The Song of Charity: Charity Emerges

The Song of Charity
Charity Emerges

That afternoon, Deb sat at the bar in her empty club, finishing her paper work from the previous night. But it was so hard concentrating. Last night kept popping into her brain.

What was going on?

Had the search she started years ago actually turn up something?

The Matrix.

It all had to do with the Matrix. Picking up the package, she unwrapped the phone. Small and black, it was almost weightless. Then it rang. So startled was she, that she dropped it. Deb sat there, debating, as it kept on ringing.

"Fuck"

Oh hell, she thought. She was already in deep. What could it hurt?

"Hello?"

"Charity" was the one word softly spoken on the other end, but Deb knew who it was.

"Trinity?"

"Yes. They're coming for you."

"Who are?"

"I'm sure you know who, deep down."

In deafening silence, Deb stood up to pace. Swearing under her breath.. "Can we meet?" Deb asked.

"We can be at the club in 10 minutes."

"Are you that close to me?"

"Closer than you think." then the line went dead.

"Oh my god." Deb muttered to herself. "Wait.....who's we? who is she bringing with her?" Then an idea struck her...

Morpheus? And just exactly who are after her?

Did the Matrix send someone?

Suddenly, Deb felt the hairs rise on the back of her neck, and a dread creep into her bones like icy fingers crawling up her spine.

"Ahh, Miss Staton, I presume?" came a deep drawl behind her.

Bracing her hands upon the bar, Deb turned her head to look at the man behind her. Tall, dressed in a dark suit, shiny shoes, and sunglasses. She also noted the cop standing near him. Great, she thought. Wonderful.

"And you are?"

"I'm Agent Johnson, ma'am. We'd like to have a few words with you."

"Oh yeah? Which ones?" she asked before she could stop herself. Damnit, not now! she warned herself. Don't get cocky.

The Agent smiled sardonically, and gestured to his cop friend. "I'm afraid, you've been a naughty girl, Miss Staton. We'd like you to come with us."

Like hell, Deb thought. "Can we do this another time, Agent Johnson? You've caught me at a bad time. You see, I have a date." Moving her hand behind the bar farther, trying to get the baseball bat, just out of reach.

"Well, I believe your going to have to cancel that date."

Here goes nothing, Deb thought, as she flipped her legs backward, spun and felt the gratifying crunch of her boot heels against the cop's jaw. Landing on top of the bar, she smiled down at the Agent.

"I really can't cancel. It's a hot date, if you catch my meaning."

Agent Johnson, always eager for a fight, smiled widely as he knocked her legs from under her, causing her to crash on her back behind the bar.

"Oh ow." Deb muttered, shaking her head. "Now that was plain rude, Agent Johnson."

He came up behind her, grabbed a fist full of hair, and threw her into the wall. This time, Deb saw stars.

As he approached her, Deb considered her options. Let this jackass beat her to all hell, or give him a few bruises for the effort. If only Trinity would hurry up, she could use a little help here.

* * * *

Ring.

"What is it, Tank?" Morpheus demanded.

"Charity's in trouble. Get there fast. She's talking to an Agent."

Morpheus and Trinity, in unison, started running as fast as they could to the club.

Upon entering, they saw the Agent toss Charity like a rag doll into the mirror behind the bar. As he started to walk towards Charity's limp body, both Morpheus and Trinity unholstered their guns, and opened fire on him.

Moving so swiftly, that they couldn't see him, Agent Johnson dodged the bullets, pulled out his gun, and fired upon them.

Ducking for cover, Trinity checked her magazine, only to gasp in despair. She was out of bullets.

"Shit!"

Looking for Morpheus, she spotted him, on his knees creeping towards the bar. But the Agent saw him as well.

"Morpheus!" she screamed.

It was too late. Agent Johnson was already there, gun pointed towards Morpheus' head.

"Morpheus? It's a pleasure meeting you."

"The pleasure is all yours, I'm afraid." Morpheus muttered.

"Yes, I believe you're right." remarked Agent Johnson, laughing.

"Then you're in for a surprise, asshole." Charity said from behind him.

Jerking his head, he saw he was face to face with a double-barreled shotgun, aimed directly at his temple.

"Howdy." Charity shot him point blank range.

"I hate when people mess up my plans for the evening." she remarked as she watched him drop. Suddenly, she had to turn her head sharply, as tiny bolts of electric charge ruptured over the Agent's body.

Charity looked down in surprise. "What the hell?"

"Come on, we have to get out of here." Trinity said urgently, supporting Charity, as she weaved on wobbly legs.

"Yeah, sure." She let them lead her out of the club.

