Trinity knocked on Neo's door the next morning. "Yeah?" came the muffled reply. The hinges squeaked as Trinity

swung open the big metal door. Neo looked up from tying his shoes, "Hey Trin. What's up?"

"I was just wondering wether we're gonna check out Price today."

Neo frowned, "Actually, I was thinking maybe we should just...get him. You know?"

Trinity sat down on the bed beside him, "You mean without checking him out?"

"Yeah."

"Isn't that...risky?"

Neo sat up, "Well, when has following someone ever worked? I mean- when has it ever accomplished anything?"

Trinity smiled, "We accomplished a lot following you."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, "Nothing. I just think we should check this guy out before we make him

an official member of the Real World."

"I know, but we've watched him on the Matrix tons of times."

"That was just a little number moving up and down on a screen, Neo."

"How much different could it be?"

Trinity sighed. "Your right...I guess. We'll have it your way." She stood and left the room, closing the door behind

her. She just couldn't shake off this feeling she had....

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"So," Spark was saying at the breakfast table, "If you have a dream in the Matrix, what's it called? I mean, if the

Matrix is a dream, then the dream in the dream is like- a double dream. You know what I'm saying?"

Trinity stared at him. "Okay, you're a computer genius?"

Spark smiled, "What, you thought I was all brawn and no brain?"

Neo laughed from across the table.

"What's so funny, Neo? You don't think I could kick your ass?"

Morpheus and Rev watched, interested.

"Not even in your dreams, Spark! Or your double dreams for that matter." He smiled.

"Anytime, Neo, anytime!"

Trinity laughed, "How bout now, Spark?"

"Now? You mean, right now?"

"What's the matter," Neo taunted jokingly, "Are you scared?"

"No. I can take you on any day, Anderson. Let's go!" They stood from the table and left, headed for the

control deck.

"Wait, what's happening?" Rev stood up and followed Trinity.

"They're fighting...again."

"Where?"

"In the Matrix."

Spark sat in the chair beside Neo and gripped the armrests, "You're going down!" He smiled broadly.

"We'll see about that!"

Rev, Morpheus, and Trinity gathered around Tank, watching the monitors intently.

"Spark never gives up," Trinity murmured.

Rev glanced over at her, but Trinity didn't take her eyes off the computer screen. Tank typed rapidly on

the keyboard and brought up something that looked to Rev like a computer game. She was staring at a black and

white sparring room. Neo and Spark were...in it. She watched closely as Tank laughed, "Spark has no idea what

he's getting into!"

Spark faced Neo- they were both dressed in white robes, just like when he'd fought Morpheus- and lost.

He jumped and down and rubbed his hands together. Neo outstretched his palm and beckoned to him, "Bring it."

Spark dashed forward and swung his fists madly. All he hit were Neo's elbows as he passively raised an

arm and blocked every blow. It was like swatting a nat, none of his blows landed. Neo caught his arm and twisted

it, then kicked him in the stomach, sending Spark flying across the room.

Rev watched, "How is moving so fast?"

"He's going easy on him..." Trinity whispered.

Spark pulled himself to his feet and charged once more. Neo smiled as Spark kicked, hit, and jabbed

unsuccessfully. Spark back flipped into the air and seemed to hang there for a moment. He lifted his knee and fell,

but Neo casually stepped aside and Spark smashed his knee into the ground, instead of Neo. He moaned in pain.

Neo reached out his hand and pulled him to his feet. Spark, thinking he'd tricked him, tried to knee him

in the stomach, but Neo grabbed his shoulders and heat butted him into the wall. "Just give up, Spark," he smiled,

"Aren't you tired?"

"One more try." Spark climbed to his feet and folded his arms.



Morpheus smiled as he watched Neo kick Spark's ass, "I don't think I can watch anymore," he laughed,

"I'll be in the control room." He left. Neo was simply a blur on the screen, he was moving so fast.

Rev watched the monitor carefully. It was so strange to see Neo and Spark on the monitor, moving about

and leaping into the air, while their bodies sat in front of her, eyes closed, looking so peaceful. Doubt crept into her

mind- this whole thing seemed so unreal- like a dream.

Trinity seemed to read her mind, "I know how you feel," she said softly, "I used to keep expecting to wake

up any second, it seemed so impossible. So unreal."

"What?" Rev wasn't sure wether she meant the computer program, or the world in general.

"This, this....truth. This Real World. I didn't believe at first. Do you?"

Rev stared again at the monitor, "I'm starting to."

Spark opened his eyes, "Oh, God. Man, that hurt!" He sat up painfully. Trinity watched him- he reminded

her so much of Mouse. She lowered her eyes. "Jeez, Neo!"

Neo sat up, "Kick my ass? Oh, yeah..."

"Wait!" Rev walked forward, "I wanna fight you." All eyes turned to her.

Neo raised an eyebrow, "Huh?"

"I wanna fight you."

"Are you sure?"

Spark stood up, "Knock yourself out Princess. Really. It'll probably happen."

Rev sat down and tried to make herself comfortable. She had no idea what had made her say that. Why

did she want to fight Neo? Trinity had said he was going easy on Spark, and Spark didn't look too good when he

came out of the matrix. She heard Tank moving around behind her. Suddenly, she felt extreme pain- but only for a

second.

When she opened her eyes, she was in the same room she had seen on the monitor- only in color. There

were thin banners hanging from the wall with Japanese inscriptions. The floor was yellow and the ceiling wood.

Rev looked down, she was wearing a white robe- a bit dirty. Neo was about ten feet away from her, dressed

likewise. Her long blonde hair was in a bun on the top of her head. That's right- her long blonde hair. She missed

the Matrix.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Neo asked her.

"No turning back now, at least without looking like a complete idiot." She crossed her arms and held

them palms up inches in front of her face. Neo nodded his head slightly and took a fighting stance. Rev swung

back her arms and ran towards Neo. She pulled back her arm, but his was already up. Everywhere she swung was

protected- every punch she threw was blocked. Now she knew how Spark felt- completely and utterly weak. She

tried to drive her foot into his leg, but his other just brushed her off.

Neo crossed his arms and flung her backwards, like a lineman shaking off a defensive player as he ran in

for the touchdown. Rev landed on her back. She breathed heavily, trying to catch her breath. "Holy shit," she

managed.

Neo walked over and pulled her up, "Concentrate, Rev. Stop trying to hit me in the same place."

She nodded, her face was so close to his, she could see into his dark brown eyes, his hair gently falling

over them, "You're not going easy on me, are you?" she asked breathlessly, and she had a feeling it wasn't from

her weariness.

Trinity turned on her heel and left, closing the door behind her. Let Rev and Neo hang out in the Matrix.

What did she care? It's not like it's real...