"Neo, come on, wake up," Trinity whispered. She lay there, firmly
clasping his pale hand. They had been in the real world grueling three
days. The siege that had endangered the very heart of Zion was temporarily
abated. But only temporarily, the deadly threat still lay there, waiting,
simply waiting for the slightest sign of weakness. In this moment of great
peril, an unacknowledged leader had arisen. Neo had become the community's
motivation, their only light, their only hope. And yet there he lay,
oblivious to his city's and Trinity's continual pleas.
"I know you're in there...please, wake up." Trinity waited, hoping for a response. She glanced at rest of the ship's patients. One of the Hammer's technicians held a bed across the room, but he was not the one that worried Trinity. She had an uneasy feeling about Bane, a citizen of Zion she that she had never been fond of. But lately, he seemed even more alienated somehow.
Hearing approaching footsteps, Trinity shook herself out of such thoughts. It was time to go. Commander Locke had ordered that only the specified doctors were allowed to visit the infirmary for 'security measures'. Naturally, Trinity ignored the commander's wishes and came to see Neo whenever the doctors were away. As farewell, she planted one small kiss on Neo's pale lips.
"Hey," Neo quietly muttered, weakly returning the kiss. Startled, Trinity tumbled backward into a trashcan. Neo smiled at Trinity, who was now covered with garbage. Nervously running his hand through his hair, he continued, "Back there... I don't know what I did or how I did it..."
Trinity stared at him, not fully comprehending what had just transpired. Suddenly rushing at Neo, she fully embraced him. "Neo..." she exclaimed between kisses. Neither of the happy couple noticed when Morpheus walked through the doorway.
"Neo! You're up!" he exclaimed, "And not a moment to spare. We're almost there-"he stopped suddenly, realizing the what Neo and Trinity were doing. Giving a polite cough, "Am I interrupting something? And Trinity, you have a banana peel in your hair"
Trinity quickly removed the offending parcel. Neo ducked his head and hastily changed the subject, "What's this fantastic news?"
"I figured out how we can defeat the Matrix from the real world. It's all right here in this book, I found it was in one of the pods we disabled."
Neo looked a Morpheus, surprised at this bold declaration, "But how...I thought destroying the Matrix and power plant would kill all the people..."
"True, before we couldn't outright destroy the power plant because that would simply kill all the people and shutting down the Matrix would strand the captives' minds out in limbo. But with these instructions, I can shut down the Matrix and keep the people's minds 'grounded' so to say. That way we can gradually unplug them and grant them their freedom when they are ready."
"Morpheus," Trinity interrupted, "We already tried to destroy the mainframe. It didn't work."
"No, no," Morpheus quickly amended. "Destroying the mainframe is the only way to destroy the Matrix. The Oracle said that. I don't think she meant from the mainframe in the Matrix, but from it's true source: the power plant in the real world."
"Then when do we start?"
"I placed a tracer on one of the squids that attacked us," Morpheus explained, "The squid escaped us, and is now returning to it's home base, and that's exactly where we will attack: on the surface itself."
Neo nodded and continued to watch Ghost and Trinity repair some technical equipment together. "The council has reluctantly granted the crews of the Nebuchadnezzar and Logos permission to conduct this mission," Ghost elaborated, "Rest of the ships are currently deployed in the tunnels, doing hit-and-run sabotage sorties. Their efforts are buying us a little bit of time, but not much. A man lost here, some damage taken there. It's all adding up. The fact that the council agreed to Morpheus' plan shows how desperate they are getting. We would have gone ahead if you hadn't woken up, but you're needed on this mission, Neo. To keep the people's morale up if nothing else."
"You were knocked out three days ago," Trinity added, "Your vital signs were originally good but you simply wouldn't respond to anything. It was like you were in a different world. Yesterday, your vital signs gotten worse and were steadily decreasing. This morning, all the instruments said you were dead. This is the real world; we didn't know what to do... we didn't know if you would make it."
"You have one fine woman, Neo. She didn't leave your side the entire time," Ghost said with a partial smile. Trinity rolled her eyes and planted a small kiss on Neo's cheek.
