“We just tried to save everyone we could after the blasts, regardless of exposure. How all this radiation will affect us and our future is anyone’s guess.”

— Latoya Shelton, Kansas City, MO. FEMA Emergency Management Specialist. Oath Keepers Archive of Truth, Volume 3

I can become whomever you like. Choose whichever traits fit your personal preference.

No matter how often it happened, it was still disconcerting to hear Yabban’s voice in her head.

Give me a minute to think, Kiriai responded mentally and leaned back against the park bench. The cool morning breeze in the small clearing was refreshing. She was completely alone other than faint voices that drifted now and then through the greenery.

You can choose personality traits at a later date if you prefer.

No, Yabban. Kiriai pulled her focus back. She had to leave for the dojo soon, but had been putting this off for too long. Can I change my mind if I don’t like the traits I choose for you?

No. Once you choose, the development of my personality will follow those choices, making them permanent for this version of your trainer. I can always be reset to default settings through the main game menu, with a loss of all information gained.

No. Kiriai objected. That was the last thing she wanted. The ancient gaming AI had been an unwelcome intrusion less than two weeks ago. But without its help, Kiriai would have never won the fight that earned her the final spot on the junior scrapper team.

Run through my choices again, Yabban.

The personality upgrade allows you to select my gender, my age and two traits. You can add more personality traits with future upgrades.

And you’ll act like a real person? Kiriai wasn’t sure how she felt about that, but hoped it would turn out well. She’d spent the attribute point from Yabban’s training game to upgrade its personality instead of its autonomy. The chance to make the voice in her head a little more human had been too tempting to pass up.

The personality upgrade is designed to improve my ability to interact in a way more similar to other biological beings.

Sounds good. Let me think.

Acknowledged.

Kiriai ran through her choices. Gender. She pursed her lips and thought about all the men and boys in her life; the majority of the scrappers, her best friend Eigo and even her grandfather Ojisan.

Please make yourself female and my age. No, make yourself two years older than me. Sure, Kiriai would like the gaming AI to become more of a friend, but Yabban also helped train her fighting abilities. A teacher should be older than the student.

Acknowledged. Here are a few samples that fit your choice. Is one of these suitable?

Kiriai no longer jumped when Yabban generated visions only she could see, but it still amazed her. She took a quick glance around the clearing to make sure she was still alone.

Standing in front of her, oblivious to the scattered debris and leaves at their feet, were four young women dressed in traditional gis and sporting the professional brown belt worn by teaching senseis. They all looked very different, skin tones and hair color ranging from light to almost black, heights shorter and taller than Kiriai herself, and all with an eerie blank expression on their faces. If this was Yabban’s attempt to act like a ‘biological being’ then it wasn’t doing a great job. “She”, Kiriai corrected herself. Yabban was now “she.”

Do any of us appeal to you?

This time Kiriai was startled. All four women had turned to her and spoken in unison. Too bad only she could see this. Eigo loved this kind of stuff.

We can change all aspects of our appearance. If you would choose which of us most appeals to you, then you can change specific traits until they suit you.

The second girl on the left had the friendliest look on her face and the lean build of someone who used speed and strategy to win.

You. Kiriai pointed.

The three other women disappeared.

Would you like to adjust any of my physical appearances?

For a moment, Kiriai was at a loss for words. The dispassionate voice in her head, her gaming AI trainer, had transformed into a young woman standing in front of her. And its voice, her voice, was a sprightly sound filled with youth and hope. Sure, she wasn’t real and only Kiriai could see her, but it was still a profound shift. Yabban looked real to Kiriai and was now talking to her. Something didn’t feel right about making all the choices anymore.

Are there any physical appearances you would like to adjust? It’s your body, after all. You choose.

Silence. Kiriai had expected Yabban to quickly cycle to an appearance she wanted or at least a default one if she didn’t have the programming to make that kind of choice yet.

Yabban finally spoke.

I am programmed to make changes that appeal to you. I have no preferences.

Kiriai snorted. Yabban was so nitpicky and bossy when teaching fighting moves, but couldn’t pick a hair color?

Well, having you choose is what appeals to me. If you have to, feel free to choose randomly. I’m out of time. My teammates are waiting at the dojo for me.

Whatever passed for thought inside Yabban must have happened. Kiriai watched in fascination as the girl’s hair lightened and lengthened before being pulled back into a ponytail. Her skin also paled as her face morphed into strong features with a half smile. By the time she finished changing, she was slightly taller than Kiriai and looked to outweigh her by a few pounds. If she were real, Kiriai would have had second thoughts about facing her in an arena.

