The Sixth Matrix Chapter 3

The Sixth Matrix

Part 1: Recruits

Chapter 3

Neo examined the wound on his shoulder. It stung badly, but at least it wasn't bleeding. He also had a graze on the back of his neck, but that was bandaged. Trinity looked at Neo as sat up, getting up from the chair.

"You okay," she asked quietly.

He nodded yes, just to satisfy her. No, he wasn't, but he didn't want to worry her. Besides, he really didn't know what to say or do—love was never his thing. Computers were, but not love. Love was…new.

Trinity mentally smiled at his nod. It was just what she liked in him. He was shy but eager. "Is Caneen recovering okay?"

Neo shook his head no. "She hasn't talked since she took out the Agent. I'm glad Smith wasn't there. I'm so tired…" Anytime Neo sees the pattern while he's in the Matrix, exhaustion creeps upon him in such a way that he almost falls asleep. It's terrible and takes a lot out of him.

"Get some sleep Neo," Trinity said, wiping her bloodstained hands on a cloth.

Neo got and gladly obeyed her. On the way to his room, he bumped into Caneen. "You okay," he asked quietly. She glanced up at him, her eyes glistening with tears. "I killed him," she whispered.

Neo nodded and said, "But it was the right thing. You saved my life. I was too tired to handle it."

Caneen only turned her back on him and continued walking away. She was drifting away from the group, and it was the first time she had talked since they had come back. Neo sighed. Were her emotions good? The first time he had killed someone in the Matrix, he had had no regret…was that bad?

Neo shivered. If he couldn't tell right from wrong, what would happen to him?

Neo walked to his room and closed the door behind him. Less than five seconds later he was on his bed sleeping…

Frain shook her head. "Why? I've had enough…" She bit her lip, hesitating. "I hate the Matrix. I don't want to go back."

Morpheus sat down in a chair and said quietly, "I understand. The Agents, the AI, aren't the best of friends…but you must understand. You must know how because if someone here dies then—"

Frain almost exploded. "NO! We are gonna die!! You don't see it because of Neo, the one, the 'savior of the peoples'. That is a load of bullshit."

Frain calmed back down and sat down in a chair behind her.

Morpheus sighed. "Frain, I brought you out of the Matrix so you could see the truth and help others see it. It's our mission, our destiny—," he stopped as Frain started yelling again.

"NO!! I decide MY destiny! Not you or some machine! ME!"

With that, Frain marched out of the room and ran to her quarters, to think about her life…the one she used to live.

Morpheus sighed. She had to go back. They had to find more recruits and Frain had to see the Oracle. If she didn't see the Oracle soon, she might not ever. The Oracle was getting old. Caneen, Zone, Jakek has, and Ronin has too.

Then a thought hit Morpheus. Perhaps Zone should go in, so that he could—when he took Tank's place—could see the Matrix from both sides. Not being in two places at the same time but knowing how it works and how to handle panic, since he's been there.

Morpheus nodded and also knew that Jakek hadn't been there for awhile too, nor Ronin. They would have to go again. Morpheus got up and went to find Tank.

After a few minutes of walking around on the Neb, Morpheus found Tank in the cafeteria, looking out a window at the sewers of the cities they ran beneath. When Tank heard Morpheus come in, he turned and said, "Hey! Whatcha' need?"

"Get the computers ready for tomorrow morning. Tomorrow, Neo, Jakek, Frain, Ronin, Traa, Zone, Trinity, and I will go to the Matrix. That is, if those new chairs are set up."

Tank smiled and said, "They are—well, they'll be by the end of tonight."

Morpheus put an arm on Tank's shoulder and said, "That's great Tank, but make sure you get some rest. It'll be a long day tomorrow." Morpheus left Tank in the cafeteria and went to tell Jakek.

Morpheus knew where Jakek would be. Jakek was always in his quarters, either working out or sleeping. He was always there if he didn't have a task assigned to him. And Morpheus couldn't recall giving Jakek any jobs today so…

"Jakek?" Morpheus knocked on the door. He heard heavy, out-of-breath breathing from inside the room. A few seconds later, the door swung open, revealing Jakek. He was covered in sweat, his muscles bulging with intensity. Jakek hated being weak; he said he felt as if he were on drugs when he couldn't lift certain things.

