Title: The Best Homework Excuse Ever
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not claim to own the Matrix trilogy, the canon characters, story or anything related. I can only wish that I did. I make no profit from this – I am merely exercising my writing skills for the reading pleasure of readers. However, I own this story. I own the character Chase, and Lady Delerith owns Ari.
Authors' notes:
Solia: Thanks, finally, reviews! Sorry, I just love reading reviews. In this chapter you'll be introduced a bit more to Ninox, the newest member of the cast, who is based on a guy whose Biology and English homework I have been known to complete due to his inability to do so himself.
Not much longer now til Lady Delerith's chapters!
THE BEST HOMEWORK EXCUSE EVER: Chapter Ten
Ninox walked up to the front bench, and Chase watched him. How cute. Ari had never seen her staring at a guy. She nudged her and smirked slightly, too slightly for the captains, councillors and examiners to notice, and she tilted her head in Ninox's direction suggestively. Checking first to see if they were all ignoring her, Chase leaned closer to Ari so she could whisper in her ear.
"He is pretty spunky, huh?" Ari whispered, grinning. Chase sat up straight again and didn't answer.
Ninox was hot. He had a natural tan-brown complexion and black hair. And he was tall. Ari decided to compare notes with Chase (who was obviously paying even closer attention to him) later. Chase probably knew the exact colour of his eyes just from a glance.
For ten minutes, Glyph and Roland asked Ninox an assortment of questions. Glyph's were simple and easy, like, "What is your ideal crew number?" and "Why did you elect to train for this particular force?" But Roland seemed distinctly cold, and, dare she say it, nasty. His questions were more like, "Do you think you're special just because of this prophecy?"
Glyph called Ari over. Smiling tightly at Chase, hoping to gain a little hope and energy from her ever-patient friend, she stood and went over. She passed Ninox on his way back up. He was hot.
"So, what's your favourite weapon, Ari?" Glyph asked first off. Ari was a little surprised by the question, but she answered smoothly.
"Swords for close range. Semi-automatic machine guns otherwise."
"Offensive or defensive?"
"Offensive."
"Why do you want to join this particular force?" Captain Glyph questioned as he had Ninox.
"Because the weirdos here were, like, worshipping me and Chase, so we wanted to do something that might one day let us live up to their expectations," said Ari. Glorious snorted rudely.
"He said 'you', not 'you and Chase'," Roland snapped, speaking for the first time. His voice was just as harsh and cold as Ari had imagined.
"I wanted to do something that might one day let me live up to their expectations of me and Chase, then," Ari said, a little annoyed, her pride singed. "People are retards and they're all waiting for us to pull rabbits out of our ears."
"'People are retards', Ari?" Morpheus asked pointedly. She shrugged.
"Aren't they?" She could practically feel Chase's frustrated glare. She looked up at her friend and discovered she was right. "Don't look at me like that. You know it's true."
"If you think so little of the people of Zion, why would you want to fight for them?" Glyph asked with deep interest.
"Because I'm a freak, too," Ari answered. "Everyone here's weird. Just because they're freaks doesn't mean I don't like them. All the plug-people are freaks, or else they wouldn't be here, would they? I'm just a bit more of a freak than them, just cause some old lady said something, and me and Chase fit the description."
"You bring Chase up a lot," Roland said immediately. "Would you say that you are dependent on Chase? You should know that I don't want-"
"No, sir-"
"How would you cope without an interdependent like your friend Chase? You don't-"
"Sir, I don't know what you know about me, but if you had been listening you would have heard that both Chase and I were freed simultaneously, and for the last three years we have been isolated by the rest of this city. We both made the same decision to apply for this workforce and with few others to relate to we have become very close friends. While I wouldn't agree that we are dependent on each other I would say that we work very well as a team as we know we can depend on each other. I'm sorry, Captain, for my bluntness, but you wouldn't let me finish."
There was a ringing silence. Ari wondered curiously if she'd gone too far as she watched Captain Roland's statuesque face seemingly boil and spasm with anger.
