[REND] B4. 2.2 - The Tech Experts

“Cecilia?” I pinched the laptop’s camera, destroying it. Then I looked at Deen. “The PCM scientist that I—?”

I stopped myself from saying that I had killed her. If Cecilia left a copy of her consciousness in the PCM computers—not sure how, but anything was possible when supernatural forces were at play—then this copy shouldn’t know how the real one died. Her last memory would be preparing to meet Red Hood, presenting Myra and the artificial Core as proof of a common enemy.

Funny how Auron, the late Cecilia, and USB Cecilia had different understandings of the situation. For sure, I could stir some confusion here.

 “You kidnapped our friend,” I said. “Two friends.”

“Don’t talk to that thing!” Deen tried to grab the laptop.

I swung it out of her reach and retreated to my bed. “Hold on. Let’s think about this,” I said, plopping on the mattress’s edge. What story should I tell USB Cecilia?

“There’s nothing to think about,” said Deen. “Turn that off, or I will.”

“This can be useful to us.” Fun and funny that Cecilia, what remained of her mind, was inside this laptop. Could she control other computers? What about appliances? Could she start a machine uprising, just like that one movie with the robots?

“Useful, how?” Deen asked, standing in front of me with her hands on her hips.

“She can tell us a lot of things about seeding, anti-Adumbrae weapons, and info about various criminal groups. I’m sure she knows a lot.” I congratulated myself for quickly thinking of those. No way I could tell Deen that I really thought this was super cool. Then again, the reasons I came up with were valid. We just had to trick USB Cecilia into helping.

Deen’s expression couldn’t be explained. “What makes you think she’ll cooperate? Did you forget everything she has done? We also—”

My glare stopped Deen’s sentence. “We can destroy her,” I evenly said. “This laptop and USB. Auron sent us on a rescue mission—plug this USB into a computer in their central base before the authorities find it. Meaning, there’s no other copy.”

“How can you be so sure?”

I wanted to growl in annoyance. “I just explained the whole—! Oh, look. Here’s another message.”

[Don’t destroy me, dear Adumbrae.]

“Stop it with that ‘dear Adumbrae’ thing,” I said, recalling that was what she had called us when we first met. “You already know our names. You’ve talked to Myra.”

If I were Cecilia, and I could store my mind, I’d make a backup before meeting Red Hood. It explained why Cecilia didn’t seem cautious facing my werewolf self. This also meant that USB Cecilia didn’t know what went down at the PCM base in the woods.

[Yes, the spunky girl with the blue hair,] popped the message on screen. [And, another yes. I know that you have artificial Cores. Government experiments, the three of you.]

“Good that you didn’t try to lie,” I said, imagining a future with a computer program sidekick. I could be like Armored Avenger, the comic book superhero who didn’t have actual powers but was super smart. He had created a snarky AI program that controlled the defenses of his base and mechanized suits or something.

On the topic of computers, I could fulfil my role in the 4Bs as the hacker! I was quiet, slim, and wore glasses, even if fake ones. Add in the long black hair, unassuming fashion, and a diminutive persona—I had to be the hacker-slash-techie member of our little group. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any computer expertise.

But no need for that if USB Cecilia would do my bidding.

And all those other things I had mentioned about how Cecilia could be helpful. This wasn’t about playing a role, I swear. I was just being proactive…

“Enough of this!” Deen reached for the laptop. “Don’t court danger.”

I parried her arms and pushed the laptop to the other side of the bed. I wouldn’t let Deen ruin my dreams of becoming a hacker, even if a fake one. This was the part I had the looks for! “Explain why it’s dangerous?” I asked. “Everything USB Cecilia can do, the PCM also can because they know who we are.”

“The PCM doesn’t know everything,” Deen said. She glanced at the laptop, probably checking if the camera was really destroyed, before locking eyes with me and touching her chest.

Auron thought that we were Adumbrae, the same as Cecilia’s original assumption. Cecilia didn’t manage to inform Auron about Myra and the artificial Core—Cecilia’s discovery happened barely a day before I ate her. Cecilia probably didn’t inform Auron before backing up her memories. We could fool USB Cecilia into thinking that we were buddies with Auron, not that he blackmailed us with mutually assured destruction.

