Lost Souls
by FalconWind
Based on the Matrix Fanfic 'Angels and Demons' by JazzyMegster/Pejios
Disclaimer: I don't own The Matrix or any part of it. It is owned by Larry and Andy Wachowski. Please do not sue.
Chapter Three - Finders Keepers
"Let me see," Orion said as he entered the cockpit. Studying a readout on the computer screen he frowned. "You're right. It's somewhat different, but it almost looks Machine-based."
"I don't think it has detected us, though, sir. It hasn't moved, and the signal isn't consistant with a detection signal," said Firewall.
"And if Machines are one thing, it's consistant," commented Doc. "So what do we do?"
"Think you can handle a single Sentinel, if that's what it is?" Orion asked Firewall.
He grinned. "Don't insult me.... but why?"
"I think we should put our knew stealth system to the test."
"You aren't seriously thinking about confronting it!" Doc cried.
A strange look flashed over Orion's face. "Maybe I am."
SHe looked at Firewall, who also had the same look. "Ugh! Men!"
"Hardware! Fire up the stealth system, we're going hunting!"
"Did he say 'hunting'? Since when do we hunt?" shouted Hardware from down below.
"Yeah," piped in Crash, "we're just supposed to run away!"
"Just do it!"
"I hope this new system is as good as Hardware boasts it is," said Doc dismally.
"I'll be in Weapons Control," announced Firewall.
The Prometheus, carefully made it's way towards the strange signal. The stealth system was active, and as far as anyone could tell, working perfectly.
Even under minial power, with only four pads active, the Prometheus had a fairly large EM signature, so Orion was ready to put the pedal to the metal at any time.
So far though, he was pleased. Whomever, or whatever, was sending the signal, seemed to be unaware of them. Or at least, hadn't bothered to move because of them.
"Are we getting a clear reading yet?" he asked.
"Of the signal, yes," announced Doc. "But of the source, no."
Orion piloted the hovership around a corner, and nearly crashed into a pile of rubble. "Whoa! What the hell happened here?" He checked the map of the tunnels in this sector. "This collapse is not supposed to be here. Must've happened after they last surveyed this area. Mark it in the logs, Doc."
"You got it, Orion, One tunnel collapse- wait! I've got a reading. It's a Sentinel!"
"Jesus Christ!" Orion reached for the throttle.
"Wait! Wait! It's... not moving."
"So? We should blast it!" Firewall said over the intercomm.
"Shut up! Sir, the stealth system makes us hard to detect, not invisible. We're litterally hovering right above it. You'd have to be blind, deaf, and a quadrapeligic to not detect us," informed Doc.
"Okay... so what?"
"Well, we've never been this close to a intact Sentinel, with all the electrical components, and computer systems still functional," she said.
"I really hope you're not suggesting what I think you're suggesting!" exclaimed Orion.
"She does have a point there, skipper," said Hardware.
"Yeah, you'd say that, Hardware," scolded Firewall. "Sometime's I wonder what side you're on!"
"Hey, screw you 'guns for brains'!"
"Children! Shut up! yelled Orion. "If it hasn't attacked us, or sounded the alarm yet, I think it's safe to say that it's not going to."
"But, sir!"
"Shut up Firewall! I say we go down there and take a look."`
"BUT, SIR!!!"
"Firewall! Shut your face, or I will throw you in the brig!"
"Uh, we don't have a brig, sir. That's the stealth systems room now," informed Hardware.
"Damn it, can we please stop bickering!" screamed Doc. "My God! You guys are driving me insane! I can't believe I gave up the Matrix to be with you guys!"
Firewall, armed with a EM Discharge Rifle, Hardware, and Crash stepped off the lowered ramp of the Prometheus. The tunnels were dark, as usual, but the unstable debris made it even more treacherous.
Firewall, was moving about like a SWAT team member, ducking and dodging, and staying behind cover. Hardware moved about carefully, but otherwise wasn't too worried. And Crash... well, Crash was Crash.
"Wow, somebody had a good time!" he said, a big grin on his face as he looked around him. "Why wasn't I invited?" he said sounding heartbroken.
"Because you're a twit," said Firewall.
"Takes one to no one."
"Guys, not out here, with the Sentinel, alright?" insisted Hardware quietly.
Crash carried the spotlight, and noticed a gleam of metal. "Say, that looks like a metal tentacle, if I ever saw one." He followed the metal appendage up until the dull red eyes of a sentinel stared them all in the face.
The machine lay on it's side, it's eight tentacles draped behind it. On top of the body was a section of steel girder.
