Her eyebrows rise. She looks between us, and her sharp mind fills in the blanks. “Well. That’s a first for me. Switching sisters. You got all the paperwork in order?”

Nazarin nods.

“OK then. Let’s get started.”

She motions for me to come closer, and I do. She takes hold of my wrist, turning it over. Her hands are cool and dry. “Thank you, Dr. Mata—” I begin.

She waves her free hand. “Call me Kim.”

“Kim.” She meets my eyes and grins. There aren’t a lot of people who smile genuinely in San Francisco. She holds nothing back, and I can’t help but return the gesture.

She takes a little electrode from a box in her pocket and fastens it right over the tiny mark where the chip lies under my skin. Her eyes unfocus, and on the blank white tablet in her hand is code only she can see. Before long, she has full access to my identity. I shiver, realizing that if she wanted to she could wreak complete havoc with my life. She senses my nervousness.

“Don’t worry, buttercup, your identity is safe with me. You don’t have anything I don’t already have ten times over. Hmm.”

“What?” I ask.

“Your chip wasn’t put in at birth. You’ve only had it for ten years.” Her gaze is piercing. I want to look away, but I don’t. “And no record before that. How’d that happen?”

“I’m from Mana’s Hearth.”

“No shit!” she exclaims, her head jerking back. “Really? Your sister, too?”

“Yes. We came here when we were sixteen.”

She meets my eyes, still holding my wrist. “Well, before, I thought you were cute and must be at least a bit interesting, to be hanging around with Sugarcube here.” She jerks her head at Nazarin. “Now, I find you endlessly fascinating.”

I can’t help but laugh a little.

“And what’s this?” she says, noting the top of my scar.

I pull down the collar of my shirt a few inches. “My sister and I were conjoined until we left.”

She whoops. “Now you’re officially one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met. When this is all over, I’m taking you out for a drink. Sound good?”

“All right.” I smile, but it fades. I can’t help but wonder if I’ll even return to a normal life after this.

“Come on, you charmer,” Nazarin says. “Can you do the switch?”

She scoffs. “Can I do the switch? That’s just insulting.”

She cocks her head, sending the projection of code onto the wall.