DISINTEGRATION

Chapter XVII

The Night Celestro Told the Truth

The familiar dragon loomed in the distance and Microsoft accelerated. Arone had left another dozen of messages he didn't want to check. After the memories had come to him in full and because he didn't only know, but could actually remember what had happened, a concrete protective wall appeared in his mind and in his heart. In spite of all his struggles the wall wouldn't go away. He asked himself if he loved Arone as he had before, but avoided the answer and dismissed the thoughts as soon as they would crawl out from behind the other things on his mind. 
He parked at the parlor, looked at his SC again and deleted the messages. He got out of the car and marched towards the entrance, readjusting his scarf.
"How's life, old bugger?" greeted him Rafael and peered at his neck. "What's with the scarf?"
"You may stop grinning now, Raf. I need it removed today."
"I admire your self-chastisement, my friend. I thought you had it removed as soon as you came home."
"But you said it was a three-day... son of a ..." Rafael was roaring with laughter.
"Okay, alright. Go on, then, make fun of me." Microsoft crossed his armed on his chest and leaned against the counter.
"Spare me your zoolander look," said Rafael, wiping off the tears. "Let's go, I'll wash it off." 
Rafael headed for Rib Seven followed by a bedaffled Microsoft.
"Wash? It could've been washed off? I'm telling you, Raf, if I didn't love you like I do, I'd kick your ass."
"If I didn't love you like I do, dick-neck, I'd make your pretty neon art permanent." Rafael entered the Rib.
The tattoo was removed in a matter of seconds, and when Rafael prepared another patch Microsoft raised his hand in protest. "No way! Uh-uh, not this time."
"So, what are we supposedly doin' in here, bugger? It's a tattoo parlor, not a love nest. Speakin' of which, why the hell are you not home with your pretty little mistress?"
"Have something to take care of."
"At that hour? That slum did get to you, didn't he. Waitin' for you outside in a fancy car, is he?"
"I appreciate your help, Raf, but some stuff is just none of your business."
Microsoft got up, grabbed his scarf and headed for the back exit.
"No wonder your woman stepped out on ya!"
Microsoft turned on his heels and lunged at Rafael pinning him to the wall with one hand and holding the other one up, about to strike. Rafael squeezed his eyes tight, ready to take the blow, but Microsoft lowered his shaking fist and grabbing Rafael by the collar bumped him into the wall again. "That was too far, Raf, that was just too far!"
He released him and was off to the familiar black hoverblimp waiting for him behind the parlor.

"All's ready, the connection is perfect." Rawotzki gave Mike his SC back. "It'll transmit all the data to me, and we'll have the evidence we need."
"What if they tell me to take it off?"
"They won't. You'll have to run the boy's license through your essie to reprogram it. I don't think they'll use another one, it's easier to just connect you to the computer and run the program, since yours is already personalized."
Microsoft's SC flickered.
"Something important?" asked Rawotzki sipping his whiskey.
"No." Microsoft deleted the unanswered message. Rawotzki's glance lingered a second too long on the ice balls in the glass, then he took a tiny black box out of his pocket.
"Please don't tell me you're gonna propose." 
The remark made Celestro smile. "Your sense of humor is back, I like it," he said. "But relax, it's not a ring." He opened the box, and first Microsoft thought it was empty, but then something inside it sparkled in the light.
"Give me your right hand."
Microsoft stretched his hand out to him. Celestro took a transparent square wafer out of the box, stuck it to Microsoft's arm a little below the wrist and pushed. The wafer went instantly under Microsoft's skin.
"What the hell?" Microsoft jerked his hand back, but it was too late. The wafer was already inside.
"Don't worry, it's just a jammer. It'll self-destroy right after the operation's over. It'll dissolve in your system and be out in a natural way." Celestro took his glass again and leaned back.
Microsoft touched the spot where the wafer was supposed to be with his thumb, but the wafer was so thin and flexible that he could hardly feel it. "What does it do?"
"In simple words, it works like an invisibility cloak - conceals any unidentified processes running along with the controlled ones through your SC. As soon as the operation's over and all the information has been successfully transmitted, the jammer will be gone. Perfectly safe, imperceptible and traceless."
Microsoft's SC flickered again, he rolled his eyes and switched it off. At the very moment Celestro's i-contacts sparkled. Microsoft was too late to react; Celestro had already touched his earring.
"Um...hey!" he said to the caller, widening his eyes at Microsoft, who had puffed out his cheeks and let the air out in exasperation. Celestro touched his SC-earring again and Arone's angry voice got through.
"Do you hear me? Let me talk to him! I know he's with you. Don't you dare lie to me and say he's not!"
Microsoft shook his head frantically.
"Why don't you flick him--" started Celestro
"You know damn well I did!" Arone's voice got louder.
Celestro looked at Microsoft quizzically, but he shook his head again.
"He...erm, went upstairs. But I'll tell him you flicked. Bye."
"Lester, if you--"
Celestro hung up. Microsoft stood, walked across the room to the window, peered into the darkness for a while, then said in a low voice.
"Can I crash here tonight?"
Celestro didn't answer, and Microsoft turned around to find him gaping, a glass of whiskey tipped to the side. Staying at Celestro's house wasn't a good idea, and Microsoft was about to reconsider, when Celestro recovered from shock.

"Sure." He put the glass back on the table, took it again and drank the amber liquid in gulps. "Take any room you want upstairs." 
Microsoft moved towards the opening.
"You wanna talk?" said Celestro after a pause.
"With you? About my wife? No, thanks."
"Why are you shutting her out? It can't be just the memories. You're afraid she'll talk you out of your plan, aren't you?"
Microsoft froze in the opening for a second, then walked on without turning around or saying a word.
"You are, aren't you," muttered Celestro to himself when the opening had closed. "And it's a good thing you don't talk."

