The weeks of rest were fulfilling. Unfortunately people like Aaron and Law tend toward self destruction.
“Well, this is as far as I can take you. The only security measures she has left are her bodyguards.”
“What’s the worst that could happen? Kill her and get out. Once I have the bodyguards distracted you slip in, get her passwords and go to sleep.”
The worst happened. After Law made his attack half of the guards chased after him. The other half remained to guard her body. After fifteen minutes the rest of the guards returned and seeing that his task was hopeless Aaron put himself to sleep.
This time when Aaron returned to the white room Law wasn’t there to greet him. Infact the Law he had come to know was dead. Aaron spent a few more minutes making Law based puns before he faced the Lawless reality. If one of his so called friends died they stayed dead. Aaron had grown to like the guy so he was a little bothered. Especially when he realized how easily new Laws could be made. In fact Aaron did just that.
The second Law was more problematic to deal with. For one the fight that Aaron had won against the first Law had earn Aaron his respect. The second Law wasn’t quite able to believe Aaron didn't tear the name of that Emily girl out of the various Laws from previous loops. Aaron also found it was hard to treat the second Law as a different person from the first one. The third reason was more interesting. Apparently Deactivating a consciousness in the white room caused it to lose all of its memories from when it was activated in that loop. In other words to let Law or Alice keep their memory Aaron had to let them live through an entire loop.
This wasn't the only thing Aaron discovered. It seemed that Aaron could only keep one Consciousness active outside the white space at a time. With that in mind Aaron spent a week preparing the new Law.
When Aaron felt he was ready he dismissed the Law mind and activated Alice’s consciousness.
Alice woke up with a deep blush on her face. There was a brief moment of confusion with her looking at her empty hand. Then confusion gave way to fear as she started to understand where she was.
“Alice calm down.”
“Right… Can… Can we move on quickly then?”
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
“I just need to tell you a few things.”
~~~
Chapter break
~~~
The moment the loop started Aaron got dressed and went to the dining hall. Alice was late, by the time their second class period would have started Aaron had left the dining hall and was waiting for her in the entry way. When she came down she was dressed in the nicest clothes Aaron had seen her wear.
“Alice, which are you scared of? Is it” Aaron waved his hand at the exit, “All of that; or are you scared of me, and being... well, trapped in the white space?”
“I don’t know. Both honestly.”
“I figure it took me a good month of doing nothing but trying to come to terms with everything out there. I spent another week after that just relaxing, and planning my next step.”
“I don’t exactly have that option, you know that.”
“Hey Aaron, have you bothered to attend class yet?” After a long silence Alice changed the subject.
“No? I’m not sure what that would accomplish. It's reasonable to say I would be putting myself at risk.”
“It’s too late this time but we should…”
“No! Sorry…” When Aaron interrupted her Alice flinched. Even though Aaron hadn’t shouted, he had only raised his voice using a firm tone, her reaction caused him to flinch. “Leaving you behind won’t doom you to an eternity in the white room or anything. If you die however, I would end up replacing you with another Alice.”
“What does that make me, am I just your disposable… thing?”
The tone Alice used… Aaron didn’t like it, at all.
“No, Alice, think about what I just told you. Think about what not replacing you would mean for the other Alice’s. I already replaced a copy of Law. I don’t like that he effectively lost a month of memories.”
“I’m Sorry. I…”
“No,” Aaron gave Alice a weak smile “as long as you understand. You look as near to perfect as I can stand to believe is possible by the way.”
“Sorry, and thankyou.”
“Alice?”
“Yes?”
“You didn't eat breakfast.”
“I was hoping you couldn't hear that.”
Alice’s stomach growled a bit louder this time.
“Let’s go take a break for lunch.”
The pair made their way to the kitchen where Alice kept her food. Alice unlocked her refrigerator and opened it. Alice stared into the unit for a while before she began to laugh. “Aaron. I thought we might eat the leftover food you made last time.”
“Alice, time loops don’t work that way.”