Trials & Tribulations:

Nemesis Awakened

Chapter 5: Freedom for Nike

It had been one week since the sentinel attack. Morpheus looked over at Nemesis, as she ate breakfast in silence. The girl had advanced by leaps and bounds since she had been unplugged. She had completed a good portion of the training programs. She seemed to accept the reality around her. Perhaps it is time for a test......

The crew started to clear out of the galley, moving on to their daily duties. Morpheus waited until Nemesis was about to pass him, then he stopped her. "Nemesis, will you come up to the bridge for a moment?"

"Yes, sir." She followed Morpheus up to the bridge, and sat down in the co-pilot chair. "What is this all about, Morpheus?"

"Nemesis, I belive the training programs can only teach you so much," Morpheus told her. "It's time you started to learn your own lessons."

Nemesis leaned back in the chair, half excited, half suspicious. "What excatly did you have in mind?"

"I think you should start looking for a new crew member. You will be in charge of their training, too, once you have sucsessfully unplugged them. I'll help you if you get stuck, but that's all."

"You're serious?"

"I'm serious. You can start today."

*****

Nemesis slowly threaded her way through Zion's files on all potentials in the Matrix. She copied and put all the ones that looked good on a spare disk that Tank had rummaged up for her. She was looking for a girl like her. Same age. Born into the same world. Having Smith around to talk to was ok, but......he was a guy......and there was an age barrier, too.

She yawned, then pulled up the clock. Holy shit! Midnight all ready? Wow. All right, all right, one more potential and I'll go to bed. Nemesis pulled up the next file. Nike.

*****

The crew found Nemesis slumped over the next morning. Neo reached over and pulled her up. "All right, Sleeping Beauty, nap time is over."

"Hmm? Oh, hey guys!" Nemesis leaned forward, reactivating the computer. "I found something, Morpheus."

"Something?" Morpheus asked, closing the distance between him and Nemesis. "Already?"

"Yes." Nemesis's hands flew over the keyboard. "Meet Nike."

Morpheus scanned over the info, then looked directly into Nemesis's eyes. "Are you sure? This is the person that you want to place everything on?"

Nemesis leaned back in the chair. Her blue eyes scanned the faces of the crew. "I think Nike is our best option." She turned her attention back to Morpheus. "Sir, I've torn that file to shreds. I can't find any info on where she lives, and I've tried every trick that I know."

"I'll discuss that with you later," Morpheus said, smiling and placing a hand on her shoulder. "How about something to eat and some sleep? You look like you could use it."

"Yeah, I could always do with another bowl of goop," Nemesis said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Awww, you sound like you don't like it!" Tank said. His face turned downward. "And I made a batch especially for you!"

"Well......I guess I could learn to live with it........"

The crew started to drift towards the galley. Trinity looked over at Smith. "Two teenage girls? That's going to be a real challenge."

Smith gave Trinity a small smile. "If I can survive being human, I can survive living with teenagers."

Trin gave him a good-natured punch on the arm, then followed the rest of the crew in.

*****

Approximately six hour later.

Morpheus and Nemesis were at the bridge, talking over the girl's plans to free Nike. "I'd like to follow her around a little," Nemesis explained. "You know, watch her. See how she acts. But I can't do that without her location."

"I know where she is."

"Where?"

"She's staying with the Oracle."

"The Oracle? The Oracle.....is this the Oracle that made the prophecy about Neo?"

"The very same."

"So when can we go see her?"

Morpheus gave her a hard look. "You're really up to this right now?" Nemesis unsuccessfully tried to stiffle a yawn in response. Morpheus's face lightened, and he smiled. "No, not today. In 24 hours, I'll expect you to be ready. Make the most of it."

*****

24 hours had passed. In that time, Nemesis had slept, grabbed some small bites to eat, and trained her butt off in the construct. She had Tank put her through every possible scenario. She wanted to be ready.

And she was ready.

The matrix formed around her. Pausing for a moment, she looked down at herself. Nemesis was no longer dressed in her street garb. It was a sleek leather outfit. But she still had on her scuffed boots . Her "combat boots" she called them. The weight of the guns (and a knife wedged in her boot) was almost comforting. I'm ready......Nemesis thought, following the others out of the old hotel room and into the street.

*****

Nike's fierce green eyes looked up from a book she was reading to lock with Nemesis's cool blue ones. She tried not to look suspicious as she watched the stranger move over and sit beside her on the couch. "So who are you?" Nike asked, turning back to her book.

"My name is Nemesis, Nike. I work with Morpheus."

Nike dropped her book, a look of suprise on her face. "Morpheus? He's here??"

"You're going to be seeing him in a little while. But for now he wants us to talk."

"About what?"

Nemesis smiled to herself. "Ever heard of the Matrix?"

"So you know about it, too?"

"Yes."

"Can you tell me what it is?"

"No.

"Why not?"

"It's something you need to see for yourself. Neither Morpheus nor I can show it to you. It's you who have to take that first step."

"Well, can you point me in the right direction?"

"That I can do, Nike. That I can do."

Nemesis led Nike out of the Oracle's apartment.

************************************************************************

This is THE END of Nemesis Awakened. I do plan to continue with sequels to this story, so stay tuned! (BTW, Nike is named after the Greek godess of victory, not the athletic wear company.)

************************************************************************