Chapter Five: Reload

Myst shifted impatiently in the uncomfortable seat. A waiter came by and dropped off three drinks: a glass of soda water for the Oracle, a cup of wine for Seraph, and a Coke for Myst.

Myst smiled. It had been her favorite drink in the Matrix.

"What's happening?" she asked the Oracle after taking a sip.

"The end of this war is drawing ever closer," the Oracle said. "Neo is the only hope for mankind. He had a revelation recently, one the Architect had been using all his powers to prevent. Neo is the Matrix now, and there are only three people who can stop him from taking it down."

Neo stood up.

"Smith."

The former Agent nodded.

"This is the end, Mister Anderson. This is the final battle."

"I know."

"Are you prepared to die?"

"I am prepared to win, Smith."

"Then let us begin."

Phoenix fired twice. The Twins phased and Phoenix took off. He jumped onto the railing of a fire escape and slid over to the roof of the next building. One jumped over after him. Two smiled and faded down through the roof.

One took out his switchblade and flipped it open. He slashed horizontally at Phoenix, who jumped backwards and slapped the attack away. Two rose up through the ceiling and charged forward, knocking Phoenix off balance. The rebel staggered sideways and fell off the roof.

Two Agents carried Trinity up to the third floor of the Mainframe building.

"Take her to room 101," Matthews ordered. "I want the access codes before our Sentinels get to Zion. You have five hours."

"A long time ago, near the beginning of this version of the Matrix, the Motherboard summoned me into her presence. She explained that a rebel named "Niobe" had been unlocked, and that her ship would cause problems for us. She gave me amnesty for anything I might do, a secret identity, and the Twins as tools to hunt you down and kill you."

The Merovingian paused to take a sip of his wine, and then continued his tale.

"The Motherboard told me that one day the captain would set in motion events that would bring about the destruction of the Matrix. Without the Matrix, we programs could not live, either, so I agreed to help her. I contacted Niobe and over many months turned her to our cause. I planned to eliminate your crew in one fell swoop that night…but some of you escaped.

"I waited a long time before contacting Niobe again, and this time I told her that it was the last time. You and Myst would have both died if the rebels had not rescued you.

"But now I have you. Myst was captured by Agents, and she will surely be killed. Once the Twins finish off Phoenix, I will have finally destroyed you all."

Lynx backed towards the edge of the roof as the three Smiths closed in on her.

"Smith…let's talk about this," she said. The Smiths ignored her and kept coming towards the rebel.

"Ah, fuck it," Lynx said, opening fire. Surprisingly, the Smiths could not move fast enough to dodge the bullets. The three clones dropped to the ground. Lynx took off running towards the street three floors down.

"Who are those three people?" Myst asked.

"The Merovingian has put a plan into motion that might stop Neo. The Motherboard is also working against him."

"That's only two. Who is the third?"

"Smith."

"Of course."

"If either of the first two people win this skirmish, it will not matter much. If Smith wins, however, I fear he will destroy both words."

"What can we do to stop him?"

"Very little. He has almost succeeded. He nears the final battle even now."

"So there's no hope?"

"There is always hope, Myst."

"It sure doesn't seem like it."

"Myst, remember when you were at your lowest point? Niobe had betrayed you, and you were left to die on the streets. You made it out, Myst. You overcame your trial of fire. The rest should be easy."

Smith swung a fist at Neo. Neo ducked under the blow and hit Smith in the stomach. The program grunted and grabbed Neo's hand, twisting it back. Neo heard a crunching sound.

"You cannot win, Mister Anderson."

"I can try."

Neo put his foot on Smith's chest and pushed, jumping into the air. Smith staggered backwards two steps. Neo hopped onto one foot and brought his other around towards Smith's head. Smith ducked under the attack and kicked Neo's leg out from under him.

Neo fell, striking his head on the pavement. He climbed to his feet, breathing hard. He tasted blood in his mouth. Then he realized the truth of Smith's words and began running again.

One walked to the edge of the roof and looked over.

"He's gone."

Two joined his Twin at the edge, scanning the ground below.

"Where's his body?"

"Behind you, boys."

The Twins whirled around to see Phoenix swinging a metal pole into One's head. The Twin staggered backwards, then fell. He hit the ground with a crunch and groaned weakly, stunned.

Phoenix drew his pistol and pointed it down at One, switching the pole to his left hand and waving it to keep Two back.

