Chapter Four: Shutdown
Neo and Trinity stood in the Matrix, looking across at the Mainframe building. Beside them stood two coppertops, frozen without the programs to move their bodies active.
Trinity leaned in close to Neo, so her mouth was close to his ear.
"Neo…I want to tell you something."
"What?"
"I had a vision the day we went to the sewer. It showed you, Neo, and a traitor inside the Matrix. The traitor…he killed you. I couldn't tell who it was, but it was definitely a man.
"Then a few hours ago, I had another vision. It ended the same way, but the beginning was different. It was you and Smith, talking, and Smith mentioned something about Ghost. Neo…"
"Yes?"
"Be careful tonight. Watch Ghost, I think he may be a pawn of Smith."
Neo suddenly remembered something the Oracle had said.
trinity has seen far, and she accepts what her own role will be
"Trinity, have these visions told you anything else?"
Trinity looked slightly troubled for a moment, and then:
"…No."
"Okay," Morpheus said. "Here's what is going to happen."
Neo took up the briefing.
"The Matrix has been shut down. All the humans and programs have been frozen in place except the Agents. This is the perfect time to strike. I will create a distraction for the Agents while the rest of you sneak in the back and get to the Mainframe. Once there, I will join you and hold off reinforcements until the Agent registry files can be deleted. Then, if we have enough time, we can mess with the Sentinel programming and get the hell out of there. Any questions?"
"Who's operating?"
"Morpheus."
Lynx nodded in satisfaction. Myst spoke up.
"When you say "the rest of you," you mean…"
"You, Trinity, Fallen Angel, and Ballard. Phoenix, Lynx, and Ghost will be on a different assignment, one involving the Merovingian."
Neo walked straight up to the Mainframe building and knocked on the front door. The camera covering the street moved to zoom in on his face.
"Hello, Matthews," Neo said. "I know you are in there. I simply want to talk about Zion."
The intercom beeped.
"I will be right out," the Agent replied.
Trinity walked in the shadows of the alley, sneaking up on the back of the Mainframe building. She could almost sense the fist approaching from behind, and she whirled around in time to block the blow.
Agent Greer stood behind her. Trinity flipped backwards, landing in a fighting stance. She motioned to him with your hand. Greer smirked arrogantly. He never saw the attack coming.
Myst's foot darted in from the right and swept the Agent off his feet. She grabbed the Agent and threw him into the wall of the building. Ballard and Fallen Angel dropped down behind him and held him to the wall. Trinity approached the subdued Agent, taking a knife out of her pocket. Greer looked at the knife in the code and started struggling against the rebel's grip.
Trinity moved forward and jabbed a gleaming knife into his stomach. Lines of silver radiated from the weapon. The Agent screamed as his body collapsed into pure light, a look of fear in his eyes as it finished him off.
"Looks like it works," Trinity observed.
"That it does," said Ballard.
"This is the place," Lynx said. Ghost nodded. Phoenix dropped down from the first floor window and started walking towards the nightclub. Lynx rolled her eyes and dropped into a crouch, running to the side and flanking the guards.
Phoenix walked up to the door.
"You!" said one of the guards. "Drake told us to watch out for you."
"I just want to talk to the Merovingian," Phoenix said.
"After the trouble you caused at the Chateau? I don't think so."
The guard drew a gun and pointed it at Phoenix's head.
"So be it," said Phoenix. He grabbed the guard's wrist and twisted it, turning the gun around and firing into him. Lynx got the drop on another guard from the shadows, hitting him in the head twice. Ghost grabbed the third guard from behind and broke his neck.
"Let's go," Lynx said, leading them into the club.
The Trainman walked out of the subway car and stood in his station, looking around. He heard footsteps approaching. The Trainman turned to face the man.
"Smith!"
"Me, me, me," the former Agent said, jamming his hand into the Trainman's stomach. The duplication program spread out over the Trainman's body, quickly turning him into a clone of Smith.
"We need to talk," said Lynx, guns extended outwards. The Merovingian leaned over the railing and looked down.
"About what, exactly?" he asked in his heavily accented voice.
"The Matrix is vulnerable. Now is a time to strike. If you help us take it down, we will leave part of it up as a haven for you and your Exiles."
The Merovingian thought for a long time. The music in the club pounded in the rebels' ears, but the humans attending the club were frozen in place. Lynx was reminded of the party in Zion the night before the Nebuchadnezzar had left.
