Pusher's name- Not from X-Files, but as I am an X-Files freak, it could have been subconscious. I do love that episode. Maybe I'll name another character Tooms or the Well-Manicured Hacker.



Which reminds me of a story, and forgive me, because it's 3:24 AM. I used to volunteer at an animal preserve, where I worked with reptiles. And we always named all the reptiles X-Files names. We had a California corn snake named Walter, and a set of turtles named Byers, Langley, and Frohicke. But my favorite was Cancerman and his brother, the Well-Manicured Salamander. They bit anything in sight: food, sticks, your finger. They were the meanest damn things ever. I just loved them. Anyway, there's your stream-of-consciousness diatribe of the day. Tune in later for a dissertation on why J.K. Rowling is going to kill off Neville and make me cry.



***I wrote the above way before Order of the Phoenix came out. Now I just feel justified about everything I've ever said about Neville, whom I love.



*****Okay. Here's where I explain why you haven't seen any fanfiction from me in a long while. I wrote much of this during finals, when I should have been studying. But, in a grand show of procrastination, decided to extrapolate the lives of Neo and Trinity until the movie came out. (More about the movie later.) Just after finals were over, my mother called to say that my father's lung had collapsed. I immediately went home.



He seemed okay, but then turned for the worst. He had to be transferred to a hospital which specialized in heart and lungs. These people were wonderful, but did not believe that Daddy would make it through surgery. He was in ICU for weeks and developed a staph infection. He had three chest tubes and looked very bad.



My mother and I slept in the ICU waiting room the entire time he was ill. Luckily, his surgeons were wonderful. He made it through the surgery, and though he has to be on oxygen twenty-four hours a day for the rest of his life, is home and in as good of health as can be expected. In fact, he, my mother, and my aunt (his sister) are at the beach right now. He is fishing and having a great time.



I hope everyone understands now why I have been neglecting all my fanfics. I can't promise that I will be updating with anything resembling regularity for a few more weeks. I moved back home for the summer to help my parents out.



Classes start on August 19. As soon as I am settled with that I will be getting back to my writing. Until then I appreciate all of you putting up with me.



The following chapter is rather short. But I've had half of it written since before Daddy got sick.

So I thought I owed it to you people to at least get it somewhat done and posted. Review and let me know what you think.



Xixie

Chapter 13



To Trust, or Not to Trust



"Trinity, we have to go see what it is that Morpheus wants." Neo spoke quietly.



"Has it been an hour already?" Trinity moved from where she lay against Neo's side. Rising slightly, she turned to see his face more clearly.



"Something like 45 minutes, really."



"Well, then. Tell me when it has been 55 minutes."



"I don't know. What exactly can we possibly do for ten minutes? I don't want to get bored."



Trinity, careful of Neo's side, leaned down to kiss him. "I love you."



"I know."



*****



Trinity followed Neo into the mess hall just as Morpheus was about to send Tank for them. The two sat before their captain expectantly.



Morpheus nodded in recognition before speaking. "I spoke earlier with the Captain of the Amelia Earhart. Captain Femina wanted to inform us of some specific Agent activity in the Matrix. Apparently, Neo's name is being thrown around quite liberally by the system. I have asked her to rendevous with the Neb immediately. I have reason to believe has encountered our new Agent. She is going to help us with our program."



Turning. "As I was occupied during the earlier . . . drama, I do want to know if we are going to be needing Pusher for code reconstruction any longer."



Neo was silent and Trinity glowered. "We don't need him. Neo was able to do more in five minutes than Pusher could in five hours. She's fully constructed; we just need to get in and test her."



"I still want to rendevous with the Amelia Earhart. They are heading towards Zion. We can pass Pusher off to them. He can meet up with the Deviance in dry dock. Femina will still be able to help us, I believe. She and her crew encountered the new Agent. They witnessed her interface with a group of regular Agents. Apparently, they then exhibited strange behavior. In fact, she and her crew were able to defeat one, face to face. Granted it was five to one, but it is better than anyone, other than Neo, has been able to do."



The crew looked impressed.



"It is impressive, however, Femina insists that the female Agent skewed the coding, making the victory possible. It is imperative that we know why the system is creating Agents who make the other Agents more vunerable."



Neo seemed thoughtful.



Morpheus looked at him. "Neo? Is there something you can add?"



