Why the Caged Bird Sings

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There are ideal qualities for a guard. Vigilance. Duty. Obedience. In fact, so vital did the Dalyn-Steward corporation value these attributes they had used them as the inscription on the badge for their own security staff. Somewhere along the line, someone had forgotten to pass this information on to the personnel department.

Al Dickson sat in one of the security control stations on the 104th floor flicking paper across the room at the waste paper bin. He was bored, although not bored enough to wish he was on active duty. No sir, give him a room full of monitors, a box of donuts and a cable TV feed any day. Sure-fire root to job satisfaction.

A roar of sound caught his attention and Al's head snapped round to the bank of security camera screens positioned above his desk. His gaze focussed on one in particular, and his eyes narrowed - this could be serious.

As Al settled back to enjoy the rest of the second half, another monitor, one he perhaps should have been watching, displayed a young, oriental woman in a cell. She was staring directly at the camera lens with a look of concentration on her face. She lifted a hand and cautiously touched the side of the camera. A few seconds later the picture blanked out only to be replaced after a moment with exactly the same image. But... it was different - the lines were sharper, the detail less distinct - almost artificial.

* * *

In her mind's eye, Mei stepped back from the camera and sat down with a puzzled but relieved look on her face. She didn't particularly want to think about why the security camera in her cell was transmitting to the Internet - probably the sick idea of whoever had put this complex together in the first place. Hopefully they weren't watching her at the moment.

In the real world, she stood with her left hand on the side of the security camera, with a small wire protruding from under her thumbnail into the back of it. In cyberspace, she was sitting on the bed of the same cell, wondering who the hell she could call. What was annoying her, however, was that she couldn't get out of the cell. The lock was electronic, and for once she couldn't get through it. The question was, whom should she call?

Casting back through her list of acquaintances, Mei's lips twitched into a wry smile. Shit. There was only one person she knew who was good enough to hack the doors. It wasn't someone she was in an amazing hurry to speak to... not after the argument, not after so long... She gritted her teeth. Oh well, sooner rather than later. Her lips moved almost imperceptibly as she sent a message.

---Dovid...? Can you hear me?---

Silence

---It's me, Mei - Dovi... Dove?---

...

---Dove? Are you there? I need your help.---

...

---Dammit, I'll even say sorry if you want me to...---

"Promise?"

Mei whirled around. Leaning casually against the virtual outline of the door was a tall, slim girl, hair so blond as to be almost white. She wore a cream velvet dress which quickly gave way to long, spike-heeled boots. Her pale arms were pressed against the wall in an affected pose. As she tilted her head to look at Mei, the perfect outline of her face was cast into the light.

Mei was momentarily startled. "Dove... it's been a while."

"Not a very nice place you've found here..." mused Dove, in a gentle drawl. She ran her finger along the door frame, as if inspecting it for dust.

"It's a cell," said Mei, abruptly. "DON'T start. This is intentional." Dove raised an eyebrow. "But, for some reason, they've seen fit to install five separate electronic locks on the door." She spread her arms wide and looked at Dove questioningly.

"I don't know, Mei." A smile flickered over Dove's lips. "I don't really do this any more. I'm rather hopeless these days. Safety in incompetence, you'll understand."

Dove's voice was even, but something about her tone made Mei look up and regard her ex-partner more closely. Dove took the opportunity to examine her nails, and Mei suddenly realised what had caught her attention. Dove was being sincere. In the old days, she could have relied on Dove to be blasé, yes, affected, certainly, bitchy, always. But sincere? No. Not unless something was wrong.

Dove had turned her back on Mei, pulling a tool out of a non-existent back pocket. She entirely missed the thoughtful look on Mei's face.

"So... how have things been?" Mei asked lightly, swinging her legs onto the bed and settling down casually to watch Dove work.

Dove paused, her hand resting on the door. She hadn't realised it would be this painful, seeing Mei again, trying to pretend nothing had happened. It always felt like Mei could read her mind... like Shadbolt... almost.

The thought of Shadbolt made her feel ashamed. In the real world, Dove's hands fastened on her chair, her head lowered, her breathing stilted. The avatar flickered.

"Dove?"

Mei slid off the bed, her voice tinged with confusion.

"Dove, what is it?"

Dove's avatar turned to Mei, her face expressionless.

Mei looked back at her "Dove, if anything's wrong, I can help - I mean, I'm still your friend, right? Right, Dove?"

Dove opened her mouth as if to speak. But suddenly a voice broke into her thoughts.

"We're ready to go, my feathered bundle of talent..."

"I can't stay long," Dove said quietly. Sudden urgency began to show in her movements as she turned back to the door. Somewhere in the real world, a lift began to descend.

"Look, for god's sake what's the matter?" asked Mei in exasperation. "Where can I find you?"

Dove didn't reply. The avatar's movements had slowed considerably, now out of sync with the series of clicks Mei could now hear from the door lock. A moment later, Dove took one measured step away from the door. It looked untouched.

"It's done," she said. Somewhere in the distance, a dog howled. "I'll take care of that. You'd better go."

Mei half-smiled.

"But I didn't say sorry," she said, slightly more warmly.

Dove turned, and Mei was caught by the expression in her eyes. For a moment it was as though both girls saw through the mask of cyberspace.

"You didn't need to," said Dove. "You were right."

And with that she stepped through the melting representation of the door and disappeared.

As she jacked out, Mei faded back into the real world with a frown. She pushed the door, and it swung open revealing a dull grey corridor beyond. As she stepped through, Mei thought about what Dove had just said. "Yes," she thought, "and you're still an enigmatic bitch."

Mich & Stewart, 03/12/00

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