THE EVENT HORIZON

Two weeks later, late one night, the two visited The Event Horizon together. They'd already relinquished the apartment, closed accounts, and done what they could to quietly erase their tracks. It was all they could do but any professional investigator would have laughed at its pitiful inadequacy.

It’s difficult to erase your presence or your movements in a world of constant surveillance, persistent digital records and pitiless artificial intelligences sniffing around for anything “unusual.” In the interest of general safety, compromises get made over some things, and some things just get lost. Like the ability to… simply get lost.

In earlier eras, there were places… Cities of Refuge, Sanctuaries, Foreign Legions, many names… where the past would not pursue a man or woman. But as the world’s nations blended into oneness, those places disappeared. The opportunity to remake yourself, go somewhere and begin anew after having learned from your mistakes… that opportunity evaporated.

You were your records, immutable and inerasable, all the rest of your days. The liberty to be just yourself, answerable only to your soul and nature, that went away. How can you be yourself; trying to become a better person, when all your deeds and sins eternally drag around behind you, like Jacob Marley’s ghostly chains and lock boxes? God may be forgiving, but mankind learned how not to be.

That’s a dangerous world in which to be an outsider. A merciless world to be on the wrong side of laws, rules and regulations even though you believe you’re on the right side of mercy, of love and of pity. And it’s especially dangerous if your very flesh is what brands you the outsider.

So there was no really safe place for them to hide. They had no allies to rely on to watch their backs. So, there was no safe alternative for Edwin and Nicolle but to go to The Event Horizon together. Each was the only ally the other had against the world. Fortunately, it wasn't the only time a pet catgirl had been inside the club.

They attracted a little attention when they walked in but in a place like The Event Horizon one doesn't pay attention to what others do, unless invited to do so. Edwin paid the fees in advance and chose a data terminal where it was unlikely anyone could observe his work without notice. While Edwin did his clandestine research, unnoticed by him Nicolle sat down in front of a console with a demo screen running and began cautiously moving the game's controls.

Shortly, one of the night managers passed by from visiting the bathroom, stopped behind her and said loudly, "If you're going to play, you have to pay!" There was laughter from other console players and Edwin whirled around in horror. But Nicole quickly put on her act, batting at a control, then giggling. The manager went on, "Come on, sweetie, you can't keep the seat, someone with money may want to play there." Nicolle got up and went to sit on the floor by Edwin, leaned against him, and looked bored.

After they left and had ensured no one followed, Edwin said, "I got all the info we wanted. We may have to act fast. If you have sisters, surely by now their talents have become apparent to whoever has them and Dr. Sokoloff’s connection was too easy to discover. I wish we hadn't gotten as much attention. I think we're alright, though. That lot doesn't talk much to outsiders." At the mention of Sokoloff’s name, Nicolle’s eyes widened but in the dark Edwin didn’t see.

"I'm sorry, Edwin, I almost forgot who I was supposed to be.” Then after a moment, “But you really have to teach me how to play one of those things."

"I promise, I'll show you all about that some day. I must say you're really good at looking stupid, though."

Nicolle bared her tiny fangs and hissed softly. They laughed and went on to buy some food using their little stash of cash and then to the tiny room they'd rented for the night.

Next: Part 6 / 25, “Sokoloff”