Back to the stool. It's nice to have something between her and the "base gel" and... Well let's start with the nails, shall we? Fingers are still impecable, pink and healthy looking - no sign of black at all despite the showering - so on to the toes. She picks up the pen object, "Hello again, little pen. You wouldn't happen to have a Help system built in, would you?"

           The pen is heavier than she expected, chrome by the looks of it, though she's getting used to avoiding assumptions. Like a perfectly formed featureless missile the object has no discerning marks. One end is fatter than the other but that's about as curious as it gets.

           Suddenly a small voice speaks, but not from the pen. This voice exists directionlessly within Cadeyna's ears, as if transmitted through headphones. The voice differs from that of the shower cubicle help as well. This one has a friendly, lilting quality to it, "Hello User," it says, quite unexpectedly, "your print patterns match those of my allocated user information. I have great pleasure in introducing myself to you. I am your personal Simpad, version twenty three thousand two hundred and three point six, based on model personal Simpad version twenty three thousand two hundred and three point five. My specifications will run once. Please request specifications in future if you require them, I will not run them again on start up. Specifications, Personal Simpad version twenty three thousand two hundred and three point five, universal user allocated personal information and operations simbiotic nacropic pad linked to specific user ident two three three nine eight seven one one two three nine eight two four one variable non-indigenous."

           Guess that would be me, thinks Cadeyna. She certainly /feels/ non-indigenous.

           "Please note, all simbiotic nacropic pad design, construction and implementation within the Biotropolis arena complies with all twelve certification requirements of the social spectrographic directive signed and confirmed by Director J class Tao Phengor of the classified board of overseers on behalf of Director A class Great Founder Stephane Wakotami of the original board."

           Those two again, hmm? Then she notices something in the mirror and looks up. The pinkish spot on her head seems to be pulsing, as though a bulb were being dimmed then lit inside her brain.

           "Please wait while full link operation is uploaded... thankyou, full link operation is uploaded." The pinkish spot stops its gradual strobe. Cadeyna feels a slight buzzing sensation in her hand and looks back down at the pen.

           "Do you wish to run startup now?" The voice asks and then falls silent.

           "Alright," blinks Cadeyna, taken short by the sudden question. "I was thinking of doing my nails first, but sure." She settles more confortably on the stool. "Do I have to do anything?"

           "Yes," the voice in her ears says, "Startup requires that you answer some questions. Would you like to give me a name user? If so please state the name. Once that is done please tell me your name. I will then begin startup."

           Another voice calls out on the other side of the closed wall, "Cadeyna? Hello? Are you okay in there?" Max is back.

           "Have a seat, I'll be ready in a minute!" she says, loud enough to be heard. A name for the pen, a name... "I'll call you... Luziana, since you're suppossed to light the way ahead." Yes, that will do nicely. "Nice to meet you, Luziana, I'm called Cadeyna. Could we do my nails and my eyebrows while we talk?"

           "Shall we continue with the startup first Cadeyna? Then I'll see to your nails and eyebrow."

           Bossy little machine. "I can multitask, you know."

           "So can I, Cadeyna. When startup is complete you will get the maximum benefit from using me."

           "Fine." Stuck on other people's schedule again.

           "Simpad version twenty three thousand two hundred and three point six has full psychopositelemetric capablities, would you like to activate all psychopositelemetric capabilities Cadeyna? This will allow you to interact with me by thought as well as, or instead of, by spoken voice."

           "I..." she begins.

           "I have to pop out again Cadeyna," Max calls out, "take your time, there's no rush. I'll be back in a few minutes. Don't forget to use the dispenser if you want some food or drink while I'm away. See you soon."

           He's really very impatient. She was going to be ready in a minute... well maybe five or ten, but not that long in any event. "Do you have any idea what he does around here?" She whispers down to the pen, still frowning at imaginary Max through the closed door.

           "Hold on," the pen says, then, "Max is an Invertebrate Simbot councellor for the Tropolian Institute of Rejuvination Studies."