"Lester, if you hang up on me, I swear I... Lester? Damn you both!" Arone pulled her SC off her hand and slammed it against the wall. Red light went on, then turned to green and went off again. The device self-recovered. 
After a minute of huffing and puffing, she picked it up and put it on again. Panic was getting more palpable inside her. She was excluded and could do nothing about it. 
On an impulse, she ran out of the apartment, locked the door and went to the garage. She got in her car, started it and shut it down again. She felt like crying, but tears wouldn't come. Her mind traveled over the recent events, then went back to five years before, but she still couldn't understand why Microsoft had chosen Celestro over her. What changed? What had she done? She got out of the car and went back home determined to wait for her husband.
In the middle of the night she gave up, realizing nobody was going to come.
She fumbled with her SC in hesitation, clicked on a contact and lied back with closed eyes, waiting for an answer. After a while she heard a soft euphonious 'Hello'.
"Sakura, it's me. Sorry to disturb you so late," she said.
"I'm happy to hear you. Are you alright?"
"No, I'm not."
"What's the matter?"
"Is it true you have a deal with Lester?"
Sakura spoke after a pause.
"Just work. I didn't want you to think too much of it, so I chose not to mention it."
"What does he want from you?"
"An upcoming business deal, that's all. But this is not the reason you're calling me, right?"
"Right."
"What are you so sad about?"
"Micro hasn't spoken with me since your last session. And now he's stayed at Lester's for the night."
"Have you tried talking to him?"
"Yes, a million times. He just ignores me, makes up excuses. Last time he literally ran away from me."
"Are you worried he feels differently or are you angry he's not telling you about his plans?"
"Both. But it's not just me. Five years ago they were planning something, they didn't tell me what it was. And then Lester and I... well, you know. I couldn't ask Lester after what had happened between us, and Micro didn't remember anything. I just don't know what to think. It's like they've become best friends all over again, like everything's forgotten."
"Arone, listen. Whatever it is, it can't be good."
Arone, who was used to Sakura's tendency to take no sides and to judge no one, was a little taken aback by the sudden objectivity.
"Why do you think so?"
"I have a hunch. Just listen, Rawotzki is not an honest man, you shouldn't trust him. Find a way to talk to Microsoft."
"How?"
"I don't know, go to his work in the morning. Just do it. But now go to bed and have a rest."
"What kind of a hunch? What do you know? Sakura?.. Damn it! Why's everyone hanging up on me today?"
Arone took her relaxers off the bed-side table, plugged them into her ears, turned them on to the limit and fell asleep immediately.

Microsoft couldn't sleep. He kept rewinding the next day over and over again in his head making sure everything was going to be perfect. The only thing that didn't work out in his imagination was his conversation with his father. He saw himself coming out of the training room, savior of the world, going straight to Ford's office and saying in a loud epic voice "You go down, papa." Or he could stand outside Ford Industries when the police would bring Ford out of the building and then throw "Hey, Dad" at him. Every time it was epic, heroic and unnatural. The most natural thing would be to talk to Arone and let himself be convinced to set things straight with Ford peacefully, but Microsoft couldn't imagine anything good coming out of it either. 
Knowing Ford for so many years, he knew there could only be one way the old man would react - offer Microsoft money and tell him to shut up. Nevertheless, there was so much he wanted to say to him. 
Microsoft propped himself up on his elbows and looked around. The room had been stripped for redecoration and there was hardly anything there - plain brown walls resembling wood, a built-in bar, the ceiling was one huge screen that glowed white almost imperceptibly. Mike got up and went to the bar: there were a couple of wine bottles and lots of whiskey. Microsoft wondered if he was in Celestro's bedroom. 
He closed the bar and went out of the room. It was quiet and dark in the corridor, so he switched on the light on his SC and went along towards the stairs. 
He loved the house, because it was a little old-fashioned and creative. He'd always wanted a house like that, but knew he could never afford it. Maybe after it's all over I'll get the insurance big enough to build one, he thought. 
As he reached the stairs, footsteps over his head startled him. A whiff of fine flower odor reached his nose; he knew exactly who was upstairs. Microsoft hesitated, ready to turn back and go to his room, but loneliness came over him with a new strength, making him long irresistibly for presence of another human being. 
He took a cautious step up, then another one and in no time he was already standing in the orchard, surrounded by red and white poinsettias and dark memories. The smell and the images overwhelmed him and he made a move to go back, but Celestro called him by name.
"I couldn't sleep," said Microsoft. Celestro rested in a white swing sofa outlined by moonlight and reminded Microsoft of an apparition. 
"Come, sit down," he said. 
Microsoft walked through the flowers careful not to touch any, which felt ridiculous, but he just couldn't help it. He joined Celestro on the sofa and looked up at the open sky. Them sitting like this on a sofa among flowers felt ridiculous too.
"Are you sure you weren't going to propose?" asked Microsoft, grinning at Celestro.
"What's the point, you're already taken." Celestro returned his grin with a wry smile.
"You didn't seem to mind five years ago." 
Mention of Arone and the affair rippled the even atmosphere of the night. Celestro rested his head on the sofa back.
"I did what I did. What's the point kicking about it?"
"Would you do it again?" The question resounded like a stone dropped in an empty church. They sat there for a while as if listening to the echo, and when the awkwardness turned to physical pain, Celestro spoke.
"She wouldn't do it again." 
He might as well slapped Microsoft right across the face, but there was comfort in that.  Arone made a mistake she wasn't going to repeat, and Celestro was in love. Microsoft knew Arone long enough to understand what it meant to be in love with her.
"I think," he said in a low tired voice. "That might actually be the first honest thing you've ever said. A bit evasive for my taste, but honest. I think I've just got sleepy." Microsoft stood up and staggered, exhaustion hitting his legs, he steadied himself by Celestro's shoulder and Celestro put his hand over his. 
"Here's another thing, honest and direct. I'm really sorry for everything that happened. You are my friend and I love you, and I want you to remember this. I'm sorry and I love you."
"And you're drunk." 
"Wasted."
Microsoft freed his hand and squinted at the black sky that started to dissolve into grayish blue.
"It's dawning," he said half to himself.
"All's gonna be fine, Mike. I'll sort everything out. You're gonna be fine, I promise."
"Yeah... I'll grab some sleep, then. I only have a couple hours."
Microsoft walked towards the exit hearing Celestro thump against the sofa. He glanced around to find him lying on his back apparently already asleep, his jacket undone the tattooed torso painted silver by the moonlight. Microsoft scoffed at himself, because the sight was ridiculous, but in some inexplicable way it made him feel something he'd never expected he would at that place and at that time. He felt safe.

