Chapter 4: The Prophet
Dauphin and the crew sat back in the seats on the bridge, watching Archeron zooming through the sewers of the destroyed cities. Meanwhile, Jord spoke about her time in Zion with the council and people. Bacchus and Cross sat across from her listening with growling stomaches. Echo was typing up programs as usual, and Frey was in the kitchen preparing the breakfast he unexpectaly volunteered for.
"Don't get me wrong, the meetings are very important, its just their too damn boring, so I had to give the job to Dopp. Amazing as it sounds, he gets along very well with the council and knows how it works already. Call him a natural, the boy's bright."
"Right" said a bored out Dauphin,"Amazing what a freed mind could do within a week of only noticing the real world." There was a monotone in his voice, he was hungry and his back was aching from lying on a window seal all night with Bacchus on top of him. "And my back is killing me like fuck, I would feel better if FOOD WAS READY!!!" A voice was answer back from the other side.
"KISS MY ASS DAUPHIN, IF YOU WERE THAT HUNGRY, YOU'D GET UP AND SERVE YOURSELF!" came Frey's voice from afar.
"What's the matter Dauphin, did I squish you the other-"Bacchus blurted, but before Dauphin could quiet her down, the whole crew in the bridge gasped, even Echo shouted"I heard that one!!" followed by a reply from Freyinside of the kitched, "BUSTED!!"
"That's it! Breakfast is served. Case closed!" Dauphin confirmed and with a big groan from everyone they walked single-file into the kitchen to have their meal. The meals were the same, from breakfast to dinner, it was a mushy wheat containing vitamins and minerals, right down to everything the body required. Although filling, having it everyday was just a accustomed automatic thing. After breakfast, it was just Frey, Dauphin and Jord inside cleaning up.
"Just like old times guys," said Jord, dumping the trays into the sink,"so Dauphin, what was Bacchus talking about?"
"Nothing that concerns you two or anyone else." he answered cooly.
"Cmon Dauphin spill it dude," Frey demanded,"We wont make fun of you, we're glad that your not your independent self anymore-"
"Do I ask you about Corydon?! Nothing happened, it was hot during the rave, so I invited her to my house, since it has a window. And that's it, I bored her to sleep and I knocked out as well."
"All you had to say Dauphin!" laughed Jord.
"Yeah I dunno guys, I'm going to hit to the sack, rest my body for a bit" and tossing the towel onto the table, he left his two best friends, and walked out, only to have slammed Cross and Echo whose heads were leaned on the door. Dauphin was too tired to notice them trying overhear the conversation.
A few hours passed and the whole crew was restless. The new mission Dopp assigned made everyone nervous and anxious. While awaiting their captain to finish resting, the girls occupied themselves with constant training programs. Cross decided to give Frey a visit in his room. When he arrived
he found Frey placing a framed picture on his metal desk.
"Oh hey Cross, whacha up too dude?"
"Nothing much, the girls playing in programs, so I decided to check up on you. Hey what was with Dauphin today? Pissed about something? "
"Naaah" he answered,"That's how he's like when he's tired. Don't worry about it too much. And even if he was angry, either me, Jord, or Bacchus would know it. "
Cross walked into the room. On the right was a small bed with just a flattened pillow, near the bed was a large black duffle bag opened up with clothes dangling off of it. Frey's desk layed near the top left corner with a lamp and two pictures on each side. One was of Frey, a bald man who Cross never saw in his life, Jord, and Bacchus with Dauphin leaning on her shoulder. He didn't ask about the picture, however taking a look at that other one was a different reaction. Again, it was Frey but one of him wrapping his arms around a tall tanned skinned woman with long black curly hair. Immediately he picked up the picture.
"I know her! She was at the rave with ya? She your girlfriend?" he asked.
"Yes, Sherlock," Frey mocked, then grabbing the picture, he looked at it and sighed," That's Corydon, she nursed me back to health when I was freed and taken to Zion. Yeah, after I saw her I thought I gone to heaven. This was taken three months ago. As for the other picture, that was during my training with my first crew. Thats how me, Dauphin, and Jord met. Oh, and thats Skull, if he lived you wouldn't be here filling in for him."
"Why's that?"
"Because he use to be a member of the Archeron, but that was a year and a half ago,and during the first month he grew crazy. We did all we could to help him, but unfortunately he wanted to re-insert himself into the matrix. Pulled the plug on him after finding out he was on his way to sell out Dauphin to give the Agents Zion's main frame code." Frey tilted it and stared at it in deep reverie. Cross sat down on the bed and pondered. All was quiet for a minute until he broke the silence.
"Wow, didn't know that. When I was freed, it was on the Osiris. All they did was nurse me to health and told me, I was assigned to another crew, that was you guys. So what about you?"
"I was on the Nebuchanezzar, but I hardly remember anything. I do remember Morpheous, and Trinity, but that was in the matrix, I never spoke much to them on the Neb. I was hit by a sentiniel just as soon as they came for me. And since your listening I might as well tell you everything..."And so for an hour Cross learned the amazing story of Frey, how he abused the matrix for meditating and imagining himself in the pod he grew in. And after that story, came Dauphin's, the time when he toyed with the matrix by freezing time at the back of an alleyway. Cross did his best in getting the facts straight, and as soon as Frey was finished with all the history of the crew, Cross asked the one question everyone was dying to know.
"Do Dauphin and Bacchus secretly love each other?". Frey chuckled and sat up.
"THAT, is a matter between them. I wouldn't let that kind of stuff be asked to them, but if your asking me this then I could only tell you "maybe"". Cross got up as well, stretching from the extensive history lesson given to him. There was nothing more to talk about.
"Well I think they do love each other Frey" he commented.
"I think you get too fucking annoying Cross," came in Dauphin's voice from the door,finally awake,"well guys, lets round up the women, we're going in"
Everyone sat near the operating room of the Archeron, where in a few minutes, the crew will be jacked in and ready to investigate on their newest mission yet. Dauphin took the opportunity to brief everyone about it.
"Alright now, in a few moments we will be jacked in and ready to rock n roll. We have very little instructions with this mission, and since anyone hardly knows where this "building" is at, I decided to head down to visit The Prophet to get more info."
"Wait a sec," interrupted Frey, "The Prophet? Captain Insano, is that necessary, I mean it's the Prophet! That guy is a fucking lunatic! He talks alot of shit too like the one time-"
"I don't care! I know that Frey, but if you want to get anywhere on this mission then we need directions and advice, and if any of you back away now because of the help we're gettin, pack your bags and get the hell off my ship. Now who's with me?"
Everyone replied with "I am", even Frey.
"Alright, Echo, work your magic." and like ants, they scattered and sat in their assigned seats. With Echo jacking in one at a time, she finally went to her seat where she booted up the computers, and had all monitors facing her.
