I awake again in a small cabin. The bed I'm lying on is so warm and soft
that I feel like I'm in heaven after that little pod. I yawn a little and
go to stand up but I can't. I look down at my arm and I see a drip plugged
into the socket there. I quickly take it out. I cross the small space in
two strides and pull open the door.
I step out into a small corridor brightly lit by fluorescent strips. I'm wearing some loose leggings and a worn jumper, which has to be said, is not very flattering but surprisingly comfortable. As I begin to wander about the ship I can't help thinking about the past. About all I've been through. Suddenly I stumble into a wider area. There are seven chairs in a large circle, all wired up to huge computers. An eighth chair is beyond them, facing away from the circle, but this chair has an occupant. I think it's a woman, but I can't be sure because the clothes give very few clues. They have white hair and they're staring at three monitors, all with a strange green code falling down them like rain. I'm in two minds whether to approach them or not, but before I can decide they spin round on their chair. It is a woman, and I've just scared her out of her wits.
"Who the hell are you?" she demands, evidently upset at being caught off- guard.
"My name's Rebecca Fairfax." I answer. "Who are you?"
"I'm Switch. Sorry for shouting, I just don't like being surprised."
She gets up off her chair and pours herself a drink. This I guess is why she span round in the first place.
"So," she continues, "how you doing Rebecca?"
God, it seems like a lifetime since I heard that.
"I'm ok. A little confused, but I'll be all right. What are you doing?"
"Oh, I'm monitoring the Matrix. You know, checking up on people, watching for danger etc."
"Sounds fun" I comment sarcastically.
"Oh very. Not. Rather be in there to monitor than out here. I've never been one for sitting around."
I like Switch, there's something about her that reminds myself of me. Like we'd both just keep going, no matter what.
"So how are you doing ladies?"
We both whip around, to see Morpheus emerging from the corridor.
"So. I've just realised I don't know your name." Says Morpheus, laughing.
"My name's Rebecca."
"So Rebecca. I have to say that you were in a terrible state when we found you. Do you think you can tell me what happened? You don't have to, we can wait until you feel better."
"No I'll tell you now. I think it might help to talk about it."
So I began telling my story. I told of my encounters with the Agents in the Matrix, how I had been put in a mental home, how I was awoken and escaped, and of my journey away from Zero-One. I only know that name because Morpheus talked about it in the hospital ward. When I had finished most of the crew were up and about. Some stayed and listened while others were too busy. I was beginning to like life on the Neb. Morpheus began to explain to me what the Matrix was and why but he was shocked to find I already knew. After all, why shouldn't I? I've just spent the last few days secretly living alongside the machines. Trinity brought my breakfast to me while I was having my talk with Morpheus. Switch took the opportunity to say goodnight as she was being relieved by Tank. Everything seemed so normal, except that this was my adventure of a lifetime.
Once I had had my breakfast Morpheus introduced me to the rest of the crew. Dozer was a tall man who was Tank's brother, Apoc stood behind Morpheus, tapping at a computer rigged up to a chair. Cypher is a smallish man with a goatee, and Mouse is the youngest. He seems very quiet. There's only one person I have yet to speak to, but he's the one I most want to meet.
Thankfully I didn't have to wait long. They were taking the ship up to Broadcast level when Neo appeared.
"Neo!" I squealed when I saw him. "Neo you were right! I would find the truth! I took my chance and now I've met you, just like you said!"
"You must be Rebecca," he said. "Well I'm very pleased to meet you but I have to say I don't have the faintest idea what you're talking about. When did I say we would meet?"
"You mean you don't remember? You came to me in a dream when I was little. You said that I was different and that I would find out the truth one day. You were in a subway station, and you'd just fought a man in a suit."
He was an Agent I add silently.
"I'm really sorry Rebecca but I still don't understand. I've never fought anyone in a subway, and the only contact I've ever had with someone in a suit was an Agent in a training program. I'm only going back into the Matrix for the first time today, to see the Oracle. Sorry" Neo says.
I step out into a small corridor brightly lit by fluorescent strips. I'm wearing some loose leggings and a worn jumper, which has to be said, is not very flattering but surprisingly comfortable. As I begin to wander about the ship I can't help thinking about the past. About all I've been through. Suddenly I stumble into a wider area. There are seven chairs in a large circle, all wired up to huge computers. An eighth chair is beyond them, facing away from the circle, but this chair has an occupant. I think it's a woman, but I can't be sure because the clothes give very few clues. They have white hair and they're staring at three monitors, all with a strange green code falling down them like rain. I'm in two minds whether to approach them or not, but before I can decide they spin round on their chair. It is a woman, and I've just scared her out of her wits.
"Who the hell are you?" she demands, evidently upset at being caught off- guard.
"My name's Rebecca Fairfax." I answer. "Who are you?"
"I'm Switch. Sorry for shouting, I just don't like being surprised."
She gets up off her chair and pours herself a drink. This I guess is why she span round in the first place.
"So," she continues, "how you doing Rebecca?"
God, it seems like a lifetime since I heard that.
"I'm ok. A little confused, but I'll be all right. What are you doing?"
"Oh, I'm monitoring the Matrix. You know, checking up on people, watching for danger etc."
"Sounds fun" I comment sarcastically.
"Oh very. Not. Rather be in there to monitor than out here. I've never been one for sitting around."
I like Switch, there's something about her that reminds myself of me. Like we'd both just keep going, no matter what.
"So how are you doing ladies?"
We both whip around, to see Morpheus emerging from the corridor.
"So. I've just realised I don't know your name." Says Morpheus, laughing.
"My name's Rebecca."
"So Rebecca. I have to say that you were in a terrible state when we found you. Do you think you can tell me what happened? You don't have to, we can wait until you feel better."
"No I'll tell you now. I think it might help to talk about it."
So I began telling my story. I told of my encounters with the Agents in the Matrix, how I had been put in a mental home, how I was awoken and escaped, and of my journey away from Zero-One. I only know that name because Morpheus talked about it in the hospital ward. When I had finished most of the crew were up and about. Some stayed and listened while others were too busy. I was beginning to like life on the Neb. Morpheus began to explain to me what the Matrix was and why but he was shocked to find I already knew. After all, why shouldn't I? I've just spent the last few days secretly living alongside the machines. Trinity brought my breakfast to me while I was having my talk with Morpheus. Switch took the opportunity to say goodnight as she was being relieved by Tank. Everything seemed so normal, except that this was my adventure of a lifetime.
Once I had had my breakfast Morpheus introduced me to the rest of the crew. Dozer was a tall man who was Tank's brother, Apoc stood behind Morpheus, tapping at a computer rigged up to a chair. Cypher is a smallish man with a goatee, and Mouse is the youngest. He seems very quiet. There's only one person I have yet to speak to, but he's the one I most want to meet.
Thankfully I didn't have to wait long. They were taking the ship up to Broadcast level when Neo appeared.
"Neo!" I squealed when I saw him. "Neo you were right! I would find the truth! I took my chance and now I've met you, just like you said!"
"You must be Rebecca," he said. "Well I'm very pleased to meet you but I have to say I don't have the faintest idea what you're talking about. When did I say we would meet?"
"You mean you don't remember? You came to me in a dream when I was little. You said that I was different and that I would find out the truth one day. You were in a subway station, and you'd just fought a man in a suit."
He was an Agent I add silently.
"I'm really sorry Rebecca but I still don't understand. I've never fought anyone in a subway, and the only contact I've ever had with someone in a suit was an Agent in a training program. I'm only going back into the Matrix for the first time today, to see the Oracle. Sorry" Neo says.