Trials & Tribulations

A Cry in the Dark

Nike begins life in the real world with some frightening hands-on training: a nearby hovercraft has transmitted a distress signal.

Chapter 2- Passage to Zion

The older boy was still in serious condition, but at least he was stable for the moment. He had floated in and out of consciousness, complaining of pain. Jade had given him something that had completely knocked him out. At least his face didn't betray any sign of pain anymore.

The little one, however, was in a very dire state. He had massive burns, broken ribs, and had also lost a lot of blood. The Neb could only had a limited supply. Morpheus had assured them that the Neb was hurrying towards the human haven with all possible speed. But it would still take a day and a half to get to Zion, at least a day and a half.

It's the "at least" part that worries me the most, Nike thought, staring over the older boy to where Nemesis was seated. Nemesis and Nike shared a glance, and Nike knew that her fellow medic was thinking the same thing.

Time passed in a blur, even though when Nike or Nemesis wasn't busy, they stared at the ship's computerized clock. 36 hours.....35......34......33......32....(would they make it?).......31........30.........

Jade made an entrance, thinking it was about time to change shifts. "Everything holding?"

"Yes," both girls answered in unison.

Nemesis looked down at her patient, then looked up into Jade's bright green eyes. "How soon, Jade?"

"We're looking at another 29 hours."

Nike stood up. "Is there anyway we can transfer at least one of them to one of the other ships?"

Jade sighed. "No. Zion has ordered that we fly directly to the city under the Dagger and Mars's escort. The danger is too great to stop for a transfer. But don't worry, Port Authority has assured me that there are two medical teams standing by awaiting our arrival."

Nike slumped back down in the chair. "Are you all right?" Jade asked worriedly.

"I'm just tired."

"How are you, Nemesis?"

"The same."

"How about you two going to bed? I'll get Morpheus to help me out."

Nike and Nemesis didn't have to be told twice. They left the infirmary, mumbling their good-nights to Jade. The pair made their way down below, but just as Nike was about to step into her room, Nemesis stopped her. "What do you think of the real world?"

"You mean, do I miss my old life?"

"Yeah, that, too."

"I've been so busy taking care of those two, I really haven't had time to give a damn about anything. A life is a life, whether it's in the Matrix or the real world."

Nemesis nodded in agreement. "Good night, Nike."

"Good night, Nemesis."

*****

The next morning at breakfast, Nemesis was seated across from Smith when a thought occurred to her. She looked up at her crewmate.

"Smith?"

"Hmm? What?"

"Is there a registry of all the ships currently in service?"

"I've never seen such a list, but it would make sense if it did. Ask Morpheus, he must know for sure."

So after breakfast, Nemesis climbed up to the cockpit and asked. "Yes, but it's not stored on the Neb," Morpheus answered. "Why do you ask?"

"It's about time we learned the names of these boys, the names of their crewmates, whether they have any relatives in Zion that need to be notified-"

"Don't worry," Morpheus assured her. "We'll be allowed access to that information once we reach Zion."

"When?"

Morpheus glanced at the clock. "Another.......20 hours."

"20 hours." Nemesis sank back against the metal wall, still harboring her doubts.

"Do something to take your mind off of it. Train with Nike, sleep, help with some minor repairs, there are a million things you could do."

Nemesis left the cockpit. It was time to get back to her original task: training Nike.

*****

Nemesis slowly took Nike through weapons and combat training. She watched Nike fight the computer, then had Tank remove the simulated instructors and she tested her protege herself. She added in little tips and tricks, corrections to small flaws in Nike's technique. Small flaws, she had heard from Morpheus time and again, were rewarded by death in the Matrix. There was no margin for error. You either won or you lost.

*****

Morpheus, unnoticed by the pair, had been observing their pair for quite some time after handing the controls over to Neo & Trinity. "Good. Good," he said to himself, watching them dance across the screen. He turned his attention to Tank again. "How long now?"

"10 hours, sir."

"Have they done the jump simulation yet?"

"No.....wait, Nemesis just asked me for it now."

Morpheus turned to Smith, who had also been watching. "Do you-"

"Do I want to bet?"

"Yes."

"There is no way that Nike can make it."

*****

Without a thought or a care in the world, Nemesis leaped off one skyscraper and onto the roof of another. She spun around, waiting. Nike was coming. She backed up. She ran. Nike was flying. Nike fell, and fell hard.

"All right, Tank, that's enough for the day. Bring us back."

Nemesis watched the digital world dissolve into the Neb's metal walls. She leaned over to see what Nike was up to. She was slightly amused to find Nike fighting sleep. "Go on, sleep. I'll beat you again tomorrow."

Nike was too tired to fire back a retort. She walked to her cabin without another backward glance.

*****

More time passed, and the crew had nearly arrived at Zion.

Jade had pronounced the two boys stable enough to be moved to stretchers by the ramp. (In case the entry ports didn't work, a ramp was built to serve as a backup. It served their needs perfectly. Jade didn't want to risk sliding them down through a small hole.

Nike and Nemesis were also down with the Neb's head medic. They listened as the ship settled, and then touched down.

The ship's intercom crackled a little. "All right, Jade, let the ramp down," Morpheus called. Jade hit the control switch that lowered the ramp. Air hissed in, and Nike and Nemesis watched in wonder as the landing field and the city beyond unfolded before their eyes. The medical teams rushed in and whisked the boys away. Jade followed, leaving the girls to exit with the rest of the crew.

"What do you think?"

They both jumped. Neo was coming up from behind them, along with the rest of the crew. Nike was the one who answered.

"I think I'm going to like it here."