"Okay ladies and gentlemen, this is Echo your operator. Keep hands and feet inside chair at all times, and have a safe trip. In the meantime, please enjoy the new loading screen."
"What's so new about this one?" Jord asked.
"You'll see"
With the hit of a button they became jacked into the Matrix where the falling green codes was replaced by a sudden flash of red light. When the light subsided, a never-ending projection of oranges squares followed. At the end of the squares, the color orange was now yellow, and more different shapes in various sizes now zoomed by until it slowed down to a orange place full of CD, chip, and circuit images. In the very center was a bright light that consumed the entire screen until Dauphin, Frey, Jord, Cross, and Bacchus were now inside a shabby hotel room with the phone ringing. Dauphin, being the leader, picked it up, while looking at his team, all in awe.
"Operator," came Echo's happy voice.
There was a pause until Dauphin finally said,"Whoa.....what the hell was that?"
Echo laughed, knowing she surprised all five of them, and answered,"That's the new loading screen I had written up. Quite useful, it's accurate where I upload you guys at, plus our computers are updated. Basically, it's a pretty kick ass upgrade."
"Indeed," said Dauphin with a smile. He dropped the phone and exited the hotel building followed by the other three. All of them trusted that their leader knew what he was doing.
The weather was cloudy, enough to make one think rain were to start any minute. It did. After the pounding roars of thunder, came thick inch water drops, and, with no certain way to go, Frey picked up the cell, and punched in the number for Echo.
"Operator"
"Need directions and hold the dollar"
"Make a right to Powellin Street and follow until you come across an alleyway, then head to the end. Watch yourselves, something funny is waiting there for you."
"The Prophet" Bacchus predicted
"Maybe" Dauphin said, signaling the others to take the right on Powellin. Unsuprisely, they had to fight their way through the crowd and finally reaching the alleyway. The rain resumed, causing the alleyway to look like a dangerous swamp that would engulf them any moment. Bacchus pulled out two 45mm pistols for each hand, while Frey unsheathed his sword. Dauphin kept his staff ready just in case, while Cross and Jord's hands posed into fighting stances. A towering red brick wall marked as the end of the alleyway, where there was a flickering floodlight revealing a shabby rusted door. Before anyone moved a dumpster near them popped open. Bacchus nearly opened fire until Dauphin's seized her arm; it was a drunk hobo. For a hobo, the guy had enormous muscles protruding from the sleeves of his brown jacket. Grubby moth eaten jeans didn't seem to bother him, as well as the yellow stain t-shirt. His face was frizzy, and full of dirt. Spitting sardines out of his mouth, he spoke with a groggy raspy voice.
"Yer all gettin an ass wheerpin!!".
"Is he the Prophet?" said Cross, with disgust.
"No, hes doesn't have an Irish accent," Dauphin confirmed, "he must be that funny code Echo was talking about. Who wants to kill him?"
"ME!" shouted Jord. The hobo took this as a joke and laughed hysterically.
"WAHAHAHA! Lil gurl think she can hav a go at meh?! The al powerful Dredg?!"
"Dredg? Shut up and letme kick your drunk saggy ass!!" Jord insulted, and with a loud ruffle, she threw her dark cloak off and stood into pose. The crew became speechless, the outfit Jord wore was completely opposite of Bacchus's taste in clothes. Her long blue shirt sparkled with the rain pouring down on it. Her black parachute shaped pants gave her the look of a ninja, along with the tank top to match it. The footwear was the only mismatch, for black casual shoes should be considered illegal for an outfit like Jord's, or so the team thought.
"Dun expect meh to hold bac on ya" Dredg warned.
"I expect to kick the shit out of you" Jord shot back.
At the end of those words she spun a full 360 degree before the side of her leg made impact on the dumpster. Dredg jumped before it flipped upside down and coming down he aimed a punch at Jord in which she caught. A sequence of punches commenced, for Jord jabbed her palm into his stomach, stomped hard on his toe, and uppercut his jaw with her fist. This, however, proved ineffective to Dredg. "Not bad fer a lil one, now mi tern!"
Unexpectly, Dredg threw himself into the wall, kicked off of it and punched Jord square into the face. Or did he? For what looked like a successive blow, turned out to be his fist going through an image of her; she had dodged the punch right before his very eyes. He glanced down and saw the bottom of her shoe smack the center of his face. He staggered backwards and caught her second kick just in time. Then he threw her against the hard brick wall and binded her in a the most perverted bear hug the team ever saw. Frey immediately raised his sword until Dauphin placed his hand on his shoulder.
"She can take care of herself," Dauphin indicated.
"This is a waste of time, letme end this," Frey said impatiently.
"No, let her end this. This is her fight after all. And don't worry, "you" can save her when she needs it". There was sarcasm in Dauphin voice.
Meanwhile, Jord was trying to get break free of Dredg's hold. Had to think fast, her chest was being groped. Now infuriation grew in her mind. Dregh laughed and hooted until he found himself flying in the air with Jord. Surely enough, she jumped twenty feet into the air and twirled Dredg in front of her. Jord took control, clasped her hands together, and hammered him in the spine sending Dredg into the rocky terrain leaving a crater upon impact. The team clapped a little and moved on, Jord landed with a soft THUD when all of a sudden Dregh came bursting through the rumble.
"What the fu-" Jord trailed off,"but....how...did...is it possible?!"
Dredg spat two teeth out and ripped his brown jacket open, revealing green code streaming down his body that resulted a new physical appearance of him. He was no longer a hobo but now a clean everyday standard business man with a navy blue suit.
"Lik meh new look missy?! Bin savin it fer awhile, las tim I used tis form, was durin the last version of da Matrix."
"Last what?-AHHH!" Jord flinched, in the middle of her sentence, Dredg immediately had his hand around her throat, kicking her in the ribs. Jord blocked the last two kicks, then with a kick of her own, she hit Dredg in the chest relieving her of his hold. The team sighed and began wait to again, in the rain.
The two glared at each other's eyes. One was waiting for the other to make the first move. Without motion, Dredg withdrew a 1Bc automatic pistol and fired at Jord. Focusing Jord charged into him, feeling the bullet zip by her, and performed three backflips, landing right on top of shoulders. Dredg flew on his back hard, but Jord summer-saulted off his shoulders before he even budged. Dredg recovered before slamming himself and drew his gun out again only to have it shot out of his hands by Jord, who amazingly had one in her sleeve.
"You cheat, I cheat" she confirmed, and stomping one foot on his genitals, he cried in agony right before five bullets went into his head. Jord blew the smoke off the gun chamber. She turned around and found the whole crew with shocked looks on their faces.
"What?! He grabbed me!!!"