"Anyway," Morpheus interrupted, "The machine should be heading toward the Control Center." He tossed Neo and Trinity a diagram, "This is the floor plan to the Control Center, the building in which all of the primary operations for the Matrix are conducted. The source of the Matrix in the real world. With the instructions in the book, I should be able to dismantle and shut down the system-"
"The only problem is that the building is highly guarded." Niobe finished as she entered the room. "Sparks and Link have been carefully guiding the ship through the unoccupied tunnels. We should be arriving at the surface within the hour. Ideally, we want to sneak in without being noticed, but chances are that we will face hard combat. Every fighter must be in top condition. I don't want any damage to come to the crews or my ship." She added the last part with a grin in Morpheus' direction.
Ghost, Trinity, and Neo nodded, understanding their role in the up- coming conflict. The Logos captain returned the gesture. "Captain!" Sparks exclaimed from the bridge, "The information we had was outdated. We've been discovered!"
Sound of artillery hitting the hovercraft echoed throughout the ship. The machines automatic defenses had detected the ship, just as Niobe predicted. Ghost, Morpheus, Neo, and Niobe grabbed their weapons and hopped off the ship, leaving Trinity at the weapon's helm. Neo fired at several aerial machines, but his EMP gun had little effect. Link repositioned the ship to face the oncoming attackers. Seeing that he had things under control Neo turned his concentration to the battle around him.
Morpheus hurried toward the Control Center to complete his task, but was intercepted by two sentinels. He fired his weapon expertly and managed to damage one but the second launched shot that found it's target in Morpheus' stomach.
Reeling in pain, the captain dropped the valuable booklet. Niobe desperately yanked Morpheus into the temporary safety of a small overhang. Ghost attacked from their left and managed to take the first sentinel out of commission. More machines, evidentially stored in the warehouse's upper levels, began to file out. Ghost and Niobe fired again and again but simply could not stop the oncoming mass. Trinity aimed hovercraft's weapons directly at the building.
"No!" Morpheus yelled from Niobe's side. "The book! It's in there!" But he was too late. Trinity fired.
Neo, upon seeing the impending disaster, ran to save the book. Faster and faster, he ran. At 600 mph he rushed through the door and grabbed the book. He almost made it out before the blast hit.
The explosion launched debris everywhere and shook the building's very foundations. Using a nearby table as an impromptu shield, Neo barely managed to avoid the blast and stay alive.
Niobe declared, "I think it's time to go home."
"I know you're in there...please, wake up." Trinity waited, hoping for a response. She glanced at rest of the ship's patients. One of the Hammer's technicians held a bed across the room, but he was not the one that worried Trinity. She had an uneasy feeling about Bane, a citizen of Zion she that she had never been fond of. But lately, he seemed even more alienated somehow.
Hearing approaching footsteps, Trinity shook herself out of such thoughts. It was time to go. Commander Locke had ordered that only the specified doctors were allowed to visit the infirmary for 'security measures'. Naturally, Trinity ignored the commander's wishes and came to see Neo whenever the doctors were away. As farewell, she planted one small kiss on Neo's pale lips.
"Hey," Neo quietly muttered, weakly returning the kiss. Startled, Trinity tumbled backward into a trashcan. Neo smiled at Trinity, who was now covered with garbage. Nervously running his hand through his hair, he continued, "Back there... I don't know what I did or how I did it..."
Trinity stared at him, not fully comprehending what had just transpired. Suddenly rushing at Neo, she fully embraced him. "Neo..." she exclaimed between kisses. Neither of the happy couple noticed when Morpheus walked through the doorway.
"Neo! You're up!" he exclaimed, "And not a moment to spare. We're almost there-"he stopped suddenly, realizing the what Neo and Trinity were doing. Giving a polite cough, "Am I interrupting something? And Trinity, you have a banana peel in your hair"
Trinity quickly removed the offending parcel. Neo ducked his head and hastily changed the subject, "What's this fantastic news?"
"I figured out how we can defeat the Matrix from the real world. It's all right here in this book, I found it was in one of the pods we disabled."
Neo looked a Morpheus, surprised at this bold declaration, "But how...I thought destroying the Matrix and power plant would kill all the people..."
