The Chapter Where A Girl Implodes

Aurelia snapped, and a projection of the Earth appeared above the kitchen table between her and Liane. Hundreds of little golden needles sprang up across the globe, dotting it with tiny pillars of light. Aurelia touched one, and the projection rushed forward, shifting till a miniature city covered the kitchen table.

“The most populated city on the planet. If we include the surrounding suburbs where you and Claire live, the population comes to just over one thousand people.” Hundreds of pinpricks of light sparsely illuminated the city. “A city this large could hold millions, but the System keeps it purposefully unpeopled.”

Aurelia swept the city away with the wave of her hand, replaced by three figures: Claire, Liane as her current self, and her past self, Liam. She drew a circle around each figure that transformed into a transparent dome surrounding them.

“The System is designed to keep people apart.” Aurelia pushed the Liane figure toward Claire, but the dome’s surrounding them prevented them from getting close. “And the System especially wants to keep Liam away from Claire.” Aurelia pushed the Liam figure toward Claire. When their dome's touched, the Liam figure was launched across the room and shattered against the wall.

Liane was horrified, but Aurelia paid her no mind and trudged on, “That rule remains in effect even though Liam is officially dead. If the System finds out the truth.” Aurelia pushed the Liane figure toward Claire. When their dome's touched, her figure suffered the same fate as Liam's, imploding against the wall. “You keep the truth a secret at all costs. Understood?”

Liane nodded vehemently. Satisfied with her response, Aurelia pulled a new Liam and Liane figure from the table-top and continued.

“The System won't actually harm you, but it will make absolutely certain you never see Claire again.” Aurelia picked up the Liane figure and created another Earth in her other hand. She spun it around to the opposite side and dropped Liane onto a remote island, where her figure disappeared. “Got it?”

“Yes,” Liane whispered.

“Good.” Aurelia created another Liane figure, and created another dome for it. The figure turned opaque, nearly invisible. “You also need to understand the System isn't stupid. It will find the truth.” Aurelia tapped the dome. It cracked and the Liane figure flashed visible for a moment. “However, everything that we’ve done so far, changing your sex, rewinding your age, getting you a new identity, it will all keep the System at bay.” The dome around the Liane figure grew thicker and the figure grew less visible, but Aurelia kept tapping the dome. Each tap made the crack in the dome spread until it shattered completely, and the figure was fully visible. Aurelia snatched up the figure. “But it won't work forever.”

Liane swallowed hard. All her optimism from the day before was long gone.

“What am I supposed to do?”

“You act fast, that’s what.” Aurelia created a tiny package and put it in the Liane figure’s hands. Her outfit changed to her yellow and blue uniform. “People don't have jobs anymore, but the System lets you have one if it makes you happy. To fulfill your parcel delivery job, you’re required to interact with other people.” Aurelia pushed the Liane figure toward Claire. This time, their dome's receded and Liane successfully reached Claire. “It's a loophole, and we’re going to exploit it so you can see Claire again.”

Aurelia paused. “Then comes the hard part. If you want to repair your relationship with Claire, you inevitably have to reveal your true identity. However, the moment you do, the System will kick in.” Claire’s dome reactivated, launching the Liane figure into the wall, where it imploded. “The last time you saw Claire, she said she didn’t want to see you again. I don’t think she realizes, but the System extrapolated that into a restraining order against you. You have to get her to take back what she said, release the restraining order, and you have to do it without her finding out who you are.”

Aurelia leaned back in her chair and the digital figures on the table vanished.

Liane’s eyes strayed to the spot on the wall where her figure had imploded multiple times. “Easy enough,” she said.

“Easy enough,” Aurelia agreed.

A thought struck Liane. “But wait. The System is an AI with limitless power that manages the world and everything on it, and you just said it’s always watching. Which means, it’s watching right now and already knows I’m Liam?”

“Not quite. Simply put, I’m immune to the System’s watching, so I can say whatever I please, and it will not give you away. As long as CP1 is functioning and with you, it provides you with a similar immunity, though one that won’t work forever. Another reason CP1 must remain with you always. Good thought. I like that you're thinking. Now tell me, what’s your plan for when you see Claire?”

Liane considered. Aurelia’s light show had rattled her, but thinking about it, she realized nothing Aurelia said actually made a difference. She had been thinking about how to approach this reunion since before she died. She knew Claire better than anyone. She could get Claire to undo the restraining order, easy. All she would have to do is get her to say that she wanted to see Liam again.

Liane grinned and leaned forward. “So here’s what I was thinking. First, I’m going to make her feel sad that I’m dead, and I'll make her feel guilty that she didn’t come see me before I died. She's probably been crying since yesterday, so I doubt I’ll have to do much there. Once she’s good and sad, I'll get her to take back what she said about not wanting to ever see me again. Then I'll reveal my true identity, and she will be overjoyed to see me, and our happy reunion will commence.”

Liane leaned back in her chair, arms crossed over her chest.

Aurelia opened her mouth, then closed it. She leaned far back in her chair and pressed her palms into her eyes. Liane could tell she hadn’t expected her to have already devised a plan.

“Okay,” Aurelia said, snapping forward. “It’s clear to me, you’ve thought this through, so let’s see what your plan can do. Off you go.”

“That’s it?” she asked, a bit disappointed at Aurelia’s reaction.

“Yes. You have your explanation, your parcel, your goal, your plan. CP1 knows the way. Off you go,” Aurelia said with a wave.

Liane looked at CP1. It changed to the yellow and blue delivery drone colors. It drifted down the hall, then turned back toward Liane. With the package for Claire in hand, she stood and followed CP1 to the garage, looking back just once to give Aurelia a final assuring thumbs up.

As Liane entered the garage, the cumulusboard popped up from the ground and drifted over to her, nudging her in the leg. She strapped on her helmet and climbed on the eager board, again opting to ride seated.

“Okay, CP1. Before the System catches on and banishes me to a desert island, let’s go.”