DISINTEGRATION

Chapter XVI

The Day Matrix Lied

The day of the rescue drew closer. The official theory of using Statko effect on the micro-level  had been announced, and the date had been set. Ford had a tet-a-tet with Mz. Penrose Stewart arranged on the central news and personally asked Alkatraz Dahl to be the guest anchor, which was a brilliant Icon's idea to display integrity and trustworthiness to the world. 
During the dialogue Ford explained the method of rescue and answered all the questions with such a great confidence that Penrose hugged him at the end of the interview. In the subsequent article and video report Alkatraz sounded skeptical but even he admitted that Ford 'seemed to know what he was doing'.

The irony of the phrase didn't escape Matrix Eroglou. Since the dinner in DigiDiner he had been avoiding everyone. He locked himself up in his office and didn't come out even to announce the schedules for the interviews with Ford. He sent Icon a message to give him the new list of team members after the interviews were over and ignored her insistant flickers. She considered it a challenge and was determined to find out what was going on with Matrix. 

At work two things were waiting for Microsoft: a non-shut-upable Adrian and a message from Mat. While trying to zone out Adrian's chatter, he clicked on the message which read: "You're the most likely candidate for the front line position in the rescue mission. I don't think we can do it without you." 
Something turned over inside Microsoft and fluttered its wings, but he couldn't understand if it was joy or anxiety. For one, the message meant he was about to become the key figure of the mission, and all the information he needed was literally served to him on a silver platter. On the other hand, he message felt void as if there was something missing between the two sentences. 
"Hey, man, so will you tell her?" Adrian punched him in the shoulder.
"Aw! Tell who what?"
"Spectrum, of course, who else? Have you been listening to me at all?" 
Adrian gave Microsoft a poignant stare and stretched his arms sideways, waiting for Microsoft's answer.
"Look, Ad, I gotta run, I have a meeting with the Old Hundred."
"Right, you're all hoity-toity now. Forgive your humble servant, Sire, for disturbing your repose." Adrian bowed.
"Man, come on. I really don't have time right now, but I'll do what you ask. Later, okay?"
Adrian waved him off and went to his cubicle. Microsoft headed towards the stairs.  He didn't have time for the sulking Adrian.
When he got to the hundred's floor, he met Augustine Reynolds and Kern Schrödinger in the waiting room who watched something on their i-contacts. Gear welcomed Microsoft with a radiant smile.

"You're early."

"Am I?" Microsoft checked the time and was genuinely surprised that he was indeed half an hour early.

"You know, you have a memo app on your essie." Pointed at his SC band.

"I know, I just thought I could--"

"Dog it?"

"Yeah, that too." Microsoft smiled at her on his way to the waiting room.

"What are you doing here so early," asked Augustine without looking at him.

"I'm not asking you, so what do you care?"

"I'm waiting for IR," said Augustine.

"I'm next in line," said Kern.

"I'm just..." Microsoft and sat down on the sofa beside Kern, leaned back and closed his eyes., "dogging it." 
He went through the plan again in his head: Get the information transmitter at the Doodads': check. Get the schedule: check. Arrange another meeting with Rawotzki: check. Get involved in the time-travelling process: needs confirmation. Talk to Mat: needs to be done. 
He thought about Matrix and his recent behavior. Something wasn't right, but everything seemed to go according to plan. Maybe his talk with Ford will clear things for him? What was Mat so afraid of or worried about? It can't be just the legal issue of the mission - even Kern didn't bother (and he would be the first to yammer). There was definitely something he didn't know and he intended to find it out.

"Why is it still called dark matter anyway? It was discovered over a hundred years ago!"

This was Augustine talking about something he was watching on his i-contacts, Microsoft guessed. He realized Augustine had been talking for a while already, overreacting as usual over things that escaped his own logic. He talked as if his life depended on that, moving his enormous eyebrows and scoffing every minute.

"Well, I believe it's a matter of habit," said Schrödinger. The macro rubbed his sweaty right palm with the small round fingernails of his left hand.

"If it was up to me, I'd rename it."

"And call it Reynold's matter?" said Microsoft.

"So, you think giving the crucial elements of the universe inappropriate names is funny?" Augustine leaned towards Microsoft over Kern. "There is nothing dark about the matter, it's like saying Milky Way is sky fog. The so-called "dark matter" is just alternative particles, different from the standard set of particles we've known about for centuries. Logically, the particles should be called alternoms."

