By Jake Newman and based on the Matrix Trilogy by the Wachowski Brothers. Characters in this story which appear in the Matrix Trilogy do not belong to me. Some dialogue may be similar to that found in the official Trilogy.
Chapter 5: Smith
After disappearing into the dark, Chris found himself in an empty room, nothing but empty cupboards, undecorated walls and a woman unpacking a box. "You've caught me at a bad time, kiddo", the woman said. "I suppose you're a program too?", asked Chris. "You catch on quick, not quick enough though", she said.
Chris: What do you mean?
Woman: I can't tell you that, you'll just have to figure that out for yourself.
Chris: What is your purpose in the Matrix?
Woman: Why d'you have to put it so coldly? But since you ask, my 'purpose' is to guide you, and others like you, to the path.
Chris: What path?
Oracle: The path that ends the Matrix.
Chris: How do you know the path?
Oracle: I see the Matrix in a different way to you. I see the future formed by the choices people have made.
Chris: So you know what my decision is?
Oracle: Yep. But I can't tell you what affect it'll have because, honestly, I don't know. The future is very unclear, many choices are still to be made and that's very unusual. You see, usually, people don't decide what path to take; they have to understand why they've chosen the path they're going to take. I hope you understand what that actually means, before it's too late.
Chris: I don't think things could get much worse than they are now.
Oracle: For you maybe, but the future of others will depend on you.
Chris: So, you can't give me any advice, any help?
Oracle: No, but I think you're beginning to help yourself.
Chris: I hope so.
Oracle: I'm sorry for you, I surely am. Your decision is the most difficult to make and one of the most important too. If it makes you feel any better, I do know we'll meet again.
Chris: I look forward to it, but what do I have to do now?
Oracle: Now you see for yourself what's going to happen.
A man walked into the room as soon as the Oracle had finished her last word, he raised his right hand signalled Chris, with his finger, to follow him. Chris took one last look at the Oracle and savoured what he thought, what he knew to be his last moment of true freedom. The Oracle winked at him, turned and continued unpacking the box, unpacking what looked to be a range of kitchen utensils. Chris followed the man out of the room and to the front door of the Oracle's apartment. The man placed his hand on Chris' shoulder and comfortingly said, "Good luck". Chris nodded his head; he knew he'd need more than luck for the ordeal he was about to face. The man opened the door and a chilling breeze filled the room. "You must go now", the man said, and Chris boldly stepped through the doorway.
Back in the Oracle's kitchen, a bearded man was standing next to her.
Oracle: He's made his decision.
Architect: Yes, I know. I have taken the appropriate measures.
Oracle: I'm not sure he's what you want. There's something not right about him, something he's unsure about.
Architect: Please…I'm not interested in your emotional analysis of him. You have you're your purpose; the second systemic anomaly is emerging as we speak.
Oracle: What are you going to do to him?
Architect: My intentions for either of them are not your concern.
Oracle: If you say so.
Architect: You know the future as I do, it is the only way.
Chris was in a small waiting room, sitting in a chair. He looked to the left and to the right, there were people sitting on both sides of him. "Who are you?", he asked the man to his left, "Neo", the man responded. "Oh, and you?", Chris turned to the right and asked the other man, who answered, "I'm the Kernel". "Who are you?", Neo asked Chris. "Smith, Chris Smith. Nice to meet you Neo". Just as Neo was about to talk, a tall man in a dark green suit opened a door to their left and stepped through it into the waiting room, "Mr Smith", he announced, "We're ready for you, now". Chris stood up, adjusted his bag and walked towards the man. "Do you have the glasses?", the man questioned, "Yes, I do", Chris said as he checked the pocket on his bag one last time.
Both Chris and the man walked through the open door, they were outside now. Chris' feet didn't move but he looked around to see if he recognised where he was, he had no idea. They were standing opposite each other, about 10 metres apart on a concrete square surrounded by dense greenery. The other man's eyes were fixed firmly on Chris, but Chris wasn't afraid, his eye's were equally as ferocious. The man straightened his tie and began to walk towards him.
Man: Hello, I am Agent Brown.
C: You're human then?
Ag. Brown: No, no. What would be the sense in that?
Chris was confused, had the Architect lied to him?
C: But the Architect…
Chris was interrupted
Ag. Brown: That is unimportant now. All that matters is your successful insertion into the Matrix, Agent Smith.
C: I haven't given you my decision yet.
Ag. Brown: Oh yes, of course, you have to choose, choice is the key. There's no purpose without choice. Let me see you with the glasses on.