"Sometimes you scare me Jord, " replied Cross nervously.
The team put their weapons away and walked into the door. Inside there was hardly any light at all, save for the two broken dimmed chandlers that dangled off the ceiling. Almost all of the tables in there weren't standing up the right way, and neither were the chairs for most the legs were missing. Shards of broken beer bottles layed scattered around the sticky floor. The team found it hard to breathe in the dusty, smelly, abandoned bar. It was silent until they heard an outburst of an old man near the bar.
"DAMMIT, I'LL TELL YOU WHEN I HAD ENOUGH CHARLIE!! NOW KEEP POURING AND NOT ANOTHER WORD!".
The old man stood up and threw a bottle at the wall. The white straight jacket explained right away he was mentally insane. His face looked ancient, a senior around his late seventies. Getting on the table and laying down, the pajama bottoms and slippers really made him look like someone from an asylum. Dauphin approached him first, then sat the old man up.
"It's good to see you again Prophet," he whispered,"I thought you said you'd clean yourself up."
The Prophet rolled his head around muttering sounds and grunts, until he looked in Dauphin's direction. He answered in a quiet deep voice.
"Dauphin.....Dauphin, that's you. I haven't been able to clean up anything, I've been working endlessly to create a guardian for me. I suppose I have failed. -ADIDOS( The whole team flinched at the outburst )-",he looked at Jord with watery eyes, smiled, then said "I guess most free minds are well trained. Unfortunately you have no mercy. How bout I have the other kill you, what use will that be?! HUH?! You work to free minds, but yet you brutally murder one at the same time?! USE YOUR HEAD!! "
"Prophet, we need to find a building, and I'm a man of-"
"Little patience" Prophet sighed,"Frey, of course. Your thoughts dwell on Corydon. If there's one thing you have yet to learn, it's to be patience and to not get emotionally involved IN EXTREME SITUATIONS. Sure, your motivations in fights is to survive and return to her, but do not rush me because you want to see her again...."
Frey lowered his head embarrested, and finally The Prophet got up and looked around at everyone.
"Ahhh suck it up Frey, the truth hurts. Well, it's a miracle You, Frey and Jord survived." he surveyed Bacchus with raised eyebrow,"Bacchus, am I right? There is also love for someone on your mind as well. Don't worry he will-SPICE THE FIESTA-come to you at the proper time. Do not mistaken with the guy that kidnaps."
"What? I don't get you."
The Prophet chuckled and shouted "BULLSHIT...err, you will soon". He then turned to Cross, laughed and said hysterically,"You must be joking. This guys a newbie yet he knows just as much as you guys?!". Cross's expression went from smiling to frowning, when finally his frustration with The Prophet went too far.
"Fuck you! Guys, why do we have to listen to this piece of shit?! He's doing nothing but insulting us" The Prophet continued to laugh while the team just stood there unable to speak. At last he lightly got up and said,"Young lad, I was laughing at how young of age you are and yet possess fighting techniques that took these two asshole months to master ( He pointed at Frey and Dauphin ). Yet it took you three weeks to learn everything? Impressive." Cross smiled broadly until the Prophet added,"Such a shame you learn from hacks and cheats ya cheap ass!"
Dauphin finally grew tired of hearing the Prophet criticize everything about his team mates. He sighed quickly and took matters into his own hands and was about to get down to business until The Prophet turned around and gazed at him.
"I don't think so Dauphin. I have yet to tell you something. You're a great leader, but then again you lack a certain character. While you conceal your emotions to someone you love, you sit on your ass and save the world. There's gonna be a time my boy, where your going to make a sacrifice where-I'LL LIKE TO BUY A VOWEL-it's either your friends, or your love. The choice is yours, I just hope that shit brick brain of yours does the right decision."
Dauphin took it as a joke and burst out with laughter. Then wiping his eyes he placed a hand on The Prophet's head and said,"ASSHEAD, we need help trying to find a building that may be the key to taking down the sentiniels.
They say the Matrix is one big computer, with that I'm sure you know, considering how unstable you are to be released from the Matrix." The Prophet looked up at the ceiling with shame.
"I can be if I'm stron-"
"I'M NOT FINISHED WITH YOU PROPHET!" Dauphin interrupted,"We need directions and fast, otherwise you can piss and moan here forever. It's the building that controls the sentiniels. That's all we have, and pretty much, it can be anywhere."
The Prophet glared at Dauphin with infuriation, but somehow he came back to his senses and paced back and fourth in the bar, hands tied to his back. It was quiet, thunder being the exception, until he spoke.
"You want to find out where that building destination is eh?"
"Yes-" Dauphin answered.
"Pass the E street, your in the middle"
"I love this rhyme, now hear my riddle"
"Belongs in a place I'm sure you know"
"A place where people come and go"
"Reach that place stop to follow"
"A person that loves to swallow"
"Arise from there, it'll come to use"
"Get a driver, you'll need a boost"
"After that, they show a way"
"To all of you who runs away"
"And the best I didn't tell, not yet"
"I tell you, its the very best"
"Six to twelve it gives you a start"
"Solves this riddle I know from heart"
"If you need a hint then here ya go"
"Beginning letters of the last"
"Of six to twelve to make it fast"
The team looked at The Prophet as if he was a psychotic maniac; until Frey spoke.
"What the fuck was that about?!"
"Its a riddle that will be of future events, sooner or later all of you will understand it, just like I have. Now take a seat, if you can, and I'll explain to you about this building."
The team each took a dusty chair and sat. The Prophet continued his walking, and his talking:
'The building you seek is none other than a type of generator. I myself saw it before I was captured and was experimented on. The torture, I remember, being filled with all the knowledge and pain, pain beyond pain. I guess that's why I am the way I am: mentally insane. Anyhow, this building is guarded by none other than a group lead by a reinserted human. I do not know him, but he commands this army, this group, whatever you like to call it. But it is called, "The Armada.""
"Armada? Commanded by a reinserted human," Frey stroked his chin as he said all of this,"I wonder. Because reinserts get whatever they desired. But if that's the case, Zion would've been destroyed." "Precisely, but since Zion is not destroyed, he probably gave in the wrong codes and only wanted whatever he wanted."
Dauphin was leaning his chin on the top of the chair when at last he stood up as if he remembered something,"I got it. It had to be that one guy we encountered after Niobe's meeting. Remember Frey? Long white coat, green eyes, black lips? Kept talking about going to be destroyed?"The announcement frightened The Prophet, and before anyone could notice, he stumbled backwards and collapsed completely onto the bar. Unwillingly he shouted numerous outbursts of various phrases, quotes, whatever came out of his mind. Tears were pouring out of his eyes, the team tried to restrain him out his own self beating until Bacchus jabbed a pistol in the middle of his forehead.
