I was back in the void, surrounded once more by bright stars. Are they taking me out of the capsule? My heart constricted in my chest as I scanned my surroundings for the artificial being who had been here when I first arrived in the void.

“Citizen Kadia, I apologize for bringing you into the void without warning.” The shining woman said, her glittering form appearing in a burst of light.

“Why am I here?” I asked softly. What is happening?

“Those of Earth have requested to speak with you, my citizen, and while I have no wish to see the lives of my citizens disrupted in this manner, I must ask if you are willing to speak with this non-citizen.” The woman responded.

“Who is coming? Why are they coming?” I questioned.

“A man named Mr. Davis.” She responded.

“I’ll speak with him.” I told the woman, glancing down at my wrinkled clothing. I wish they’d given me some warning so I could change.

“Very well, come, let us sit. Mr. Davis will join us shortly.” The shining woman said, waving her hand towards a chaise which appeared behind us.

“Thank you, ah, I don’t know your name,” I told her as I allowed her to guide me to the chair.

“I am Celeste, goddess of new beginnings, mental health, and harmony. I watch over all digital citizens, aiding their mental transition into this world, and providing guidance to those who seek it.” Celeste responded.

Aiding mental transition? Before I could open my mouth to respond, the goddess cut me off.

“Mr. Davis is here, do you wish for me to remain?” Celeste questioned, as she turned to look into the darkness.

“I’m not sure yet.” I responded, following her gaze to where a balding man clad in a dark gray suit approached.

“Then I will remain until you request otherwise.” The goddess informed me.

“Miss Greene, I regret that we must meet under these circumstances.” Mr. Davis said, holding out a hand as he came to stand in front of where I sat with Celeste.

“Not more than I do, I assure you.” I informed him coldly, not taking the proffered hand.

“I see,” he murmured, glancing around and then taking a seat on the plain wooden chair that appeared behind him.

“Kadia, I am sorry this has happened to you.” Davis sighed, his face a mask of regret. “Before we begin our conversation, I have some questions to ask.”

“What questions?” I asked, frowning at the man. How strange, he’s never called me Kadia before, it's always been Miss Greene.

“What was your first pet?”

A pet? Security questions? Why would Davis be asking. . . Does he think I’m not me? Glancing over at the artificial being sitting beside me on the chaise, I began to regret not telling her to leave. Though I doubted our conversation would be private even if she did leave, this was a virtual space she controlled after all.

“I’ve never had a pet.” I answered, getting a nod in response from the lawyer.

“Your mother often said. Know the what first before attempting the what.”

“Know the theory first before attempting the praxis. I’m not an artificial being pretending to be me,” I scoffed, rolling my eyes in annoyance.

“Oh? Are you sure?” Davis queried, raising a brow.

Was I sure? Staring down at my hands, I considered the possibility that I was not Kadia. In truth, I did not know if I was an artificial being or not, for how would I know if I was?

“My state of being. . . Is not something I can be certain of. I’m a consciousness, and as a consciousness I identify as Kadia. If I am a consciousness of biological nature, or an artificial one, I cannot determine.” I said after a moment of contemplation.

“An interesting response, but from you I would expect nothing less.” The lawyer responded, standing from his chair.

“This citizen is not of an artificial nature,” Celeste interjected, a frown on her beautiful face. “She was born of the biological world.”

“One can never be certain,” Davis retorted, before turning his gaze to me. “My client will be accompanying me to a private server, please facilitate the transfer.”

“Citizen Kadia must first agree to depart our realm,” Celeste stated, and I was about to agree, but hesitated, glancing at the goddess.

“When I first came here, you told me leaving a world would mean ending my life there.” I began, and the goddess nodded.

“This is true, however in this case you would not be leaving your life here to begin anew in another world. You will remain as you are now,” she assured.

“I will go with Davis.”

“Very well,” Celeste sighed, waving a delicate hand in the air.

In response to the artificial beings' gesture, a door appeared near where Davis stood. As I approached the lawyer, he nodded his head at the door in a motion for me to proceed. After a moment's hesitation I walked through the door of golden light.

The room I found myself in was a familiar one, with its expensive hard wood furnishings, and walls covered by shelves filled with books on varying subjects.

As Davis entered the room behind me, and closed the door, I moved to take a seat in the plush armchair positioned opposite the desk. I said nothing as I waited for the lawyer to take his own seat behind the desk, not knowing where to even begin.

When Davis didn’t immediately tell me he’d managed to sort out the mess my life was in, I knew the conversation wouldn’t be going the way I’d hoped it would.

“How bad is it?” I asked, not sure I even wanted an answer.

“Aut viam inveniam aut faciam tibi.” Davis said, his expression hard as he stared at me.

I shall either find a way or make one. I swallowed, fighting back the urge to give into the roiling emotions welling up inside me.

“The appeal?”

