Chapter Two:
Trinity had never been so nervous in her life. Well, in all of her real life. She'd had her moments in the Matrix as a young child. The memory of her first solo singing performance flashed right before her eyes.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A young raven-haired girl stood before an audience. She was no more than ten years old and her normally wide eyes grew even wider. She was going to blow it. She knew it. There was no turning back now. The accompaniment had begun to play softly and Trinity tapped her small foot to keep time. She opened her mouth and a wavering voice escaped.
"I wonder where your heart is,
'Cause it sure don't feel like it's here.
Sometimes I think you wish
That I would just disappear.
Have I got it all wrong?
Have you felt this way long?
Are you already gone?"
The band played on and Trinity felt confidence growing in herself. She could do this. She wouldn't fail.
"Do you feel lonely
When you're here by my side?
Does the sound of freedom
Echo in your mind?
Do you wish you were by yourself?
Or that I was someone else?
Anyone else?"
Trinity approached the chorus with more confidence than before. She took a breath, opened her mouth and allowed the song to flow naturally from her lips.
"Where would you be
If you weren't here with me?
Where would you go
If you were single and free?
Who would you love?
Would it be me?
Where would you be?"
The song flowed freely and Trinity felt herself swaying in time to the music. She belted out the second verse with a strong voice. Her wide eyes closed in a fit of passion. This was her life. She loved doing this and couldn't imagine doing anything else. She flew through the song surrounded by musical colours and she paused before she hit the key change. This was it. The finale. The last chorus. She had to make it perfect. The sound, stronger and louder than ever, filled the room and brought tears to the eyes of her parents. They were so proud of her.
"Where would you be
If you weren't here with me?
Where would you go
If you were single and free?
Who would you love?
Would it be me?
Where would you be?"
"Oh tell me. Tell me now.
Where would you be?"
"Where would you go?"
"Who would you love?"
"Would it be me?"
Trinity swayed to the band finishing the song. When the last note was played, there was silence. Suddenly, the room exploded with cheers, applause and whistles. Trinity bowed to the audience and people jumped to their feet. She looked off stage to her parents and tears formed in her eyes. This was it. This was her shining moment.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Trinity snapped back to reality, feeling a sudden rush of bitterness. Her life had been perfect in the Matrix and she found out, about a year after her performance, that she hadn't even lived it at all. It wasn't real. The thought itself was enough to make Trinity feel the bile rise in her throat.
"Trinity. Do you want to go in first?"
Trinity looked around and saw that Morpheus had issued the question.
"Oh, um, yeah. I guess I could."
"I love you and I'll see you when you get back. Good luck." Xenon kissed her and inserted the plug into the back of her head. Trinity's eyes widened then shut as she slipped into the world of the Matrix.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
She checked her suit to see that everything was in order. It was, as always. Morpheus stood to her left, Switch and Cypher to her right. God, she wished Xenon was coming but too many of them would attract attention. She was to see the Oracle while they located Mr. Anderson.
"Listen, Trinity. This is very important. We need you to call us when you're done. You seem distracted lately."
"I'm sorry, sir. I'll call right away."
"Be sure you do. The Agents have been quite active lately."
"I will," Trinity sighed, "I promise."
"Good luck. Let's hope she has something good to tell you," Morpheus replied.
The other three walked off, leaving Trinity outside the Oracle's apartment. She headed towards it, forcing all the bitterness out of her body and mustering up all the courage she could. The Oracle would know. She would know that Trinity chose to defy her advice. Most of all, she was afraid of what the Oracle would tell her today. She knocked on the old, wooden door. This part of the Matrix seemed run-down and Trinity couldn't understand why the Oracle would make home here. The door opened and a tall brown-skinned girl stood in front of her. Her frown changed to a smile.
"Trinity. She has been expecting you."
Trinity forced a smile. "I know. I haven't been here for a while."
The young woman led Trinity through the halls and into the waiting area, the Potentials scattered around the room.
"She'll be right with you."
Trinity sat down on a chair and smiled to herself. All of the Potentials were children. Children. The thought of having them had crossed her mind a few times. Truly, she did take a liking to children but she never showed it. She was Trinity, the strong female warrior. Besides, she wasn't ready for children but she knew she'd have them with Xenon. She felt it deep in her heart.
"She'll see you right now."
Trinity nodded and entered the kitchen. As usual, the Oracle was baking up a batch of her cookies.
"Ah Trinity."