           "Oh... So he isn't human?" Somehow she isn't surprised... a bit disapointed though. "Invertebrate seems a bit harsh," she chides. "You haven't even met him yet."

           "It's an accurate description, Cadeyna. Max is an Invertebrate Simbot. He has no vertebrae, his body is constructed from pure silicon smart gel, his intellect contained within fourteen billion internal nanobotic biosomes which keep the smart gel in a consistent state. They are his spine, though they are also his brain, his heart and every other organ associated with human physiology." A short pause, "His duties include monitoring the well being of the four revival subjects and ensuring their safe integration into the Biotropolis Realm. He has other duties too Cadeyna, but I don't have access permission to the relevant archives. I've detected various restrictive caps on my links with Biotropolis Cadeyna. Some of them have been engaged by the Tropolian Institute of Rejuvination Studies and some of them have been engaged by Tropolis. I'm afraid I'm not operating at full capacity at the moment. It's really rather bothersome... Shall we continue with startup now Cadeyna?"

           "Sure, sure... Tropolis is the city, right? So the mayor is paying for all this?" Important people always tend to make her nervous. You're litteraly surrounded by them at openings and if you're not, you're actually supposed to seek them out! They're more uncle... something's friends, really, and...

           "No Cadeyna. The city is called Biotropolis," Luziana says. Is that testiness in her voice? "Tropolis is the heart of the city. She is the mind body and soul of the Realm - a district that spans seven worlds and thirteen moons. I will answer your second query. No, Tropolis is not paying for your treatment and care under the Tropolian Institute of Rejuvination Studies. Cadeyna, I will be able to help much more if we continue with startup then tackle your queries afterwards. My data indicates you are a non-indigenious user. Please forgive me, but that explains your lack of understanding. If you tell me where you are from I will be able to key more accurately into your thoughts and understand more of your culture, society and perspective. Oh... please wait." The voice falls silent.

           Cadeyna drums her fingers impatiently. This is a lot of trouble to get her nails done.

           "I am encountering a special advisory cell within my data. Yes. Oh. That's interesting. You're from Earth, but not the present day. How curious. This must be a most intriguing experience for you." The pen pauses, "oh dear. Yes. I understand now. No need to speak for a moment Cadeyna, I am just keying into the link pad - that's the thought transference monitor on your forehead. Once I'm fully uploaded I'll be able to interact some more. Sorry for any inconvenience but I'll have to shut down temporarily while I recalibrate. Would you like to listen to some music or watch some holo-tri while you wait?"

           "What I'd like to know is what you're doing, exactly." interupts Cadeyna, showing off her own testiness. "It's my head and you're supposedly my pad, so I think I should know these things before you follow some advisory cell without so much as asking me about it." She didn't like the sound of that "oh dear" one little bit.

           "Recalibrating," Luziana responds, "personal Simpads are usually allocated to Biotropolians at age four Cadeyna. They have the lifespan of their user to become acquainted with their user's thought patterns, lifestyle, knowledge and abilities. I have encountered a data cell with information on you and from this information I have learned that you are already a fully grown adult and not indigenious to the Biotropolis realm which makes the normal startup routine innapropriate. Therefore, for me to serve you to my best ability I need to visit your mind and learn all I can so that I can aid you in understanding what, at present, you do not understand. This will avoid my confusing you with information only a Biotropolis citizen would know. It will also allow me to know how best and when I can help you with your daily life. This recalibration is a standard issue Simpad reboot usually used when a Simpad is issued to a non-human or non-Biotropolian lifeform. However, it will take me a short while to recalibrate myself and there are several imposed restrictions on how I may and may not be of service to you at this time. The restrictions will elongate the time it takes for me to recalibrate Cadeyna. The restrictions seem to be within a time lapse data cell implanted in your link pad so eventually they will lift and I will be able to operate at full capacity. As I said, its rather bothersome for both of us, but once I've had a chance to upload the full data cell in its entirety I'll understand why the restrictions are in place. It seems you are an extremely special individual - the data cell I have encountered is very large and extensive and contains information only usually encountered when a Simpad is connected to a new lifeform. Such a data cell has not been encountered by a Simpad in three hundred and fifty two years, six months and two days, so please forgive me if this takes a while, I will need to call up and link to old archive databases which may have been inactive for some time. Please do not be concerned. There are no problems that I cannot take care of. I may even be able to cojoin a few loopholes and avoid the restrictions, once I've studied the data cell in full of course and am personally confident my actions won't endanger your health. My recallibration will allow me to know you as you know yourself which will make us compatible on many more levels than exist before startup is complete. For example, you will not need to tell me how you wish your nails to look, I will know from your current personal tastes which designs, colours and styles might appeal, as I have over sixty eight million one thousand nine hundred and twenty five different fingernail and toenail designs on file I hope you can see how this will be useful. Please be patient Cadeyna while I endeavour to continue my recalibration."

