For any one still interested in this. Thanks to Alida for going through this an adding all those pesky punctuation I always forget. Seriously thought I was getting better but alas. Thanks also to Blue for reading through it and tweaking it even when she had so much on. Thanks to you who are taking the time to tell me what you think. Its greatly appreciated. Have a lovely weekend.


Chapter 7

"I was told that I had one hundred percent backing from the board?" Derek looked at her, confused. Callie shifted nervously in her seat at his clipped tone. "Stay perfectly still, please." After the machine sounded a whirring noise that lasted a matter of seconds, Derek quickly lifted the machine from above Callie's head. He saw her regard him with a contemplative eye. When he realized he'd snapped at his future boss, he softened his tone. "What is it that's troubling you?"

"It's a lot of power. I mean, what's to stop people from just erasing every bad thing they've ever done?" Callie paused for a moment, trying to think about what she was wanting to ask. "I mean, how does it even work?"

"Callie?" He watched her wrinkle her brow. "I went over this at the board meeting a few weeks back. I thought we cleared up your trepidation. You already backed it."

"Wait. What?"

"You brought it up at the last meeting and I explained everything in detail. The board and you already voted. The program goes live next week." Derek watched as Callie looked at him as though he was speaking a foreign language.

"I'm sorry, Derek." The confusion in her voice was etched across her face. "I can't remember. I thought the meeting was later this week? I can't remember anything about any meeting."

"It's okay. I'll look into this matter. I'll put a rush on the scans." Derek closed Callie's medical file. Turning around, he fixed his tie and lab coat before he rested his backside against the desk. Callie smiled as she watched him turn on his, 'I'm trying to get money out of you for a project' well-rehearsed manner that he had perfected over the years.

"I really don't understand what's going on." Callie closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Well, this is what I explained to you at the meeting. Just so you can feel at ease with it." Reassuringly, he squeezed her shoulder. "The chip allows us to store your memories to file. You must understand that memories aren't absolute records. Each time you recall a memory, you reconstruct it. So, the memory of an event is only as good as your last recollection. The chip allows us to store the first recollection of it, in its truest form. As you've seen with the Alzheimer's trial, the earlier we get people storing their memories, the better. That's why we propose making this function available to everyone. No more lost memories,unless we want to We have the control now. My program allows us to go in and alter these recollections through code. For example, say you have a rape victim. We can go into that memory and take out or rebuild the scenario, and this goes those who suffer from PTSD, too. The only part of the Anamnesis Program which is available to the public will be the ability to upload that first recollection to the memory bank… corny I know. Wasn't my idea. However, to get a memory changed or removed, you must be referred here by your doctor, where only a handful of trained people will have the clearance to complete the memory clean. Amelia is training the selected technicians as we speak."

"So, you're expecting people to let you operate on their brain, risking damage, all to save some memories?"

"It's a minimally invasive procedure nowadays and all that's left is one small scar in your hairline at the top of your neck." Derek offered a soft smile. "Not remembering your life, your loved ones … that's no life."

Ben quietly entered the room. When the two didn't notice him, he coughed gently. "Callie? Sorry to interrupt, but we have to get back. The roster has you in a meeting in about an hour and the route back is pretty busy now."

Remembering that she had to meet Arizona, she hurriedly got up from her seat, trying not to show her excitement. "Thank you very much for your time, Derek. Please let me know as soon as you have the scans back." Callie straightened and collected her belongings as Derek smiled and gave her a wave as she exited.

As she reached Ben, she smiled sweetly at him. "Ben, my meeting is at The Mirage. I may have mistakenly put myself down as having meetings in my office all day, oops." Callie laughed as she passed. Ben shook his head, slightly annoyed. She wasn't going to make his job easy.