"Well, I think it's all part of the preservation policy." Kern pushed Augustine off himself. "People try to keep things as they were, to preserve history. Take for example the Last Name Act. Did you know people used to give a child the last name of the father? It didn't matter if the mother's genealogy tree was bigger or more valuable to the world's heritage - it just had to be the father."

"That's absurd," said Augustine. "Passing this act was perfectly reasonable and essential. Genealogical lines are historically important, it also facilitates the process of learning the family history and eliminates the risk of any prominent last names dying out."

"I don't know." Schrödinger dried his palms on his jacket. "I've got my mother's name, but I personally think it would be great if I could give my last name to my son."

"Well, all you have to do is find a wife with a less prominent name than yours," said Microsoft who was getting irritated by the whole pointless chatter.

"What's your father's name?" Schrödinger fixed his honest and curious eyes on him. Microsoft went cold inside.

"I don't know," he said. "I never knew him."

"I'm sorry. I'm sure your father is a good man."

"And how do you know that?"

"Look at you? You're a decent person, a talented designer, a good friend."

"All because I've been raised in good families. My father didn't have anything to do with it."

"Actually," said Augustine, "the genetic influence of our biological parents is often underestimated. Our modern culture is focused on the presumption that we make ourselves who we are, but essentially, genes are inescapable."

"I said, I'm not like my father!" Microsoft jumped to his feet. After a moment of awkward silence the opening to Ford's office dispersed and a blonde man with a grim face came out of it. It took Microsoft a second to realize it was IR. He felt his heart sink, because IR looked like he'd just been hit by an anvil. 

"What did he tell you?" asked Augustine getting up, and Microsoft realized he hadn't even asked Augustine what he'd decided and what Ford had told him.

"I'm in," said IR.

"Are you serious? This is madness."

"Madness is to step away now. Are you coming?" IR greeted Mike and Kern with a nod and headed for the vacuum tubes followed by Augustine who was telling him something in a low voice and gesturing fervently. 
"Did Augustine say 'no'?" asked Microsoft. 
"Not exactly." Kern smiled at him. "He's still thinking, but he'll come round. What won't one do for a friend, right?"
"Why is he so furious then?"
"You know him. He just likes to contradict." 
Kern got up and tapped Microsoft on the shoulder.

"Don't worry, it's all gonna be fine." 

Kern didn't spend much time in the office, and when he came out he winked at Microsoft  as encouragement. Microsoft got up, and the ground seemed to kilt a little. After he went in through the opening, Ford's voice hammered him down to the floor.

"Mr. Stevenson, please come in... Mr.Stevenson?.. Can you hear me?"

"Yes! Yes, of course." As if awakened, Microsoft hurried to the huge table and sat into a hoverchair that felt strange and uncomfortable. 

"How do you feel? I hear you weren't well."

"I had a headache but I'm fine now, thank you."

"Good. I'm happy for you. You should know, Microsoft, that I value you work very highly, you are the best designer we've ever had and the evaluation program proved it selecting you to be on the team and then to take part in this important mission, to save a person's life."
"Is this confirmed already?"
"It was just now. How do you feel about that?"

"It's all been very unexpected, sir. But I'm happy to be a part of something big."

"And I am certainly happy to hear that. Am I to understand that you will join us and agree to fulfill the assignment?" Ford beamed with satisfaction, and it cost Microsoft a lot of effort to keep a composed face.

"Before I say yes, I would like to know how safe it is."

"Absolutely. Although, Mr. Eroglou could explain all the ins and outs of the operation much better than I can ever do."

"Mr. Eroglou seems a little unwilling to talk to anyone lately."

"Is he?"

Microsoft bit his tongue. Ford's face was perfectly still, but Microsoft could hear in the way he said those two words that Matrix was in trouble. 

"He's working a lot," said Microsoft, trying to keep his voice steady. Facing Ford now, he didn't think about the mission, for Celestro and Arone. All that was on his mind was one question: How could you choose work over your son?

"The amount of work is, indeed, impressive, and you would do well not to disturb him. But the procedure is quite safe, you don't have to worry about it." Ford looked away.

"What am I to worry about?" Microsoft tapped his fingers on the table. Ford took a deep tired breath and started speaking in a calm solid voice.

"Diod Medina is the brightest student in his class. Before the unfortunate event he was going to take up social service courses. He wants to become a doctor. His mother, Penrose, told me that she was pregnant with his sister when he was 12 and she had a miscarriage. After that he wouldn't leave his mother's room, would tuck her in at night. Diod Medina is 14 now. He's hardly lived and is about to die."

"Why are you telling me all this?"

"Because I want you to see how important you are." Ford glided around the table and towards Microsoft, who folded his arms on his chest. "Do you realize that you," Ford pointed at him with an open palm, "you will save the life of a young boy and the lives of his future children?"

"Are children so important to you, Mr. Ford?"

"Of course, they are. Every child is important." Now it was Microsoft's turn to look away.

"More important than your job?" 

"What are you driving at?" Ford slid back a little, watching Microsoft.

"You just don't look much of a concerned father to me. But those were truly beautiful words you said. I bet it isn't the first time you've said them."

Ford pursed his lips, leaned forward and looked Microsoft directly in the eyes, sending chills down Microsoft's spine.

"Whatever I say, however many times I say it - the fact remains: we save a life or we perform an ethical euthanasia and step away to see a child perish. I'm sorry to say this, Mr. Stevenson, but right now you can become one of the two, a savior or a murderer.  Which one would you rather be?"