"Ari has a very blunt, full-on and impulsive nature," Dasne said finally. "She has a short patience and temper. She has a very offensive personality – hence her preference to offensive fighting. I suspect in the Matrix Ari was the kind of child who wore black nail polish and dyed her hair purple."
Hell, Dasne was good.
"She has a very odd self-perception," the examiner continued. "There is no real consistency in her RSI. She is always dressed according to her personal style – punk and heavy. But her hair is never the same. One day she will have black curls like those natural, real-world ringlets you see now, the next she will have a mahogany ponytail. This leads me to suspect that in the past Ari has been a permanent identity crisis, never knowing her true self."
Okay, this was getting scary. Where did Dasne get this stuff?
"However," and here Dasne paused, running her fingers through her hair. "However, Ari has a surprisingly strong mind, she is very loyal and has a very effective fighting style. She is unpredictable and possibly unstable at times, but she never lets her emotions control her. While perhaps not subtle, she has enough natural aggression and attitude to get her work done. She's also very fast and very good with her favourite weapons. She has passed the examinations with top scores and I would recommend her above any of my other students."
Ari's jaw dropped again. No way was she really hearing this. Dasne referring her to Captain Glyph? This was so not happening.
"I would, too, Captain Glyph," Morpheus spoke up. "I would recommend Ari as a member of your crew. She is impulsive, or perhaps she just doesn't need as long to think things through as others may, but she did take the red pill without a single hesitation. She is clearly adventurous and headstrong. She knows what she wants. That's rare at seventeen. And she is very loyal. When I released her from the Matrix, she had known Chase for less than eight hours. Today, three years later, she retains the bond she made that day in a technology class through an inter-network chat program."
"What other examples of loyalty, Dasne?" Glyph asked.
"I believe her only other real friendships to be with her roommates. Ari instinctively bonds with those in close proximity to herself. Probably a 'survival' instinct picked up from a turbulent or inattentive childhood."
"Alright, you're scaring me now," Ari said seriously. To her utter shock, Dasne smiled. Smiled.
Glyph turned back to Ari and studied her for a moment.
"Ari, in a fight of your choice, where would you want to be, and who would you have as your team?" he asked at last.
"I like to fight up front with Chase covering my back. I hate hiding and bad guys don't get dead without someone getting into the thick of it," Ari answered honestly. "Besides, Chase is good at defending from the back. I trust her to keep me alive."
"Thanks, Ari," Glyph said with a smile. With a quick return smile, Ari turned and hurried back to her seat beside Chase.
"I feel so honoured," Chase whispered as she sat down, and Roland called Roux down.
It was true, though. Ari would trust Chase, Tear and Cinnamon with her life, but few others. Call her untrusting, but it was something stemming from her childhood with her terrible parents. There was no point in lying to the captain. He seemed like a nice enough guy. Maybe he would fire someone to make room for both girls?
Ha ha.
While waiting for Chase's turn, Ari sat silently, thinking. How would she feel if Chase got the placement on Captain Glyph's ship instead of her? Would she be happy for Chase or would she envy her, or both? What would Ari do if Chase got the job and left, leaving her alone in this big underground city except for Teardrop and Cinnamon? Ari wasn't insecure, but the thought frightened her. What if there was no one else here for her to band with, no one else to share alienation with? Then what? What happened when your first real friend, and the only other person like yourself, went away?
With only Cin and Tear, Ari wouldn't feel so strong against bitchy bullies like Glorious. It was true that Glorious was Ari's enemy and not Chase's, but with her three friends she felt braver, because she was protected from all sides.
Glorious wouldn't hesitate to come at Ari if Chase, Ari's closest ally, weren't there.
But that was only one possibility. What if Ari got the position and Chase was left here alone? Chase was frighteningly insecure and vulnerable. Her entire close-knit family and great group of friends had become lost to her all in one day. Could she handle losing Ari forever if one of the Nadir's in-Matrix operations went bad?
