Chapter 16 - Returning
When she reached the phone booth, Neo and Trinity had already gone. Morpheus was standing there waiting for her. He held out the ringing phone to her. She was about to take it when she stopped.
"Wait," she said, "I can't go yet."
"Why not?" said Morpheus.
"I have to go and see the Oracle," said Asha. Morpheus raised his eyebrows.
"Why do you say that?"
"I just feel that I have to," said Asha, "I'll meet you back on the ship later. Ask Tank to get me transport to America."
Morpheus nodded, and put the receiver to his ear. He dissolved before Asha's eyes, and the receiver dropped down. Asha picked it up and replaced it. After waiting for about a minute, the phone rang again. She picked up the receiver, closed her eyes as the tingling sensation spread over her, then opened her eyes again. She was in New York. She glanced about carefully - people who saw strange things in New York felt more inclined to report them. Especially since that 'Men in Black' film. She pulled out her phone.
"Where am I, Tank?" she asked.
"Only a few streets away from the Oracle," he said. Asha set off at a jog. As she ran, she thought about everything that had happened since she had been there last. Was she really the second hope? Judging by the whole telekinesis and fighting agents thing, she was starting to believe it.
Finally she reached the building. She ran up the stairs, not being bothered to use the lift again, and walked down the corridor to the door. She knocked, but the door was opened almost immediately by a priestess.
"Welcome, Asha," she said, "The Oracle's waiting for you."
"She's good," said Asha, impressed. She walked into the living room, waving at Spoon Boy as she went, then walked into the kitchen. The Oracle was cooking a big pie, probably for the potentials. She glanced at her watch, and was amazed to see that it was only about five o' clock. She'd arrived in the Matrix that morning, at about seven thirty, judging by the fact that Jon had probably been on his way to school when he was nearly hit by a truck. It had been a long day.
"Asha," she said, taking her hands, "I do believe you've grown since I saw you yesterday."
"Was it really only yesterday?" said Asha with amazement, "It feels so much longer."
"You've learnt much in that time," she said, "You're starting to believe it."
Asha opened her mouth to ask something, but the Oracle said, "I know what you're going to ask me. You're going to ask how you get back; if you're plugged in, can you get out by phone?"
Asha shut her mouth again and nodded. The Oracle smiled. "Go out the way you came in."
"What?" said Asha, "You mean, I can move in and out of the Matrix as well?"
"Yes," said the Oracle, "You have David's powers, without having to join the side of the machines. He would have had them as well, had he just waited to find them. Even Neo would be able to, if he saw the point of it when he could travel in and out just as easily by phone. But I hope that you will use them more responsibly than David did."
"You already know whether I will," said Asha.
"So I do," said the Oracle, "But I won't tell you, because it may turn you from your set path."
"Right," said Asha, "Um, OK. I never fully understood this whole destiny thing."
"Neither do I," said the Oracle, "Destiny is a very complicated thing. Try not to think about it too much."
"Fine by me," said Asha, "Will I ever see David again?"
"That will be up to you," said the Oracle. Asha nodded.
"Thank you," she said, "And thank you for not giving me bad news. I've just got to figure out how leave now."
The Oracle nodded. Asha closed her eyes, and tried to imagine the world splitting about her. She tried not to force it, not particularly wanting to rip the Oracle's kitchen in half. She could have cheered when she felt a hole appearing. Suddenly she remembered something.
"One more thing!" she called, and turned back to the Oracle. She was watching her expectantly, as if she'd been waiting for her to remember, "You said that I'd have to make a choice about Neo. Well, it wasn't that much of a difficult choice. I brought him back!"
"Well," said the Oracle, "Maybe that's because you haven't made that choice yet."
And then she was falling through the green code of the Matrix, heading back to the real world.
* * * * *
AND... a sneak preview of the sequel, 'It all comes down to Choice', due out, um, I haven't decided yet...
Falcon was reading his magazine when he noticed the room had become considerably darker. Looking at the monitor, he saw that the screen had gone black.