"Chill old man! Either you stop your mental bitchin, or I'll stop you by pulling this trigger. It's not that hard to decide!!"
The Prophet halted the very thing he was doing, and struggled into a chair wiping his eyes. He was breathing heavily and looking in all directions. He turned to Dauphin and gave him a intimidating glare. "Do NOT remind me of such horrid times. I did not need the awakening memories of the most disgraceful sabbage I ever knew and tried so hard to forget. Now that I recall it I might as well tell your asses. By men he is known as Eizus. Before he was ever freed he and I were best friends, since childhood. Pretty much shared the same friendship you share with Frey, Dauphin. When freed minds like yourselves came and told us the truth, Eizus and I were baffled by the harsh, painful truth. Eizus took it much better than I have, thus he took the red pill first. I however could not bare the truth, the fact that my life was to be controlled by artificial intelligence, I was afraid. Without question I awoke in my bed, believing anything I wanted to believe."
"You took the blue pill?" Cross asked.
'Yes'
'Wait a minute, if you took the blue pill, your were to forget everything.'The Prophet looked down on the dusty floor, his eyes squinting as if trying to recall a memory. A few seconds later he spoke,"Eizus came back and retold everything to me again. However, this proved tactless, for my mind already took a blue pill, which neutralized my signal and altered my memory. But I ignored the possible dire effects and took the red pill. I didn't wake up. Instead my signal was demolished, wasted, no good. But then suddenly my dreams became memories, reality. I began to remember the Matrix as the computer world, it was the very prison that enslaves humans, reducing them as energy to keep it alive. The truth I knew before, came back to me."
'Eizus cared less, he wanted me to be free so I can fill in for him. He said knowing the truth was a relief, now he wanted to go reinsert himself with the information he gained. The only last bit of compassion he had towards Zion was to impersonate himself as a captain and give false mainframe codes to them. He proved successful."he chuckled,"but once again he fucked up. The agents found out about the fake codes and he was captured, tortured, and worked on as they saw fit. Brainwashed, they gave him a new position, to guard the building that contains the very information of the sentiniels. Now, they knew he couldn't do this job alone, so they gave him three agents, and control over a maxium of two thousand SWAT members. And that is why they are known as the Armada."Everyone had concerned looks on the their faces, Jord was on the verge of crying and Bacchus put her gun away. But one question was left out: how did the Prophet go mentally insane?
"Prophet, what made you go insane?" asked Bacchus.
'Who do ya think? That selfish no good prick friend of mine went off on his own personal will to damage my body. He didn't want to kill me, instead he open my mind, worked on my body, more freely than ever, installing viruses into me. Now I knew just as much as The Oracle, but more dangerously, and now that I no longer had an individual signal the viruses didn't infest me accurately. My open mind gave me access to other programs that speak endlessly in my head now. I also lost my identity, such as my age, name, while others such as my address, height and sex were no-brainers. Thus I aged to an old man, and having a massive knowledge of the matrix, along with helping those of freed minds, I became The Prophet. Eizus became a reinserted program, and now I lost track of wherever he's at, I think he unplugged himself within the matrix."
"When was this?," Dauphin asked.
"Around two nights ago, I was sitting here asleep listening to the programs until I heard one completely disconnect on me. I knew it was Eizus, cuz he gave me those programs."
"Dauphin, that's the night we encounted him" Frey said.
'I know that Frey. Anyways, give us the directions to his building and we could end it quickly.'
The Prophet repeated the riddle he recited earlier. At the end of his riddle he added, "You must kill him at all costs. He is beginning the first stages of resisting the Matrix. That is maybe why you ran into him. He always stayed in his building, always. Until now." Frey withdrew his cell and dialed for Echo.
"Operator"
"Echo, you got that recorded? No, not the five dollars I owe you. Okay when we're done I'll get to ya.", he clicked it off.They all got up and walked outside. It was still raining and the clouds were pitch black. It was still nighttime and they spent two hours with The Prophet. The team practically welcomed the fresh smell and feel of rain, seeing as they were in a dusty bar. The Prophet remained underneath the door. Dauphin smiled at him and gave him a pat on the shoulder.
"Thanks for your help,"he said,"It was better than the last visit I assume?!"
The Prophet chuckled, then replied,"it was only twelve shots of Jack Daniels. And look what it did; stopping time does made a nice effect" Frey walked up and shook his hand, giving in his final thought as well."I know you and I never got along, but I promise you I'll do everything in my power to stop the Armada."
'Like wise young Frey. You are a strong man, because you have love. And ALL OF YOU. THE BEST OF LUCK TO YOU ALL!-MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU!!", and with a final wave, he walked back inside still muttering the same nonsense and outbursts he cannot control. Bacchus totally flew in Dauphin's arms and said,"God that is the most craziest fuck I have ever met." The whole team laughed.
"Operator"
"Echo," Dauphin identified, "Frey did a recording of the riddle Prophet recited two hours ago. Let's hear it." Echo played the riddle. Jord typed it down on a laptop hacked into their hotel room. Due to the Echo's upgrade, their location bought them a few hours depending on how far the Agents were away, which of course, is invaluable. When it took the time for Cross, Bacchus, and Frey to come inside the room, Dauphin had to play the riddle over again with frustration ( "NEXT TIME YOU GUYS SHOWER WITH EACH OTHER, BE ON TIME!" )
"Well, let's see," said Cross hypetheticaly,"...of six to twelve to make it fast, what the hell could that possibly mean....wait a second.....six to twelve, GUYS!!", and with a jolt off the couch grabbed everyone and opened the room to Dauphin where him and Bacchus totally threw themselves off each other. "Yo, that can wait boss, I think I solved the puzzle," he then grabbed the laptop and said his theory,"alright, six to twelve to make it fast, I started think about the time, but that didn't help, I thought it was lines, you know, line six to twelve in the poem."
"So?" said Dauphin, unconvinced.
"So.......it has to do with these lines, that's all.", and with what Cross
was hoping praise for his discovery ended in Bacchus swearing at him.
"Well good for you Cross," Dauphin encouraged,"now, would you please solve the puzzle further, or you want someone else on the way?"
"As long as I'm last!!" Frey confirmed.
As like before, Cross had the lightbulb idea look on his face and with no without warning he pushed Dauphin out of the way and re-booted the labtop.
"Last....last, ah there it is, beggining letters of the last.....last of what?" Just then the cell phone rang. Frey answered with a brittish accent.
"Frey Hotel services how may I help you?"
"Cut the crap Frey! And get the hell out of there." threatened Echo.
"Sheesh, the hotel's not that bad,"
" We got worse, the AGENTS ARE CHECKING IN AND SQUIDDIES ON THE WAY!"
