The Second Dimension

Bad memories and whipped cream

Hundreds of metres away, in a spacious office, Dr Eve Orway was filling in forms. Everything around her was clean and tidy, although there was very little furniture. The largest section of wall was occupied by a huge bay window draped with thin white curtains. Being on the twelfth floor, the view had all the makings of being magnificent, but the dull buildings lined up as far as the eye could see spoiled the scenery.

The office itself was coldly modern. The walls were blank, with only a white carpet and a transparent glass desk.

Despite the meticulous organisation, papers were scattered across the smooth, cold surface of the desk. For the moment, tidying up was the least of Eve's worries, as she grappled with complex diagrams detailing brain structures. She pressed down with surprising force on the lead of her pencil so hard that the graphite tip snapped in two. In the end, she decided to give herself a few minutes' respite and approached the huge window.

A girl in a blue suit appeared in the room, disappearing under a mountain of pastries, cakes and drinks, including some magnificent onion and apricot tarts.

She wheeled the trolley into the middle of the room. Eve didn't look away.

The girl had stopped by the white carpet and was waiting with her arms crossed.

-You can go now, 4569802,' Eve said after a moment.

-Thanks, but my name's Lily. I prefer it. It sounds more human.

The words seemed to affect Eve, who turned back to Lily. She held her gaze.

-I don't think we really understand each other. I turn a blind eye to your past, you don't question my orders. Besides, you're not even supposed to look me in the face.

Eve had struck a chord with Lily, who looked down and tugged at the collar of her blue blazer with the silver 'C'.

-I thought you'd changed, but from what I've heard of your (ahem) clandestine (ahem) activities, you haven't changed a bit. Let's see what your friend 2324598's mistake is. Gaïa, please show me station number twenty-three of factory three hundred and twelve.

A horribly artificial metallic voice echoed in the office.

-Extension number twenty-three of factory three hundred and twelve,' the voice repeated unnecessarily.

The particle screen widened to the size of an entire wall. It displayed curves and information incomprehensible in the Alpha language that only scientists boasted of speaking.

Eve turned to Lily. Her immaculate white suit was so pale that you could no longer see the edge of it.

-We don't need any more surveillance cameras, Gaia goes through walls,' Eve murmured, her eyes once again staring at the graphics.

Lily remained silent. It was rare for Eve to call on Gaïa.

Gaia's monotone voice resumed its tirade.

-Target, post number twenty-three. Number of beings in the area: one. Breathing normal. Presence of UMI34 substance. Status of central database: nothing to report. End of warranty: twenty-three years.

One last piece of information was displayed, this time in normal language.

'Presence of an Invisible Limit in the vicinity.'

Neither Lily nor Eve moved an eyelash for a full five minutes, petrified by the information.

At the end of what seemed like a long time, Lily timidly raised her voice.