Ruben sat on the peanut colored coach while Sydney stood over him.

"Before I request anything, how many favors do you owe me?"

Ruben groaned before taking another sip. "Really? I just sat down, and you are going to make me get up?" He reluctantly stood, walked to the bookshelf, grabbed what he needed without looking, and dropped it on the nearby desk. He flipped through a handful of pages before saying, "I owe you nine favors."

"Heh, I find it funny how you use paper for the branded 7," Sydney said.

"A special place for special people." He took another sip. "So, what will it be?"

Sydney spoke. "I need you to create a new identity for my friend."

Ruben looked at me with a smile paired with sparkling eyes. "New identity, eh? Are you trying to escape punishment?"

"N—No." I'm—"

"Jill," Sydney said, "I'll do the talking. She needs a new identity. The reason doesn't matter."

"But it does. You of all people should know that I do not work with anyone who refuses to elaborate on why they need me. You say she needs a new identity, but what for? Why is it that your friend needs a new identity?"

Sydney took a seat on the leather couch right across Ruben. I followed her lead.

"There's no point in making stories. You will find out the truth one way or another. She… she needs a new identity because she is not from here." Sydney looked at me with the cigarette in her mouth and nodded.

Was that her signal for telling me to speak? I wasn't sure. I didn't want to say anything about me being an outsider.

But for people to help me, I needed to speak the truth. Only then could someone understand me and what I needed. This man looked powerful and had a confusing relationship with Sydney. I knew Sydney for less than a day, but I trusted her and her judgment. If she thought this was the correct move, then so be it.

"I am from… well… I am an outsider, and I am from the outside world."

Ruben was quick to stand with the drink still in his hand. "An outsider? Are you bluffing?"

"No," I stated.

"Well, what a lovely surprise. How in the world did you get here? Wait—don't tell me. I don't need to know. I'll segway back to that question later."

"Will you help her?"

"Of course I will, Sydney. What Ionian citizen gets a chance to help an outsider? It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! No—more like once in a millennium."

"Well, four in a life—millennium," she said.

His eyes widened more than ever. "There are three with you?"

I nodded.

He mouthed the word 'wow' before saying, "I can't believe it. I can't believe it! Four outsiders made it to Ionia. This is the first time in history. At least what I am aware of. This is brilliant. So, you need a new identity? You can count on me. I'll have it in a week or so. Till then, it's best if you keep your head down."

Sydney stood. "Great. We'll get going."

"Ah! Not so fast. I would like to ask Jill a few questions if you don't mind. I like to get to know my client before I conduct any business."

Sydney exhaled a sigh of annoyance as she sat back down on the leather couch. An arm was over the backrest, and her left leg was on top of the other.

"Now, Jill. Crafting a new identity and adding it to SCAR'S database is quite a hassle. There are a lot of safety precautions we have to take to not get caught, which is why creating a new identity is something I don't get my hands dirty with. However, in your case, I'm willing to dig my hands as deeply as possible." He put his drink down at the long, rectangular table that separated us. "I usually ask two questions about fake identities. Why do you want one? What will you do afterwards? I do not need your answers because your case is extremely particular. You need one to get on the database, so you can live a normal Ionian life. Am I correct?"

Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. I nodded. "Ya."

"Wonderful. Next, since I know that part, I would like to get to know you as a person a little more." He held up his fingers. "I have a series of three questions. Answer them truthfully and in order. One: How did you get into Ionia? Two: Why did you leave the outside world? Three: Will you be able to stay out of trouble? Answer my questions with as much detail as you desire."

"What is this? A job interview?" Sydney groaned with her brows arched down.

"I am simply trying to get to know my client better. If that tongue of yours can rest while Jill answers my questions, then that will be much appreciated."

I spoke. "Well—ah—I got into Ionia because I was led to an entrance. Ah… I left the outsider world because I didn't want to be there anymore. And yes, I promise to stay out of trouble."