“The situation’s mostly the same,” I said, sounding nonchalant. I waved my hand to calm Deen down. USB Cecilia would suspect things were wrong if Deen continued to sound agitated. “Cecilia, are you using the internet?”

[No. I’m waiting for you two to settle your issues so we can discuss more important matters. Boy, do we have plenty to discuss.]

“Are you going to believe this computer?” Deen gestured to the air. “She can be transmitting data as we speak.”

I frowned at Deen and shook my head. “I don’t think there’s any problem here.”

I couldn’t explain aloud that Auron might hesitate to threaten us if he knew we were part of a secret government project. On the flipside, my plan to claim we no longer cared about our human lives wouldn’t fly if Auron came to know that we weren’t actually Adumbrae.

Either way, I wouldn’t get too worked up if USB Cecilia managed to contact Auron. The important thing was not to give USB Cecilia any reason to do so. We had the mysterious USB stick; USB Cecilia had to assume that we were on good terms with Auron, and we should maintain her belief.

“That’s already a problem,” Deen said with clenched jaws, “not seeing there’s a problem.”

She couldn’t help being a bitchy contrarian. Why couldn’t she be supportive of my desire to have USB Cecilia as a pet? Deen had her Guardian Angel.

“We can destroy the wi-fi thingy,” I said. “But I’m not sure where it is. Um, we can go with my original idea to wrap this laptop in aluminum foil, if that’ll make you not worry.” What compromise would make Deen shut the fuck up?

“What’ll make me not worry is if you destroy the laptop,” said Deen, pointing a furious finger at the screen. “We should also destroy the USB drive. I wouldn’t want the PCM to have that mad scientist back. We’ll figure out how to deal with Auron.”

“Don’t ruin our alliance with Auron,” I said, putting a finger over my mouth. Get the hint!

“What—?”

“Let me talk to Cecilia, okay?”

The laptop flashed bright green. We turned to it. The screen returned to black before showing, [I understand very well why you two are angry at me, though empathy isn’t my strong suit. I can understand why Auron didn’t mention the specifics of this little favor he asked of you.]

“We wouldn’t have agreed to it if we knew we’d rescue your mind,” said Deen. “Auron was very reconciliatory. We agreed to work for him, thinking that you were dead.” Thankfully, Deen got on the same page, weaving a fake story to sell to USB Cecilia.

“You tortured Kelsey,” I said. “And also, Myra. Tell us why we shouldn’t destroy you.”

[I can offer you my services in exchange for my preservation. Sounds fair, doesn’t it, my dears?]

“What services?” My very recent dream of becoming a hacker was within reach. I’d be in a dark room with tons of screens, and various criminal elements would avail of my services. I’d say that it was incredibly difficult, but then break through the security within seconds.

Deen read the next line of text that appeared. “You can help us remove the artificial Cores?”

[I know your story. The three of you, including your dear friend, Myra Fletcher, have artificial Cores. Myra volunteered to be a test subject for the government to spare and cure her Adumbrae sister, if she was found. You and Erind went with Myra, the close and supportive friends you are. You wouldn’t have accepted the Core otherwise.]

Good one, Myra, I though, almost bursting out laughing. We didn’t really ask Myra about the specifics of her conversation with Cecilia. It turned out that Myra tweaked the truth.

[I can help you return to your original selves. Don’t you want to be humans again? This is not your life.]

“We’ve heard something like that before,” I said. “It’s like your claim of curing seeding. We all know that didn’t pan out.” Actually, the real Cecilia also made the offer to remove Deen’s Core during our last and final meeting.

[Give me time, and I will succeed. Success is all but assured. Furthermore, once I separate the Cores from your bodies, I can use them to save those seeded by Adumbrae. For certain, you want to help the victims of the troublesome invaders from beyond the veil. Am I right?]

“We do want to help people…” I said, raising a brow at Deen.

Did she remember that Cecilia had mentioned the same thing that fateful night? Or was that already morning? USB Cecilia, echoing the real one, could mean she wasn’t lying. But this was her personal truth. I super doubted she’d succeed, be it removing our Cores or curing seeding. However, I still think she could be of some use.

[Well, then! There’s no problem, is there? Auron tapped you to save me. We’ll continue our cooperation moving forward.]

“What makes you so sure we’ll work with you?” Deen continued to shake her head at me.

