I'm neither one of the Wachowski Brothers, so I don't own it.

Chapter 10

The news of the Neb's new recruitment spread across the Zion community like a plague. Though Morpheus had officially announced the news in the morning he arrived in town, hundreds of applications had been filed by noon.

By the end of the day when Morpheus announced he would close for applications, he had actually got at least a thousand of them.

Trinity watched in awe as she was invited into Morpheus's respective room in the next morning and saw two piles of paper on Morpheus's coffee table. At that moment, those piles looked scarier than the Agents themselves.

"Don't tell me I'll have to read all that," said Trinity.

"No, just a half," Morpheus deadpanned.

Trinity sighed as she looked at the said pile of paper.

"Tell me again why we need more people on the ship?" she asked weakly. "Aren't five already enough?"

Though she was complaining, Trinity sat down on the chair after Morpheus gestured her to. So now they were both sitting at the coffee table, facing each other.

"We could use all the help we can get," Morpheus pointed. "We still have to find the One. I'll read this pile."

With that, Morpheus pointed at the pile that was a little higher and picked up the top application from the pile. He then began to skim through its content.

"Whatever you say, captain," Trinity rolled her eyes.

Morpheus paused and looked up at Trinity only to see that she, too, was skimming through the application.

"Trinity?" he called.

Trinity didn't bother to look up as she expected Morpheus to say whatever he had to say, but when he didn't speak up after a moment, she looked up and asked, "Yes?"

"Let's talk."

Now she was curious as to why all of a sudden Morpheus wanted to talk and what he wanted to talk about.

"Sure…" she said hesitantly, "about what?"

It seemed to her that Morpheus was about to say something, but then suddenly decided against it and gestured to the two piles of paper that stood between them instead.

"I think it'll be better for us to at least have some ideas about what we're looking for in the new recruits," he suggested. "That way, we won't have to fight later."

Though she knew that wasn't what he was meaning to talk, she knew she could never squeeze anything out of him unless he really wanted to speak up. So, she pretended not to notice and nodded her agreement instead.

After three whole days of paperwork, Morpheus and Trinity were now moving pieces of furniture, preparing the place for interviewing all chosen applicants.

When they had done moving the last piece of furniture, which was a sofa, both Morpheus and Trinity flopped down onto it. They both sighed and rested their heads on the backrest.

"Why isn't Niobe in all these trouble?" Trinity wondered, turning to her leader.

Morpheus thought about it for a second then turned to face his second in command.

"From what she told me, she'd settle for three for the moment," Morpheus noted. "So she only recruited one operator and she got his name from the list Tank and Dozer gave her."

"I'm glad you and Niobe still talk to each other."

"There's no reason for us not to," Morpheus noted. "We're not a couple of teenagers who tend to hate their exes after they broke up."

"So you still love her?"

Morpheus smiled but said nothing in reply. Trinity looked at him and shrugged.

"I guess she still loves you too," she continued. "It's strange, though. I mean, why can't two people who love each other stay together when some people who obviously hate each other's guts refuse to break up?"

"I guess in the latter case, they were just afraid to be alone while in my case, love just ain't enough," he explained.

With that, Morpheus turned back and watched the curve ceiling. Trinity did the same.

"Do you ever feel lonely?" Trinity asked. "You know, being in your position and all. I mean, everyone is looking up to you like you're some kind of idol."

Morpheus glanced at his former apprentice and corrected, "Not everyone."

Knowing what the man was suggesting, she glanced back and said, "Alright, not everyone, but still…" she trailed off. "How can you live up their expectations?"

"I can't," Morpheus admitted. "That's why I try to stay away from Zion for as long as possible. That's why I failed to have any close relationships with the Neb's new crews. What keeps me going, however, is my dream. It gives me a reason to lead this kind of life, but it also makes me lonely as hell."

Trinity turned to look at her captain only to see him staring at the ceiling. Unable to find the word to say, she took his hand in hers and squeezed it. As a result, Morpheus turned to look at their hands.

"I'm not lonely, though," he continued. "I still have someone who doesn't see me as the great captain of the Nebuchadnezzar, but simply as Morpheus. It's this group of people that keep me from falling to pieces, even now that they have all scattered away except for you."

