I sound the bell. “You are not asleep, Dahra. Do you have thoughts and feelings to share?”

  “Ummm. I like hearing it in my voice.”

  “You have a lovely voice.”

  “Thanks, Seebi. Oh, and I want to meet Prof.”

  “You will, dear, in due time.” I am encouraged that she does not resist. “First, more with Susine.”

  I queue the vocal program and sound the bell.

  Kee began our regular four founders meeting by noting that more bots are active on the compound. He described it as yet another perq of assisting the government.

  “We are finally ready to embrace this technology, generously given as a gift from the President. Feel free to experiment with these amazing machines.”

  Jenna blurted, “I'm already using mine for enforcement work. It's like I have a hundred eyes!”

  “Yes. Well,” Kee added, “I enjoy how mine tracks my unification goals and accomplishments. How about you, Christolb?”

  “I always wanted a scribe. All my daily conversations and lectures are now documented for posterity,” he replied.

  I wrote: no, thank you.

  Jenna snickered. “Too late. It's happening. You just didn’t notice.”

  “We don’t want to lose track of you, Susine, especially now that you're way out there in the stink hinterlands. Pee yew!” Kee made that sound and gesture again.

  Christolb chimed in. “Your bot is already linked to you, Susine. Make the best of it.”

  He stated that memory cleaning is an amazing tool and he proposed to rename it soul balancing. I thought it was a joke, but Kee and Jenna nodded solemnly.

  Jenna reported 65% member participation. She said the percentage would rise with further compliance incentives.

  I wrote: are there concerns? Anything unusual?

  They laughed. Kee shook his head. “The only direction is up, Susine.”

  “It's a remarkable time in our evolution,” Christolb boomed. “We move forward at light speed with our morals intact. I am immensely proud of us.”

  Jenna banged on the table and smiled. “Did you all hear the marketing promo featuring my voice?”

  Kee snapped, “How did that happen? Impossible! Surely they would've come to me first.”

  Jenna tilted her head. “It pays to have actual friends, Kee. Here, I'll play it for you. It's just a preliminary version.”

  We heard a narrator speak. “Our brains are amazing organs when clean and balanced. Snarled memories cause low productivity, obesity, addiction, mental imbalance, violent rages, illness, and low-self esteem.”

  On the recording, Jenna's voice chimed in. “Clinging to anything equals imprisonment. Setting our brains free is the next step in human evolution. We Genubei know all about that!”

  Then, President Prehvost's voice said, “In order to remember who we truly are, we have to forget who we have become. Do your patriotic duty! Reclaim our power, productivity, and wealth! Purge for your own good! Purge for the good of all!”

  After the recording ended, Jenna announced that there is a rumor of introducing memory cleaning to the general population in the Outside soon.

  “But,” Kee whined, “I thought we were the exclusive group.”

  “There's enough for everyone, Kee.” Jenna smirked. “Remember the abundance mindset, won't you?”

  As we left the meeting, I tapped Jenna on the shoulder and wrote: doing ok?

  “Never better. Why are you always so weird?”

  I wrote: come by the Slab again sometime.

  “Why would I ever go to that filthy place?” She scoffed and turned away.

  Forgotten on-demand… Sometimes, true-tell, I wish I could do that, too.

  Later in the afternoon, Glia and I were walking on the crowded path towards the main courtyard.

  Jenna approached us, with her bot following. She bumped hard into my shoulder and turned to look me in the eye.

  Then, Jenna put on a performance.

  She pointed at a nearby community member and loudly declared to him, “Your behavior is a needless struggle! It's time to untangle your brain and soul. I am here to assist.”

  He took a step back. She signaled her bot to hover above his head. Seconds later, it beeped and showed a red light.

  She addressed the member. “Do you see? We won't let you drag the rest of us down.”

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  He sighed and hunched his back. “I'm not sure that my God-within wants me to cleanse my knowledge.”

  She stated, “You are clinging. I am here to help you on your journey. Trust your Genubei family. We shall meet in your chamber right away.”

  The member vaguely nodded and moved away. Glia and I continued walking.

  Jenna caught up with us, looking smug. “Don't dare think I've forgotten either of you. You both have the signs of disgustingly unkept brains.

  “For now, you fall outside of my official enforcement parameters. But soon, I'll have no boundaries.

  "I will remember you. That's not a threat because, of course, you both deserve to be lifted to a higher spiritual plane. We are Genubei and we value each other, don't we Susine.”

  After she was out of earshot, Glia asked me, “You consider her a friend?”

  I shook my head.

  I sound the bell and wait for Dahra's response.

  “You know, first I thought I had to be Susine. Then, I thought you were thinking I had to be Glia.”

  “Oh, my dear. I have no such complicated, preconceived notions on board. I shall endeavor to be clear with you, Dahra. This process only functions to perfection when I allow you to make authentic choices.”

  “I guess I thought you were going to do it for me, Seebi.” Dahra pauses. “I have a question. Do you know others in this building?”

  “Know?”

  My human furrows her brow. “Is the restroom just for me?”

  “No. Three studios share the sanitation facilities. What makes you ask this?”

  “Nothing, nothing. I was just thinking about the, um, the President… that's what I was thinking about. I remember Glia worked on the President's brain. Tell me about it, Seebi.”

  Dahra balls up the blanket, puts it on the table, and lays her head on it.

  I sound the bell and take up my narration voice.

  “When Glia entered the formal office, President Prehvost stepped forward to meet her. 'Welcome, Ms. Markham. My policy adviser suggested that I experience neural pruning myself and she recommended you as the best.'