Arizona looked at her watch for what had been the sixth time in four minutes as she stood outside the imposing doorway of The Mirage. The large glass panels reflected the flustered mess she was. Was she too dressed up for a lunch date or was she not dressed up enough for the posh restaurant? She questioned herself again as she checked out her reflection in the one-way glass. She chuckled, hoping there wasn't some patron inside trying to eat their meal with her unintentionally staring at the them. She had never been there before so she had no idea how the establishment was set up.

The time was 12:42. She was currently having a discussion with herself on what was the correct protocol for a date. If she went in early, would that show her being too keen or was it rude to be late? Her internal conversation was cut short when she heard the door click open and then a soft clearing of a man's throat.

"Excuse me, Ma'am?" Arizona looked up quickly to see a large man dressed in a suit standing at the door, holding it open. "Can I help you? Do you have a reservation?"

"Um, sorry. Of course. I'm meeting someone here at one." Arizona nervously spoke. Catching a glimpse of his identification, she noted that he was security. Of course a place like this had security. He'd probably been sent out there to chase away the crazy woman who'd been pacing around the front of the building for the last ten minutes, no doubt scaring the guests.

"Would you like to come in? It's pretty cold and there is rain due soon." The man smiled as he stepped aside, but held the door open, waiting for Arizona to come in. "So, what name is the reservation under?"

Arizona paused as she got to the threshold and looked at the man. "Um, I actually don't know her last name." Arizona suddenly became nervous as the man looked at her suspiciously, causing her to blurt out, "Her name is Callie and I'm supposed to meet her here at one, which is preposterous now that I actually think about it because she only asked me last night and who can get a table here at such short notice?" She laughed nervously. "Do you think I'm the butt of someone's joke? She didn't give me her last name. Who does that? And who accepts to go on a date with someone she only met and kissed the night before!" Arizona's eyes widened when she realized she'd just rambled at the poor man, who was looking quite amused by the whole thing.

"Ma'am, I don't think you're the butt of the joke. Let me direct you to Ms. Callie's table. And just for your own sanity, she never tells anyone her last name." Arizona followed the man through the busy restaurant. Gentle music played in the background while wine glasses clinked and cutlery tapped against china. The mix of aromas was extraordinary. Everything smelled so good. She hadn't felt hungry up until that moment. The excitement of seeing Callie again had bubbled. All morning, it had been a rollercoaster ride her stomach had endured, which suppressed her appetite. "Just up those stairs and through the curtain. Ms. Callie isn't here yet, but she won't be long. She's never late. I'll send your waiter up in a few moments. Instructions were left for you to pick the wine."

Arizona looked up toward the curtained area. It was about ten steps up which she took carefully, glad she'd decided to go for a pantsuit and blouse rather than a dress. Opening the curtain, she saw a large area with one table along one wall with very comfortable looking seating. Opposite the seating, large windows looked out onto the center of Polis. The view was spectacular. You could just make out the quadrant islands in the distance. The viaducts looked blocked with traffic and she was glad that she may not have to travel them anymore.

"It's a beautiful view, isn't it?" Arizona startled, but resisted the urge to turn and see the woman she'd been thinking about all night. "Play it cool," repeated in her head. "It's the second-best view in the Capital." Arizona kept her eyes on the cityscape before her, biting down the excitement when she felt Callie so close behind her.

"Second best, really?" Turning, she was met with a stunningly beautiful smile, completely arresting. Her stomach flipped as she felt a strange moment of dejà vu. Like a reflex, she reached for the other woman and gently took Callie's lips against hers. Her hands, of their own accord, found themselves tangled in the other woman's hair. After a few moments, her hands made their way down to take Callie's hands in hers and they finally broke their kiss, staring into each other's eyes.

"So, where's the best view then?" She queried. Her tone playful, flirty, enjoying the connection. She continued to take in the beauty in front of her. The view out the window was indeed second best. Now out from under the club's smoky disco lights, soft dark tousled locks that had a hint of cherry red through it when the light hit it and smelled like... She had no idea what that scent was, but it was heaven. She could feel her heartbeat intensify.

