Behind Blue Eyes
He hadn't seen her for hours. . .
It was all coming together. Smith's power continued to rise, there were no humans left now. He would soon spread to the rest of the Matrix. Soon. It would all be his, then onward to the Real World. The sky grew darker all around him, almost as dark as his own shades. He could see the future, and he saw him win. Neo would die. All of his dreams, his purpose. It would all be fulfilled, it would all be his. All of it. Nothing could stand in his way.
But Smith sat in a place far away from everything, in silence, separate from everything else. He was hiding. He sat on top of Angel's bed, his legs stretch out, and his blue eyes staring at nothing. He didn't think of his increasing power, or the death of Neo. He only thought of his daughter. He pictured her in that suit, wither his blue eyes, and her smile. Not his smile, but hers. Hers full of purity, and happiness. He wondered if he could change this. If he had never lied to her, if she was still with him, in his arms. He needed her, but he didn't. He wanted her. He wanted to hold her. . . But then he stops, and shakes his head.
"No." He says.
He shouldn't be like this. He shouldn't think about Angel. Not his Angel.
What had she done to him?
Why was he different?
What happened?
He didn't want to be like this. This was distracting, it was weakening, he couldn't be like this. He always knew emotions would do this to him. He always knew. . . But he couldn't stop. He couldn't help but wonder what had happened to her. He couldn't stop worrying. He needed to know. He needed his Angel.
He turned to his side on the bed, facing the wall.
But then again, maybe it was best he didn't know what had happened to her. She was either a copy by now, or somewhere lying in a ditch, blood all over her. . . He shook his head, trying to get that thought out of his head. It didn't matter. She was dead by now. No matter how much he wanted, she was dead. She couldn't run forever from a city full of his copies, all trying to kill her. She was dead. But he didn't want that. He didn't want her to be dead, her warmth to be gone, her eyes never to open again. . . He didn't want that.
This was her fault. . . She infected him. . . They all infected him. . . All he had to do was kill Neo. That's all, then everything would be his. But he had these thoughts of his daughter. She was even really his daughter! But. . . She was his. No matter what she did, she was his. His Angel. His. . .
"She's here!" A copy busted through the door.
Smith's eyes widened, and he sat straight up.
"What?" He asked, not believing.
She was alive. . .
"Look!" The copy pointed out the window.
Smith looked over, there she was. Swinging on the swings. Smith stared at her, open mouth. She was okay. . .
Angel always knew she would come home. She always knew she would have no other choice. She would have always had to have gone back to him. Always have to go home. She had nowhere else to go. . .
Her hair was in her eyes, and she didn't bother moving it. They blocked her eyes from the rest of the world. She didn't want to see what was happening. She wasn't going to hide behind shades anymore, unlike her father. But she still didn't want to see. Her hands had dried blood on them, she had cuts on her arms, her cloak was torn and ripped. She had bruises on her back and legs. Her eyes were red from her tears, and it was getting harder to breath. But she kept going. Strength of her father. Going on when there is no hope. Going on in a world full of pain, trapped. A world full of ignorant creatures. Just like her father.
She couldn't take this anymore. She had nothing else. She had to come home. Go back to Daddy. She needed to see.
Smith stared at his daughter, she was alive! But then he realized something. He would have to kill her. . . No! He would have to. . .
Smith stopped thinking about that, just had to go to her first. He made a fist, and broke the already broken window. He flew right through it, and the copy ran down to the others.
She didn't even look up as he floated down to her. She stayed still, slightly swinging, and her head tilted down. Smith landed pretty far from her, being cautious. He saw now she no longer wore her suit, but a cloak, like Neo. Smith turned. Her cloak blew in the wind as Angel swung, making the chains squeak. Smith stood there for a moment, waiting for her. But Angel didn't move, she didn't look up at him or anything.
Only silence, only the wind.
Just like when they first met.
"Look at me." He whispered. "Please. . ."
She did not.
"Look at me." He whispered again.
She did not.
"I've had to run from them, you know." She finally said, still not moving.
Smith opened his mouth, he wanted to say something, but he didn't. He turned around to see his copies on the balcony and windows, backing away from his view. He turned back to Angel, and all she did was quietly swing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"We've been here before, you and I. Remember? I do, I think of nothing else." A bloody Bane said, a gun his hand.
Aboard the Logos, Neo bowed to Smith. In the Real World the copy of Smith was about to kill Neo, finally.
"Who are you?" Neo asked on the floor.
"Still don't recognize me? I admit it's difficult to even thin, encased in this rotting piece of meat, the stink of it filling every breath suffocating clouds you can escape. . . Disgusting. Look how pathetically fragile it is. Anything this weak is not meant to survive." The true words of a Smith uninfected by emotions of a daughter.
"What do you want?"
"I want what you want. . ."
Neo couldn't believe it.
"That's it Mr. Anderson. Look passed the flesh, look through the soft guillotine of the talcow eyes, and see your enemy. Oh, yes Mr. Anderson you can, there's nowhere I can't go, there's nowhere I won't find you."
"It's impossible."
"Not impossible, inevitable."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He didn't know what to say. For once there was nothing he could say. . .
"Daddy. . ."
Maybe there are no words.
Maybe there's only silence.
"How could you!?" Angel yelled.
Or maybe only anger and pain.
"What. . ?"
"You lied to me! You're killing people! You have no purpose killing them! How could you!?" She yelled.
She finally looked up at him. He stepped back from her gaze. Her eyes were so red from crying. Something so beautiful shouldn't be in such pain. Her blue eyes pierced right through him, like he had been shot right in the chest. He didn't want to see her gaze, he didn't want her looking at him.
