Chapter Two
Nearly two years later.
Kira waited patiently by the window staring out into the city waiting for Smith to show up. It was the same for nearly two years. He would show up and give her money for the week and left. Sometimes he stayed for a while and other times he left right away. The times that he did stay ended up in weird silence or very odd conversation. A sudden smile spread across her face as she remembered Smith trying to explain the finer points of maturation and finally gave up and sent her to a nurse at a local clinic. Kira would never have guessed that programs could blush. It was Kira's birthday and she was hoping that Smith would stay for a while and say more than a single syllable word to her. Kira then felt a strange sensation in the back of her head. She turned away from the window and ran to the door. Opening it, she saw Smith with the usual white envelope. She gave him a dazzling smile. Smith gave a nervous twitch and resisted the urge to actually smile back. What is she doing to me? Why do I feel this way every time she smiles?
"Are you leaving right away?" Kira asked.
"No." Smith handed her the envelope and stepped inside. Kira looked at the money and then back at Smith.
"Why do you bother?" Kira asked. Smith gave her a frown, which meant he did not want to talk about it. Kira only sighed and placed the money in her safe drawer. Smith watched her for a moment and was about to leave when Kira grabbed his hand.
"Why did you do that?"
"I just wanted to know."
"Know what?"
Kira remained silent. Smith's stubborn gaze finally made her give in. "I just wanted to know if you were more than just a program."
"I am not," Smith replied quickly. "I am a program designed to fight the resistance."
Kira did not reply. Kira knew he could never be anything more than an A.I. program in the matrix, but somehow she could feel that he was not entirely a soulless program either. Yes, he was designed for a single purpose, but things can change. "The resistance is growing. I will not be able to keep coming here. I have already started a search for another family. You won't remember any of this so the assimilation will be easier."
Kira tried to hide her hurt as he told her this. He's leaving me. Kira knew this was ridiculous, because he never really stayed with her, but something made her want to protest. Smith noticed that Kira looked upset.
"What is the matter?" Smith asked.
"Nothing." Kira was unable to look Smith in the face and so continued to stare at her feet. "When will I have to go?"
"Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" Kira almost leapt at the news. Kira looked angrily at Smith. It wasn't until later she realized she was crying. She felt the hot tears running down her cheeks. Completely ashamed Kira looked away to wipe away her tears.
"Why are you crying?" Smith asked with annoyance.
"Just go away," Kira snapped. She waited to hear the door open and closing, but instead she felt his presence behind her. She also noticed that he seemed unsure or torn between something. Kira did not know what brought that about, but his nearness was making her a bit unnerved. She turned to face him and he just stood there looking at her through his shades. He then reached up to remove his earpiece. He knelt down and to her utmost surprise wiped away her tears. "Happy birthday," Smith said in his usual low tone, but something was different this time. Kira was sure she almost heard genuine emotion in there somewhere. "Do not waste your tears on me. I am not worth the aggravation." Then Kira did something she had never attempted since the night they first met, she embraced him. It was like she was ten years old again and clinging for dear life.
"I thought you said, you won't leave me," Kira whispered into his shirt collar. Smith fidgeted uneasily. Smith felt a sudden pang of possessiveness as Kira looked at him with her green eyes filled with uncertainty and a desire to be loved. He was completely puzzled at why Kira had such an effect on him. Finally Smith pulled her off him, although not as quickly as he might have done a few months ago, he told her he was coming for her tomorrow.
"Don't bother with anything. You won't remember any of this."
"You know that's a lie," Kira whispered. Smith did not reply. As he left, Kira felt a great swell of sadness in her heart. Jesus, Kira, he is not your father. He's not even human. What is wrong with you? Kira thought to herself. But no matter what excuse she tried to think of inside she knew that she had grown to care about a program that didn't even care about her.
"Damn it."
Kira remained silent the whole time in the car ride. For the first time, Smith wished she would talk for a change.
