S-2878 • L0 Silenluna • D07 Abeli
(Gregorian calendar equivalent: April 12, 2133)
"Silenluna opens the road of the sky. Abeli spills the radiance of beginnings. Gaia kindles a tide of living buds. The reading is born clear in the air."
The height of autumn. The city woke to heavy rain that seluna.
I cut my finger while making breakfast. Superficial, but enough to warrant a bandage.
On the way to work, canceled trains. System failures at UNITED's transport hub. Headache. Delay. And the worst was yet to come.
"The director is asking for you," Takashi informed me.
Normally, it would have been irrelevant. But I was leading one of the most important nanoresearch projects in the Americas. It would probably be an unpleasant meeting.
I crossed the corridor to Josivaldo Silva's office. At the entrance, Sara, his android assistant, was waiting. I followed her.
He was expecting me. His face expressionless. His wrinkles betrayed the cycles of service. Too long on Gaia. The world grudgingly endured his insufferability.
"Sit." His voice was harsh.
He did not even wish me good morning. Which I had expected, to be honest. The man was devoid of life.
I smiled politely and sat down. "Good morning."
He raised his blue eyes from the holoscreen. Adjusted his glasses. "Very well, Dr. Akama."
He did that on purpose. Always got my surname wrong. Akiyama. If a name was difficult for him, he simply shortened it until it fit in his mouth.
"I'm pleased with the results of your research. We can begin human trials. The technical team has already been notified to contact the volunteers."
My blood ran cold. "I should select the volunteers. They need to fit very specific profiles. We have to use an alternative method."
"This is not up for discussion. I'm informing you."
Heat rose. I clenched my fists. Held back my anger. "CogniSynth can seriously affect the human brain. People must be selected according to the research criteria. Otherwise, the consequences could be catastrophic!"
"We're done. You may leave."
I stood, leaning over his desk. "These people could die! We're dealing with human lives!"
Josivaldo looked me up and down. He thought he would intimidate me. Poor fool.
"You can complain to the Global Medical Committee. If they care, perhaps they'll change something. Until then, your job is to obey." He returned to the holoscreen. "Now, you may leave. I'm busy."
I bit my lips. Imagined how good it would be if he vanished from the face of Gaia. I had wasted too much time there. I hurried out.
In the bathroom, I stared at my reflection. Took a deep breath. Sought serenity. I was in the Enchantress, but the Crone was already knocking at the door. My moon would probably bleed in the next few hours.
What he proposed violated the Code of Medical Ethics. And his answer? A petition. The GMC could take cycles to decide.
I knew the right candidates were difficult to find. But only with them can CogniSynth connect without breaking the brain. Irreversible damage could occur. Perhaps death.
Josivaldo wanted results now. The prestige would come sooner. At my expense? Never.
I walked out, determined. "Takashi."
He was already waiting at the office entrance.
"Prepare a petition for the GMC. I need an injunction. I'll send the details."
He nodded.
"Speak to Hideaki's assistant. Schedule an appointment." My eyes stayed fixed on him. "Tell her it's urgent. Let me know when everything's arranged." I sighed. "I need something sweet."
"Would you like me to order it?"
"No." I dismissed him with a gesture. I want to get away from here now. "I'll buy it myself."
Takashi blinked stiffly. "I understand."
The treat was sold at a shop in Centrália. The intermediate region between Zenith and Netheria, São Paulo's underworld.
Bustling activity. Hellish traffic along the airways. Deafening noise. Cars. Advertisements. Voices. Androids. All the chaotic sounds of the city. Filthy. Vibrant. The true heart of São Paulo.
I reached the Emerald Line. The only aerotrain connecting Zenith to Centrália. The journey took an hour. Far too long. The route wound around the outside of the buildings.
On the holoscreen, a live broadcast: Strike. The three main central hubs at a standstill. The streets belonged to the workers of Sessota, the largest nanotech investor in the Americas. Signs raised. Shouts echoing. They demanded fair wages. Jobs. Shorter working hours. Not even the rain held them back.
I looked away.
VRRRSH! A noise echoed behind me. I peered into the carriage. The roof opened.
WHUMP! A hooded figure entered.
Silence.
My heart raced. I shrank into my seat. Tried to see her again.
Gone.
What was happening?
"This was supposed to be empty." The husky voice came from above, muffled by a mask.
I startled and sprang up, hitting my head. Pain reverberated. Dazed, I focused on the silhouette. Dark clothes, face concealed except for the eyes. One of a kind. Dark amber, flecked with brown.
"Why?" I sat back down, massaging the bump on my forehead.
"How did you get on this train?"
I frowned. "At Emerald station. Normally."