* * * *

They made it to their car, parked a few blocks away. Trinity grabbed the wheel, as Morpheus sat with Charity in back.

Leaning her head against the seat, she wiped a hand across her mouth. Wincing from the pain in her lip, she rolled her eyes over to Morpheus.

"We haven't been properly introduced. I'm Deb."

"You also go by the hacker alas: Charity, correct?" he asked.

Waving a bloody hand, Charity sighed. "Yeah, sometimes. Depends on my mood."

He couldn't help but to laugh. Under such extreme circumstances, she still had the energy for sarcasm. "I'm Morpheus." he introduced.

"So I gathered." she smiled. Which caused her lip to start bleeding again. "Christ." she muttered.

Closing her eyes, Charity decided to be direct. They didn't have time for anything else. "Tell me about the Matrix." she whispered, almost afraid of the answer.

Looking at her with sharp eyes, Morpheus measured his words carefully. "That's not something easily explainable."

"Figures." she mumbled.

"How much do you know, Charity?" he asked.

"Not enough, obviously." Opening her eyes, she met his sharp gaze with one of her own. "I've known something was wrong for as long as I can remember. I know we're being controlled. Used. That this...place...isn't what it seems to be. I wasn't able to put a name to it, intil I was a teenager. When I had a terrible nightmare."

Closing her eyes again, Charity brought it all back, even the scents, of her nightmare. The dark, raging skies, the large skyscrapers burnt and in ruins. No plant life, or birds. No traffic or snarling vendors snipping at each other. But instead, a lonely darkness, one that was full of hate and despair. And then the horrible metal beasts that rose from the earth, whispering 'Matrix' over and over, intil she thought she'd go mad. Terrified, she ran. Running intil her lungs felt as if they'd burst. Then falling, screaming, into a pit.

"I woke up screaming. I've had that same dream hundreds of times since. Always the same." Charity sighed. "After that, I was introduced to computers. And I found I've been able to do some pretty amazing things. I discovered that I knew a computer language no one had seen before. Then I dreamed about you. And have been searching for you ever since." she mentioned lightly.

"You hacked into my computer, didn't you?" she accused.

Clearing his throat, Morpheus glanced at Trinity, who smiled at him in the mirror. "Yes."

"Hmmm." Sitting up, Charity drew his attention with an intense gaze. "We need to get my sister and niece to safety." she pleaded.

"The risk is too great, Charity. But we will, I promise."

"We have too! They're in danger!." she insisted.

Morpheus looked towards Trinity.

Reading his mind, Trinity picked up her phone, and called Tank.

"Operator."

"Tank, I need you to send a few people to pick up Charity's sister and niece. See if Neo will go. He will know of a safe place for them."

"You got it, Trin."

Once Morpheus received her nod, he turned back to Charity. "Will that do?"

"It'll have too." she murmured.

* * * *

They pulled up to an old building, near the pier. Charity could smell the sea as Morpheus helped her out of the car.

"This is a safe place for us to talk. I'll tell you what I know. And if your willing, show you the rest."

Saying nothing, she followed them into the building, and up the stairs. They entered a dark room, warmed by a fire. Placed by the fire, were two worn chairs, facing one another.

"Check to see if they're ready." Morpheus instructed Trinity. Once she was gone, Morpheus helped Charity sit.

She noticed a glass of water in front of her, but still said nothing.

"You wish to know what the Matrix is, Charity?"

"Yes." she whispered.

"The Matrix is the world as you know it. It's what makes you go to work, what you eat, what you drink. It is the sky you see above you, and the earth you see below you. The Matrix is your prison, Charity. Your master, if you will."

"My master?"

"Yes." Looking down to the silver box he held in his hands, he contemplated his next words. "I can't tell you what the Matrix is, Charity. Its something you have to see for yourself."

Sitting forward, Charity gripped the arm rests so hard, her bruised knuckles turned white. "Tell me." she insisted.

Opening his left hand, he presented her with a blue pill. "First you must choose. If you take the blue pill, you will sleep. And upon wakening, you will figure this all a dream. One that will keep you wondering, like your other dreams, if this was real."

Opening his right hand, he showed her the red pill. "If you take the red pill, your wondering will cease. You will finally be able to know the difference between your dreams and reality."

As she looked at her choices, Charity knew she couldn't stay in the dark anymore. With her uncertain dreams. She had to know the truth.

"Remember, once you choose, you can't go back. I only offer you the truth. Nothing more."

Charity reached for the red pill, put it in her mouth, and swallowed. She used the water to soothe her dry throat.

Morpheus allowed himself one satisfied smile before rising. "Come with me now." he said, as he offered her his hand.

Charity didn't even hesitate as she took it. She could only think of what he was about to show her.