There was life after death. Just not for all.

They reincarnated "pure souls" into new vessels. Memories from the old life were erased but the essence of the person remained intact. Rewarding those deemed good with a new #beginning.

This was Eden. And I woke up to it.

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Not every transmigration was successful.

Vitals were normal. For a #period, I was to expect nausea, weakness & severe cases of déjà vu. Side effects of the memory swipe. I was advised to disregard anything that felt "familiar".

"Time to make new memories," Doc said.

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The metropolis loomed over me. Strangers glared. Something about Eden made me feel out of place.

I picked up a paper. Headline read: Eden our Utopia!

Another #article caught my eye.

"Crime surge! Chancellor reminds Eden: Reincarnation is a reward, not a privilege."

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I was picked up by patrol. Placing me in a tank like SUV, they were tasked to escort me to my assigned residence. Their squad leader informed me it would be an #overnight drive and that I should sleep while I can. Exhausted, I complied.

Soon, I found myself dreaming.

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"Wake up. We're here."

Cold sweat. Felt like an axe was jammed in my skull.

"Bad dream?"
I nodded.
"About?"

Vivid, but I couldn't make out any of it. Only a name. Maxwell. Instinct told me to keep it secret. Something about it felt #dangerous.

"No idea," I replied.

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The flat was livable despite the inadequate space. A shoebox almost.

I sat on my bed, exasperated. Who was Maxwell? Was this the déjà vu I was told to ignore?

My troubles were interrupted. To my #amazement, a hologram apparated in front of me.

"Hello Levi," it said.

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"Levi?" I asked.
"Your assigned name. Levi Xantos."
"What are you?"
"A microchip in your cerebral network. A virtual assistant. Your personal Jiminy Cricket. JC for short. My #privilege to serve."
"What info can you access?"
"All if it."
"Can you search a name for me?"

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"Warning. Our conversations will be recorded in Eden's database. Raising red flags can quickly change one's #circumstances."
"We're being watched?"
"Observed... In any case, I am at your disposal."

And with that JC vanished. The mystery of Maxwell would have to wait.

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To #overcome the stress, I decided to go for a walk.

Chrome buildings. Whizzing hover cars. Patrols stationed every other block. People communicated with no one but their virtual assistants.

Uneventful. Until a man groveling at a woman's feet grabbed my attention.

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#Curious, I observed.

"Who are you!?"
"Zheila, it's me!"

She looked terrified.

In seconds, patrol arrived. Without a thought, they whipped out their batons, beat him bloody before dragging him away in a van.

JC appeared as soon as I thought to ask him a question.

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" #Consequence of déjà vu," JC sighed.
"What happened?"
"Stray memories. Error in transmigration. He'll be taken to Correction."
"Will he return?"
"If they manage to correct him."
"Stats of that?"
"As of now? 0%"

A banner hovered in the sky. It read "Eden our Utopia!"

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Returning to my flat, I threw myself into bed. Perhaps sleep would rid me of the #memory of the earlier brutality.

"Alarm set at 6am," JC said.
"For?"
"Integration into Eden brief. Reincarnation serves the purpose of being a cog in Eden's grand machine."

Fantastic.

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Pitch black.

Another dream?

Floating in a #benthic chasm. Behind me, whispers. I turn to face the dark. Orbs for eyes. Whispering. Unintelligible.

It grabs me. We sink. Fast. It shrieks. I hear it. I know what it says.

Maxwell!

Awake in cold sweat, my alarm rings.

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JC stood by my bed.

"You watch me sleep?"
"I gather data on your sleeping habits. Your version makes me sound like a creep."

Outside, a bearded man was being broadcasted on every available monitor.

"Who's he?"
"The most #powerful person in Eden, Chancellor Anguix."

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I switched on a monitor.

"... #introduction of lies into our Utopia! People of Eden, I promise you. The terrorist group Hesperides will be eradicated. Along with everyone associated with it."

The Chancellor's broadcast cut. I found myself staring at the static. Blank.

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After a shower and some eggs for breakfast, an Officer of Eden arrived with my brief. Stamped on top in red - COURIER.

I was to deliver everything & anything from Point A to B. Letters, packages, furniture, #artifacts, you name it. It was part of the job description.

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Outside my building waited a white van. In the driver seat, a woman.

