City of Amnesia

Zell smiles, "Good morning Lilith."

"You look awful" Luna said and smiled, "...may I come in?"

*Her eye twitches.*

T"What is it that you want?"
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L"What is noteworthy about it?"
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<Alright. I warn you, though, it's a slow day.>

"Okay."

*She goes about her day signing in books and reading those that spark her interest.*

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*After staring at the phone expecting it to ring and it didn't, Vega leaves.*

"The fact that we are both alive, and well." Zell replied.

*Next thing she knows, the robot is storming through ceiling after ceiling, tearing the building apart before surfacing.*

L"That does not make sense. You are alive every day. In fact, you are alive at night. I, however, am not."
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*As she's going over the returned books, she sees that one of them is The Biography of Gordon Rosewater.*

*She begins reading the biography.*

"I am alive night and day, which, I like to think of as a positive thing." Zell raised an eyebrow at the last thing Lilith said, "So, you don't consider yourself alive? Why is that?"

"To talk about," Luna spoke quietly, "the Megadeus... the subway murderer, the Paradigm Head Office... it is very important and I believe it concerns you directly. Once again, may I come in?"

T"Let me guess...you realized that the Paradigm Head Office is deliberately preserving & collecting Megadeus? Possibly even awakening them in the first place? It is funny how their former employees keep getting their hands on them. First Senthose Rasheverek, then Michael Seebach...funny, though, I hear they're missing a few."
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L"Living beings have cells. I do not."
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*It's a long, boring dredge about how Gordon founded the Paradigm Corporation around 40 years ago, originally an electricity company, then built it into the megaconglomerate it is today. His son was to take it over, but he died of a particularly bad flu. Still, as old as he is, he's basically in retirement at his tomato farm in West Dome #5. The chief executives of Paradigm vie for secondary control of the company, but everything has to go through Gordon until he names a successor. The last chapter is an interview with Gordon himself.*

Why did you start the Paradigm Corporation?
I needed money to start my tomato farm. This farm raises a superior crop of tomatoes, you see. They're genetically engineered with nothing but the memory of the sweet flavorful original. Still, in time, they'll become the originals. Don't you think?

I'm afraid I don't know very much about tomatoes.
Well, that's not surprising. It's like rocket science. Only with tomatoes.

That was a very colorful metaphor. I hear there's a rumor you wrote the enigmatic cult classic Metropolis...is that true?
No. I'm just a fan. But I am flattered, really. It actually gave me the idea to start my tomatoe farm.

Well, we're almost out of time? Is there anything you want to say before you go?
Kanrei Tsuki.

O...kay...?[b]
Quite. A memory told me to say it.

[b]Well...thank you for your time.
Of course! Come back any time!

[That's the name of the Megadeus I pilot.]

*She signs the book in and places it on the cart to be put back and resumes what she's doing.*

"Well, yes" Luna nodded, "and there is also a plan to move the citizens of Paradigm out of this city... none of it seems right, and I thought you might be a good person to talk to if I want to start figuring these things out."

Luna hid the fact that she had a cheap, prepaid phone recording everything they said in her pocket.

T"Oh, yeah, Paradigm-2, right? The Paradigm News channels won't shut up about it. I'd say it sounds like they're getting rid of undesirables, but Helen Barbatos is being transferred there. Then again, maybe even Vera's starting to get tired of her. I don't want to overstate, but she is an inhuman freak."
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*Vega walks into the library, probably not having a damn clue where he is or what he's supposed to be doing.*

*Having signed the books in and read those that caught her fancy, Hitomi goes about pushing the cart down the aisles returning the books to their proper place.*

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[The hell am I doing here? I suppose I could see if there's still construction going on, but that's a bit of a long shot.]

*He goes to the job site he was at a few days ago.*

"Well, I'd like to ask you what you know about the Megadeus... if that's not too forward."

*When he gets there, he finds them working on the roof.*

<Oh, hey. You're alive.>
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"They're giant robots & Paradigm wans them like it wants everything else."

"I find myself saying that frequently. So where do you want me?"

"So, how exactly are you involved?"

Zell felt like she was being trapped in a conversation, if she agreed she knew Lilith would somehow use it against her somehow, so Zell thought for a second. "I wouldn't go so far as to define being alive as having cells, or being organic. You may not have the same cells that I do, but we both have needs, and wants, and we both reason. I'd say that makes you as alive as me or anyone else."

L"Negative. An aomeba doesn't think for itself, but it is still alive. A chair needs 4 legs to keep it sturdy, but it is not."
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T"I don't work for Paradigm. That would be you."
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<Oh, just pick up a hammer & start installing shingles. We should be done with this job by the end of the week.>

"All right."

*Vega grabs a hammer and goes about installing shingles.*

"I would say it is organic, but not necessarily alive, or at least not in the same sense." Zell said.

"Well, to be honest, I'm not working with the police for now" Luna cleared her throat before going on, "While I haven't resigned, I have been given extended sick leave. Another thing- the Paradigm Police Force is no longer investigating the Megadeus or the subway collapse... stuff. We were ordered to drop it from the top."

T"Good for you."
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*The other librarian is putting a coat on.*

<Oh, I forgot to tell you, we're quitting early today.>
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*Someone approaches the foreman & he turns around, cupping a hand beside his mouth.*

<OI! Vega! I just got some kind of notice that you're s'posed to be movin'?>
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L"Organic structures are a prerequisite by life, followed thereafter by cells, & then cellular metabolism & reproduction."