Author's Notes: I'm back from France! That means I get to write for the rest of the summer! I'm in a dark mood though because some people are against my religious beliefs, so this story is probably going to take a dark turn somewhere…. And by the way, I found out that Zion wasn't destroyed in the movie. It was just the other ships, but I already like the way I've gone with this story. Lots of angst to go around.
Come Back to Me: Chapter 4
I'm slowly sinking into nothingness. I feel numb inside as if I don't want to feel the pain any longer. It's driving me to darkness, and I don't want to fight it. It will take me, and I will surrender to the sweet bliss of the insanity. As long as I don't have to bear the loss, why does it all matter?
When Zion collapsed, out ship was too close to the machines. We were all infected a brutal disease that doesn't seem to matter anymore. Everyone on the ship was treated with the antidote except one person. Me. It was my choice to sneak away from the medic bay the day the shots were given. At first, the shock of death hit me hard, but I can't feel anything anymore. I should have died with Zion. Instead, I'll die for the hopeless cause of its return.
There are pools of blood around my bed. The medic who treated the rest of the ship that day has bad cases of old timers poor fellow. He forgot that I was the one who wasn't treated that fateful day. So, now he only thinks I'm having a strong case of consumption. I call it that instead of tuberculosis because the name is more fitting to the situation. I'm dying, and there's nothing that the bubbly little medic can do about it.
My hair is filled with dried and caked blood. I've done nothing to attempt to wash it out because nothing matters anymore. None of them will miss me. Not really. Morpheus will mourn, but it doesn't matter to me anymore. He cares about every person on this ship, and the only one who really gave me the time of day for me. He's the only reason I haven't just gone ahead and killed myself. Oh, I've thought about it all right. I'd just rather go down in a fight against the machines. As soon as they're back online, I'm going in. Luckily, I never have the problem of looking pale. They won't suspect a thing.
The colors are started to fade now. I can only see in shades of gray. It fit my mood perfectly. I wipe at the new dribble of blood that dribbles down chin. I have to hold onto the wall as I make my way down to the bathroom. I pour ice head over my as I cough up a last bit of blood. My throat is raw from the constant threat of there not being enough oxygen. My stomach is tumbling inside of me. Not much longer then. I wish they would hurry up so I can get this over with.
I hope they don't get themselves killed too quickly. They plan on retaking Zion, and rebuilding it brick by brick. Good luck to that. Maybe they'll find alive people in hiding somewhere. We could only look so far because of the machines. I'll wait for you in my peaceful slumber. Well, as peaceful as a soldier can have. We'll always be fighting, and I hate that. I can't sleep because I'm fighting in my dreams, and I can never truly love because emotion causes distraction. I envy Trinity.
I've been scaring people for weeks now. I'd huddle up in a ball inside my room for hours at a time while I cry myself to sickness. I'd come out looking composed as ever though. Only Trinity and Morpheus would notice anything wrong. She would never say anything about it though; that's just the way she is. Morpheus would corner me later though, and ask me what was wrong. I never looked him in the eye. How could I?
I feel hot and cold at the same time. My skin prickles from the cool air inside the dark ship, but I'm burning up inside. Only my shipmates know I'm dying because of the loss of antibiotics. What would Morpheus do if he ever found out? I'm making my way to the other side of the ship without looking too fragile. I've put up a mask too long to have it all destroyed by looking weak.
*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*
"Boss, you can reboot. Everything has been reconnected down here," Link yelled from the lower deck behind a mass of wires.
"Stop calling me that, Link," Morpheus yelled back as matrix code came back online.
"Sure thing, Boss," Link answered cheerfully as he climbed back on the upper deck. Morpheus clinched his teeth and glared at Link's reflection on the monitor.
"Has it been confirmed that the tracers are directed at the medical bay?" Neo yelled up from the below deck. He was rechecking the main cables for shortages in the wires. They had a blackout earlier that morning.
"Triple checked," Link shouted back.
"It doesn't make any sense. The only person in the med bay right now is in comatose. Where did they say he was from?" Morpheus contemplated as he watched a train wreck in the matrix version of New York City.
"Something about a ship that was destroyed," Link shrugged. "Ask Niobe."
"Ask Niobe what," Trinity asked as she brought a fresh pot of coffee. They each gratefully accepted a steaming cup.
"Where the guy in a coma is from," Neo said from behind her. She offered him a quick, small smile before turning back to the others.
"Bane was from one of the earlier ships that was attacked. That's all I know besides that he was attacked inside the matrix. Well, they think he was attacked inside the matrix," Trinity added thoughtfully.
