*** The sequel to Nemesis Awakened (replacing A Visit to Zion). Please read and review! (Note: I only own Nemesis, Nike, and Jade. All other characters belong to Warner Brothers.)***

Trials & Tribulations:

A Cry in the Dark

Nike begins her life in the real world with some terrifying hands-on training: a nearby hovercraft has transmitted a distress signal.

Chapter 1- Interrupted

Things slowly swirled into focus for Nike. Walls, cold, metallic, and unforgiving. No color, save for the bright white light. No life, except for her.

And one other. Nemesis, her betrayer.

"You bitch!" Nike screamed, lauching herself off the bed. It was too soon. She quickly clattered to the floor. Nemesis quickly pinned the other girl against the metal.

"Calm down, Nike-"

"CALM DOWN??? You leave me alone to face that...that.....you could have warned me!"

"You wouldn't have believed me."

"I would too."

"No, you wouldn't have," Nemesis repeated. "I can still see it in your eyes. You don't believe. But you will, I promise you." Nemesis let Nike go. Nike just sat there, a little stunned and now beginning to feel foolish for her outburst.

"Nemesis.."

"Would you like to see the rest of this place?"

Nike peered out into the hallway, wondering what lay beyond. She looked back at Nemesis. "Where are we anyway?"

"You'd like to know?"

Nike hesitated, but it was only slight. "Yes."

Nemesis offered Nike her hand, and Nike took it. She stood up. Nemesis turned and walked out of the room. Nike followed behind, curiosity getting the better of her. "This is the hovercraft Nebuchanezzar. She belongs to Morpheus."

"This....this is all his? I thought it belonged to you."

Nemesis laughed. "I wish."

They climbed up the ladder. "This is the main deck," Nemesis said. "And over there.....that's the core....."

It was deserted. No one was on watch, not even Tank.

"So where is everyone?" Nike's voice called out from behind Nemesis, bringing her out of her reverie.

"Probably all up in the cockpit. And the only reason for that is something has gone terribly wrong."

The two headed up towards the cockpit, voices now growing into a steady murmur. "What else could go terribly wrong today?" Nike mumbled to herself. "Everything already has."

Morpheus, who was hunched over a console, turned when the pair walked in. "About time. We've received a distress call from a ship, the Emancipator. We're awaiting instructions from Zion."

"Huh?" Nike asked, becoming more confused by the minute.

"Nebuchanezzar!" a loud and authorative voice boomed over the intercom. "You are to proceed with caution to Emancipator and aid any personnel still alive. Some of our more heavily armed ships should arrive soon after you do. Zion, out!"

Morpheus manipulated the controls, and the Neb rose slightly and shot forward, navigating the abyss. "Um.....what's out there besides us?" Nike asked timidly.

"Squiddies."

"What?"

"Search and destroy machines."

"Then why," hissed Nike, "are we heading to the site of an attack by these.....squiddies?"

"Because we have to help." Nemesis stared out ahead, and Nike dropped the debate for the moment.

Jade spoke up. "Sir, if their are any survivors, they'll probably be seriously injured. I'll need some extra help."

"Nemesis! Nike!"

Both jumped at the same time. "Yes, sir?"

"Go down with Tank and run through all medical training simulations."

*****

It was a mess. The squiddies had done the Matrix's dirty, evil work. Nemesis crossed her fingers. She was still holding on to the small, slim hope that someone was alive.

"All right," Morpheus said, easing the Neb directly over the Emancipator. "No squiddies in sight, and the sensors would have gone off if there were." He glanced up through the viewscreen. The ships main boarding port was still intact. "Tank, Jade, Nike, you stay behind, monitor communications, and await our return with any survivors. The rest of you come with me. We're boarding her."

*****

The Neb slowly inched towards the derelict hovercraft's entrance port. There was a loud clang, signaling the locking together of the ships. "Thank you, it's still working!" Nemesis muttered to herself more than to the rest of the boarding party.

Morpheus pulled open the hatch, and one by one everyone crept in. First Morpheus. Then Neo. Trinity. Smith. Nemesis came last. She immediately dropped down to the main deck, the catwalks on the upper levels were decimated.

It was as close to hell as she had ever been.

Wires were sparking off randomly everywhere. The metal was melted slightly in places. "How could anyone survive?" Nemesis asked staring in wonder.

Morpheus turned. The same thought was obviously on his mind. "I don't-"

"H..help.....me....please....."

Everyone jumped at the sound of a distinctly human voice. A young human voice. "Where are you?" Neo shouted.

"Here....over here.....help meeee......" The voice was coming from a passageway blocked off by debris. Trinity immediately opened the tool kit she had brought along.

"Nemesis, go up and get Jade & Nike ready. We've got a survivor."

Nemesis ran over to the opening. "ANYONE UP THERE?"

Tank's head appeared. "What's up?" he hollered.

"Throw down a ladder!"

A metal ladder slid down and hit the main deck with a dull thud. Nemesis scrambled up. "Get Nike and Jade. There is someone down there. We've got to get ready."

"Jade! Nike!" Tank tore down the corridor. Jade and Nike appeared.

"WE"VE GOT TWO! HERE THEY COME!"

A young boy, about 8, and another boy, about 16, were passed up. They had survived. Barely. Nemesis quickly carried the younger boy into the infirmary. Nike and Jade were fast on their tails, carrying the older boy.

Come on, kid. You've got to live. C'mon, LIVE!