Trinity swallowed hard and willed the nervousness away. "Oracle."
"I've been meaning to talk to you for a long time but I've been so busy with all the Potentials and all. Cookie?"
Trinity extended her arm and grabbed a cookie from the plate. It was still warm. She cleared her throat. "Uh, why did you want to see me?"
The Oracle sat down and lit a cigarette. She stared at Trinity for a while.
"I understand you are in love." She didn't wait for Trinity to respond. "Well, don't worry. You're not the first to take my advice and you won't be the last."
Trinity breathed a sigh of relief.
"Now, now girl. You came here all tense thinking I was going to chew you out?"
Trinity looked at the floor. She blushed and nodded her head slightly. She was starting to feel really stupid.
The Oracle took a drag from her cigarette. "I never scold anyone for that purpose. I always tell them to take what I say with a pinch of salt."
Trinity looked up and caught a glance of the Oracle smiling.
"There was a reason why I told you not to fall for Xenon. I bet you didn't know it then and you don't know it now. Well, I can't tell you why. You'll figure that out on your own. But I do have something else to tell you. Morpheus is tracking down The One as we speak. We have high hopes for him, including the victory in our war. But you probably already knew that from previous failed attempts. You came to see me today so I could tell you something different. Something you never thought you'd hear from anyone, let alone me."
Trinity suddenly felt dizzy. This was the moment she'd been dreading. She was sure it was bad news.
"Sit down, dear girl, before you pass out."
Trinity felt for the seat and eased herself into it, gently.
"Trinity, you are going to fall in love with this man. This Neo as he is called. You will love him and he will love you back."
Trinity stared at the table. She was confused. How could she love someone else other than Xenon? It didn't feel right.
"I know you're confused. Take it with a grain of salt, dear. This is why I forewarned you about Xenon." The Oracle looked at the clock above the doorway. "I see that our time is nearly up. Morpheus has located The One. Go out there and call him. He's been worried about you lately."
Trinity nodded numbly and headed for the door.
"Oh, and Trinity."
Trinity turned around swiftly.
"Eat your cookie. I know you threw it away last time."
Trinity nodded and headed for the door, rushing past the Potentials and the young woman who answered the door. She broke into a run once she got past the front door. She continued running until her lungs burned then she collapsed under a tree in a park. There, she cried great whacking sobs until she could breathe no longer. She wiped her eyes and pulled out her phone.
"Morpheus. Ah, Trinity. Did you make out okay? Where are you?"
Trinity sniffled. "I, uh, don't know where I am but I'm in a park."
"Are you okay? You sound as though something bad has happened."
"I'm fine."
Morpheus didn't sound convinced. "Alright. Get an exit from Tank."
"Okay. I'll see you when you get back." She clicked the phone closed and surveyed the area. It was quite peaceful. Sadly, it wasn't real. She hesitated and then opened her phone again.
"Operator."
"Tank, I need an exit."
"Right. Main and Morningwood. Empty apartment. Three floors up."
"Thanks Tank."
She clicked her phone shut and broke off in a run. She arrived minutes later and the ringing of a phone filled her ears. She bolted up the stairs, chasing the ring.
"Why the hurry, precious?"
Trinity looked down and saw an Agent below her. She picked up her pace, taking two steps at a time. He was hot on her heels, giving her a run for her money. She broke the door down and saw the phone mere feet away. She stood next to it as the Agent entered the doorway.
"You know, you're fighting for the wrong side."
"Go to hell," Trinity hissed. She picked up the phone, hastily put it to her ear and promptly vanished.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Back on the Neb, Xenon unplugged the needle from the back of her head. She looked at Xenon longingly. Was the Oracle right? Would she fall in love with this new man?
"They've got him!" Tank yelled as he pumped his fist into the air. "Still got it, Morpheus."
Trinity started at Xenon. He loved him, not this new man that she hadn't even met. But the Oracle seemed so sincere. Maybe she was right. Trinity felt sick. She staggered to her feet and felt her knees give out.
"Whoa, easy there." Xenon helped her up.
Trinity took one last look into his eyes before promptly throwing up.