"Shit!" Firewall took aim, and Hardware grabbed the gun.
"Man, you have go to take a chill-pill. It's not moving, you don't have to shoot it." He activated his radio. "This is Hardware, we've found the Sentinel. It looks deactivated."
"First make sure it's safe to handle, then remove it's transmitter. Then you guys can move it to the loading ramp," ordered Orion.
"Hey you three be careful," said Doc. "I don't want to zip you guys up in any vinyl sleeping bags, if you get my drift."
"Roger that."
Hardware pulled out a small pocket scanner, usually used for diagnosing problems with the Prometheus' internal components. "I'm reading near zero power status."
"Near?" asked Firewall.
"As near to zero as possible. It's just like a regualr computer, there are clocks and stuff to run. Minimal battery power, hardly enough to jump-start the thing's power core."
"Just remember that this computer happens to have a killing machine attacked to it, okay?"
"Yeah, yeah. Crash, give me a hand with this girder. Use that rebar over there, we're gonna have to pry it off."
"Check." Crashed picked up the hefty steel rod, and jammed it under the beam. "Okay, on three. One, two, three!"
They both gritted their teeth and pulled as hard as they could, grunting. With considerable effort, they slid the beam off, which clanked loudly and echoed across the tunnel.
"Whew! That's my exercise for the next two days!" said Crash, rubbing his sore hands.
Hardware knealt over the Sentinel, and twisted a small inset knob. An invisible seam opened, and a panel slid open, revealing the machine's guts.
"Wow, this guy must've taken a good bean on the head. Check this out." He reached in and pulled out a circuit board. "Cracked down the middle. No wonder why that signal was all messed up. This controls the Sentinel's transmitter."
"So can we go in now?" asked Crash.
"Yep, as soon as we lug this bug guy into the ship."
"I still can't believe we're doing this!" said Firewall.
"Believe it. Oh, and we're gonna need help, by the way."
Grumbling, he shouldered the rifle, and went to help.
Inside the Prometheus, is was almost reverently quite. A Sentinel, limp as a wet noodle, as intimidating as a pitbull with rabies, lay on the steel deck plates.
Everyone stared silently at it. The multi-eyed face of the enemy. The last thing most people saw before they died.
"Quite good workmanship," commented Hardware. This only drew strange looks from the rest of them. He shrugged.
"It's looks a lot less scary just sitting there," said Gabe. He walked closer until he was kneeling over it. He could see his reflection in the still shiny metal armour. "It almost looks... kind of like when you see a Deer head above a fireplace, you know?"
"Alive, but not," Doc said, nodding. "Of course, it wasn't alive to begin with."
"Just looks like a Sentinel to me," said Crash, who was munching on a ration brick.
"It's weird," continued Gabe. "Just sitting here, you wouldn't really think it would hurt you. It's almost harmless."
"Believe me Gabe, if it could, it'd kill every single one of us without so much as a single thought. Machines don't think, they only do what they're programmed to do. Programs like Agents are semi-sentient, or at least pseudo-sentient, able to mimic sentience, but not squiddies. They're just robots, like those in a car factory."
"But doesn't that make them innocent, in a way?" said Gabe. That shocked everyone, no one had expected that.
"How could you say that!" raged Firewall. "They've killed hundreds, they've enslaved the human race!"
"He does have a point," commented Doc.
"WHAT???" Firewall's jaw dropped.
"Well, think about it this way. They are just machines, tools. When a person shoots and kills someone, the gun isn't guilty; it has no choice. The person is guilty because they made a choice to murder someone. The machines, if they are indeed, non-sentient, then are simply tools. They have no choice, but to carry out the instructions given to them. Even a person who kills while insane is not guilty, because they have no concept of right or wrong. It's the decision to commit an act that they know is wrong that make a person guilty of a crime."
"So you're saying they aren't really murderers, but simply the gun in the gunman's hands?" said Hardware, getting Doc's point.
She nodded. "Yes, you could put it that way."
"Whoa, that was like.... deep," said Crash, doing his best Californian surfer-dide impression.
"I can't believe this philosophical bullshit I'm hearing! They are the enemy!"
Orion rubbed his temples. "Okay people, look. It's late, and we should get some shut eye. We'll put the ship into stealth mode, so we can ALL get some rest. Nobody has to take turns on watch."
"Captain," said Gabe, "I want to stay up so I can look over the code on Crash's armoured trenchcoat program."
"Alright, but don't stay up too late."
Crash grinned. "Have fun, my young apprentice."
They all quickly retired to their quarters.
To be continued...