She introduced herself as Jaz Lamoz. She'd been courier for the #community for almost 3 years. She explained the ins & outs but I didn't understand much. Something about her was quite... distracting.

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We did our rounds. Jaz drove. I delivered. Dropping the last package by sunset.

"That #everything?"
"Yeah."
"A successful Day 1. Let's celebrate," Jaz said, turning the van towards the horizon. "And I won't take no for answer."

I had no intention of doing so anyways.

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We ended up in a pub next to an open field.

"Work is pretty much #identical everyday. A social life adds variety. Watcha having?" Jaz said peeping over her menu.
"Dunno."
"Right. Just reincarnated. I forget you don't have preferences yet. Let's start with beer then."

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Beer was awfully bitter - but I didn't hate it. Jaz laughed at my initial reaction to it. Her smile I thought was rather mesmerizing.

A waitress placed a tray of shots on our table.

"Tequila," Jaz said. "Few of these and your words will be nothing but #susurration."

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I woke to a splitting headache. Memory blurred. Déjà vu? Another nightmare?

"It's called a hangover," JC said. "Too much booze and you're reincarnated to the next day."
"What happened?"
"I could tell you - or just show you. I have the entire #tragedy recorded."

Fuck.

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Watching the evening from a 3rd party #perspective was weird. Jaz looked fine. I acted like an idiot. I must have bothered the couple a few tables across because they kept giving me side glances during the course of the night. Note to self. Tequila is not your friend.

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That day - and only after a few jabs - Jaz was cool to let it slide.

"It happens," she said as we tore down a highway. "Getting plastered is #Survival 101. Adds fluidity to this rigid society."
"Rigid?"
"When you've been reincarnated for 5 years, you learn things."

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"This place...," she mumbled. For a second, a shadow flickered behind Jaz's eyes. And as if a switch, she reverted back to her usual brightness. "Then again, everything is #relative."

Jaz turned up the radio.

Not a single word was uttered for the rest of the drive.

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Weeks flew. In that time, I learned general info is kept after transmigration. How-tos. Old skills. Personal - memory, preference - are erased.

Discovered I was a sure shot when we went to the range. Spending a lot of time with Jaz, can't help but feel a #connection.

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Days in Eden were mostly #ordinary. Routine. Rarely anything new.

There were rumours that Hesperides was going to launch a massive attack on the city. Seems they were just that - rumours.

Jaz doesn't say much about the terrorists. She thinks they're empty threats.

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When Jaz is on her day off, they pair me with this geezer named Tim Zhant. Over 35 years in Eden, he's seen it all. Claims he's the oldest living reincarnation ever. A #solivagant. Generally doesn't like people. But apparently, I'm alright. The exception to his rule.

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"You wanna know if Jaz likes you?"

I nearly choked on my morning coffee.

Tim leaned in, "Ask your A.I. to run surveillance of your time together. Observe. Does she play with her hair? Laugh at your stupid jokes?" #punctuating his advise with a wink. "You're welcome."

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That night, laying on bed, Tim's advise #occupied my mind.

Is it considered unethical if I looked through surveillance on Jaz? Technically, if I was in those places at those times, it wouldn't be a breach of privacy. Would it?

The idea felt weird. I decided to sleep.

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A forest.

Is that... Jaz?

I run after her, or at least, try to. Sinking into the ground. Struggling. Until—

I found myself suspended in an upside down #position.

It appears. Jaz? Unsure.

It moved toward me. Slowly. Floating. Whispering.

Maxwell.

My alarm rang.

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"Been awhile since you had a nightmare," JC said.

True. Honestly, I thought they over.

"How are you?" I asked.
"I am your A.I. assistant. An #instrument to better your daily life. That question is moot."

Made sense.

JC seemed so human. I forget he's just software.

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The day was supposed to be routine.

We got into an #accident that afternoon. Thankfully, no one got hurt. Can't say the same about the van.

Jaz was questioned by Patrol since she was the one at the wheel.

Only then did I notice her bloodshot eyes and sunken eyebags.

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After Jaz #limned the events to Patrol, they let her go.

Being a witness, I was handed summons to report to the precinct tomorrow morning. Mandatory.

"You good?" I asked Jaz.
"No."
"What can I do?"
"Levi," she said, almost tearful. "I don't want to be alone tonight."

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Jaz sat on the edge of my bed. Troubled.