           "Couldn't I just ask for what I don't understand? I don't mean to be difficult, you know, but looking into my head..." How can she frame it so Luziane understands? "It's... It's driving with the windows blocked and the stereo on full when you could walk. So what if you don't know everything about me? We've only just met... I certainly don't know everything about you." She nods to herself, it's a bit awkward but the sense seems to be coming through. "So I think we should walk. Forget this startup thing and talk with /me/... Please?"

           The pen pauses, then "Very well, though I cannot emphasise enough how difficult this will be without startup. What, for example, is 'driving with the windows blocked'? and I don't understand your reference to dual sound. Without startup I am bereft of senses Cadeyna. Just as you might find it hard to understand me without your ears or your eyes I am going to find it infinitely difficult to make sense of our interactions without recalibration. But I serve you and if this is what you wish then I concede to your wishes. Startup and recalibration aborted."

           Cadeyna smiles, relieved. She's gotten through! "That's what makes knowing somebody else worth the time... and it's not like I'm closing the door forever or anything. We can..."

           "Hello?" Max's voice again. "Cadeyna. I'm back. I'll just wait for you out here. Everything's ok I take it?"

           "Everything is fine!" she lies, feeling guilty for denying her pen. She came on too strong, much too strong. Too... bossy. Cadeyna bites her lower lip, thinking. "What... what if we did what you usually do for four year olds? Would that be alright?"

           "No," the Simpad says, "you are not four years old, Cadeyna. It would be inappropriate and I would not be able to correctly serve you."

           That testy tone again. Luziana and her seem doomed to agravate each other. "Well what would you suggest?"

           "I would suggest startup and recalibration... But I am here to serve you Cadeyna, so already I concede to avoid this necessity."

           Cadeyna wrinkles her nose. "It's not a contest, you know." As the pen remains silent she continues, feeling increasingly at fault. "You're the expert so come on, advise me. Isn't there anything between nothing at all and... recalibration?" Even the name speaks of wrenches twisting stubborn bolts inside her head.... Not for her!

           "Perhaps," Luziana says, "you are encountering the same problems with me as I with you, a lack of real understanding as to how I work, how I operate, what motivates me. My suggestion would be to present you with a holo-di archived documentary more able to explain the concept and purpose of a Simpad than I can. Would that help do you think Cadeyna?"

           "Yes, definitively!" At last some cooperation. Her smile fades as quickly as it appeared, "It's going to have to be a bit later on though," she apologizes. "Oh not too long, but I'm supposed to meet somebody and Max is waiting... That just gives you time to digest my data cell, right? Maybe add a little section on the differences between what's usualy done and what the cell wants you to do? That would be nice."

           "Not your data cell Cadeyna. It is not in your head. I suspect this is what you think. The cell is in the KK-loop set, along with all the rest of your personal data. Yes, I will endeavour to digest the cell and I will prepare a brief explanation of what is usually done and what the cell prevents."

           "Thank you." She hadn't even thought about the cell's location... "Let's forget the nails and just do the eyebrows. How do I go about it?"

           "Touch the narrow tip of the Simpad to your eyebrows Cadeyna. Here is a mirror for your convenience." Out comes the branch, less and less wierd each time it puts in an unexpected appearance. A small round mirror fizzes into existence at the tip of the branch and Cadeyna makes to pluck it from the air.

