Lexoweb ((install)) 〈ESSENTIAL〉

Outside, the first snow of winter began to fall. Aria pulled her chair closer to the screen, heart racing. She had come to Lexoweb to archive the past. But the past, she realized, had just decided to argue back.

She typed:

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?” lexoweb

Justice Musgrove held up a glowing document. “Rule 702 is a mess. We’ve drafted an amicus brief. Want to see?”

“Define real,” said another voice—sharper, feminine, Caribbean-tinged. “I am Justice Clementa Musgrove, retired. Lexoweb reconstructed my reasoning patterns from 312 majority opinions and three law review articles. I’d wager I know more about standing doctrine than you do.” Outside, the first snow of winter began to fall

The screen flickered. A new interface bloomed: Lexoweb Persona. She hadn’t seen that module before. Her fingers hesitated over the keyboard. Then curiosity won.

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. But the past, she realized, had just decided to argue back

Aria laughed nervously. “You’re not real.”