"Damn!" he said loudly. He tapped a few keys, but nothing happened. He still looked calm, but inside he was raging. They couldn't be beating him again, not again. Only one other system had done this to him; this was the second time in a month. He'd found only two systems he couldn't beat in his hacking career, and both in a month?
He didn't even know what he was hacking into. Having discovered a gap in cyberspace, he, unlike many other hackers, had dived straight in. He'd been surprised to discover codes even here, so he knew he'd been onto something big. But his computer had crashed before he could find anything important.
He'd spent the last few weeks trying to rediscover the entrance. Now at last he had, and his computer had packed up again? This couldn't be coincidence. Someone, or something, was stopping him from seeing this. Not that he was intending to sell what he found - he hacked for the sheer thrill of it, and the pleasure of imagining the faces of the people in the system when they found that their security had been breached - by a teenager.
Suddenly green writing appeared on the screen. He blinked. Squinting, he read;
'Tut, tut, Falcon, that's not for you to see.'
*****
So? What do you think? It was difficult finding a bit that didn't give away too much, but I think that bit's a nice little teaser for you.
Im a Brandybuck - Yup, sequel coming soon! New characters, new story, and Asha manages to get herself into yet more trouble. And yes, more Agent Smith! Yaaay!
Kit - Like I said, more coming! Neo is cool... He's groovy too. He's in the sequel, and he has some emotional dilemmas, and I concentrate more on how he feels, cos I think that's something I haven't really written about in this one. And I'll write for ages, but not forever... I mean, the whole being dead could get in the way...
Mako - I won't tell anyone! Please send it to me! Me wanna REEEEEEAD!!!!!
Sirocco.flow - I considered her being american, cos it would be convenient, but then I thought - Why are there no english people in the film? Except the Twins, but they're programs, made by a programmer with a thing for fake accents... So I say, THE MATRIX NEEDS AN ENGLISH HERO!!!! *waves english flag*
Tanuki Yasha - Whoa.... that's hyper... Oh, sorry, WHOA... THAT'S HYPER... Where do you live again? Sorry, I have a terrible memory for stuff like this.
Microchips - Wob-Wob was a gift from a reviewer. He's, um... a Wob-Wob. Only way to describe him. He adores chocolate brownies, rules my mini- country (a gift from another reviewer) and occasionally eats my fridge. Oh, and he throws great dinner parties for the Wog-Wog and the Wom-Wom.
Littlefurryscrubcreature - In answer to your questions, yes, yes, hell yes, and I don't think I write THE coolest stories. I'm sure there's loadsa people who write better than me. Who don't have their english teacher accusing them of not being able to convey whether their character is alive or dead... *starts muttering angrily about english teacher*
Daredevilgirl - Yes, sequel coming! Hope you liked the preview!
KnowInSight - Who's Lai? Was she that phoenix? Sorry, I'm getting confused... so many creatures-sent-by-reviewers-who-glare-at-me-and-eat-my- food-until-I-update, so little memory... And, um, I'm not sure. Maybe cos the agents didn't see the point. That's just a teeny plot hole. *shame*
Cirfia - Vampyr Legion is part of a trilogy. The others are called Shadow of the Minotaur and Warriors of the Raven. Like most trilogies, it kicks ass. My fave was the Minotaur one, though, cos I love Greek Mythology.
Gone-to-jarmadanga - Hmmm... me and serious don't really go together... I do write stories that aren't fanfictions, mainly fantasy stories, with fairies and wizards and all these other things. I love writing stories like that.
Nurvilyawen of Imladris - Why can't I frolic? I WANNA FROLIC!!!
MollyJean - Well, there'll be more of Jon in the sequel, I can promise you that.
Alexia & Gwen - Samara? Go see 'The Matrix Madness', and see Neo's Samara impression! Not a good one, but anyway... Can't be scared of her any more, after picturing Neo in a white nightie trying to look scary...
