On the way back to City F in the cab, Aria called up the systems in her mind.

Aria: S3, S4, S5- are you guys there? I have some questions.

S3: Hello, Aria. We are here. What do you want to know?

Aria: Can you brief me on what type of abilities each of you have?

S3: I am who you referred to as S3. I can copy and identify things. I can help you identify any object or people you want. I can show this view in any way you want. Via printout, audio, or data overlay on top of each item you want to be identified.

Aria: Wow... that is quite powerful. Is that why Edward Xiang got so powerful and successful throughout the years?

S3: I don't have any comments on his power or success since my power is only as strong as the host's imagination. But the effective range will increase as the host gets stronger. You can ask to identify anything and in cases where I can't do it, I will tell you. If you encounter a zombie or individual higher powered than you, I won't be able to identify them. Only through continued interactions and discovery would I be able to deduct their skills and add to their identity card.

Aria: Ooh. How do I activate this passive identify skill?

S3: All you have to do is think, "Identify" or you can customize a setting so that I only identify things over a certain level, etc. Of course you can also allow me to passively scan the things around you first like a filter before informing you of anything important.

Aria: Okay. Let's do that. Let's start off with you passively scanning things and allow me to see what you passively scanned for half a second. I don't need to see it all the time but I would like to see what you're interested in scanning to understand this skill better. As for how to display the data, I want to see it as a visual overlay through my point of view. As for anything dangerous or higher level than me, I would like you to add an audio alert. We can adjust the settings as we go along.

S3: Confirmed. I can copy anything at its present state and when you need it, all you have to do is tell me to create a copy of it from your inventory and it will still be in the same state that I copied it. The only thing I cannot copy is anything with a heart beat. Like people or animals.

Aria: Are there any limitations to your copy capabilities?

S3: Yes. I can only copy one item at a time and create a copy of it one at a time. For individual use, this isn't considered a limitation. However, if you want to copy more items instantaneously, you will need to level up so I can upgrade.

At your current level, in order to copy something, you will need to touch the item for at least 5 seconds for me to make a copy for my records. Level 2 will only take 4 seconds, level 3 is 3 seconds, level 4 is 2 seconds. At level 5, I can copy anything without needing to touch it. You just need to look at it for a second for me to be able to copy it.

Aria: Thank you. You are a very powerful system. S4, what about your ability.

S4: I guess I am S4. I can summon things to help the host fight or protect the host.

Aria: Things?

S4: Undead or spirits...

Aria: Ick.

S4: It's not my fault I have this ability. (cries) The previous host died too quickly before they can summon anything. But my summoning abilities are really good and everything is real. Like If I am told to summon a human being, I would be able to create a human body from scratch that breathes and act like a human as long as I know who I am to imitate.

Aria: Okay, again. Gross. No undead or spirits for now. But I am interested in you summoning the human body. If I ask you to summon a human body, would you be able to reside in it with the knowledge of how it should move and act and talk?

S3, S4, S5: (!!!)

S4: That should be possible! You would allow me to occupy a summoned body to walk around with you?

Aria: Well, not only you but the other two as well. Is that possible?

S4: It should be possible! My summoning ability is also tied to your level. So right now, I can only summon 1 body that can hang around for a maximum of 12 hours. After 12 hours, it will dissipate. After you reach level 1, then the body can last for 24 hours. When you reach level 2, then the first body won't dissipate unless you dismiss it. But at level 2, the second body can be summoned for 12 hours. Level 3 will be 24 hours. Level 4 will summon a 3rd body for 12 hours and 5th level will be 24 hours. When you reach 6th level, then all 3 bodies will be stable and won't dissipate by itself according to the clock.

If a summoned body doesn't need to be maintained for those hours, then you will have enough energy to summon a group of... things... to help out for a short period of time.

Aria: Things again? Gross.

S4: No no! I can summon soldiers or anything you can imagine. It's just that my previous host likes to summon zombies... which helped him eventually amass 5M real zombies under his command.

Aria: Okay, we are not going to summon any zombies for at least 2 years so don't even think about it. For now your task is to watch tv and learn the actions and quirks of a regular human being. Well, a strong and physically fit human being. Only look at beautiful and strong and powerful people on tv from now on. No more thoughts of zombies.

S4: ... I wasn't thinking of zombies though. (Whines pitifully under its breath)

Aria: Enough. Good brief, S4. I want you to summon a body that is exactly like mine later. In every way to the dna and blood. We'll use the meeting location to stage the death of Sara. We'll have the doppelganger get hit in front of all her friends and have the body burned up so there's nothing left.

S4: Okay! I can do that!

