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: I'm waiting for my brother to finish cooking lunch (an act which here means 'burn icky party-pies beyond recognition of their usual, disgusting forms'). Nah, he can actually cook, unlike me, and he's allowed into the kitchen, so he's making us both lunch, which means I have to eat what he gives me. In the meantime I'm bored, so I'll just waste my spare time by uploading the next chapters of my stories. It's time now for the ORACLE VISIT! Yay! I'd better finish writing the next chapter so… That was the alarm for the oven! Lunch is ready. Okay, I'll finish the next chapter fast so you can all read it. But not today. Star Wars III is playing upstairs… It calls…
Lady-Delerith: Next chappie came quick didn't it Hope you all like it.
THE BEST HOMEWORK EXCUSE EVER: Chapter 16
Ari was practically shaking with excitement as she sat back in her chair about to jacked into the Matrix for the first time since being freed. Lying in the chair beside her, Chase shot her a quick, anticipating smile as Lunar slipped the needle into her cranium plug. Chase relaxed and stared up at the ceiling.
Ari felt and heard a slight metal-against-metal scratching sound as Coyote put a connection needle into her own plug. She felt it lock.
"Thanks," she said, trying to relax like Chase had. She closed her eyes. Around her, she could still hear the voices of her crewmembers, and the sounds of Coyote, Glyph and Specter being plugged in, too.
"Okay, we're ready," Citadel said, as he apparently plugged in the last person.
The sounds of the real world disappeared instantly, and when Ari opened her eyes, she was standing in the Construct between Chase and Glyph.
The captain flicked out his phone while Ari quickly inspected herself. Her hair was naturally black, but in the Matrix, when she had been freed, it had been dyed to a mahogany purple. For the last three years, each time she had entered an exercise program she had enjoyed the cool changes to her hair. Sometimes it was a purple ponytail, sometimes it was black, and sometimes it was black with purple streaks (her personal favourite). And she never knew if it was going to be curly, wavy or straight. She didn't know why it happened, but in truth, she didn't really care.
In the real world, Chase's chocolate brown hair was dead straight to her shoulders. Here, in the artificial world of the Construct loading program, it seemed a little longer, but it was always in a slick, very high and sophisticated ponytail, with a perfect side-swept fringe.
"Yeah, thanks," Glyph said after putting in his order with Lunar. Ari took a step to the side as the infinite rows of shelves appeared in the distance. Within seconds, the endless shelves had arrived, speeding past them like trains followed by a gust of wind. Chase, who always appeared here in a short pleated black miniskirt, immediately had her hands just below her hips, holding the skirt down. Served her right for managing to kick ass in a miniskirt while Ari had long decided on flare pants.
At least they both agreed on high-heeled boots (Chase's higher than Ari's because of Chase's ongoing war with her height) and the fact that mothers were wrong – it IS possible to run in high shoes.
The shelves stopped immediately, and Ari's black curls, which were, for once, free, settled. The shelves were full of guns of all types.
"I'm so glad I passed that final examination," Chase said, beginning to sort through one shelf with Specter. She held up a small automatic. "I wouldn't have done it without one of these."
"I don't expect much trouble today, but I can't promise anything," Glyph said, choosing a much larger gun than either girl would ever bother carrying around. Ari took her pick and slipped it behind her into its sheath. She pulled her jacket over it and shrugged it into place.
Once everyone was armed, Glyph gave a subtle nod to the infinite white distance, and Lunar sent them in.
The whole whiteness disappeared, and Ari was almost instantly standing in a dark, dusty room with everyone else. Everything looked, smelt and sounded real, and yet… it wasn't.
It was the Matrix.
Glyph took out his phone and pressed a button.
"We're in," he said, before immediately ending the call and pocketing the phone. He looked around at his crew. "Come on."
The captain led the lot of them down the stairs of the big, square building. It had many old rooms, most of which were closed off by rickety slatted boards, and the stairs just went down and down. The floor at the bottom was black and white checked.
At one point, Ari caught Chase's gaze, and they shared an excited grin. They were back in the Matrix after three years. So far it was no different. But they still had one storey to go before they were on ground floor, and then they would go outside… it would be so nice to feel a breeze again. Not that there were no breezes in exercise programs, of course. But this would be real – except not.
When they reached the ground level, Glyph led them out the back door. Ari followed, slowing down as she ventured outside into the soft afternoon sunlight. She took the hand railing in her hand as she walked down the concrete steps, looking around in wonder.
Everything – the railing, the steps, the light breeze gently lifting Ari's curls from her face – felt so real, just the same as in the real world. In the last three years, Ari had somehow forgotten that the Matrix felt no less real than any place in Zion. It was programmed to be totally believable. There was no real reason to believe that it wasn't real.