Looking confused, Chris put his bag on the floor and unzipped the external pocket. He removed the sunglasses and stood up. He unfolded them and slipped them onto his face. They felt different to before.
Ag. Brown: You know as I do, you have no choice to make. You've already made it.
C: If that's true then we both know what I'm going to do. We both know I don't want to be part of your system.
Ag. Brown: Indeed. But what you don't know is that your choice is irrelevant.
C: What?
Ag. Brown: We've known all along which path you would take. It was only a matter of time.
Chris looked worried. What did the agent mean? Had his encounter with the Architect really been planned all along?
C: You're lying. The future is not yet decided. I still have the power to stop this. You need me.
Agent Brown looked disapprovingly, "Not true. Not only are you unable to stop this, you are not 'needed' at all."
Chris began to look helplessly confused.
C: You need a human agent.
Ag. Brown: Not exactly. We need an agent that can think like a human, with human aspects to its personality. Having a human agent would be too dangerous, there would always be the possibly of it defecting the system.
C: I won't give up without a fight. You know that too.
Ag. Brown: Your defiance is admirable but sadly wasted.
Chris questions the agent with a hand gesture.
Ag. Brown: The glasses you are wearing are part of a download program…
Chris tears the glasses off his face but realises that it's probably too late.
Ag. Brown: The program has already executed! The important information in your brain has been downloaded into the Matrix mainframe. Parts of your personality, your memories, and other aspects surplus to requirements have been isolated and removed. Your co-operation is no longer necessary.
Chris was fraught with anger. He threw an immensely powerful punch towards the agent, which knocked him to the floor. The agent, surprised, stood up and formed a martial arts pose. "Oh shit", Chris exclaimed. The agent darted forward towards Chris and placed a series of well calculated, accurate and immobilising kicks and punches into his head and chest. The agent ducked to the floor and swung his right leg into him. Chris lost his balance and floated helplessly in the air. Within that split second of anti-gravity, the agent returned to a standing stance and kicked him with great force. Chris flew helplessly right across the square and fell with a thump to the ground, but still he stood back up. He mustered the strength to run over to the agent and continue to fight. Every punch and kick was blocked, and every punch and kick took the last modicum of energy Chris had left to fight.
Chris fell to his knees, his eyes watering with exhaustion. "You won't get away with this", his voice shook as he warned the agent. "We already have", the agent said victoriously. He grabbed Chris by the collar and dragged him across the concrete square. Chris' knees burned from the friction but he was in too much agony to scream in pain. "Your species is pathetic Mr. Smith". "And yours is perfect I suppose?", Chris struggled in distress. "Frankly, yes. We don't make mistakes, we just rectify them", the Agent said as he continued to drag Chris across the concrete and onto woodland. "Do you know where we are Mr. Smith? No? We're approaching your death". Chris' head was facing the floor. As he was being dragged to his doom he watched the trail of destruction his legs left behind them as they trailed across the grass and dirt. As Chris raised his head and looked into the distance an archway appeared over his head, shrouding the light. His vision of the woodland slowly slipped away and the blackness of the tunnel engulfed everything. Chris knew what was going to happen.
After a while light began to reappear as they emerged into an illuminated section of the tunnel, a very familiar section of the tunnel. "You are no longer required Mr. Smith, goodbye". The agent threw Chris to the hard, stony floor and then kicked his head back up and caught him by the neck. The agent increased his grip. "You've seen how it will end Mr. Smith. Unfortunately for you, that time is now". The concentration on his face grew as his hands clutched tighter and tighter to his neck. Chris desperately tried to free himself, using every ounce of strength he thrust his clenched fists forwards; they hit the agent but had no effect. As Chris could feel himself losing consciousness he aggressively forced a last breath through his lungs and said, finally to the agent, "If I'm going to die, I will choose to die myself". With that, Chris raised his hands and clamped them around his own neck, finishing what the agent had started. As Chris limped, lifelessly, the agent released his grip and held his finger to his ear, receiving his new instructions from the Matrix.
Agent Brown was back on the concrete square where he'd started to fight Chris Smith. He was looking at someone opposite him. Brown walked over to where Chris had thrown the glasses onto the concrete. He kneeled down and picked them up. He inspected them for damage and removed some dust that had settled on the lenses. Brown stood up and he and the other man walked towards each other. Brown extended out his hand holding the sunglasses and said, "They should fit you perfectly. I believe you'll be needing these, Mr…", The other man took the glasses from Brown's hand and put them on methodically. The man raised his right eyebrow, smiled wryly and said, "Smith, Agent Smith".