  “'Thank you, Madame President.'

  “'Let's begin. I selected a memory. I would like it removed.'

  “'Of course, Madame President. Would you mind first discussing the process a bit?'

  “The President waited expectantly. Glia remained standing since no seat was offered to her.

  “'You see, Madame, often people imagine neural pruning to be akin to cutting back overgrown shrubbery. Or, it is assumed to be a formulaic, clinical procedure.

  "'Neither is accurate. This process is interactive, led by you and supported by this experienced neurotherapist. It will be as intuitive as you choose and as methodical as you would like.'

  “The President tapped an index finger on her chin. 'So. I just think of it.'

  “'Madame, the initial goal is to construct an emotional synopsis of the memory, which is accomplished by talking with this therapist about it.'

  “The President waved her hand impatiently. 'Oh, then, I need to pick a different memory. I am not prepared to speak out loud about any of that. Is it absolutely necessary? I wasn't told that sharing was required.'

  “'This protocol has been thoroughly vetted by your Defense Wing. You can rest assured, Madame, regarding any personal privacy concerns.'

  “The President appeared unsure of continuing. 'Forgive me, Ms. Markham. I have been caught unaware about the exact nature of this meeting. I am quite embarrassed.'

  “Glia inquired, 'Why would that be? You've done nothing wrong.'

  “The President shook her head. 'I am the Captain and ultimately responsible for all that happens on board.'

  “'That's an enormous amount of pressure.' Glia waited for the President to speak further.

  “'This meeting, for example, Ms. Markham. My staff did not properly brief me. I've churned through our valuable time with no accomplishment. Such a shame. I apologize.'

  “Glia smiled. 'Au contraire, Madame President. This offers an ideal opportunity for a modest, first pruning experience. Please describe what happened in the past two minutes for you. Re-live it, if you will.'

  “'Ah. I see!' the President exclaimed. 'And then never think of it ever again.'

  “'Ready when you are, Madame.'”

  I sound the bell. After some silence, I inquire, “Can you absorb a bit more, Dahra? This is auspicious.”

  “Tired. Mushy brain. But, ok, Seebi.”

  “Very good. I am proud of you. Here we go.”

  I sound the bell and narrate.

  “Dear Mentor Robinsen,

  “I had a most remarkable experience yesterday in the presidential office with memory pruning, guided by your very competent senior staff member, Ms. Glia Markham.

  "I achieved freedom from a troubling personal memory and I felt deep-real relief. It was natural and unbothersome.

  “Directly after pruning, my ability to focus and think creatively increased significantly. The entire situation was handled appropriately by Ms. Markham.

  “I have been briefed on the test studies at the Defense Wing and within the Genubei community. The results are remarkable!

  "It is my opinion that this neural cleansing technology holds great promise for the future of our people.

  “A task force has been formed to expedite the approval process. Given the overwhelming scientific evidence of immediate benefit to our struggling citizens, I feel confident that all required permissions will be fast-tracked, in light of the pressing need for social stabilization and fiscal rejuvenation.

  “Please prepare yourself for the upcoming surge of demand. Thank you for your contribution to our common prosperity.

  “Yours truly, Captain-President Elena Prehvost.”

  I sound the bell and Dahra does not respond. Her heart rate indicates resting state.

  Do not underestimate the opportunity to weave mems directly into a human brain during their sleep cycle.

  I sound the bell again, pressing forward in my narration voice.

  “Kee sipped his tea in his personal garden. The bamboo stalks swayed in the breeze and sunlight.

  “He spoke to his bot, which hovered near his head. 'She prefers to deal with me. Christolb is only the mascot, really. But, I am the political-intellectual conduit.

  “'I think she and I are very similar. We both have solemn responsibilities to the citizens and beloveds that look up to each of us, as their respective leaders. This morning's correspondence from her is evidence of this.'

  “Kee gestured to his bot and the President's message was replayed.

  “'Cherished Ally: Venerable Kee,

  “'We are kindred spirits in so many ways. I would like to take this opportunity to express my admiration for your wise sophistication.

  "'You understand that allies are not only necessary, but a joy to share the burden of life's travails. Our partnership is a banquet of mutually beneficial offerings.

  “'Political gain is merely a tool for advancement of the inward true values of our common soul-- productivity, community, strength.

  "'Your humble-deep wisdom unlocks the secrets of how people think, choose, and react. Kee, you have a magical ability to steer the herd.

  “'Thanks to the Genubei's enlightened willingness to embrace the phenomenal technology of memory liberation, we now have an opportunity to unleash greater progress in the social, economic, political, and philosophical life of our suffering people.

  “'I propose that you, Venerable Kee, personally hand-select one hundred Genubei representatives to spawn the technology deeper into the general population.

  "'The Governing Body will, of course, provide all necessary support. I eagerly stand ready to make this project an unqualified success on an organically expanding scale.

  “'Sincerely yours in faith and freedom, Elena.'

  “Kee paced the length of the garden. 'The Genubei ark is catching the current, riding the wind, with sails set for the wide, open horizon. Goddess-within willing, I verily agree to captain our vessel!

  “'Please compose my response to the Body President, that is, to Elena. Convey that I happily accept her invitation to contribute my humble skills to any project forwarding the betterment of humankind.'

  “Kee murmured, 'The not-yet-Genubei souls don't possess a nuanced understanding of cause and effect. Our communications must be clear, simplistic message-bytes if we are to enlighten the general populace.

  “'I will have a list of the one hundred Agents of Change to propose to Elena very soon.'”