a leaf on the sea

clouds
the lazy flex of a plane-wing moved by air
more clouds
a pale and empty pre-dawn sky
dull plastic-like metal
seamless curving inner-panels in which a large transparent hyperplastic window is set
this forms the frame of Auckland’s vision
clouds – and a portion of an aircraft several tonnes in weight, hanging effortlessly thousands of feet above the ground
moving through the air

he turns his head to look at the suite
platinum class might potentially attract attention, but he’d flown platinum before under the same name he is using now
in any case, his brief visit in the net seemed to indicate that there wouldn’t be much he could do to hide them
best not start making noise for others to hear
the data surrounding himself and Cairo had been impressive, simultaneously inspiring fear and admiration
there was no stumbling about, no random sprawl of data-fishing
everything was concise, tight
intentional
he suspected that at some point he would have had an encounter of his own with the name Inverse
but triggering Cairo was enough to bring them together
perhaps that was a fact well known
the room itself measures six and a half meters square, the window one meter high and three meters wide in the gently concave fuselage wall
Cairo rests in the queen bed in the centre of the room, while Auckland sits in an armchair, diagonally facing the window
there is another armchair at the other end of the window, and two sofas at the opposing side walls
in one of the side walls there is a door to the ensuite
the wall opposite the window contains the main door, against the wall are two large wardrobes
in the space between the bed and the door, there is a table and two chairs
everything is held fast to the floor by microfield generators that can be released if the aircraft isn’t experiencing turbulence disruption
in the past Auckland had moved everything to suit his tastes
this time he had left everything where it was

Cairo sleeps because she is exhausted
prior to the flight she had been awake for the two days they had remained in his apartment
Auckland had tried staying up as much as he could
now he feels that he can’t sleep
though watching the gentle rise and fall of Cairo’s chest is quite soothing
she had asked him not to tint the window so she can wake with the sun
and now the sky brightens with its approach
Cairo’s eyes open
the ceiling is textured with hand-crafted plaster panelling, a large rosette around the light fitting
– how long did i sleep
– two hours
she turns her head to Auckland
he looks tired
– if you get up you’ll see the sun break the clouds
slowly she pulls herself up to a sitting position, gathers the covers around her body
Auckland yawns and stands up
leans his shoulder against the wall by the window, looking out
together they see it
out across the false landscape of the clouds, a tiny dot of brilliant orange appears
they squint
Auckland moves his hand to a small control panel at the window’s edge, holding off the automatic tint
he remembers doing the same thing in countless high-rise hotel rooms
greeting the sun until his eyes couldn’t bear it
he releases the control surface, and the hyperplastic slowly fades into its tint
– did you sleep
Cairo asks
he waits a moment
– no
stillness
they both continue to watch the sunrise through the darkened window
Cairo gets out of bed and walks slowly to where Auckland stands
her body moves with grace, even in her plain underwear
he tries to let himself appreciate her
it has been far too long since they had seen each-other this way
somehow his sense of infatuation is getting mixed up with his growing fear
but it isn’t the reckless lust of his youth
after all of this time he begins to see her as the woman she has become
the context of their friendship in the past has changed
has become deeper, with added meaning
he thinks back to his memories of her then, and treasures the relationship they’d had
never lovers, but close companions
it was different then
nothing could touch them
they’d had the calm confidence that comes with knowing one’s own abilities
though they’d worked together, each individual still had a greater sense of self rather than a community and the place that self had in it
it wasn’t until much later when the younger ones had joined them that they began to learn about each-other
learn more than just the talents they had for code

then Inverse happened

and somehow everything had fallen apart
it wasn’t because they weren’t skilled enough
the problems didn’t come in the form of ice and back-hacking
it had come in the form of armed-response
those in the physical world were so determined to protect or acquire that data, they simply threw more and more humans at it
that was when Kyoto had died
and Venice, so filled with grief, buried himself so much that he may as well have been dead
he had gone so far to make it look like he had died
and so far as the others knew, he had
only Cairo and himself knew
he remembers the last time they’d been together

– i’m leaving
Auckland hadn’t known what to say
they stared at each-other
then Cairo spoke
– what about Seoul?
another pause
it wasn’t a normal conversation
and like everything else, it felt so wrong
– i’m sorry
– Venice…
– i’m sorry Cairo – for you too – i’m…
Auckland remained quiet the whole time
it was as if anything that had ever been in his control
anything he thought he could influence or effect change on
had been totally stripped away from him
a leaf floating on the surface of the sea of fate
– where will you go
Cairo asked
he’d looked away from them then, and Auckland new that Venice was blaming himself
even though they all knew it was no-one’s fault
– the land of the dead
he turned around and walked away
Auckland had never seen him since

is he losing it again
he keeps asking himself the question, over and over again
but it’s different this time
he’s grown so much since then
he keeps his fear in check by examining what little facts are known
the nodes in the net
the way in which things are happening
the lack of any clear and direct threat
it feels different

and there’s Cairo

she stands before him in the dim light of the darkened window
her neutral face shows concern
and what Auckland thinks is a hesitant look of hope

he slowly lifts his hand to her face
lets it hover there, as if asking permission
she moves forward
closing her eyes as they touch