(autor's note: OK, this took a good time to figure something out, I have to admit, but this might be fun)
The Impossible Match
Caught completely off guard, I stepped back and let them enter, still working on my deep disappointment it had not been Mike.
The odd couple sat down in the chairs, leaving only the bed for me.
"Mr. Van den Bos, we're working for Zion Intelligence Service. Accidentally we got notice of your – well, extraordinary – story. First we wouldn't believe it, but we have been watching you now for a while – " The man, Flynn, started.
"You were _watching_ me? Why? What for?" I asked them. They were spying on me? I had no idea why. And they were a bit uncomfortable right now. Later I learned they did not like to reveal the existence of this agency to an outsider.
"Because, Mr. Van den Bos, what you consider being your tragedy is in fact an incredible opportunity for us. Something we didn't even dare to dream of.
"We are monitoring a group of people who are trading information with some Agents of the AIs as it seems. We had several trials to infiltrate their group to reveal how they work, but for the unique structure of their organization we never succeeded." I watched him while he talked: a Freeborn man like I had seen so many by now: a mix of so many different ethnical groups you could not determine his roots. But his main features were a unhappy mix of Caucasian and Asian features. Only his eyes were remarkable: a green like I had never seen before, so clear and bright.
"Why don't you take them down? You seem to know them." I asked. I couldn't see how I should be of any help to such a nosey agency. Me, someone who was too mellow to kill a roach, play the James-Bond-Game? If they had really watched me, they should know I was far from being useful to them.
"It is not that easy. But first things first:" Gianny went on now. Not only did she have a great appearance with perfectly white skin, red hair and blue eyes, her clothes looked finer than anything I had seen so far at Zion, "We would have watched you longer but tonight's events have forced us to intervene immediately."
"In terms of what?"
"Before we can explain, we need you to assure your cooperation and your discretion." Flynn leant forward.
"How can I assure you anything if I don't know what it's about?" this was hilarious! Like watching the X-Files and suddenly realizing you were part of it.
"It is for the sake of mankind! For the safety of the people living at Zion!" Gianni's voice had an intense tone.
I nodded. What else could I have done?
"As far as we know, the organization - they call themselves 'The Brotherhood' here at Zion – is an extremely conservative organization. They believe that values Zion holds up high are wrong and they want to overthrow the Government. For this goal they are ready to cooperate with the machines.
They seem to be based on a sect that sometimes split off the roman-catholic church. In fact their ideas were so extreme, the Pope excommunicated them and banned their sect from the catholic community shortly before The War began. They treat their women like lesser beings, they abhor birth-control in any form, they believe laughter is a bad thing and talk soon leads to sinful nonsense. And lot more of such ideas. People like you wouldn't be too happy under their reign.
We had several highly trained Agents join their brotherhood but they all failed sooner or later." Flynn sat back again.
"Why?" how could they believe I would succeed where these Bond-clones had failed?
"First, it came too hard on some of them to pretend to adhere their ideas. Then some failed when they had to get into the Matrix to complete their task. Finally we tried to extract the information they had from them, but retrieving information, locked with a very strict inhibition given under hypnosis, will only damage the individual's brain and sanity.
We were clueless and stopped further attempts about a year ago. We were reluctant to sacrifice more people without the slightest hope to succeed." Flynn ended.
"I can still not see where or why you need me."
"They failed because they had no idea about these special conservative ideas. You do. We studied your Matrix-origin. We know now that we cannot get the information out of the informant's brains, so the informant must be able to get into the Matrix." Gianni explained.
"A lot of people can do that – many of them are male." I was still reluctant. My need for adventures was over-saturated.
"Exactly, Carl. And they are still, when they are in the Matrix. But the branch they use to communicate is a nuns' monastery. And there is no way to learn how to move and behave. You know exactly this is nearly impossible and need endless training. Time we don't have, Carl." Gianni's voice was very soft, appealing.
This was the reason! They needed what made me suffer so hard: a natural man at Zion who was a natural woman in the Matrix! The impossible possibility!
"Can you see now why we need you, Carl? You are Zion's last hope." Gianni looked at me with her deep, blue eyes.
"Heroes are not made like me." I whispered as I stared at my toes.
"Exactly what a true hero would say in this situation!" Flynn was so sure! "Carl, help us, please!"
"I'll tell you tomorrow, OK?"
"No. You must decide it now." Flynn was determined.
After a while – I don't remember how long I sat there – I nodded faintly. How could anyone act different? Zion was my home, the people here my friends...
"Good. You must stop seeing this Michael. Right now. No gay activities, Carl!" Flynn said
"But – " Mike was my only friend. I felt safe with him around. He was so strong, he would surely help me to carry that burden, I had hoped.
"No Carl. Keep away from the gay scene. You must be 100% credible for The Brotherhood and if they should ever see you holding hands with another man like tonight, that would probably be your death-sentence." Flynn said.
"That is the reason we had to intervene tonight, Carl. There had been some hints in the past, even in your medical files, but tonight it was clear your sexual preference is far from what The Brotherhood would ever accept. Be single until this is over." Gianni continued.
I was stricken. I had not thought that whatever I had to do would ask so much of self-denial. A cold shiver ran down my spine and I pulled up my shoulders.