"I will help you," said the Merovingian, "but I need assurance that we will not be betrayed."
Lynx nodded. Morpheus had expected this.
give him something he won't be able to resist
"Then keep Phoenix and Ghost here with you."
The Merovingian laughed. "I accept. Put down your weapons and we have a deal."
Phoenix stepped forward and dropped his gun on the floor. Ghost passed his to Lynx, and she palmed him a special program at the same time. The Merovingian's minions came forward and led the two rebels off.
"Now," the Merovingian said, "what is it you need?"
"I need to get a program into the Matrix," Lynx said.
Matthews opened the door and stood in front of Neo.
"What is it you want, Mister Anderson?" the Agent asked.
"I want you to call off the attack on Zion," Neo said.
"You know I cannot do that, Mister Anderson."
"If you don't, we'll strike now and deal irreparable damage."
"I highly doubt it." the Agent smirked. "You see, Smith took the Trainman, and now Lynx is dead. Your other group holds one of our agents, and he should be betraying them…now."
Neo swore. The Agent pressed a hand to his ear piece.
"They're ours. And now you are too, Mister Anderson. You see, if there's no code to manipulate, how will you fight?"
Neo realized his mistake. And he suddenly knew how much it would cost him.
The attack came from behind. Fallen Angel felt a searing pain from the back of his neck and dropped to the ground, stunned. Trinity's legs were swept out from under her, and she fell to the ground. Myst whirled around, blocking a fist from the attacker.
"You…" she hissed.
Ballard nodded.
"Since when?"
"About one month now."
"You pulled the EMP at the battle!"
He nodded again.
"Bastard! I lost friends because of you!"
Ballard laughed. "Interesting choice of words. Since we were all grown, aren't all of us truly bastards? Think about it in the long time you'll have while the Agents hold you."
Ballard's left leg slammed into the back of Myst's knee. She collapsed into a kneeling position. Ballard lifted his gun from his holster and slammed the butt into the back of her head. She dropped.
Trinity was back on her feet and dashing towards him. He moved sideways, bringing her fist across his body and flipping her over his leg. He knelt down and grabbed the dagger from her, jamming it into her leg.
"Stay put, like a good bitch," he said. He smacked her across the face with his gun.
"Come and get them," he said, knowing his new ear radio would transport his words to the Agents.
The Agent's code flickered and changed, and Neo ducked as Matthew's fist swung over his head. Neo rolled past the Agent and took off. With the Matrix inactive, he was no more powerful then any other rebel. The traitor Cypher's words came back to him.
if you see an Agent, do what the rest of us do. run.
It had been good advice. Not heeding it had gotten Neo killed. He had a feeling the second time would be a lot worse.
He had to find Trinity. And he had to warn Lynx she was walking into a trap. How to be in two places at once?
He brought out his cell phone.
"Operator."
"Morpheus, it's a trap."
"I know. Ballard just betrayed them. He knocked Fallen Angel over, then took out Trinity and Myst. Then the code suddenly got heavily encrypted. I can't read it."
"Lynx is walking into a trap. Smith took over the Trainman."
"Shit. I wasn't watching her."
"Can you get to her in time?"
"She's there now."
Lynx stepped down off the final stairway and into the train station. A subway car screeched past the station without stopping, disturbing the trash. It swirled up the litter and threw it into the air.
From the other side of the platform approached a dim figure.
"Trainman?" Lynx called. The man kept moving, neither slowing nor speeding up in his approach. Lynx could make out a suit, glasses…
"Shit."
Lynx turned around and ran up the stairs. Another Smith emerged from a telephone booth, lifting his gun and firing twice. Lynx winced as the bullets flew past her hair.
"Shit."
The bullets moved fast, too fast. Something was wrong. Lynx jumped around a corner, barely making it one foot off the ground.
"I am so fucked," she said to herself.
Fallen Angel rolled over and sat up. He spotted Trinity and Myst on the ground.
"Shit. Ballard."
He heard footsteps approaching. He got up and hid himself in the shadows as two Agents appeared.
"Here they are."
"Wasn't there a third?"
"He must have gotten away."
"Did the informer lie?"
"Maybe. Maybe he just failed to incapacitate him fully."
"No matter. He is after the Anomaly now."
"Yes."
One Agent lifted Trinity, the other Myst. The two programs dragged the rebels back towards the Mainframe building.
