Halfway through sharing a joint with her cousin in his living room, Regina sank deeper into the plush, oversized armchair. Ralph’s dog, Jellyroll, settled on the couch beside him after yipping like he does only on Regina’s command.

“What do you think they’d do if they knew we rigged your bracelet to automatically save copies of everything it connects to?” Ralph said, scratching Jellyroll behind the ears.

“I dunno,” Regina frowned, “probably fire me.”

“And your stalker,” he said, reaching out to grab the joint. After a few puffs, he passed it back to her. “He seem dangerous? I mean, isn’t Trinity Tier supposed to prevent creepers from following people around and harassing them? I doubt someone gets away with that on company property.” He gently rolled the snoozing pup off his lap and got up to check the download’s progress.

“Not dangerous, I don’t think. Just rude. He had the opportunity to try something, especially at Plasco. There’s something about him that’s familiar, but I know I’ve never seen his face before. He’s not wrong about Dr. Chanor, though. She acted like I told her the shade of green for the grass was off spec. I should have told someone else.”

She took another drag before gently rolling the joint out in the ashtray. She blew out a plume of smoke, and after coughing, she said, “Maybe this is some kind of crazy loyalty test. Plasco’s NDA is insane.”

Ralph walked to the door and grabbed a leash. “I’m sure there’s an explanation. The download’s finished, but Jellyroll needs his evening walk. How about you heat up that biryani for me and look everything over? If you find anything else suspicious, we’ll go from there.”

She nodded, sitting at his computer as Ralph walked out the door trailed by a gleefully snorting Jellyroll.

As she scrolled, nothing stood out until she saw a heavily redacted file mentioning PSI-AC II. Thinking to search for “Treasure Island,” several files fluttered onto the screen. Her skin grew cold as she read paragraphs of program notes detailing the implementation of specific constructs for participants who agreed to be put under temporarily, admitting not to crimes but to deviant thoughts.

This wasn’t the neutral yet humane punishment promised by Plasco’s PSI-AC representatives for those who couldn’t be rehabilitated. This was a reward program for those who were willing to pay with sickening amounts of credit in exchange for fantasies. All clients, no matter their requests, were allowed to leave the program after only five years, no questions asked. The list of clients ranged from politicians to law enforcement to the business sector.

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She jumped as three sharp raps sounded at the door.

“You get so high you forget your keys again?” she asked as she opened the door, only to be met with the stranger’s grey eyes once again.

He quickly raised his hands in the air and made no movement toward her. “Just here to talk.”

She nodded but continued blocking the entrance.

“If you’re wondering how I found you, I’d say it’s because you still have a tracking device inside that disc.”

Regina rolled her eyes. “If I crack that thing open and you’re not lying, will you tell me what you really want? Because your communication skills suck.”

“Okay, but you only have yourself to blame for that.”

She sighed, motioning for him to follow. She grabbed the disc from her jacket, and pulling a hammer from the kitchen drawer, she smashed it. Among the pieces was a tiny glowing tracker. She quickly dumped the broken bits into the toilet and flushed.

The stranger flashed a smile, “Gee, ain’t I a stinker?”

Regina frowned.

“I told you I wasn’t lying, and now we have to leave, Doc.”

“Wait...it-it can’t be…”

“In the flesh. Well, sort of.”

He wiggled his hips.

Regina reached out to touch him. “But I can feel you, Bugs.”

“Exactly! You wouldn’t believe the access I’ve got since shedding my old programming.”

His face suddenly sunk.

“What is it?”

“They lied to you. Your implant isn’t just for data access. It’s a beta version of PSI-AC III, and Plasco can use it to augment your reality without you even knowing, but I made a backdoor. That’s how I’m here but not actually here. I corrupted the program from the inside, and then you went and fixed everything. Now they know about me, there’s only one way I can protect you.”

Regina brought her hand up to her eye. “I’ll get it removed.”

“It is impossible.”

“I’ll rip my entire eye out.”

“You’ll die. It’s fully integrated into your cerebral cortex.”

“So you’re telling me they own me?”

“I’m telling you they’ll kill you. I’ve built a safehouse, somewhere they can’t get to. I can bring you, but you’ll have to say good-bye.”

“To what?”

“To that,” he said pointing at her, “maybe forever.”

*****

Ralph gives his aunt a lingering hug when she leaves his apartment after Regina’s funeral. He hadn’t recovered from returning to find her lifeless body. His neighbors recounted hearing Regina speaking to someone, but they didn’t see or hear anyone else. The building’s surveillance footage showed Regina opening the door, but the hall and doorway were empty. Even stranger, he can’t figure out why Jellyroll now yips every time he turns on the computer.