Before Maia, my life followed a single direction. A linear path. Taught to ignore romance. Friendships restricted by status. My parents taught me to be alone. To trust only myself. I always saw others as distractions. Obstacles to my purpose: changing the future of medicine.
That was the responsibility in my hands.
Now… I had decided to enter Maia's universe. I prepared everything to leave. How much was I willing to leave behind? Almost everything. The research, CogniSynth, my only connection to this world. My only anchor. That was why it could only remain in my hands.
"Takashi, call Hideaki."
The answer came quickly.
"Akiko?" Her voice sounded tired. "Did something happen?"
"Hmm, yes. I need your help."
I should get straight to the point. That was how it had always been between us.
"Go on."
Hideaki. President of the GMC. Influential. Powerful. And as such, she held certain privileges. In some situations, that much power got things done.
"I've reached the field research stage for CogniSynth." True. But only partly. "There aren't enough candidates. This is the only way I can move on to the final stage. And you know Josivaldo."
She understood. Knew the man well enough to know. She sighed. "How much time will you need?"
"It's uncertain. Perhaps an indefinite period."
"I understand what you're asking. After all, I helped you with that injunction. You were right then. I know you are now. Are you sure? This research is very important. Everyone has high expectations."
"I know. You and… well, you took time to develop NeuroSync. You know these things require patience. We coweave nanotechnology that's safe for the brain."
"When do you intend to start?"
"Today."
Silence weighed heavily.
"What do you mean?" Her voice remained firm, but an invisible desperation crossed the line.
"I know it's sudden, but I need to be in the field. That's all." I bit my nails. A habit I had overcome cycles ago. The sensation of my fingertips against my teeth. An unexpected weight, as though my own lie were trying to pull me away from my decision.
"Are you sure?"
The tightness in my chest.
She knew. She understood the weight of my words.
I wanted to be honest with Hideaki before abandoning everything like this. But any fear or logic dwindled before her call.
Maia was calling me.
"I am. Say yes, and I'll collect CogniSynth today. Takashi can send all the necessary documents. I've already prepared for this."
A lie. Again.
"All right. I'll do this because I trust you. You know that, right?"
"I do."
"Send reports every half lunation. Keep meeting my expectations."
The lie, so heavy… My shoulders sagged.
I sent Takashi a signal to meet me at the hospital. Packed a backpack. A few clothes, the letter, and the items Maia had left.
I was about to switch off the lights. Stopped. Looked around. For a long moment. Until then, my safe harbor. My gaze passed through the window. Cars flew along airways, broke through clouds, circled among buildings.
This landscape so often remained the same. As did I.
Anxiety flooded me. Leaving my world hurt. My hands trembled as I closed the door. Perhaps I was closing it for good. Perhaps I was leaving forever.
I wanted to avoid thinking about it. My heart guided me toward Maia.
I had to do this. I wanted to do this.
Afraid of being pulled back, I left.
In the atrium, I wished Andi and Pavel good morning.
For the first time, Pavel smiled back. A brief smile. Almost a fragment of warmth. Seconds later, the subtle contempt returned.
All right. Time to go.
I reached the hospital. Takashi was waiting.
"Did you receive the information I sent?"
"Yes. Are you sure you're leaving?" For the first time, uncertainty clouded his brown eyes.
I was too nervous to try to understand it. "Come with me."
I headed to the office and picked up CogniSynth's main nanoprototype, a nanochip. Connected the data to my biochip. The memory analyses would be sent only to Takashi and me. Anyone who tried to access the research would be blocked.
"I'm sure. Now, I need to know." I looked at him. "Are you coming with me?"
He ran a hand through his dark hair, hesitant. "Are you asking me to accompany you?"
I frowned.
He had always been pragmatic. Always methodical. Now there was a different feeling. His gaze carried an insecurity so… sensitive.
"Yes."
He blinked. "I'm confused."
"Say yes or no."
He paused. "Yes."
He probably sensed the unpredictability of it. I was confused too. Leaving my life behind unsettled me, but being near him felt familiar.
My heart, however, begged for something else. For Maia.
I smiled. Following an instinct, I hugged Takashi. "Let's go."
Now, thoughts of turning back were behind me. Worry burned inside me. Sweaty hands. Breath caught in my throat.
Takashi watched the landscape. I remembered that he had only ever lived in Zenith. I had always walked through Centrália, but Takashi stayed on the floating levels.
Was he enjoying the view?
We reached the abandoned station, Iron Ruins.
Fear of the unknown flooded me. Dealing with the unexpected unsettled me.
Rain soaked the grime. Rusted walls, tagged, filthy. Deteriorating cars lay piled up. The burnt smell of inextinguishable fires. Hissing wind, creaking metal, a gloomy atmosphere.
Only the two of us.
I entered the coordinates into the map. We walked for ten minutes. The convenience store appeared. Broken windows. Empty shelves. Overturned furniture covered in dust. I stopped and peered inside through the wrecked doorway.
"Akiko Akiyama?" A deep, sharp voice resonated behind me.
I turned.
A short woman with cropped black hair, gray eyes, facial piercings, earrings, and dark makeup unfolded her arms. She wore black Brazilian military fatigues. A red X marked the flag on her shoulder. Rolled-up sleeves revealed several tattoos of star charts. A purple neon lioness roared on her neck, standing out among the other tattoos.
An android, uncannily human in appearance. But I noticed the two discreet lines on her forehead that revealed her technological nature.
"Yes, that's me. Who are you?"
"Kiara." She approached. Her aura was intimidating.
Takashi instinctively stepped in front of me.
I frowned. Was she that dangerous?
"Her nanosystem is inaccessible," he explained.
Androids shared basic information when close to one another. But she…
"Oh, so you're the one who tried to connect to me yesterday?" She chuckled. "Takashi. Serial number: 13246587. Property of Akiko Akiyama. You're good." Kiara smirked. "My camouflage nanohack is better."
My heart pounded.
"Anyway… I'm the android connected to Maia."
My breath faltered. Maia. I pressed my fingers into my palm. Held back the wave trying to carry me away. "It's all right, Takashi." I touched his arm.
"Are you sure?"
I nodded.
Hesitantly, he stepped back.
"Better." Kiara rolled her shoulders. "If you're here, that means you accepted what Maia asked of you, right?" She turned. "Follow me. We're going somewhere else."
That brusqueness. Direct. It was Maia in her.
Takashi and I followed.
She stopped beside a black car. Lilac neon gleamed underneath. Kiara got in. The doors rose for us.
"You're going to drive?" I must have seemed incredulous. Seeing a car with a steering wheel was a first for me.
She nodded. "C'mon. I'm in a hurry."
Reluctantly, I got in. Takashi followed right behind.
Where would Maia take me? Whatever the case, I would go. With the courage to feel. Time or place hardly mattered. I needed to understand her universe.
I rested my head against the window. The city dissolved. The lights blurred.
And Maia…
Maia appeared along the closed paths of my mind.
Memories.