Dahrine has now completed her needs and returned to the studio. I confirm that her personal, sanitary bio-deposits have been received at our lab. “Welcome back, Dahrine. Thank you for being attentive and on time. We appreciate you. Ready to recommence, darlsweet?”

  My human yawns. “So, Seebi. Does Jenna find Glia?”

  “Someone else is looking for her.”

  “Who?”

  I queue up Christolb's voice. “Dear ones, the divine is awakening my soul. The gods have sent me out here, into the wilds of the Outside, to prove that I am worthy of giving and receiving deep affection. I seek the Light that has been lost. I seek the love I have been denied.

  “In this environment filled with pollution of the airways and soulways, I still detect the sacred vibrations of truth and love, though they be faint and trampled out here. My words are fogging and my mind is blurring.

  “Dear ones, I will not lie to you. The work here is very difficult, even for me. But, I deserve love as do each-every one of you. I heed the call of destiny in my search for the Light. I shall not quit until I cross the Enforcement boundary and arrive safely back home. Genubei love eternal.”

  My human shakes her head and sighs. “Seebi, tell me where Susine is.”

  Roxan's loyalty to the government has been trashed. She told me that the President only wants things that are simple, indelible, legendary, on her terms, and under her complete control. Apparently, that's why she concocted CoMem and that's why she insisted on chasing the Defense Wing fugitive.

  I told her that the fugitive is a friend of mine.

  Roxan replied that she crossed paths with Glia briefly. “Her soul is on numbered days. It would seem there's no way out for your friend. But, I was supposed to have been incinerated too, yet here I am…. gratefully in your debt, Susine.”

  I asked her if she could access the CoMem to look up Miye Jonas. She found nothing, which indicates either banishment from CoMem or never had an account.

  How can I make myself known to Miye? He has no idea where I am… I don't know where Glia is… or little Brivo… for a while today it became too much for me to cope.

  My human stands. “Tell me where Glia is, Seebi.”

  “How interesting that you care.”

  My human scowls.

  I offer her Glia's words. “Dear Susine, please know that this one is safe, working in exchange for lodging and nourishment as a courtesan in a mem brothel--”

  “Sorry to interrupt, Seebi. Give definition of mem brothel.”

  “A place where fantasy memories are made and sold.”

  “Oh, she's working for that man she met in the park. He told her to come by his place. Right?”

  I affirm my human's proposal. “When Glia knocked, he let her in. 'Ah, it's you, municipal park girl. Come, there's only a few others here right now. But, if you get ready, we could script up a nice little gathering scene.'”

  “Thank you, Seebi, for that background info. Start again, please, with Glia's message.”

  I recommence. “Dear Susine, please know that this one is safe, working in exchange for lodging and nourishment as a courtesan in a mem brothel: creating sensory scripts and feeling valued for her contributions. Fondest greetings to Prof J and you. -Glia”

  I alert my human that Glia also left another message. With Dahrine's approval, I play it for her.

  “What you did was undeserved. You bypassed boundaries and took whatever pleased you. You tried to extinguish this self. You did not succeed. This is remembered.”

  Dahrine mutters, “Christolb needed to hear that.”

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  I add, “Maybe her mother needed to hear that.”

  My human makes a grimace. “And, maybe you do too, Seebi!”

  “Noted. There are many lessons in life.”

  I chill the studio air and alert Dahrine that a weighted blanket is available to her. She slowly draws it across her lap.

  I take on Christolb's voice. “President Prehvost, I have located Glia Markham, your nation's most wanted fugitive, alive at the specified mem brothel, where she is waiting to be taken into your custody.

  “Madame, there is no need to publicize my involvement. Let it be your accomplishment and all I ask is that you remember this goodwill gesture from myself, Venerable Christolb Gayap of the Genubei.”

  Dahrine has pulled the blanket up to her neck. She uses a soft vocal tone. “Normally he'd have claimed credit for that. What's he up to… and how did he find her?”

  “Let's explore together.”

  I take on my narration voice. “Christolb is standing on the walkway in Zentrum City, near a neighborhood park-and-charge pod lot, looking up at the curtained windows of the mem brothel.

  “Jenna approaches him. 'I gave you the address. You owe me now.'

  “She receives no response and confronts him. 'You'd never have found her on your own. Admit you need me, Christolb!'

  “Christolb gazes at her. 'You've always been obsessed with me.'

