23.Death

Howard receives news that Bridget Brodeur has died and been placed in stasis per her instructions, which her children contest legally. A judge rules to keep her body in stasis pending trial rather than granting the children's injunction for immediate decanting, effectively preserving the possibility of replication.

Howard is called by Dr. Onagi with news of Bridget's sudden collapse and death. Onagi informs him that Brodget's body has been placed in stasis following her pre-arranged instructions, causing her children—Howie, Rosie, and Lianne—to hire lawyers and seek an injunction to force her decanting. Howard contacts his attorney, Ms. Benning, who reveals that Bridget changed her will months ago and specifically instructed Benning to inform Howard. The children have already filed for immediate decanting, but Benning has countervailing filings ready. A hearing is held before Judge Ulrich Katz in his office. Rosie objects to the judge's reference to Howard as a "loved one," but the judge rules against granting the injunction. He determines that decanting immediately would effectively decide the case in the plaintiffs' favor regardless of trial outcome, whereas keeping Bridget in stasis allows for decanting if the decision goes that way. The judge orders Dr. Onagi to maintain stasis and permit no other operations. After the hearing, Ms. Benning expresses her realization that Howard is not biologically human and praises the verisimilitude of the android body. Howard clarifies that his relationship with Bridget was not sexual but deeply loving on his part. Benning notes that the legal battle will be difficult but that Bridget had anticipated resistance and set up a defense fund her children cannot block. Howard is left waiting for the legal process to conclude before he can proceed with replicating Bridget.