Introductions

Harry was still in a state of shock when 3 strangers started moving towards living room. By the time he realized, they were already waiting for him to close the door and start talking as if they all were old school time buddies. He also realized even Joan was a new Acquaintance, but still there is something about her which makes him feel he knows her from long time, just an hour senior than Neo and Trinity. Was it a mistake inviting Joan, of course she was sexy and was friendly towards him, Hell; she was first girl who he was attracted to, what the hell, harry thought, let's see what's waiting for me.

Harry thought for a moment and started to speak and Joan leaned towards him and whispered, "Do you think bringing them here is bad idea?" Harry caught her eye and shrugged "she whispered again, "I can come back later" Harry didn't want the only girl he was attracted to go away and he knew they are not wizards… so how bad can it be?, and gave a disappointing look at the new strangers and looked back a Joan and shook his head and whispered, "You can hang around if you want to!".

There was wide smile on Joan face lightening her up.

Harry spoke slowly to strangers "Look, I think it's really a bad timing, my relatives might come anytime. And what trouble am I in?"

Even before Neo spoke, Trinity got up from couch "Even I think it's bad timing" looking at Neo

"Why don't we come back in 5 or 6 years and explain things to the kid"

Harry narrowed his eyes but calmed down next second, he didn't want to get in trouble with ministry by accidental magic, but he thought 'KID! After all I have been through, yeah come on darling give me your best shot, ha 5 or 6 years, what have you guys planned for me?... every except me seems planning something which involves me'

Neo shook his head removing the Ray-Ban glasses and pocketing them in his jacket's breast pocket "Anything might happen, the sooner the better", by looking at Neo, Harry thought

'I have a bad feeling about this, either something is terribly wrong or its very good prank' reaching for his wand in his back pocket,

'just in case something might happen, I must be ready'

But Harry did not move a muscle, just waiting for something to happen.

Nothing.

Still waiting….

Still nothing…

Neo spoke after looking at Joan to Harry, "If she is your girl friend she can wait in your room… you can tell her if you want"

Taking a break for second neo spoke again," Look, we ourselves are in certain dilemma and don't want to confirm anything yet" Harry sensed a little concern here.

Harry was in a dilemma 'is she my girl friend… I hardly know her… bit still she was willing to become my friend… I think I like her… better clear things with these fellows… what if she thinks I am freak… she didn't say so when she met in the store… even after looking at his rags… and then Harry looked at Joan's beautiful eyes and decided 'I want to be her friend… if she is willing to accept my story… and as per some bullshit wizarding law I can't tell any of them I am wizard unless they figure out'

Looking questioningly at Harry, Harry nodded slowly looking at Joan, "Wait in my room" and bent towards her to kiss, whispered

"Go upstairs and 2nd door to your left"

As she was leaving the living room Harry announced looking at Neo, " I will come in a …" Neo responded "hour"

Trinity removed something from her back pocket, turns out it is mobile phone, Harry remember seeing one on idiot box but that was very big and had big antenna… this was very small. Trinity pressed a button and spoke in phone," Tank, we are in, check the perimeter", she waited and nodded after listening "All Clear".

As Trinity was closing the door, Harry saw swell on the Trinity's lower back, before he stared imagining, Trinity pulled out a gun, Harry didn't know what to imagine, looking at harry being tense she spoke out

"Chill out kid, it is for safety…"

'Yours or Mine' Harry thought himself.

"Can I call you Harry?" Neo waited for Harry's response. Once he nodded.

"Harry, you have nothing to fear from me or Trinity." Harry's eye fell on another gun as Neo removed it from the Gun hostler strapped to his shoulder and placed on table in living room, as Trinity did the same. Harry felt himself loosening the grip on wand.

"I will try to be as simple as so you big picture..ok!"

"Go On"

"But before I start, how did you know my name?"

"Oh that, I overheard one of your guys talking over kitchen window last night"

"Cypher", muttered Trinity.

"Yes"

"Let me ask you a simple question, what year is it?" Neo asked

'What sort of dumb question is that' Harry thought and about to answer

Neo cut in "Or let me rephrase the Question, what year do you think it is?"

