Disclaimer/Author's Note: I don't own the Matrix concept or anyone - yes, even the Agents - in it. Nemo IS mine. As well as Agent Gray. Also, the idea of making the Oracle a Gaurdian for the Agents belongs to whoever thought it up. I just changed her name to Mentor here. And this is STILL not going to be a romance fic... Also, I don't own any famous things mentioned here, like Star Wars and Kodak.
Destiny II
She stood by the front office window and waited for her colleagues to return. As soon as they entered, she felt their expectant gazes on her back. They wanted to know how she'd managed to escape Neo. What would she tell them? That he'd let her go? Ha.
"How did you get away from him?"
Smith asked, not bothering to hide the curiosity in his voice. She turned to face them, the expression on her face unreadable even to Jones who knew her best.
"I didn't."
Jones frowned at her, immediately noticing how strange she sounded.
"What?"
Smith asked in puzzlement. Jones, on the other hand, ignored Smith and concentrated on Nemo.
"Nemo, what's wrong?" He asked, a worried tone replacing his usual bland one.
"Nothing's wrong. I'm fine," she said in the same voice. "Neo let me go."
"He what?" Smith exclaimed.
He realized that something strange was going on, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
"Why did he do that?" Jones asked gently.
"Because Trinity asked him too."
"Why would she do that?" Smith asked, growing annoyed at her behavior.
"Because I'm her sister."
Smith looked at her in shock, but Jones remained silent. As soon as she'd mentioned Trinity, he understood why Neo had let her go.
Because he knew.
He knew all about Nemo and the dysfunctional relationship she had with her sister. He knew because he'd been the one to find her. The System had given him the specifications of a human they wanted for a then unknown purpose.
Specifications found in her.
This could break Nemo. How had she found out that she and Trinity had been sisters? She'd never shown any interest in her past life before. ...Mentor, of course. Didn't she know that this would happen? What was she trying to do?
Smith's shock swiftly turned to anger and contempt.
"You're human?" He turned to Jones. "Why must we continue to work with humans? Can't the System see that they are useless."
"I doubt the System thinks that. If anyone's useless, it's you."
Nemo cut in, her voice as cold as ice. The distress caused by the recent incident with Trinity was quickly replaced with a cold calm. So, he now he knew. What did he plan to do about it?
"For your information, I am more qualified to be an Agent, you...human."
"Name-calling, aren't we? How mature. Can't you think of anything original at least? Besides, my first duty is as an Agent terminator. A job that no Agent is capable of doing."
"So, I've heard. Maybe an Agent can't do it, but I'm positive any other AI can."
"Oh, so you know better than the System? Who do you think you are?"
"Who do YOU think you are?"
"Smith...Nemo...please let's think rationally."
Jones cut in, attempting to calm both of them down. It failed, however, as Nemo took exception from the remark.
"MY thinking has never been better. I don't know about the reconstructed Agent in this room though."
"Digging up the past. Now, who's immature?"
"There is nothing immature in stating a well-known fact, Smith."
She spat his name like a curse. But, she was disgusted at herself for letting him get under her skin. She should have ignored him from the start of his tirade. But, she just had to stoop down to his level, didn't she?
"Well then, am I corrupt enough for you to terminate, Nemo?"
He sneered contempously at her, but inside, he was afraid of what her answer might be. The System had terminated him once already because of what happened with Fleming. Surely, they would not hesitate to do it a second time.
Jones, on the other hand, was at a loss on what to do. What did Mentor expect him to do? Saving the world looked easier and easier...especially since there wasn't much of it left to save...
Back to the problem at hand, it looked like his two colleagues wanted to rip each other's throats out. Wasn't that just great? Especially since both of them were more powerful than he was. Shit, he didn't ask for this.
"Now, look, why don't you two calm down and talk reasonably."
"I AM talking reasonably," they shouted at him simultaneously.
'Stay calm. Just stay calm,' he told himself. 'You can do this.'
"Alright. Then, we all agree on something."
"NO! He/She isn't talking reasonably!"
"Will you two listen to each other! You're arguing like human children!"
"I am doing no such thing," Smith said, crossing his arms at his chest.
"I happen to like human children." She glared at Smith.
"Now, why am I not surprised?"
"Look, this isn't solving anything why don't you two...I don't know...separate and when you're calm, you can talk."
"I AM calm," Smith said, returning Nemo's glare before stalking out of the room.
She sniffed contempously and headed for the computer, leaving Jones to wonder what the hell he was suppose to do now.
It had been less than a week since the fight and the two still weren't speaking to each other. Jones was at his wit's end on what to do with them. But, he was relieved that they at least managed to be civil to each other while they were on a job. In between that was something else entirely though. Now, Jones understood what humans meant by a 'cold war'.
Having survived a will-you-tell-him?-or-will-you-tell-her? situation, he was glad to be on the field again. Until he heard who they were up against, that is. Neo was back...again...and of course, Trinity would be there too. Wonderful. Talk about the week from hell.
They split up again, but this time the rebels were ready for them. Nemo changed the strategy in midstream and thankfully, Smith went along with it. Jones managed to injure a new rebel member, but Neo got her out before Jones could finish her off. Just when he thought it was over for him, Nemo screamed at him over their communications system to get his ass out of there - her words exactly - and he changed host just in time. Thank goodness for program upgrades.
