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Pure brilliant whiteness.

He regained consciousness slowly. He could feel the softness of sheets below him and putting his hands up he could feel the same softness covering him. He patted himself gingerly, was he wearing pyjamas? A nightshirt? Memory rushed back and he didn t want to try to open his eyes gingerly he patted his face, there were no bandages and he wondered if he was somehow in the Matrix.

His hand brushed against someone else and he froze. Gingerly he forced his eyelids apart and stared up at a white ceiling. He lifted his head from the pillow and looked around an all white room. White sheets, white pillowcases, white nightshirt he scowled as he looked down at himself and then he turned to the other occupant of the bed and his heart skipped a beat as he stared into the sleeping face of Trinity. The horrendous injuries she d suffered were no longer visible and she appeared to be wearing the same sort of nightshirt. Gently he pulled the edge of the sheet back to confirm that she was indeed whole. Relief swamped him in a massive wave, he turend over and gathered her up in his arms, wrapping himself around her as if he couldn t bear to let her go.

"Mmmnf," Trinity opened her eyes and stared up into his face. For a long moment they gazed at one another, Trinity hardly daring to speak. Eventually she reached up a trembling hand to touch his face, "Neo," she whispered, your eyes. And then they noticed that the connections which were a legacy from being plugged into The Matrix had vanished. They stared at themselves for a long while and then Trinity said, "I think we may be dead."

Neo smiled and bent to kiss her hairline, "We very probably are. He smiled again, Frightened?"

"Not with you," she responded, "never with you." And she kissed him. Eventually they parted and then became aware that someone else was standing at the foot of the bed. Both Neo and Trinity received an impression of puzzlement and consternation. "This is wrong! You should not be here!" the Being stared at them both.

"Why?" Trinity asked, "we're dead, aren t we?"

"But you re not supposed to be." The Being tilted its head as if listening to someone, "Yes. Yes. As you wish." Then he turned back to them, "We must get you back there is not much time. Come, we must hurry."

Neo kept hold of Trinity s hand as they raced down light-filled corridors, and while they moved the Being was talking, "We will return you whole and intact, yes even your eyes Neo. Neither of you were supposed to come here yet," he explained, "Neo, your talent for being both human and machine mean that you are the only one who can make and keep a lasting Peace. And you, Trinity," he turned to her, "must be alive to help and support him. Without you he will be lost like a leaf drifting in the breeze. Now come."

They stopped in front of a door and the Being said, "Here we must part. I wish you both well."

"What s your name?" Trinity asked

"Gabriel." He replied.

"I seem to remember an Archangel by that name." Neo mused.

"No. I too was a soldier. But these are exceptional circumstances and I was chosen because I too know how easy it would be to stay. Hurry you must go!"

Neo took Trinity's hand in his own, his mind still bubbling with questions and as he stepped through the door he turned to see Gabriel's calm, serene face watching him and heard the words Be well both of you, and do not fear. You will see me again.

He woke suddenly, his arm around someone s midriff. He shifted position slightly and almost involuntarily opened his eyes. He blinked and then realised he could see! The woman shifted in his arms and murmured, "Neo? Where are we?"

"I don t know, Trin," Neo replied, "but I'm betting that we're probably in the captain's quarters on the Logos."

She turned in his arms and he gazed at her his eyes filling with tears, "Did I ever tell you how beautiful you are?" he asked.

"You can keep on telling me," she said softly, and kissed him. Some time later as Trinity lay snuggled up against his chest, she murmured, "I think we should get up and see what s happening."

Neo stretched, "I suppose. Come on."

As they opened the door Trinity gasped and nearly leapt into Neo s arms. Hundreds of machines, scurriers and smaller workers were welding, soldering and repairing the damaged Logos. As the door opened all the machines stopped and turned towards them, an electronic whisper began and grew until the whole ship was murmuring THE ONE, THE ONE, THE ONE.

Another machine scuttled forward and Neo saw that it was carrying some sort of screen, it flickered into life and a face appeared that had identified itself as the Deus Ex Machina, WE SEE THAT YOU HAVE RETURNED. THAT IS GOOD. NOW WE REQUIRE SOMETHING.

"What do you want?" Neo asked

YOU ASKED FOR PEACE. THE ATTACK ON ZION HAS BEEN HALTED. BUT YOU MUST SPEAK FOR US

"Why?" Neo s hand tightened on Trinity s waist.

BECAUSE YOU STAND IN BOTH WORLDS. YOU WILL KNOW THE WORDS TO USE. WE ASK THIS THAT OUR RIGHTS BE RESPECTED.

