No Going Back by Mark L. Van Name Page A

question. We couldn’t address my true age without also discussing my nanomachines.
    “Is the location Pimlani gave us near those two?”
    Lobo threw a holomap into the middle of the front room, where we were talking. Labels highlighted all three locations. “Yes, as I expect you knew it would be.”
    I nodded. “Just making sure.”
    The park was smaller than it had been. The market, though, was vastly larger, easily four or five times the size it had been when I’d lived here. That was good news, because the larger it was, the more likely it was to have a broad range of vendors.
    The safest path into Omani’s estate was to have Lobo land me there, but I couldn’t take Lobo with me. I couldn’t visit Omani looking like I did. I had to look the age she expected me to be, and to do that, I would require specialized help. I had no way to explain to Lobo why I needed to look ancient.
    “Put us down in the busiest public landing site near the market and the park,” I said. “I haven’t been here for a long time, so I want to wander around a bit before I call her and then visit. In fact, I’ve been living inside you so long that—no offense—I’d like to sleep on a full-size bed and eat a few meals prepared from fresh food. So, I’m going to stay the night somewhere nearby, then probably see her tomorrow.”
    “And while you’re walking memory lane,” Lobo said, “exactly what am I going to be doing?”
    “Initially, nothing,” I said. “As I’m about to enter Pimlani’s estate, I’ll let you know I’m on the way in. From then on, I want you watching my back from above and standing by to come get me, just in case.”
    “In case of what?” Lobo said.
    I shook my head. I couldn’t tell him that if by some chance Pimlani knew I still looked the same age as the day I met her she might well want to know how that was possible and whether the knowledge could help her. “I have no clue,” I said, “but because I agree with you that simply being on this planet is a risk, and because there’s no way her family and Kang’s don’t know one another, I’d just as soon err on the side of excess caution.”
    “The best way to do that,” Lobo said, “would be not to visit her in the first place and simply to leave Haven now.”
    I sighed. “We’ve been through all that, and I’m not changing my mind. So, why don’t we instead study what data you can get on her property and work out my exit options.”
    It was Lobo’s turn to sigh. “It’s your life,” he said. “I’m just along to die supporting you.”
    I laughed. “Please. If anything were to happen to me, you could get away easily.”
    “But I wouldn’t,” Lobo said, “as you should know.”
    He was right. I was being unfair. “I do,” I said, “and I’m sorry. And, I truly appreciate it.”
    A holo of the Pimlani estate appeared in the middle of the round.
    “Before you turn all weepy and start trying to hug my walls,” Lobo said, “let’s go over this place.”
    * * *
    I left Lobo in an outdoor space at the far rear of the public landing zone he’d chosen. We’d discussed putting him in a hangar but ultimately decided to leave him in the open. Anyone looking for us would expect us to hide him under cover, but with the most recent set of mods, no one from Kang’s team should have been able to recognize him, so leaving him outside seemed the best overall choice. Plus, he could leave quickly if need be.
    I set off on foot. Should someone track us to that area, I didn’t want any immediate taxi records. I carried a pack with a change of clothing, as well as a wallet that gave me an ID that should hold up for at least a few days and that had a rather substantial money balance. I don’t generally spend a lot, and over the years I’ve landed quite a few large scores, so I normally have no problem bearing the costs of small missions like these. I always tried, though, to bring far more money than I should ever need to spend, because