"What do you mean? I don't think it is 1994, I know it is 1994!"

Trinity started smiling and got up and grabbed a coke tin fridge.

'Why is she smiling like that?' Neo popped another question

"How do you know it is 1994, Harry?"

"What sort of questions are these?" Harry started getting irritated

"Please Harry; I know you are irritated you will know importance later"

Harry sighed and shrugged

Neo repeated the question, "How do you know it is 1994?"

"I don't know, ever since I grew up dates are changing constantly as months and as years, there was never a confusion, as it was there on calendar, on TV, newspaper everywhere, How can you expect me to believe it is wrong"

"And where did that idea of conclusion come from?"

"My brain"

"Harry, did you know that human brain consists of millions and billions of neurons which are all over our body interconnected sending signals at speed of light"

"I know that, I saw a program on human body last summer on TV"

"Hmm you know the basics, and then you also know that it is same way a computer works"

Harry had a confused look, "Computer!"

"Not just a computer, it is network of computers, sending data and receiving data based on request to different computers all over the world"

"You are talking about Internet"

"Not Just Internet, Do you know what AI means?"

"You mean Artificial intelligence! But that is not yet created"

"But you know the concept, right?"

"Yes, Computer thinking on its own making decisions without human involvement and after AI is born there is war between humans and machines. In which we lost most of the population"

"Wow! kid", Trinity looking surprised, turned to Neo and spoke again, "He Knows!"

Now Harry is having a confused look.

And Neo gave a questioning look at Harry.

"We came for Help Harry, Not your enemies, and we might be able help you in the war."

"War!", Harry almost shouted.

"What are you talking about! There is no war going on here. "

"Not me Harry, You spoke about the War, not me!"

"What!... aah you mean War between Man and Machine.. " Harry ran his fingers on the scalp of his head, he didn't know how to answer and ran to stairs saying, "I will be back in a min"

Harry rushed to his room and opened his bedroom door only to find that Joan is reading his DADA book, the scene caught harry by surprise as Joan was reading Books, his school Books and lot of questions popped up in his mind 'what should he explain to her, will she believe him or think he is a freak'

"HARRY! You are wizard!' Joan announced

'She does not seem upset, only surprised, how do she know unless…' Harry thought "Are you a witch?"

Joan spoke slowly, "Harry, I have got some explanation to do!"

"HOLD ON" Harry needed a minute to come out of virtual world, to be clear if he is handling wizard world now.

"Go on"

Looking at Harry as if he is waiting for response, Joan answered is unspoken question, "I am Joan Perrie and I am a witch, I was raised in Orphanage in Gandelu, a small town in the outskirts of Paris and just graduated from Beauxtons Academy, I came here to search for my family. I will tell you everything… We will talk when you come back"

Harry was trying to process the information.

"We will talk!" Harry confirmed.

"We will talk." , Joan agreed and said, "I will wait here, you don't mind going through your books?"

"Since you are already a witch, I am ok with it, but still we need to talk!"

Joan just nodded.

Harry grabbed a small rectangular box from Dudley's old toy garbage and ran out of the room.

Reaching the last step of the stairs, harry threw the box to Neo.

"That's where I learnt"

Neo opened the open, which looked movie CD's , He looked confused and looked at Trinity to Harry and then from Harry to Trinity.

"Those are my favorite movies, science fictions, I am allowed to watch twice a month, of course I had to flatter my aunt my doing all the home chores that day including gardening and when Dudley, my cousin, and my uncle were not around"

Neo found Terminator-2, Time cop, Back to Future.

"The war I told you was from Terminator movie"

"Harry… Please sit down!"

Harry sat next to Trinity on the couch looking at Neo to begin. Neo Sat on other side of Harry looking into his emerald eyes "What I am about to tell you truth, it is not a joke or story of science fiction movie or novel!"

"Do you remember me asking about the year?"

Harry nodded.

"As far as I know it is year three five seven three."

Harry gave him a confused look 'What is he talking about! 3573 AD, this guy is nuts, I need to talk to Hermione, it does not seem funny at all.'