Dauphin and the crew sat back in the seats on the bridge, watching Archeron zooming through the sewers of the destroyed cities. Meanwhile, Jord spoke about her time in Zion with the council and people. Bacchus and Cross sat across from her listening with growling stomaches. Echo was typing up programs as usual, and Frey was in the kitchen preparing the breakfast he unexpectaly volunteered for.
"Don't get me wrong, the meetings are very important, its just their too damn boring, so I had to give the job to Dopp. Amazing as it sounds, he gets along very well with the council and knows how it works already. Call him a natural, the boy's bright."
"Right" said a bored out Dauphin,"Amazing what a freed mind could do within a week of only noticing the real world." There was a monotone in his voice, he was hungry and his back was aching from lying on a window seal all night with Bacchus on top of him. "And my back is killing me like fuck, I would feel better if FOOD WAS READY!!!" A voice was answer back from the other side.
"KISS MY ASS DAUPHIN, IF YOU WERE THAT HUNGRY, YOU'D GET UP AND SERVE YOURSELF!" came Frey's voice from afar.
"What's the matter Dauphin, did I squish you the other-"Bacchus blurted, but before Dauphin could quiet her down, the whole crew in the bridge gasped, even Echo shouted"I heard that one!!" followed by a reply from Freyinside of the kitched, "BUSTED!!"
"That's it! Breakfast is served. Case closed!" Dauphin confirmed and with a big groan from everyone they walked single-file into the kitchen to have their meal. The meals were the same, from breakfast to dinner, it was a mushy wheat containing vitamins and minerals, right down to everything the body required. Although filling, having it everyday was just a accustomed automatic thing. After breakfast, it was just Frey, Dauphin and Jord inside cleaning up.
"Just like old times guys," said Jord, dumping the trays into the sink,"so Dauphin, what was Bacchus talking about?"
"Nothing that concerns you two or anyone else." he answered cooly.
"Cmon Dauphin spill it dude," Frey demanded,"We wont make fun of you, we're glad that your not your independent self anymore-"
"Do I ask you about Corydon?! Nothing happened, it was hot during the rave, so I invited her to my house, since it has a window. And that's it, I bored her to sleep and I knocked out as well."
"All you had to say Dauphin!" laughed Jord.
"Yeah I dunno guys, I'm going to hit to the sack, rest my body for a bit" and tossing the towel onto the table, he left his two best friends, and walked out, only to have slammed Cross and Echo whose heads were leaned on the door. Dauphin was too tired to notice them trying overhear the conversation.
A few hours passed and the whole crew was restless. The new mission Dopp assigned made everyone nervous and anxious. While awaiting their captain to finish resting, the girls occupied themselves with constant training programs. Cross decided to give Frey a visit in his room. When he arrived
he found Frey placing a framed picture on his metal desk.
"Oh hey Cross, whacha up too dude?"
"Nothing much, the girls playing in programs, so I decided to check up on you. Hey what was with Dauphin today? Pissed about something? "
"Naaah" he answered,"That's how he's like when he's tired. Don't worry about it too much. And even if he was angry, either me, Jord, or Bacchus would know it. "
Cross walked into the room. On the right was a small bed with just a flattened pillow, near the bed was a large black duffle bag opened up with clothes dangling off of it. Frey's desk layed near the top left corner with a lamp and two pictures on each side. One was of Frey, a bald man who Cross never saw in his life, Jord, and Bacchus with Dauphin leaning on her shoulder. He didn't ask about the picture, however taking a look at that other one was a different reaction. Again, it was Frey but one of him wrapping his arms around a tall tanned skinned woman with long black curly hair. Immediately he picked up the picture.
"I know her! She was at the rave with ya? She your girlfriend?" he asked.
"Yes, Sherlock," Frey mocked, then grabbing the picture, he looked at it and sighed," That's Corydon, she nursed me back to health when I was freed and taken to Zion. Yeah, after I saw her I thought I gone to heaven. This was taken three months ago. As for the other picture, that was during my training with my first crew. Thats how me, Dauphin, and Jord met. Oh, and thats Skull, if he lived you wouldn't be here filling in for him."
"Why's that?"
"Because he use to be a member of the Archeron, but that was a year and a half ago,and during the first month he grew crazy. We did all we could to help him, but unfortunately he wanted to re-insert himself into the matrix. Pulled the plug on him after finding out he was on his way to sell out Dauphin to give the Agents Zion's main frame code." Frey tilted it and stared at it in deep reverie. Cross sat down on the bed and pondered. All was quiet for a minute until he broke the silence.
"Wow, didn't know that. When I was freed, it was on the Osiris. All they did was nurse me to health and told me, I was assigned to another crew, that was you guys. So what about you?"
"I was on the Nebuchanezzar, but I hardly remember anything. I do remember Morpheous, and Trinity, but that was in the matrix, I never spoke much to them on the Neb. I was hit by a sentiniel just as soon as they came for me. And since your listening I might as well tell you everything..."And so for an hour Cross learned the amazing story of Frey, how he abused the matrix for meditating and imagining himself in the pod he grew in. And after that story, came Dauphin's, the time when he toyed with the matrix by freezing time at the back of an alleyway. Cross did his best in getting the facts straight, and as soon as Frey was finished with all the history of the crew, Cross asked the one question everyone was dying to know.
"Do Dauphin and Bacchus secretly love each other?". Frey chuckled and sat up.
"THAT, is a matter between them. I wouldn't let that kind of stuff be asked to them, but if your asking me this then I could only tell you "maybe"". Cross got up as well, stretching from the extensive history lesson given to him. There was nothing more to talk about.
"Well I think they do love each other Frey" he commented.
"I think you get too fucking annoying Cross," came in Dauphin's voice from the door,finally awake,"well guys, lets round up the women, we're going in"
Everyone sat near the operating room of the Archeron, where in a few minutes, the crew will be jacked in and ready to investigate on their newest mission yet. Dauphin took the opportunity to brief everyone about it.
"Alright now, in a few moments we will be jacked in and ready to rock n roll. We have very little instructions with this mission, and since anyone hardly knows where this "building" is at, I decided to head down to visit The Prophet to get more info."
"Wait a sec," interrupted Frey, "The Prophet? Captain Insano, is that necessary, I mean it's the Prophet! That guy is a fucking lunatic! He talks alot of shit too like the one time-"
"I don't care! I know that Frey, but if you want to get anywhere on this mission then we need directions and advice, and if any of you back away now because of the help we're gettin, pack your bags and get the hell off my ship. Now who's with me?"
Everyone replied with "I am", even Frey.
"Alright, Echo, work your magic." and like ants, they scattered and sat in their assigned seats. With Echo jacking in one at a time, she finally went to her seat where she booted up the computers, and had all monitors facing her.