"What if the government learned about the time-traveling?" Microsoft bit his tongue a second time. That wasn't something he'd been planning to ask. "I mean, we'll all go to prison, or worse." Ford didn't stir a hair.
"I understand your concerns, but the only people who know about it are on the team."
Microsoft thought he'd heard Ford wrong, he tilted his head doubtfully.
"Yes, that's right, Microsoft, none is out. Not one. You are the only one who hasn't decided yet and you are the key to the mission. I'm asking you on behalf of the grieving mother to save the boy."
"Augustine Reynolds is still considering."
"He'll talk to Mr. Herschel and he'll stay. But right now it's you who has to make a choice, to make me proud."
Incongruous feelings were fighting inside Microsoft, Statko effect all over again. What Ford was saying was certainly true, but it still felt like manipulation. He wanted to leave the team so much in the beginning. Now, he surprised himself. He wanted to be that heroic person, to take part in the mission because it was important, not because he needed information. He considered if he could ask what Matrix had argued with Ford about, but he chose not to. Mat had enough problems on his hands without Microsoft prying around. Microsoft nodded to Ford and left the office.

At the end of the day the team gathered for the final briefing. Matrix wasn't there. He had instructed IR to put him through without video.

"I'd like to thank you all...," his tired voice said. "I didn't expect that everyone would stay, so I'm grateful. Wireless, I sent you the algorithm with my comments, I hope they will be satisfying. Microsoft Stevenson is selected to perform the rescue mission. Icon McKelly will fill you in further." 
There was a second of silence and a click.
"He's out," said IR and turned to everyone, surprise and anger dancing in his eyes.

Icon looked confused probably for the first time in her life. She didn't say anything even when Stallone Rivers left the room right after the announcement, bumping into a hoverchair on her way out. Only Microsoft smiled to himself. 
Everyone looked at Icon expecting her to explain what was going on when the SCs started buzzing and flickering one by one. Mat had sent everyone a schedule and personal instructions. Icon blinked away the message and coughed.

"Well, ...er, it seems we have our schedules. All of you must have received the list of your responsibilities. Right, so... Let's get some rest and we'll discuss the steps first thing in the morning."

WiFi was reading her message from Mat, chewing on her lower lip. Then she whispered something to IR, he linked his SC to hers and frowned.

"Is something wrong?" Icon came closer to them.

"No...nothing is wrong." Before Icon could have a look at his SC, IR beckoned to Augustine and the three of them left. Icon followed them with her eyes and seemed to forget anyone else was in the room. After a while she started, as if from a sudden noise, and told the rest of the team to go and get ready. She only stopped Mallory Okolloh and whispered something in his ear. He looked in a confused way, but nodded and followed everyone out.

On the way to Matrix's office Augustine didn't stop talking for a minute until IR finally told him to shut up. WiFi had a hard time keeping up with the two.
"I will if you tell me why," said Augustine.
"You didn't say no yourself, did you?" IR didn't slow his pace to avoid looking Augustine in the eyes.
"I didn't say 'yes' either." Augustine scurried beside him, his face working out solutions to the conundrum.
"Well, I don't know how you feel, but I'm not ready to become a killer. It's our fault that Diod is in there, so I don't care what I'll have to do to save him. I need you, Augustine." IR stopped short. "Please... just sign in and let's get on with it."
"It's a crime."
"It's more of a crime if we don't sign in. Maybe, Okolloh can step aside, or Icon, but think what will happen if we do. Mat won't pull it off alone, he needs us. Besides, the algorithm's a mess, you heard what WiFi said. I'm planning to buzz Mat's essie dead until he opens his damn hermit's cell and lets us talk to him. Are you with me?"
Augustine stepped back and leaned against the wall, his eyebrows hanging ominously over his face. IR came up to him and put his hand on his shoulder, but Augustine just shook his head.
"Whatever..." IR and walked on, grabbing WiFi by the arm only to hear Augustine marching hastily behind him a minute later. He halted and turned around. Augustine came up to him and hugged him so hard that IR had to tap him on the back to let him go. 
"If we get busted," said Augustine. "Do you think they'll let us retain memories of us being friends?"

"I don't think so," said IR. "We'll probably be sent to different places too, far away from each other."

"I've signed in."

"Aren't you afraid to lose your memory anymore?"

"I'd rather not remember with you, than remember without you."

IR hugged Augustine again, and WiFi gave out a sad sigh. She wanted to understand what they felt and what it all meant for them, but all she could think of was the algorithm and the inconsistencies that Matrix seemed to be ignoring completely. At that moment footsteps resounded against the walls. Everyone turned towards the sound. Mat appeared from around the corner and stopped dead, seeing the three members of his team in the hall.

"Mat! We were just heading for your office." IR ran up to him, but Mat waved his hand to say no. 

"It's late already, I have to go."