She waved her hands. "You have a very special access pass. Doesn't matter. We have to get out now."
"The next station is in ten minutes. I'm getting off at Magenta."
"This train's gonna crash." The figure moved to the center of the carriage.
VRRRSH! The roof slid open.
"C'mon."
"What are you talking about?"
"Wanna die?"
My breath faltered.
"This train's gonna crash into the next one and explode." She calmly held out her hand.
My heart raced faster. I looked around. Empty carriages. "Explode?"
Her gaze conveyed truth. And if it was true, I could follow her or choose death.
I held my breath. My body hesitated. But then… I took a step and grasped her gloved hand.
Before I could react, she threw me onto her back and jumped.
The ground vanished. The world turned upside down.
My heart exploded in my chest. Gusts of wind roared, cut my skin. The height dragged my stomach into the void. My fingers dug into the fabric of her clothes. I was holding on—or perhaps she was holding me. How did she remain so steady? Who was she?
On top of the train, she advanced to the edge. Gripped my legs.
Jumped.
The abyss swallowed us.
A scream escaped me. I squeezed her neck. Too hard. She staggered. Before rolling across the ground, she pulled me in front of her, wrapping me in her arms as we hit.
I closed my eyes. Everything stopped. Adrenaline burned through my veins. Thinking was impossible.
"You okay?" She stared at me with an indecipherable gaze.
So close. I swallowed hard, pulling away.
She stood.
I checked my body. No pain. "I think so."
Scrawled-on walls stretched around us. An old building, almost abandoned, except for the light on next door.
"Come." She went through the glass doors.
Her bossy tone irritated me, but I followed.
We walked through a dark hall. The smell of mold permeated the air. I suppressed a cough. Dust surrounded us. Faint light crossed the broken windows, revealing destroyed furniture. Forgotten lives.
KRIIISH! Glass shattered in the distance.
I startled.
She stopped. "Just rats."
We continued in silence.
Inside my mind, a whirlwind. Thoughts crossing one another, colliding, fragmenting. I did not even notice the elevator arrive. Or when I stepped inside. Only corrupted music played. Scraped at my ears.
The doors opened. Darkness. No windows. One exit. The only light came from the center of the table. An artificial glow over the equipment.
"Sit there." She pointed to a chair and began working on the device.
I hesitated. What on earth was she doing?
"You're from up there, right?" Her tone was casual. "Don't even need to answer. You smell like Zenith."
I frowned.
"What do you do up there?"
"Why would I tell you anything?"
"Answer if you want." She shrugged.
I rolled my eyes. What kind of crazy situation was this? "Are you going to kill me?"
She took her eyes off the equipment. Looked straight at me. Piercing.
My breath faltered. That intimidating presence. I was facing the unexpected.
"Wanna die?" The coldness in her gaze cut through me.
I swallowed hard. My heart beat so fast. I could almost hear it in the silence.
She returned to the equipment.
"Ready?"
I leaned forward, frowning. "Ready for wha—"
She pressed a button.
Everything changed.
My heart stumbled. The agitation surged, out of control. My eyes widened in awe.
The Corchesweave enveloped us. Holographic stars, constellations, planets, and galaxies shone before us. Real. Tangible. Pixelated stardust settled on my skin.
"I-incredible…" My voice barely came out.
The sight robbed me of words. It was more than the cosmos. It was the cosmic within her. The stars reflected on her body. On the curve of her face. In her intense honey-colored eyes.
All that threatening aura had vanished. Break-ins? Exploding trains? Death threats?
All of it fell away.
There was only the gleam in her eyes. Everything that mattered to her.
"Y'know…" Her voice sounded gentle. "I think each of us is our own corchesweave."
Her eyes, deep and indecipherable as an eclipse, held mine.
The gravity around us changed.
She leaned over the table, approaching slowly, as though she knew I would remain still. Her face close to mine.
The air grew denser. My heart froze. I held my breath.
"Would you cross yours?"
I stayed silent.
She lowered her head, chuckling. The low chuckle echoed.
I woke from the trance. Laughed back without knowing why.
She switched off the projector.
Darkness.
"Let's go." In the half-light, she took my hand. Cold. Firm. Strangely comforting.
What had just happened?
We returned to the entrance.
She glanced around. "How did you hurt yourself?" She pointed to the bandage on my finger.
"This? It's irrelevant."
My mind seethed. I thought about what she had said. About the new sensations that had sprung up. Her words made me anxious. In a good way.
Beneath that rain, she put her hands in her pockets. Turned and walked away. Vanished into the darkness of the streets.
Her body's chill still on my skin.
From that moment on, I would be forever changed.