Neo did not notice, but looking blankly at the switched off TV and continued, "I know it sounds crazy Harry, Just remember the Year I told you, you might be able figure out by your self and then I will tell you everything you need. Let me ask you a simple question. Have seen or observed anything with not normal for Human beings, anything which seems odd where there is no logical explanation. And no one would believe if you said so"

"Anything at all" Trinity repeated.

Harry was transfixed at that moment when queries started bombarding Harry's brain 'Was he referring to Magic?, But he did'nt mention the M-word, as Uncle Vernon would have said, What should I tell him? Should I ask Joan, after all she is witch, a graduated one? Were these muggles trying to go war with wizarding world? If they were, Were they enquiring about the existence of magic. This is beyond me. Should I notify the ministry or Dumbledore'.

"No, I am sorry, everything is normal"

'After all there is truth in it, normal in wizarding world and normal in muggle world not identifying magic'

"Yea, everything is fine" Harry declared.

"Ok, but let me continue, this might be important, I will try to be as simple as I can, In the year Twenty fifty six, AI was developed and it replaced complete military, air-force and navy intel together in a matter of 3 years, People are happy as they need not fight anymore, machines would do the job for them, But the mistake was machines think on their own and attacked humans instead, but then main computer realized that, they would be extinct without humans."

For Trinity, Harry's face expressions seemed very difficult to understand, but kept observing him.

Neo didn't stop, "Because Humans have lot of energy" Looking at Harry "Do you know what mitochondria is?"

Harry didn't respond just shook his head.

"Do you know what cells are?"

"What cells are you talking about? Batteries?"

"No Harry, Human body is mixture of flesh, bones, blood, and other parts!" ,said Trinity

"I know that" Harry answered, remembering he junior school days with his cousin.

Trinity said " Then do you know what makes flesh, bones, hair, skin, anything in our body?"

Harry answered doubtfully, "cells!"

Neo took back control, "Yes Harry! Cells a single square inch of skin has millions and millions of cells which are inter connected and works depending on their purpose, How do they know their purpose? Who tell them?"

Harry answered quickly "Brain"

"Yes because it works as a main computer to all the cells of the body"

Harry held up his hand, "wait a minute; brain is part of body, so it is also made of cells"

"Yes Harry, that's true, but imagine, processing data of trillions of data coming from each cell in the body, work has to be shared, so its net work of cells getting organized in daily work. But like computer needing a power cable, cells also need power to work"

Trinity laughed out "I don't find any cable coming out of your butt"

Harry laughed out, the humor relieved him of his tension.

Neo ignored it and continued, "Harry forget about the cells, when you play and tired what happens?"

"I would be hungry"

"Yes, energy is generated from food, means vitamins and minerals necessary for body, When you eat food, it is converted to energy, right?"

Harry nodded honestly.

"This energy is sent every cell which is stored in a container in cell which works as battery called Mitocondria. So our body is Power house having trillions and trillions of batteries"

Harry astonished at the theory.

"Now, Let's get back to war, When the Attack happened very few humans were alive, the Machines caught them and digged in deep to identify source, they realized that, they can't make mitochondria by themselves, and being most intelligent creature, machines have selected us and began the process of manufacturing humans…"

"Hold a minute, How can they manufacture? We are born"

"No more harry, its called cloning, with a few remaining humans, machines knew all they needed for cloning and cloning us ever since, At the beginning the clones were dumb and they soon died out. Machines had no option but to put some intelligence to the clones and in order to make them survive"

"But being intelligent they cannot be contained, there must be some activity to blind the human in seeing the real world…"

"Now wait a minute, what do you mean by contained? Can elaborate on later part?"

"You remember I told you about cloning, Well after cloning process is over, humans were not let out, they still be in a glass container with all fluids coming in and going out,"

"You mean like ICU unit in hospital where fluids are given?"

"Something like that but only more complicated, as incoming fluids is controls by computer, all cells in the body are connected to computer, so when it tells you, its raining, it will make you believe that you are really in rain.."