When she reached the phone booth, Neo and Trinity had already gone. Morpheus was standing there waiting for her. He held out the ringing phone to her. She was about to take it when she stopped.
"Wait," she said, "I can't go yet."
"Why not?" said Morpheus.
"I have to go and see the Oracle," said Asha. Morpheus raised his eyebrows.
"Why do you say that?"
"I just feel that I have to," said Asha, "I'll meet you back on the ship later. Ask Tank to get me transport to America."
Morpheus nodded, and put the receiver to his ear. He dissolved before Asha's eyes, and the receiver dropped down. Asha picked it up and replaced it. After waiting for about a minute, the phone rang again. She picked up the receiver, closed her eyes as the tingling sensation spread over her, then opened her eyes again. She was in New York. She glanced about carefully - people who saw strange things in New York felt more inclined to report them. Especially since that 'Men in Black' film. She pulled out her phone.
"Where am I, Tank?" she asked.
"Only a few streets away from the Oracle," he said. Asha set off at a jog. As she ran, she thought about everything that had happened since she had been there last. Was she really the second hope? Judging by the whole telekinesis and fighting agents thing, she was starting to believe it.
Finally she reached the building. She ran up the stairs, not being bothered to use the lift again, and walked down the corridor to the door. She knocked, but the door was opened almost immediately by a priestess.
"Welcome, Asha," she said, "The Oracle's waiting for you."
"She's good," said Asha, impressed. She walked into the living room, waving at Spoon Boy as she went, then walked into the kitchen. The Oracle was cooking a big pie, probably for the potentials. She glanced at her watch, and was amazed to see that it was only about five o' clock. She'd arrived in the Matrix that morning, at about seven thirty, judging by the fact that Jon had probably been on his way to school when he was nearly hit by a truck. It had been a long day.
"Asha," she said, taking her hands, "I do believe you've grown since I saw you yesterday."
"Was it really only yesterday?" said Asha with amazement, "It feels so much longer."
"You've learnt much in that time," she said, "You're starting to believe it."
Asha opened her mouth to ask something, but the Oracle said, "I know what you're going to ask me. You're going to ask how you get back; if you're plugged in, can you get out by phone?"
Asha shut her mouth again and nodded. The Oracle smiled. "Go out the way you came in."
"What?" said Asha, "You mean, I can move in and out of the Matrix as well?"
"Yes," said the Oracle, "You have David's powers, without having to join the side of the machines. He would have had them as well, had he just waited to find them. Even Neo would be able to, if he saw the point of it when he could travel in and out just as easily by phone. But I hope that you will use them more responsibly than David did."
"You already know whether I will," said Asha.
"So I do," said the Oracle, "But I won't tell you, because it may turn you from your set path."
"Right," said Asha, "Um, OK. I never fully understood this whole destiny thing."
"Neither do I," said the Oracle, "Destiny is a very complicated thing. Try not to think about it too much."
"Fine by me," said Asha, "Will I ever see David again?"
"That will be up to you," said the Oracle. Asha nodded.
"Thank you," she said, "And thank you for not giving me bad news. I've just got to figure out how leave now."
The Oracle nodded. Asha closed her eyes, and tried to imagine the world splitting about her. She tried not to force it, not particularly wanting to rip the Oracle's kitchen in half. She could have cheered when she felt a hole appearing. Suddenly she remembered something.
"One more thing!" she called, and turned back to the Oracle. She was watching her expectantly, as if she'd been waiting for her to remember, "You said that I'd have to make a choice about Neo. Well, it wasn't that much of a difficult choice. I brought him back!"
"Well," said the Oracle, "Maybe that's because you haven't made that choice yet."
And then she was falling through the green code of the Matrix, heading back to the real world.
* * * * *
AND... a sneak preview of the sequel, 'It all comes down to Choice', due out, um, I haven't decided yet...
Falcon was reading his magazine when he noticed the room had become considerably darker. Looking at the monitor, he saw that the screen had gone black.
