“But can you blame me, young man?” Raphael threw up his hands. “My whole life, I’ve had a purpose. The successful businessman, the man all women secretly desire. And now I’m thrown into this strange world – quantum-yeeted, as you would say – and suddenly, I am… no one.” He swallowed hard, lowering his voice. “Yes, I still have the looks. I still have the brain. I want to believe I have it in me to become successful again, but where do I start? Yesterday, I spent some time researching business ideas, but when I went to the bank to request a loan… what did they tell me?” He snorted, visibly upset. “They told me they couldn’t give me one without identification. Can you imagine! I, Raphael, need to identify myself – as if my previous virtual life meant nothing.”
We fell silent. The soft techno and laughter suddenly seemed louder.
“Fake IDs,” I muttered, more to myself than to the others. Feeling their stares, I glanced up, and explained: “We should get Lucie and you fake IDs. We can buy them on the dark web. The process is quite expensive, since identities are stored and connected online these days… but they will help you fit in with this world.”
“Fake IDs,” Raphael repeated slowly, a big frown forming on his face. “So we can pretend to be human.”
I nodded hesitantly.
“What does it mean to be human?” He stared down at his hands. “Who even am I if not Raphael, the self-made billionaire?”
Lucie swallowed a big bite of fungi and sat down on Raphael’s other side, hesitantly putting a hand on his arm.
Joey straightened his collar. He seemed at a rare loss for words.
“Well, if anything, you can think of this as an opportunity.” He flashed his friend a hesitant smile. “Yes, you do have to start from scratch, and I can’t even imagine what you’re going through – out here in a new world, with everything you knew taken from you. But at least you have the chance to build something real. Something entirely yours, not programmed.”
Raphael stayed silent for a few moments. He nodded slowly, pursing his lips together – a movement that further highlighted his sharp cheekbones.
“Perhaps you are right.” He answered Joey’s smile with one of his own, and my friend’s cheeks colored instantly. “I must admit, it is nice seeing a friendly face around.”
“Alright.” I softly cleared my throat when we’d all ordered, my stomach twisting at the thought of what I was about to say. “So, euhm, there’s something you guys should know.”
“What is the plan now?” Lucie interrupted. She grabbed one of the pencils from the table and started sketching the outline of an outfit on the tablemat, ignoring Elyssa’s mumbled protests. “We came here to discuss plans, right? Take down those motherfuckers.” She grimaced, a slight hint of fear crossing her face – as always when her parent company was brought up.
“Yes.” Joey’s jaw clenched as he sat up straighter, exchanging a glance with Raphael. “So, Raphael and I have been talking. Unfortunately, as Raphael doesn’t know much more than we do…”
“Wait a second,” Lucie interrupted, a slow grin spreading across her face as she gestured between the two men with the pencil. “Are you two living together?”
Now, they both blushed – unmistakably. Joey’s cheeks nearly turned the same red as his hair, and Raphael almost choked on his drink.
“Raphael is staying in the guestroom,” Joey said weakly. “We’re friends. Like Elyssa and you.”
Lucie pressed her lips together in a failed attempt to keep a straight face. “But I never have to clarify that Elyssa and I are just friends.”
“Lucie, how about we let them mind their own business?” Elyssa said gently, flashing the flustered men an apologetic smile. I couldn’t help but admire her – she always seemed to know just what to say in every situation. I’d taught myself to interpret non-verbal cues through years of intense field research, but appropriately replying to them was a whole other skill. “So, back to Qonexis. What were you going to say?”
“Well,mysuggestion was just to let things rest for now, since I almost died last time we tried to interfere.” Joey shot me a cold look. I lowered my eyes. “But unfortunately, Raphael…”
“My honor has been tainted.” Raphael sat up straighter. “My honor has been tainted, both by Zafyra and this damned company. Furthermore, I am launched into this world with no purpose, no business, no job, not even an identity. So if I so need to get this fake ID…” He visibly shuddered at the thought, “then why don’t I apply for a job at Qonexis? Find out their secrets they didn’t bother to tell me. It’s my right to know.”
A loaded silence fell.
“Raph, it’s too dangerous.” Joey frowned. “What if they recognize you?” He paused. “And besides, how do you even suppose this will go? Morgan and I worked for this company as freelancers, and we learned little to nothing.”
“Not to mention stupid,” Lucie said matter-of-factly, putting the pencils down to glance around the group. “I know something more efficient. I could just hack the whole thing.”
Elyssa’s eyes widened. “Lucie…”
“What?” the girl snapped, hands balling into fists. “They literally designed me to be a fucktoy for men. I think I deserve revenge for what they let Gavin do to me.” She spat out the name.
Doubt crossed Elyssa’s face. Her helpless eyes found mine.
“Guys, there’s something you need to know.” I squeezed my eyes shut. “I was going to tell you, I promise I was. But then we were all here having conversations about eating decorative mushrooms and needing identification for loans, and she only called me half an hour ago, just while I was walking out of the door, so I…”
“She?!” Raphael’s eyes widened. “What do you mean, she?”
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” Joey shot up in his chair as if stung by a bee.
