It hadn't been easy to enlist with the Alliance. She had been thoroughly questioned concerning her circumstances, psychologically and physically evaluated for military service and finally given a bunch of advanced gene therapy shots, which would come in effect in coming years, making her faster, stronger and smarter. Or something like that. A day later she received a temporary I.D. and was sent to Brazil. That was the moment she started having doubts. Why on earth Brazil?! Too late, she couldn't rewind that much. She had taken a selfie, of course, but she doubted she would ever use it to change her decision.

Max had never been to Brazil and the first difference she noticed was the climate. It was very warm in Macapa compared to Arcadia Bay. She had always thought of Brazil as a typical third world country. Poor and unsafe. That wasn't the case in twenty second century. Brazil was a developed country, not quite on the same level as the three superpowers, but still a good place to live. Not without problems, but so was the UNAS.

She had arrived two and a half weeks too early for the basic training program, but the Alliance had provided her with a room. They were interested in recruits. Serving in the Alliance was hard and dangerous and there always was someone willing to shoot you. A demanding job with small reward. Humanity was new to the galaxy and people were eager to explore and experience freedom of living outside of the System Alliance. Max could relate, but she was still sure that the Alliance was the better option. Nevertheless, the chosen path frightened her, and she was unsure about her ability to fight. Her superpower was a major boon, but it came at price. She had to learn more about it. No way she would cause a cataclysm in the middle of a megacity with population of thirty million.

With great power comes great bullshit… Wish I had a scientific omni-tool with an advanced sensor analysis pack and a fabrication module.

Although the Systems Alliance provided her with a bed, clothes and let her eat at the mess hall, Max still lacked money, which meant the only thing she could do was playing with her omni-tool and trying to socialize at the mess hall. The latter was difficult, so she was taking photos, thinking about the future and learning. And exercising. She didn't want to fail because of her abysmal physical fitness. These two and a half weeks really helped to get in shape. She went from ten push-ups and thirty sit-ups up to thirty-five push-ups and seventy-five sit-ups. The fitness requirements were lower, and she hoped to pass them. If nothing went wrong.

Max intended to stay with the Alliance long enough to pass an equivalent of a GED test and to get a degree. Then she planned to quit. In a very improbable case she'd continue, a degree would come handy too.

The education system had changed a lot since 2013. Anyone could take free or paid remote courses. Exams could be taken from any certified VI-supervised terminal. A VI as far as Max could understand was a limited version of an AI. She could cheat with her power, but she still was very wary of it.

The story she had crafted had resulted in an investigation. They didn't seem to be suspicious of her, mostly because she really was ignorant about the world. The police had been trying to find her nonexistent parents and apparently, they had found something, otherwise she wouldn't have been called by the police. It was, mildly said, worrying.

"Ms. Caulfield?" the police officer asked as she answered the call on the omni-tool. "Good day."

"Yes, good day."

"I'm Detective Erik Costa and I was assigned to your case. It's good to finally talk to you. How are you adjusting to your new life?"

"It's fine, I think," she answered.

"Glad to hear it. I heard the Macapa boot camp is brutal. I wish you good luck."

"Thank you."

"Okay, I've got some good news and some bad news. I'll start with the good news. There are circumstantial evidences that prove your statements, and we found nothing that would prevent you joining the Alliance Navy. You're allowed to begin your training. I've already sent the report. You'll get an I.D. soon."

"Does that mean I'll be a UNAS citizen?"

"I can only guess that at this point you won't be granted any citizenship. You'll get an I.D. issued by the Systems Alliance, which should be enough."

Max nodded. It really was enough. Immigration laws were nowhere as strict as they had been hundred sixty years ago.

"Now the bad news: I've made inquiries to private DNA testing companies and found a few close DNA matches. One of them is Olivia Winters, born in 1998. Daughter of Isabella Winters who had two brothers: Ryan and Jack Caulfield. The other is Ethan Jones, born in 2002, son of Chloe Jones. Chloe had a sister Vanessa, who was married to Ryan Caulfield. These ancient ancestry tests made by Olivia and Ethan more than a century ago identify you as Maxine Caulfield, born in 1995 to Ryan and Vanessa Caulfield. Here's the photo."

As the detective showed her the photo, Max's face turned white of fear that she had been unmasked as a time traveler. She could only imagine what the government would do with her, if they'd leared of her abilities. She hadn't even considered that it would be possible to find out who she was, but, apparently, some close relative doing a private ancestry test was enough.

"I'm…" she mumbled, not sure what to say.

"That's impossible, of course," he said with a reassuring smile. "You don't look like two hundred years old fossil, which along with your statements about your previous living conditions paint a clear picture. I must ask first: you said that you weren't abused in any way. Is that right?"

"Yes, why?"

"Good, that's good. At least we can scratch that off the list of possible motives. In most cases they use DNA of celebrities, but some creeps fixate on random-"

"What are you talking about?"

"Ah, sorry. Highly likely you're a result of cloning experiments, I'm afraid."