"Sir?" Jakek's father was a general in the military, a very strict, disciplinary man. His traits were passed onto Jakek without a single flaw.

"We head to the Matrix tomorrow. Be ready."

Delight temporarily crossed Jakek's face. He covered as best and fast he could, but Morpheus could still see it. "We are going to take Frain to the Oracle and you and Ronin will be 'scanning'. Sound good?"

Jakek nodded, sweat glistening on his forehead.

"Good." Morpheus turned and left him. Tomorrow would be another day…another day. Morpheus went to his quarters and tried to sleep as fast he could.

The man snapped awake and looked around. He was still there, glad to see that he was. He wasn't sure why he hadn't left yet. He'd seen the light. The light that so many people clamed appeared when you died. But there was more to it than 'the light'. No, there is life after death, and he was living it.

He got to his feet and went down the stairs, seeing a desk in front of his door to the basement, the door having a red handle.

He saw his wife making herself some eggs and he said, "Hey baby." She didn't turn and reply. She didn't make any notion that she heard him…because she didn't. He was dead, his ring on a necklace around her neck.

But he said hi, asking how she slept, even though she would never answer.

He went outside and before stepping down the street, glanced at his chest. The blood was there, unmoving, yet as real as…death. He winced at the sight of it but at the same time had grown used to it. But it wasn't every day you could glance down at your lower stomach and see a gunshot wound…well, it really was every day that he saw it, but…

His name was Dr. Malcolm Crowe. Was.

Now he was dead. Yes, dead. Un-living, yet living. He was…a ghost. He actually had been for a long time, but was unaware of it for a long time.

Malcolm started down the street, making his plans for the day. Even though he was a ghost, he was learning things. Until he'd actually…die, he would watch his old patients. And today, he would watch—and talk to—the patient that saved and changed his…life.

Dr. Malcolm Crowe was going to go see Cole.

Ronin heard the news from Jakek a few minutes later. Ronin had been working out too; they both made a bet that the other couldn't do 2,000 push-ups in one night. Ronin had hit 1,200 a minute ago and was taking a small breather when Jakek came. They were friends; they were both lone wolfs so they understood each other.

"What is it?"

"It's Jakek. Morpheus has a mission." A pause. "A Matrix mission."

That got Ronin's attention. He hadn't been inside the Matrix since he had seen the Oracle; he had mainly been working on the Neb, trying to help Morpheus get ready for the upcoming year 2000 ball. They were gonna get a lot a people then.

Ronin got up and opened the door and said, "Good. When?"

"Tomorrow morning." The simply reply was enough. Ronin was about to shut the door when Jakek smiled his rare smile and said, "What are you on?"

Ronin almost glared at him but said, "Twelve-hundred."

Jakek's eyes widened with surprise. Damn. I haven't even hit a thousand yet. Ronin is getting strong and fast. Pretty soon he'll be able to take me out without a problem. Jakek and Ronin fight/spar a lot. They consider it practice for the Matrix since they started taking the Matrix's glitches for granted and got lazy.

The door shut and Jakek returned to his room. He got down and started doing more push-ups. Finally…another mission.

Back in Ronin's quarters, Ronin had sudden energy overpower him. He continued his push-ups and as he did, he thought about Frain. She was…simply beautiful. She couldn't be prettier…and her happy mood always brought out the most of him, the parts that he kept hidden all the time. And now she was going to see the Oracle. About time…

Traa frowned at the ceiling. Things were crazy. These people were crazy. The whole damn idea of 'the Matrix' was crazy. How? How did these AI take over the world? We humans are smart; we could've beaten 'em.

Traa frowned. And the bastards always call me 'Traa'. My name is Cadge.

The word got around that he was going into the Matrix tomorrow. He didn't want to. He didn't want to see some woman called the 'Oracle'. Those people are only in movies and books and fairy tales…but then again…my whole life was a fairy tale…

Traa sat up, thinking. These people weren't crazy; they were just trying to do the right thing…if this is a dream, it's a really long one.