Just when he did, everything stopped...literally.
*Nemo...Smith...what just happened?*
*The Matrix program in our sector has frozen.*
Nemo answered a moment later.
*How is that possible?*
*Neo appears to have fiddled with one code too many. The System will have to reboot the program.*
*How will that affect us?*
*It won't. After all, we are separate programs from the Matrix one.*
*Then, it will be the same for the rebels?*
*Yes. So, we'll have to be especially careful. We are vulnerable in this type of situation. We cannot change hosts and if we are killed...the System does not know what could happen to our programs. It could be just as deadly as if Neo terminated us.*
*Does Smith know?*
Met with silence, he sighed and informed Smith himself. Having done so, he walked cautiously among the human programs. It was eerie how still and silent everything was. But, it also made it easier to identify the rebel program as it came up from behind him. He slipped into a nearby shop and watched as the rebel passed by. The rebel seemed to be oblivious to the Agent's presence though he eyed his surroundings suspiciously.
'Of course, only Neo can read the code,' Jones mused.
A moment later, he was the only working program around for blocks. He idly wondered what the human programs would think when they found the dead body of a man who hadn't been there moments ago. Well, he'd just leave that for the local security to handle.
Several blocks away, Nemo sat as if frozen too on a park bench. She'd dressed differently as she did everyday. That was to keep some observant Matrix occupant from noticing how she wore the same outfit everyday. She wasn't a standard Agent, so she didn't wear the female version of the Agent uniform.
Her expression did not change when she heard a gunshot blocks away. But, she did tense up as her sister went past. Cautiously surveying the surrounding area, Trinity also tensed as she immediately took notice of Nemo. Knowing that it would be useless to keep up the charade, Nemo got up in one smooth fluid motion at the same time she reached for her gun. She easily dodged the bullets sent her way and thought.
'So, she has no qualms about killing me now. Well, isn't that just like her.'
Nemo leapt over her sister and whirled around to kick the other's feet from under her. As soon as she fell, Trinity merely rolled away and quickly got back on her feet. She barely missed a shot aimed at her head and took out an entire clip of bullets on Nemo.
Distracted, Nemo dodged the bullets and when she stopped moving, Trinity was nowhere in sight. She cursed under her breath at the other's cleverness.
'You want to play hide and seek. Fine. But, two can play at this game. You're precious Neo can't save you now. How can he when the codes are frozen?'
Nemo could not resist a slight smirk as she went off on her hunt.
She cornered Trinity moments later in a dead end alley. After another exchange of bullets, they realized that they were both empty and could not reload new clips of bullets in the frozen Matrix.
Nemo threw away her now useless gun and brushed away some non-existent dust from her impeccable white suit.
"Well, it seems that you didn't mean your apology, sister."
She said the last sarcastically, watching the other's impassive face for any sign of emotion. She was disappointed to find none.
"My sister is dead. You and the System killed her."
"I must say I love the Star Wars parallelism. Darth Vader killing Anakin Skywalker and all that, you know."
"You are not my sister."
"Well, it's not like you ever treated me as one. So, I guess it doesn't matter. Does it?"
A satisfied smirk appeared on her lips as she saw a look of pain flicker for a moment on her sister's pale, drawn face.
"Why are you doing this? Why are you working for them?"
"Why? It's simple really. They gave me everything I have. They gave me a purpose and a sense of belonging. Things I never found in our 'happy little home'. They made me who I am now."
"And do you like who you are?"
"Why shouldn't I?"
"Aren't you ashamed of what you do? You help keep humanity enslaved."
"I help keep them happy. They're happy here."
"They're not free."
"But, they're happy. Why can't you leave them alone?"
"Because I care."
"So, do I. ...But, enough talk. Are you going to fight or not?"
She leapt for her sister as she spoke and aimed a kick for her head. Trinity barely dodged it as she tried to punch Nemo and failed. The two lost track of time, but as it passed, it was evident that Trinity was going to lose.
Then, without warning, the dead end wall blew open at the same time the familiar buzz of code returned to Nemo. The Matrix program was back online. For a few hours, the sector had been 'invisible' to all the other sectors.
But, now that the program was back on track, so was Neo and he was pissed. Nemo mourned another missed opportunity to kill her sister, but she knew there would be other opportunities. She quickly changed hosts and narrowly missed being terminated by the One. She continued walking down the street in her new host and met Jones at the other side of the road.
He was watching from the sidelines as the local police tried to calm down some frightened people. Amidst the hysterical group, police officers closed off the area with a dead body using bright yellow police tape. The young man dressed in black leather had a neat bullet hole in the back of his head. A pool of already congealing blood gathered at his head. The dead man's face was suprisingly calm. He hadn't even seen the bullet coming.
*That's two that they've lost in little more than a week.*
Jones initiated conversation.
*Morpheus will not be pleased.*
*No, he will not. But now, they also know of your existence.*
*They would have found out sooner or later.*
*Where are you going?*
He asked as she began to walk away from him.
*There's someone I have to see.*
A half-hour later found her back in Mentor's kitchen.
"I've talked to my sister."
"What did she say?"
"You know damn well what she said."