He adjusted the cuffs on his sleeve and clicked his tongue. "When I said give me as much detail as you desire, I was hoping for a little more self-confidence. No worries, though. You did what I asked. I cannot be disappointed." He stood and went to the blue–ish, black table with white light projecting a sphere. "Do you care for a quick lesson on the City of Ionia?"

My face lit up. I nodded excitedly with a wide smile. "Ya. That will be great!"

"Wonderful," he said. His fingers grazed the edge of the table. "Jello, display the City of Ionia."

"As you wish."

The table spoke. I didn't know how, but the table spoke. Was I going crazy? Was there some sort of voice in my head?

I leaned towards Sydney, whispering, "The table spoke…"

She sighed. "You have a lot to learn."

I didn't catch what she meant. I acted like I did and nodded with a half–baked smile.

That's when I turned towards the table.

And that's when I saw something otherworldly.

Everyone knew Ionia's technology was beyond our comprehension. It was alien–like, something outsiders had never seen. It was something extraordinary to my naive eyes.

That white sphere expanded into the city. The city looked like a miniature model, but was alive with blue and motion. Buildings, streets, and even tiny vehicles floated above the table's surface. I pointed at the big lake we crossed in the car. The lake expanded and divided the city vertically. These structures hovered in mid-air, created entirely from light. It was like watching a tiny, futuristic world evolve right before my eyes.

I swiped my hands through the blue light. Nothing changed. It stood like nothing had happened.

"It's the ring," Ruben said. He showed the back of his palm. His middle finger contained a black ring with a skinny, dark blue stripe. "This ring controls the hologram, allowing me to display anything to my desire. I will try to dumb down my explanations for your understanding. What you see here is an image of the City of Ionia. Beautiful, isn't it?"

I nodded, speechless at what I saw.

"Right. May I remind you that this is just the city. There's more within the walls."

I looked over at him. "Meaning?"

"The city is just a portion of what's within the walls. Jello, display percentages of the pie within the walls."

"As you wish."

The hologram morphed into a flat surface with percentages and distinct borders that stuck out.

"It would be rather dull for me to express the nitty–gritty details. What I kindly displayed for you is an easier way to grasp the abnormally sized community within the walls. 38% of the land sheltered within the walls is the City of Ionia. This includes the miniature suburban areas connected to the city. Where Sydney lives, for example. She doesn't live in the city, she lives on the outskirts in a nice community suburbia."

Sydney had something to say while leaning against the wall. "I don't need your sarcastic remarks."

He smiled. "Apologies. Regardless, moving forward. The southern part of the wall are miniature towns. There are 14 in total, which makes up 8% of the land. Those are where the cheap-o's live. People who don't have good-paying jobs. The further away from the city, the cheaper the expenses. Though the commute to the city and the furthest town, Rothlestimber, is approximately five hours long. It's a pain in the donkey's tail." He crept towards the bar as he spoke and poured himself a drink. While focusing on his drink, he continued to speak about land within the walls. "The big 52% in the central and northern parts are occupied by SCAR. Technically, it's the woods, but let's use our heads."

I didn't know what he meant, and I didn't want to ask. But there was something I did want to ask Sydney.

"Sydney, what town do you live in?" Ruben mentioned she didn't live in the city, so I was curious.

"Centail. It's just on the outside and is close to the major parts of the city—"

"Including this club," Ruben interrupted.

Sydney pulled the corner of her lip back, revealing her back teeth like a hungry carnivore. "Don't make me come out of retirement and dig your grave."

Ruben stepped closer to Sdyeny with a confident smile. "Your confidence is as grand as always."

The uncomfortable tension made my stomach twist and turn. I wanted to say something, but I didn't know what.

Before anything got out of control, Sydney locked eyes with me and said, "We're going, Jill. Ruben will send the IDs soon. Right, Ruben?"

He moved his jaw like a cow munching on grass. "As you please."

Sydney tightly grabbed my wrist and pulled me to the elevator.

"I'm going to fucking kill him one day," she mumbled while pressing a button.

It was clear they shared history. I didn't want to ask since it wasn't any of my business.

The door slowly closed. The last thing I saw in that room was Ruben's confident smile.

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