"Shit," said Fallen Angel, which was rapidly becoming the night's catchphrase. He turned and started after the Agents.
Wait. What the hell am I doing? I can't beat two, especially with the Matrix deactivated. But I can stop Ballard.
He turned and started off after Ballard at a dead run.
The Merovingian entered Phoenix's and Ghost's cell. They both stood.
"Bad news for you," he said. "That…virus Smith got my Trainman. Lynx has disappeared. The deal is off."
"So…we can go?" Phoenix asked. The Merovingian laughed.
"I think not."
Ghost swore and dropped the program Lynx had palmed him earlier. It opened a hole into the street outside the club, but it could only be used once. Ghost motioned, and Phoenix jumped through, the hole closing behind him.
The Merovingian laughed again.
"So brave, to sacrifice your escape route from the man who ruined your ship."
"What do you know about that?" Ghost asked. The Merovingian raised an eyebrow.
"Haven't you guessed yet?" he asked, his hair lengthening. He pulled a pair of glasses from a pocket and put them on.
"Drake…" Ghost said in shock.
"Yes," the Merovingian said. "And now I can finish what I started…exterminating the Logos."
He snapped his fingers and the Twins appeared through the wall.
"Get Phoenix. I want the Logos crew dead. After he's gone, get to the Mainframe building and kill Myst. I will deal with Ghost."
The Twins nodded and left.
Phoenix hit the ground and started running. He got to the top of a large building and answered his ringing phone.
"Yes?"
"Phoenix, Ballard is a traitor. Can you take him out?"
"Maybe…I almost have a shot."
"Take it when you can."
"I will, sir."
Myst woke up hanging over an Agent's shoulder. The Agent carrying her opened the back door of a limo and dumped her in the back seat. Trinity was thrown on top of her.
Myst groaned. She climbed under the seat and drew her dagger from her boat. As soon as she saw one of the Agent's feet, she stabbed deep into the ankle. Then she kicked the side door open and ran off into the night.
Neo turned a corner and found himself looking into the barrel of a gun. Shifting his view, he spotted Ballard holding the gun.
"Ballard, what the fuck?"
"I'm sick of this shit, Neo. Sick of the endless fighting, sick of being cold all the time, sick of eating the same damn goop over and over again every damn day. I want this war to be over, Neo."
"Then help us, Ballard, not them."
"I thought about that, Neo, and you know what I decided?"
"What?"
"I like steak more than I like bread."
Myst opened a door and almost ran straight into Seraph.
"The Oracle has been expecting you," he said. "This way."
"I have a shot," Phoenix said.
"Take it! Take it now!"
He nodded and pulled the trigger.
Fallen Angel could hear voices up ahead. He put on an extra burst of speed.
"Ballard, don't do this."
"Too late."
Phoenix pulled the trigger. A bullet rocketed from the muzzle of his sniper rifle, hurtling towards Ballard far away.
Ballard pulled the trigger. His bullet slid out of the gun. Fallen Angel saw it all as if in slow motion. He dove forward, pushing Neo out of the way. He felt the bullet pass right through him and cried out, collapsing to the ground.
Phoenix's shot hit Ballard in the head. The traitor fell to the floor.
Neo knelt down beside Fallen Angel.
"Can you hear me?"
Fallen Angel looked up. "Is he dead?"
"Yes. Thank you."
"No problem, Neo."
Neo tried to lift Fallen Angel, but the rebel cried out and fell back down.
"I'm not going to make it."
"Don't say that."
"Neo…"
"What?"
"Shut up. I'm dying. Just promise to do one thing for me."
"Anything."
"Win this damn war."
And Fallen Angel's eyes closed forever.
Lynx opened a door and ran up a staircase, quickly reaching the roof. She turned around in time to see three Smiths approaching.
"Shit."
"What happened, Morpheus? Morpheus?"
There was no answer. Phoenix shrugged and hung up the phone. He heard a shifting sound from behind him and turned around.
The Twins had returned.
"Shit."
Neo heard footsteps. He looked up.
"Greetings once again, Mister Anderson."
Myst walked into the restaurant and took a seat across from the Oracle. She nodded in greeting.
"Come closer, Myst, because I have a lot to explain."
The Oracle puffed on her cigarette and exhaled. The smoke rose from her mouth into the ceiling, where it mingled with the air there in a chaotic, unplanned mix of coding.