When we reached Oxnard and turned toward the oceanfront, I was surprised by the density of dwellings on either side of us. Bogie informed me that all the previously undeveloped land between Port Hueneme and Port Magu, including the former Naval Air Station and game reserves, had been converted to housing for the refugees of the Ventura disaster.

The oceanfront itself flourished as an entertainment Mecca with destinations to appeal to any personal vice or desire. Bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and brothels, as well as churches and gyms lined the beach. Our destination, Jacque's Dive Bar was situated at nearly the centerpoint of the oceanfront strip. Bogie found a convenient place to park only a short walk from the bar. I nudged Frankie awake. He grumbled and rubbed his eyes.

"Are we there?" He asked.

"We are. Is there a safe compartment in this car?" I inquired.

Bogie answered first, "Directly at your feet, Sean," a small door opened in front of me on the floor, "it is voice activated by authorized users only."

"Perfect," I put the rosewood box containing the memory crystals and the ECI adapter into the floor safe and closed it, "I think it would be stupid to have those on me."

"Couldn't agree more," Frankie commented, "Now what, Chief?"

"This is as far as you go Frankie, I don't want you coming in. I think you should head home. I need to know you're safe."

I was surprised by how quickly he agreed.
"Sounds good to me. I'm a coward, I'd be a liability. I tell you what though, I'll leave Bogie here for you. He's holding your shit anyway and he knows all the places I hang for when you get back. I'll just grab a CAV, there are plenty around. Bogie's got your voice authorization and you know his password is his name, right?"

I smiled, "Yeah, I got that. Good, head back and I'll catch up with you later. One last thing, I can't remember what Jackie looks like and what the hell is a CAV?

We got out of the car. Frank laughed, "Hard to miss...eyepatch, six foot two, blond buzz-cut. Likes you, so be nice. As for the CAV, it stands for California Automated Vehicle, like what you probably remember as Uber, but without the uncomfortable chit-chat."

Frankie grabbed me in a bear hug, "Good luck, brother. Keep me posted. Whatever you need, call."

"I will." With that Frankie went to hail a CAV and I walked to the Dive Bar, anxious and more than a little scared.

Jacque's Dive Bar was a weird mixture of the Wild West and a seafood restaurant. The exterior looked like any saloon in every western ever filmed, except for the life preservers, fishing nets, and harpoons which adorned the outside walls. The entrance, like any good cowboy film, was a pair of chest high swinging double doors.

I steeled my nerve and entered. The interior was no great surprise and continued the established theme. A wooden stage graced the rear of the space, surrounded by dozens of circular wooden tables. The main bar stretched the length of the space. About a dozen people sat around the tables drinking and a few more sat scattered at the bar. What did not fit in to this John Wayne fantasy was the bartender. I had to stifle a chuckle.

The barkeeper was a humanoid robot, dressed in a disturbing red shirt and wearing a crisp white Stetson. His emotionless plastic face followed me as I sat at the bar. He approached and addressed me.
"What's your poison?"

"I'd like to speak to Jackie," I replied.

"What's your poison?" He persisted.

I gave in. "I'll have a Manhattan, neat."

He turned swiftly and gracefully snatched bottles off the shelves with incredible speed, pouring precise amounts into a cocktail shaker, adding a dash of bitters and pouring the mixture perfectly into my glass, all in under thirty seconds. I was duly impressed and after tasting the drink, pleasantly surprised.

I eyed the robot carefully, trying to decide if he would tell me where Jackie was, when a voice to my immediate right intruded on my thoughts.

"You ever wonder why we make robots that look like people?"

I turned and examined the source of this question. He was middle-aged, brown hair, glasses, and basically unremarkable.
"Not really," I replied.

"It's certainly not an efficient form for doing anything. Six legs or tracks, five or six arms, completely rotatable head, would be far more efficient."

"It would be pretty creepy, though." I offered

He clapped his hands.
"Exactly! That's why humanoid robots are only in the service industries. Bartenders, waiters, nurses, sex-bots, anything that interacts with us. The nurses are humanoid, but the surgeon-bots have five arms. We are a very touchy species."