~~~~~~~~~~~
The song that young Trinity sings is "Where Would You Be" - Martina McBride
The whole point of divulging into Trinity's memory was to show how good her life was before she was unplugged and how she's bitter about losing it all. I intend this to be an underlying plot line and for Neo's re-birth to help her come to terms with her life never existing. Again, I love reviews :)
Trinity had never been so nervous in her life. Well, in all of her real life. She'd had her moments in the Matrix as a young child. The memory of her first solo singing performance flashed right before her eyes.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A young raven-haired girl stood before an audience. She was no more than ten years old and her normally wide eyes grew even wider. She was going to blow it. She knew it. There was no turning back now. The accompaniment had begun to play softly and Trinity tapped her small foot to keep time. She opened her mouth and a wavering voice escaped.
"I wonder where your heart is,
'Cause it sure don't feel like it's here.
Sometimes I think you wish
That I would just disappear.
Have I got it all wrong?
Have you felt this way long?
Are you already gone?"
The band played on and Trinity felt confidence growing in herself. She could do this. She wouldn't fail.
"Do you feel lonely
When you're here by my side?
Does the sound of freedom
Echo in your mind?
Do you wish you were by yourself?
Or that I was someone else?
Anyone else?"
Trinity approached the chorus with more confidence than before. She took a breath, opened her mouth and allowed the song to flow naturally from her lips.
"Where would you be
If you weren't here with me?
Where would you go
If you were single and free?
Who would you love?
Would it be me?
Where would you be?"
The song flowed freely and Trinity felt herself swaying in time to the music. She belted out the second verse with a strong voice. Her wide eyes closed in a fit of passion. This was her life. She loved doing this and couldn't imagine doing anything else. She flew through the song surrounded by musical colours and she paused before she hit the key change. This was it. The finale. The last chorus. She had to make it perfect. The sound, stronger and louder than ever, filled the room and brought tears to the eyes of her parents. They were so proud of her.
"Where would you be
If you weren't here with me?
Where would you go
If you were single and free?
Who would you love?
Would it be me?
Where would you be?"
"Oh tell me. Tell me now.
Where would you be?"
"Where would you go?"
"Who would you love?"
"Would it be me?"
Trinity swayed to the band finishing the song. When the last note was played, there was silence. Suddenly, the room exploded with cheers, applause and whistles. Trinity bowed to the audience and people jumped to their feet. She looked off stage to her parents and tears formed in her eyes. This was it. This was her shining moment.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Trinity snapped back to reality, feeling a sudden rush of bitterness. Her life had been perfect in the Matrix and she found out, about a year after her performance, that she hadn't even lived it at all. It wasn't real. The thought itself was enough to make Trinity feel the bile rise in her throat.
"Trinity. Do you want to go in first?"
Trinity looked around and saw that Morpheus had issued the question.
"Oh, um, yeah. I guess I could."
"I love you and I'll see you when you get back. Good luck." Xenon kissed her and inserted the plug into the back of her head. Trinity's eyes widened then shut as she slipped into the world of the Matrix.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
She checked her suit to see that everything was in order. It was, as always. Morpheus stood to her left, Switch and Cypher to her right. God, she wished Xenon was coming but too many of them would attract attention. She was to see the Oracle while they located Mr. Anderson.
"Listen, Trinity. This is very important. We need you to call us when you're done. You seem distracted lately."
"I'm sorry, sir. I'll call right away."
"Be sure you do. The Agents have been quite active lately."
"I will," Trinity sighed, "I promise."
"Good luck. Let's hope she has something good to tell you," Morpheus replied.
The other three walked off, leaving Trinity outside the Oracle's apartment. She headed towards it, forcing all the bitterness out of her body and mustering up all the courage she could. The Oracle would know. She would know that Trinity chose to defy her advice. Most of all, she was afraid of what the Oracle would tell her today. She knocked on the old, wooden door. This part of the Matrix seemed run-down and Trinity couldn't understand why the Oracle would make home here. The door opened and a tall brown-skinned girl stood in front of her. Her frown changed to a smile.
"Trinity. She has been expecting you."
Trinity forced a smile. "I know. I haven't been here for a while."
The young woman led Trinity through the halls and into the waiting area, the Potentials scattered around the room.
"She'll be right with you."
Trinity sat down on a chair and smiled to herself. All of the Potentials were children. Children. The thought of having them had crossed her mind a few times. Truly, she did take a liking to children but she never showed it. She was Trinity, the strong female warrior. Besides, she wasn't ready for children but she knew she'd have them with Xenon. She felt it deep in her heart.
"She'll see you right now."
Trinity nodded and entered the kitchen. As usual, the Oracle was baking up a batch of her cookies.
"Ah Trinity."
