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\u201cMarina, then. What is this place?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marina\/Olatz looked out beyond where Maite and Kepa were sitting at the array of people working at their various desks and stations. She sighed. \u201cIt\u2019s the resistance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cResistance?\u201d asked Kepa. \u201cAgainst what? It seems so perfect out there. So clean. So lush. All of the technology is wonderful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marina nodded. \u201cOn the surface, it certainly is. And, admittedly, almost everyone lives a health, productive life. But there is an element of control to make all of this happen. The cost of all of this is a loss of autonomy, of privacy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo, you\u2019d all rather throw all of this away to be able to do\u2026 what, exactly?\u201d asked Maite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marina shrugged. \u201cThat\u2019s the thing. It doesn\u2019t matter. We just want the freedom to live our lives without oversight. You saw those drones at the airport. The second anyone steps out of line, there they are. We are always being watched.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat do you mean, we, anyways?\u201d asked Kepa. \u201cYou aren\u2019t even from this time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, that\u2019s right,\u201d continued Marina, \u201cbut I\u2019ve spent a lot of time here. And de Lancre has been here for a while too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou said that,\u201d said Maite. \u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe\u2019s part of the government. In fact, all of this surveillance grew when he appeared in the timeline. I believe it\u2019s all because of him and his search for the zatia.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAh,\u201d said Maite, a smile crossing her face. She turned to the group of people behind her. \u201cI think I understand. You don\u2019t care about any resistance. They are your way of finding the zatia, of fighting de Lancre.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marina scowled. \u201cOf course I care. This body, Olatz\u2019s body\u2026 it is my flesh and blood. I want a future that is better for her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut, you would sacrifice them all in a heartbeat if it meant getting that zatia.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marina\u2019s scowl deepened as her face turned red. \u201cWhat would you have me do? Sacrifice all of reality for them, when the moment we find the zatia it will all reset and they\u2019ll never even know?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, I understand,\u201d said Maite. \u201cJust don\u2019t try to dress your motivations in this noble cause. It\u2019s unbecoming.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marina stood, her face scrunched in anger. Some of the resistance fighters closer to where they sat noticed and began murmuring, pointing at Marina, Maite, and Kepa. Marina let out a long breath and sunk back into her chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been doing this too long,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLook,\u201d interrupted Kepa. \u201cWe know how it is. Well, at least a little. It\u2019s hard not to view all of the people in these bubbles as something expendable, when we know the bubble will pop when we find the zatia. But they are still real lives. We have to treat them like real people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDe Lancre doesn\u2019t,\u201d replied Marina. \u201cAnd if he wins\u2026\u201d She left her thoughts unsaid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maite nodded. \u201cIt will suck. But we can\u2019t allow ourselves to sink to his level. We can\u2019t dehumanize ourselves. Or any victory will be for nought.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI used to share your optimism, so many lifetimes ago.\u201d Marina stood again, this time her face calm. \u201cI\u2019m glad you are here. I needed to reconnect with reality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maite nodded as she stood. \u201cSo, where is de Lancre exactly?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n