"How can that be possible ?"

"Like I said, hmmm, let me give you a demo, " Trinity got up and gave him a chocolate.

"Eat it"

Harry opened the wrapper and chewed a bit and swallowed.

"Now tell me how is it?"

"It's good, its sweet and juicy"

"Now, how do you know that its good,sweet and juicy?"

'What is he deriving at?'

"My brain told me?" Harry said dumbly

"Instead, if your brain, tells you it's salty?"

"hmmm, it should be salty"

"But why would it tell me?"

"because your sensor cells on tongue give it wrong information"

"so, brain tell us what I see, but its not there actually"

"Correct! In the same way brain tell you, you are sitting in your living room, but, you will be somewhere else, but since your brain told you, you are sitting in your living room and a kitchen is there and stairs are that side and it is painted in pinkish color"

"Not just you Harry, everything you see or have seen is not real. It is entirely different."

"Let's say, everyone is blind, there is no point in giving fake experiences like these"

"Harry, as I told, Machines need working human who will have full energy and its is fully functional only when human brain works normally, with incoming fluids to the body wrong data is given to brain from every cell, and you will see what your brain tell you to see."

"Then how come I am born. I am born naturally right?"

"You are not. Harry, nobody is, they just take x and y chromosomes of your parents and make you and give you fluids, Of course, you are still born to them but different way"

Trinity looked at the time on her watch and spoke, "Neo, its time"

Neo nodded and spoke again, "We can't stay, Harry, remember the Year I told you about and in case we are not there to help you, remember everything is a lie"
Neo got up and retrieved the gun and pocketed it and caught the spoon, Trinity threw it from the kitchen table.

"Look at this Harry", Neo pointed at the spoon in his left hand

Neo was focusing his eyes on spoon, and Harry also looked intently at the spoon

The Steel spoon in Neo's left hand bent a little, it its stop there, but turned in a 360 degree angle.

Harry's eyes were widened with shock "What the…"

Then Harry realized what Neo is saying.

"Wait a minute, you mean bending spoon was a lie"

Spoon was back to normal shape.

Trinity responded "You are awesome kid, but no, that's not the answer"

Neo signed and spoke up, "The Truth, Harry, is there is no Spoon"

Harry was dumb found.

Neo looked at Trinity, "How many minutes do we have?"

"4 minutes and 52 seconds"

"Harry one more, Not a question, but a very small story to make you realize the truth"

Harry nodded hesitantly; he didn't know he could take any more twist.

"There used to be a Professor with all degrees he accumulated, he had a very young son, One day his son asked Professor if he could answer his question, he was quiet happy and asked him what he wanted. The boy asked him, "Father, imagine you are stuck in a thick forest and can not move forward and suddenly there was enormous forest fire coming behind you and you are empty handed. How do you get out of the fire?". Professor thought for a minute and said," I will lighten up remaining forest so there can't be anything to burn if forest fire reaches me". His young son smiled and replied, "Yes father, it could be possible, if you have matches or dry leaves to start fire soon. But, you are empty handed, remember"

Professor thought for a minute, "There is no way out, I suppose"

His young son responded, "Father, there would be a way out if you stop imagining, you will not be in forest at all"

Harry did not speak for a minute. He was trying to analyze what these new strangers said.

Trinity pocketed the gun in the mean time and came back and kept a hand on Harry's shoulder affectionately and spoke, "I know you will figure it out. In case you are in danger, remember what Neo said"

"Everything is a lie", Both Trinity and Harry chorused.

Trinity got up and both Neo and Trinity headed for the door. Trinity took out the mobile and walked out.

Neo turned back, "Remember the story, Stop imagining… in case you feel you are in danger do not listen to your brain because that's what makes you blind in seeing the truth."

With that Neo left dumb struck Harry with lot of things.

Harry took a minute to see that he was alone in the living room.

Then Harry remembered 'Joan'

'What should I tell her?'

'May be I should wait; until I see Neo again'

A/N: I have taken longer time than I expected to complete this chapter. My job gave me no scope for writing.

All reviews are Welcome.