The older woman chose not to comment on the other's use of profanity as she handed her a cup of steaming coffee. Nemo merely pushed it away and turned to look out the window. The sun was beginning to set, staining the skies a crimson red.
"I'm sorry for what you've been through, but it was something that had to happen. You had to speak to her...to know that there is really no turning back. ...Admit it, child. You've always secretly wished that you could have a normal life and a happy home. You want your sister to love you. It's only natural, being human as you are. But, she just doesn't have it in her."
"She said she was sorry."
"Yes, she did and she meant it. She's sorry for all the hurt and pain she caused you. But, you can't force love. And after all these years...it just isn't possible.
Everything happens for a reason. The reason for this is simple. You have to know that you don't belong to their world. The Matrix world or the Real world, it doesn't matter. You belong with us in our world, which only we can see and understand. The System saw your potential and made you one of us.
It is your destiny. Accept it."
"But, I don't even fit in here. The others accept me, but only because they have to. How can the world you speak of be any different from the human world, real or not?"
"Because we want you here. We need you."
"Smith doesn't need me."
"Doesn't he? He just doesn't realize it yet. And you don't realize that you need him too. You need each other. Without one, the other cannot function to his full capacity."
Mentor got up from her seat and helped the subdued Nemo up from hers.
"Go back, child. There is a choice to be made and only you can make it. Choose well."
Nemo nodded almost automatically and left as downcast as before. After Nemo had left, Mentor picked up the cooled cup from the table and took a sip. Shaking her head sadly, she muttered to herself.
"Poor child. This is perhaps the only choice she can ever make on her own. They overestimated her. Even the human spirit has a breaking point. For her sake, I hope she chooses what is best for her, not the System."
Nemo walked down the lobby towards the elevator, nodding out of habit at the gaurd there. He nodded back with a cheerful smile that was not returned, while she got into the elevator and waited for it to reach her floor. When it did, she stepped out and slipped into the office she shared with her colleagues. Jones was at the computer, hard at work as always. But, Smith sat right behind him, obviously deep in thought. Dark thoughts from the look of his grim face.
The tense atmosphere was not exactly conducive to work. Or so Jones thought gloomily as Nemo walked in. Having Smith seated behind him was like having a vulture perched on his shoulder watching his every move. Wonderful.
Things hadn't cleared up at all and Jones was wishing that he could find someone to ask advice. He obviously couldn't ask the other Agents. They didn't know a bloody thing about what it was like to work with BOTH Nemo and Smith. And the System wasn't exactly any help either. They gave the trio pretty much a free rein in their work. As long as the job got done like they wanted, everything else could go to hell. As for Mentor - the reason for the whole mess in the first place - well, she hadn't spoken to any of them since the last time.
So, here he was stuck with two egoistic yet insecure superior programs. What wouldn't he do for a vacation as humans called their off time.
"Why did you write the code that way?" Smith suddenly snapped from behind him.
"Nemo told me to do so."
"Well, she might be a good programmer for a human, but that is not how AI do things. You can easily cut out that part and save space and time."
Jones winced as he did the necessary corrections. 'Here we go again.'
Nemo walked - no, stalked - across the room to stop behind him on his other side.
"Will you tell him that I was merely following protocol, which requires THAT part of the code?"
Leaving no room for argument, she pushed Jones aside and corrected the code again.
"Well, sorry," Smith snapped at her, his tone contradicting his words. Sarcasm practically oozed out as he continued. "I must have committed an error. Please terminate me now."
"You're just begging for it, aren't you?"
"Give her a prize, Johnny!"
"Well, isn't that nice. Human quotes from an anti-human Agent."
"I never said I was anti-human."
"Who are you trying to fool? ...Then, what? You have something against FEMALE Agents?"
"Oh, go ahead and turn this into a sexist issue, won't you?"
"Then, what is it? Why don't you enlighten me? After all, I seem to be lacking a few more codes than you, oh high-and-mighty one."
"With pleasure. I have NOTHING..." He glared at her disbelieving expression and repeated with even greater emphasis. "...NOTHING against humans or females..."
"Oh, I get it now. You don't have anything against them taken separately. But, you DO hate human female Agents. Don't you?"
An uncontrollable twitch started at his left eye. Nemo was so furious that she didn't even notice it, but Jones did and he quickly realized that he was rapidly losing control over the situation.
"Uhhh...excuse me...would you just..."
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I do! I HATE you and Fleming and every other human, male or female, that thinks he can do MY job better than I can!"
He roared as Nemo's face turned paler than it already was. Pale, not out of barely restrained fury but out of pain and hurt.
Smith hated her.
She looked away and quickly left the room so that they missed the pained expression on her face as well as the tears she blinked back. After the emotionally stressful morning, this was the straw that broke the camel's back.
'Why should I care what he thinks about me? ...because I'm only human...'
Jones immediately went after her. Reaching the door before it could close, he left the room and grabbed her arm as she walked towards the elevator.
"Nemo, listen to me. He didn't mean it like you think."
"Yes, he did. I'm not stupid. I know that none of never liked me from the start."
"That's not true. I like you."
She smiled wanly at him but still shook off his restraining hand and walked away.
"You can't run from us, Nemo."
"Watch me."