Aria: S3, copy the clothes I'm wearing and put it on the doppelgänger in the Space1.

S3: Will do!

Aria: S5, you're next.

S5: I am S5...? And I'm the mech system. If you have a mech, then I can help you upgrade the mech using raw materials. You will still need to have a mech and be familiar with how to use one. Once you are knowledgeable and experienced enough with navigating the mech expertly, then I can help connect you to the mech boosting your flexibility and quicker response time. There is more but I am sensing that this is not going to important until later. For now, it's imperative that we prevent others from harming you.

Aria: (...) ok.

—

It was 3:45pm. Going to the restroom of the nearby coffee shop, Aria jumped into the space and took a look at her doppelgänger. Aria hasn't acclimated to the body as hers yet so she didn't feel weird looking at the summoned girl in front of her. Taking out the phone and space button, she clicked it on the body's wrist. The space button is very hardy and cannot be burnt easily so it will still be needed as an identification for the body. The phone she intends to drop as another identification purpose.

S4: To control the summoned body, you will need to concentrate your thoughts for a minute to create the connection. Once that's done, then you can control the body with your thoughts easily.

Aria moved the body out of the space then did as what S4 instructed and felt her consciousness inside the summoned body. It was a little weird and uncomfortable since there's a huge disconnect feeling between her actions and the summoned body.

S4: Don't worry about that feeling. Once you level up, it gets more comfortable and seamless.

Aria moved the doppelgänger slowly until she got used to it.

—

Over half of the group has arrived in front of the cafe. The other half on their way. The group was excited to meet and discuss the new intern possibility. Gaining experience as soon as possible gives them a head start after graduating.

One minute everything was calm and the next chaotic. They saw Sara and Sherrie waiting at the crosswalk holding hands when Sherrie suddenly pushed Sara into the path of a fast moving work truck. It pinned Sara's body to the cross beam.

Everyone ran towards the scene of the accident. Sara was bleeding out and they could hear her ask why Sherrie pushed her into moving traffic. Then someone noticed the smoke coming from the truck and moved back. Very quickly the truck started to burn and moved to Sara's body. All the while, Sara was screaming for help and asking and cursing Sherrie for hurting her intentionally.

Everyone was so surprised at this turn of events, all turning toward Sherrie. Her face was white full of shock.

Sherrie honestly didn't mean to push Sara. It was just one of those occasional thoughs she had. Although she had always hated Sara- or any other girl- for looking better than her, she would never do anything that drastic. Maybe create rumors to cheapen their reputation but she doesn't know why, when she was holding Sara's hands she felt a pain so she instinctively pushed Sara away. Who knew this would happen.

The police and fire department arrived trying to control the situation. Sara was still lucid as they tried to stop the fire from further. Sara made a quick statement about Sherrie pushing her into the streets while still in pain.

As soon as the police finished the recording the car caught on fire again. Everyone was very surprised because they thought the fire was handled. They all rushed away as the fire once again went wild. An explosion occurred, burning the surrounding cars while the debris hit some surrounding buildings. Sara's agonizing scream was heard by everyone.

By the time the fire was contained, there was barely anything left of Sara's body.

Witness statements were recorded, evidence was collected, and the next of kin was notified.

Sara Gu was dead.

---------------------- Author's Notes -----------------------

I feel like Aria's actions at the end targeting the Sherrie chick was kind of messed up. But remember that Aria is not as innocent as she portrayed herself while talking to the systems or herself in the monologue.

Up until now Aria has not have any contact with anyone. She set a task to collect the Xing Plant. She did that but haven't had time to decide on picking any of the gem to gain an ability yet. Due to inheriting the original body's parents' inheritance, she sensed a looming threat over her head under Sara's identity after knowing Edward is somehow involved... but she's too weak to face him now. So she decided to run away as fast as possible.

She couldn't just disappear because he and possibly the government will just continue to look for her. So she planned to die. Originally she was going to stage an accident where she falls off the bridge in a well populated area with some friends but when she recognized Sherrie's name from the group chat, her plans changed.

Sherrie is not as fleshed out here in this story but we'll hear more from her later. Again, Aria is acting under the past history and hatred between Sherrie and herself from her previous life. Here, Sherrie has not done anything to Aria yet. Sherrie may be just a regular mean girl in high school, spreading rumors and thinking bad thoughts but has not crossed the line to being evil yet.

In Aria's previous life, we can assume that Sherrie turned evil during the ZA due to the fact that humans sucks and somehow everyone's need for survival bubbled up their greed and selfishness to the extreme. Hopefully when Sherrie shows up again I'll be able to flesh her out better and less 2 dimension.