Everything Useful

The machine is set to erase Ivo's identity while keeping his body alive for work. Ivo looks up at Vale, searching his face.

Vale holds up a tablet. It plays eleven seconds of memory that Ivo restored: his sister backing away from an imperial soldier, her hands empty. Ivo had been ordered to delete those seconds.

Ivo leans toward the memory of his sister. On the tablet, the soldier raises his gun. Ivo tries to make Vale look at her empty hands.

Vale turns the tablet facedown. A gunshot comes from its speaker. Ivo flinches. The footage is still playing beneath Vale's hand.

Still restrained, Ivo looks directly at Vale. He answers the question about where he sent the unaltered recording.

For the first time, Vale stops moving. His thumb rests on the facedown tablet. Ivo studies his face, searching for an answer.

Vale gives no answer. He takes his hand off the tablet and presses AUTHORIZE. A ring of light closes around Ivo's head.

The machine waits for Vale to choose what will survive the erasure. Ivo's burned thumb strains against the restraint.

Imperial recovery suite · Night

The display flashes SKILLS: TRANSFERRED. Light reaches Ivo's eyes. He draws a breath—

That breath continues in another room. Ivo bolts upright in a silk-lined chair. His hands are free. The burn is gone. He rubs the place where it should be, then gets up and approaches a mirror.

A blond stranger looks back from the mirror, matching every movement. Ivo touches his throat. He is still himself, but the face and voice are unfamiliar. A discreet light scans the reflection.

The door opens. Vale enters—the same official who ordered Ivo's erasure. Ivo recoils, instinctively hiding his hands. He holds his breath, afraid Vale will recognize him.

Vale lowers his eyes and waits. Ivo is still Ivo, but Vale sees Prince Leon. Fear gives way to the first flicker of understanding: the man who ordered him erased is now waiting for his permission to speak.