication.

Similarly, by the mid-2020s the intricacies of human brain function were almost completely understood, yet scientists were unable to artificially create anything approaching its complexity, using computer technology or otherwise.

Finally surrendering to Nature's superiority, Phrenicea's bio-architects constructed a massive honeycomb-patterned facility to contain and connect a large population of live human brains — for the purpose of preserving and linking them infinitely, creating an intelligence and computing machine beyond comprehension to an early 21st-century observer.

Surprisingly there wasn't a shortage of volunteers. But who would donate their brains upon death? Baby Boomers of course! As the weight of years shattered their illusion of youth despite their famous moniker, they successfully accepted the reality of mortality with the promise of eternal consciousness.*

So as time passed, an accretic process ensued where countless brains were immured to form a "braincomb" matrix — thus making Phrenicea more and more powerful.

The project to construct the braincomb was named Emily, for a poem written by Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), who surely did not envision Phrenicea — or did she?

The Brain -- is wider than the Sky

The Brain -- is wider than the Sky -- For -- put them side by side -- The one the other will contain With ease -- and You -- beside -- The Brain is deeper than the sea -- For -- hold them -- Blue to Blue -- The one the other will absorb -- As Sponges -- Buckets -- do -- The Brain is just the weight of God -- For -- Heft them -- Pound for Pound -- And they will differ -- if they do -- As Syllable from Sound --

For Project Emily, each human brain upon residency is given a permanent set of coordinates designating the physical location of its hexagonal chamber within the Phrenicea honeycomb-like braincomb. Once ensconced and networked in, the brain will call this man-made skull "home" forever.

In addition to the physical braincomb address, a logical address is also assigned. However, unlike the fixed chamber address, the logical address is mutable. It designates the current status of the brain within a virtual three-dimensional pyramid-like hierarchy.

Braincomb status can rise or fall and with it the vertical coordinate of the pyramidal logical address. Re-evaluation and pyramid restacking are performed often to heighten the competitive spirit. Each brain's status is a measure and mark of its worth to Phrenicea — in terms of:

^*If the notion of inserting one's brain into a dense matrix-like penetralia sounds preposterous, brain donation is actually happening today. The Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center already has over 5000 brains in its "bank," bequeathed by individuals interested in enhancing knowledge of the brain, particularly in regard to disease. (Why not call today!)

Imagine the response if the incentive was to extend consciousness or insert a life's worth of experiences and accumulated knowledge into a network of brains!