"Okay ladies and gentlemen, this is Echo your operator. Keep hands and feet inside chair at all times, and have a safe trip. In the meantime, please enjoy the new loading screen."
"What's so new about this one?" Jord asked.
"You'll see"
With the hit of a button they became jacked into the Matrix where the falling green codes was replaced by a sudden flash of red light. When the light subsided, a never-ending projection of oranges squares followed. At the end of the squares, the color orange was now yellow, and more different shapes in various sizes now zoomed by until it slowed down to a orange place full of CD, chip, and circuit images. In the very center was a bright light that consumed the entire screen until Dauphin, Frey, Jord, Cross, and Bacchus were now inside a shabby hotel room with the phone ringing. Dauphin, being the leader, picked it up, while looking at his team, all in awe.
"Operator," came Echo's happy voice.
There was a pause until Dauphin finally said,"Whoa.....what the hell was that?"
Echo laughed, knowing she surprised all five of them, and answered,"That's the new loading screen I had written up. Quite useful, it's accurate where I upload you guys at, plus our computers are updated. Basically, it's a pretty kick ass upgrade."
"Indeed," said Dauphin with a smile. He dropped the phone and exited the hotel building followed by the other three. All of them trusted that their leader knew what he was doing.
The weather was cloudy, enough to make one think rain were to start any minute. It did. After the pounding roars of thunder, came thick inch water drops, and, with no certain way to go, Frey picked up the cell, and punched in the number for Echo.
"Operator"
"Need directions and hold the dollar"
"Make a right to Powellin Street and follow until you come across an alleyway, then head to the end. Watch yourselves, something funny is waiting there for you."
"The Prophet" Bacchus predicted
"Maybe" Dauphin said, signaling the others to take the right on Powellin. Unsuprisely, they had to fight their way through the crowd and finally reaching the alleyway. The rain resumed, causing the alleyway to look like a dangerous swamp that would engulf them any moment. Bacchus pulled out two 45mm pistols for each hand, while Frey unsheathed his sword. Dauphin kept his staff ready just in case, while Cross and Jord's hands posed into fighting stances. A towering red brick wall marked as the end of the alleyway, where there was a flickering floodlight revealing a shabby rusted door. Before anyone moved a dumpster near them popped open. Bacchus nearly opened fire until Dauphin's seized her arm; it was a drunk hobo. For a hobo, the guy had enormous muscles protruding from the sleeves of his brown jacket. Grubby moth eaten jeans didn't seem to bother him, as well as the yellow stain t-shirt. His face was frizzy, and full of dirt. Spitting sardines out of his mouth, he spoke with a groggy raspy voice.
"Yer all gettin an ass wheerpin!!".
"Is he the Prophet?" said Cross, with disgust.
"No, hes doesn't have an Irish accent," Dauphin confirmed, "he must be that funny code Echo was talking about. Who wants to kill him?"
"ME!" shouted Jord. The hobo took this as a joke and laughed hysterically.
"WAHAHAHA! Lil gurl think she can hav a go at meh?! The al powerful Dredg?!"
"Dredg? Shut up and letme kick your drunk saggy ass!!" Jord insulted, and with a loud ruffle, she threw her dark cloak off and stood into pose. The crew became speechless, the outfit Jord wore was completely opposite of Bacchus's taste in clothes. Her long blue shirt sparkled with the rain pouring down on it. Her black parachute shaped pants gave her the look of a ninja, along with the tank top to match it. The footwear was the only mismatch, for black casual shoes should be considered illegal for an outfit like Jord's, or so the team thought.
"Dun expect meh to hold bac on ya" Dredg warned.
"I expect to kick the shit out of you" Jord shot back.
At the end of those words she spun a full 360 degree before the side of her leg made impact on the dumpster. Dredg jumped before it flipped upside down and coming down he aimed a punch at Jord in which she caught. A sequence of punches commenced, for Jord jabbed her palm into his stomach, stomped hard on his toe, and uppercut his jaw with her fist. This, however, proved ineffective to Dredg. "Not bad fer a lil one, now mi tern!"
Unexpectly, Dredg threw himself into the wall, kicked off of it and punched Jord square into the face. Or did he? For what looked like a successive blow, turned out to be his fist going through an image of her; she had dodged the punch right before his very eyes. He glanced down and saw the bottom of her shoe smack the center of his face. He staggered backwards and caught her second kick just in time. Then he threw her against the hard brick wall and binded her in a the most perverted bear hug the team ever saw. Frey immediately raised his sword until Dauphin placed his hand on his shoulder.
"She can take care of herself," Dauphin indicated.
"This is a waste of time, letme end this," Frey said impatiently.
"No, let her end this. This is her fight after all. And don't worry, "you" can save her when she needs it". There was sarcasm in Dauphin voice.
Meanwhile, Jord was trying to get break free of Dredg's hold. Had to think fast, her chest was being groped. Now infuriation grew in her mind. Dregh laughed and hooted until he found himself flying in the air with Jord. Surely enough, she jumped twenty feet into the air and twirled Dredg in front of her. Jord took control, clasped her hands together, and hammered him in the spine sending Dredg into the rocky terrain leaving a crater upon impact. The team clapped a little and moved on, Jord landed with a soft THUD when all of a sudden Dregh came bursting through the rumble.
"What the fu-" Jord trailed off,"but....how...did...is it possible?!"
Dredg spat two teeth out and ripped his brown jacket open, revealing green code streaming down his body that resulted a new physical appearance of him. He was no longer a hobo but now a clean everyday standard business man with a navy blue suit.
"Lik meh new look missy?! Bin savin it fer awhile, las tim I used tis form, was durin the last version of da Matrix."
"Last what?-AHHH!" Jord flinched, in the middle of her sentence, Dredg immediately had his hand around her throat, kicking her in the ribs. Jord blocked the last two kicks, then with a kick of her own, she hit Dredg in the chest relieving her of his hold. The team sighed and began wait to again, in the rain.
The two glared at each other's eyes. One was waiting for the other to make the first move. Without motion, Dredg withdrew a 1Bc automatic pistol and fired at Jord. Focusing Jord charged into him, feeling the bullet zip by her, and performed three backflips, landing right on top of shoulders. Dredg flew on his back hard, but Jord summer-saulted off his shoulders before he even budged. Dredg recovered before slamming himself and drew his gun out again only to have it shot out of his hands by Jord, who amazingly had one in her sleeve.
"You cheat, I cheat" she confirmed, and stomping one foot on his genitals, he cried in agony right before five bullets went into his head. Jord blew the smoke off the gun chamber. She turned around and found the whole crew with shocked looks on their faces.
"What?! He grabbed me!!!"
