🌖

“I’ve heard a rumor that she’s an admin’s daughter, and all this other weird stuff that sounded made up,” you sign.

“Like what?” Akiko signs.

“That she was found somewhere as a child and trained to be a strong technopath, and augmented, genetically modified even. I thought it sounded ridiculous at the time but then, after what I told you about the other day, anything’s possible... But still, the source was just gossip so, still I doubt it’s the whole truth.”

“I was worried, though. When Admin Vanitas came out, that girl practically radiated fear, or anxiety, or something like that,” she signs.

“Oh right, you CommSpecs must be good at reading emotions,” you sign.

“It’s one of our fundamental skills. You should practice it too, Aydan. Let me give you a helpful program.”

received package ‘Empathica’

“Thanks!” you sign.

“Of course, your ability to use that depends on your CommTech. Keep your senses open. And don’t forget to guard your own emotions too, Aydan,” she signs.

“What, why, was I not? What did I do?”

“Nothing at all.” She walks by you, glancing at you with purple eyes. “Come on, let’s get down to the wall.”

You follow her into the elevator. As you descend, you see all of TLA colony stretched out in a circle around you through the glass wall. Your body feels heavier and heavier.