Chapter 12

Elias stared at Jae and Kristie with his hand on his hip, the suitcase secure in his other hand. "And Kristie, I can see her doing this, but you, too, Jae?"

"Would you really want her to come here on her own?" Jae asked.

Elias thought for a moment and nodded. "Good point. You." He pointed at Kristie. "What were you thinking, coming here? And how did you find me? As far as I know, you don't have a tracker on me."

Kristie bit her lip and smiled.

"Ugh... I thought you turned that off; I shouldn't have let you have that in the first place."

"Don't get rid of it, please."

"Whatever," Elias sighed, shaking his head. "Since you brought your car, we might as well take it home. Kristie, you sit in the back."

"What? Why? It's my car."

"It's smaller back there, and I know you're the troublemaker in all this."

Kristie pouted and went silent.

"Let's go home; I don't want to stay here any longer than I have to. I'm not sure it was you two giving me the creeps, or if there's something else around here."

At that, Jae scanned the area, and couldn't help but notice a few cameras. "I'll do my best to protect both of you." He gripped Elias' shoulder and Kristie's hand.

Almost want something to happen just to see him in action, but I don't want anyone to get hurt.

Jae didn't let go of her hand until she was safely in the backseat. "Are you okay riding in the back? No motion sickness? We can trade if you want."

"No; I'm fine. You can join me in the back if you want." She patted the seat next to her.

"Get in the front," Elias said. "You're tall and your legs would be cramped back there."

Jae looked between them and sat in the front. "Sorry, Kristie."

"Don't be sorry; if I were you, I'd probably do the same thing." She sighed and leaned back with her eyes closed.

Elias sat in the front seat with the console and handed Jae the briefcase. "I hope this thing works."

"Why don't we just keep him as is? AI hasn't seemed to notice him, or if it did, it didn't bother with him."

"The hair change helps, but I don't think anyone would like constantly stuffing their cheeks with cotton balls to change the look of their face. This will be easier."

"Can we choose what he looks like?"

"Technically, yes, but it's programmed to match the ID."

Jae popped open the suitcase and looked at the ID. "You picked someone named Jay?"

"It's to avoid confusion. It's only spelt different, so it should be easy for you to respond to it, and it's easy for us to remember. The last name is different, and it'd be best if you memorize his details. AI might approach you as someone from the outside who decided to join, but at least you have an ID to work with now."

"And this person won't appear and cause a ruckus?"

"No; he sold his ID and signed a contract. You're safe."

"I was expecting a firm mask." Jae held up the sticky cloth mask.

"Put that down; they might see it in the cameras."

"Sorry." Jae clicked the suitcase closed. "I'm just curious."

"I imagine you're curious about a lot of things, being a man out of his time and all."

"True, and I'm trying to learn. I'm still not sure what I should be doing. Will I have to live forever with this mask on?"

"I sure hope not," Kristie grumbled.

"Excuse her; she's in love with your face." Elias stared at him for a moment. "And possibly more, but that came from her imagination running wild. Try to not let it get to you."

Jae cleared his throat. "A bit hard to know how to react; I've never had someone repeatedly tell me they loved my face."

"Accept that you're handsome, and she's crazy."

"Hey! I'm not crazy." Kristie clenched her fists, shaking them as she wished she could strangle Elias. "Just because you don't understand his ethereal looks doesn't mean I'm crazy."

"The fact that you'd use that word for it does make you sound crazy. Also, doesn't help when it sounds like you're all about looks."

"I'm not." Kristie pouted. "I can't help the initial reaction. And I always wondered what he was like while he was asleep."

Jae cleared his throat, hoping to stop their squabble. "Will this thing stay on my face during harsh movements, or do I have to worry about it falling off?"

"It won't randomly fall off, and it will hurt if someone tries to rip it off your face without the release being used," Elias explained.

"Good to know."
"It is safe to use all day for weeks on end, but for your own sanity, and so you don't forget what you look like, I suggest you take it off at home and keep the curtains shut."

"Has that happened to people before? They take on a new face and a new persona, and forget who they once were?"

"Don't know anyone who personally had that happen, but I've heard stories. Horror stories, really. For reference, you don't have to change your personality to match the guy, just know his basic info."

The car pulled into the apartment garage and parked.

"I miss driving, but it's nice to have a ride while not worrying at all about crashing because there's a moron on the road." Jae got out of the car and stretched. "Could use a bit more space in there, though."

"It's because it's Kristie's, and built for short people." Elias laughed.

"Wonder if I'll be able to get my own someday."

"You'll be registered under this new ID, so once you have enough credits, sure."

"Until then, we can register you to use mine," Kristie suggested.

"Thanks." They were about to walk into the building when Jae stopped and turned to Kristie, staring straight into her eyes. "By the way, I hope the real me isn't a disappointment to the fantasy version you've been dreaming about," Jae said and continued behind Elias.

"Oh..." Her face flushed. "You haven't been!" She rushed to catch up to them. "You're a bit more brooding, and not hitting on me, but you seem great to me."

"I can't believe the things you say out loud sometimes." Elias glanced back at her. "This is why you get in trouble; the filter on your mouth is broken."

Kristie stuck her tongue out at Elias. "Better than being like everyone else who holds back their words and pretends to live in a fairyland where everything is fine, and AI is the end all be all of the world."

"Everyone copes with life in their own way, and no one way is necessarily right," Jae said as they entered Elias' apartment.

"Wow." Kristie stopped in her tracks to replay his words in her head. "That's insightful. I agree with Jae."

"You'd probably agree with him on anything, but I concede; he's right," Elias sat on the couch. "So, how about we try it out?"