![\"\"](\"https:\/\/buber.net\/Basque\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/maite-and-kepa-v3b.png\")
\u201cAinhoa,\u201d they both said, simultaneously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kepa read Ainhoa\u2019s text. Looking up at Maite, he said \u201cShe wants to meet us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maite shrugged. \u201cOk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kepa texted that they were in the plaza. Ainhoa replied that she would be there in twenty minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat do you think she wants?\u201d asked Kepa as he put his phone down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure it isn\u2019t Ainhoa, it has to be Marina.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maite heard Garuna\u2019s voice rumble in the back of her brain. \u201cWho is Marina?\u201d She chose to ignore the AI for the time being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo you think she knows we just returned from one of our excursions?\u201d asked Kepa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maite shrugged again and then sighed. \u201cI don\u2019t know what she knows. I feel she knows much more than she tells us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It wasn\u2019t long before Ainhoa appeared in the plaza, walking up to their table. Her black hair was highlighted with yellow streaks this time. Even though it was reasonably warm, she wore a black leather jacket that almost seemed to engulf her. Black boots with bright red laces rose up to her calfs. One of her bare legs was covered in a tattoo of a woman with her hands crossed and fingers out in strange directions. Smoke poured from her finger tips and wrapped around Ainhoa\u2019s leg. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ainhoa pulled up a chair from a neighboring empty table. \u201cKaixo, Kepa. Maite,\u201d she said as she sat down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKaixo, Marina,\u201d replied Maite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ainhoa\/Marina sighed. \u201cBai, it\u2019s me. I can\u2019t hide anything from you,\u201d she added with a wry smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh,\u201d replied Maite. \u201cI think you hide plenty from us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat is that supposed to mean\u2026?\u201d began Marina before Kepa cut her off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s up? What did you want to see us about?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSomehow,\u201d answered Marina, ignoring Maite\u2019s barb for the moment, \u201cyou broke the rules.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d asked Kepa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Looking first Kepa and then Maite in the eye, she replied \u201cYou brought something back with you. The last time you went out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow do you know that?\u201d asked Kepa, trying to divert Marina\u2019s attention away from Maite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI just know,\u201d replied Marina curtly. \u201cDid you or did you not bring something back?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe did,\u201d said Maite. \u201cWe brought back an AI.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA what?\u201d asked Marina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAn artificial intelligence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhere is it?\u201d demanded Marina. \u201cI need it back now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maite pointed to her head. \u201cIt\u2019s in here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow\u2026?\u201d began Marina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt wouldn\u2019t let us come back unless it could come too,\u201d interjected Kepa. \u201cWe had no choice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat do you mean you had no choice?\u201d said Marina, her voice rising. \u201cYou could always get the zatia.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maite shook her head. \u201cEz. It had control of the zatia. It wouldn\u2019t give it to us unless it came back with us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou shouldn\u2019t have brought it back.\u201d Marina was almost in a state of panic. \u201cWe don\u2019t know what will happen next!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat would you have had us do?\u201d barked back Maite. \u201cStay in that bubble until we died? You weren\u2019t helping us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marina gasped, taken aback. \u201cZer?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou were there,\u201d replied Kepa, his voice steady, trying to defuse the situation. \u201cYou were leading an underground revolt. But when Maite was taken by de Lancre, you were no where to be found.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2026\u201d stuttered Marina. Her head fell, her eyes staring at the table in front of them. \u201cI can\u2019t believe I would do that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, you did,\u201d replied Maite, her voice cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marina looked up. \u201cLet me explain something, something I should have told you before. When you jump around, looking for the zatia, time is still linear for you. You jump through time, but you experience each event in sequence. It isn\u2019t like that for me. I don\u2019t jump from one bubble to another. I exist in all of them simultaneously.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n