"Your-" Trinity began, but Neo s hand stopped her. "Very well. I will speak for you but whatever happens, leave Zion untouched."

IT SHALL BE SO. WE WILL SEE YOU IN THE MATRIX, NEO And the creature turned and scuttled away.

"Now what do we do?" Trinity asked.

At that moment another of the smaller machines scuttled up to them, THE SHIP IS READY TO DEPART, NEO.

Neo managed a rather wan smile, "Thank you for your help."

IT IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HELP THE ONE. Came the response and Trinity eyed Neo thoughtfully. Then she shook herself, "Let s get home. At least Captain Niobe will be pleased to have the Logos back in one piece."

"Hmm," Neo responded, "it may raise more questions than answers."

"Like what happened to us?"

"That among other things. And why those machines could speak to us. And something else-" he paused and then said slowly, "they seem to have personality."

Trinity eyed him thoughtfully, "I know what you mean. Ah well. We shall see what we shall see."

Neo laughed, the first time Trinity had heard him do so in what seemed like forever, "And what will we tell them?"

Trinity shrugged, "We ll think of something."

They travelled in silence for almost two hours and then Trinity said, "Do you think it was real? What happened in that room?"

"I think it was more real than anything else, even The Matrix," Neo replied thoughtfully, "Did you notice that the Angel called us Neo and Trinity?"

Trinity was about to shake her head and then she replied, "I hadn t thought about it. Trinity was - is my real name."

An hour later Trinity began scanning for an open gate to Zion. "There appears to be only one gate open," she said turning to Neo, "Gate 3."

"Gate 3 it is then," Neo replied, settling himself more comfortably in the seat and buckling his seatbelt.

Trinity did the same and then as the gate came into view she gasped, "It s not fully open, we ll have to turn the ship."

"You can do it, Trin," Neo said quietly. "I trust you."

At Zion controls a sleepy operator was manning the station when he picked up the signal. "Commander Lock, sir!" he shouted. "There s a ship approaching. It s the Logos!"

Lock moved across to the console and looked down at the devastation, his lips tightened. "If there s any chance at all that you can contact them I suggest you try. Tell them to set down wherever there s clear space." Not as there s much of that now, he thought grimly.

"Logos, this is Zion control, come in please?" If the operator had expected there to be a delay he was disappointed because the voice that came back was clear, familiar and wonderful beyond belief.

"Zion control this is Logos. Good to hear your voice. Tell Captain Niobe we re bringing her ship home. Over."

"Logos this is Zion control. Please set down wherever you can, unfortunately we ve had a bit of an accident. As he said these words he saw the ship turn and zip through the half-open gate. Over."

"Zion control, this is Logos we can see that. Logos setting down. Good to be home. Over."

"Logos this is Zion control. Good to have you home. Zion control signing off."

Neo and Trinity stared around them at the destroyed dock. "Oh my," Trinity murmured.

"Well they re still here," Neo replied, or most of them anyway. "Let us go and see."

Neo took Trinity s hand in his own, "Are you ready?"

Trinity locked fingers with him and managed a smile, "I'm not sure we ll ever be ready again."

He smiled, the smile that always made her catch her breath, "I think we will. After all we re here to keep the peace."

Trinity nodded. Together they walked down the exit ramp to see almost the entire population of Zion standing, waiting for them. Morpheus came pushing his way through the population followed closely by Niobe and Kid. "Neo!" he cried, "You're alive. I-I-I didn't dare hope-"

"Morpheus," Neo said shaking his hand, "it' s good to see you again." Then Neo looked up to see Councillor Hamann moving through the crowd, "I believe that we owe you our lives, Neo." And then to Neo's shock and utter disbelief, he knelt and the crowd followed suit.

"Please," Neo said, "Please, get up. We are - we were soldiers. Please, do not kneel to me."

Slowly, albeit reluctantly the inhabitants rose to their feet and Neo smiled, "We have much to tell you all and some you will probably not believe-"

At that moment a number of Sentinels which had appeared inactive suddenly rose up behind the gathering of people. They turned a mixture of fascination and fear crossing their faces and then the machines spoke IT IS THE ONE, IT IS THE ONE. WE WISH TO ASSIST. WE CAN ASSIST, REPAIR, RENEW, REVISE? If Neo hadn't been listening so intently he was sure that he'd never have heard the note of pleading in the Sentinels voices.

"All right. You can help repair this," he gestured to the devastation that was the dock.

WE UNDERSTAND. YOU WILL RETURN TO SEE HOW WELL WE REPAIR, NEO?

I will return, Neo promised. He looked down at Trinity, "I think things just got considerably harder."

Trinity swallowed hard and nodded. Oh yes.