I'd rebooted my little Erika after my most recent unproductive run-in with the grid attack dogs. This time when I re-entered the Matrix I went straight for the stacks at the University of Constantinople library host. Nothing else could ensure that I stay out of trouble, potentially for hours. I could lose myself for an entire day in this place, forgetting even to eat or drink. Back during my real-life visit to that storied City two years ago, grandfather had asked a friend of his in the college's IT to work with me to set up a back door for use whenever I had time to study. I'd made sure to be discreet using it both to protect that friend as well as to keep Renraku from knowing just how important my faith had become to me since that trip. My insistence on performing Salāt, or daily prayer, had complicated my life enough already. If they knew I spent so much time studying Islamic mystical texts that could have been spent improving the skills the corp wanted me to sharpen, well it would not have been pretty.
None of that mattered now, though. To Renraku, I was a charred corpse. An investment they'd written off the moment they'd thrown my parents under the bus.
>>Renge. Meet Btstrp trips spot Faithfulgrl. Watcher spot in Bkyrd.<<
The text was a welcome interruption from the combination of rage and pity fest that came whenever I thought about the events of autumn when my life had been turned upside down by betrayal. The past was past. I had responsibilities now if I was ever to exact my revenge.
And I WOULD have my revenge.
The message from Lexi didn't indicate a time, so I had to assume she meant pretty much right now. I logged off carefully from the host on the other side of the world and jacked out following all the legal protocols of the 'trix. Nothing unusual to see here, GOD. Just another wage-slave adding to a corp bottom line. Don't mind me.
Yeah, right.
I stretched my meat body as I came again to myself. This job of Lexi's was a good thing in more ways than one. Not only did I owe the little urchin the favor, but I really needed to get out and moving. One of the more useful things my teachers back home had drilled into my head is that strength of the mind follows strength of the body. My mind could not fully flourish and achieve its maximum potential if I permitted my physical body to atrophy. It was hard to get exercise given the Seattle winter rain, my unfamiliarity with the sprawl, and the fact that I was practically defenseless in meatspace, not to mention my need to make nuyen every way that I could. That last required me to be on grid most of my waking hours. Bless Lexi for giving me so many reasons to get out regularly.
I looked over at Jenna to let her know I was heading out. I had to smirk at the adorable sight. Her tent-like t-shirt had hiked itself up on her body, displaying for the world what God had given her from the belly button down. I swear the girl has no modesty to speak of. Her nearly naked body was curled up on her own futon, looking peacefully asleep, arms around an old stuffed bear she'd gotten from her dad when she was, like, three. I could see the jack and knew better. She was VR'd in at the moment. I picked up my deck from my own sleeping space and shot her a quick ARO to let her know that she wouldn't see me when she jacked out and that it was okay. I didn't share any details - she didn't either under the same circumstances. Despite sharing the same room, we weren't all that close. The apartment was a business arrangement and for the most part we stayed to ourselves.
Looking around I spotted where I'd folded my outside clothes. I grabbed by trusty jumpsuit and my hijab and abaya and headed for the bathroom. I didn't spend much time looking at myself in the mirror. I knew I was a mess. One of the advantages and drawbacks to always covering your hair in public is that you can get lazy about hair care. Add to that being destitute and skimping on product and my dark locks were frizzing up a storm. I would never have been able to live like this three months ago, and yet now it was just another day in the life.
I ran my widest-tooth brush across my scalp enough passes to at least be able to go the length of my hair all the way around my head without hitting any tangles. It would have to do. Moments later I had donned my jumpsuit and abaya and was arraying my hijab around my face and over my shoulders. With the flowing second-hand dark-charcoal fabric covering my high-tech armored jumpsuit and the "well -loved" grey hijab framing my face, I looked like one of the house girls I'd seen running chores for their families in the slums of Constantinople's old city. It was a look Lexi was helping me master, and honestly I loved it. I felt closer to God in the traditional clothes of my faith, and from a practical perspective the abaya covered up the pitch black jumpsuit which, while it might stop a bullet, screamed NUYEN to all who saw it. I didn't need that kind of attention.
Standing looking at myself in the mirror I saw a young girl who belonged in the Barrens. It was quite a come down from the heights of luxury I'd been in three months ago, but that was literally another life. Subaru was dead. I'm Renge now. Or Firefly. Or Thurrayya. As schizophrenic as it sounded, three identities wasn't bad. I'd identified half a dozen of Lexi's and I doubted that scratched the surface of all the faces the girl showed the world.
Leaving the bathroom I looked back at my futon where my now powered down and locked deck sat on my pillow. Should I still take it? No, Lexi said she needed Renge not Firefly. The jumpsuit is just common sense. Taking my deck when I didn't need it was just begging to lose it if I was overpowered by someone. If someone took my jumpsuit and left me alive, I'd mange. If they did the same with the Erika they signed my death warrant even if they didn't flick the knife across my throat. Without that deck, I was nothing but spare parts and ghoul chow at the end of the month. Although we weren't close, Jenna was a budding decker herself. We respected each other's equipment even if we were cool with each other. And I was now her best teacher and meal-ticket for something better. No, my deck was safer here than with me in the Barrens doing the Prophet knew what.
With only a twinge of regret, I grabbed my cheap little Metalink so that I could at least do basic texting and turned toward the door. I quietly slipped out, locking the portal behind me. Back home in Singapore I often mused about all the excitement I was missing living ensconced in Renraku security wherever I went. I'd always wondered what life was like in the "real world". Well, now I knew how foolishly romantic I had been back then, but it was too late. This was my life now, Renge's life, and with Lexi's help I'd adapt.
It helps that I have a few tricks up my sleeve, I smiled as I dove down the street and to the meeting point.