The crew turned to look at him. "Yes. I just don't know what it is yet."



Trinity placed her hand on her lover's arm. "What does that mean, Neo?"



He shook his head. "It's in there. I just have to let everything click into place. Maybe after I engage the Agent, I'll have a better idea."



Trinity furrowed her brow. "Maybe."



Morpheus spoke. "Well, I suggest that we wait until morning. We will not be meeting with the Amelia Earhart for another 3 days. Tank has already changed course, so I'd like him to take some X-rays of Neo."



Moving as if to protest, Neo was cut off. "It's an order."



Nodding, he moved towards the door. Looking down at Trinity, he extended a hand to her.



Before she could reach up, Morpheus cut her off. "I'd like to speak to Trinity."



Neo looked put out but followed Tank.



Morpheus sat across from his second in command. Staring at her, he waited for Trinity to speak.



"I don't know what you want me to say. I apologize for even asking you to bring him here. I had assumed he had grown up."



"I don't know what to say, Trinity. We'll be transferring him as soon as possible. I do not appreciate attacks on my crew members."



"If you're leaving that hanging because I followed up his attack with one of my own, that's fine. But I don't feel bad about it."



"As soon as Tank has checked Neo over, I want that new Agent tested."



Trinity nodded purposefully. "That's fine. Neo's pretty much rarin' to go anyway."



Morpheus smirked. "I bet."



*****



The Construct coalesced around the trio nearly instantaneously. Tank pulled up the Agent program, waiting only for Neo's word to begin the run. Once he saw that Morpheus and Trinity had moved within five feet of him, Neo signaled to Tank. A beautiful, dark haired woman coalesced in front of the trio. She immediately glanced to her left and right. Reaching down, she pulled the hem of her skirt up, adjusting her garters.



Tank entered the command to download the copy of Neo into the presence of the woman.



Looking at the digital Neo, the woman sighed deeply. "There's no need for these tricks Neo. You can delete this thing and come out from wherever you're cloaking yourself. I'm here to help you."



Neo looked toward his captain. Morpheus shook his head emphatically. Neo looked into his eyes and nodded. "I could take her. Just stay here. I'm leaving you cloaked."



Neo stepped out of the parameters of his illusion, into the vision of the new program. "How are you planning to do that?"



The woman smiled. "Straight to the point I see. Perhaps introductions would be more appropriate at this stage of our relationship, Neo."



"As far as I can see, we have no relationship."



"Neo, there's no reason to be rude. My name is RTX4823910.18725349/OPq. You may call me Moira. I have been created and sent by our Resistance to help yours."



"And what Resistance is that?"



Again, she smiled. "Humans are a remarkably intricate and unique group of beings, Neo. As we were created by them, don't you think AI has a broad range of individuals also? There has always been a group of machines who do not wish to enslave the human race. We have just recently gained entrance into the Matrix. I have been sent to help you."



Neo looked at Moira with incredulity. "To help me? That's awfully convenient, and slightly suspect, don't you think?"



Bubbly laughter answered him. "Yes. Terribly so. In fact, I have no clue how I'm going to obtain your trust. I just know that that is my main objective."



"Well, you're pretty much screwed then."



"You must speak to the Elder. You know her as the Oracle. She expects you . . . sometime. I'm sure you'll figure it out. Until then, you and I can get to know one another."



Neo stared at the program. Pulling out his phone, he addressed Tank. "Take her offline and get me out of here."



Moira blinked out of existence with a pouty look on her face. Neo, Trinity, and Morpheus all awoke aboard the Neb looking terribly confused.





*****The Movie*****



Well, I hate to say it, but I was kinda disappointed in Reloaded. It just seemed over philosophized and kinda dorky. But then, a friend of mine and I got to talking. He started talking about a friend of his' Matrix theory (come on, we all have one). I wish to God I had thought of it myself. In fact, I'm convinced that given enough time I would have.



His friend thinks that none of the Zionites have left the Matrix. That they are in a different program that they think is reality. It explains everything- how Neo stopped the squiddies, how

Trinity was forced, we assume by fate, to enter the Matrix, even how Neo's dreams were playing on the televisions behind the architect before they were recreated in the Matrix as reality.



I'm thoroughly enamored of this idea. So let me know what you think.



Xixie