"Mat, you can't run away like this," IR stood in his way. "The operation starts tomorrow and I don't understand half of your algorithm. Tell him, Wi!" 
"Um, yes," said WiFi. "I can't say I'm an expert in time-traveling formulae, but I ran it in demo and the program couldn't finish the task because a piece of equation was missing." WiFi drew randoms geometrical figures in the air with her fingers to illustrate a point. Geometry had always seemed to her very convincing. 
"I'm not saying your calculations aren't correct," said IR. "I just want to understand how it works, because I'll be at the controls tomorrow with you, and I just think it's risky if we aren't fully aware of the processes."
Matrix at everyone. Augustine nodded to show he agreed with WiFi and IR. 
"Okay, listen to me now," said Mat and raised his hand, though nobody but him was speaking. "Tell me, IR, have you ever done anything like this before?"
"Have you?" said IR.
"Yes, I have."
"Maybe you have at a larger scale," said Augustine, raising his voice with every phrase. "With a bunch of qualified people to help you, a huge team to analyze the facts, another huge team to check the equations, and an elephantine amount of time to prepare. We had but a couple of days and the algorithm doesn't work. Shouldn't you be worried? Shouldn't we all just sit down and--"
"Enough!" roared Matrix and it seemed that it was the sound wave from his voice that pushed Augustine behind IR's back. "I know what I'm doing! You're right, Augustine, we had 2 days to figure it out and believe it or not I did. Exactly that is why you need to trust me right now. Your job is to ensure the Statko effect works and Microsoft takes one specific route, because he won't have much time or many chances to choose. He has to go exactly as planned, and then everything will be put into place. Can you do that? Tell me, can you make sure this one thing goes right?"
"Yes, we can." IR looked away.
"Then do, and leave everything else to me. I have to go through everything again today and I really don't have time to teach classes. You need explanation, you'll get the lecture after we're done. Now go home and be here on time tomorrow!"
He went passed them, and no one said anything else, just looked at each other. WiFi wasn't sure what that meant, but she supposed she was allowed to be scared.

DISINTEGRATION

Chapter XV

The Night Everybody Talked (part 2)

"Do you know each other?" asked Celestro, raising one eyebrow in his usual nonchalant manner.
"Better than you think," said Microsoft. "But then, I don't know. You tell me."
"I'm Mr.Stevenson's couple counselor," said Sakura, resuming her self-controlled posture in a second.
Rawotzki craned his head to meet the look of his consierge. "Gantier, was I expecting Miss Takano today?"
"I believe you were, sir." Causse's face showed nothing, but his usual cold officialism.
"You should have reminded me."
"My fault, sir. It will not happen again."
"You may go. Miss Takano," Rawotzki ran his fingers along the rim of his jacket as it glowed more intensely, "I apologize again, could we reschedule--"
"It would be most inappropriate, my week's very busy."
"Right then, could you please wait in my office. Gantier!" 
The concierge stopped half-way in the opening and turned around. "Please show Miss Takano into my office," Rawotzki said. "I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Certainly, sir."
Microsoft was watching everyone with curiosity. Even the burning on his neck that now turned into a numb throbbing pain didn't bother him. The dialogue sounded perfectly normal, yet a certain underlying tension was almost palpable in the air. When both the concierge and Sakura were gone, he looked at Celestro expectantly.
"I apologize," said Celestro. "I totally gapped out on the appointment."
"You take bachelor pre-couple counseling courses?"
"No, she's our client. ZP's working on a project to update the software of the psy-center she works in. It's been difficult to squeeze the meeting into our schedules in light of the recent events, then I also got your message, and everything got mixed up."
"Haven't heard of the project in the news-feeds."
"It's not public yet, we're negotiating some details." Celestro touched his earring SC and blinked, obviously mind-typing something on his eye-display.
"I hope all's well, she didn't look too happy. Do you have all your business meetings at home, Lester?"
"There are a couple of snags," said Celestro absent-mindedly. "And Miss Takano is quite fervent about updating the center. It's a bit annoying, really. We've hardly started, but I already can't wait till the project's over." Celestro did look rather bored than nervous, so Microsoft chose to believe him. Sakura Takano was the least thing on his mind at the moment.
"So, I guess, I have to go now." Microsoft moved to get up, but Celestro blinked the sheen out of his eyes and put his hand up to stop him.
"I still have some time. Miss Takano can surely wait. Maybe that will make her less eager to schedule personal meetings with me whenever she sees fit. What's that deal you were talking about?"
"I want Ford destroyed, humiliated and broken." Microsoft felt a little color in his cheeks as he spoke. "And I want you to help me."
Celestro's eyes lit up with excitement. He leaned forward.
"We're back to where we started, then?"
"No, we start from scratch. No strings attached."
"If you want strictly come business, you'll get strictly come business. But what's in it for me?"
"First, you owe me."
"Fair enough. Though I have a tendency to let my remorse go once I said I'm sorry."
"Second," Microsoft crossed his legs, as he leaned back on the sofa. "If Ford's off the picture, you'll be the only international tycoon, which will allow you to build a High Tech empire that will prove invincible."
Rawotzki activate the surface menu on the table and scrolled down a list of whiskeys. "Tempting. Drink?"
"No, thanks," said Microsoft, took the documents off the table, ran his thumb along the top ridge shrinking them till they fitted in his palm and put them into his pocket.
"So." Rawotzki took a glass of deep jasper liquid on rocks off a silver hovertray that had slidout of the built-in bar. "What'd you have in mind, partner?"
"Ford's going to break the law trying to save the boy."
"Why am I not surprised? Let me guess, the reintegration scheme didn't worked out, so they've opted for time-traveling?"
"That's right. I'll have more than enough information to expose him, I just need the right technology to get it stored. After the boy's out, I'll have all the evidence and I'll witness against Ford in the International Court of Integrity."
"Aiming high, are we? You're a brave man to go for private investigation. If you pull it off to the end, it'll be very hard to prove you're not an accomplice."
"Not if I have the data stored from the very beginning of the process and come out at the right moment. Anyway, the other option is to let the boy die."
"That would definitely ruin Ford Industries forever." 
Microsoft stared at him in stupor. Rawotzki tilted his head, his glass half-way to his lips.
"Are you seriously thinking about killing the boy?" he asked.
"Sweet Page and Brin, Lester, what are you talking about? Of course, not! I can't let the boy die - that's what I meant. I want only one person to get hurt in the process. "
"Well, I don't know what I'd do if my father had done to me what yours did to you. Luckily, he died early enough."
The words jarred Microsoft on the inside, he hated Ford, of course, but he didn't think he could ever talk about his death with such nonchalance. He turned his head thoughtfully towards the hearth and as he did, he cried out with pain.
"What's wrong?" Celestro almost dropped the glass of whiskey from surprise.
"How long have I been here?" Microsoft rubbed his tattoo patch.
"Eh...about half an hour or so?"
"Damn you, Rafael! Just wait till I get you. Jeez!" Microsoft covered the patch with his hand, but that hurt even more.
"Let me take it off." Rawotzki put his glass on the table, got up and bent over Mike who leaned back. Pain crawled up to his temples, his muscles tensed, and his skin felt like it was scorching. Rawotzki examined the patch.
"Ouch, it looks really bad."
"Just take it off, will you?" said Microsoft through his teeth. Rawotzki turned back, fished an ice cube out of his glass, then turned back, hooked a corner of the patch with his nail and tore it off in a split of a second.
Microsoft gave out a suppressed grunt and curved his back.
"Wait," said Rawotzki, pushing him down with one hand and running the ice cube up and down his neck with the other. Microsoft breathed out with relief, and relaxed a little closing his eyes. When he opened them again, Celestro was still holding ice against the sore spot, suppressing a grin.
"What? What's there?"
Celestro blinked and the opposite wall turned into a mirror. He stepped away to let Microsoft come closer and take a look. On the right side of his neck inside a crimson ellipse he saw a glowing blue boner. 
"It seems, Rafael gave you another nickname," said Celestro.
"I'm gonna kill him. I am gonna kill him."
"Make sure you leave no fingerprints, we can't have you in jail now, we got things to do." Celestro wiped his wet hand against his pants and got up. 
"The hoverblimp's downstairs waiting for you. Go by 'Doodads' tomorrow morning, they'll plant a data magnet into your essie, it'll copy any information in a five-feet radius."
"I'll let you know if anything comes up."
Mike was heading for the opening when he heard Celestro say, "It's always a pleasure to work with you."
Microsoft turned around to see his new partner in business in the middle of the room with a soft and genuine smile, his suit unbuttoned again, his hand outstretched for a shake. The urge to step back and shake the hand pulled at Microsoft's stomach, but he turned around and left, feeling like a parent who'd just spanked his child and now was trying to convince himself that it had been the right thing to do.