"What's up?"
"Nothing."
"I'm not a #sucker Jaz. I can see something is up."
Jaz stayed silent.
"Talk to me, damn it."

She looked at me with sad eyes before kissing me.

I must be a sucker because I couldn't help but kiss back.

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Her voice. Thick hair. Soft skin. Warmth of her body. Her breathe in my ear. The way she clawed my back. The way she took me. Her. Everything about her was #remarkable.

I woke up to an empty bed. The only remnant of Jaz was the lavender perfume lingering on my pillow.

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I wanted to talk to Jaz. Ask why she'd just leave after last night. Obligations with Patrol came first.

They kept me locked in interrogation. Inside, a one way mirror. There's something more to this inquiry than it seemed.

After an hour, a #ferocious woman joined me.

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General Ysa Mori. A lady in peak physical #condition.

She placed a device on the table.

"Do you know what this is?"

Switching it on before I could even guess, my ears started tor ring.

"Stops your A.I. from recording data. That way, our convo will remain private."

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"I don't #appreciate liars," Ysa said. "And you don't want to find out what I do to them."
"I'll cooperate."
"What do you know about Jaz Lamoz?"
"I thought this was an inquiry about the accident?"
Ysa placed her pistol on the table. "I ask the questions around here."

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"We deliver mail together."
"Describe your relationship."
"Mostly professional."
" #Reminder that lying to me is perjury," Ysa said. "Do you know where she is?"
"At work?"
"Didn't show up." Ysa slid me a microchip. "Perhaps you ought to get to know the real Jaz Lamoz."

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All reincarnates had a reader on the side of their neck. Slipping the microchip in mine, I gained access to Jaz's A.I. history. The amount of déjà vu related searches was alarming.

"She's red flagged. A candidate for Correction."

No.

This was #morosis. It had to be.

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I handed the chip back to Ysa.

"No crime in Jaz asking questions."
"Questions are breadcrumbs that trail from one's inner thoughts," she said. "Tell me, why did you ask your A.I. how it was?"
"I don't know."
"You've even named it. JC, was it? You #embody foolishness."

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An intercom buzzed & Ysa stepped out.

I recalled Jaz insinuating things about Eden. A darkness. Was there something more to her comment?

Ysa returned. "You have friends in #firmament. You can go. If I find out you're withholding information. Consider yourself dead."

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I left the Interrogations #Agency physically unscathed but my mind was in tatters.

I couldn't sleep that night. Lay in my bed, I could still smell her on my sheets. To think, up until last night, she was in my arms. And then— a ghost.

Jaz... where the hell are you?

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Anxiety started to grip me.

"Your vitals show a lack of #oxygen," JC said.
I wheezed, "You think?"
"This might help."

JC started playing a tune. It felt familiar. And safe. As if it was sung to me before.

"Better?" JC asked.
I took a deep breath. "A little. Thanks."

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"Jazz," JC explained. "Music played millennia ago in ancient tech called #radio."
"Jaz?" I said. "Taking the piss?"
"My humour is adjusted to your preference."

Great.

"I wish I knew where she was," I said.
"The archives might have clues."
I sat up from bed. "Clues?"

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"Tim once suggested you analyze data footage on Jaz," JC said.
"Given the #enormity of the situation, I doubt that's a good idea."
"For romance, yes. But perhaps my surveillance picked up info that could point to her current whereabouts."

A long shot. But it's a lead.

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"Warning. The simulations will feel as if you were there in that point in time," JC said. "Remember, none of it is real."
"Am I going to need #therapy after this?"
"I could download the Shrink Software first."
"Just begin."
"Loading surveillance. Subject: Jaz Lamoz."

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My surroundings started to disintegrate into #detritus, circling above my head before reconstructing itself.

I found myself outside my building. And suddenly, it was no longer night.

"Levi!"

My heart sunk. I recognized the voice. I turned and there she stood.

Jaz.

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I wanted to run to her. Hug her. Tell her that I'm right here.

Gentle winds. A glaring sun. Patrol helicopters flying above. The whole simulation was #palpable. If one wasn't careful...

I saw the Levi she called out to. The Levi of then.

"I remember this day, JC."

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"Nothing special happened," I said.
"Best to start small. Avoid sensory overload."

My surroundings disintegrated once more, falling to the ground like sand, revealing thousands of #corridors.

"Each one's a specific point in time," JC said. "To when shall we go next?"

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