Year Zero - 7.1. The Last Time 1/4

Alter: Olivia

Local Network World: 0055

Dates: 27/02/2025

A Piece of Myself

"Kira?” Olivia heard Annabelle’s voice from a room away as she stepped out of the bathroom. She was wearing nothing but a towel, and ducked quickly into the bedroom to get changed. “What are you doing here?”

"It’s probably nothing. I didn’t want to worry you, but…there’s something wrong with your world. Something I haven’t really felt before.”

What do you mean?”

"Something to do with the Rifts. They’re behaving strangely, like the resistance is coming in, but not going out. And…Seven’s here.”

"Shit. Hopefully she came to talk?”

"Chance would be a fine thing, but I wouldn’t count on it. Seems like quite a big coincidence that there was that whole issue on her world a few days ago, and now something’s happening with the weak points and she just randomly shows up, no? She never leaves her world.”

"Who else did you bring?”

"I brought everyone. Except Liv. She didn’t seem to be home.” Kira said pointedly. There was a long pause.

"Yeah, that’s cause she’s here.” Anna clarified.

"I know. I felt her.”

"You’re saying that like you have a point you’re wanting to make?”

"What point do you think I might be wanting to make?” Kira asked with clear implication. Olivia rolled her eyes, listening in from the other room.

"Kira, we’ve talked about boundaries.”

"Oh grow up, I wasn’t tracking you guys, I just happened to notice that she was on your world when I felt Seven show up and noticed the thing with the Rifts.” Kira paused, before slowly attempting: “It’s just…”

"It’s just what?”

"Nothing. It’s nothing. I just hope you’re taking care of yourself. No pun intended.”

"Kira, like…no, we’re not doing this. Where are the others?”

"They’re out the front. Ari wanted to finish a cigarette.”

"Can you just…stall them for a bit? I need a few minutes.”

"Anna…”

"Just do it. Please?”

"Fine. We’ll be out front when you’re ready.” As the door closed, Olivia heard Anna’s bare feet rapidly approaching the bedroom door.

"You decent?” Anna said, slowly pushing the door open and peeking in as Olivia finished buckling her belt around her skirt.

"Yeah. All dressed.”

"Damn.” She frowned. “I was hoping you’d be slower.”

"Oh really?” Olivia smirked. “Cause I’m that fucking hot you can’t help yourself? Please.”

"If Kira hadn’t interrupted, I’d be proving that to you right about now.” Anna nodded.

"Narcissist.” Olivia needled playfully.

"Autogynephile.” Anna needled right back.

"Oh get fucked.” Olivia laughed, before smiling over her shoulder as she buttoned up the last few buttons on her top.

"Well I was trying to, but…” Anna trailed off suggestively: “Anyway, I assume you heard all that?”

"Yeah. Who’s Seven, anyway?” Olivia turned to face Anna, reaching for some jewellery she’d left on the bedside table while she showered.

"Oh, she’s just an Alter Kira and I are aware of. A bit…troubled, let’s say? It’s probably nothing to worry about.”

"Hmm.” Olivia’s eyes narrowed. She could read some little bits and pieces from Anna, but it was jumbled. For some reason, Anna and Kira had always been harder to read than other Alters; their thoughts more fragmented, random and quiet. But she could see a version of Seven - still male presenting, with a face full of stubble and hair cut relatively short; almost like a shaggy, overgrown pixie-cut, wearing a baggy long sleeve t-shirt and bootcut jeans - snarling at Anna, rambling incoherently. She could see Seven turning away from Anna, flicking her wrist…but nothing more. “Is that her real name?”

"That part’s new. Something bad happened on her world a few days back. I guess that’s what she chose instead of ‘Kieran’? No idea why.”

"So, from the pronoun usage, she’s trans, like…”

"Yeah, like everyone except me and Kier.”

"Well…” Olivia trailed off with an innocent little smile, reaching behind her neck to fasten the clasp of her necklace.

"You’re never gonna let it go, are you?” Anna grinned, shaking her head.

"Whereabouts would the fun in that be?”

"Yes, well. And just so you know: it’s not like me and Kira are keeping tabs on Seven or anything, we just like to stay informed.”

"Babe, you don’t have to explain yourself to me. You know I trust you.”

"You’d better,” Anna smiled, palming Olivia’s hip with her hand and pushing herself up on her toes to lean in and gently kiss Olivia’s neck.

"That’s not fair,” Olivia whined. “We’ve got company…” She groaned softly, letting her eyes fall closed.

"We’ve got a minute…” Anna teased.

"We’d need at least an hour and you fucking know it. C’mon, let’s go say hi.” Olivia grabbed Anna’s hand, pulling her out of the room. They made their way out to the front door, standing at the top of the steps looking down at the small army of gays and theys (and Kier) with - more or less - their same face. Ari’s eyes narrowed as they looked up at Olivia and Anna at the top of the stairs. They tossed the remains of their cigarette to the ground, stomping it out.

"Hi Anna!” Maya waved up at them.

"Hiya!” Anna waved back at her awkwardly. “So did you guys want to come in?” The Alters slowly ascended the stairs, filtering in and into the living room. Olivia hung back, waiting for Ari.

"So where’ve you been this last little while?”

"Nowhere. Everywhere. The Local Network is a big place.”

"One of these days I’m gonna figure out where you and Tash and Sage are always running off to.”

"It’s no secret, Liv. You’re welcome to come with us. Though it seems like you’ve got your hands a bit full lately.”

"You’re gonna start with me, too? I’ve already had a second-hand earful of Kira’s judgy bullshit this morning. What is it with you guys and…whatever this is between me and Anna?”

"Well, it’s weird. You and…yourself? Obviously we’re all a little thrown.”

"It’s not even like that. We’re all our own people, we just have similar faces. It’s not weird unless you make it weird. So stop making it weird. Anyway…” Olivia nudged Ari in the ribs, earning herself a muted glare: “It’s pretty clear that you’re just jealous that you’re not getting laid.”

"How the fuck would you know I’m not?” Ari snapped. Olivia raised an eyebrow, levelling a condescending little half-smile their way. “Don’t fucking read me, Liv.”

"Fine, just saying…” Olivia held up her hands and shook her head.

"Well, keep it to yourself.”

"Always do. Maybe learn from my example, huh?” Olivia’s half-smile folded into a pointed glare, before she walked ahead of Ari into the living room.

"So yeah,” Olivia heard Kira conclude as she and Ari joined the rest of them: “The Rifts are behaving strangely. I think it’s worth working out what’s going on if we can.”

"Sure. Valid.” Anna nodded. “Where do you think we should start?”

"I think we should start with seeing if we can access them the way we normally can and test the results. That means Lee and Ari on testing and Sage and I on tracking.”

"And the rest of us?” Kier asked.

"We’ll just stand around and look pretty I guess.” Olivia shrugged.

"Sounds like a plan. Let’s go out to the back yard. I can feel a weak point, there.” Lee nodded, leading the way.