Probably not, so if Ari did get the position, she would be very careful not to get herself killed, and would leave Cin and Tear with orders to hide all sharp objects in the event of Ari's demise.
Not that innocent, naïve Chase would know where to cut herself anyway.
But Ari was being melodramatic. She might lead a boring dish-cleaning life for the next twenty years and only have to fear for her life when someone let the old dishes pile up and begin to stink the craft out.
"Chase, can we see you, please?" Glyph asked nicely, looking up from a paper, probably Chase's application form. With an apprehensive look to Ari, Chase got up and went carefully down the steps to stand before the captains. Ari leaned forward to hear better, before remembering that the chamber echoed.
She wanted to know what this job entailed – she really didn't want that dishes job she'd just thought about.
"Chase, if a man with a gun was running wildly towards you, what would you do?" Glyph asked interestedly. Chase considered the question.
"Is he aiming at me?" she asked finally. Glyph nodded. "I'd probably shoot him in the hip if I had enough time to aim properly."
"And what weapon would you have?" the captain asked her.
"Something small, but with a bit of power," Chase answered. "Probably a Mac11 or something like that."
"And why do you like smaller weapons, Chase?" asked Glyph.
"I don't like any weapons. I don't want to kill people. But if I have to carry something, and I usually do, it would be a Mac11."
"Why?" Glyph asked. He seemed intrigued by Chase's firm ethics. Ari had no problem with killing if her own life was in danger, (she had never killed a real person – only simulated ones) but Chase's honest and proper upbringing in the Matrix meant that she retained those inbuilt morals.
One day, they both knew, she would have to kill. But for now, she could maim simulated foes and keep her childish innocence.
"They're easier to carry, easier to use and they're long range and short range weapons at the same time." She shrugged. "I like them."
"Offensive or defensive?"
"Defensive. Usually covering someone's back."
"Do you believe in the Oracle and her prophesies?"
Chase went silent for a moment.
"Apparently, I am one of her prophecies," she said carefully, "so it would be difficult for me to exist in my own mind if I didn't believe in what she says."
Ari rolled her eyes. Big words and mature sentencing were Chase's thing.
"So you do believe that you are one in a line of twelve extraordinary people to be freed from the Matrix?" Glyph said.
"It would explain a lot."
"But you do believe?"
"Yes. At least, I hope so. Otherwise every other kid in this place has sidled past me with a sideways glance for nearly three years for no real reason," said Chase. She brushed a lock of her hair out of her eyes.
Glyph tilted his head to the side, regarding Ari's friend. Ari wished she had Chase's weird ability to know what people were thinking and feeling. Then again, the ability probably came with the territory – Chase was sentimental and sensitive, two things Ari didn't want to be. She would much rather be thick-skinned and harder to reach, and not have Chase's intuitive sensitivity, than be as open to hurt as Chase was. Look how much being separated from her family had messed her up. That would never happen to Ari. She was far too hardened for that.
Linden, Chase's current examiner, began to speak at Glyph's request.
"Chase is my highest grading student," the terribly pale, almost ill looking examiner said kindly, smiling encouragingly at Chase. "She possesses incredible talents that I have never seen before in a student. According to the ranking grades on the program computers, the only others with similar talent to go through the training program are two by the names of Ari and Ninox – both of whom are here today. But unlike them, Chase seems to know before her opponents strike. It is a very interesting ability."
That was probably another thing linked to Chase's intuitive talents, or at least, Ari thought so. Ari hadn't worked out her special talent that set her apart from her evenly matched friend. They both were fast, they both were agile, they both were just plain good in combat – but Chase seemed to foresee moves just instants before they happened, giving her just the amount of time to get out of the way.
Unfair.
"Chase is also patient, merciful and compassionate. She's very friendly and likeable."
"I'm looking for a soldier, not a babysitter," Roland said with annoyance. "If you're just going to tell me what a good little girl scout she is, I'm not interested. Dasne, have you ever taught this girl?"