"Are you in robotics?" I asked.

"Used to be, now I'm sort of a public relations guy."

"Oh, really? Who do you work for?"

He smiled and stared deep into my eyes, then responded, "I think you know my employer, Sean. I work for Yurgo. My name is Barrister."

I was suddenly overcome with panic. Yurgo had found me and I didn't even know what he wanted, though I had a strong suspicion it was the same thing Miles wanted. I got up to flee, but the man put his hand on my shoulder and spoke calmly.

"Don't freak out. I know you can't remember anything, but trust me when I say that Yurgo is not your enemy. You contacted him. You made a deal with him, and I'm just here to facilitate that agreement. I believe you have a meeting with Jackie. That will bring your situation into a clear focus, please follow me."

He got up and began walking toward the rear of the bar, motioning me to follow. I followed. We reached a door with the words do not enter written in bold letters across it. He knocked and entered without any response from within and beckoned me to follow. Again, I followed.

The room was a small office with a large desk, a sofa, and two chairs. Seated behind the desk was the person I assumed to be Jackie. I was more than a little surprised to see that that eyepatch-wearing, six foot two, buzz-cut sporting person I was to meet was a very imposing, yet not unattractive woman. She put down the book she had been reading and smiled broadly at me while motioning my escort and I to sit on the couch.

"Hi sweetie," she said brightly and added, "I know you don't remember a damn thing, but we're pretty good friends."

I smiled back at her. "I'll take your word for it. What is it you were reading when we came in?"

Jackie chuckled, "The Bible."

"The Bible?"

"Yeah,"she grinned, "I was looking for loopholes."

My unwanted companion interrupted, "Enough chitchat, let's get down to business!"

I was a little bit annoyed and answered rather brusquely, "Fine! Since I don't know anything about anything, I suggest someone start talking other than me."

Suddenly Jackie's voice changed to one of regret. She looked at me guiltily, "I'm sorry Sean, I had no choice. I was no real part of it. They made me stand aside."

"Stand aside about what? Part of what?", I insisted.

Barrister took over the conversation. "I'll answer that. When you wanted that week removed from your memory to protect yourself from Giles, you purchased the services of a memory-editor. She worked for us. We felt a little additional leverage was necessary to ensure that you would go through with your deal, so we had her remove a decade and a half as an added incentive. Fear not, you'll get it all back if you do as you promised, as well as the thing you contracted for."

"What did I contract for?"

"That's between you and Yurgo. I'm just here to act as your personal guide and escort."

Suddenly there was a buzzing noise that seemed to emanate from his jacket pocket. He reached into it and pulled out what looked like a cigar. He carefully unrolled it to reveal that it was in fact, a phone. He answered, then turned to me.
"Speak of the devil and he shall appear, it's Yurgo, he wants to speak to you."

I took the phone from Bannister and listened. The voice on the other end sounded rough and had a crude accent, possibly Central European.

"Hello, Sean. I'm sure now that our agreement will be fulfilled. Mr. Bannister will explain what is required of you. Everything will be fine if you do as you promised. Don't forget that Preston Giles is a piece of shit, you don't owe him anything and I will make sure he doesn't harm you. As per our agreement, my end will be fulfilled as promised. I'll see you very soon. Just do everything Bannister tells you."

I was about to ask a whole bunch of questions, when I heard the telltale click at the other end of the line indicating my conversation with Yurgo had been terminated. I returned the phone to Bannister. He turned to me.

"I think it's time for Jackie to take us to the lab downstairs where your memories were extracted. I'm familiar with the process and will perform the procedure to re-insert a portion of your memories."

I was a bit taken aback.
"What do you mean portion of my memories?"

"All your questions will be answered in good time, now let's go. Jackie, lead the way."

Jackie got up from her desk and headed to the door, bidding us to follow. I exited the office more confused than when I had entered and certainly more concerned.