Mike disappeared on a clear day. I remember that, at least, though not much else. I was five years old. "Try," the policemen said to me. "Try harder. Remember."

Writers have to get their characters from somewhere. Sometimes it's just not as simple as making them up.

When a security breach is detected at Diotech Inc, the Memory Restoration Department is called upon to do what they do best: make you forget. But with every memory that’s taken out, a new one must be installed in its place. It’s a job that requires skill, artistry, discretion, and flawless proficiency in the language of memories. That’s why only the best programmers in the world are recruited to work for the department. But diving too far into another person’s memories is a dangerous endeavor. And for some, the temptation is just too strong. “The Memory Coder,” an original story by Jessica Brody, is set in the science fiction world of the Unremembered Trilogy. Unremembered and Unforgotten (Macmillan) are in stores now. Look for the final book, Unchanged, available on February 24, 2015 wherever books are sold. Visit: JessicaBrody.com for more information about the Unremembered Trilogy Copyright - Jessica Brody Art Copyright - Goñi Montes ## POSTING SCHEDULE: Chapter 1 - September 11, 2014 Chapter 2 - September 18, 2014 Chapter 3 - September 25, 2014

This short speculative fiction story originally appeared on the Canadian website, Ascent Aspirations way back in 2007.

Secret numbers and hidden codes feature in this story about how cultural differences can affect even things that are supposed to be universally true. Originally published in Fantasy Magazine and reprinted in Looking Glass and Cosmos.

Who would have thought that the ultimate destruction could be so delicious?