Stallone struggled to keep calm, but it would have been less shocking to be hit by a lightning, than hear Matrix's confession. It was clear by the expression of Mat's face that he regretted having told her everything. She wanted to say something to make Matrix feel better, something that would miraculously solve all his problems, but no words came to mind and her throat went dry.
"Stallone, I appreciate that you've heard me out," he said. "And I understand there is nothing you can do. There is nothing anyone can do. It's the balance of nature. We may have learned how to influence the weather, or travel in time and space, but there are laws nothing can override. You can't eradicate something without replacing it, or call something back without giving something away in return. Natural catastrophes, wars, climate changes, even international political conflicts - all are nature's way to keep the balance. There is no way around it."
"But of course there is!" The solution was now so obvious to her. "You have to refuse. You said that no one can be forced to do anything."
"That didn't apply to me. I can't refuse."
"Why not?"
"I owe Ford."
"You can't owe him that much."
Matrix sighed, sat forward and folded his hands, looking Stallone directly in the eyes.
"I do. He saved my life."
"So? Do you have to pay for it till you die?"
"He saved my life, but he didn't give it back to me. I'm bound with him."
"I don't understand."
"It doesn't matter, I just can't. And besides, it's either Mike or the boy. Mike has to die to save Diod Medina. That's my alternative right now: kill a teenager or kill my friend."
Stallone didn't know what to say. They kept silent for several minutes.
"Here it is again," said Matrix, looking at a black hoverblimp that whooshed past DigiDiner. 
"Mat--" Stallone's voice was trembling.
"Don't. Let's just go." He switched off the jammer dome and stood up. Stallone gasped as the weight lifted off her, she suddenly felt she was about to be lifted off the ground with it. "Promise no one else will ever know what I've just told you," said Matrix before they left. 
"I would never--"
"Good, let's go. Please."

Microsoft maneuvered out of the dim Art Quarter and dashed home at full speed, the tattoo was still glowing blue on his neck like a neon sign. He whizzed between cars changing lanes and levels ignoring the warning red spots blinking on the radar. The magnetic cushion security system around the car was pushing other cars away and they tumbled aside like chubby babies. 
"A three-day permanent," muttered Mike to himself. "Damn you, Rafael."
He wanted to be mad at Rafael, but couldn't help thinking he deserved it. Rafael was indeed like a father to him, and he was using the old man again. 
When Microsoft got to his garage, he hesitated to get out of the LandHover. Arone didn't sleep, he was sure of it. He was also sure that she would want to talk. Somehow he'd managed to avoid her, but he was out of excuses, and his passion spells didn't fool her any more. 
"Brace yourself, for Chrystler's sake," he said to himself. "You'll come up with something." He stepped out heavily, came up to a shopping portal, chose a black scarf on the menu and put his SC to the payment scanner. In a minute a tight silicon package popped out of the portal and fell into a basket under it. Mike took the scarf out, through the package back into the portal and swung the scarf around his neck.

