Mestiire nodded. “I’m glad you are reasonable.” He paused, “the particular job you must do can only be done by you.”

Lilac blinked. “I don’t understand.”

Mestiire smiled, grey eyes flashing bright blue. “Genetic modifications, the pride of humanity.”

Lilac frowned, taking a step back.

Mestiire’s smile grew wider. “We can achieve so much with just a slight alteration in our fundamental makeup. Coupled with technology, the miracles we’ve achieved are nothing to scoff at.” He sat up straight. “What did you think of my demonstration just now?

Lilac shook her head.

Mestiire sighed. “You just witnessed the synchronisation of technology and biology. I possess one of the latest types of body modifications to date. My genetic modification allows me to process information faster, and technology in my lenses can optimise the information I can receive with just a single thought. And my modifications are not even of the first generation, while yours are. So, what do you think your potential is?”

“I don’t know.”

Mestiire’s face dropped. “Do you really not know anything about your modification? Did you think my brother and I invested much money and time to save you because you cannot contract a single illness?”

Lilac opened her mouth and closed it.

“Well?”

“No. Yes. Maybe. I don’t know. I don’t know anything. I just know you want something from me and that you can save my friend. That’s it. Can we please get to the point?”

There was a heavy silence, and Lilac clasped her shaking hands together. “Please? I can’t stand the thought of losing her.”

Mestiire sighed. “You really do know nothing. I suppose that is somewhat more reassuring than the alternative. Alright, I’ll start from the beginning. Have you at least heard of the Great Madness?”

Lilac froze. It was a legend whispered from Trash to Trash to preserve the name of a true resistance squashed down long ago. It was supposedly some sort of secret information, revealing that the Founding Families were not as all-powerful as they seemed. Though the details were lost, everyone still held onto the story. Everyone treated it as a symbol of hope that pulled them through the day when nothing else would.

The girl glanced at the man’s impatient expression, biting the insides of her cheek. Figures, it made sense that the Founding Families knew about this.

“Yes.”

Mestiire clapped his hands. “Wonderful! Then you should know that it’s true.”

“What?”

Mestiire smiled knowingly. “Oh yes, our power is only based on one thing, technological monopoly. However, even that is failing, and you will help me ensure that we don’t fall.”

Lilac tilted her head. “How?”

“The type of genetic modification you have undergone has caused side effects. You can see the source of technological power, cracks in our reality. You see, our technology runs off Strange Residue. Without it, no technology from or based on Old-World technology would work. Strange residue stores were running low. However, it seems that the source has started to come back. Even now, new cracks are appearing in many places, but we cannot pinpoint them. Thus, we are now in the midst of a new arms race. We must gather as many Old-World technologies as possible and secure the cracks.”

Lilac closed her eyes, attempting to sort through the new load of information. “I understand securing the cracks, but what does Old-World technology have to do with this? Can’t you just make your own?”

There was a second of silence.

“You do not need to know that.”

Lilac opened her eyes, staring at Mestiire’s severe expression. “So that’s it? I look for something I don’t know how to find? If I do that, will Chickadee be okay?”

Mestiire nodded. “Essentially, yes. There will be details on how you would achieve this, but I need to leave. The nurse bot is waiting outside. Follow it once you are ready and it will take you to my assistant. Details of your training will be given then.”

Mestiire stood up, walking towards the door. It opened, sliding sideways before closing with a loud hiss.

Lilac stared at the spot in front of her, listening to the bubbling sounds of the tube. She turned around and froze.

For a second, the tube flickered like an old holoscreen. For a second, Chickadee disappeared. Lilac clenched her fist.

Surely, surely that wasn’t the case.

She stared at the curled form of Chickadee, tangled among strands of tiny, transparent string. Chickadee was right in front of her, right? The tube in front of her was real, right?

The girl stepped forward, placing her hand on the tube. The sensation of lukewarm plastic pressing against her flesh was very real. The slight vibrations caused by the bubbles were also very real. She exhaled, laughing under her breath.

It must have been her imagination. What else could it be?

…

Mestiire sighed as he turned off his Neural Interface. His head throbbed from the interaction. A beep resounded, and the man’s face scrunched with irritation. Tapping on the cuff, he watched as a featureless face floated above his wrist.

“What is it now?”

The face flickered and spoke.

“When shall we begin the termination sequence?”

Mestiire frowned; he thought back to the purple-eyed girl. “Change of plans. She knows nothing.”

“So, we’ll start the education sequence then?”

Mestiire nodded. “Yes. Treat the Trash Girl too. We need to gain some measure of credibility.”

“Understood.”

The face flattened and disappeared. The man sighed. Standing up, he walked towards the ruined balcony and watched as the blue-grey expanse of water crashed onto the corpse of a city. No one would think to look for them here. No one dared to go near the Bay of the Dead. The ruins of several cities here were all too dangerous, with Strange Matter concentrations warping space. Still, it was only a matter of time.

Mestiire watched grimly as birds dropped from the sky, unable to cope with the sudden spatial distortion.

“Lilac, I have high hopes for you. I hope you can be transferred on time.”