"OK." I had no idea how deep this would affect my life in the future.
The Impossible Match
Caught completely off guard, I stepped back and let them enter, still working on my deep disappointment it had not been Mike.
The odd couple sat down in the chairs, leaving only the bed for me.
"Mr. Van den Bos, we're working for Zion Intelligence Service. Accidentally we got notice of your – well, extraordinary – story. First we wouldn't believe it, but we have been watching you now for a while – " The man, Flynn, started.
"You were _watching_ me? Why? What for?" I asked them. They were spying on me? I had no idea why. And they were a bit uncomfortable right now. Later I learned they did not like to reveal the existence of this agency to an outsider.
"Because, Mr. Van den Bos, what you consider being your tragedy is in fact an incredible opportunity for us. Something we didn't even dare to dream of.
"We are monitoring a group of people who are trading information with some Agents of the AIs as it seems. We had several trials to infiltrate their group to reveal how they work, but for the unique structure of their organization we never succeeded." I watched him while he talked: a Freeborn man like I had seen so many by now: a mix of so many different ethnical groups you could not determine his roots. But his main features were a unhappy mix of Caucasian and Asian features. Only his eyes were remarkable: a green like I had never seen before, so clear and bright.
"Why don't you take them down? You seem to know them." I asked. I couldn't see how I should be of any help to such a nosey agency. Me, someone who was too mellow to kill a roach, play the James-Bond-Game? If they had really watched me, they should know I was far from being useful to them.
"It is not that easy. But first things first:" Gianny went on now. Not only did she have a great appearance with perfectly white skin, red hair and blue eyes, her clothes looked finer than anything I had seen so far at Zion, "We would have watched you longer but tonight's events have forced us to intervene immediately."
"In terms of what?"
"Before we can explain, we need you to assure your cooperation and your discretion." Flynn leant forward.
"How can I assure you anything if I don't know what it's about?" this was hilarious! Like watching the X-Files and suddenly realizing you were part of it.
"It is for the sake of mankind! For the safety of the people living at Zion!" Gianni's voice had an intense tone.
I nodded. What else could I have done?
"As far as we know, the organization - they call themselves 'The Brotherhood' here at Zion – is an extremely conservative organization. They believe that values Zion holds up high are wrong and they want to overthrow the Government. For this goal they are ready to cooperate with the machines.
They seem to be based on a sect that sometimes split off the roman-catholic church. In fact their ideas were so extreme, the Pope excommunicated them and banned their sect from the catholic community shortly before The War began. They treat their women like lesser beings, they abhor birth-control in any form, they believe laughter is a bad thing and talk soon leads to sinful nonsense. And lot more of such ideas. People like you wouldn't be too happy under their reign.
We had several highly trained Agents join their brotherhood but they all failed sooner or later." Flynn sat back again.
"Why?" how could they believe I would succeed where these Bond-clones had failed?
"First, it came too hard on some of them to pretend to adhere their ideas. Then some failed when they had to get into the Matrix to complete their task. Finally we tried to extract the information they had from them, but retrieving information, locked with a very strict inhibition given under hypnosis, will only damage the individual's brain and sanity.
We were clueless and stopped further attempts about a year ago. We were reluctant to sacrifice more people without the slightest hope to succeed." Flynn ended.
"I can still not see where or why you need me."
"They failed because they had no idea about these special conservative ideas. You do. We studied your Matrix-origin. We know now that we cannot get the information out of the informant's brains, so the informant must be able to get into the Matrix." Gianni explained.
"A lot of people can do that – many of them are male." I was still reluctant. My need for adventures was over-saturated.
"Exactly, Carl. And they are still, when they are in the Matrix. But the branch they use to communicate is a nuns' monastery. And there is no way to learn how to move and behave. You know exactly this is nearly impossible and need endless training. Time we don't have, Carl." Gianni's voice was very soft, appealing.
This was the reason! They needed what made me suffer so hard: a natural man at Zion who was a natural woman in the Matrix! The impossible possibility!
"Can you see now why we need you, Carl? You are Zion's last hope." Gianni looked at me with her deep, blue eyes.
"Heroes are not made like me." I whispered as I stared at my toes.
"Exactly what a true hero would say in this situation!" Flynn was so sure! "Carl, help us, please!"
"I'll tell you tomorrow, OK?"
"No. You must decide it now." Flynn was determined.
After a while – I don't remember how long I sat there – I nodded faintly. How could anyone act different? Zion was my home, the people here my friends...
"Good. You must stop seeing this Michael. Right now. No gay activities, Carl!" Flynn said
"But – " Mike was my only friend. I felt safe with him around. He was so strong, he would surely help me to carry that burden, I had hoped.
"No Carl. Keep away from the gay scene. You must be 100% credible for The Brotherhood and if they should ever see you holding hands with another man like tonight, that would probably be your death-sentence." Flynn said.
"That is the reason we had to intervene tonight, Carl. There had been some hints in the past, even in your medical files, but tonight it was clear your sexual preference is far from what The Brotherhood would ever accept. Be single until this is over." Gianni continued.
I was stricken. I had not thought that whatever I had to do would ask so much of self-denial. A cold shiver ran down my spine and I pulled up my shoulders.
"OK." I had no idea how deep this would affect my life in the future.