She pressed the elevator button and waited patiently for it to stop at their floor.
"Why?"
"I don't belong here."
Those were her last words before she stepped into the elevator and left him alone in the corridor.
"You're wrong, Nemo. You do belong here," he whispered softly to himself.
He shook his head and returned to the office. As soon as he entered, he realized that Smith had not moved from his position. Smith's face was also paler than usual as he clenched and unclenched his fists.
"Do you think she's going to terminate me?"
Jones blinked his eyes in surprise as it sunk in that Smith was actually afraid. He'd never thought there was anything or anyone capable of scaring his superior. But, obviously Smith was just as scared of Nemo as almost every Agent in the Matrix was.
"You're afraid of her?"
Jones looked at him in disbelief. Smith looked like he was about to protest then stopped, choosing to look away instead.
"You insecure bastard!" Jones shouted in exasperation and anger, addressing his superior for the first time in a less than respectful tone. Smith's head jerked up in shock at the other's choice of words and tone. "This whole time, you were afraid of each other!"
"She's afraid of me?" Smith asked stunned.
"Not really of you, but of you hating her. Both of you are a pair of insecure basket cases. No wonder, Mentor called this a soap opera."
"So, she's not going to terminate me?"
"You've got a one-track mind, don't you? Of course, she isn't. If you needed to be terminated, she'd have done it long ago. Unless - now that I come to think of it - she has no say in it at all. It could be completely the System's decision. Either way it works for you."
Smith sat down slowly as the news sunk in. Then, something clicked in Jones' head. The elevator...it hadn't been going down. It had been headed up...to the roof.
"Smith."
The other looked up in surprise at the urgency in Jones' voice.
"What?"
"Nemo. Only you can stop her. On the roof. Go."
"What?"
"Just. Go. Now."
Smith scowled but changed hosts to go the roof.
Nemo walked across the roof and onto its narrow ledge. Standing silently at the edge, she looked down at the busy streets below her. Honking cars, rushing people...what she fought for. Was it worth it?
The pain...the loneliness...the despair...
Despair.
She savored its sharp taste not so unlike the bitterness of being alone. Somehow this one emotion had slipped past the System's notice, concealing itself behind her loneliness.
For once, she doubted.
She doubted herself...the System...everything she'd believed in her entire existence as person and program.
She looked below at the plunging drop and thought how easy it would be to end it all. Right here, right now. The easy way out. Was that the way she wanted to take?
All she had to do was jump off the ledge and activate her self-destruct code. No body would be found plastered on the sidewalk. She would just blink out of existence, a mere program among many.
It would be so easy.
She did not hear the door behind her open and close. Still, she knew that she was no longer alone on the roof. She knew every single Agent signature and she knew who was right behind her.
"Smith. Have you come to see me off?"
"What is with humans and jumping off buildings to plunge to their deaths? It is so messy."
"Yes. It is, isn't it? But, I suppose the idea of free fall before death has always appealed to the romantic side of humanity. Besides, it might not be clean, but its efficient. Most humans do not survive such a suicide attempt."
"I think not. ...So, why are you doing this exactly?"
"Why are you here?"
"Answer a question with a question, won't you?" Then, he admitted grudgingly, "Jones told me to go here. He didn't tell me why."
"Jones...he is more perceptive than most think. They are wrong to underestimate him."
"We aren't here about Jones. Why do you want kill yourself?"
"I'm not really killing myself. My body was destroyed even before I was instated. I am merely a sentient program with a human origin."
"Still, you wish to put an end to your existence."
"That is correct."
"Why?"
"Mentor told me I had to make a choice. I believe that choice is whether I remain or leave the System. I choose to leave for I no longer have a place here."
"The System gave you a place and only they can take it away."
"And they too gave me the right to decide whether or not I've exceeded my stay. They gave me a way out."
Smith was at a loss on how to continue and an uneasy pause followed. When he broke the silence, his voice was soft and tinged with an undeniable curiosity.
"Why do you feel like you don't belong?"
"Because I don't. All my life, all I wanted was someone to want me. I found no one. Then, the System found me. They wanted me. But, the Agents...they too are part of the System...yet they hate and fear me. In their eyes - your eyes - I am only human."
"If you were only human...do you think we would fear you the way we do?"
She looked back at him in surprise. She'd never thought of it that way. Then, she realized something else.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were trying to save me."
"Maybe you're right. After all, if you're gone, who'll keep me in line and in doing so keep me from termination by the System?"
Nemo's lips curved up into a small smile.
A real smile.
She'd never smiled before in her entire existence as a person or a program. Then again, she never had a reason to do so. When she did, it was like her entire face lit up. Her eyes shone as she shook her head in silent laughter.
"You're a real piece of work, Smith. A self-centered bastard to the core."
"Why, thank you."
She turned away from the edge to face him and studied the hand he offered to help her down from the ledge. She knew that he would never admit that he'd accepted her necessary presence, but the gesture was enough for her. They might never be friends, but at least they'd be teammates. Her. Him. Jones. The System's finest...perhaps in the near future.
She accepted his hand and leapt lightly to the hard concrete floor. He held her hand for a second longer than was necessary as a look of understanding passed between them.
"I'd hate to ruin this Kodak moment, but we have a job to do."