"Yes, when she first started in the youth program," Dasne agreed. "I teach all of the students in their first six months of training. First-semester students are shared between all examiners before, after the six months, they are separated into random classes to continue their learning with one examiner. Chase was put into Linden's care for training and guidance."
"So you taught Chase for six months?" Roland checked. Dasne nodded. "Tell me what you think of her."
"Chase is softhearted, obsessed with what others think of her and childishly eager to please," Dasne said spontaneously, and Ari's jaw dropped yet again. Dasne disliked Chase too? Adults always liked Chase. She was a teachers' pet. "I was actually shocked to learn that she and Ari were best friends. She is the exact opposite of Ari. She is placid, patient, and has a very good idea of who she is. Where Ari is hotheaded and impulsive, Chase is cool and calculating. Ari plunges thoughtlessly into a challenge – Chase thinks about it too much. However, she is tenacious and emotional. Or at least, she was when I taught her, and I doubt whether she has changed much."
"What about her fighting styles?" Captain Glyph asked. No one seemed interested in what Linden had to say.
"Unlike Ari, Chase does not instigate. If there is no problem, she sees no reason to fight. If attacked, she defends herself and retaliates, but she does not pick the fights. She is contemplative and subtle. She is a good fighter – she was very resistant at first to hurt anyone, but she has good balance and agility. I believe her excellent understanding of mathematics and physics assist her with her clever strategies."
"See?" Ari mumbled to Roux, as if he had been paying attention to her thoughts, and shook her head. People always had good things to say about good-girl Chasey. Bad girls like Ari didn't get the same perception, unfortunately.
"The only things I see in common between Chase and Ari are their abilities, their date of release from the Matrix and their loyalty. But Chase has no loyalty to herself – expect her to be very self-sacrificing. And, like Linden said earlier, Chase is very friendly. Probably used to having a lot of friends."
Chase nodded; so did Ari. Chase was like a friend-addict.
"She's clean-cut and ethical, and very intelligent," Morpheus offered. "She's tenacious. She learns quickly, but was hard to convince to leave because of her love for her family and friends." He almost smiled. "I will again support the notion that Chase and Ari work well as a team. Ari is strong and forceful enough that she rarely needs protection, but when that fails or isn't useful, Chase's selflessness and quick thinking can save them both. Take for example the day I freed them both. After I had enticed the girls into the bushland beside their school, they were attacked by an agent from above."
Ari heard the summit members begin to murmur amongst themselves. Of course, they would just love that – if no one had ever defeated an agent, how had two panicking fourteen-year-olds escaped an attack like that?
"How did you escape?" Hamman asked, intrigued. Chase, who hadn't been allowed to speak in a while, was slightly startled.
"Um, we ran away," she admitted, a little nervously. The summit members listened with interest, so she continued. "The agent leaped down at Kye – I mean, Ari – and I grabbed her and just bolted. I think… Trinity protected us. We got to the bathrooms and, well, that's it. It wasn't very heroic, or anything. We were terrified."
Ari frowned at Chase's mention of her old name. Kye? Why had she said that? She made a mental note to ask later.
"You said earlier that you don't like weapons?" Glyph said, sitting straight. Ari guessed that this was the end of the inquisition. Chase nodded. "Why?"
"I said – I don't like killing," Chase said.
"Why not? What if your own life, or a crewmate's, was in danger?"
"I suppose I could kill if I had to," Chase stammered, "but isn't it better to maim?"
"What about in the event of an agent?" Glyph questioned.
"Run: I've seen how strong and fast and persevering they can be."
"If I took you on, and taught you, do you think you could learn to kill?" Glyph asked finally.
That sounded promising for Chase.
"I don't know."
"Then what good are you?" Roland asked roughly, and Ari felt a burst of red-hot anger somewhere in her blood stream. How dare he speak to Chase like that? Chase blinked, offended and hurt, but then turned around to give Ari a warning look.
Don't do anything.
