Chapter III
"How is this possible?" Neo asked in a panic.
"We don't know how." Link sighed. "..We can only guess."
"I don't understand it either." Morpheus said as he stood from his seat at the circular table.
"I could barely keep up with him.." Neo said as he put his forehead into his palm.
"It's not your fault, Neo. Whoever did this obviously knows what he's doing." Link said as he tapped away at a hand PADD.
"Maybe it was a hacker." Morpheus suggested.
"A hacker doesn't have the ability to alter the Matrix." Link replied.
"Could it have been an agent?"
"They don't have the knowledge." Link refuted.
"We're thinking small," Neo sighed. "We need to think on a larger scale." He paused. There was silence in the small room, the only noise that could be heard was the whirring of the computers in the next room. "Now. Who would be able to change the Agent's programming?"
Again the room was struck with sudden silence. It continued for some time, until Morpheus turned from looking out of the window. "The Creator."
"What?" Neo asked.
"The creator? We don't even know who that is!" Link yelled.
"If there is something created, the Matrix, hence there must be a creator. We know what the Matrix is used for. But who is the creator, and who has the ability to alter it's programming?"
"We know that the machines control it." Link noted. "But they don't have the knowledge to create the intricate programming necessary to alter the Matrix. The machines are created for a sole purpose.. to dominate. Not to create a perfected digital world."
"Are you suggesting the creator is a human?" Morpheus asked.
"It is a possibility – a big one."
"Why would he want to enhance the Agent's abilities?"
The room went dead silent.
Neo stared at the smooth black surface of the round table. "He knows…"
"What?" Morpheus asked as he moved to the seat next to Neo and sat.
"He knows about us."
"Impossible."
"..He knows about me."
"Neo, that's impossible!"
"Somehow he's made it possible." Neo looked into Morpheus' deep brown eyes. "He knows I am the One."
Link reclined in his chair and sighed. "That would explain the enhancement made to the Agent's programming."
"But why would he want to kill me?" Neo yelled as he stood.
"The same reason he would kill any one of us, tenfold. All of us know the truth and want to spread it." He looked up at Neo. "On the other hand, you know the truth, want to spread it, and you are the chosen one. Those are three extremely valid reasons for him wanting to take your life."
Neo stood and started to walk out of the room. "Neo?" Morpheus asked.
He stopped at the door and looked back.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm going back."
"Neo, we need you here.."
"I'm going back in!" He charged out of the room. Morpheus stood and followed. Link sat in his seat, and then realized he was needed in the other room in order for Neo to enter the Matrix. He lurched from his seat and ran to his station.
Neo laid himself down in the reclining chair. "Neo. Think about what you're doing."
"I don't need to think."
"Neo, you must think about every decision you make. I know that you already have chosen the actions you are going to take once you're in there. Now tell them to me."
Neo looked at morpheus, not knowing how to feel. Was he confused? Or was he afraid? He didn't know. He didn't care. "I'm going to get information."
"What kind of information?"
"I'm going to find out what we need to know."
Morpheus sighed, and nodded to Link, who initiated to Matrix.
Neo flinched as the extension inserted itself into his neck. He closed his eyes – overwhelmed by darkness. He was entering the Matrix.