"I'm what?" Max asked.

Are you cereal? Cloning? The best conclusion ever! Won't look a gift horse in the mouth.

"I know it's hard to believe, but it's the only sensible explanation," he said. "It's a common crime, actually. The required equipment is available to public, and human cloning is legal per se… if certain requirements are met and the donor of DNA material agrees. In your case it's not a crime either, because the donor was declared missing more than eight-five years ago. However, a clone has the same right as any human, so it's still a case of child neglect. You had right to get a formal education, right to liberty, right to freedom of movement... You were denied the basic rights."

"Are there other theories?"

"None that would make sense."

"So… I'm a clone?"

"Yes, but you shouldn't worry, there's absolutely nothing wrong with your body. You weren't engineered to grow faster or die earlier. You're no different than me or anyone else and you have the same rights."

"What about the other girl? Maxine, I mean."

"She went missing in 2013 and was never found dead or alive."

"Then how did they get her DNA sample? And why would they clone this Maxine?"

"Who knows? Some people are just sick and do horrible things. You can count yourself lucky. Just look up the case of Howard and Alice Ziegler, who created human-animal hybrids and sold them to the highest bidders in the Terminus Systems."

"That's totally fu- messed up," Max said.

What the actual fuck?! she thought.

"Excuse me," he said with a sigh. "It was insensitive towards you."

"It's okay. I am lucky. I didn't end up having a tail… Or something like that."

"You're optimistic. That's good."

"I try."

"Keep it up. Do you have any questions?"

"Not right now."

"I'll keep you posted on the progress of your case."

As soon as she ended the call Max decided to look up the case of the two bio-engineers. Turned out they had been ardent foes of the Sudham-Wolcott Genetic Heritage Act that had been passed twelve years ago to bring laws in accordance with the Treaty between the System Alliance and the Citadel. Among other things the act outlawed genetic modifications with the goal of adding new abilities. The Zieglers opposed the act but were ignored. Nothing was heard of them until 2171 when they were arrested on Earth for illegal genetic modifications. They had been selling custom-designed human-animals hybrids: humans with animal features and humanized animals. Most of them were still out there. Somewhere. The case spawned many discussions among geek circles with a dumb idea of buying a catgirl.

Fucking sick bastards, she thought.

Max sighed and looked out of the window. Macapa was a city on Amazon river, not far from the Atlantic Ocean. It was small by today's standards. Just over two million people. Earth was a heavily urbanized planet and most small cities like Arcadia Bay had disappeared. The nature flourished. She took a photo on her omni tool, wishing she had a proper camera. An antiquated Polaroid would cost a fortune, but she could use public blueprints… if her omni-tool had a fabrication module.

The last day of freedom. Max pondered about it for a moment and decided to compose a message.

To: David Anderson.

Subject: Thanks again.

David,

just wanted to tell you and Kelly that I'm very grateful for your help. I don't know what would have happened if not for you. Not sure if the hospital informed you that I lied about my memories, since you paid for it, but anyway, I'm sorry. I couldn't explain what happened, because I had no idea myself. I was confused and lost. I told everything I knew to an Alliance officer and the police launched an investigation. They think I'm a victim of some bizarre cloning experiments.

I enlisted with the Alliance military. I'm going to be a marine. Didn't have much choice, but I think it's a good opportunity. Much better than going to some newly colonized Terminus world. I hope it was the right decision. The Basic begins tomorrow. I'm excited (not). Not sure what to expect and afraid to fail.

Thanks again and sorry.

Sincerely,

Max

She read the message one more time but hesitated to send it. It's easy, Max, she told herself. Don't do the same shit you did to Chloe. Just send it. Done. Good.

A large Alliance vessel descended from the skies over the Amazon and hovered over the river. Max used her omni-tool to get a closer look and as she was studying it, a shuttle detached itself from the spaceship and disappeared in the forest on the other side of the river. Max was still unused to the idea of interstellar travel. Seeing a large spaceship simply hovering in the air was quite an astonishing sight and there were much larger vessels.

Two beeps from her omni-tool signaled a new message. It was from David. Huh… that was fast.

From: David Anderson

Subject: Re: Thanks again.

Max,

we didn't help you because you claimed to have no memories. We helped because you looked like someone who needed help. I know what it's like to have memories that are hard to talk about. I don't blame you. You should have seen yourself: lost look on the face, white as sheet, eyes that saw something no kid should ever have to see. I hope the police gets to the bottom of the matter.

Good decision to join the Navy, but don't expect it to be easy. I wish you good luck, but remember: it's not luck, but dedication, motivation and courage that makes a good marine. We'll meet again, Private Caulfield.

Sincerely,

Lieutenant Commander David Anderson

Max felt like shit, because despite being sorry, she lied again. She wasn't a clone, but it was the only explanation that wouldn't get her into some lab to study her ability.

Shit! she thought. Lieutenant Commander David Anderson?! He's with the Alliance Navy! Good thing I sent the message...