Communication stones
Swapping minds across space
- Creators
- The Ancients
- Effect
- Remote consciousness swap
- Notable use
- Staying in touch in Stargate Universe
Two small stones, and suddenly you're in someone else's body, on the other side of the universe. The Ancients' communication stones let two people swap consciousness across any distance. Handy, and deeply unsettling.
Overview
The principle is mind-boggling. Two people activate the stones, and their minds trade places. You find yourself seeing, speaking and acting in the other person's body, while they live in yours, no matter the distance between you. No signal, no delay: a full and complete presence, galaxies away.
Its story
It's in Stargate Universe that these stones come into their own. The crew of Destiny, lost billions of light-years from Earth, has only them to stay in touch. Thanks to the stones, a crew member can go home to see their family, by borrowing a volunteer's body for a while. It's heartbreaking, and it raises a thousand questions about identity and consent.
Themes
