Chapter 1: Default Chapter

It was a cold, dreary day in the real world. But, then again, when isn't it a cold, dreary day in the real world? The sky had been scorched so there was no sun to make it warm, and non-dreary. And besides, a hundred miles below the surface? In old sewers? Yeah. But that's besides to point.

Three people sat at a table in what looked like a mess hall. The older of the two men looked slightly flustered. This was most likely because the woman sitting, or rather standing, ac from him was ranting about the latest injustice done to them, or rather to the younger man who simply sat there looking thoughtful.

"Morpheus," the woman yelled "they wouldn't do this to anyone else. You know they wouldn't!"

"Yes, Trinity, I do realize that, but what you need to understand is that if the council is going to believe that Neo is the One" here he glanced at the younger man "they are first going to need proof." He winced as soon as he realized what he'd said. The council needing proof had been a sore spot with Trinity ever since they had refused to believe that Cypher had willingly betrayed them. He'd just given her an opening to start another tirade, and sure enough-

"Proof!?" if she hadn't been yelling before she certainly was now. "God damn the council and their proof. If they'd just-"

"Trin." The other man, who as you've probably guessed is Neo, interrupted her calmly. "Calm down." If anyone else had spoken to her in that tone they wouldn't have lived to regret it. Plus, he'd called her Trin, and she hated it when people did that. But this was Neo and things were different.

"But-" she protested weakly.

"It's alright, Trin. Really. I'll do their tests." she sighed and sat down next to him.

"Neo. You really shouldn't have to. You've already done more than enough tests. I mean, just the fact that you're alive should be enough."

"She's right Neo." Morpheus put in. "You did tests while you were in Zion. That should be enough."

"I know, but I understand their skepticism. I'm sure these will be the last tests" Trinity shook her head at his naivety.

"No, Neo, you're wrong. They'll just keep having you do more and more tests. There will never be enough proof for them. Never" she looked into his eyes to try and convey the unspoken message that she was afraid they'd take him from her. He smiled and slid his arm around her to show her he understood and to reassure her.

"Alright then, these will be the last I do. After these that's it. No more. Okay?" he asked. She nodded her head before resting it on Neo's chest. Seeing this Morpheus decided it would be a good idea to leave to two of them alone for awhile.

"I'll just go see if Tank needs any help with that computer." He said as he got up and left. Trinity smiled it wasn't subtle but it worked. And, as Tank had been yelling at and hitting the computer for the last hour, he probably did need help. As soon as Morpheus was gone Neo craned his head around to look at Trin's face.

"He's gone now, Trinity. Why don't you tell me what's really bothering you about all this?" there was a hint of inquisitive concern in his voice. Trinity sighed and moved so she was straddling his lap, her arms around his neck.

"Five years ago, six years after I was unplugged, Morpheus unplugged a young girl by the name of Vixen." Neo raised an eyebrow at the name, Trinity just shrugged. "Vixen was an extraordinary girl. She was telekinetic. She could move things with her mind. Here in the real world, too, not just in the matrix. The council had her do test after test after test. One day they took her away for study. No one ever saw her again. A month after they took her she committed suicide. She was so sick and tired of all the tests that she stabbed herself. I'm afraid that they'll take you away from me. Afraid you'll end up like her." Up until then she'd been staring at his chin. Now she let his gorgeous chocolate brown eyes meet her ice blue ones and see the fear she'd been hiding in them.

"Trin." His voice was almost scolding. "I won't let them take me away from you, and I definitely wouldn't kill myself if there was even the slightest chance I'd see you again." He leaned in closer to her so that their lips were almost touching. "I love you Trinity" and then he kissed her.

Trinity was just beginning to deepen the kiss when the alarms went off.

"Damn" she said. Neo smiled at her.

"Exactly what I was thinking." He told her as the two of them took off sprinting. Trinity for the cockpit and Neo for the core.

"Hey Neo." Tank greeted him as he reached the core.

"Hey Tank. What've we got?"

"Sentinels. Three of 'em Morpheus says." Tank answered. Then he spoke to Morpheus over the intercom. "Power offline. EMP armed and ready."

Standing in the dark waiting for his captain to give the "all clear", Neo's mind drifted to the young operator.

Tank was lucky to be alive, really. Having been shot twice by Cypher, Tank had only just remained conscious long enough to witness Neo's resurrection. He had then spent two weeks in the Zion hospital before he'd recovered. Even so it wasn't a full recovery. Neo still saw him wince if he moved his side wrong. Tank had also had to tell his sister, Zee, her husband, Link, Dozer's wife, Cas, and his parents about Dozer's death. Despite and, perhaps, in spite of all this, Tank still seemed to be in a constant good mood and was always joking around. He could, however, be serious when he needed to be as was shown by the current look on his face.

"Alright Tank. They're gone. Go ahead and turn the power back on." Morpheus' voice came through the intercom.

"Yeah Tank. Get the power back on before we all freeze to death." Neo couldn't help joking with the operator.

"But Neo, you won't freeze. Trinity will make sure of that." Tank, though, wasn't one to let a comment like that slide.

"You shuttup and be glad she didn't hear that." Neo told him.

"Yeah. Trust me I am, and I'd be very thankful if you didn't tell her. She'd kill me if she knew I'd said that."

"Who'd kill you if they knew you said what?" Trinity asked.

"No one" Tank's answer came a little too quickly.

"Then what were you two talking about?" she wasn't going to let it go that easily.

"Nothing" again the answer came a little too fast, but Tank was convincing, and Trinity was pretty sure she knew what it was since Tank hadn't turned the intercom off until after Neo's comment and she knew how Tank was.

"Whatever, Tank. Anyway Morpheus says he wants you to keep and eye on holographics for a few hours since it's your shift. He says he'll relive you in a bit, and to just yell if you need anything or see something odd. Neo, we are supposed to get some sleep as we're trying out that new training program from Zion tomorrow. So come on. See ya tomorrow Tank." She grabbed Neo's arm and dragged him off towards their room.

"See ya" Tank smirked.

Once safely in their room, Neo and Trinity picked up where they'd been when the alarms went off.