Smith released her hand as they turned to face Jones.
"Kodak moment?" Smith repeated in surprise as Nemo winced. She knew of his recent study of human media.
"Don't ask."
Destiny II
She stood by the front office window and waited for her colleagues to return. As soon as they entered, she felt their expectant gazes on her back. They wanted to know how she'd managed to escape Neo. What would she tell them? That he'd let her go? Ha.
"How did you get away from him?"
Smith asked, not bothering to hide the curiosity in his voice. She turned to face them, the expression on her face unreadable even to Jones who knew her best.
"I didn't."
Jones frowned at her, immediately noticing how strange she sounded.
"What?"
Smith asked in puzzlement. Jones, on the other hand, ignored Smith and concentrated on Nemo.
"Nemo, what's wrong?" He asked, a worried tone replacing his usual bland one.
"Nothing's wrong. I'm fine," she said in the same voice. "Neo let me go."
"He what?" Smith exclaimed.
He realized that something strange was going on, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
"Why did he do that?" Jones asked gently.
"Because Trinity asked him too."
"Why would she do that?" Smith asked, growing annoyed at her behavior.
"Because I'm her sister."
Smith looked at her in shock, but Jones remained silent. As soon as she'd mentioned Trinity, he understood why Neo had let her go.
Because he knew.
He knew all about Nemo and the dysfunctional relationship she had with her sister. He knew because he'd been the one to find her. The System had given him the specifications of a human they wanted for a then unknown purpose.
Specifications found in her.
This could break Nemo. How had she found out that she and Trinity had been sisters? She'd never shown any interest in her past life before. ...Mentor, of course. Didn't she know that this would happen? What was she trying to do?
Smith's shock swiftly turned to anger and contempt.
"You're human?" He turned to Jones. "Why must we continue to work with humans? Can't the System see that they are useless."
"I doubt the System thinks that. If anyone's useless, it's you."
Nemo cut in, her voice as cold as ice. The distress caused by the recent incident with Trinity was quickly replaced with a cold calm. So, he now he knew. What did he plan to do about it?
"For your information, I am more qualified to be an Agent, you...human."
"Name-calling, aren't we? How mature. Can't you think of anything original at least? Besides, my first duty is as an Agent terminator. A job that no Agent is capable of doing."
"So, I've heard. Maybe an Agent can't do it, but I'm positive any other AI can."
"Oh, so you know better than the System? Who do you think you are?"
"Who do YOU think you are?"
"Smith...Nemo...please let's think rationally."
Jones cut in, attempting to calm both of them down. It failed, however, as Nemo took exception from the remark.
"MY thinking has never been better. I don't know about the reconstructed Agent in this room though."
"Digging up the past. Now, who's immature?"
"There is nothing immature in stating a well-known fact, Smith."
She spat his name like a curse. But, she was disgusted at herself for letting him get under her skin. She should have ignored him from the start of his tirade. But, she just had to stoop down to his level, didn't she?
"Well then, am I corrupt enough for you to terminate, Nemo?"
He sneered contempously at her, but inside, he was afraid of what her answer might be. The System had terminated him once already because of what happened with Fleming. Surely, they would not hesitate to do it a second time.
Jones, on the other hand, was at a loss on what to do. What did Mentor expect him to do? Saving the world looked easier and easier...especially since there wasn't much of it left to save...
Back to the problem at hand, it looked like his two colleagues wanted to rip each other's throats out. Wasn't that just great? Especially since both of them were more powerful than he was. Shit, he didn't ask for this.
"Now, look, why don't you two calm down and talk reasonably."
"I AM talking reasonably," they shouted at him simultaneously.
'Stay calm. Just stay calm,' he told himself. 'You can do this.'
"Alright. Then, we all agree on something."
"NO! He/She isn't talking reasonably!"
"Will you two listen to each other! You're arguing like human children!"
"I am doing no such thing," Smith said, crossing his arms at his chest.
"I happen to like human children." She glared at Smith.
"Now, why am I not surprised?"
"Look, this isn't solving anything why don't you two...I don't know...separate and when you're calm, you can talk."
"I AM calm," Smith said, returning Nemo's glare before stalking out of the room.
She sniffed contempously and headed for the computer, leaving Jones to wonder what the hell he was suppose to do now.
It had been less than a week since the fight and the two still weren't speaking to each other. Jones was at his wit's end on what to do with them. But, he was relieved that they at least managed to be civil to each other while they were on a job. In between that was something else entirely though. Now, Jones understood what humans meant by a 'cold war'.
Having survived a will-you-tell-him?-or-will-you-tell-her? situation, he was glad to be on the field again. Until he heard who they were up against, that is. Neo was back...again...and of course, Trinity would be there too. Wonderful. Talk about the week from hell.
They split up again, but this time the rebels were ready for them. Nemo changed the strategy in midstream and thankfully, Smith went along with it. Jones managed to injure a new rebel member, but Neo got her out before Jones could finish her off. Just when he thought it was over for him, Nemo screamed at him over their communications system to get his ass out of there - her words exactly - and he changed host just in time. Thank goodness for program upgrades.
Just when he did, everything stopped...literally.