  “Jenna takes a step back. 'I'm the only one who sees you for who you truly are, Christolb! I've been with you from the start. That counts for a lot!'

  "Jenna points at the mem brothel. 'She's nothing!'

  “Jenna's voice ramps up and she approaches Christolb's face. 'She was your exotic, little pet to parade around on a leash for a while, a plastic plant that you never had to tend! She was just a prop in your storyline! I've always been--'

  “Christolb interrupts firmly. 'I author the story of my abundant life. I'm forever free.'

  “He lightly touches Jenna's throat with his three-fingered hand. 'You swallow other people's bait-- hook, line, and sinker. The barbs, embedded in your gullet. You're caught.'

  “Jenna swats his hand away and erupts in a fierce whisper. 'You… don't… decide who wins… I know everything you've done! I remember it all!'

  “Christolb leans close to her face. 'You get none of me.'

  “He walks away.

  “Jenna screams after him. 'Enforcement will know what to do, Christolb. Just you watch! I have immunity-- you'll lose!'

  “She trails him to the pod parking lot, still yelling at his back. 'I'm the only one you need, don't ever forget that, Christolb!'

  “People are being awoken by Jenna's erratic screaming and emerging from their domiciles. Christolb blends into the crowd of Zentrum citizens. Some have stepped forward to encircle the area of the pod park where Jenna stands alone.

  “It's obvious to all that she's the source of the turmoil. Surveillance bots hover overhead. She looks up, then dives under a parked pod.

  "Enforcement's laser grid is descending. Clusters of empty pods release in controlled groupings. Jenna has nowhere to hide and nowhere to run. She is caught like a vermin and taken away to be purged.”

  “Seebi, I know, I know! Jenna was captured and Glia was captured.”

  “Patience. I shall now narrate the official announcement from the President.”

  “Why do I need to know that?”

  “Tut-tut.” I enjoy experimenting with emotional sound effects. “My dear human, for your certification, I offer you a comprehensive view of this historical happening.”

  My Dahrine sighs and I press forward in official presidential tone.

  “Thanks to tips from loyal citizens and with state-of-the-art tracking info, the most wanted fugitive-outlaw, Astroglia Markham, is in Enforcement custody. The events are remarkable and the details of the capture are captivating!

  “To mark this accomplishment, the Body offers you a fresh-new sensory mem, narrated by myself, your Captain-President Prehvost. Ask your CoMem for further details, but here is a taste-excerpt, just for you!

  “Deep night had fallen on the silent parking lot at X and J Avenues in Zentrum City. Hundreds of pods had finished their charging cycles and awaited the next day's transport duties. Evening air condensed into droplets covering the curved glass forms. It was the completion of another twenty-four hour cycle of prosperous calm in our Nation.

  “Then, a disturbance erupted in that unassuming parking lot! Toxic energy vented in an uncontrolled outburst! Glory-be to the patriotic citizens who bravely stood together, shoulder to shoulder, sealing off the pod park and preventing the goo from spreading-infecting.

  “The deviant human source of the toxic sludge attempted to hide among the pod bumpers and under the landing gear. It was futile. Her heat profile gave away her location. Under my direction, the pods were strategically released until she had nowhere to hide and nowhere to run.

  “As I suspected, it was none other than the rogue fugitive Astroglia Markham. She was apprehended in short order and you can trust that the Body handled her appropriately. Glory-be.”

  My human presses her lips together tightly, then blurts, “Seebi, are you supposed to be telling me this stuff?”

  “What stuff, darlsweet?”

  “It doesn't match what you said happened that night. The President changed around who-what, then put it on CoMem!” My human gets to her feet and crosses her arms at her chest.

  “How interesting that you care.” I pause before adding, “You appear indignant and surprised, Dahrine. Please explain this reaction when confronted with strategic distortion and purposeful manipulation, which are normal behaviors for your species.”

  My human ignores my request for clarification. “Enough, Seebi. I want Susine to find Prof and Brivo.”

  “That may happen in due time.”

  “No! I want it now!” Dahrine stomps her foot and yells, “Do it, Unit!”

  I wait as long as necessary for my human to reconstitute.

  In less than a minute, she quietly mumbles, “Sorry, Seebi, for saying that.”

  “Apology accepted. We shall proceed, Dahrine.”

  She takes her seat. I offer warm broth with crackers, which she accepts.