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He snorts, but I’m telling him the truth—it doesn’t hurt. “Veiling creates an alternate pattern of information in a person’s personal identifying sequence. If you tried to go back in without it, it would only be seconds before a security alert was activated. One of the many unfortunate side effects of having total control over an artificial world is how easily anyone can be found.”
As a child this information made me feel safe. Now that I’m the person being hunted, I can see the problem with this setup.
“But one of the perks,” he adds, “is that what they see on the security looms can be manipulated.”
“And what they see in person?”
“That doesn’t change, and unfortunately, I don’t have time to alter your appearance. Not that I want to,” he adds.
“So this isn’t an actual disguise?”
“Only for the security looms.”
“Shoot,” I say, trying to lighten the mood. “I was hoping to get rid of these freckles. I guess I’ll have to settle for some funny spectacles or a big hat.”
“I love those freckles.” Erik leans in and brushes a quick kiss over my bare shoulder, straightening up again when Jax turns back toward us.
“How long does veiling buy us?” I ask.
“Depends.” Jax sounds skittish and when I look at him, his skin is gray. It could be the lighting, but I tend to think he’s actually getting sick.
“You okay?”
He gestures to my arm, and without thinking I look down at it. Erik’s fingers are in my flesh. There’s surprisingly little blood, but I suppose there’s not been much blood any of the times I’ve witnessed alteration. Still, it’s unsettling to see his fingers inside my arm, with my skin draped open like loose fabric.
“That’s appetizing,” I say.
“To answer your question,” Jax says, tapping his foot in a nervous beat on the floor, “when we enter, we won’t be flagged automatically because of the veil over our personal identifying sequence. But eventually they’ll realize that there are unidentified sequences in the patterns of the sectors.”
Dante reappears, chewing on some rations. I don’t know how he can eat. “That’s why we need to get in and out of the other sectors and then into the Cypress offices before they catch on,” Dante says.
“We could have minutes or hours,” Jax says with a shrug.
“I will be moving you within five minutes of the first rebound,” Loricel informs us.
“That won’t be enough time! What if we can’t find anyone?” I ask.
“We don’t have long before the destruction of the Eastern Sector,” she reminds me. “I can work quickly, but I won’t have a place to work for much longer.”
“Wait. If you’re staying here,” I say slowly, piecing together what she’s telling me, “then you won’t make it out.”
“Probably not,” she says, but she doesn’t seem upset.
“You’ll die.”
“I know that,” Loricel says. “Don’t be sad for me, Adelice. I’ve had more than enough time to come to grips with the inevitability of my death. Too long, actually.”
“But…” I know she’s right, but the thought of Loricel staying here to die while helping us escape makes me sick.
“I won’t be alone,” she says softly.
“Who?” I ask.
But then I spot Albert lingering in the corner behind her. She winks at me and I have to suppress a laugh. I’m still sad, but if the two wisest people I know want this to happen, then I have to believe they’re right.
“What happens when we get in there?” I ask Jax.
“Once we breach the Ministry in Cypress, I’ll access the system and begin Protocol Three.”