*Nemo...Smith...what just happened?*
*The Matrix program in our sector has frozen.*
Nemo answered a moment later.
*How is that possible?*
*Neo appears to have fiddled with one code too many. The System will have to reboot the program.*
*How will that affect us?*
*It won't. After all, we are separate programs from the Matrix one.*
*Then, it will be the same for the rebels?*
*Yes. So, we'll have to be especially careful. We are vulnerable in this type of situation. We cannot change hosts and if we are killed...the System does not know what could happen to our programs. It could be just as deadly as if Neo terminated us.*
*Does Smith know?*
Met with silence, he sighed and informed Smith himself. Having done so, he walked cautiously among the human programs. It was eerie how still and silent everything was. But, it also made it easier to identify the rebel program as it came up from behind him. He slipped into a nearby shop and watched as the rebel passed by. The rebel seemed to be oblivious to the Agent's presence though he eyed his surroundings suspiciously.
'Of course, only Neo can read the code,' Jones mused.
A moment later, he was the only working program around for blocks. He idly wondered what the human programs would think when they found the dead body of a man who hadn't been there moments ago. Well, he'd just leave that for the local security to handle.
Several blocks away, Nemo sat as if frozen too on a park bench. She'd dressed differently as she did everyday. That was to keep some observant Matrix occupant from noticing how she wore the same outfit everyday. She wasn't a standard Agent, so she didn't wear the female version of the Agent uniform.
Her expression did not change when she heard a gunshot blocks away. But, she did tense up as her sister went past. Cautiously surveying the surrounding area, Trinity also tensed as she immediately took notice of Nemo. Knowing that it would be useless to keep up the charade, Nemo got up in one smooth fluid motion at the same time she reached for her gun. She easily dodged the bullets sent her way and thought.
'So, she has no qualms about killing me now. Well, isn't that just like her.'
Nemo leapt over her sister and whirled around to kick the other's feet from under her. As soon as she fell, Trinity merely rolled away and quickly got back on her feet. She barely missed a shot aimed at her head and took out an entire clip of bullets on Nemo.
Distracted, Nemo dodged the bullets and when she stopped moving, Trinity was nowhere in sight. She cursed under her breath at the other's cleverness.
'You want to play hide and seek. Fine. But, two can play at this game. You're precious Neo can't save you now. How can he when the codes are frozen?'
Nemo could not resist a slight smirk as she went off on her hunt.
She cornered Trinity moments later in a dead end alley. After another exchange of bullets, they realized that they were both empty and could not reload new clips of bullets in the frozen Matrix.
Nemo threw away her now useless gun and brushed away some non-existent dust from her impeccable white suit.
"Well, it seems that you didn't mean your apology, sister."
She said the last sarcastically, watching the other's impassive face for any sign of emotion. She was disappointed to find none.
"My sister is dead. You and the System killed her."
"I must say I love the Star Wars parallelism. Darth Vader killing Anakin Skywalker and all that, you know."
"You are not my sister."
"Well, it's not like you ever treated me as one. So, I guess it doesn't matter. Does it?"
A satisfied smirk appeared on her lips as she saw a look of pain flicker for a moment on her sister's pale, drawn face.
"Why are you doing this? Why are you working for them?"
"Why? It's simple really. They gave me everything I have. They gave me a purpose and a sense of belonging. Things I never found in our 'happy little home'. They made me who I am now."
"And do you like who you are?"
"Why shouldn't I?"
"Aren't you ashamed of what you do? You help keep humanity enslaved."
"I help keep them happy. They're happy here."
"They're not free."
"But, they're happy. Why can't you leave them alone?"
"Because I care."
"So, do I. ...But, enough talk. Are you going to fight or not?"
She leapt for her sister as she spoke and aimed a kick for her head. Trinity barely dodged it as she tried to punch Nemo and failed. The two lost track of time, but as it passed, it was evident that Trinity was going to lose.
Then, without warning, the dead end wall blew open at the same time the familiar buzz of code returned to Nemo. The Matrix program was back online. For a few hours, the sector had been 'invisible' to all the other sectors.
But, now that the program was back on track, so was Neo and he was pissed. Nemo mourned another missed opportunity to kill her sister, but she knew there would be other opportunities. She quickly changed hosts and narrowly missed being terminated by the One. She continued walking down the street in her new host and met Jones at the other side of the road.
He was watching from the sidelines as the local police tried to calm down some frightened people. Amidst the hysterical group, police officers closed off the area with a dead body using bright yellow police tape. The young man dressed in black leather had a neat bullet hole in the back of his head. A pool of already congealing blood gathered at his head. The dead man's face was suprisingly calm. He hadn't even seen the bullet coming.
*That's two that they've lost in little more than a week.*
Jones initiated conversation.
*Morpheus will not be pleased.*
*No, he will not. But now, they also know of your existence.*
*They would have found out sooner or later.*
*Where are you going?*
He asked as she began to walk away from him.
*There's someone I have to see.*
A half-hour later found her back in Mentor's kitchen.
"I've talked to my sister."
"What did she say?"
"You know damn well what she said."
The older woman chose not to comment on the other's use of profanity as she handed her a cup of steaming coffee. Nemo merely pushed it away and turned to look out the window. The sun was beginning to set, staining the skies a crimson red.
