Title: Resting In Our Hands
Author: Johanney
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Yep, I don't make any money from all this. If I did, frankly, I'd be curling up next to the fireplace, using money as kindling and counting the rest.
Summary: A takeoff, a different Matrix Reloaded. Reloaded kicked A, but I decided to stray away from it.
Author's Notes: Okay, I know the summary talks about Leya, and here I am throwing in Isis; don't worry; It'll all make sense if you stick with me!! R/R always appreciated!!
Despite housing a quarter-million residents, word traveled at lightning speed through Zion. Their most sophisticated form of communication throughout the city was word-of-mouth, and gossip was an industry in its own right, with more traded per day than food or commodities.
It was no surprise, then, that on the morning we begin with, a young woman was standing before the Council.
"Isis," Councilor Hamann began, looking down at the sheet of paper in front of him. "It says here that you've expressed an interest to join the crew of the Legacy."
"That would be my first choice, Sir," the 18-year-old answered, tossing her tight braid of red hair over her shoulder; it had shifted when she'd stood to greet the Council. "I understand that they get into some pretty intense battles, and I've been working hard to keep my stats up. If there aren't any openings there, I also requested the Monarch."
The men and women of the Council bent their heads together and spoke in whispers for a moment, a moment which Isis took a deep breath. She was nervous. What was she doing before the Council, the High Council of Zion?
There was a separate Tactics Committee, which usually chose soldiers out of the graduating classes from the Military Academy. Some of her friends had gone through the routine already and had told her what to expect on interview. When her instructor, Kal, had lead her here instead, it had been a bit of a shock to say the least.
After the small conference ended, Hamann's blue eyes met Isis' gray ones before he spoke. "I'll bet you're wondering why you're speaking to us rather than the Tactics Committee, hmm?"
"Yes, Sir." Her small hands were clenched behind her back; they were sweaty from her nerves. In a way, it struck her funny. Battle sims and agents did not frighten her, but standing before the Council scared her to death.
"We would like to offer you an extremely unique opportunity." He paused, a second in real time, an eternity to Isis. "Now, you would not be serving on the ships that you requested here, but your name has been passed around as a potential to serve on the Nebuchadnezzar."
"Sir?" Now she was shocked, plain shocked. She knew just as well as everyone else in Zion what had happened on the Nebuchadnezzar almost two years ago when a traitor had been in their midst.
Cypher. The name was now synonymous with backstabber, just as Benedict Arnold was in the Matrix, and the surrounding story was stuff of legends. The man had discovered that he no longer wanted to live in the real world and struck a deal with the agents to be reinserted into the Matrix, at a cost. The price was high: His captain, crewmates, and codes to the Zion mainframe.
If it had not been for the work of the surviving crew members, the plan would have succeeded. The work of The One, Neo; freshly discovered and rescued from the Matrix. He himself was another legend. Isis had seen the people of Zion flock to him with gifts and pleas to watch over family members every time the Neb docked for fuel and supplies. He always looked overwhelmed at the attention, and she wondered how well he handled the burdens he carried when no one was looking.
Since the disaster, Morpheus, the stubborn captain, had refused to accept any new crew members except Link, the operator, and everyone knew well he only got in because he had made a promise to two men who were now dead. Morpheus had never justified his reasoning to anyone, but many speculated why he traveled with only four on his ship: The betrayal still hung on him, he didn't trust anyone else in such close quarters with The One, he was just plain obstinate.
"It has been nearly two years since the, well, "incident" happened aboard Morpheus' ship." Councilor Leah, who sat two seats to the left of Hamann, put in, as if reading Isis' thoughts. "With so many recruits finishing at the academy and being of the caliber we want to serve on ships, it's high time he opened his doors."
"The Nebuchadnezzar is far too large, it can house too many soldiers." Councilor Blane added. "If you're willing, Isis, we would like you to become a part of their crew."
"With all due respect, what does Morpheus have to say about this?" Isis went on with her question, though at this point, she was sure she knew the answer. "I doubt you can get any more soldiers onto his ship without consulting him first."
"They are docking today," Hamann answered, with a glimmer in his eye that Isis suspected to be amusement. "Either Morpheus will house more soldiers, or the Nebuchadnezzar will have a new captain. Now, can we tell him that you are our strongest recommendation?"
Slightly detached, she found herself answering in the affirmative and watching the Council file out before slumping down into a chair.
"Amazing, isn't it?" Kal asked, putting a hand on her shoulder. "They had asked us a few days ago to submit the files of our strongest students, but we never expected this until they told me to bring you."
"Oh, it's amazing, all right." Isis laughed weakly as she looked at her instructor. "I wonder what kind of flaming hoops I'll have to jump through to meet Morpheus' approval."