Cadge sighed and laid back down. His life had become a freak show…a true freak show.

Tank banged on the keyboard. "DAMN!" The four new chairs' wires got messed up. A rat had eaten at them, and though the rat was electrocuted, the four new chairs had to be re-wired. But they still had the originals.

Tank shook his head. Morpheus would be disappointed. But that's okay.

Tank sighed and went off to bed. No use in trying to fix the wires; it would take about two days of full-time work. Tank tried to be optimistic but…, "Damn," he muttered on his way to bed.

Jakek woke up the next morning very sore. His arms ached with tiredness. He got to his feet and swung them onto the cold metal floor below him. He winced as the coldness stung his feet. But he moved on, getting dressed for the day and heading over to the cafeteria.

Morpheus was already up, quietly nursing some food. Well…not exactly food. Just a bunch of vitamin supplements turned into shitty looking liquid. "Hey."

Morpheus looked up at him and said, "Good morning Jakek. You ready for the day?"

Jakek nodded. And then Morpheus said in a quiet voice, "There has been a change of plans. The new chairs aren't fixed—a rat chewed through wires—and it's just gonna be you, Ronin, Neo, Frain, and Zone. Is that okay?"

Jakek didn't really care but figured he should show that he did. "Trinity isn't coming?"

"No."

Jakek shrugged and said, "That's okay. When do we start?''

"When everyone is up and ready to go—," Morpheus glanced at a sun-clock and said, "—about an hour or two. And by the way, Jakek, do you think we have enough new recruits?" Jakek nodded, showing that he they did and Morpheus nodded in agreement, then Jakek left to wake up Ronin.

On his way, Jakek thought about the people that were going. Ronin and I are gonna have to do something. I feel it. He did; sometimes he just felt that something new would come up and take him by surprise. Neo is coming, of course, probably to protect Frain in case some Agents come up. Now that would be cool. Jakek was an action freak.

Even though Neo was 'the one', Jakek kicked his butt the first time they sparred. Jakek had been in the martial arts since he was three, so he had lots of experience, especially when his dad dragged him over to the Persian Gulf War; several of 'the enemy' tried to take out the General and his son while they were there.

Jakek just had the talent and more than enough experience.

Zone is coming…that little punk kid better not screw things up this time. Last time Zone went, he panicked and shot the phone booth in which they were to escape while four Agents were on their tales. That little kid doesn't know what he's doing. And he had better leave Frain alone.

Jakek banged on Ronin's door and yelled, "UP!" Ronin snapped awake and winced. The pain in his arms was worse than he thought it would be. Jakek left for breakfast while Ronin got dressed. When Ronin was ready, he went down to the breakfast room and found Morpheus eating quietly, Jakek in a corner almost done with his 'soup'.

Ronin got himself some of the nutrient-fluids and got his morning share of the supplies. "So Morpheus, when do we go in and who's coming with us?"

Morpheus replied with out looking up. "You, Jakek, Neo, Frain, and Zone. In less than ten minutes." Jakek looked up, a startled look on his face. He quickly regained his typical unreadable expression but the surprise was still evident.

Ronin figured he would push to see what was up. "Why the sudden change? Why are we leaving so soon?"

Morpheus smiled and looked up at him. "I've had a vision. Jakek will brief you on what's happening—," Morpheus stood up and started out of the room, "—I am going to wake the others."

Ronin turned to Jakek. "What's up?"

Jakek shrugged and said simply, "I dunno; we were leaving in an hour a few minutes ago and now we're living in less than ten minutes." Jakek then turned back to his food.

Ronin sighed, knowing that Jakek wouldn't go any further. Not feeling hungry for a bowl of bland water, Ronin left the cafeteria and walked back to his quarters to stretch. He stretched everyday, in the mornings in particular because—

"Ronin, get ready. We leave now."

It was Morpheus, at the other end of the hall. Morpheus turned around the corner, heading to Frain's room.

Ronin went into the 'download' room and found Tank desperately typing on the computers. "What's wrong," asked Ronin.

Tank jumped and replied, "The Matrix is activating a new trace program. We didn't know that it was already up; we thought it wouldn't be in for at least a another month but…it will be able to trace the connections up to where we are, so they can send Sentinels to rip us apart."