Trinity swallowed hard and willed the nervousness away. "Oracle."
"I've been meaning to talk to you for a long time but I've been so busy with all the Potentials and all. Cookie?"
Trinity extended her arm and grabbed a cookie from the plate. It was still warm. She cleared her throat. "Uh, why did you want to see me?"
The Oracle sat down and lit a cigarette. She stared at Trinity for a while.
"I understand you are in love." She didn't wait for Trinity to respond. "Well, don't worry. You're not the first to take my advice and you won't be the last."
Trinity breathed a sigh of relief.
"Now, now girl. You came here all tense thinking I was going to chew you out?"
Trinity looked at the floor. She blushed and nodded her head slightly. She was starting to feel really stupid.
The Oracle took a drag from her cigarette. "I never scold anyone for that purpose. I always tell them to take what I say with a pinch of salt."
Trinity looked up and caught a glance of the Oracle smiling.
"There was a reason why I told you not to fall for Xenon. I bet you didn't know it then and you don't know it now. Well, I can't tell you why. You'll figure that out on your own. But I do have something else to tell you. Morpheus is tracking down The One as we speak. We have high hopes for him, including the victory in our war. But you probably already knew that from previous failed attempts. You came to see me today so I could tell you something different. Something you never thought you'd hear from anyone, let alone me."
Trinity suddenly felt dizzy. This was the moment she'd been dreading. She was sure it was bad news.
"Sit down, dear girl, before you pass out."
Trinity felt for the seat and eased herself into it, gently.
"Trinity, you are going to fall in love with this man. This Neo as he is called. You will love him and he will love you back."
Trinity stared at the table. She was confused. How could she love someone else other than Xenon? It didn't feel right.
"I know you're confused. Take it with a grain of salt, dear. This is why I forewarned you about Xenon." The Oracle looked at the clock above the doorway. "I see that our time is nearly up. Morpheus has located The One. Go out there and call him. He's been worried about you lately."
Trinity nodded numbly and headed for the door.
"Oh, and Trinity."
Trinity turned around swiftly.
"Eat your cookie. I know you threw it away last time."
Trinity nodded and headed for the door, rushing past the Potentials and the young woman who answered the door. She broke into a run once she got past the front door. She continued running until her lungs burned then she collapsed under a tree in a park. There, she cried great whacking sobs until she could breathe no longer. She wiped her eyes and pulled out her phone.
"Morpheus. Ah, Trinity. Did you make out okay? Where are you?"
Trinity sniffled. "I, uh, don't know where I am but I'm in a park."
"Are you okay? You sound as though something bad has happened."
"I'm fine."
Morpheus didn't sound convinced. "Alright. Get an exit from Tank."
"Okay. I'll see you when you get back." She clicked the phone closed and surveyed the area. It was quite peaceful. Sadly, it wasn't real. She hesitated and then opened her phone again.
"Operator."
"Tank, I need an exit."
"Right. Main and Morningwood. Empty apartment. Three floors up."
"Thanks Tank."
She clicked her phone shut and broke off in a run. She arrived minutes later and the ringing of a phone filled her ears. She bolted up the stairs, chasing the ring.
"Why the hurry, precious?"
Trinity looked down and saw an Agent below her. She picked up her pace, taking two steps at a time. He was hot on her heels, giving her a run for her money. She broke the door down and saw the phone mere feet away. She stood next to it as the Agent entered the doorway.
"You know, you're fighting for the wrong side."
"Go to hell," Trinity hissed. She picked up the phone, hastily put it to her ear and promptly vanished.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Back on the Neb, Xenon unplugged the needle from the back of her head. She looked at Xenon longingly. Was the Oracle right? Would she fall in love with this new man?
"They've got him!" Tank yelled as he pumped his fist into the air. "Still got it, Morpheus."
Trinity started at Xenon. He loved him, not this new man that she hadn't even met. But the Oracle seemed so sincere. Maybe she was right. Trinity felt sick. She staggered to her feet and felt her knees give out.
"Whoa, easy there." Xenon helped her up.
Trinity took one last look into his eyes before promptly throwing up.
~~~~~~~~~~~
The song that young Trinity sings is "Where Would You Be" - Martina McBride
The whole point of divulging into Trinity's memory was to show how good her life was before she was unplugged and how she's bitter about losing it all. I intend this to be an underlying plot line and for Neo's re-birth to help her come to terms with her life never existing. Again, I love reviews :)