Andor's POV:

Alyssa and I volunteered to work at the visitation center. It was Malachai's shift, so we helped him file paperwork and make calls. It was fun, being able to work with each other. Plus, the more I spoke to Malachai, the more I realized how cool he was.

"How long have you two known each other?" he was asking us. "You seem very close."

We glanced awkwardly at each other. "Oh... not very long, I guess. Well, I mean, we were best friends when we were really little, but then we got separated for ten years," I answered.

Malachai laughed softly. "Sounds like you've got very long stories. I'd love to hear both of them, but there's work to be done." I nodded, and returned to filing papers. Right next to me was a screen full of cameras, showing activity near the visitation center. For the past hour, nothing had been happening, since people rarely showed up.

"They're not exactly happy stories," Alyssa muttered. "Well, mine isn't. I don't know Andor's story." She looked at me expectantly.

"Mine is far from happy as well," I answered.

"I can understand if you two don't want to talk about it," Malachai reassured us. "It's fine. It's in the past, isn't it? Now that you're in Galena, you can finally live the lives you've been dreaming about."

"That's true," I said, but his words seemed to have only upset Alyssa more. I'd have to ask her about it sometime.

We worked in silence for a bit, and then Malachai figured it was too quiet. "So, how's your work coming?"

"I think I'm doing well," Alyssa answered. "I've filed a lot of documents."

"Same here," I said, turning around to show him. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw something flickering. "Something's appeared on the cameras, Malachai!"

"Then just wait for them to show up," he said patiently.

"Okay." I squinted at the camera and saw a tall blond woman walking quickly through a hallway. She was looking around frantically, as if fearing that she was being followed. Malachai didn't seem to care, but I was instantly suspicious.

She passed through most of the cameras, and then I was able to hear her footsteps echoing from somewhere outside of the visitation center. Alyssa perked up immediately, excited that someone was finally coming.

The lady rounded the corner, but it wasn't the same one. This lady was shorter, and she had brown hair. But how could that be? In the cameras she had looked completely different. It must have been weird lighting, or something.

"Welcome," Malachai spoke softly and politely. "How may I help you today?"

The lady let out a long sigh. "I'm working with the Galena leaders in the laboratory, and we're working with some of the memories that have been extracted from citizens. I'll need to go in and get one."

My heart began to beat wildly, realizing what was happening, but Malachai seemed to buy it. "Oh, you're working with the leaders? That's amazing! Well, I suppose if you need to go get one, then..."

"No," the woman answered. "It's Galena rules that I'm not allowed to enter the laboratory without my group. I'll just need you to get it for me, I'm afraid."

"Oh, that's a shame." Malachai stood up and began to leave. "I believe there's only one memory around, one belonging to a person named Gaines. I can get that for you, if you like?"

She smiled sweetly, dimples appearing on her rosy cheeks. "That would be lovely, thank you!"

"Wait!" I blurted out, just as Malachai was beginning to leave. "I have to file the visitors that come here, don't I?" Trying to keep my voice from trembling, I stared into the lady's light green eyes. "Why don't you tell me your name, and I'll put it down?"

She gave me a funny look. "Is that really necessary?" Turning to Malachai, she added, "Don't you trust someone from Galena? It's a safe community. You, of all people, should know that."

I prayed that he wouldn't buy it, but, for some reason, he did. "Andor, stay out of this one, will you?" Malachai opened the lab door and stepped through it. "I'll go get the memories for you, ma'am. Sorry about the trouble."

The door closed behind him.

It was just me, Alyssa, and the lady, who was trying to steal Deviser Gaines's memories.

For a moment, nobody spoke or moved. Then, a burst of anger rushing through me, I lunged over the counter and slapped the lady as hard as I could.

"ANDOR!" Alyssa screamed, yanking me back.

"There's something wrong with you!" I yelled, pointing my finger threateningly at the shocked woman. "It may have fooled him, but it's not fooling us!"

"What do you want with Gaines's memories?" Alyssa demanded, keeping her hands firmly grasped around my arm.

She looked stunned. "I told you, I'm a Galena scientist! I need it for... well, you kids wouldn't understand." Her false smile returned, and I could feel myself getting more and more furious.

"I know you have blond hair," I snapped. "I know you're taller than that."

Her grin began to fade slowly, and shock returned to her emerald eyes. "How did you know that?"

"Apparently these cameras can see right through whatever disguise you have." I glared fiercely at her, not wanting to even blink, out of fear that she would be gone.

"Disguise?" Alyssa shrieked. Gripping my arm even tighter, I felt her slowly leaning into my side. It was something that I'd seen her do while standing next to Mot, but she'd never done it to me before.

She looked around wildly, as if looking for an escape. "You kids aren't brainwashed yet? You should be."

"What is with all of this brainwashing?" I cried. "I've been here one day, and I'm already sensing that this system has quite a few fatal flaws."

She smiled her first genuine smile, which somehow looked even weirder and more twisted than the fake one.  "Glad someone else has noticed. Listen, I just need one thing, and then I'll get out, I promise..."

"You're not getting Gaines's memories, you monster," Alyssa hissed.

"What do you care about Gaines?" she snarled, leaning over the counter and lowering her voice.

"He's our friend," I told her quietly, the anger drained from my voice.

"Your... friend?" She slowly placed a hand over her mouth. She looked like she was about to say more, but was interrupted by a yell from somewhere in the other room. 

"Is this the visitation center?" a deep voice growled from around the corner.

"Shit," the lady whispered. She panicked for a second, then turned and darted away. I didn't even care that she was running anymore. As long as she didn't take Gaines's memories.

"Yes," Alyssa called, loosening her grip on my arm. I looked down and saw that she had turned my entire arm red from holding onto it so tightly.

I let out a strangled cry as a tall figure came around the corner. He looked like Dianite, but something was off. He was paler, for one, and much weaker. His pace was slowed, and his turquoise eyes bore into mine.

"Sorry, kid, don't want to alarm you," he said. "My name's Dioptase, I'm trusted around here."

"A lot of people that shouldn't be trusted are trusted around here," Alyssa muttered darkly.

I was afraid that Dioptase would get mad, but he, surprisingly, laughed. "Welcome to Galena. Anyway, is Eris nearby? Or Malachai?"

I looked at the laboratory door expectantly, but the twin didn't appear out of it. "No... not currently. Why?" I stared suspiciously at him.

"Well, umm, do you happen to know someone named Mot?" Dioptase asked hesitantly. "You must've traveled with him..."

"STAY AWAY FROM MOT!" Alyssa screamed suddenly, lunging forward threateningly.

Dioptase flinched away. "Sorry, sorry, didn't mean to anger you. I just... I don't think I should explain."

"You better explain, or you're not going to get to him." Alyssa was seething, digging her fingernails into the wooden desk.

The god let out a long sigh. "Well, if you don't trust me, do you trust Dianite?"

Alyssa's eyes flew wide. "What about him?"

Footsteps sounded from inside the laboratory. "Look, kid," Dioptase said desperately, "He's being questioned in the Galena laboratory. He's fine, and he sent a message for Mot. He says that he wants to tell him that he's okay, and that he'll see him again soon. Can you please trust me on this one?"

Alyssa looked almost dizzy. To be honest, my mind was swirling as well. With the mixture of the mysterious woman hiding around the corner (I could see her in the cameras, once again with blond hair), Malachai getting Gaines's memories, and Dioptase's news, I felt like I was about to faint. This was a job for one of the others, who were much more capable of handling complex tasks than me. 

"I..." Alyssa gulped, looking nervously at me. I gave her a small smile to encourage her, and she turned back to Dianite's alternate. "I trust you."