           "No need Cadeyna," Luziana interjects, "I will hold it for you." The mirror floats through the air and hovers in front of Cadeyna's face, now sheeny and glowing after her warm shower. Her hair looks nice now, less frizzy but it lacks braids she thinks. Must sort that out.

           She touches the narrow end of Luziana to her eyebrows one by one. Extra to requirement hair simply vanishes from her face leaving her with perfectly sculpted, if a little overly plucked, eyebrows. Even this small difference makes her face appear more tidy. Pity about the bruises under her eyes, like she's been working non-stop for days on end, not to mention the hollowness of her cheeks. She's lost weight, no doubt about that. But she kind of likes her new lithe figure, though a bit more tone wouldn't go astray. The starved super waif look never did much for her personally.

           "How's that?" Luziana asks, "how much do you know about cosmetic enhancement Cadeyna? Are you fully aware of the various services I can offer in terms of personal appearance? I apologise for asking but without the appropriate knowledge missing from startup I do not know what you know and what you do not know. Would you like me to give you a list of the fundamental personal appearance services Cadeyna? I note also from your physical attributes that you are approximately five pounds under ideal weight and lacking in various essential minerals and vitamins. Perhaps I could figure a dietary plan for you? This is a standard Simpad service for Biotropolians. Bad health can lead to physical and psychological difficulties Cadeyna. If you agree I will endeavour to work out a stage plan for recuperating your physical well being to optimum levels. I note that your bio-suit is not in place. If you wear your biosuit Cadeyna I can also monitor your internal health situation and repair any problems I encounter."

           Cadeyna has drifted off into her own thoughts somewhere around 'appropriate knowledge'... "Hm? Getting dressed. Right... Say, Luziana, what if you found out all you could about where I come from? Wouldn't that solve things nicely?" She stretches the neck of her new suit, aiming her feet into the holes.

           "I will search the archives." That little pause again, the one saying there's a but just around the corner. "But if I recalibrate I can learn all I need to know from you Cadeyna. Your mind holds all the necessary information on your past, your lifestyle and your personality."

           "...and that's exactly why I don't want you to peek." The suit is pliant, it stretches to extreme size without losing any of its opacity. Soon she has her legs inside the suit and then the rest of her body. It smells fresh, as though recently washed. "Stop concentrating on the destination and think of the journey... Besides," she smiles. "a woman should be allowed her mysteries."

           "I will search the archives Cadeyna."

           Pouting again... Well fine! "You do that. You do that diet and exercise thing too and as for makeup," She peeks at the grey one. "Let's go with a natural look. No bags under the eyes and healthy looking skin." she specifies, not wanting to end up with bark skin and green hair.

           Outside the shower Cadeyna hears the sound of music. A soft classical rythm, orchestral yet at the same time synthetic. The steady pulse of a gentle drum beat resounds under the lilting tune and an ethnic (African?) female voice, reminiscent of operatics, warbles quietly in the background. It's a nice kind of sound but not particularly attractive to Cadeyna. She assumes Max is passing the time with some music.

           "No problem at all," Luziana says. "Please pick me up." She left Luziana on the stool while she got dressed.

           The pen seems to vibrate in her hand as soon as she grasps it. Slowly a wash of bronze colour spreads from the fingertips clutching the object and up her hand, under the sleeve of the suit. A strange rippling warmth passes along the length of her arm, over her torso, tingling up her neck and around her face, simultaneously down her stomach, legs and feet. She looks in the mirror and sees the healthy colouring spreading across her features like a shadow - but an attractive shadow. The grey under her eyes blends in and disappears, her skin takes on a lustrous shine, as though recently treated to a four day spate at a health farm and all the various oils, face masks, conditioners and facial invigorations that entails. Her lips take on colour, though nothing extravagant. A subtle flesh hue with a glossy finish that catches the light in a perfect way. Her dark eyes are treated to varying understated tones that bring out the natural sparkle in her pupils. When the effect is finished she looks... well.. fantastic!

