It was mid-morning; at least it appeared to be so from the light slanting in through Setsuka's apartment windows. The living area of the luxury apartment was actually rather well furnished, with tasteful décor, not that the two current occupants would have noticed.
Agent Jones sat on one couch rigidly, every so often glancing towards the closed door that led to the bedroom. Opposite, Agent Brown watched him, gaze unblinking behind his sunglasses.
"This assignment…" Jones began.
"May prove difficult." Brown said.
"Yes."
There was a pause.
"We are unable to provide much input." Jones said.
"We are only incidental to her assignment." Brown qualified.
"Her?"
"Setsuka."
"Setsuka… Why did you…"
"Choose that name?" Brown fell silent.
"I do not object…"
"You do not object to her."
Jones didn't reply. The silence stretched out between the two Agents. Eventually Brown got up and walked over to the windows, his back to the rest of the room.
"This assignment was not advisable." He said. "Smith is too… involved… in this situation already."
"What are you suggesting, Brown?"
Brown turned back to face the interior of the room. "He is treating this assignment as if it were a personal vendetta."
"That will not matter once Anderson had been removed."
Brown bit his lip. With his already faltering objectivity, Brown wasn't sure that Smith would actually get that far.
"Perhaps you should go check on her, Jones." Was all he said and predictably the other Agent left the room to do so.
"It will matter, especially if he becomes too involved… with Anderson." Brown muttered under his breath.
Entering the bedroom, Jones found it unoccupied and then the sound of water running caught his attention. The bathroom door was closed but not locked, so Jones slowly pushed it open. His sunglasses were immediately steamed up, as he put his head round the door, not that it inhibited his visual sensors in any way. Jones could easily make out the figure defined in shadow through the shower curtain.
Of course, her silhouette was perfect; just as Jones had known it would be. He could see all the angles and curves that defined the female shape not a meter away from him. Perfect; perfection defined by the knowledge that this was a sentient program, the example of what all sentient programs should be… as far as Jones was concerned.
Unbidden he found himself imagining the streams of water cascading down her body, the steam clinging to her damp skin, what that would feel like under his fingers… She would be beautiful; damp hair clinging to her skin, soft lips parted, eyes fluttering closed. Would she make some soft sound of pleasure as she yielded? A low moan, so suited to her smooth voice as her slim body arched beneath him… perhaps…
The flow of water stopped abruptly and the shower curtain was pushed completely back. Unwarranted, Jones' gaze trailed up the form presented, taking in the pallor of the flesh, the droplets of water tracking their own path down her skin, each detail ingraining itself upon his memory. Now with only the barrier of the fading steam enclosing her, she stood, not even making an attempt at modesty.
Setsuka stretched her arms above her head, uncaring of Jones' presence. Not that she hadn't noticed; the diabolical glint in her blue eyes confirmed that. She stepped out of the bath as Jones' lingering stare reached her face and smiled. Jones coughed, uneasily and fumbled to hand her a towel. Her fingers brushed his as she accepted the towel, idly trailing it behind her as she sauntered out of the bathroom. Leaving Jones standing, speechless in the damp air.
Jones, regaining his senses began to make his way back to the living area. He said nothing to Brown's knowing look. In a few moments Setsuka joined them. Jones kept his eyes averted.
"Interesting." Brown commented.
"I have nothing to do till Anderson chooses to contact me so… You don't object, do you Brown?" her voice was dripping with sarcasm.
Jones hazarded a glance in her direction only to wish that he hadn't. She was perched on one of the stools by the kitchen area, dressed only in black, silk underwear. He could see the thin strip of lace that joined the two sections of silk that covered her between her long legs, in the barest imitation of modesty. Any movement of her part lifted the looser top, which already bared her arms, to expose her smooth stomach too. Jones swallowed, uneasily. He wasn't sure he could deal with an entire day of this.
"You don't object do you… Jones?" she turned her seductive gaze upon him.
"Uh… no…" he replied hesitantly, looking at his feet.
Smiling she moved to seat herself on the couch with Jones. Brown watched, withholding any further comments. She turned to sit sideways, resting her feet in Jones' lap, the arch of one foot dangerously close to his crotch.
"You see." She directed the comment to Brown.
Brown made some derisive sound of agreement before disappearing briefly into one of the vacant rooms in the apartment. He returned with a laptop that he proceeded to set up on the dining table before silently beginning to type.
Setsuka, for her part, proceeded to do nothing more sinister than sift through some bottles of nail varnish on the table next to the couch. Having decided on a new colour she had Jones hold a bottle labelled "Chanel Clair Obscur", while she proceeded with the business of painting her nails.
Days later, within the Matrix, Neo was walking towards the park again. He was in an exceptionally good mood, grinning at people he passed, almost whistling in his progress along the pavement.
He'd returned to the Neb after his 'date' with some trepidation. Wondering what Trinity might have to say about his recent escapade. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how he looked at it, she hadn't been there. He'd found that she was still involved in complex matters in Zion, with Morpheus. For some reason that had made him irrationally angry. Of course she was entitled to do as she pleased but… but… Trinity was her own person, she had been before Neo and she definitely still was now. It was just that he'd appreciate some time… that was all.
Neo ignored the nagging voice of reason that told him he was being childish. At least Setsuka appreciated him. She didn't mind him taking the lead, didn't second-guess him… He shook off his depressing thoughts, resolving not to think about Trinity any more. She had her own life to lead, well, fine… so did he.
In the end Neo detoured to the nearest phone box rather than the park. He rang Setsuka and just hoped that she'd check her answering machine before the evening. Surprisingly she was at home. Neo hadn't been sure if she would be, seeing as he lost track of days within the Matrix and wasn't even sure if it was a weekday or not.
"Hello?" she sounded sleepy.
"Hello, Setsuka. It's Neo."
"Hi…" her voice was suddenly soft.
"I was wondering if you'd like to… you know, go out again some time?" He tried to keep the grin out of his voice.
"Sure! Uh… I mean yes, I'd love to." Neo could imagine her blush.
"How about… that is if you don't already have plans, how about tonight?"
"Tonight's fine. When and where?"
"Um…" Neo frowned, trying to think quickly of somewhere appropriate.
"Neo?"
"Oh, sorry… I can't remember the name of the restaurant… that's all…" he laughed nervously.
"Oh." She laughed along.
"You do like Chinese, right?"
"Yeah."
"OK, I'll pick you up… at 8?"
"OK… Neo… I'm glad you called."
"I am too." He was grinning obscenely now, mental monolog going something to the effect of 'I am too smooth'.
"See you later."
"Yeah…"
Hanging up the phone, there was a definite swagger in Neo's walk. Not only was he incredibly smooth but he had a perfect evening with a beautiful woman ahead…
Now all he had to do was find a car… and a Chinese restaurant.
OK… I think the rating will have to go up.
Also I don't really think that Neo would cheat on Trinity but for the sake of experimenting with an idea I'm employing a little 'suspension of disbelief'.
22:48, 28/05/02