"Why should I?"
"What?"
"Why should I talk? You never listen to what I say anyway." Kira never turned away from the window, but Smith could see that she was looking at him from the reflection in the glass. He only raised his brow. Kira stifled a giggle. "I thought you figured that out about me by now."
"I only assumed." Smith knew that was lame. I'm losing my sanity to a twelve-year-old girl.
The car finally stopped in front of a government building. Kira had seen skyscrapers before, but this one topped them all. It almost seemed as if it was a huge black crystal in the middle of the city. When she stepped out she realized that the building had a greenish tint and was not entirely black.
"What are we doing here?" Kira asked nervously. She had a sudden innate fear that Smith would just leave her here or take her to be dealt with permanently. But somewhere in the back of her brain she knew that he couldn't be that heartless, not from what she had seen. Allowing her to live the night they first met was proof enough for her.
"A social worker will meet us here to take you to your new home." Smith started to walk up the steps toward the building. He turned only when he noticed that Kira was not following him.
"So that means this is the last time I will see you."
"Yes."
Kira bounded up the steps wrapped her arms around him. Smith had a look as if to say he wished she would stop doing that. It was driving him crazy. Peeling her off him he asked what's the matter with her.
"Please don't forget me."
"What?" Smith was totally caught off guard with that request.
"Please?"
"Fine."
"I don't believe you." To Kira's puzzlement, Smith's frown deepened, almost as if her last remark insulted him. Smith did not respond for a long time. Finally he lifted his left arm and snapped off the button to his jacket cuff. He handed it to her. Kira looked at it for a moment.
"I promise."
Kira looked at Smith and then at the button again. She finally understood. She smiled brightly.
"I believe you." Kira was about to follow Smith up the rest of the way when she felt a sudden force nearly knock her down. She thought she was going to hit the ground hard, but instead she was being carried away. She realized someone was carrying her away from Smith. She turned back only to see Smith with his gun drawn. Kira knew he was debating whether or not he should pursue them. She turned back to her kidnapper and recognized him as probably a freedom fighter. His attire and sunglasses alone gave that away. But when she looked closer she noticed that he had one blue eye and one green. It was then she finally recognized him.
"Wolf!" Kira squealed with delight. "You're still alive!"
"Easy kid, don't get too excited. We're not safe yet," but Wolf smiled warmly at her and was slightly surprised she even remembered him.
"They won't follow us. We're ok."
"How do you know?"
"Because Smith is." Kira stopped short.
"What?"
"I just know it. I thought you knew that about me."
Wolf just glanced at her. He kept running and finally stopped when he saw a sleek black car waiting up ahead. He gently placed Kira inside the backseat and took his seat in the front. Kira waited in silence until they were well on their way. Wolf turned to face her.
"Yeah, I know, but we can't be too careful."
"It's good to see you still alive, Kira," said the driver. Kira turned to the other man in the driver seat. She recognized that voice. She continued to look at him and then her eyes lit up with recognition.
"Razor!" Kira wrapped her arms around his neck. Razor nearly smashed into a fire hydrant when she did that.
"Whoa, easy Kira. It good to see you too, but can you wait until I'm not driving?"
"Sorry." Kira let Razor go and sat back down. "How did you find me?"
"It took us a long time, Kira." Wolf said. He hesitated before he continued. "That night when we got out we tried to look for you, but you had just disappeared. We should have known that the machines would use the safe house and restructure so it would appear to be an empty parking lot when we looked at the code, it's just the way they would think. It wasn't until a few hours ago that we finally found you. We thought you." Wolf didn't finish. When he finally did speak his voice was gruff with emotion. "I still had to hope that you still alive. I promised Arimis that I would take care of you and get you out."
Kira remained silent. Hearing them mention Arimis and what they probably went through when they found out that their captain was dead, made Kira want to slink off into a corner with guilt. They can't know, Kira thought to herself.
"Thanks for saving me."