"Sometimes you scare me Jord, " replied Cross nervously.
The team put their weapons away and walked into the door. Inside there was hardly any light at all, save for the two broken dimmed chandlers that dangled off the ceiling. Almost all of the tables in there weren't standing up the right way, and neither were the chairs for most the legs were missing. Shards of broken beer bottles layed scattered around the sticky floor. The team found it hard to breathe in the dusty, smelly, abandoned bar. It was silent until they heard an outburst of an old man near the bar.
"DAMMIT, I'LL TELL YOU WHEN I HAD ENOUGH CHARLIE!! NOW KEEP POURING AND NOT ANOTHER WORD!".
The old man stood up and threw a bottle at the wall. The white straight jacket explained right away he was mentally insane. His face looked ancient, a senior around his late seventies. Getting on the table and laying down, the pajama bottoms and slippers really made him look like someone from an asylum. Dauphin approached him first, then sat the old man up.
"It's good to see you again Prophet," he whispered,"I thought you said you'd clean yourself up."
The Prophet rolled his head around muttering sounds and grunts, until he looked in Dauphin's direction. He answered in a quiet deep voice.
"Dauphin.....Dauphin, that's you. I haven't been able to clean up anything, I've been working endlessly to create a guardian for me. I suppose I have failed. -ADIDOS( The whole team flinched at the outburst )-",he looked at Jord with watery eyes, smiled, then said "I guess most free minds are well trained. Unfortunately you have no mercy. How bout I have the other kill you, what use will that be?! HUH?! You work to free minds, but yet you brutally murder one at the same time?! USE YOUR HEAD!! "
"Prophet, we need to find a building, and I'm a man of-"
"Little patience" Prophet sighed,"Frey, of course. Your thoughts dwell on Corydon. If there's one thing you have yet to learn, it's to be patience and to not get emotionally involved IN EXTREME SITUATIONS. Sure, your motivations in fights is to survive and return to her, but do not rush me because you want to see her again...."
Frey lowered his head embarrested, and finally The Prophet got up and looked around at everyone.
"Ahhh suck it up Frey, the truth hurts. Well, it's a miracle You, Frey and Jord survived." he surveyed Bacchus with raised eyebrow,"Bacchus, am I right? There is also love for someone on your mind as well. Don't worry he will-SPICE THE FIESTA-come to you at the proper time. Do not mistaken with the guy that kidnaps."
"What? I don't get you."
The Prophet chuckled and shouted "BULLSHIT...err, you will soon". He then turned to Cross, laughed and said hysterically,"You must be joking. This guys a newbie yet he knows just as much as you guys?!". Cross's expression went from smiling to frowning, when finally his frustration with The Prophet went too far.
"Fuck you! Guys, why do we have to listen to this piece of shit?! He's doing nothing but insulting us" The Prophet continued to laugh while the team just stood there unable to speak. At last he lightly got up and said,"Young lad, I was laughing at how young of age you are and yet possess fighting techniques that took these two asshole months to master ( He pointed at Frey and Dauphin ). Yet it took you three weeks to learn everything? Impressive." Cross smiled broadly until the Prophet added,"Such a shame you learn from hacks and cheats ya cheap ass!"
Dauphin finally grew tired of hearing the Prophet criticize everything about his team mates. He sighed quickly and took matters into his own hands and was about to get down to business until The Prophet turned around and gazed at him.
"I don't think so Dauphin. I have yet to tell you something. You're a great leader, but then again you lack a certain character. While you conceal your emotions to someone you love, you sit on your ass and save the world. There's gonna be a time my boy, where your going to make a sacrifice where-I'LL LIKE TO BUY A VOWEL-it's either your friends, or your love. The choice is yours, I just hope that shit brick brain of yours does the right decision."
Dauphin took it as a joke and burst out with laughter. Then wiping his eyes he placed a hand on The Prophet's head and said,"ASSHEAD, we need help trying to find a building that may be the key to taking down the sentiniels.
They say the Matrix is one big computer, with that I'm sure you know, considering how unstable you are to be released from the Matrix." The Prophet looked up at the ceiling with shame.
"I can be if I'm stron-"
"I'M NOT FINISHED WITH YOU PROPHET!" Dauphin interrupted,"We need directions and fast, otherwise you can piss and moan here forever. It's the building that controls the sentiniels. That's all we have, and pretty much, it can be anywhere."
The Prophet glared at Dauphin with infuriation, but somehow he came back to his senses and paced back and fourth in the bar, hands tied to his back. It was quiet, thunder being the exception, until he spoke.
"You want to find out where that building destination is eh?"
"Yes-" Dauphin answered.
"Pass the E street, your in the middle"
"I love this rhyme, now hear my riddle"
"Belongs in a place I'm sure you know"
"A place where people come and go"
"Reach that place stop to follow"
"A person that loves to swallow"
"Arise from there, it'll come to use"
"Get a driver, you'll need a boost"
"After that, they show a way"
"To all of you who runs away"
"And the best I didn't tell, not yet"
"I tell you, its the very best"
"Six to twelve it gives you a start"
"Solves this riddle I know from heart"
"If you need a hint then here ya go"
"Beginning letters of the last"
"Of six to twelve to make it fast"
The team looked at The Prophet as if he was a psychotic maniac; until Frey spoke.
"What the fuck was that about?!"
"Its a riddle that will be of future events, sooner or later all of you will understand it, just like I have. Now take a seat, if you can, and I'll explain to you about this building."
The team each took a dusty chair and sat. The Prophet continued his walking, and his talking:
'The building you seek is none other than a type of generator. I myself saw it before I was captured and was experimented on. The torture, I remember, being filled with all the knowledge and pain, pain beyond pain. I guess that's why I am the way I am: mentally insane. Anyhow, this building is guarded by none other than a group lead by a reinserted human. I do not know him, but he commands this army, this group, whatever you like to call it. But it is called, "The Armada.""
"Armada? Commanded by a reinserted human," Frey stroked his chin as he said all of this,"I wonder. Because reinserts get whatever they desired. But if that's the case, Zion would've been destroyed." "Precisely, but since Zion is not destroyed, he probably gave in the wrong codes and only wanted whatever he wanted."
Dauphin was leaning his chin on the top of the chair when at last he stood up as if he remembered something,"I got it. It had to be that one guy we encountered after Niobe's meeting. Remember Frey? Long white coat, green eyes, black lips? Kept talking about going to be destroyed?"The announcement frightened The Prophet, and before anyone could notice, he stumbled backwards and collapsed completely onto the bar. Unwillingly he shouted numerous outbursts of various phrases, quotes, whatever came out of his mind. Tears were pouring out of his eyes, the team tried to restrain him out his own self beating until Bacchus jabbed a pistol in the middle of his forehead.