Ari wasn't sure if that was Chase's voice in her head, sending her messages, or just a knowing thought, but she heard it. She frowned, tense in case she had to get up and give the rude captain a thrashing.
"I asked you a question," Roland said coldly, and Ari snapped.
"She doesn't have to answer a question like that," she said, standing and marching down the steps to Chase's side. Her friend looked horrified, but she ignored the look. "You're just being plain rude. And don't ask me to excuse my bluntness, because I won't. Not to you."
The silence was completely death-like. It was seriously a ringing silence, so silent you could hear it.
"Do you have no respect?" Roland asked, his voice almost a whisper, but in the silence, it could have been a scream. Chase was white with fear – she had probably never back-chatted a teacher in school, let alone stood up to a respected captain like Roland. Her colouring was interesting – naturally, her complexion was a few shades darker than pale Ari's. Chase was a light olive colour. But the bloodlessness made her look ill.
"I have respect," Ari said, ignoring what sounded like Chase's speeding heartbeat. She had come all the way down to Chase's side out of turn – how much more trouble could she get into? "I respect the councillors, I respect the examiners, I respect the other captains present. I respect…" here she looked around at the other students, hesitating for a moment "… most of the others in this chamber. I apologise to them now for speaking out of turn, but I won't apologise to you, Captain Roland. You have something against me, and Chase, and I expect Ninox, too. I suppose you aren't one of the faithful to the Oracle. But your prejudice is completely unfair."
Roland didn't answer. He just glared at her.
Chase swallowed and closed her eyes.
"Other people don't believe, but they don't speak to us like you have, sir," she said in a small voice. When the captain turned his dark gaze on her, she trembled. "I don't mean you any disrespect, sir."
"What did I tell you?" Dasne asked suddenly. "Eager to please. Soft. And eternally loyal to Ari. If you were to throw Ari out right now for her insolence, Chase would walk right out after her."
Chase glanced at Ari. She was terrified to be thrown out. But Ari didn't care. This wasn't a fair trial-thingy.
"I don't expect any sort of civilised response from your friend, but can I expect an apology from you, Miss Chase?" Roland asked. He was trying to break her into submission. Obviously he didn't like being shown up by a pair of teenage girls. His voice was frozen and stony – Chase was sure to snap under the pressure.
But Chase was silent. She looked down at her hands. Ari followed her gaze. She was playing with her fingers… Ari wished she would say something. Chase's emotions were so easy to read, but not her thoughts.
"No, you can't," Chase said finally. "I'm sorry, sir. I respect your authority and your rank and the power you have over me… but not how you exert it. I respect the way Morpheus applies his authority. He doesn't scare me. He doesn't demand respect. You can't. I would still do whatever you asked within reason, sir, but not willingly. If Morpheus asked me to be seated right now, I would, and willingly."
Go, Chase.
But now Ari had to stick by that, too. Both girls turned to Morpheus to hear his opinion on the matter at hand. Hopefully he wouldn't be angry and demand that both girls be burned at the stake for heresy.
He smiled.
Smiled?
"I think young Chase is developing opinions of her own, not just standing at Ari's back," Morpheus said, not remotely angry.
"Captain Roland, sir, I wish to withdraw my application for the position on your ship," Ari said strongly.
"Are you withdrawing your application from me?" Glyph asked. Incredibly, he sounded actually disappointed.
"No, sir," Ari answered. She shot Roland a heated glare, then turned and strode back up the steps to her seat.
There was another uncomfortable silence. Chase looked up at Ari.
"If you follow her, you'll automatically be withdrawing your application from me," Roland said furiously. For about twenty awkward seconds, Chase looked between Roland and Ari, torn.
"Come on, come on," Ari whispered. Beside her, Roux shot her a glance.
"Does she have the balls to follow you?" he asked under his breath, pretending to wipe his brow to cover his face. Ari shrugged. She hoped so, for her own sake and for Chase's.
In complete silence, Chase walked carefully back up the steps and sat down beside Ari.