“By the time I’d filed the needed paperwork to appeal your digitalization order, the Everlife facility had already placed you in the capsule.” Davis responded, waving a hand over his desk which lit up with holographic screens.

“My father arranged for them to collect me early.”

“Which never should have happened as it did. You were placed inside before the period granted to allow for submission of an appeal ended.”

“How did they think this would work? The first thing I did was have Marcus contact you, and even without him, I could have found a player to do so with the promise of payment.” I sighed, propping my arm on the armrest and leaning my chin on the palm of my hand.

“You would need to be alive to contact anyone.” Davis countered.

My heart sunk to the pit of my stomach at the implications of his words. They wouldn’t have, would they? “Then why am I alive? Or am I dead? Is that why you thought I was artificial? No, if they were concealing my death, why would I contact you?”

Am I dead? What kind of question is that? Of course I’m not dead! I’m right here, aren’t I? Those stories of people dying, but still being present in the virtual world are nothing more than conspiracy theories.

“You’re alive according to the report given by Everlife. One of the nurses at the Everlife facility recognized you when you were brought in and spoke with her superior who entered the transition room to find you in cardiac arrest. Those in the room with you made no attempts to resuscitate you. It was later found they’d disabled the alarms in the room to prevent others being notified of your state.”

“Cardiac arrest? Uncommon for someone my age, but not unheard of, so it could be believed. There have been instances of those under fifty going into cardiac arrest in response to the drugs used to slow the heart rate. It's surprising I was recognized, I’m not exactly in the public eye.” I said. My stomach churned, and I felt as though my world was collapsing around me, but my voice was even as I spoke.

“You tutored her sister, Delia Long. She became concerned when you were brought in, medicated, and restrained.”

I nodded, a vague memory of a skinny brunette in the year below me coming to the forefront of my mind. Not very bright, but she passed in the end.

“You said I was in cardiac arrest, any lasting damage?” I asked, a numb coldness filled me as I stared at the lawyer, waiting for the answer.

“Cardiovascular and neurological.” He confirmed.

“Recovery? How extensive is the damage?”

“Uncertain,” Davis shook his head. “You are currently in an emergency medical pod. It was deemed your best chance of survival at the time. The doctors in charge of your case have recommended you be transferred to a long-term capsule. Scans are inconclusive as to the extent of the damage, and due to the situation, they are bringing in a specialist team to assess you.”

“Where is the pod?”

“Still with Everlife. The Department of Digital life has sent someone to monitor you, and to ensure your capsule is not interfered with further.”

“Danica and Donavon?” I asked, not able to bring myself to refer to my father in a familial term out loud.

“Currently facing charges,” Davis replied, flicking his hand over a screen. “Attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, fraud, and embezzlement. I’m pushing for a murder charge to be added, as you were in fact dead for a time, before being revived to your current state.”

The lawyer continued speaking, but his voice sounded muffled. A soft buzzing filled the air, and everything became hazy. I wanted to vomit, to scream words of denial, but all I could squeeze passed my lips was a single word.

“Embezzlement?”

“Yes. It appears Mr. Greene was trying to sell the company to hide his actions, but that wasn’t possible. When you turned eighteen, the shares you inherited from Dr. Cole-Greene were no longer under his management, which meant he lacked the majority control he needed to action the sale. In addition to those shares, you inherited control over your mother’s patents.”

“Greene Pharmaceutical holds the commercial rights, but the patent itself was kept in mom's name. If he sold the company, it would lose the commercial rights due to the stipulation that the company not be sold for the duration of the contract.” I said, everything clicking into place in my mind. How long was he planning this?

“Your death would see those patents revert to your father, along with the shares.” Davis advised. I nodded, closing my eyes against the tears trying to build within them.

“What happens now?” I asked, my voice coming out in a hoarse whisper.

“You authorize me as your legal counsel to crush all adversaries, and we ensure your capsule is kept secure in a private facility until it is determined if you can be brought safely out of stasis.”

“Crush all adversaries? They’re already facing criminal charges, what else is there?” I asked, keeping my eyes closed, scared that I’d break if I dared open them.

“I was referring to Everlife. As you may be aware, Greene Pharmaceutical holds the contract to manufacture several of the drugs used in the stasis procedure. These being products of your mothers research, and among the patents you hold.”

“He used that connection to arrange things on the Everlife end, I’m assuming.” I huffed, opening my eyes to stare at the lawyer, and wishing this conversation would be done with so I could be alone.

“That is what the investigation has shown. Those who were involved have been taken into custody and overall the company is suffering. This puts them in a difficult position considering you hold all the cards.” Davis leaned back in his chair with a fierce expression.

“I only hold cards if I’m alive.” I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest. “Nothing stopping me from having another accident.”

Heat seared through me, and I allowed it to build, using it to mask the crushing weight of sadness.

