Thanks to those who reviewed so far. I didn't think anyone would like it.

The dream was stronger now, and Neo knew why. It was more foreboding, more real, more vivid and sinister than it had been every other time he experienced it. And somehow, he was sure that Lith was experiencing it too. He was no fool, he could see the similarities between the dream and recent events. Even as he dreamt, he could feel his body twitching and whimpering, bathed in a cold sweat against the hot sheets of the bed, and when he awoke this time, he was every bit certain that the pain was real. He sat up with a start, eyes searching warily through the darkness. It took him some time to realize that he was in this bed, muttering strange things and Trinity desperately trying to bring him to his senses. "Neo? Neo, come on, it's me." She repeated rapidly, turning his head to face her.

            "I…" Neo narrowed his eyes and swallowed hard, placing his hand on hers. "Sorry, I didn't mean to…"

            "It's alright." She hugged him gently. "What's wrong? What is it?"

            "I, uh, it-it was some…stupid dream. That's all." He assured, pulling back and nodding to her.

            "I'll say…I've never heard you cry out like that…" she scanned him over.

            "Yeah, well…the stress is getting to me, I think." He lay back down, pulling her on top of him. "Don't worry about it."

            "Of course I worry…" she mumbled, letting out a sigh.

            Neo waited for a moment before slipping away from her, sitting over the edge of the bed.

            Trinity sat up once more. "What is it?"

            "I just…" Neo rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm just gonna go check something out, okay?"

            "But what-"

            "It's okay, don't worry about it. I'll be back in a second." He stood and walked out hurriedly, making his way to Lith's room. He didn't know why, nor did he know how, but he was sure that Lith had felt that dream as well…perhaps even because…

            A simple theory floated into his mind. For Neo, this dream was a strange glimpse…for Lith, the dream may have been a memory. There were unmistakable parallels between the dream and the cyborg's condition. The strange pain in the forearm and neck, and especially the head. Approaching the door, he knocked once, then went in. To his surprise, Lith lay face down on the floor. Neo rushed quickly to his side, easing him up and over onto his back. "Hey, hey, Lith, wake up, come on." He ordered, gripping him by the chin and shaking his head back and forth.

            Rather than imitating Neo's movements as he would normally do in sleep, he jerked repeatedly, his broken robotic arm vibrating against the ground in its awkwardly strewn position. His eyes lashed up and down and he awoke, studying Neo.

            "You okay? Come on, what happened?" he grabbed him by the shoulders and propped him into a sitting position.

            To Neo's horror, Lith looked upon him in what seemed to be an unrecognizing manner. "You know…" he croaked. "You know what. You were there. You felt it too…" he rubbed the sides of his head with his fists, neurotically grumbling something under his breath.

            "Calm down, man." Neo put his hand on his shoulder. "It's…it's a damn dream, that's all."

            "A dream…" apparently a dream held far more significance to him than Neo imagined. "How do I know what's real anymore?"

            "I…this is real. You, here, now." Neo assured, motioning his hand around the room.

            "Only pain is real." His teeth chattered. "The pain…pain is the only…the only reality…"

            "Stop talking like that." Neo demanded, standing up.

            "Then how do I know?" he growled, recoiling into himself. "It's a test. You're a test…another distraction…another diversion…"

            "What the hell are you talking about?" Neo scoffed.

            "They tear me apart…but…they don't want me to know…they trick me…fool me…every time…But I know…I do…"

            "Knock it off, Lith, snap out of it." Neo was beginning to believe that he was growing delirious.

            "It's a dream?" he snapped suddenly. "Of course it's a dream! It's all a dream!" he snarled, raking his nails along his face.

            "Damnit, man…" Neo grasped him by the shoulders and pulled him to his feet, smacking him across the face. "There's your pain Lith! Now snap the fuck out of it!"

            Lith's hands were wrapped around Neo's wrists, reeling from the force of the blow. "…Neo…?" he said in a hollow, fearful tone. Had he not been fully conscious just now? How could an android be semi-conscious? He was sinking back down to the ground, but Neo held him up. He could feel Lith's awareness seeping back into him, his shy and frightened, apprehensive nature returning to his demeanor. "It…it's the dream, Neo…" he panted. "I remember everything…" he hung his head, seemingly ashamed of himself.

            "It's okay…" Neo let out a short breath of relief. There were those three words again… 'I remember everything'…they must have been quite the things to remember if they could instill so much fear. "Are you alright?"

            "Yes I…I think so…" he fell away from Neo onto the bed, staring at the wall in front of him.

            Neo sat next to him. "It's what happened to you, isn't it? That dream, where you're falling…and you hit the ground, and you're bleeding?"

            Lith twitched his nose, reminding Neo very much of a terrified rabbit. "If…if it was not a dream to begin with…than yes."

            "What did happen to you…when you were out there? In the real world?"

            "I could hear those things…coming closer…When I was awake, at least." He rubbed his arm absently.

            "And where were you before? Do you remember?"

            "I…" Lith touched the back of his neck where plugs once were. "I was…connected…into the machine."

            "Were you awake most of the time? Alone, in the darkness?" Neo posed.

            "I was either sleeping…or not sleeping…but it was not 'awake'." He corrected.

            "Somewhere in between?"

            "Yes, I think."  He sighed, still staring ahead with a void, emotionless expression.

            "So you knew what was happening to you the entire time." Neo concluded. "Do you have any idea…?"

            "No, I don't…know why…if-if that's what you wanted to know." Lith fondled the corner of his sheets between the fingers of his real arm. "What happens to me now?" he asked suddenly, looking away as if he were sure it would be nothing in his favor.

            "Well I don't really know." Neo admitted. "Ah, I guess we'll take you to Zion. There're plenty of people there. You'll adjust quick."

            "You mean you aren't staying with me?" he scratched the growing hairs on his chin.

            "Lith…" he cleared his throat. "Look, this really isn't the place for you. It's a ship, not a joyride, not a passenger cruise."

            He looked as though he didn't understand, but continued on anyway. "Will these people understand me?"

            I don't even understand you. Neo thought in exasperation. "Yeah, sure they will. It's where you belong. You're a man, not a machine."

            "I am both…" he swallowed and look down. "That is what Morpheus says."

            "You can think on your own, can't you?" Neo pointed at his head. "That makes you alive. That makes you a man."

            "Oh…" Lith nodded.

            "Hey, don't worry." Neo said. "You're totally safe now. No one's going to hurt you anymore. You'll do just fine." He stood.

            "Thank you." He stated, looking at his pillow.

            "Goodnight." Neo said.

            Lith stared blankly.

            "Uh…I'll…see you in the morning." He rephrased. He noticed how Lith's eyes shone with a glimmering blue light, most likely to make up for his eyes' lack of dilation and allow him to see somewhat better in the dark. It gave him the creeps.

            "Oh, yes." Lith was left sitting alone in the darkness, waiting for sleep as he must have done most any other night.