"Damn!" he said loudly. He tapped a few keys, but nothing happened. He still looked calm, but inside he was raging. They couldn't be beating him again, not again. Only one other system had done this to him; this was the second time in a month. He'd found only two systems he couldn't beat in his hacking career, and both in a month?
He didn't even know what he was hacking into. Having discovered a gap in cyberspace, he, unlike many other hackers, had dived straight in. He'd been surprised to discover codes even here, so he knew he'd been onto something big. But his computer had crashed before he could find anything important.
He'd spent the last few weeks trying to rediscover the entrance. Now at last he had, and his computer had packed up again? This couldn't be coincidence. Someone, or something, was stopping him from seeing this. Not that he was intending to sell what he found - he hacked for the sheer thrill of it, and the pleasure of imagining the faces of the people in the system when they found that their security had been breached - by a teenager.
Suddenly green writing appeared on the screen. He blinked. Squinting, he read;
'Tut, tut, Falcon, that's not for you to see.'
*****
So? What do you think? It was difficult finding a bit that didn't give away too much, but I think that bit's a nice little teaser for you.
Im a Brandybuck - Yup, sequel coming soon! New characters, new story, and Asha manages to get herself into yet more trouble. And yes, more Agent Smith! Yaaay!
Kit - Like I said, more coming! Neo is cool... He's groovy too. He's in the sequel, and he has some emotional dilemmas, and I concentrate more on how he feels, cos I think that's something I haven't really written about in this one. And I'll write for ages, but not forever... I mean, the whole being dead could get in the way...
Mako - I won't tell anyone! Please send it to me! Me wanna REEEEEEAD!!!!!
Sirocco.flow - I considered her being american, cos it would be convenient, but then I thought - Why are there no english people in the film? Except the Twins, but they're programs, made by a programmer with a thing for fake accents... So I say, THE MATRIX NEEDS AN ENGLISH HERO!!!! *waves english flag*
Tanuki Yasha - Whoa.... that's hyper... Oh, sorry, WHOA... THAT'S HYPER... Where do you live again? Sorry, I have a terrible memory for stuff like this.
Microchips - Wob-Wob was a gift from a reviewer. He's, um... a Wob-Wob. Only way to describe him. He adores chocolate brownies, rules my mini- country (a gift from another reviewer) and occasionally eats my fridge. Oh, and he throws great dinner parties for the Wog-Wog and the Wom-Wom.
Littlefurryscrubcreature - In answer to your questions, yes, yes, hell yes, and I don't think I write THE coolest stories. I'm sure there's loadsa people who write better than me. Who don't have their english teacher accusing them of not being able to convey whether their character is alive or dead... *starts muttering angrily about english teacher*
Daredevilgirl - Yes, sequel coming! Hope you liked the preview!
KnowInSight - Who's Lai? Was she that phoenix? Sorry, I'm getting confused... so many creatures-sent-by-reviewers-who-glare-at-me-and-eat-my- food-until-I-update, so little memory... And, um, I'm not sure. Maybe cos the agents didn't see the point. That's just a teeny plot hole. *shame*
Cirfia - Vampyr Legion is part of a trilogy. The others are called Shadow of the Minotaur and Warriors of the Raven. Like most trilogies, it kicks ass. My fave was the Minotaur one, though, cos I love Greek Mythology.
Gone-to-jarmadanga - Hmmm... me and serious don't really go together... I do write stories that aren't fanfictions, mainly fantasy stories, with fairies and wizards and all these other things. I love writing stories like that.
Nurvilyawen of Imladris - Why can't I frolic? I WANNA FROLIC!!!
MollyJean - Well, there'll be more of Jon in the sequel, I can promise you that.
Alexia & Gwen - Samara? Go see 'The Matrix Madness', and see Neo's Samara impression! Not a good one, but anyway... Can't be scared of her any more, after picturing Neo in a white nightie trying to look scary...