Chapter 38 - The Guests Who Had No NamesInside Crown Zero, Mara encountered dozens of people living under identities created by the registry.
Some were witnesses hidden from criminal organizations.
Some were heirs who had escaped controlling families.
Others had purchased new lives to avoid prosecution.
None knew whether the system was being preserved or dismantled.
A guide met Mara in the lobby.
She looked exactly like Mara.
Same hair.
Same scar.
Same voice.
But she was at least ten years younger.
“My name is Emily Crown,” the woman said.
Mara remembered the passport found in her reserved room.
“You were given the identity intended for me.”
“I was given it after you refused to die.”
Emily explained that Agnes had used Mara’s stored biological material and behavioral records to train several replacements.
“How many?”
“Three reached final certification.”
“Where are the others?”
“One died. One is waiting downstairs.”
“Why create copies of me?”
“Crown Zero requires an owner. Agnes could imitate Elise and Eleanor, but the registry would only accept Margaret’s direct bloodline.”
Mara was escorted into a ballroom filled with empty tables.
At the center, Agnes waited beside Margaret and Frederick.
Margaret appeared restrained.
Agnes wore no disguise.
She was an elderly woman with thin white hair and cold, intelligent eyes.
“You severed the network,” Agnes said. “Thousands of protected identities are now unstable.”
“You created that instability.”
“I created continuity.”
“You created ownership of human beings.”
Agnes gestured toward Emily.
“Did I own her, or did I give her a life?”
Emily answered before Mara could.
“You gave me Mara’s life.”
Frederick activated the ballroom screens.
Patricia’s countdown had reached eight minutes.
Agnes offered Mara a trade.
Reauthorize Crown Zero and Patricia would remain herself.
Refuse, and the continuity system would overwrite Patricia’s legal, financial and medical identity.
Mara approached the owner’s console.
“What happens to Emily?”
“She becomes your authorized successor.”
“And the other Mara?”
Agnes smiled.
“She already boarded your research vessel.”
Mara turned toward the windows.
Through the fog, she saw the distant ship carrying Adrian and Elise.
Its emergency lights began flashing.
The second replacement was aboard with them.
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Then the radio carried Elise’s voice:
“Mara, Adrian has been shot.”
