The Charon Protocol:
Chapter 1:
Silence.
That's all that remains in the labyrinthine tunnels beneath the surface of the scorched earth. Silence and darkness that reaches on for countless miles.
Echo was a crew member aboard the hovercraft Charon, and currently it was her duty to navigate the massive ship through the twisting ruin of some forgotten metropolis' sewage system. It was times like this, when the rest of the crew was asleep and she was alone with her thoughts to face the never-ending sprawl of devastation the machines created, that she found herself thinking about her past life as a slave to the Matrix.
It hadn't been a long life, only twelve years or so, but there were things she remembered; the way the sun felt on her skin, the smell that lingered in the air after a good summer rain, the taste of orange juice. It had all been a lie, and she knew that, but that didn't make the memories fade in the slightest. She had trouble at first, adjusting to the real world, as everyone did. But in the end, she accepted that this world she was in was the truth, and reconciled that the truth is better than even the most blissful lie.
She was snapped out of her reverie by the sensation of two warm, soft lips on her neck. She spun, half-startled and gave her visitor a playful jab in the ribs. He was always sneaking up on her like that. Shade and Echo had met when they were teenagers. She had already been awoken' for a year or so when she found him, stumbling around Zion with that half-dazed look of someone trying to comprehend something much bigger than himself. A look she remembered wearing only a few months earlier. She learned that he had been awoken' from the Matrix a few weeks prior and was having trouble orienting himself to his new reality. They had taken to each other immediately, and from that point on, they were inseparable. When they were of age, they signed on to become crew members of the Charon, and were ecstatic when they were both accepted.
Still can't sleep, huh? Echo asked, as Shade plopped into the frayed and battered chair next to her.
I guess some things always stay the same. I had insomnia when I was still in the Matrix, too.
Both Echo and Shade were in their late twenties, attractive though somewhat pale from a lifetime of living underground, with the lean builds that were a result of their meager real world diets. Shade brushed a few strands of sandy brown hair away from his forehead and picked absentmindedly at the exposed stuffing of his chair.
Is there anything on your mind?
Just thinking about this life, the Matrix, the war. Usual stuff, you know?
He had done this before, Echo noted. Something was on his mind and he wanted to talk about it but wouldn't. Despite their intimacy, getting Shade to open up about his feelings was a lot like pulling teeth. Echo had learned quickly that persistence was the key, and that she had to be patient if she wanted any real answers from him.
Just something that Oberon told me when he first brought me out. He said that Reality is what you make it.' I had no idea what he meant then, but I've been feeling recently like I don't know what reality is. Not really anyway. I mean, I know that this is reality, but where does that leave the Matrix itself? I know in my mind that it's a computer simulation whose sole purpose is to keep me subservient to the machines, but every time I've jacked in, I feel like I'm going home again. Like I'm waking from a dream instead of entering one.
This was uncommon. Usually Shade would remain tight lipped for at least ten-minutes before they got anywhere, but tonight, it was like he had opened some sort of floodgate. Obviously this had been preying on his mind for quite sometime. There was a silence between them as Echo tried to think of some sort of response. After a long moment, she gave up and simply leaned over and kissed him softly and sweetly.
That's real. she said, barely in a whisper, Anymore doubts?
Shade opened his mouth to begin to speak when a small red light in the cabin began flashing urgently.
It's a message from Zion. he said.
We'll finish this later? she sighed, irritated that their moment had been interrupted.
***
Within a minute or so, all seven members of the Charon's crew were crowded around the small monitor which was receiving the message from the Zion mainframe.
It just came in, Echo explained to Oberon, Charon's captain. Whatever it's about it's under a top-secret encoding, one I've never even seen before. But the strange thing is, we're the only ship it's being sent to.
Play it. Oberon said, tapping his chin.
The face of Commander Lock appeared on the screen for a moment, obscured by static. The audio came in small bits, broken by the transmission.
T-....-rew of the....-aron.............ergency broadcast.....
Quinn, the ship's chief programmer, fiddled gingerly with the knobs on the side of the monitor to no avail. After a few moments, Shade reached out and banged the side of
it with his palm, snapping the image into focus.
Show off. Quinn said, with a smile.
Oberon shot them both a look that told them to keep quiet if they knew what was good
for them. The beginning of the message was lost, but the anxiousness that Commander Lock wore on his usually stern countenance was unmistakable.
Something was wrong. Something was very wrong.
.... This is a direct order to return to Zion at once. I repeat, this is a direct order to return to Zion at once. Upon your arrival, you will receive a briefing and any further instructions you may need. Further, this communication is to be held in the strictest confidence, contact no other ships. I cannot impress upon you the importance of this matter. Commander Lock out.
With that the screen went black.
I don't understand, Echo said, Our batteries aren't even a quarter of the way drained. Why would they want us back so soon?
Do you think it's an attack on Zion? Quinn asked.
Oberon said, softly, concern crossing his usually stoic face. If it were an
attack, we wouldn't be the only ship contacted.
Then what's going on? Hinge demanded, his characteristic short fuse nearly
extinguished.
I know no more than any of you do. Oberon said, authoritatively. All I know is that we have direct orders from the chief of Zion's security to return to base immediately. So that's exactly what we're going to do. Chimera, how long until we reach Zion?
If we turn back now and use all engines at full capacity, I'd say we could reach
Zion within thirty-six hours. Chimera responded, matter-of-factly.
No sooner?
No sooner, sir.
Very well. Let us be off, then. The rest of you, back to your bunks. There's nothing more we can do until we reach home and get some real answers.