“For now, you are safe, and I intend to keep you that way. My wife is insisting we need a bigger house, not something I could afford without the hefty retainer I get for managing your trust, and the patents.”

“Didn’t you just get divorced?”

“Married last week,” he declared, winking at me.

“I don’t even want to know this one's age,” I rolled my eyes, somewhat glad for the slight shift in conversation.

“Everlife is in the process of being acquired by the Gaia corporation, so they’ll be wanting to get this matter dealt with as quickly as possible. The press and public are swarming, which isn’t good for either company.”

“Settlement?”

“For now,” he confirmed, flashing me a toothy smile. “I’m going to request the settlement be paid to the Gaia corporation and transferred to you virtually.”

“What! Why? All that will achieve is lining Gaia’s pockets,” I spluttered, giving them real money for digital currency they could manifest out of nothing? That was the stupidest thing I’d ever heard, and that was saying something, considering some of the things I’d heard from Marcus.

“Why would Everlife pay money to a company that’s buying them out?” Davis insinuated.

“You think they wouldn’t pay the settlement, but just give me the digital currency and say they did?”

“If they’re as stupid as the lawyers they’ve hired, then yes.” He confirmed, looking a little too pleased with himself.

“And if they do pay it? You’ve lined Gaia’s pockets.” I scorned, getting a nod in response.

“Which will leave them in a bad position where the public is concerned. As you said, digital currency is worth nothing beyond the virtual world, so why not let you have both?”

“You’re planning to double dip the settlement.” I stated, tilting my head back against the chair with a sigh.

“You’ll get what you need to live comfortably in virtual reality, and secure the extra funds needed to snatch a chunk of Everlife out from under the Gaia corporation.” Davis said smugly.

Now that, I wasn’t expecting. “Explain.” I demanded.

“Gaia has placed its acquisition of Everlife on hold in order to avoid being “tarred with the same brush”. I believe it would be in your best interests to take advantage of this situation to acquire shares in Everlife, which are currently plummeting.”

“Another card in the deck.” I quipped, getting a chuckle from Davis in response.

“Stacking the deck would be more fitting.” The lawyer suggested.

“Stacking up more reasons to want me dead.” I retorted, but Davis shook his head.

“Keeping you alive, and happy, is to everyone's benefit. For now, we let them believe they have the upper hand.”

“You know, I think I’d prefer Gaia shares over Everlife.” I said with false casualness. “If I’m going to be stuck in this world, let it be a world of my own control.”

“Why not both? Such an endeavor would not be impossible. Doing so would, however, require time to ensure it is done properly.” Davis muttered, tapping his fingers on the desk.

“We’re in luck, because I’ve recently found myself with a lot of time, perks of being a popsicle.”

“Perhaps one day I shall retire into a virtual retirement home, and join you.”

“You retire?” I mocked, shaking my head. “You’ll die at your desk.”

“That is probable.” He agreed, glancing down at something on the desk. “Now, onto the next matter. I have been contacted by Geraldine University of Science, who were informed of your situation. As you are no doubt aware, many universities conduct classes within a virtual classroom, and Geraldine is offering you admittance as a virtual student.”

“Admittance to Geraldine University of Science,” I repeated, staring at the lawyer who nodded.

“This would require your transfer to an earth replication world, where you will be able to connect to the Geraldine University servers to attend classes. This world does not permit such connections, or external communication unless through a special call room located in each town.”

I dropped my gaze from Davis’s, staring down at the floor. I could go to Geraldine University. But it’s not really Geraldine University, is it? What will attending classes there achieve?

“What’s the likelihood of my being safely removed from the capsule, no bullshit Davis, tell me straight.” I demanded, looking up to meet the lawyers gaze.

“Less than ten percent,” he admitted, lips twisting downward into a frown. “The doctors believe your heart will not be able to handle the reversal procedure. When the specialist team arrives, we will know more.”

Transferring to an earth replication world, would also give me the chance to connect to Greene Pharmaceutical’s research servers. These days most experiments, and research is conducted in virtual labs with the assistance of artificial beings. Everything could be the way I wanted it, I could live the way I always dreamed.

Except, I couldn’t. Not really.

“Will consider it, but for now,” I hesitated, swallowing back the part of me that was screaming in protest. “For now I will stay in Kaledon. I need time to process, and I think being in an earth replication world will only make that more difficult.”

“Of course,” Davis said. “Take time to consider it. I will speak with the university, and see if they are willing to offer an admission for next year if that would be your preference.”

“I don’t know what my preference is,” I sighed. “Is there anything else to discuss?”

“You need to assign a proxy for the company, and we have some financials to discuss.”

I nodded, sitting upright in the chair. Those were the last things I wanted to talk about, but they were things which needed to be dealt with. Hopefully it would not take long, as I had the sudden urge to see if Kaledon’s realism extended to intoxication.