"How dare you!" yelled Rawotzki marching into his office where Sakura was waiting for him, settled comfortably in a hovering egg chair. "You could've ruined everything. What right do you have bursting like that into my house?"
"The right to do so as your sister," said Sakura very quietly which irritated Celestro even more.
"Being raised in one family doesn't make us blood relatives."
"Oh, now when you don't need me any more we've suddenly become strangers?"
"What do you want?"
"Answer me, have I been such a bad sister to you that you used me like this? I whined my parents into adopting you when the foster period was over, I helped you to enter the most prestigious university in the country, I came to your aid each time you called for me. Do you think Dad went to talk to Ford about your internship on his own initiative? Did all that mean nothing to you?"
"Should I bow down and kiss your feet? Is that your point?" Celestro stood with his back to Sakura and meddled with the wall, turning the illumination on and off.
"No, my point is, I may not be your blood and bone, but I am your sister and I love you no matter what. I will always love you even if everyone else hates you. But I'm hurt because you lied to me."
Celestro turned around, sank into another egg chair and put his feet on the table.
"I lied to you?" he said, still avoiding her eyes.
"You told me you'd messed up, did you not? You told me Microsoft had seen you and Arone and you'd had to fix things because he was your friend and she was the love of your life, right? Come on, brother, did you think I'd have a session with Mike and the truth wouldn't come out?"
"I didn't think anything, I was just fixing things."
"What things? Lester..." Sakura floated closer to him and took his face in her hands to make him look at her. "You got Mike to see you and her...on purpose. Please, don't lie to me any more. All I want to know is why."
He put his palms over her hands and slid out of her grip onto her shoulder. She stroked his hair gently.
"Lester, why?"
"I hoped...he'd leave her and she'd stay with me," he murmured into her silk bolero. 
"And she didn't?"
"She said she'd die without him. She begged me to fix things, and I did. She never loved me. She never will."
"Lester..."
"Yes?"
"What does it have to do with Ford and the mysterious plan you and Microsoft have?" 
He tensed, freeing himself from under her arms and pushing his chair away from her a little.
"I'm sorry, but I can't tell you."
"So, when you told me you had to get his memory back to help her let things go, you were lying again?"
"No, I wasn't."
"But it's not the only reason you've unblocked him?"
"It is the main reason."
"No, it's not." Sakura sounded hurt. "Have you ever told me anything that was true?"
"You are the only person I have in this world. If I lose you, nothing will have sense any more. That is true."
She closed her eyes and shook her head at him. Celestro got out of the chair and came up to her. 
"Sis, I know what I'm doing. Please, trust me and everything will be fine." He hugged her, burying his nose in her neck. "Don't turn your back on me, please. It'll kill me, if you do."

There was no light. Microsoft slinked through the hall and peeped into the room. No one seemed to be there. He entered the room and began undressing hastily in the dim white light of the bedside table. He started to take off the scarf, but then changed his mind and put it back on.
"You're home," he heard a familiar voice and spun around. She had entered the room like a ghost. 
"Yeah." He rushed to gather his clothes from the floor. 
"How was your day?"
"Long. I'm really tired, so--"
"No!" She hit the wall with her fist, and he dropped his clothes. "You may be angry with me because I kept some things from you, but it's not a reason enough to avoid me."
"I'm not avoiding you." Microsoft bend over to collect his clothes again. 
"You've been sleeping in the living-room all since the session. You're not even looking at me! Micro, look at me!"
He raised his eyes at her and tossed the clothes on the floor.
"Do you really wanna fight now?"
"Just tell me what I've done?"
"You want me to tell you what you've done? You've been lying to me, keeping things from me and now you're standing here like nothing happened."
"I'm sorry I did this, but I didn't want to confuse you, or mess up with your brain."
"And how is that working out for you?"
She blinked and her eyelashes fluttered nervously. He kicked the clothes under the bed and headed for the opening.
"Don't run away from me!" She grabbed him by the scarf. The scarf slipped off his neck and she froze, because the blue neon light glowed brightly through the dim-lit room. 
"What's this?" she asked and forced him to turn around by the shoulder. "For the love of God, Mike, what is this?"
"It's nothing." He snatched his scarf from her and put it back around his neck.
"Have you been to Rafael's? You have, haven't you. You went to Lester, didn't you? Why did you go to Lester?"
"None of your business."
"It is my business as much as yours!"
"Would you give up the project on his mansion if I told you?"
She opened her mouth but no sound came out.
"I thought as much."
"Mike, why did you go there?"
"Who are you worried about, exactly? Me getting stressed out or him getting his ass kicked?"
"What?" She opened her eyes so wide that her eyelashes brushed her eyebrows.
"Calm down, he's fine. As much as I wanted to beat the shit out of him, I didn't. Maybe you should worry why Sakura Takano would kick her way into his house and yell at him."
"Sakura? What are you talking about?"
"When we were speaking she marched in like she lived there, and she didn't look too pleased. They told me they had some business deal on updating the psy-center, but I don't buy it. And I don't care either."
He turned on his heels and went towards the living-room, followed by Arone.
"Mike, stop. Please stop, we have to talk."
"No, we don't." He locked the opening behind him leaving Arone outside the room. 
He threw himself on the sofa, face down, and stared at the fish for half an hour. Sleep wouldn't come, he turned on his back and tried staring at the dark ceiling. But the blue light reflected on the ceiling conjured up very unpleasant associations. Loneliness overcame him like never before: his father had rejected him for money, Arone felt too guilty to understand him, he himself felt too proud to tell Rawotzki he had actually missed him as a friend, he couldn't tell Mat anything, and if he talked to Rafael about all that, the man would probably tell him to suck it up. 
"I guess, I do have to suck it up," he whispered and turned around on his stomach. The fish were playing tag and he started counting them until, half an hour later, he fell asleep.