"I'm sorry for what you've been through, but it was something that had to happen. You had to speak to her...to know that there is really no turning back. ...Admit it, child. You've always secretly wished that you could have a normal life and a happy home. You want your sister to love you. It's only natural, being human as you are. But, she just doesn't have it in her."
"She said she was sorry."
"Yes, she did and she meant it. She's sorry for all the hurt and pain she caused you. But, you can't force love. And after all these years...it just isn't possible.
Everything happens for a reason. The reason for this is simple. You have to know that you don't belong to their world. The Matrix world or the Real world, it doesn't matter. You belong with us in our world, which only we can see and understand. The System saw your potential and made you one of us.
It is your destiny. Accept it."
"But, I don't even fit in here. The others accept me, but only because they have to. How can the world you speak of be any different from the human world, real or not?"
"Because we want you here. We need you."
"Smith doesn't need me."
"Doesn't he? He just doesn't realize it yet. And you don't realize that you need him too. You need each other. Without one, the other cannot function to his full capacity."
Mentor got up from her seat and helped the subdued Nemo up from hers.
"Go back, child. There is a choice to be made and only you can make it. Choose well."
Nemo nodded almost automatically and left as downcast as before. After Nemo had left, Mentor picked up the cooled cup from the table and took a sip. Shaking her head sadly, she muttered to herself.
"Poor child. This is perhaps the only choice she can ever make on her own. They overestimated her. Even the human spirit has a breaking point. For her sake, I hope she chooses what is best for her, not the System."
Nemo walked down the lobby towards the elevator, nodding out of habit at the gaurd there. He nodded back with a cheerful smile that was not returned, while she got into the elevator and waited for it to reach her floor. When it did, she stepped out and slipped into the office she shared with her colleagues. Jones was at the computer, hard at work as always. But, Smith sat right behind him, obviously deep in thought. Dark thoughts from the look of his grim face.
The tense atmosphere was not exactly conducive to work. Or so Jones thought gloomily as Nemo walked in. Having Smith seated behind him was like having a vulture perched on his shoulder watching his every move. Wonderful.
Things hadn't cleared up at all and Jones was wishing that he could find someone to ask advice. He obviously couldn't ask the other Agents. They didn't know a bloody thing about what it was like to work with BOTH Nemo and Smith. And the System wasn't exactly any help either. They gave the trio pretty much a free rein in their work. As long as the job got done like they wanted, everything else could go to hell. As for Mentor - the reason for the whole mess in the first place - well, she hadn't spoken to any of them since the last time.
So, here he was stuck with two egoistic yet insecure superior programs. What wouldn't he do for a vacation as humans called their off time.
"Why did you write the code that way?" Smith suddenly snapped from behind him.
"Nemo told me to do so."
"Well, she might be a good programmer for a human, but that is not how AI do things. You can easily cut out that part and save space and time."
Jones winced as he did the necessary corrections. 'Here we go again.'
Nemo walked - no, stalked - across the room to stop behind him on his other side.
"Will you tell him that I was merely following protocol, which requires THAT part of the code?"
Leaving no room for argument, she pushed Jones aside and corrected the code again.
"Well, sorry," Smith snapped at her, his tone contradicting his words. Sarcasm practically oozed out as he continued. "I must have committed an error. Please terminate me now."
"You're just begging for it, aren't you?"
"Give her a prize, Johnny!"
"Well, isn't that nice. Human quotes from an anti-human Agent."
"I never said I was anti-human."
"Who are you trying to fool? ...Then, what? You have something against FEMALE Agents?"
"Oh, go ahead and turn this into a sexist issue, won't you?"
"Then, what is it? Why don't you enlighten me? After all, I seem to be lacking a few more codes than you, oh high-and-mighty one."
"With pleasure. I have NOTHING..." He glared at her disbelieving expression and repeated with even greater emphasis. "...NOTHING against humans or females..."
"Oh, I get it now. You don't have anything against them taken separately. But, you DO hate human female Agents. Don't you?"
An uncontrollable twitch started at his left eye. Nemo was so furious that she didn't even notice it, but Jones did and he quickly realized that he was rapidly losing control over the situation.
"Uhhh...excuse me...would you just..."
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I do! I HATE you and Fleming and every other human, male or female, that thinks he can do MY job better than I can!"
He roared as Nemo's face turned paler than it already was. Pale, not out of barely restrained fury but out of pain and hurt.
Smith hated her.
She looked away and quickly left the room so that they missed the pained expression on her face as well as the tears she blinked back. After the emotionally stressful morning, this was the straw that broke the camel's back.
'Why should I care what he thinks about me? ...because I'm only human...'
Jones immediately went after her. Reaching the door before it could close, he left the room and grabbed her arm as she walked towards the elevator.
"Nemo, listen to me. He didn't mean it like you think."
"Yes, he did. I'm not stupid. I know that none of never liked me from the start."
"That's not true. I like you."
She smiled wanly at him but still shook off his restraining hand and walked away.
"You can't run from us, Nemo."
"Watch me."
She pressed the elevator button and waited patiently for it to stop at their floor.
"Why?"
"I don't belong here."
Those were her last words before she stepped into the elevator and left him alone in the corridor.