"Chill old man! Either you stop your mental bitchin, or I'll stop you by pulling this trigger. It's not that hard to decide!!"
The Prophet halted the very thing he was doing, and struggled into a chair wiping his eyes. He was breathing heavily and looking in all directions. He turned to Dauphin and gave him a intimidating glare. "Do NOT remind me of such horrid times. I did not need the awakening memories of the most disgraceful sabbage I ever knew and tried so hard to forget. Now that I recall it I might as well tell your asses. By men he is known as Eizus. Before he was ever freed he and I were best friends, since childhood. Pretty much shared the same friendship you share with Frey, Dauphin. When freed minds like yourselves came and told us the truth, Eizus and I were baffled by the harsh, painful truth. Eizus took it much better than I have, thus he took the red pill first. I however could not bare the truth, the fact that my life was to be controlled by artificial intelligence, I was afraid. Without question I awoke in my bed, believing anything I wanted to believe."
"You took the blue pill?" Cross asked.
'Yes'
'Wait a minute, if you took the blue pill, your were to forget everything.'The Prophet looked down on the dusty floor, his eyes squinting as if trying to recall a memory. A few seconds later he spoke,"Eizus came back and retold everything to me again. However, this proved tactless, for my mind already took a blue pill, which neutralized my signal and altered my memory. But I ignored the possible dire effects and took the red pill. I didn't wake up. Instead my signal was demolished, wasted, no good. But then suddenly my dreams became memories, reality. I began to remember the Matrix as the computer world, it was the very prison that enslaves humans, reducing them as energy to keep it alive. The truth I knew before, came back to me."
'Eizus cared less, he wanted me to be free so I can fill in for him. He said knowing the truth was a relief, now he wanted to go reinsert himself with the information he gained. The only last bit of compassion he had towards Zion was to impersonate himself as a captain and give false mainframe codes to them. He proved successful."he chuckled,"but once again he fucked up. The agents found out about the fake codes and he was captured, tortured, and worked on as they saw fit. Brainwashed, they gave him a new position, to guard the building that contains the very information of the sentiniels. Now, they knew he couldn't do this job alone, so they gave him three agents, and control over a maxium of two thousand SWAT members. And that is why they are known as the Armada."Everyone had concerned looks on the their faces, Jord was on the verge of crying and Bacchus put her gun away. But one question was left out: how did the Prophet go mentally insane?
"Prophet, what made you go insane?" asked Bacchus.
'Who do ya think? That selfish no good prick friend of mine went off on his own personal will to damage my body. He didn't want to kill me, instead he open my mind, worked on my body, more freely than ever, installing viruses into me. Now I knew just as much as The Oracle, but more dangerously, and now that I no longer had an individual signal the viruses didn't infest me accurately. My open mind gave me access to other programs that speak endlessly in my head now. I also lost my identity, such as my age, name, while others such as my address, height and sex were no-brainers. Thus I aged to an old man, and having a massive knowledge of the matrix, along with helping those of freed minds, I became The Prophet. Eizus became a reinserted program, and now I lost track of wherever he's at, I think he unplugged himself within the matrix."
"When was this?," Dauphin asked.
"Around two nights ago, I was sitting here asleep listening to the programs until I heard one completely disconnect on me. I knew it was Eizus, cuz he gave me those programs."
"Dauphin, that's the night we encounted him" Frey said.
'I know that Frey. Anyways, give us the directions to his building and we could end it quickly.'
The Prophet repeated the riddle he recited earlier. At the end of his riddle he added, "You must kill him at all costs. He is beginning the first stages of resisting the Matrix. That is maybe why you ran into him. He always stayed in his building, always. Until now." Frey withdrew his cell and dialed for Echo.
"Operator"
"Echo, you got that recorded? No, not the five dollars I owe you. Okay when we're done I'll get to ya.", he clicked it off.They all got up and walked outside. It was still raining and the clouds were pitch black. It was still nighttime and they spent two hours with The Prophet. The team practically welcomed the fresh smell and feel of rain, seeing as they were in a dusty bar. The Prophet remained underneath the door. Dauphin smiled at him and gave him a pat on the shoulder.
"Thanks for your help,"he said,"It was better than the last visit I assume?!"
The Prophet chuckled, then replied,"it was only twelve shots of Jack Daniels. And look what it did; stopping time does made a nice effect" Frey walked up and shook his hand, giving in his final thought as well."I know you and I never got along, but I promise you I'll do everything in my power to stop the Armada."
'Like wise young Frey. You are a strong man, because you have love. And ALL OF YOU. THE BEST OF LUCK TO YOU ALL!-MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU!!", and with a final wave, he walked back inside still muttering the same nonsense and outbursts he cannot control. Bacchus totally flew in Dauphin's arms and said,"God that is the most craziest fuck I have ever met." The whole team laughed.
"Operator"
"Echo," Dauphin identified, "Frey did a recording of the riddle Prophet recited two hours ago. Let's hear it." Echo played the riddle. Jord typed it down on a laptop hacked into their hotel room. Due to the Echo's upgrade, their location bought them a few hours depending on how far the Agents were away, which of course, is invaluable. When it took the time for Cross, Bacchus, and Frey to come inside the room, Dauphin had to play the riddle over again with frustration ( "NEXT TIME YOU GUYS SHOWER WITH EACH OTHER, BE ON TIME!" )
"Well, let's see," said Cross hypetheticaly,"...of six to twelve to make it fast, what the hell could that possibly mean....wait a second.....six to twelve, GUYS!!", and with a jolt off the couch grabbed everyone and opened the room to Dauphin where him and Bacchus totally threw themselves off each other. "Yo, that can wait boss, I think I solved the puzzle," he then grabbed the laptop and said his theory,"alright, six to twelve to make it fast, I started think about the time, but that didn't help, I thought it was lines, you know, line six to twelve in the poem."
"So?" said Dauphin, unconvinced.
"So.......it has to do with these lines, that's all.", and with what Cross
was hoping praise for his discovery ended in Bacchus swearing at him.
"Well good for you Cross," Dauphin encouraged,"now, would you please solve the puzzle further, or you want someone else on the way?"
"As long as I'm last!!" Frey confirmed.
As like before, Cross had the lightbulb idea look on his face and with no without warning he pushed Dauphin out of the way and re-booted the labtop.
"Last....last, ah there it is, beggining letters of the last.....last of what?" Just then the cell phone rang. Frey answered with a brittish accent.
"Frey Hotel services how may I help you?"
"Cut the crap Frey! And get the hell out of there." threatened Echo.
"Sheesh, the hotel's not that bad,"
" We got worse, the AGENTS ARE CHECKING IN AND SQUIDDIES ON THE WAY!"