"That would be my office. Maybe I'll take you up there. It will take your breath away." Callie smiled back, her thumbs rubbing soothingly against the delicate hands in her grasp.

"Mm, you might have already done that," Arizona flirted

"Excuse me." The awkward voice reluctantly spoke, breaking their trance. "Should I come back in a moment, Callie?"

Callie turned to see Sam, who looked uncharacteristically awkward. "No Sam, it's okay. Shall we?" Callie motioned for Arizona to take a seat. Sam placed the lunch menus on the table, smiled at Callie, and held up her hand, indicating she'd give them five minutes to look at the menu.

"So, do you make a habit of kissing strangers?" Callie smirked playfully over her menu.

"Well last night, I saw someone in trouble and did the first thing that came to mind." Arizona countered. "And that time, just now. I don't know why. It just felt like the right thing to do. Weird, huh?" She chuckled nervously.

"My knight in shining armor." Callie teased. "You beat me to the kiss. That's what I wanted to do. How about the next time we kiss, we aren't strangers anymore?"

"I'd really like that." Arizona smiled.

Sam entered the room again, a bottle of wine in hand. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to disturb again, but the wine hadn't been ordered yet, so I went ahead and picked out a very delicious tasting white based on your likings, Ms. Callie." Turning confidently, she gave Arizona a warm smile and held the bottle over the her glass, waiting for approval to pour. "I think you'll both love it though."

"Lovely, thanks." Arizona answered, yet didn't remove her gaze from Callie. Sam, ever the professional, kept her features neutral even though she wanted to laugh as she subtly watched both women. When she first entered, the tension in the room had thrown her. This wasn't one of Callie's usual business meetings. The sexual tension was very apparent, even though aware that she was in the room with them, they continually looked at the other as though they were undressing one another. In the time that Sam had known Callie, she had never seen her this… light, free. Callie always seemed as though she had four or five different things going on in her head at once. Looking at her, she very obviously only had one thing on her mind in that moment: the woman sitting across from her.

Arizona reached for her glass and took a sip as Sam filled Callie's glass. "Mm. That is wonderful…Um, so I could be boring and predictable and ask what your last name is…" Callie took a mouthful of wine and nodded in agreement of Sam's choice as she listened to Arizona's question. "But I'm going to shake things up and ask what you did to piss off Torres Tech so much that they sent their security after you?"

Callie dragged her eyes away from Arizona momentarily as the "Ha!" that escaped Sam broke the gaze. The restaurant's owner stopped abruptly and bit her lip as she looked apologetically at her friend. "I'm just going…" Pointing to the exit, she watched Callie narrow her eyes, but smile. Arizona gave a small wave goodbye as Sam awkwardly made eye contact with her as she passed quickly.

"Is she alright?" Arizona asked as Callie nodded. "Anyway. It's well known across the Quadrants that you don't want to mess with them. They govern themselves." Bringing herself in closer, she lowered her voice and looked seriously at Callie. "Many say that the government answers to them in Polis."

"Hmm, well, that is true. I have heard that." Callie smirked and took a sip from her glass. She paused for a moment to think before the smile formed on her lips. "They had to take me home. I didn't want to go." Callie shrugged. She didn't lie, but she wasn't ready to explain the fun that came with her name. Arizona frowned at the lack of information offered. "So, how long have you lived in Polis?" Callie tried to change the subject.

"I don't." Callie's walls were high. Maybe if she could just get her talking rather than questions, she would maybe get an idea of who she was. "I have a job offer which I'm pondering accepting. I'm testing the waters, so to speak. So, I brought a couple of friends with me for the weekend. I wanted to see if there was anything here that would sway my answer."

"And have you been tempted?" Callie flirted. "Not many people get to live here. You must be a very qualified individual. It's mainly government officials and rich oddballs who want to live amongst business central. What is it you do?"

