*April 17, 2125*

No one spoke about what happened yesterday. It was like everything was business as usual. Elion sat in a line with all the other students from the academy. They each had an acrylic screen lit up with lines coloured with codes. The Education CANA assigned to them gave them explicit instructions to navigate the program code. "Type Feed in, click download," it said.

They moved in such synchronisation that if he didn't know any better, he'd think they were programmed to do so. But nothing was wrong with that, right?

They were decoding a new feature of GERMAN. Essentially, it feeds information to you through the neurolink. There would be no need to ask questions or prompt it. It could read your thoughts and give you answers. They were tasked with finding a way to isolate its interaction from all functions of the neurolink. A task that should be easy, given all the training they've done in class. But Elion still had a hard time with it.

Arion would have been an ace at it. The chip burned a hole in his pocket. His palms began to sweat, and he did his best to keep his breathing even. The clock struck noon. It was time for their lunch break since they started. They got up as one and marched toward the sector's exit. Some students went to the lunch area, while others just stood around. They might have been communicating by neurolink, or staring blankly at each other.

Security was increased, RPs patrolled the hallways. The education sector was on the 7th floor of the building. Far away from the lobby where the incident happened, they were being more careful. Elion had to be careful. He walked briskly towards the bathroom. He checked all the stalls, most were empty except for one. He went to the farthest one and closed the door. He waited until he heard a flush, and the student sounded like they were washing up.

It had been quiet for some time, so he slipped the chip out of his pocket. He gulped and pressed the chip behind his ear. Nothing happened. He looked at it, flipped it over and scanned it again. Still, nothing. He tapped it rigorously until it hurt, but still nothing happened. His neurolink didn't say scanning or anything.

He shook his head. Arion had fooled him. He put the chip in his pocket and walked out of the stall.

Elion halted when a sharp pain shot through his temples. His head felt like a thousand volts of charge were surging through it. Scenes flashed in front of him. He fell to his knees. He clamped his mouth shut to stop himself from screaming. Moments with Arion, memories of Kira and feelings of wanting more crashed over him. He crawled back into the stall. He swore he'd heard footsteps. He curled up on the floor. Waiting for the unrelenting pain to stop. He shut his eyes, willing for it to end.

"Elion." Something was shaking him.

"Elion,"

The voice willed him awake. He squinted his eyes. "What?" He felt like he was being jolted awake from a deep sleep.

"You're awake," Jax said.

Elion shot up straight. "What are you doing here?"

"I just came to use the bathroom and found you here."

"What do you mean?" His head still had a dull ache.

"You were unconscious," Jax stated matter-of-factly. "So I woke you up. We should call CANA." Jax grabbed his arm.

"Wait." Elion shrugged away his arm. "Wait."

"Wait? They might suspect something if we don't get back soon." Jax dragged him to his feet.

"Aren't you going to ask what happened to me?" Elion asked.

"Your hand is shaking."

Elion looked down at his trembling hands and clasped them together to get them to stop.

"Just give me a second to gather myself," Elion begged.

"I thought I would see you at the lunchroom."

"I, uh, needed to use the bathroom."

"There's fifteen minutes left."

The thought of going out there with his memories intact scared him. They could scan him again, rewrite his entire mind this time. Arion did a good job giving him back his memories, but he'd yet to sort through them.

"Okay," Elion said. "I need your help."

Without the GED glasses, Elion couldn't gauge Jax's emotions. He was shocked when Jax responded.

"Sure."

"Do you remember when Kira was taken to the Enforcer's office?"

Jax narrowed his eyes. " No. I do not."

Elion stepped back. "She got in trouble because of me. We were in Biology class and she disappeared for a week."

"No. Kira was always at school."

Elion shook his head vigorously. " She was taken to the enforcer's office, and they took her memories."

Elion's eyes widened. Jax started to look concerned. The first true emotion he'd seen from his friend.

"I think you might have hit your head."

"No, she was–" Another student walked in. Elion turned away.

"Jax, we were looking for you. The security sector is getting ready for patrol."

"Oh, right, I'll be there."

The student left abruptly. He was oblivious to what was taking place.

"I have to go," Jax said, "get some food and stay out of trouble, Elion."

Jax pushed the door and left. Food was the last thing on Elion's mind. Was Jax warning him or threatening him? He was in security now. What if they got to him, too? This made no sense. Elion smoothed his jacket and pants to rid himself of the uneasiness in his stomach. He couldn't stay here forever. He had to blend in, be lifeless.

~~~~

Elion dreaded dinner time. He'd have to sit and pretend like all was well with him. His colourless room was his haven, now. While there were undoubtedly being monitored, he could at least breathe normally and stop biting his tongue to subdue his anxiety. He'd bitten it till it bled.

He wanted to run straight to Arion's room as they got home, but that would be even more suspicious. He needed a plan. He sat cross-legged on his bed, tapping away at his knee. A habit that had returned on the way home. Dinner time was announced. When he joined them, they noticed the chair at the head of the table was empty.

His mother and Arion sat in their respective positions. He joined them, not bothering to greet them. Emotionless Elion never greeted. Arion looked at him with hopeful eyes, but he avoided them. If he did, he might crumble and break.

They ate in silence. CANA busied herself with waiting on Nyran's command to do this or that. He wondered where he'd father had gone and how long he'd be away for this time, but there was no point in asking. His curiosity is what got him into this mess.

This was an opportunity. To do what, he wasn't sure yet. After dinner, he returned to his room. He began to sort through his memories again, but it was hard to decide what was real from what was fake. He determined that anything that stirred his feelings toward Kira was true; anything else was a lie.

"Kira, are you there?" He sent her a message. They hadn't spoken in so long. He never tried to talk to her since his memory was erased, but he just wanted to check in. Make sure she was at least doing okay.

"Hello," she responded. A flood of relief rushed over him.

"How have you been?" He asked.

"I have been adjusting well to the internship."

Right, the internship. "What Sector are you in?"

"Medical," she answered simply.

"Are you enjoying it?" It was a risky question, but he wanted to see if any of the old Kira was there.

"It is very educational."

Elion might as well talk to CANA. "Do you remember anything about our friendship?" He pried.

"You are Elion Strider. You are my classmate at the Academy, your father is the CEO of POLARIS. We met on our first day of the Academy on September 14, 2120."

She might as well be GERMAN reading off the facts for an assignment. "I mean, do you have any memories of us together?"

"Not particularly. You always sat beside me and ate lunch, but that is all."

"Did I ever make you laugh?"

"I've never laughed before," she said. 

Elion's lips curved upward. The real Kira was still in there. He'd get her back. He had to.