Ronin got into a chair and closed his eyes, focusing on the rules of the Matrix; the rules that could be bent and the rules that could be broken. He blocked out all other sound and sight, focusing on nothing but the Matrix.

When his eyes opened, Frain, Neo, Jakek, and Zone were all in chairs around him, ready to go. Tank was loading them in. Ronin leaned back and tried to relax as Trinity shoved the needle-wire into the back of his head. Two seconds later, he was in the Matrix, dressed in black leather pants and a shiny leather trench coat; he liked the outfit that Morpheus always wore and chose it for himself too.

Frain was dressed in solid white clothes, her white silk shirt accompanied by white pants that Ronin couldn't tell what kind of cloth they were.

Jakek was in his usual attire; a black muscle shirt with black sweatpants. Jakek preferred flexible clothing since he used martial arts a lot more than guns. "What's our mission," he asked Morpheus.

Without looking at Jakek, Morpheus kept on arming various pistols and machineguns while replying, "You and Ronin are going to go on a manhunt. You will seek out a child named Cole."

"…And?"

"That's all I know," replied Morpheus. "The rest of us are going to the Oracle. We'll be back soon so return here in four hours. Understood?"

Ronin and Jakek nodded, Jakek saying, "Move out." The two exited the old building, which seemed to be a warehouse, and started jogging down the populated streets of Philadelphia. Then they saw them; two motorcycles that probably had a good horsepower and could be easily ridden. Ronin spotted the owners going inside a nearby restaurant.

Without saying a word, Jakek and Ronin climbed onto the bikes, Ronin dialing Tank up on a cell phone.

"Operator," came the familiar voice on the other end.

"Tank, I need to know how to hotwire a—," Ronin leaned over and checked what kind of motorcycle it was, "—a Yamaha model 921. It's sleek and colored black…just in case."

In a few seconds, Ronin and Jakek's started twitching and immediately they knew what to do and exactly how. Jakek leaned over, unscrewing the screws that covered the engine top with his pocketknife and examining the engine. He then reached in, found the red and ignition wires and cut them both. Then he connected them and the engine started up.

Exactly a second later, Ronin's bike started up and they were off, driving quickly though the populated streets. As they rode, Ronin called Tank and asked for a list of addresses of current residents in Philadelphia. About thirty seconds later they had it and were looking up for Cole in their heads as they drove.

There were three 'Coles'. Jakek and Ronin pulled over and Jakek said, "I'll take the one that's on…close to the Cathedral." Ronin thought for a second and said, "Fine. I got the other two." Then they both revved their bikes and sped off in different directions.

Lynn Sear said, "I love you Cole. Goodbye," and went out the door. Cole waved and said, "Bye Mom." She smiled back at him and got into her car and drove off to her Saturday job.

Cole shut the front door and looked around at the house. It was a wreck…a very bad night last night. Cole had the marks to prove it on his back and arms. But he had done it again. It was the sixth one. The sixth ghost he had helped.

It was scary. He was going to go get a snack in the middle of the night when he felt cold and a second later, fingernails raked his back. It was the woman that used to live there. She had cut her wrists a few years ago…

Cole screamed but quickly recovered; though he was bleeding. And then, somehow, the woman just fell to the ground, crying, weeping over whatever problems were on her mind…and after Cole talked to her, she left, saying sorry she had hurt and him and promising she wouldn't return.

Cole was proud.

He had helped six people…the first being the psychiatrist that never knew, the sixth being the woman last night…all in all, it was getting better. More and more painful, but he was learning how to keep calm and not be afraid of blood, since most of the ghosts were dripping with it.

Cole turned on the TV, flipping the channel to some cartoons. There was a show called 'Gundam' and a show about Bugs Bunny…Cole watched Gundam for a few minutes. It was strange; he had never seen it before but he kinda knew what was going on…not like he just knew but he figured it out fast.

Cole liked it, but Bugs Bunny was funnier.