Nearly two years later.
Kira waited patiently by the window staring out into the city waiting for Smith to show up. It was the same for nearly two years. He would show up and give her money for the week and left. Sometimes he stayed for a while and other times he left right away. The times that he did stay ended up in weird silence or very odd conversation. A sudden smile spread across her face as she remembered Smith trying to explain the finer points of maturation and finally gave up and sent her to a nurse at a local clinic. Kira would never have guessed that programs could blush. It was Kira's birthday and she was hoping that Smith would stay for a while and say more than a single syllable word to her. Kira then felt a strange sensation in the back of her head. She turned away from the window and ran to the door. Opening it, she saw Smith with the usual white envelope. She gave him a dazzling smile. Smith gave a nervous twitch and resisted the urge to actually smile back. What is she doing to me? Why do I feel this way every time she smiles?
"Are you leaving right away?" Kira asked.
"No." Smith handed her the envelope and stepped inside. Kira looked at the money and then back at Smith.
"Why do you bother?" Kira asked. Smith gave her a frown, which meant he did not want to talk about it. Kira only sighed and placed the money in her safe drawer. Smith watched her for a moment and was about to leave when Kira grabbed his hand.
"Why did you do that?"
"I just wanted to know."
"Know what?"
Kira remained silent. Smith's stubborn gaze finally made her give in. "I just wanted to know if you were more than just a program."
"I am not," Smith replied quickly. "I am a program designed to fight the resistance."
Kira did not reply. Kira knew he could never be anything more than an A.I. program in the matrix, but somehow she could feel that he was not entirely a soulless program either. Yes, he was designed for a single purpose, but things can change. "The resistance is growing. I will not be able to keep coming here. I have already started a search for another family. You won't remember any of this so the assimilation will be easier."
Kira tried to hide her hurt as he told her this. He's leaving me. Kira knew this was ridiculous, because he never really stayed with her, but something made her want to protest. Smith noticed that Kira looked upset.
"What is the matter?" Smith asked.
"Nothing." Kira was unable to look Smith in the face and so continued to stare at her feet. "When will I have to go?"
"Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" Kira almost leapt at the news. Kira looked angrily at Smith. It wasn't until later she realized she was crying. She felt the hot tears running down her cheeks. Completely ashamed Kira looked away to wipe away her tears.
"Why are you crying?" Smith asked with annoyance.
"Just go away," Kira snapped. She waited to hear the door open and closing, but instead she felt his presence behind her. She also noticed that he seemed unsure or torn between something. Kira did not know what brought that about, but his nearness was making her a bit unnerved. She turned to face him and he just stood there looking at her through his shades. He then reached up to remove his earpiece. He knelt down and to her utmost surprise wiped away her tears. "Happy birthday," Smith said in his usual low tone, but something was different this time. Kira was sure she almost heard genuine emotion in there somewhere. "Do not waste your tears on me. I am not worth the aggravation." Then Kira did something she had never attempted since the night they first met, she embraced him. It was like she was ten years old again and clinging for dear life.
"I thought you said, you won't leave me," Kira whispered into his shirt collar. Smith fidgeted uneasily. Smith felt a sudden pang of possessiveness as Kira looked at him with her green eyes filled with uncertainty and a desire to be loved. He was completely puzzled at why Kira had such an effect on him. Finally Smith pulled her off him, although not as quickly as he might have done a few months ago, he told her he was coming for her tomorrow.
"Don't bother with anything. You won't remember any of this."
"You know that's a lie," Kira whispered. Smith did not reply. As he left, Kira felt a great swell of sadness in her heart. Jesus, Kira, he is not your father. He's not even human. What is wrong with you? Kira thought to herself. But no matter what excuse she tried to think of inside she knew that she had grown to care about a program that didn't even care about her.
"Damn it."
Kira remained silent the whole time in the car ride. For the first time, Smith wished she would talk for a change.
