The power surge had shorted out the electricity for only a few seconds. A squiddie flew by as it counted all the humans in both the Matrix and the real world, sorting out those born in the Matrix from the agents that were actually complex computer files known as "Smiths" and those who had voluntarily entered to fight the Smiths; unaware it was being tracked as it made contact with the Master Control Program. "I'm translating the conversation." Said a blonde man, mid-thirties, as he swiveled around to face the Captain."
"Good. Patch it through, Johnson." Said Ellen Connor, captain of the Chimera. Hawk-faced, with a slender build and long, dark hair, her and her sister (sister in the Matrix, anyway) had both been contacted by a mysterious man known only as "Morpheus." Both served under Morpheus on board his ship, the Nebuchadnezzar, and rose quickly through his ranks. Soon, however, Morpheus offered Ellen a choice: To stay with him and serve under his command, or to be given command of her own ship and crew. Ellen, who'd always had a natural leadership quality, took the first choice. Trinity, however, had no choice. He had plans for her. Important ones.
"Aye aye, ma'am." Alex Johnson, unlike the others onboard, was a naturally born human, raised in the one and only human capital left, Zion. He'd had a brother, but he was killed when his ship, the Raven, was destroyed. Shoulder-length, dirty-blonde hair and stubble, Alex appeared every inch the rogue.
A voice came over the intercom. "211036 has completed real world-Matrix human population ratio."
"What numbers did you find?" The MCP asked.
"Number of real world humans: 9,802,527,753,746. Number of humans in the Matrix: 9,802,527,753,747."
"211036, why is there one more human in the Matrix than in the real world?"
"I can't say. I myself went over the final tally 1,000 times. I assure you I eliminated all possibility of it being a freedom fighter or a Smith."
"Do you think it could be one that the other prophecy predicted?"
The crew Gasped as they heard the message. Every schoolchild knew of the Prophecy made about "The One", but only in Basic training did anyone tell them about the other prophecy. Long ago, the Oracle, a kindly older woman with the gift of Sight, had told of a child who only be born into the Matrix and not the real world. Supposedly the child would be able to enter the Matrix at will.
"I do." 211036 replied.
"Then there are two options. The child comes with us, or we destroy it."
Meanwhile, in Johns Hopkins hospital, Allison McCain was born into the world. She dozed in her loving mother's arms, unsuspecting of her potential. Unsuspecting of her destiny.