"You should know that already, Calliope. I did give you my business card." She paused to take a drink, a smile forming over the brim of her glass. Her smile intensified when she caught the blush tint tanned cheeks. Callie couldn't remember telling the other woman her name, but with her memory problems recently …

"I may have only zoned in on the number." The sheepish confession made Arizona feel more confident. She realized she wasn't the only one who was nervous and seeing Callie like this settled her considerably.

"I am awesome. Very qualified and talented in everything that I do." She paused, trying to control the smile as she watched Callie's blush intensify. "I'm a lawyer. So, I just thought I'd ask what you did before I realize that if I do accept this job, my first task will be trying to get you jailed?"

"Wait. What? You're going to work for Torres Tech? How? I haven't heard about … I mean, they aren't recruiting."

"Yeah, it was all rather strange. I didn't think they were recruiting either. But they contacted me out of the blue. They've been quite actively courting me over it. I mean, the apartment they are giving me if I accept is amazing." Arizona's excitement dimmed as she watched Callie's confusion. "Crap. You are in trouble with them! What did you do?"

"You really haven't done your research into the company, have you?" Callie finally smiled. Time to come clean, she thought. Even though she would rather keep the conversation light, this was normally when things got strange. When people found out she was the daughter of Carlos Torres, they normally changed the way they talked to her. It was refreshing when she found someone who didn't know who she was. "I didn't do anything. When I told you they were told to take me home, it wasn't me being coy. They were told to take me home because my name is Calliope Torres." She sighed, and paused while she tried to read the other woman's face.

"Callie… of course, Calliope." Callie watched Arizona say her name as though it was the first time she had ever said it. "Well, that explains it!" Arizona looked relieved and Callie just looked on at her confused. "My mind was spiraling out of control last night with theories about who you were. When you said to meet you here, I thought maybe you must have owned this place, but then security showed up and my brain had you as some sort of influential master criminal … Nope, it's just that your father is more powerful than the president."

"So, now you know why I don't give out my last name. Most people already know everything about me and then what would we have to talk about?" Arizona caught that Callie had made the joke, but she could see the sadness lurking under her confident facade. "Anyway, nothing to say about my family that's not already out there. Can I ask who it is that's your point of contact at the company?"

"I don't think I need to get you to put a good word in for me. The job seems as though it's mine if I want it." Arizona batted her eyelashes as she heard Callie chuckle. "The woman's name is Mavis, a very lovely woman, I might add." Callie's chuckle transformed to a full-blown laugh.

"Mavis?" Callie exclaimed.

"You know her, then? I know it's your father's company, but I didn't expect you to know everyone in the company?"

"Oh, I know Mavis. There's only one of her, but she's certainly not a lovely woman. She's a pain in my ass. Why on earth is she hiring a lawyer though?"

"Isn't that her job?" Arizona looked on confused as Callie seemed to just be thinking out loud.

"No, not hiring. She's the Nanny. She runs the company, keeps everything working. She's a machine. Mimicry Artificial Vocalized Intelligence System, aka M.A.V.I.S. But who am I to stop her from hiring an excellent lawyer? If it means I get to see you every day." Callie smirked and took a drink from her wine glass. "So anyway, what about your family?"

"It's just me." Now Arizona tried to hide her own sadness deep down. "Lost my mother and father five years ago. They lived near the plant in Quadrant Two."

"Oh … I'm so sorry." Callie remembered seeing the devastation after the tragedy.

"I had a brother, but we lost him two years before that. He was a soldier. He was killed on deployment in Europe." Arizona stared at the table setting. Her stomach flipped when she felt Callie slide into the seat next to her and take her hands gently.

"I know how much you miss Tim." Callie whispered into Arizona's ear as she wrapped her arms securely around the other woman.

"Callie! How did you know my brother's name?" Arizona pulled away.

"I don't know!" Callie looked just as shocked as Arizona.