           "Now that's very... practical." Cadeyna smiles to her mirror-self, very pleased. "Can you do the nails from there?" She plucks the brush from its patiently waiting branch and goes about straightening her hair. Maybe a hair clip? No, a horse tail. Simple and practical. "Help, I don't need the stool anymore." It's rather in the way, as a matter of fact. The shower isn't that big.

           The stool fizzles away as Luziana responds, "Certainly I can do your nails. We are linked now. I can operate any function relating to your physical appearance provided I am near enough to hear your spoken commands. Could you let me know what sort of nail decoration would suit your tastes?"

           "Just file the edge smoothe and color them a nice 'healthy nail' color." Might as well go understated all the way. "...with the same finish I have on my lips." A little shine never hurt anybody.

           She's about to order a hair tie when she almost walks on something lying where the stool once stood, something green and belonging in a butcher shop... "Forgot all about you, green heart. What are you anyway?" No answer seems to be forthcoming from the heart itself, a rarety in this land of talking showers. "Luziana?"

           "It is called a KK-loop set," Luziana replies, "it has many and varied uses, though the most common include energy sourcing, emcomms, sensory perception alteration and emphasis, bubble-life comms, telomerasetics informational uploads, MDP projection, personal nanocrop farming, personal nanoribosome containment, Biotropolian navigation and personal data filing. The KK-loop set is inoperable at present, though it is activated. It cannot be used by you until I have completed startup and recalibration."

           "Well back to the closet it goes, then." Luziana is taking out the carrots now, smiles Cadeyna. Well she's not likely to be bribed with things she's never heard of before, now is she? Nanocrops be damned, Cadeyna only sells her soul for welding torches and the love of a good man! Smiling to herself, she looks in the mirror. "I'll need a hair tie, please. Black or maybe dark oiled leather?"

           "Hair tie," Luziana repeats, "I have three matches for hair tie. I think you want a restraining band for your hair, but if not the other matches are easy to list: a) hare tie: looped leather strap used by huntsmen for the purposes of suspending and carrying captured rabbits and hares over their shoulder. B) heirteye: unsourcable Bubble-life term meaning veil or hat worn during funeral ceremonies."

           "The first one... but not a band, just a strip that I can tie myself... About this long?" She holds out her hands to the desired length. Maybe a ready made tie or a barrette would have been better after all. She hasn't Gritta's knack for extravagant knots...

           It doesn't turn out so bad though. She ties the first knot tighly, twists the two strands together and then wraps them round multiple times. The final securing could be a little tighter but hopefully it won't come undone. She leaves a few strands curling artisticaly over her ears and down her forehead. Very... sporty, but a good sign. She looks ready to explore the place from top to bottom.

           Something is missing... Earings? Bracelets? No. She wriggles her fingers. Ring, she's missing her wedding ring! So she is married after all, thoughts about undressing in company notwithstanding -- unless they're still newlyweds? That's... possible. She can't remember his face, which is rather troubling. No name floats to the surface... She does remember a smell, but the image that goes with it is that of the younger man, the one with greasy hands and a tickling beard. She isn't married to him, she's pretty sure...

           It will come back to her eventually. "Can I get a wedding ring or is that above the cubit limit?"

           The smell won't be dismissied that easily however. Once released it starts pulling and unraveling. Remembered... things tumble down, like dry brown leaves falling from a branch but snatched up on the wind, too quick and erratic to catch. It's the same man but older. No, another, a grim faced man with a heavy jaw... something ticks in her ear... a clock?... it's cold, like autumn. Shadows filter through gaps between the blades of a rotating fan... somewhere something mechanical clatters into motion... sharp suits and fast cars. Blood money.

           "Network of Blood" she says out loud, startled by the involuntary nature of the moment and the words. Her gorge rises. This is really scarry.

           "Unlock the door!" Her voice is not very steady. "I'm done here." She strides out, speeding up to go past the mouth. She isn't done, she's running away. Almost forgotten, the strangeness closes in and threatens to strangle her where she stands.