Unless you were someone like Chase and Ari. They had been outsiders no matter where they had gone, always being strangely knowing and having the oddest philosophy. Lucky for Chase, her family had accepted her despite seeing the obvious differences. Ari hadn't been so lucky – her family had ignored her, kind of like Matilda in the book. Then someone kind had found her and taken her away.
Specter and Coyote stayed at the doors to the building while the girls followed Glyph out of the trashy, littered area to the street.
Ari's attention was drawn to a loud wolf whistle from nearby. She and Chase glanced over their shoulders and spotted a homeless-looking young man sitting in a pile of trash and discarded pizza boxes waving at them. His eyes were crossed and assorted used syringes and bottles surrounded him, strongly suggesting that he was under influence of either alcohol, some drug, or all of the above.
Ari rolled her eyes and turned away from the bum. Chase gave him a dark, cold glare before doing the same.
"Did you ever get the feeling that maybe you should be wearing something more modest?" Chase asked, dropping her ice-princess act as soon as she was out of sight of the homeless bum and nervously tugging at her skirt.
"No," Ari said, smirking. She knew that Chase was talking about herself, but she couldn't resist. "Nah, I can't say I have. Coz, see, I'm never stupid enough to wear a pathetically short skirt while walking in alleyways."
Chase shot her a half-annoyed, half-amused look.
"There's nothing wrong with a short skirt," she said. "Appearance and attire does not determine the self. And I can take care of myself."
Glyph had led them to the street. Here there were dozens of unattended cars. The captain had a hacked key in his pocket, which he used to unlock a dirty beige car. Ari and Chase got into the backseat without question. Taking cars was commonplace. There had been a time when both girls (particularly Chasey) would have panicked over this, but that time was long past.
As Glyph started the engine, Ari let her forehead touch the cool glass of the window. They drove for about two minutes in silence.
"It's so nice to be back," Chase muttered. Ari sat up and looked across at her. She also had her head rested against her window.
"Why?" Glyph asked, glancing at her in his mirror as he slowed at the traffic lights.
"Oh, I like the real world better," Chase promised, straightening. She smiled playfully across at Ari and added, "It's just that here, there are cute guys. Or at least, there used to be."
"Did you have many boyfriends?" Ari asked, realising that in three years of friendship, she'd never asked this question before.
"Um, why?" Chase asked, rolling her eyes and smiling. "Let me refresh your memory – all-girls high school, three sisters who also attended the same school and therefore never brought home male friends, and then, on top of that, I was an outcast from society. Does that answer your question?"
Glyph and Ari chuckled.
"How about you?" Chase asked. Ari held her hands up and shook her head.
"Let's not even go there," she said.
The car stopped and Glyph got out. Ari and Chase did the same. They were in another backstreet alley, in front of a dirty little apartment building.
"The Oracle lives here?" Ari asked, surprised. It was a horribly old, run-down place. Glyph nodded and led them inside.
In the foyer, a homeless-looking man sat in the waiting seats, surrounded by old newspapers and other assorted litter. He looked like he might be blind, but he shared a nod and smile with Glyph as the rebels passed. Glyph pressed the button for the elevator doors to open. After a few seconds, they did, and two middle-aged, frumpy women stepped out, giving them all disdainful looks.
"There're always funny people here, Doreen," one said to the other in a loud whisper. "Come and go… I'll show you to the door…"
They left quickly, and Glyph stepped into the narrow lift, followed by the girls. The doors closed.
"Funny people," Ari scoffed, while Chase lifted her foot and checked the bottom of her boot, muttering about catching something from the germs in this place.
"I guess we do stand out here. We're actually clean."
Ari giggled. Chase was a nice, compassionate girl… But her words sounded so shallow and superior.
"How does the Oracle survive in this place?" Chase asked, taking a half step away from the wall of the moving elevator. No one bothered to answer her. A moment later, the lift bell rang, and the doors opened to a dingy creamy-beige hall. Glyph led the girls down it, not speaking. Ari ignored the ugly graffiti, which also covered the walls downstairs, and tried to see why an Oracle would live here. Maybe there was something special about this building. She couldn't see anything special.
Glyph stopped in front of a door, completely ordinary and no different to any other beige door in the hallway.
"Open it," he offered, indicating the door handle. Chase didn't want to touch anything here (germ freak) so Ari shrugged and turned the handle. She pushed the door open. A few feet from the door stood a pregnant woman with braided hair and a white cotton dress. She had pretty coffee-coloured skin, and she looked very natural in her shift dress.
"I was just about to let you in," she said, smiling. "Ari and Chase? The Oracle's been expecting to meet you two for a while now. Please, come in." Once the three were inside the small foyer, she closed the door and indicated a waiting bench. "We shouldn't be too long, Glyph. Girls, come with me." She led them through a hall and a bamboo curtain into a sitting room. An older, short African-American woman sat here, quietly smoking in her chair. The pregnant woman indicated for the girls to take a seat before leaving them.
