Neo gripped the walls as the ship screeched to a stop outside the great gates of Zion. He had a serious case
of the butterflies, wondering how the last human city looked today. Trinity put her hand on his shoulder behind him
and gave him a reassuring look as he glanced back at her.
Spark sat beside Morpheus at the controls and stared solemnly out the windshield. It was the first time Neo
had ever seen Spark act serious. Spark was dying to see his family again- although he was raised on ships- his family
was from Zion, and that's where they all went.
"The Nebucechenezer wishes for permission to enter, Zion," Morpheus spoke.
"Permission granted. Welcome home..."
The enormous gates groaned and creaked open, and all crew members looked on in awe. The gates swung
open and there stood monstrous metal buildings, scraping the ashen sky. Neo dropped his jaw and Trinity smiled.
"Isn't it beautiful?" she asked.
Neo closed his mouth quickly, a bit embarrassed. The truth was, he was sort of disappointment: he had
expected a city more...like the ones in the matrix. A city of shiny glass and futuristic clothes. One with hover crafts
and antennas on the homes- more like the Jetsons. Instead, he saw what looked almost like a Relocation Center, only
bigger.
He held on tight to the sides of the ship as it docked roughly in what appeared to be the center of the town.
He picked up his bag and slung it over his shoulder, then followed Trinity towards their exit- and entrance. When the
doors swung open, he saw something worse then from out the window. People literally crawled up to him, talking
hurriedly and looking up at Neo wide-eyed. Filthy rags draped over their skinny arms and bodies. Dirt was smeared
on their grubby faces. They looked like peasants almost.
They called out to him, reaching for him, tugging on his pant legs. Neo swallowed and tried to back up, but
bumped into Morpheus.
"They've been waiting for you, Neo."
Neo tried not to show his fear. He sensed Spark coming up behind him, "Damn..." he heard him
distinctively say.
The people placed baskets at Neo's feet, filled to the brim with what appeared to be bread. Hope flickered
in him- at least they didn't eat mush.
A weather worn woman with long dark hair pushed her way through the crowd. Neo noted the bracelets on
her ankles jingling as she walked. She ran to Spark and embraced him. Spark dropped his bag and hugged her back.
"Spark! You've come back! In one piece, too!" She pulled away and looked at Neo, "I know who you are," she said
with tears in her eyes, "You're the one. You're the one who'll save us!" She put her hand on his shoulder and looked
into his eyes, "We welcome you."
She turned to Morpheus, "Thank you for bringing back my son, Morpheus." she said. "Let me show you to the
council."
Neo looked at Spark, who simply shrugged, "That's my mom for ya."
Spark's mother led them across a metal bridge and onto what looked to Neo like a big apartment balcony
with doors lining the endless walls. The tall woman (very different than her son) opened a door and Neo stepped
cautiously inside. The room had an uncovered ceiling with pipes and shafts exposed, hanging low enough so that he
had to duck his head when he stepped inside. There was a flimsy desk at the far end where a small bald man sat.
Around him were ten chairs, five on each side, forming the shape of a U. Men and woman were all seated in these
chairs, they looked up when Neo stepped awkwardly into the room.
"So," the man at the desk put down the pencil he was writing wit and looked hard at Neo, "You are The
One?"
"Um..." he looked back at Morpheus, who gave him no help, "Yes."
"You don't seem so sure."
Neo coughed, "I am."
"You don't look like the others," the man frowned, "And we've decided that that's a good thing."
"Oh. Good."
"I just wanted to be the first to formally greet you, and welcome you to this great city," He paused for a
moment, looking Neo over, "I expect your very tired, and accommodations have been made for you. Get some sleep,
Neo. I promise you'll enjoy your stay."
Once outside, Neo allowed himself to breathe, "Jeez, I felt like a lab rat or something," he remarked to
Spark.
"How come?"
"The way they looked at me...I dunno."
"Relax," Trinity smiled, "They do it all the time, so you might as well get used to it."
Just then, a door swung open and out skipped a small girl of about five. Her face lit up at the sight of her
older brother, "Spark!" she ran and jumped into his arms, "You're back!"
Trinity smiled at Neo and squeezed his hand. Neo felt like he was gonna be sick.
Spark turned towards Neo and Trinity, "This is my little sister," he said with a grin, "Match. And I know,
Spark, Match, Flame, I've heard them all so don't even bother."
"Who's Flame?" Neo asked curiously.
His question was answered when a tall, lean, blonde stepped out into the hall, "Match, I told you a thousand
time, you cant just-" she stopped short when she saw the crowd, "- wander out," she finished weakly. "Hello
Morpheus. Trinity. Neo."