"Like I once told you, Morpheus," Trinity said lightly. "I didn't have anywhere else to be. You are my home. And I promise you, I'll never give up on you, ever."

The captain of the Nebuchadnezzar took a long considerate look at the dark-haired woman who was staring back at him. He then squeezed her hand softly before he let go of it.

Taking a deep breath, he buried all emotions that came to surface back deep down in his heart. Knowing him all too well, Trinity noticed it was time to end the sentimental moment and got back to a serious mode, so she sat up.

"Let's get ready for the interview, shall we?"

After a long interview session had finished, it was time for Morpheus and Trinity to share their opinions about the applicants. The dark sturdy man leaned against the kitchen counter, sipping a hot drink while the fair lithe maiden sat at the coffee table with her legs crossed.

"So, how many are we going to recruit?" she demanded.

"The Neb has enough room for ten people," Morpheus mentioned. "But we have to save a space just in case we're going to free some minds. I'll say two to four."

"Anyone you like in particular?"

"No one really stands out," he stated. "So I'll just settle for anyone who's not too extreme."

"Nah…you'll have to settle for someone who believes," Trinity suggested. "Either in the One, or in you."

"It'll be best if they believe in both," Morpheus added casually. "Then again, I have a crew who only believes in me but not in the One, and I have a crew who believes in neither but stays just because of the former crew."

"At least Tank and Dozer believe in both," Trinity observed.

Morpheus moved to join Trinity at the coffee table and took a look at the interview results of their final contestants. It turned out that it wasn't as difficult as they expected since they had already eliminated some after the interviews, so they only had seventeen to choose from.

After they had reviewed some applicants, they either both shook their heads or had different opinions. So now, they still didn't anyone to recruit.

"What about this one?" Trinity asked. "Switch. Graduated from Zion Academy as the top ten of her class. Headstrong, tough, and she's also a sharp shooter."

"Does she have hair?"

"Of course she does," Trinity replied. She then paused and glared at the bald man. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"I just don't want to deal with another skinhead, that's all," he noted slyly. "Otherwise, she sounds promising."

"So we'll recruit this one?"

"Do you have anything to say against her?"

"No."

"Good. Then we've got one," said Morpheus. "What about this guy?"

He handed her an application form and the interview result. Trinity simply shook her head and remarked, "He reminds me too much of Cypher."

"Fine," Morpheus shrugged. "Next one?"

Trinity glanced over the last paper in her hand then she shook her head and stated, "I don't like her attitude."

"Who does that woman remind you of this time?"

"A cheerleader I threw a cookie at," said Trinity. "I'm out."

"I've got two left," Morpheus announced. "Apoc. A quiet man. Good with machinery work. Graduated from the Academy in the same year with Switch."

"I'll take him if he's not bald."

Morpheus looked at the picture on the application then he stated, "Apparently, he has long wavy hair. So we'll take him."

"And the last?"

"Nah…I won't take him. He reminds me of Lock."

"Lock?"

"Captain Jason Lock," Morpheus explained. "We graduated from the Academy in the same year, but he's a Zion child. I don't know how or when it started, but he tried to compete with me in every possible way."

"And what did you do?"

"Just like Nomad told me to do," he replied. "I don't give a damn about him. I would be a waste of time if I did, but that doesn't mean I can stand that man."

"I think I understand what you mean. So, we'll only recruit Switch and Apoc."

"I believe that's what we're going to do," Morpheus replied. "There's another kid I have my eyes on, though."

"I never knew you're a pedophile."

Morpheus rolled his eyes at Trinity then he stated, "He was just unplugged from the Matrix and put in the Academy. The boy was another computer genius. If no one else recruits him when he's old enough to join a ship, I might consider taking him in."

"Does this kid have a name?"

"Mouse," Morpheus replied. "In six years, I'll see if I change my mind."

I'm glad you enjoy reading this so far, Victoria. Now we're getting closer to the first movie timeline, which means we're a lot closer to the finish. Anyway, feel free to comment, and I welcome even rave reviews.