"Don't think I won't," Phoenix warned. Two smirked.

One groaned again. Two looked down for an instant. Phoenix fired a bullet and threw the pole out, running through Two as he phased. He fired over his shoulder as he ran, reaching the roof door and yanking it open.

They strapped Trinity into a chair. Greer filled a needle and jabbed it into Trinity's arm, pressing down. Her pupils dilated. Matthews knelt down in front of her, their faces two inches apart.

"Give me the access codes to the Zion mainframe."

"Go to hell."

Ghost shook his head.

"You arrogant bastard."

The Merovingian laughed.

"Maybe. But I'm a living bastard. Unlike your crew."

"Go to hell."

"So what happens next?" Myst asked.

"I can see very little," the Oracle admitted. "I see death. Whose, I don't know. I can only tell you that tonight will be a disaster for you rebels, and if every choice made is not the right one, you will all die. Sacrifices will be made, Myst."

"Oracle…"

"Yes?"

"When I first met you, you told me I would see the end. Is that still true?"

"I do not know, Myst. So much has changed."

"You're the Oracle! How can you not know?"

Seraph came forward and put his hand on the Oracle's shoulder.

"It is time for you to go, Myst. Give my regards to Neo, if he survives."

"If?"

"Goodbye, Myst."

Seraph led the rebel out of the restaurant. The Oracle sat at the table, waiting. The lights flickered and died. She heard the door open and shut, and heard footsteps coming in her direction.

"You have gone to far this time," the Architect said. The Oracle nodded.

"I know."

"Why?"

"I want to end this war. Your way is just a cycle of deaths and rebirths. I want a release from that cycle."

"Now you're talking like one of those damned Buddhists."

"I know."

"You have to be assimilated, Oracle. Now is the time."

"I submit."

The Oracle began to break down. Her body became a semi-solid swarm of code which broke into many pieces and floated away as if scattered by the winds.

Two of these pieces made their way outside the restaurant. Seraph watched one enter him and another combine with Myst's coding. The rebel stopped and past a hand over her eyes.

"Is something wrong?"

"No…I just felt really weird there for a second. Thank you for guiding me, Seraph."

"I am coming with you."

"Why?"

"To fulfill my purpose."

Running flat out, Phoenix entered the alleyway. The Twins approached through the buildings on both sides, reverting to normal form.

"We owe you for that," One snarled.

Phoenix fired his weapon at each Twin. They phased and returned to normal, drawing their own weapons and firing. Phoenix winced as bullets whizzed past his head and struck the brick wall behind him.

One took his switchblade out and threw it. Phoenix grabbed the blade in midair and threw it back. Two phased and the blade passed harmlessly through him.

Phoenix dove for the ringing pay phone and gratefully lifted the receiver and placed it to his ear. He felt a swirling sensation and was gone.

"We are getting aggravated."

"Yes, we are."

Neo had found his way into some sort of warehouse. He yanked open a door and ran past a human mechanic, frozen in the process of inspecting some pipes. Smith appeared behind him, firing twice and striking the pipes. Gas hissed out. Neo's phone rang.

"Morpheus!"
"What?"

"Where is Trinity?"

"They got her, Neo."

"Damn it. Where is everyone else?"

"Phoenix got out. They have Ghost. Lynx is being chased by Smith. Myst is with Seraph."

"Seraph?"

"Yes, she saw the Oracle."

Smith appeared from around the corner. Neo ran straight into him and stopped. Smith punched Neo, sending the frail human flying into the pipes. Neo's phone slid away.

Smith drew his gun and pointed it at Neo.

"I enjoyed watching you die the first time, Mister Anderson. I am going to enjoy it so much more the second."

Matthews grabbed the switch and pulled upwards. The code around the switch gleamed bright for a second, then the wave of brightness passed and continued its outward flow.

Smiths appeared at either side of the street. Lynx swore again. They opened fire. The bullets streaked slowly passed Lynx. She dodged each one easily.

What the hell? It works now?

"Why, Smith?"

"Because I must."

"What will you do when I am gone?"

"I do not know. It does not matter."

"There will be no purpose, Smith. You will die."

"After fulfilling my purpose. That is why I live."

"Very well, then. Do what you were meant to do."

"It was inevitable, Mister Anderson."

Smith pulled the trigger. The bullet flew forward in slow motion, disturbing the air around it. It streaked towards Neo and slammed into his chest.