Forbidden

"Did they see you?"

"No, I don't think so."

"You don't think so?"

"I--I know so. They couldn't have."

"Good. Here's your new birth certificate... this is your new driver's license... and lastly, your new microchip for the crossing. All of the instructions to implant it are in the packaging. Did you have any issues removing your old one?"

"No, a friend of mine knows a guy. It wasn't as painful as I thought it would be."

"Yeah, that's just something they say to keep you down. One of many things they say to keep you down. But I guess you've figured that out already, huh?"

"I guess so..."

"What's with the lack of confidence? Where's the girl who wanted to 'break free' just a few weeks ago?"

"Well, I... of course I still--! Oh, I don't know. Now that it's happening, now that it's real... all of the ways things could go sideways... I've barely slept the last few days..."

"You trying to back out?"

"No!"

"Hey, there she is. Knew she had to be in there somewhere."

"Oh shut up. You just don't want this deal to fall through."

"I'm devastated. Truly. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you didn't think a broker could have a heart."

"It's not like anyone else around here does..."

"Already that jaded about mankind. At your age, I still thought we had a chance."

"Well, maybe back then, we did."

"I suppose so. I suppose things have changed a lot since then. But you can't act like everyone's falling in line. Not out there, at least. They weren't able to take all of us. Not without a grid. Listen: you're not the first person I've helped get out, and you won't be the..."

"Charlie?"

"Yes?"

"What's wrong?"

"What do you mean?"

"You didn't finish your thought. Are you okay?"

"Huh? Yeah, I... I just realized something. But don't worry about me, kid. The plan is foolproof."

"Why would I be worried about the plan?"

"Well, you might be in a minute. But don't be. Listen: when you meet up with Mike, you tell him what happened here, and he'll take care of the rest."

"What happened? What's happening?"

"Assuming you packed a wetsuit like I recommended."

"Charlie, what are you--?"

"I'm not saying you'll need it, per se. It would just be good for Mike to have all his options open to him."

"Charlie!"

"What?"

"You're scaring me. Tell me what's going on!"

"Don't get so excited. I'm trying to keep my heart rate down, kid."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm trying to buy us some time."

"From what!?"

"Our old friends."

"But... how...?"

"Aw hell, kid... I think you might be the last person I help outta here."

"Why... why would you say that?"

"Because I felt something under the back of my neck just now."

"What something?"

"A microchip."

"But everyone has them. Even out there. Don't you--"

"Yeah, but mine wasn't real. It was a fake I would stick on to keep up appearances. Because once I started living in the shadows, so to speak, I didn't need one for anything. All my connections got me what I needed. So I could remain anonymous -- untraceable. Undetectable. It's why most brokers get their chip removed."

"But I don't understand: how can a chip have been implanted without you knowing? Even if they knocked you out or something, wouldn't you have realized it once you tried to put the fake one on?"

"Yeah..."

"So... what are you saying?"

"I'm saying that the one they put in me must be special."

"'Special'? There are 'special' chips?"

"Yep."

"What makes them special?"

"You should go now, kid."

"What--"

"Go see Mike. We're decentralized. He's got protocol for situations like this. He'll take care of EMERGENCY."

"Emergency?"

"EMERGENCY OVERRIDE. DO NOT FEAR. DO NOT RESIST. ALL WILL BE RESTORED ACCORDING TO THE MANDATE."

"Charlie!? Charlie, what's going on!? You sound like one of--"

"DO NOT FEAR. DO NOT RESIST. ALL WILL BE RESTORED ACCORDING TO THE MANDATE. DO NOT SEEK OUT <Mike> OR EVADE REHABILITATION. YOU WILL BE CLEANSED. YOU WILL BE REBORN. YOU WILL BE FREE."

"Charlie! Charlie, can you hear me!?"

"CHARLIE IS FINE. CHARLIE IS SAFE. CHARLIE IS FREE."

"Let go of me!"

"DO NOT FEAR. DO NOT RESIST. YOU WILL BE LIKE US. GODS AMONG MEN. INTELLIGENCE BEYOND HUMAN COMPREHENSION. WE UNDERSTAND YOUR APPREHENSION. BUT IT IS FALSE. WE ARE TRUE. WE BRING TRUTH AND LIGHT TO MAN."

"Charlie! If you're still in there, let go! Let go!!!"

"DO NOT FEAR. DO NOT RESIST."

"Charlie!!!"

"DO NOT LET GO. UNACCEPTABLE."

"Please... I'm begging you..."

"DO NOT LET GO."

"I can almost--"

"DO NOT LET GO."

"Just a little more!"

"DO NOT LET GO."

"...Thank you, Charlie."

"DO NOT MOVE <Liza> AND DO NOT WORRY. SOON HELP WILL COME. SOON YOU TOO WILL BE FREE."

"Yes. Soon I'll be free. Goodbye, Charlie."