ATELIER /MIAMI-MARSEILLE SIMALCRUM /PRIVATE CHAIN /GREY VERSE

The Ledger followed the course given by the Riva's nav display, straight to a hybrid of Miami and Marseille.

The city was a cluster of mountain-tall wildflowers of glass and nano, its foothills were rows of water-front hotels and multi-colored houses, skirted by anchored ships and beaches.

The simalcrum's ochre sunset had just begun. A golden city.

"We're going back to where I woke up, not knowing who I was.

Not exactly. We're going to a copy of where I woke up."

The Ledger piloted the Riva to an empty dock.

A dockdrone attached a line, the Ledger's card slowly rose from the hub of the steering wheel, and the Riva's nav display melted back into the mahogany dashboard. After grabbing the card, the Ledger helped the Artist step off the Riva, onto the dock.

"You said, 'they', who's 'they'? You owe me," said the Artist.

"I do owe you. I woke up one last time in the Verse after arrangements were made. It's where I was, before I used the card, which I left for myself, and went to your studio.

The place we're going to is reconfigured into almost the same as my home but it's in a simalcrum hosted in this part of the Grey."

The Ledger hailed a cab, and opened the door for the Artist.
"L'Atelier de Mémoire... Studio of Memory..." he said to the cab.

The Artist sat back, looked through a seethrough roof, and spoke.

"Let me draw a picture, that's what I do after all.

You were in the Verse. You were who you were but then arrangements were made, including temporary 'amnesia'. Then, you left yourself a special card and came to my studio.

You got the zero proofs right to make sure you could airdrop your packet right into my favorite studio's node, and you made it interesting enough for me to start your memory portrait."

I'm still waiting for why you did this. Who's 'they'?"

And, just who are you?

"I'm the Ledger for one of the largest of Earth's great Houses, the Space Cooperative. I am part of the world's financial memory.

I've ported myself, my home, my memory of my 'portrait' over here, to keep it out of the hands of dangerous reckless people.

All the worlds of the Carbons is in danger, including the Verse."

The Artist took in the Ledger's answer, and before she could say another word, the cab stopped in front of one the city's towers.

"We're here. Almost done with the beginning. Let's get started."