Chapter IV

            A dark figure stood in the doorway of an office complex. He could see the street – the people, the places, and the cars zooming softly by. His eyes shifted from scene to scene: A woman exiting a store and walking down the street, a man parking his car, and a young man being thrown out of a pub. He watched the masses of people walk down the street, like a tidal wave of bodies making their way to an unknown beach. 

            He was standing on a round platform in front of an office building he had randomly picked. He liked to stand, and watch the people go on with their nightly lives. He didn't like the light. It was bright and uncomfortable. He thrived in the dark, it was his passion and his life. Or at least the life he thought he was living.

            A week before he had been called by a man who goes by the name of "Morhpeus". He was taken to meet him, and that is where he learned of the possibility that this life wasn't a real one.

            He sneered as he looked at the people passing by him. He leaned back a little bit more so his face was more hidden by the shadows. He again started to observe the people, looking past the rounded supports of the towering building above him. Bright lights flashed here and there, some from cars and some from buildings. Nevertheless, He hated them.

            Something caught his eye. He stopped leaning against the wall and quickly stood erect. What was that? He thought. He peered anxiously at the alley between the buildings opposite him. There it was again. I could swear that was movement. He walked forward and into the vast wave of people moving mechanically down the sidewalk. They seemed to break around him, as if he were a mighty rock in a stream.

            He stopped as he saw another movement. Slower, this time. He must have noticed me. I'll have to be more discrete. He crossed the street and vanished into the onrush of people.

                                                                        ****

            "Neo?" Morpheus' voice came fuzzily over the slim earpiece fitted into Neo's ear. "Neo?"

            Neo quickly squatted in a dark corner. "What is it?"

            "When would you care to fill me in on your plan?"

            "As  soon as I'm done with it." 

            Morpheus sighed. "Neo, you will tell me what you are doing." He paused. "Now."

            Neo took a deep breath and peered around the corner. Streams of people were moving on the side of the road. Normal. "I'm just going to go check something out. Link, can you give me the location where I was held by Smith?"

            "Neo," Morpheus started, but was cut off by Neo.

            "Thanks, Link." Neo pressed a button on his watch.

            "Neo, Be.."

            "Careful. I know. No one has even seen me," he peered past the corner at the street again. "Except for one man who was standing across the street. I think he saw me. I crouched in the corner, and then checked on him. He was gone."

            There was silence on the comm. All that could be heard was Morpheus' heavy breathing.

            "Proceed, but at extreme caution."

            "Neo out."

                                                                        ****

            Morpheus took off the headset and set them on the surface next to Link. "You keep an eye on him." His tone was deathly serious. "If anything – I repeat, anything – happens… you tell me right away."

            "Yes, sir." Link replied.

            Morpheus turned and walked out of the control room. "If anything happens to him.." The doors shut behind him with a bang.

                                                                        ****

            Neo crouched next to a bush. There it is.  A tall brick building stood proudly before him. This is the place. He snuck up to the back door. Put his hand softly on the curved iron handle. Creeaaaaakkkkk! The iron screamed as he turned it gently. "Oh yeah!" Neo whispered as he snapped his fingers. He walked past the door and kneeled in a dark corner.

            He put his finger in his ear. "Link?"

            "Yeah, buddy?" He replied.

            "I'm going to need some guns."

            "What would you like to order?" Link asked in his best French Waiter impression.

            "I'll take two Desert Eagles, and multiple clips."

            Suddenly a silver Deagle appeared in front of him in a small flash of green light. Then three loaded clips appeared next to it. He picked up the Deagle and inserted a clip. He placed the other four in his coat pocket. He paused.

            "Link, I asked for two."

            "Oh," Link replied. "Sorry."

            Another appeared right next to his leg. He picked it up, inserted a clip, and placed it in his left breast holster. He placed his other Deagle in his right holster.

            "Link, I need two mp5 Navy's. Extra clips."

            Two Mp5s appeared in front of him, which he loaded and placed in his coat pockets.

            "And an M-16 assault rifle. Extra clips."

            It appeared next to him, and he loaded it, placing the extra clips in his pant pocket. "Link, Silencer."

            A small silencer appeared in front of him. He picked it up, and screwed it onto the end of the M16. He was ready to go into the Lion's den. He opened the door, and went in.

                                                                        ****

            Within a minute, a dark figure silently slid to the rear door, watching for anyone who might see him. He grasped the handle silently, and slipped inside.