Neo was surprised that she knew his name, but basically everyone in the city did. Flamed looked at Spark,
"Oh, you're home."
"Nice to see you, too," Spark muttered.
Neo laughed, "Two sisters. I can't imagine your home life."
"Why do you think I joined the Neb?"
Flame playfully punched her brother and he set down Match to chase after her. Trinity and Neo watched,
amused, before Morpheus laid his hand on their shoulders, "Let me show you where you'll be staying." He led them
down a long hall; Neo couldn't stop looking around, peering over the railing at the tons of other doors and caverns.
Finally, Morpheus stopped and swung open a door. "Trinity will know where almost everything is, if not, I'm sure
Flame will show you around. There's a shower, but unfortunately, the whole city's rigged to the same water tank,
meaning running water during one can make it very...uncomfortable."" He left them there and headed off to his own
quarters. Neo stepped inside and almost reached for a light switch, but stopped himself.
Inside, it was dark and gloomy, with a single cot and creepy pipes like in the council room. Trinity closed
the door behind them.
Neo turned around, "How long will we stay here?"
Trinity wrapped her arms around his waist and held him close, "Just until we find a new operator." She
began kissing his neck and moving him towards the bed.
"Trinity-" Neo tried to push her off.
"What's wrong?"
"I dunno...."
Trinity looked up at him sadly, "You wanna talk?"
Neo looked at the ground and shook his head. Was it him, or was it getting very hot in here?
"Are you sure?"
He nodded weakly, "Where's the bathroom?"
"Always the door on the left."
"I think I'm gonna be sick-" Neo ran to the door on the left and slammed it behind him. Trinity put their
bags in the corner and waited a moment before opening the bathroom door.
Neo was knelt on the floor in front of the toilet, his head resting on his arm on the closed seat.
"Neo?" Trinity wanted to see if he was conscious. Neo weakly raised a hand and she crouched beside him.
"You okay?"
"No...not really."
"You throw up?" She ran her hand through his soft and somewhat messy hair, feeling once again like his
mother, rather than his lover.
"Uh huh."
"Poor baby," she smiled.
Neo turned his head over to smile back, "Not funny. I don't feel good."
"Awww, do you want me to kiss your booboo?" She laughed and stood up, "I'm going to bed. Are you
gonna join me, or sleep here?"
Neo draped his arm over the toilet, "In a minute..."
Trinity smiled down at him, "Don't keep me waiting..."
of the butterflies, wondering how the last human city looked today. Trinity put her hand on his shoulder behind him
and gave him a reassuring look as he glanced back at her.
Spark sat beside Morpheus at the controls and stared solemnly out the windshield. It was the first time Neo
had ever seen Spark act serious. Spark was dying to see his family again- although he was raised on ships- his family
was from Zion, and that's where they all went.
"The Nebucechenezer wishes for permission to enter, Zion," Morpheus spoke.
"Permission granted. Welcome home..."
The enormous gates groaned and creaked open, and all crew members looked on in awe. The gates swung
open and there stood monstrous metal buildings, scraping the ashen sky. Neo dropped his jaw and Trinity smiled.
"Isn't it beautiful?" she asked.
Neo closed his mouth quickly, a bit embarrassed. The truth was, he was sort of disappointment: he had
expected a city more...like the ones in the matrix. A city of shiny glass and futuristic clothes. One with hover crafts
and antennas on the homes- more like the Jetsons. Instead, he saw what looked almost like a Relocation Center, only
bigger.
He held on tight to the sides of the ship as it docked roughly in what appeared to be the center of the town.
He picked up his bag and slung it over his shoulder, then followed Trinity towards their exit- and entrance. When the
doors swung open, he saw something worse then from out the window. People literally crawled up to him, talking
hurriedly and looking up at Neo wide-eyed. Filthy rags draped over their skinny arms and bodies. Dirt was smeared
on their grubby faces. They looked like peasants almost.
They called out to him, reaching for him, tugging on his pant legs. Neo swallowed and tried to back up, but
bumped into Morpheus.
"They've been waiting for you, Neo."
Neo tried not to show his fear. He sensed Spark coming up behind him, "Damn..." he heard him
distinctively say.
The people placed baskets at Neo's feet, filled to the brim with what appeared to be bread. Hope flickered
in him- at least they didn't eat mush.
A weather worn woman with long dark hair pushed her way through the crowd. Neo noted the bracelets on
her ankles jingling as she walked. She ran to Spark and embraced him. Spark dropped his bag and hugged her back.
"Spark! You've come back! In one piece, too!" She pulled away and looked at Neo, "I know who you are," she said
with tears in her eyes, "You're the one. You're the one who'll save us!" She put her hand on his shoulder and looked
into his eyes, "We welcome you."
