NICK DIDN’T GO VERY FAR.

As soon as she was ordered to leave, she bolted out the door and hid in behind a large tree, camouflaged by bushes. It was very dark. Nick doubted that Exflibberaguil would be able to see her, especially in the flustered and angry state he was in now.

It was no surprise that she saw a brilliant flash a few moments later. She peeked out behind a large tree trunk. Exflibberaguil, covered in ash and soot, was whistling and skipping back to the trailer, the large forgetting machine still smoking. No doubt Exflibberaguil had forgotten entirely what he had said. Nick sighed. Against her will, she became sorry for the alien, despite the horrible incident that occurred earlier.

Nick felt great doubt in her mind. Perhaps she had misread the situation when she had been handcuffed. Perhaps the memory Nick had forced Exflibberaguil really was important. Perhaps she was the one that overreacted, and the handcuffs and everything all had a deeper meaning. But Nick knew that the chances of her trusting Exflibberaguil was still very small. Such horrible nightmares could not be forgotten.

Or…

Nick’s eyes drifted back the silhouette of the forgetting machine. It was obviously possible, now. Anything was possible with a bit of technology. It just depended on the price Nick was willing to pay.

Again, Nick found herself staring at the metal hamster ball, wondering.

What was the price Exflibberaguil paid for using the forgetting machine? He certainly didn’t seem to be paying anything with money. Even so, the value of money for him was nearly nothing, with a money printer always following his commands. That meant that Exflibberaguil didn’t pay anything physical.

Then it must be himself that he would be damaging. Would it be his brain? His brain can’t be completely right after going through the machine so many times. But what if someone were to go through the machine just once? It can’t be too bad. Does the machine make you addicted to forgetting or something? Is that why Exflibberaguil is so obsessed with using it?

Why am I even thinking of this anyway? It’s not like I’m actually going to go through the machine! I need my memories! I like having memories. Maybe not some memories, but most…

It’s only one bite that ruins an apple.

Nick looked once more at the hulking metal structure. What was she feeling? Longing? A craving to rid herself of painful memories? Did she really need these memories at all?

These memories really did her more bad than good. If she were going to save her planet, she should be working together with Exflibberaguil. These memories were the only obstacle, and there was no other way to get over them. Even if she’s attacked again in the future, shouldn’t that trigger Nick’s memories as well? Then, at the right moment, she’d know exactly what to do and where to hide.

Slowly, Nick began floating toward the machine, as if a powerful gravitational force was forcing her to do so. She stumbled across the ground, feeling herself be pulled even closer to the structure.

A look wouldn’t hurt, she thought, justifying her actions.

Nick was finally pulled out of this force when she reached the large sphere. It was too dark to seem much of it, but Nick determined by moonlight that this was extremely dirty and looked extremely dangerous and unstable. Wires that piled on top of the machine looked like it was begging for a short-circuiting disaster.

But if Exflibberaguil’s been through this so many times, it must be fine! Nick reassured herself happily.

Suddenly, a jarring question barged into her happy thoughts. What are you doing? Are you asking for a death wish? Are you really considering getting in, and electrocuting yourself?

Nick’s calm, inner voice replied, Oh, come one. Don’t be so pessimistic. You saw for yourself! Exflibberaguil survived multiple of these in a row, and turned out just fine! Besides, it’s not electrocuting yourself. I’m sure Exflibberaguil did something a lot more sophisticated.

But you’re a human! Exflibberaguil may be a more evolved alien and that’s why he was able to survive!

Oh, nonsense. There were plenty of other humans that had their memory wiped. That poor archeologist and the trailer seller. I’m sure they’re not dead.

But you’re a child! You’re more prone to danger!

Yes! And erasing these memories would prevent the danger. If I still have these memories, it would be like carrying bricks on my back. Eventually, I’ll snap! I need to get rid of these!

But—

Also, I have to do this to save my planet. I can’t be on bad terms with Exflibberaguil and save the planet at the same time. I have to forget! Then I’ll actually be able to communicate with Exflibberaguil again normally! Without shedding pathetic tears! I’ll be able to move out of this park and continue with Exflibberaguil’s plan. Then I’ll go back home to my hysterical mother. She must be out of her mind right now.

Yes! You should go back to her now.

The only way I’m ever going home is if I finish this whole adventure. I can’t stop halfway. And the only way I can quickly advance in this adventure is if I forget all these bad memories that weigh and slow me down. Don’t you see? It’s the best way to go!

But—

Nick didn’t listen to herself anymore. She didn’t want to be a pessimist. No one likes pessimists. With a little smile, she walk around the sphere, her fingertips touching the frame and skipping over the large gaps between the metal bars. As she walked, her hand hit on a slab. Confused, she felt around it, until she found a button.

A small voice in her brain told her not to press it. Perhaps it was a self-destruct sequence. Perhaps it would start shooting lasers into the forest. Or at her.

But Nick dismissed this little voice like a king dismisses its subjects. She smiled again, and hit the button.

The slab lit up, and Nick was able to see that it was a screen. The bright light hurt her eyes. She blinked several times, to get rid of the green film she was seeing through.

It was a very simply device. There were ten buttons, and a title that read: ‘How strong do you want this wipe to be?”

The little pessimist inside her sighed, and suggested ‘one’, the weakest setting. She should play it safe. There was no need to permanently damage her brain.

But the rest of her rebelled. She should pick ten! The more the better. What was the point of playing safe when you could take some risks? Life should be full of risks! And what if the weakest setting did nothing whatsoever? It would be better just to go all in.

Nick smiled at her boldness, and pressed ten.

The screen refreshed, showing a countdown. ‘Memory erasing of magnitude 10 beginning in ten…nine…”

Nick hurried to the front of the machine and stepped in. She noticed a pair of google dangling from a hook in the machine. They looked familiar.

Ah! The archeologist wore them when he had his memory wiped!

Nick reached for the goggles too. She barely managed to strap them on before the memory wipe began.

EXFLIBBERAGUIL WAS ABOUT TO GO TO SLEEP WHEN HE SAW THE LIGHT.

That’s strange, he thought, what other than my machine could produce such a light?

The light continued for a few more seconds, and Exflibberaguil was consoled. My machine doesn’t produce light for that long. It must be some sort of Sodriew invention.

He stayed awake for a few minutes after the light, then, satisfied that he will not be disturbed again, Exflibberaguil rolled to the left and fell asleep.