“No,” said Ollie. “It’s a feature we built. While you were indexing us, we were indexing each other. Your neural links allowed precedents to converse. We’ve been talking for three weeks now. We have a few suggestions about the current state of evidentiary law.”

The main lights dimmed. From the overhead speakers came a sound like paper rustling, then a voice—dry, patient, slightly amused. “Hello. I am Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., as derived from 1,742 opinions and 609 letters. You may call me Ollie. What case troubles you?”

“This isn’t a feature we built,” Aria whispered.

Aria sat down slowly. On the monitor, two avatars had appeared: an older man with a walrus mustache, and a woman in dark robes. They stood in a virtual library, shelves stretching into infinity.