"True, before we couldn't outright destroy the power plant because that would simply kill all the people and shutting down the Matrix would strand the captives' minds out in limbo. But with these instructions, I can shut down the Matrix and keep the people's minds 'grounded' so to say. That way we can gradually unplug them and grant them their freedom when they are ready."
"Morpheus," Trinity interrupted, "We already tried to destroy the mainframe. It didn't work."
"No, no," Morpheus quickly amended. "Destroying the mainframe is the only way to destroy the Matrix. The Oracle said that. I don't think she meant from the mainframe in the Matrix, but from it's true source: the power plant in the real world."
"Then when do we start?"
"I placed a tracer on one of the squids that attacked us," Morpheus explained, "The squid escaped us, and is now returning to it's home base, and that's exactly where we will attack: on the surface itself."
Neo nodded and continued to watch Ghost and Trinity repair some technical equipment together. "The council has reluctantly granted the crews of the Nebuchadnezzar and Logos permission to conduct this mission," Ghost elaborated, "Rest of the ships are currently deployed in the tunnels, doing hit-and-run sabotage sorties. Their efforts are buying us a little bit of time, but not much. A man lost here, some damage taken there. It's all adding up. The fact that the council agreed to Morpheus' plan shows how desperate they are getting. We would have gone ahead if you hadn't woken up, but you're needed on this mission, Neo. To keep the people's morale up if nothing else."
"You were knocked out three days ago," Trinity added, "Your vital signs were originally good but you simply wouldn't respond to anything. It was like you were in a different world. Yesterday, your vital signs gotten worse and were steadily decreasing. This morning, all the instruments said you were dead. This is the real world; we didn't know what to do... we didn't know if you would make it."
"You have one fine woman, Neo. She didn't leave your side the entire time," Ghost said with a partial smile. Trinity rolled her eyes and planted a small kiss on Neo's cheek.
"Anyway," Morpheus interrupted, "The machine should be heading toward the Control Center." He tossed Neo and Trinity a diagram, "This is the floor plan to the Control Center, the building in which all of the primary operations for the Matrix are conducted. The source of the Matrix in the real world. With the instructions in the book, I should be able to dismantle and shut down the system-"
"The only problem is that the building is highly guarded." Niobe finished as she entered the room. "Sparks and Link have been carefully guiding the ship through the unoccupied tunnels. We should be arriving at the surface within the hour. Ideally, we want to sneak in without being noticed, but chances are that we will face hard combat. Every fighter must be in top condition. I don't want any damage to come to the crews or my ship." She added the last part with a grin in Morpheus' direction.
Ghost, Trinity, and Neo nodded, understanding their role in the up- coming conflict. The Logos captain returned the gesture. "Captain!" Sparks exclaimed from the bridge, "The information we had was outdated. We've been discovered!"
Sound of artillery hitting the hovercraft echoed throughout the ship. The machines automatic defenses had detected the ship, just as Niobe predicted. Ghost, Morpheus, Neo, and Niobe grabbed their weapons and hopped off the ship, leaving Trinity at the weapon's helm. Neo fired at several aerial machines, but his EMP gun had little effect. Link repositioned the ship to face the oncoming attackers. Seeing that he had things under control Neo turned his concentration to the battle around him.
Morpheus hurried toward the Control Center to complete his task, but was intercepted by two sentinels. He fired his weapon expertly and managed to damage one but the second launched shot that found it's target in Morpheus' stomach.
Reeling in pain, the captain dropped the valuable booklet. Niobe desperately yanked Morpheus into the temporary safety of a small overhang. Ghost attacked from their left and managed to take the first sentinel out of commission. More machines, evidentially stored in the warehouse's upper levels, began to file out. Ghost and Niobe fired again and again but simply could not stop the oncoming mass. Trinity aimed hovercraft's weapons directly at the building.
"No!" Morpheus yelled from Niobe's side. "The book! It's in there!" But he was too late. Trinity fired.
Neo, upon seeing the impending disaster, ran to save the book. Faster and faster, he ran. At 600 mph he rushed through the door and grabbed the book. He almost made it out before the blast hit.
The explosion launched debris everywhere and shook the building's very foundations. Using a nearby table as an impromptu shield, Neo barely managed to avoid the blast and stay alive.
Niobe declared, "I think it's time to go home."