Chapter Two: An Update That Should Not Exist

Old Lu would have agreed at once, afraid of missing a chance to be noticed. Zero spoke by his ear instead. “Accept, but put the authority and schedule in writing. Do not mistake a rope for a ladder.” Lu did. The director's warmth cooled a fraction, but he signed. Zero was not handing him omniscience. It was giving him a little distance from fear. At lunch, Mirror's forum exploded. Users posted their Second Selves: a girl who painted for her host, a man who suddenly remembered every page he saw. Then a security video spread. A man screamed at an empty subway seat, ran out of the station ten seconds later, and slammed into an automatic door. The clip was deleted fast, but its caption survived in reposts: First Second-Self kill?