"Ari and Chase," the older woman said with a smile, taking a slow drag on her cigarette. Ari carefully dropped onto a couch beside Chase. "I suppose you're wondering who the hell I am and how I know your names. I suppose you'll also be surprised to discover that I'm the Oracle."
Ari swallowed, relaxing. She'd been expecting a gypsy elder with a shawl and crystal ball. A grandmotherly woman with frizzy hair and a floral apron was much easier to feel comfortable around. It would be nice if she didn't smoke, though. Ari hated cigarette smoke – her older brother's room used to be full of it.
"Okay, fine, I'll stop," the Oracle said, picking up an ashtray and squashing the cigarette. She replaced the tray onto the table. "I know it makes you uncomfortable, Ari."
Chase shot Ari a confused glance. She looked grateful, too. Chase resented smokers.
"Anyway, to business," said the Oracle. She leaned back in her chair, surveying the two girls carefully. A pair of glasses hung around her neck and she put them on. "So. I finally meet Chase and Ari, the first success in freeing two minds from the Matrix at once. Right?"
"Um, yeah," Ari said, sitting a little straighter. Chase studied her hands. Heaps of people in Zion brought that up all the time, calling them 'mind twins' for being 'reborn' at exactly the same time.
"I suppose the fame has faded now, though?" the Oracle asked. Ari nodded. "That's good, then. And you both like working for Glyph and the Resistance?"
Two more nods. The Oracle studied them again.
"You two don't need me," she said suddenly. "Most of the time, if one of you has a problem, the other would just balance it out. If one of you has a weakness, it's the other's strong point. That's why you two make such a good team. And as you get older, and wiser, it'll become easier for both of you. I mean, look at you now."
Both girls glanced at each other, far from comprehending. They waited for the Oracle to continue.
"You want guidance?" the older woman asked. "Your first assignment will be interesting – easy to convince, easy to free, easily adapted… but the cutest thing you'll have ever seen." To this the Oracle gave a little chuckle which wheezed towards the end. "To reach the end, to reach your real potential and actually make your choices, you'll have to remember what she means to you" (here the Oracle gave Ari a sharp look and nodded at Chase, where her gaze remained) "and you'll have to finally let go. That's your real problem, Chase – you just can't let go of the past."
Ari rubbed her palm along her thigh nervously.
"You mean I'm going to backstab Chase?" she asked with a nervy laugh. "That's ridiculous."
"You'll have to put a price on this friendship, kid. How much does it mean to you? It's nice to see a friendship this tight, though. Most rebels I meet have long decided that loyalty to friends comes third to loyalty to work and love."
"You're wrong," Chase said suddenly. Ari glanced at her, willing her to shut up. You couldn't tell the Oracle that she was wrong! The older woman lowered her face but didn't break eye contact with Chase. "I already have let go."
"You think you have, but Chase… Sophie…"
"I'm not Sophie any more," Chase said strongly.
"You'll be Sophie until you can release your hopes to free your sister. Chase, you know she can't be saved," the Oracle added gently. "You refuse to give up, but just accept it, and you'll be better off for it."
Chase sat back in her chair, looking away. Ari fidgeted. She hadn't known that Chase was still hanging on to hopes to see Carrie again. She'd thought Chase was years over it, but apparently not.
"You two didn't come here to be made miserable," the Oracle said with a sigh. "I guess discovering that your new job is going to strain your friendship is a bit of a slap in the face. But you know what I like to do when I feel upset?"
Ari and Chase both shook their heads.
"I get a chocolate mud cake, covered in cream and icing, and watch a good old soapie for the evening. Trust me, it's the best thing to take your mind off your problems." The old woman winked, then pulled herself to her feet with a bit of effort. "And I should tell you now – beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
Ari blinked. What was with these riddles?
"Well, I've finished my cupcakes," the Oracle said, starting for the kitchen. The girls stood and hesitantly followed. The kitchen was small and quite old. The smell of plain cupcakes warmed the air. Both girls stopped and stood in the doorway. The Oracle pulled oven mitts onto her hands and removed the cupcake tray from the oven. She showed them to Chase and Ari. "What do you think?"
"They look nice," Ari offered. They did – they were plain with melted chocolate chips.
"Go on, take one. You'll feel better."
The girls hesitantly took a cupcake each. Chase stared at hers while Ari took an experimental bite.
"They're really nice," she told the Oracle.
"Good." The woman smiled. "Now off you go. The faster you get this operation over and done with, the faster everything will go back to normal."
Ari and Chase nodded and started for the door.
"One last thing."
They turned back.
"I know this meeting hasn't been much help for you, but you'll be back before too long. I promise you right now that you'll both become vital to the Resistance," the Oracle said kindly. "I don't know what they'd do without you."