Title: Shadow Stalkers

Author: trin_chardin

Summary: What if viruses were vampires?

Categories: Action/Original Character

Author's Note: Sorry for the delay. ^_^ Muse went MIA. Thanks to the reviewers out there.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Matrix concept or anyone/anything in it - but I do own the original characters.

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Shadow Stalkers

Chapter 10

"Go."

Neo pushed Trinity towards Avi and the window as he started to manipulate the code around them. Without another word, Trinity took the arm of the other woman and leapt out the window to hit the roof across the street. Neo knew that she was already on the phone with Tank. He could sense the disturbance in the code as a connection was opened to outside the Matrix. The two would be safe. Trinity trusted him to be the same, to return to her in one piece. He had no intention of failing her.

With a smirk, he watched as the code quickened and the room slowed. Smiles were meant to be flashes of happiness - or malice. They were not meant to be savored slowly, unless intended as a kiss, the mirror dance of contented lips. When slowed, each crease of skin, each flash of teeth was part of a grotesque parade, crude in its simplicity. It worsened as smile turned to snarl, and an attempt to run seemed to leave one in mid-air. Neo watched the sluggish motion with grim satisfaction as he backed away. Jumping lightly onto the window ledge, he continued to watch the show.

Then, with a salute of his hand, he stepped off. The sudden burst of flames licked harmlessly at his clothes. Daywalkers could defy the sun, but they were no match for fire. With a smooth turn of the heel, Neo calmly walked away from the inferno. But, when he reached Brown's side, his composure slipped for a moment.

The auburn-haired Agent stood stiffly with his gun in hand and arm resting limply at his side. He stared dumbly at the dead body in front of him.

"Where's Jones?" Neo asked, his eyes on the look out.

"I shot him," the Agent replied, an unusual edge to his voice.

Neo eyed him sharply, then continued to scout the area.

"It's not like he's dead."

"I'm not supposed to shoot him. It's against my programming," Brown insisted.

"I'm sure he's found another host. He's fine. ...Where's the vampire that did this to him?"

At that, the Agent snapped out of his stupor and scanned the immediate surroundings.

"I - "

Neo tensed as unfamiliar code infiltrated the familiar pattern. Smoke took shape, and a beautiful woman stepped out of mid-air. She smirked at him from behind Brown. All this unfolded within brief seconds as if to taunt his ability to slow time. Then, she bared her crimson-tainted teeth in a feral smile and he saw her coded hand reach forward into Brown. The Agent uttered a soft gasp as she clenched and twisted, code intermingling. Driven into action, Neo kicked up a stray pipe. It flew into his hand and without hesitation, he thrust it into her chest. Her eyes widened, then dust slowly settled to the ground. Without a second glance, Neo knelt at Brown's side.

The Agent's shades had shattered on the ground next to him. His eyes stared glassily up at Neo, as if unseeing. It was some time before the One realized that they were a familiar shade of blue. The choked out name that followed only confirmed his worst fear.

"Neo?"

Neo. Not Mr. Anderson. Neo.

"It's going to be alright, Del."

*****

"How the hell could this happen?"

Morpheus watched the monitors as Neo and Trinity stood behind him. Not far away, Alt observed Del's vital signs, her still body now plugged into the Construct. Aside from them, the deck was empty, cleared under the captain's orders.

"Brown over-rode Del's RSI so we could acquire the code sample. Everything was in control. I'd checked his code right after, and he'd willingly closed off her sentient self from his programming. Technically, he was just using her as he would use any other host. But..."

He sighed and then continued at Trinity's encouraging nod.

"His target had disappeared. I'd thought the code sample from the ones that ambushed us would be enough. So, we were going to pull out. Then, the vampire reappeared. It turns out that the whole smoke transformation of vampires is true. She surprised Brown and messed with his code. In the process, she meshed his and Del's code."

"Can you separate them?"

"I don't know, Morpheus."

"...Well, the good thing is that the two of them can now work on an anti-virus. But, after this is over, what then?"