These are the appearances I have chosen. Are they satisfactory?

Perfect. Kiriai agreed. Now I have to get to the dojo.

You need to choose two beginning personality traits.

Surprise me. Kiriai answered as she stood up and turned to leave the small clearing. Any personality at all would be better than the rigid mechanical AI she’d been dealing with until now.

Acknowledged.

The edge of Kiriai’s sandal caught on a loose rock. She reached out and grabbed the back of the bench to catch her balance, wincing as she felt the edge of a splinter jab at her palm. In that moment, the breeze carried a piece of a distant conversation and she heard it clearly.

“. . .dead. Once he’s dead, everything will be better.”

Kiriai froze. Dead? Who was going to die? Who was nearby and talking about it? Dozens of questions ran through her mind before she stopped and forced out a quiet breath.

It wasn’t any of her business. The last thing she needed was to draw the attention of two people talking about killing someone. Or at least someone dying, she amended. Maybe one of them had a sick father on his deathbed and was looking forward to the coming inheritance. The next words ruined that idea. She tipped her head to hear the indistinct voices better.

“I thought it would take a year to get close enough. Now, it looks like I might get a chance to kill him sooner.”

Kiriai tried to notice any distinguishing features between the voices. But they were whispering, and though she thought both sounded male, she couldn’t even be sure of that. The reference to murder made everything worse. How could she ignore it now? But if she tried to see who was speaking, they might discover her.

Kiriai had been sitting quietly during her internal conversation with Yabban, otherwise the plotters might have discovered her earlier. If she tried to push bushes or branches aside now, to catch a glimpse, they would definitely notice her. Besides, she would only be an official scrapper if she won next week’s battle, so this wasn’t her problem. Kiriai didn’t move and hoped whoever it was would just leave so she could pretend it never happened.

“And the boss’s entourage? Do you have a plan for them?”

“If my idea is good, most of them won’t be an issue.”

The boss?! Kiriai clenched her fists, feeling sick. This she couldn’t ignore. If they were discussing an assassination attempt on the leader of her entire hood, she couldn’t stand by and do nothing. She had to get a look at them. With the utmost care, Kiriai slowly lifted one foot, moved it forward and then placed it on the ground. She tried to choose a spot with no twigs or leaves that might snap. Her skin felt clammy. A cold sweat broke out on her forehead and the back of her neck, making the skin around her fighter’s implant itch. She shouldn’t be doing this, but how could she not? Kiriai closed in on the hedge where the whispers came from.

“What is this new plan?”

“I don’t have the details yet, Sensei.”

Sensei? Kiriai hesitated, one hand on the prickly leaves. These two were obviously dangerous, and in the early morning, the park was mostly deserted. What if they saw her? Blast! What if they came after her?

Besides, even if she saw them, she probably wouldn’t recognize them or have any tangible proof to show the authorities. She couldn’t be sure they were even talking about the hood boss.

Kiriai hated feeling so conflicted. This was a mess she didn’t need right now. The most important fight of her life was next week. If her team didn’t win, she’d have to go back to being her grandfather’s apprentice taking care of sick patients and mixing herbs for the rest of her life. Plus, her teammates, Sento and Tsuyoi, wouldn’t want her dragged into anything that risked their victory either.

“You will update me as soon as you can.”

“Yes, Sensei.”

“And do absolutely nothing to jeopardize your position in the hood! I will not lose our best asset chasing after a crazy scheme. Understand?”

“Understood.”

Kiriai couldn’t help it. She had to look. It was the right thing to do.

Hands trembling, she pushed her arms into the hedge and pulled as slowly as possible, focused on making no sound. A small oblong opened up and she could see into another clearing similar to the one she was in, except bigger. Two benches faced each other across a decorative stone circle laid in the ground.

All the tension left Kiriai in a rush and she didn’t know if she felt more disappointment or relief. The benches were empty. No one was in the clearing. They had left.

What was wrong with her? If she hadn’t spent so long trying to decide what to do, she might know who the speakers were.

I sense you are feeling guilt. If this is correct, would you like to discuss it?

The voice in her head was so out of character that Kiriai couldn’t process the question.

Yabban? What?

Did I misidentify the emotion you are feeling, Trainee Kiriai? If it is not guilt, could you please tell me the correct emotion? I will then be willing to discuss it with you if you’d like.

Kiriai felt dread at the suspicion forming in her mind.

Yabban, what personality traits did you pick for yourself?

Empathy and humor, Kiriai. Did I surprise you as requested?

Kiriai covered her face with both hands and let out a low groan. Surprised didn’t begin to describe how she felt right now.