Morpheus choked on his coffee. "We weren't informed of this. He's a danger to this ship if he was attacked by Agent Smith like I was. That might be how the machines infiltrated the city. How did you know about this?"
Trinity looked away uncomfortably. "Ship rumors. You told us not to tell you about those unless they were a danger to the ship. They weren't at the time. I forgot about it later."
"Is it safe to enter the matrix right now?" Neo asked to break the tension between his captain and love.
"Not quite. The system is a bit unstable right now. Should be alright in about an hour or two if we keep a close eye on it. Planning to go in so soon?" Morpheus answered with a raised eyebrow.
"Actually, yeah. I need to try to find the Oracle first. Then I need to see what's going on in the matrix otherwise," Neo answered.
"I think you have your priorities out of order," Trinity stated. Neo shrugged.
"Does it really matter which one I do first as long as I get them both done?" Neo asked.
"Not really. The latter seems to be more important though. I'm going with you," Trinity said with a determined look. Neo was about to protest when Morpheus stepped in.
"I'm going as well, but if agents attack, I want you out of there, Trinity." Trinity and Neo both sighed in defeat for different reasons. Link grinned in anticipation.
"You want me to get it ready, Boss?"
"Only if you stop calling me Boss," Morpheus answered as he waltzed out of the room.
"Alright, Boss," Link ducked as the heavy manual was thrown at his head halfheartedly.
"So, what are we going to do about comatose guy?" Link turned back to Trinity and Neo after setting the heavy manual on the floor under the computer.
"Comatose guy? I almost feel sorry for him with the names we're giving him. We'll probably study him to see how Agent Smith got in him in the first place. We'll find out soon enough," Neo answered.
"That's probably where Morpheus went then," Trinity added. Link nodded his head in agreement.
"Should I make more coffee then?" Link questioned as seriously as he could muster.
"No!" Trinity and Neo chorused together. Last time he had made coffee, it hadn't been pretty. Link laughed as he went after Morpheus.
"You don't think he's actually going to make the coffee, do you?" Neo asked his love.
"I hope not; I had to drink a gallon of water last time because I was the unfortunate one who tried in first. You know how I drink my coffee," Trinity shuddered. Neo did remember; she swallowed the whole cup in one gulp.
"You shouldn't be worried about me in the matrix as much now," Trinity suddenly took a serious turn.
"I'll always worry about you in the matrix. There's nothing you can do to stop that," he whispered as he put his more muscled arms around her.
"Oh, Neo," Trinity sighed as she laid her head inside the fold of his shirt.
Author's Notes: I guess once I got back in the fanfiction writing mood, it became a much lighter chapter than I thought it would. Usually, if I get in such a mood that I kill someone, it stays that way for awhile. So, this chapter has a little bit of everything. I have written more dialogue in this story than all my others combined. Ok, cookies all around to everyone who can guess who is actually going to die in this story. It might not be who you think it is. I suddenly had the inspiration as to where I'm actually going with this story. Hm….. Ja ne ~Insane Pineapple from Naboo
Response to Reviews:
A.N. one last note: more cookies to people who can guess what song I think is absolutely perfect for Trinity.
Goldy: Wow, you really wanted me to review if you wrote that many random ones. I wait to see what you are going to write next time, but don't worry; I'm going to update either Friday or Saturday.
Zi Marquise: Huh? No, the machines didn't destroy her ship, they destroyed the other ship. There were three ships of people in the matrix when Neo went to see the architect, and Niobe's was the only one left. Thanks. There's lots of fics with sex scenes? You learn something new every day….
lovewildfire: One of my faithful reviewers! I love to hear from you. It looks like this story is just going to have a little bit of everything in it. They're going in the matrix soon! Hooray for action scenes!
Aimee: I'm going in every direction with this from dark to light to everywhere. Inspiration comes to me at the weirdest times, so we end up with a little bit of everything.
Dreamingofani: That is just freaky. That song plays on the radio? I keep learning new things from my reviewers. It just seemed to fit the mood of the story, so I put it in. Yeah, everyone seems to say that about Tank. The full story I've gotten from people is really interesting actually. *grins* I love writing cliff hangers. They drive people crazy for some people….
Trinity Eternity: Now, now. Don't kill each other Neo. You hear that Ikobe? There are some much better matrix writers than me, but thanks anyway. I can recommend a few good ones actually. Let me look them up again, and I'll get back to you. I'll never just stop a story right in the middle of it either. I can guarantee you that I will finish this.
VivianeAeryn: They mentioned that Zee had lost Tank in Reloaded. I'm assuming he'd died then.
Roselyn: You need to send that explanation up to dreamingofani. Oh, so that's his name! Now I can't keep calling him comatose guy. *grins sheepishly*