"You're wrong, Nemo. You do belong here," he whispered softly to himself.
He shook his head and returned to the office. As soon as he entered, he realized that Smith had not moved from his position. Smith's face was also paler than usual as he clenched and unclenched his fists.
"Do you think she's going to terminate me?"
Jones blinked his eyes in surprise as it sunk in that Smith was actually afraid. He'd never thought there was anything or anyone capable of scaring his superior. But, obviously Smith was just as scared of Nemo as almost every Agent in the Matrix was.
"You're afraid of her?"
Jones looked at him in disbelief. Smith looked like he was about to protest then stopped, choosing to look away instead.
"You insecure bastard!" Jones shouted in exasperation and anger, addressing his superior for the first time in a less than respectful tone. Smith's head jerked up in shock at the other's choice of words and tone. "This whole time, you were afraid of each other!"
"She's afraid of me?" Smith asked stunned.
"Not really of you, but of you hating her. Both of you are a pair of insecure basket cases. No wonder, Mentor called this a soap opera."
"So, she's not going to terminate me?"
"You've got a one-track mind, don't you? Of course, she isn't. If you needed to be terminated, she'd have done it long ago. Unless - now that I come to think of it - she has no say in it at all. It could be completely the System's decision. Either way it works for you."
Smith sat down slowly as the news sunk in. Then, something clicked in Jones' head. The elevator...it hadn't been going down. It had been headed up...to the roof.
"Smith."
The other looked up in surprise at the urgency in Jones' voice.
"What?"
"Nemo. Only you can stop her. On the roof. Go."
"What?"
"Just. Go. Now."
Smith scowled but changed hosts to go the roof.
Nemo walked across the roof and onto its narrow ledge. Standing silently at the edge, she looked down at the busy streets below her. Honking cars, rushing people...what she fought for. Was it worth it?
The pain...the loneliness...the despair...
Despair.
She savored its sharp taste not so unlike the bitterness of being alone. Somehow this one emotion had slipped past the System's notice, concealing itself behind her loneliness.
For once, she doubted.
She doubted herself...the System...everything she'd believed in her entire existence as person and program.
She looked below at the plunging drop and thought how easy it would be to end it all. Right here, right now. The easy way out. Was that the way she wanted to take?
All she had to do was jump off the ledge and activate her self-destruct code. No body would be found plastered on the sidewalk. She would just blink out of existence, a mere program among many.
It would be so easy.
She did not hear the door behind her open and close. Still, she knew that she was no longer alone on the roof. She knew every single Agent signature and she knew who was right behind her.
"Smith. Have you come to see me off?"
"What is with humans and jumping off buildings to plunge to their deaths? It is so messy."
"Yes. It is, isn't it? But, I suppose the idea of free fall before death has always appealed to the romantic side of humanity. Besides, it might not be clean, but its efficient. Most humans do not survive such a suicide attempt."
"I think not. ...So, why are you doing this exactly?"
"Why are you here?"
"Answer a question with a question, won't you?" Then, he admitted grudgingly, "Jones told me to go here. He didn't tell me why."
"Jones...he is more perceptive than most think. They are wrong to underestimate him."
"We aren't here about Jones. Why do you want kill yourself?"
"I'm not really killing myself. My body was destroyed even before I was instated. I am merely a sentient program with a human origin."
"Still, you wish to put an end to your existence."
"That is correct."
"Why?"
"Mentor told me I had to make a choice. I believe that choice is whether I remain or leave the System. I choose to leave for I no longer have a place here."
"The System gave you a place and only they can take it away."
"And they too gave me the right to decide whether or not I've exceeded my stay. They gave me a way out."
Smith was at a loss on how to continue and an uneasy pause followed. When he broke the silence, his voice was soft and tinged with an undeniable curiosity.
"Why do you feel like you don't belong?"
"Because I don't. All my life, all I wanted was someone to want me. I found no one. Then, the System found me. They wanted me. But, the Agents...they too are part of the System...yet they hate and fear me. In their eyes - your eyes - I am only human."
"If you were only human...do you think we would fear you the way we do?"
She looked back at him in surprise. She'd never thought of it that way. Then, she realized something else.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were trying to save me."
"Maybe you're right. After all, if you're gone, who'll keep me in line and in doing so keep me from termination by the System?"
Nemo's lips curved up into a small smile.
A real smile.
She'd never smiled before in her entire existence as a person or a program. Then again, she never had a reason to do so. When she did, it was like her entire face lit up. Her eyes shone as she shook her head in silent laughter.
"You're a real piece of work, Smith. A self-centered bastard to the core."
"Why, thank you."
She turned away from the edge to face him and studied the hand he offered to help her down from the ledge. She knew that he would never admit that he'd accepted her necessary presence, but the gesture was enough for her. They might never be friends, but at least they'd be teammates. Her. Him. Jones. The System's finest...perhaps in the near future.
She accepted his hand and leapt lightly to the hard concrete floor. He held her hand for a second longer than was necessary as a look of understanding passed between them.
"I'd hate to ruin this Kodak moment, but we have a job to do."
Smith released her hand as they turned to face Jones.
"Kodak moment?" Smith repeated in surprise as Nemo winced. She knew of his recent study of human media.
"Don't ask."