USB Cecilia continued, [Hit two birds with one stone, my dears. Whack that stone hard! I’ll free you of your binds, the artificial Cores clinging to your chests. May it partially redeem my slights against you. We’ll work together to fight the dastardly government experimenting on its people.]

“You’re one to talk of experiments,” I said.

[Mine is for a cause far greater than weaponization, unlike the government. We’ll also save Kelsey from the Adumbrae’s clutches.]

What the fuck was USB Cecilia on about? I glanced at Deen.

She raised a brow at me. Her eyes then widened upon realizing the truth. She mouthed, ‘Red Hood.’

It clicked. “Good guess about what happened, Cecilia,” I said. “You’re right. Kelsey is with Red Hood.”

[It is satisfying to be correct. Did Red Hood kill me?]

“I’m not so sure,” I replied. “Auron told us that you met with Red Hood. A fight ensued. A bunch of people died.”

Telling lies felt good. Telling tiny lies mixed with the truth felt more amazing. However, I wasn’t sure if pretending that I wasn’t Red Hood counted as a tiny lie. Then again, Cecilia didn’t ask me about it. Did an omission even count as a lie?

[Ah, I died again. One of the rare times I was wrong. I hoped it was Red Hood who killed me. It’ll be an interesting way to die, crushed by the fangs of a giant beast. Unfortunately, I will never experience it, the copy that I am.]

“We can make you feel that by crushing the USB,” Deen said.

I decided to back Deen up this time. “You brought Myra to meet with Red Hood. You offered her to the Adumbrae, and you still expect us to work with you?”

[I offered to reunite the sisters. We know that Kelsey has joined Red Hood.]

I recalled that Overdrive caught PCM members trying to spy on my fight with Kelsey. We killed them, but they must’ve gotten a message out before that. Two Adumbrae meeting. Either one ate the other, or they decided to work together—Cecilia assumed the latter, that Kelsey asked Red Hood’s help to take revenge on the PCM.

And so, the PCM contacted Red Hood. Myra was like the token of peace or something. Add in the revelation about artificial Cores, the PCM’s alliance proposal could’ve worked. But the PCM’s gravely misunderstood the situation. People never guessing the insane truth was my biggest advantage.

[Such a shame that Red Hood didn’t accept our proposal to work together.]

“Maybe she did,” I blurted, formulating a new plotline. Deen gave me a disapproving glance. Her instincts to be in charge were acting up, though I congratulate her for keeping her mouth shut.

[What do you mean? Didn’t Red Hood kill me? A different Adumbrae?]

“A fight ensued,” I repeated. “But it wasn’t between the PCM and Red Hood. BID agents arrived, according to Auron. Bombed everything. The BID hunts the PCM now, and that’s why Auron asked us to get you from your underground base.” With this plotline, I could have USB Cecilia meet Red Hood in the future. “Some PCM guys somehow got Myra out, and that’s how Auron connected to us.”

[The BID. I expected those suit-wearing monstrosities to show up, but my poor self dying wasn’t included in my calculations. You have my memories now. Return me to Auron.]

“To resume your human experiments?” Deen asked. “I don’t think so.”

“I have to agree with Deen here,” I said. “We don’t trust you one bit. We almost killed you. You’re… you’re crazy! Whatever Auron said about reconciliation is off the table with you around.”

“I told you that we only did this for the PCM because we thought you were dead,” said Deen. “Dead dead. If we had known otherwise, we wouldn’t have risked our lives retrieving your memories.”

[You don’t have to return me to Auron.]

I fully faced the laptop, turning my back to Deen. “Huh? What are you talking about?”

[Auron does not know the flash drive’s purpose. Neither does he know about my backup memory. Your little mission was on Euphonia’s orders.]

(Author’s Notes: It’s getting confusing keeping track of who knows what, and what they misunderstood. I decided to have Cecilia come back in this form to hasten Euphonia’s plotline. Also, I think it’ll be fun to have Cecilia around. She provides an interaction that none of the other characters can provide. Yes, it’s very dangerous to work with Cecilia, but Erind is willing to gamble that she can control her. Having Cecilia can lead to fun plotlines in Vegas, fighting against the gang with augs there, the Tea Party that had been mentioned in Book 1. Thanks for your support!)