“IRRAISHIMASE!”
Javier stopped. Several vN were yelling. None were looking at him. They all looked like the puppet vN that had attacked the island, the same pretty Asian male model. They were dressed in a variety of outfits: black suits with skinny ties; navy blue kimono with tiny white diamond patterns; ornate Gothic dresses with fantastic hats and stunning makeup; gleaming white leather motorcycle jackets and matching trousers. None of them looked at him directly. His opening the door seemed to have triggered their reaction. Shrugging, Javier made his way into the lobby.
Now, they turned. All bowed. “Welcome to the Akiba,” they said, in unison. “When would you like to visit?”
“Excuse me?”
“Which era can we escort you to?” The vN in the skinny tie pointed. “Each of us represents a different period. Are you interested in one in particular? If so, you could take the tram. Or if you prefer, you could take the long way.”
“The long way is a lot of fun,” said the vN in the Gothic costume.
“Actually, I’m interested in checking in,” Javier said.
“Right this way, sir.” Skinny Tie led him to a small bridge that spanned a gurgling stream. Once over the bridge, Javier saw that the stream was an offshoot of a much larger pond complete with turtles and koi fish. Sculpted trees stretched over its length, and lotus flowers floated on its surface. Gradients of moss gathered at its edge. Guests followed a grey slate path through the entirety of it, pausing to examine cherry blossoms – in December.
“Most of the lobbies on the Strip are designed to take your money from the second you walk in,” Skinny Tie said, with no small amount of scorn. “We prefer to calm our guests down and put them at their ease, first. Most of them are simply exhausted from travel. They don’t want to think about gambling. They want to rest. We hope our garden can encourage that.”
“It’s very peaceful,” Javier said, as Skinny Tie guided him into a teahouse poised on a tiny hill just off the slate path.
The Rory in the teahouse was in full kimono, and knelt at a low desk. She had no display. No monitor. No device of any kind. She was the device.
“This gentleman has a reservation,” Skinny Tie said.
The Rory smiled. “Of course he does. Thank you for showing him in.”
Skinny Tie bowed and took his leave. Rory’s smile died immediately. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“I’m checking in to your fine establishment,” Javier said. “My name is Ricardo Montalban.”
“You are on a fool’s errand,” Rory said. “You will never find Amy. You will never bring her back. There is nothing you can do.”
“I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about.” He leaned forward. “Is my reservation not listed?”
“Chris Holberton is not staying here. You won’t be able to find him. You won’t be able to learn where he stashed Amy.”
Javier knelt at the desk. He laid his palms on it, flat. He looked the Rory directly in the eye. “I believe you may have me confused with someone else.” He slid his palms across the desk, and covered her hands with them. When she tried pulling them away, he gripped them. Hard. He squeezed. “I believe you may have me confused with one of my clademates, or maybe someone who shares my model. My face. Some other vN who looks like me. Someone who is very dangerous.”
The Rory simply blinked.
“I can understand why you might be afraid of him,” Javier continued, “because he is very dangerous. He has nothing left to lose.”
“You’re damaging my wrists.”
“I know that all of you are networked. I know that losing one of you doesn’t really matter that much. If you die, you can be replaced. The knowledge one has can be shifted to another. You’re all disposable. Right?”
Rory tried pulling away again, and he pulled back. Heard something shatter in her wrist. Felt the disconnect under his thumb.
“That means no one would miss you, if I took the pen that’s in my breast pocket and stuck it right in your neck. It’s full of digestive fluid. I made it myself, on my way here. You wouldn’t die right away. It would happen slowly. From the inside. Your head would fall off, first. It would probably still be conscious as you watched the rest of your body disintegrating.”
Rory whimpered. Javier let go of her hands.
“Now. About my reservation.”