"Why should I?"
"What?"
"Why should I talk? You never listen to what I say anyway." Kira never turned away from the window, but Smith could see that she was looking at him from the reflection in the glass. He only raised his brow. Kira stifled a giggle. "I thought you figured that out about me by now."
"I only assumed." Smith knew that was lame. I'm losing my sanity to a twelve-year-old girl.
The car finally stopped in front of a government building. Kira had seen skyscrapers before, but this one topped them all. It almost seemed as if it was a huge black crystal in the middle of the city. When she stepped out she realized that the building had a greenish tint and was not entirely black.
"What are we doing here?" Kira asked nervously. She had a sudden innate fear that Smith would just leave her here or take her to be dealt with permanently. But somewhere in the back of her brain she knew that he couldn't be that heartless, not from what she had seen. Allowing her to live the night they first met was proof enough for her.
"A social worker will meet us here to take you to your new home." Smith started to walk up the steps toward the building. He turned only when he noticed that Kira was not following him.
"So that means this is the last time I will see you."
"Yes."
Kira bounded up the steps wrapped her arms around him. Smith had a look as if to say he wished she would stop doing that. It was driving him crazy. Peeling her off him he asked what's the matter with her.
"Please don't forget me."
"What?" Smith was totally caught off guard with that request.
"Please?"
"Fine."
"I don't believe you." To Kira's puzzlement, Smith's frown deepened, almost as if her last remark insulted him. Smith did not respond for a long time. Finally he lifted his left arm and snapped off the button to his jacket cuff. He handed it to her. Kira looked at it for a moment.
"I promise."
Kira looked at Smith and then at the button again. She finally understood. She smiled brightly.
"I believe you." Kira was about to follow Smith up the rest of the way when she felt a sudden force nearly knock her down. She thought she was going to hit the ground hard, but instead she was being carried away. She realized someone was carrying her away from Smith. She turned back only to see Smith with his gun drawn. Kira knew he was debating whether or not he should pursue them. She turned back to her kidnapper and recognized him as probably a freedom fighter. His attire and sunglasses alone gave that away. But when she looked closer she noticed that he had one blue eye and one green. It was then she finally recognized him.
"Wolf!" Kira squealed with delight. "You're still alive!"
"Easy kid, don't get too excited. We're not safe yet," but Wolf smiled warmly at her and was slightly surprised she even remembered him.
"They won't follow us. We're ok."
"How do you know?"
"Because Smith is." Kira stopped short.
"What?"
"I just know it. I thought you knew that about me."
Wolf just glanced at her. He kept running and finally stopped when he saw a sleek black car waiting up ahead. He gently placed Kira inside the backseat and took his seat in the front. Kira waited in silence until they were well on their way. Wolf turned to face her.
"Yeah, I know, but we can't be too careful."
"It's good to see you still alive, Kira," said the driver. Kira turned to the other man in the driver seat. She recognized that voice. She continued to look at him and then her eyes lit up with recognition.
"Razor!" Kira wrapped her arms around his neck. Razor nearly smashed into a fire hydrant when she did that.
"Whoa, easy Kira. It good to see you too, but can you wait until I'm not driving?"
"Sorry." Kira let Razor go and sat back down. "How did you find me?"
"It took us a long time, Kira." Wolf said. He hesitated before he continued. "That night when we got out we tried to look for you, but you had just disappeared. We should have known that the machines would use the safe house and restructure so it would appear to be an empty parking lot when we looked at the code, it's just the way they would think. It wasn't until a few hours ago that we finally found you. We thought you." Wolf didn't finish. When he finally did speak his voice was gruff with emotion. "I still had to hope that you still alive. I promised Arimis that I would take care of you and get you out."
Kira remained silent. Hearing them mention Arimis and what they probably went through when they found out that their captain was dead, made Kira want to slink off into a corner with guilt. They can't know, Kira thought to herself.
"Thanks for saving me."