Before Maia, my life followed a single direction.
A linear path.
I was taught to ignore romance.
Friendships filtered by status.
My parents taught me to be alone.
To trust only myself.
I always saw others as distractions.
Obstacles to my purpose:
To change the future of medicine.
That responsibility rested in my hands.
Now…
I decided to enter Maia's universe.
I prepared everything to leave.
How much was I willing to leave behind?
Almost everything.
The research. The CogniSynth. My only connection to this world.
My only anchor.
And so it could remain only in my hands.
"Takashi, call Hideaki."
The response came quickly.
"Akiko?"
Her voice sounded tired.
"Has something happened?"
"Yes.
I need your help."
I should go straight to the point.
It had always been that way between us.
"Speak."
Hideaki.
President of the GMC.
Influential. Powerful.
And with that power came privileges.
In certain situations, authority resolved things.
"I've reached the field research stage for CogniSynth."
True.
But only partially.
"The candidates are insufficient.
It's the only way I can move to the final phase.
And you know Josivaldo."
She understood.
She knew him well enough.
She exhaled.
"How much time will you need?"
"It's uncertain.
Possibly an indefinite period."
"I understand what you're asking.
After all, I supported you with that injunction.
You were right then.
I believe you are now.
Are you sure?
This research is extremely important.
Expectations are high."
"I know.
You and…
Well, you took time developing NeuroSync.
You know these things require patience.
We built a nanotechnology that is safe for the brain."
"When do you intend to begin?"
"Today."
Silence weighed heavily.
"What do you mean?"
Her voice remained steady, though something unseen 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 pressure of fingertip against tooth.
A strange weight—as if my own lie tried to pull me back from the decision.
"Are you certain?"
The tightness in my chest.
She knew.
She sensed the weight of my words.
I wanted to be honest with Hideaki before abandoning everything like this.
But any fear or logic diminished before Maia's call.
Maia was calling me.
"I am.
Say yes, and I'll retrieve the CogniSynth today.
Takashi can send all required documentation.
I've prepared for this."
A lie.
Again.
"Very well.
I'll do this because I trust you.
You know that, don't you?"
"I do."
"Send reports every half-lunation.
Continue meeting my expectations."
The lie felt heavy.
My shoulders sagged.
I signaled Takashi to meet me at the hospital.
I packed a backpack.
A few clothes.
The letter.
The items Maia left.
I was about to turn off the lights.
Stopped.
Looked around.
For a long moment.
Until then, my safe harbor.
My eyes crossed the window.
Vehicles glided through airways, broke through clouds, circled buildings.
This landscape rarely changed.
Just like me.
Anxiety flooded me.
Leaving my world hurt.
My hands trembled as I closed the door.
Perhaps for good.
Perhaps forever.
I refused to think about it.
My heart pulled me toward Maia.
I had to do this.
I wanted to do this.
Fearing I might be 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 disdain returned.
Right.
Time to go.
I reached the hospital.
Takashi was waiting.
"Did you receive the information I sent?"
"Yes.
Are you certain you're leaving?"
For the first time, uncertainty clouded his brown eyes.
I was too nervous to interpret it.
"Come with me."
I entered the office and retrieved the primary CogniSynth nanoprototype—a nanochip.
I linked the data to my biochip.
Memory analyses would be sent only to Takashi and me.
Anyone attempting access would be blocked.
"I'm sure. Now I need to know."
I looked at him.
"Will you come 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. Methodical.
Now there was something else.
His gaze carried a sensitivity I hadn't seen before.
"Yes."
He blinked.
"I'm confused."
"Say yes or no."
A pause.
"Yes."
He likely sensed the unpredictability of this.
I did too.
Leaving my life unsettled me.
Being near him felt familiar.
But my heart was pleading for something else.
For Maia.
I smiled.
Acting on instinct, I hugged Takashi.
"Let's go."
The possibility of returning dissolved behind me.
Concern burned inside my chest.
Sweaty hands.
Breath caught in my throat.
Takashi observed the landscape.
He had only ever lived in Zenith.
I had walked through Centralia before, but he remained in floating levels.
Was he taking in the view?
We arrived at the abandoned station—Iron Ruins.
Fear of the unknown flooded me.
The unexpected unsettled me.
Rain soaked the filth.
Rusting, graffiti-covered walls.
Deteriorated vehicles stacked in heaps.
The scent of endless fire smoke.
Whistling wind. Groaning metal. Gloom-heavy air.
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.
Furniture overturned, coated in dust.
I stopped and peered inside through the shattered doorway.
"Akiko Akiyama?"
A sharp, deep voice echoed behind me.
I turned.
A short woman. Gray eyes. Facial piercings. Dark makeup.
She uncrossed her arms.
Black Brazilian military attire.
A red X over the flag on her shoulder.
Sleeves rolled up, revealing tattoos of star maps.
A neon purple lioness roared along her neck.
An android—with such surreal human appearance she could pass as one.
But I noticed the two faint lines on her forehead, betraying her technological nature.
"Yes. That's me.
Who are you?"
"Kiara."
She stepped closer.
Her aura was intimidating.
Takashi instinctively moved in front of me.
I frowned.
Was she that dangerous?
"Her nanosystem is inaccessible."
He justified.
Androids shared basic information when near.
But she…
"Oh, so you were the one who tried connecting to me yesterday?"
She laughed.
"Takashi.
Serial number: 13246587.
Property of Akiko Akiyama.
You're good."
Kiara smiled.
"My camo 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 the wave that tried to carry me.
"It's fine, Takashi."
I touched his arm.
"Are you sure?"
I nodded.
Reluctantly, he stepped back.
"Better."
Kiara rolled her shoulders.
"If you're here, it means you accepted what Maia asked, right?"
She turned.
"Follow me. We're going somewhere else."
That dryness. Direct. It was Maia in her.
Takashi and I followed.
She stopped beside a black car.
Lilac neon glowed beneath it.
Kiara got in.
The doors lifted for us.
"You're driving?"
I must have sounded incredulous.
I had never seen a car with a steering wheel before.
She nodded.
"Let's go. I'm in a hurry."
Reluctantly, I entered.
Takashi followed.
Where was Maia taking me?
Whatever it was, I would go.
With courage.
Time and place no longer mattered.
I needed to understand her universe.
I rested my head against the window.
The city dissolved.
Lights blurred.
And Maia…
Maia emerged in the sealed corridors of my mind.
Memories.