Page 91 of CHOICE Lover
“Dear Electra!” the priestess chimes back. “You look just like your avatar! I’m delighted you reached out. Come here.” She pulls Electra into a hug so warm it almost makes her want to pinch herself. Is this her first real future friend? When Sister Xelna finally releases her and they take a seat, she picks up the creature and sets it in the chair next to her.
Electra eyes it as it puts a tentative paw on the table, then two. Sister Xelna notices her staring. “Down, kitten,” she says, instructing the machine, before making little paw-fists and tucking them under her chin. Using baby talk, she says, “Just like this.” The robot-cat does as the woman commands, and she gives it an ear scratch as a reward. Then she turns to Electra, who is torn between horror and fascination. “My followers pooled their money and bought me her. Synth-cats are incredibly rare. Since ASI Personal Companions were banned, the company that made them went out of business. She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”
Electra blinks. “What’s her name?”
“A-Pawstle Calico. She’s the official mascot of The Sacred Order of Feline Transcendence, and she’s such a good girl,” Sister Xelna croons. The synth-cat arches, letting the priestess stroke its patchwork fur. Its green electric eyes blink up at Electra expectantly.
Obligated out of respect, Electra reaches down and pats the robot’s head. It purrs, and she can’t help but giggle at the absurdity of it.
When she turns her attention back to her lunch companion, she’s placing an order. She finishes rattling off a list of items and turns to Electra. “Anything else?”
She shakes her head, glad Sister Xelna has taken away the pressure of ordering. “No, that all sounds good.”
The server walks away, then the priestess’s full attention falls back on her. Her metallic green–lined eyes narrow, and she leans forward. “You’re not from now, are you?”
Electra swallows. “I, uhh . . .” she splutters.
“I know things.” Sister Xelna taps her whiskers. “I’ve also read your blog, which blatantly advocates for ideas from the past—not that I disagree—and you’ve also obviously never seen a synth-cat before.”
Electra glances around the room, and she must look like she’s about to bolt because the other woman reaches across the table, grabbing her hand. “Don’t you worry your adorably freckled face. I won’t tell a soul. I’ve been theorizing that a new presence was emerging. Naturally, I thought it was our feline companions, resurrected using old DNA samples that were altered so cats could reemerge outdoors. But then I read about the reincarnates. Sadly, it seems I was mistaken, but I say upon meeting you, I am very intrigued. I find many of your ideas worth exploring and, based on your growing popularity, it seems others do too.”
Electra swallows. “I heard that when NHOS officials catch one of us, they’re keeping us in holding cells almost like a prison.” She offers this bit of information as a self-preservation tactic.
Sister Xelna shakes her head disapprovingly. “That isn’t right. It’s not like those poor people chose to show up in the future. NHOS should make them citizens, no questions asked.”
Her staunch position eases Electra’s anxiety. It seems she has an ally in this woman. As her new friend prattles on about the ethics surrounding reincarnates, she finds clever ways to tie it back to her cat cult and offer prescriptions for what she would do if she were in charge. Fortunately, she never connects Electra to CHOICElover or any of the other manupartner companies. Res6 would be horrified if he knew the risk she’s putting them in by admitting the truth, but Xelna clearly isn’t an NHOS spy and is on her side. Plus, listening to Xelna talk gives her the most normalcy she’s felt since she’s been awake in the future. Maybe she’ll even work up enough gusto to attempt anotherIdenTECH meeting. She has a boyfriend, a growing column, and now a real-life friend. It’s almost as if everything’s going to be okay.
29 – A Cocktail of Success and Betrayal
Res6
December 13, 2390.
“Excuse me, sir, there’s a man here to see you,” Tommy says, poking his head inside his office.
Res6 glances at the clock. 18:35. Later than he hoped to leave. Since the first few days after the failed ID meeting, Electra’s mood has improved considerably, and he was looking forward to sharing a long, leisurely dinner. It seems the writing she did impacted her spirits greatly. Much in the same way, his improved when he poured himself into a research project. Well, aside from the Jerme experiments, which keep failing. After this afternoon’s failure, which leaves him with only four samples, he needs an uplifting evening withElectra.
Tommy clears his throat. “What shall I tell him?”
“Did he say what he wanted?” he asks, not hiding his irritation.
“He says he works for GROW and has some information you might be interested in.”
Res6, whose attention had drifted back to the synthesis failure report, looks up sharply. “A GROW employee. Interesting. Send him up.” As much as he hates to keep Electra waiting, the prospect of potentially confidential information from a GROW employee piques his curiosity.
A few minutes later, Tommy shows in a tall, slim man wearing his blond hair twisted into a knot at the base of his skull. The man’s copper stare darts around Res6’s office before landing on him. He nods in recognition.
If he offers the man a seat, the meeting is apt to drag on, so Res6 stands. “You work for GROW?”
The man eyes the chair opposite Res6, noting the omission. “Yes, in their marketing department. I’m Viper, by the way.”
“Well, Viper, you know who I am. I have a very important dinner I’m going to be late for, so if you will please get on with it?”
Viper frowns. “I thought you might be interested in some dirt on your biggest competitor, but perhaps I was wrong.” The man turns to leave.
Res6 rolls his eyes, but the man’s taunt works. “Please sit.”
Viper grins as they both take a seat. “What is my information worth to you?”