She turned to Morpheus, "Thank you for bringing back my son, Morpheus." she said. "Let me show you to the
council."
Neo looked at Spark, who simply shrugged, "That's my mom for ya."
Spark's mother led them across a metal bridge and onto what looked to Neo like a big apartment balcony
with doors lining the endless walls. The tall woman (very different than her son) opened a door and Neo stepped
cautiously inside. The room had an uncovered ceiling with pipes and shafts exposed, hanging low enough so that he
had to duck his head when he stepped inside. There was a flimsy desk at the far end where a small bald man sat.
Around him were ten chairs, five on each side, forming the shape of a U. Men and woman were all seated in these
chairs, they looked up when Neo stepped awkwardly into the room.
"So," the man at the desk put down the pencil he was writing wit and looked hard at Neo, "You are The
One?"
"Um..." he looked back at Morpheus, who gave him no help, "Yes."
"You don't seem so sure."
Neo coughed, "I am."
"You don't look like the others," the man frowned, "And we've decided that that's a good thing."
"Oh. Good."
"I just wanted to be the first to formally greet you, and welcome you to this great city," He paused for a
moment, looking Neo over, "I expect your very tired, and accommodations have been made for you. Get some sleep,
Neo. I promise you'll enjoy your stay."
Once outside, Neo allowed himself to breathe, "Jeez, I felt like a lab rat or something," he remarked to
Spark.
"How come?"
"The way they looked at me...I dunno."
"Relax," Trinity smiled, "They do it all the time, so you might as well get used to it."
Just then, a door swung open and out skipped a small girl of about five. Her face lit up at the sight of her
older brother, "Spark!" she ran and jumped into his arms, "You're back!"
Trinity smiled at Neo and squeezed his hand. Neo felt like he was gonna be sick.
Spark turned towards Neo and Trinity, "This is my little sister," he said with a grin, "Match. And I know,
Spark, Match, Flame, I've heard them all so don't even bother."
"Who's Flame?" Neo asked curiously.
His question was answered when a tall, lean, blonde stepped out into the hall, "Match, I told you a thousand
time, you cant just-" she stopped short when she saw the crowd, "- wander out," she finished weakly. "Hello
Morpheus. Trinity. Neo."
Neo was surprised that she knew his name, but basically everyone in the city did. Flamed looked at Spark,
"Oh, you're home."
"Nice to see you, too," Spark muttered.
Neo laughed, "Two sisters. I can't imagine your home life."
"Why do you think I joined the Neb?"
Flame playfully punched her brother and he set down Match to chase after her. Trinity and Neo watched,
amused, before Morpheus laid his hand on their shoulders, "Let me show you where you'll be staying." He led them
down a long hall; Neo couldn't stop looking around, peering over the railing at the tons of other doors and caverns.
Finally, Morpheus stopped and swung open a door. "Trinity will know where almost everything is, if not, I'm sure
Flame will show you around. There's a shower, but unfortunately, the whole city's rigged to the same water tank,
meaning running water during one can make it very...uncomfortable."" He left them there and headed off to his own
quarters. Neo stepped inside and almost reached for a light switch, but stopped himself.
Inside, it was dark and gloomy, with a single cot and creepy pipes like in the council room. Trinity closed
the door behind them.
Neo turned around, "How long will we stay here?"
Trinity wrapped her arms around his waist and held him close, "Just until we find a new operator." She
began kissing his neck and moving him towards the bed.
"Trinity-" Neo tried to push her off.
"What's wrong?"
"I dunno...."
Trinity looked up at him sadly, "You wanna talk?"
Neo looked at the ground and shook his head. Was it him, or was it getting very hot in here?
"Are you sure?"
He nodded weakly, "Where's the bathroom?"
"Always the door on the left."
"I think I'm gonna be sick-" Neo ran to the door on the left and slammed it behind him. Trinity put their
bags in the corner and waited a moment before opening the bathroom door.
Neo was knelt on the floor in front of the toilet, his head resting on his arm on the closed seat.
"Neo?" Trinity wanted to see if he was conscious. Neo weakly raised a hand and she crouched beside him.
"You okay?"
"No...not really."
"You throw up?" She ran her hand through his soft and somewhat messy hair, feeling once again like his
mother, rather than his lover.
"Uh huh."
"Poor baby," she smiled.
Neo turned his head over to smile back, "Not funny. I don't feel good."
"Awww, do you want me to kiss your booboo?" She laughed and stood up, "I'm going to bed. Are you
gonna join me, or sleep here?"
Neo draped his arm over the toilet, "In a minute..."
Trinity smiled down at him, "Don't keep me waiting..."