Tires screeched outside. A couple people shouted in anger. Wondering what was going, Cole wandered over to a window to see a man in black clothes looking into his house. Other people were looking at him strangely; that meant he wasn't dead…

The man, couldn't be more than twenty years old, saw Cole through the window and started up the steps that lead to his apartment. Cole gasped. He's gonna kidnap me!

Cole turned to run and almost shrieked. The kitchen was…it was…ransacked. Knives everywhere, dishes broken and scattered about on the floor and a broken window…and a person. A boy, crying in the corner.

"Hello," called Cole, even though he knew he was there.

The boy looked up and instead of seeing a tearful face, Cole saw solid anger. Anger with the look to kill. "They said you could help me…they SAID!!!"

Cole gulped.

The boy slowly rose to his feet. "And you HAVEN'T! You should pay you FREAK!" The boy walked over to a defiant Cole, and knocked him away. Cole flew back into the living room, crashing into one of the chairs. He yelled in pain as he rolled.

By the time he had stopped rolling and could look around, he was flying through the front door and—BAM! Jakek, who was about to knock on the door, flew back as the boy crashed through the door and onto him. Jakek flew back and hit the sidewalk, his clothes getting hot from the sidewalk and friction.

The boy, who Jakek thought was Cole, was crying.

Something busted a window of the house; Jakek saw a dinner plate flying away out of the corner of his eye. "Is your name Cole," Jakek asked as he got to his feet and pulled out two .45 caliber pistols. Cole's nod looked like a hyperventilation. Good, Jakek thought. "Let's go; get on my bike." Cole looked at the bike, then back at the house.

The ghost was coming out, a knife skidding down the steps. The boy had his eyes on his knife, as if he planned on picking it up and using it on Cole. Cole decided on taking the bike. Jakek picked up kid and put him on the bike, got on himself and started the engine. The little kid he was sent to get, Cole screamed.

And then…something…Jakek frowned. A knife glinted in the sunlight…floating.

And then it was raised up and as if getting ready to stab someone. No one was there—Jakek frowned but thought fast. He used his left arm and pushed Cole back, away from the bike. Cole fell back onto the road, the knife sinking down and plunging into the motorcycle seat.

What the hell?

Jakek saw it float back out and take aim at him. Shit!

Jakek jumped back, pulling up his arms in mid-back-flip as the knife slashed through where his arms just were. Jakek landed on the ground when his cell phone rang. The knife then went back in a sudden movement and—

Jakek sidestepped to his right but wasn't fast enough. The knife was thrown, piercing and going through his left ribs. The knife landed on the street behind Jakek. Cole screamed, "Leave us alone!"

Jakek frowned, clutching his pained ribs that were gushing with blood. The…anomaly…was gone. No more signs that it was even there.

Through Cole's eyes, the boy walked away. Disgust had covered his face.

The cell phone rang again and Jakek grabbed for it. His ribs…lot of blood…Jakek collapsed, losing blood so fast that he lost consciousness. Cole looked at his savior's limp body on the street. Other people had gathered around, but were too afraid to go anywhere near the two victims.

The cell phone relentlessly rang. Cole crawled on the ground toward it, his hands shaking, he picked it up and hit the 'Talk' button. "He-e-ell-l-lo?"

For a moment there was no reply, then a man's voice came on the line. "Who is this? Jakek?" Cole glanced at the helpers' body and replied, "He's dead, I think."

"Oh…that's…" The voice was faint, obvious talking to someone else on the other end. Cole caught the words Trinity and Jakek and hurting. Then the man came back. "Alright kid, what's your name?"

"Cole."

"Shit."

Cole blinked. Even in this time of panic, someone dying next to him…Cole couldn't help it. "You said the s-word."

"Alright, Cole, I'm gonna send someone to help you out, okay? He's gonna be on the same bike that Jakek came on. He will help you out so do what he tells you to, okay?"

Cole gulped, unsure if he could trust these people. He made his decision. "Okay." The man hung up, leaving Cole to deal with the dying man that saved his life, and a crowd of scared on-lookers.

Authors Note

Sorry I didn't put the Sixth Sense people in here earlier, but…anyway, starting at the beginning of chapter 4, this story should improve A LOT. Now the real action begins, the real mysteries are solved, and Neo's destiny will begin. But it's NOT what you think.