This is about my fursona, an android gray fox, which as a character is a version of me in a parallel universe that enables them to live out their non-human side better than me. Said non-human side of me also originates from this fursona. Ouroboros biting its own tail, except it is both a fox and a metaphor. Had a hard time deciding between using first and third person, as this walks in a gray area between me and not me, so i will switch ways of adressing throughout the text.
Their universe has technology allowing ones mind to be uploaded into an artificial brain which than is given a new body. These bodies are as much a work of art as a wonder of technology, expressing a form that brings joy into material reality. The recipient of said form is encouraged to be present at assembly, the joy it brings certainly makes a good argument for it. Seeing a collection of mechanical parts, artificial muscles and fur slowly come together to something that is me, seeing that dreamed of future solidify, is an experience they/me/we hold dear to our heart. It is only beaten by the moment of waking up and seeing it from first person.
Of course it was not all that easy. A requirement for the upload were psychological assessments which could get quite uncomfortable, and getting used to the new body also had its issues, but they were worth it. Ask the one who turned to a fox if they would do it again, and they would tell you yes every time and you would hear the sincerity of the voice.
An assortment of technical details:
The new body still breathes, though to expel heat, not to exchange CO2 for O2
Their voice comes out a loudspeaker, which enables them to do some quite cool things with their voice, or just to play audio-files.
The new body has a computer separate from the one that holds their mind. Its screen is fed to the brain as a third eye (one gets used to that, but it takes some time) and its speakers either to the aforementioned one that holds their voice or to a set of virtual ears. No direct integration of the computer into the mind due to security concerns, for the same reason it also has multiple ways to completely shut it off if necessary.
The eyes have set of secondary eyelids with screens on them, so i can show question marks in my eyes when i'm confused and stuff like that.
The mind still needs to sleep and still dreams. Yes, occasionally of electric sheep.