"But. . ." He started.
Then silence once again.
Angel only swung again, and turned away from her father.
Such purity shouldn't be in pain. Smith stared at her through his shades. He saw the cuts and the bruises. She was hurt. . . She shouldn't be. She was only a child, only an angel. His Angel. How could he allow her to be hurt? Where did the bruises and cuts come from?
"I've wanted to show you something for awhile now. . ."
Angel said, reaching into her coat pocket. She pulled out that book of poetry and lyrics. She held it tightly. She wasn't going to let it go.
"It's a book of poems and stuff. You said their culture was plane, boring, but I found this beautiful. . . I wanted to show you. . . Then I found this."
She flipped through the pages, and Smith stepped closer. She looked up at her father.
"It's called, "Behind Blue Eyes."
Her eyes looked like they were about to cry again.
"No one knows what it's like
To be the bad man
To be the sad man
Behind blue eyes No one knows what it's like
To be hated
To be fated
To telling only lies" She looked up at him, and he only stepped back. "But my dreams
They aren't as empty
As my conscience seems to be I have hours, only lonely
My love is vengeance
That's never free No one knows what it's like
To feel these feelings
Like I do
And I blame you"
Smith didn't know. . . "No one bites back as hard
On their anger
None of my pain and woe
Can show through But my dreams
They aren't as empty
As my conscience seems to be I have hours, only lonely
My love is vengeance
That's never free When my fist clenches, crack it open
Before I use it and lose my cool
When I smile, tell me some bad news
Before I laugh and act like a fool If I swallow anything evil
Put your finger down my throat
If I shiver, please give me a blanket
Keep me warm, let me wear your coat No one knows what it's like
To be the bad man
To be the sad man
Behind blue eyes" She finally finished.
Then there was only silence.
Angel put the book down, on her lap. She turned, and a tear fell on the book. Smith didn't know what to say. He wasn't human. He didn't feel emotion! But he knew he did. . . But. . .
"Take off you sunglasses." She said, looking up at him. "Take them off."
Angel got up, and Smith backed away.
"Daddy. . ."
"No." He said.
"Take them off."
Angel jumped, the book still in her hand, she reached for her father's sunglasses. She grabbed them, and stood before him.
"Stop shielding your eyes. . ." She said, throwing them to the ground, breaking them. Then she dropped the book.
Smith stared down his sunglasses, now he had to look his daughter in the eye.
He must have looked scared, as he stared down at his daughter. Her gaze stronger than his, as she searched for something good in her father.
"What did you dream of?" She asked, almost interrogating him.
"What. . ?" He asked.
"What did you dream about!? I know you fell asleep! I know you. . . dreamed. . ."
"I. . ." He couldn't tell her. "That doesn't matter!" He said, regaining his strength.
"Then what does!?" She yelled back at him. "What are you going to do now!?"
Angel knew there was love somewhere in her father, she knew it. . . But all this pain was because of him. . . His lies. . .
"Are you comparing me to a virus?" He asked.
This was her fault, she infected him.
"You are a virus! You spread through the Matrix, just like a damn virus!" She yelled.
"I'm not a human!"
"Neither am I. But look at us!"
"I'm not human!"
"Look at you! Even now! You feel anger!"
Smith stepped back, he really wanted his sunglasses now.
"You're so angry! So sad! Confused! Denying! And you love me!" She yelled, pointing at him.
Smith stopped. His eyes widened, and his mouth opened. The very thing he had been denying for so long, was finally screamed right at him. He loved her. . . But he couldn't! He couldn't! He looked down at his Angel. He couldn't look at her! He couldn't!
Angel had to die. . .
"Go ahead! Blame the rest of the world for your pain! You were weaker than Neo, and you blamed him for it! You grew angrier, and you blamed the Matrix! You love me and I know you're going to blame me!" She yelled.
He didn't know. . .
"You love me." Angel said, quieter.
"I. . ."
"If you don't then you should delete me now." She said.
"What?"
"You heard me."
So much pain, so much anger. So young.
"I. . ." Smith started.
"What's wrong? Emotions in the way?" She spat.
Why couldn't her father just accept it? Why was he like this? Why couldn't see reach him? She only wanted her daddy back.
"You're wrong!" Smith yelled.
"Then delete me. Kill me."
She sounded so much calmer.
Smith couldn't let this happen!
He punched towards his daughter, but only struck air. He panted and stopped to see Angel ten feet away from him. She jumped.
"I love you." She said.
What had she done to him?
"Daddy. . . You have to stop this. . ." She continued.
He didn't understand. He never did.
"What?" Smith asked.
"He's going to kill you, I know it. You won't win. Neo will."
Impossible.
"How can you say that? I've seen it, with the eyes of the Oracle. I saw it! I win!" Smith argued.
"You're only seeing what you want to see." She said.
"That's impossible! You can feel it! My power surging through you! How can you think Mr. Anderson could win!?"
"Because he fights for a greater purpose! Stronger than yours! He fights for the people he loves! His purpose is to save them, and he's going to do that! No matter what. . ."
She knew it, Neo would win. She had so much time alone. She thought of so much. She understood more than her father would ever. She had grown up. She had become stronger.
"You have to stop or you'll die." She pleaded.
She loved him, no matter what. He was her Daddy. Her father. She had to protect him. Angel just wanted to reach him. Show him the purity, the happiness. Why wouldn't he let her?
Smith couldn't stop. Not now. Not after all this. He had worked so hard, for his whole existence. He couldn't stop, he couldn't let her get in the way.
"I love you, Daddy." Angel said.
But she loved him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Trinity!" Neo yelled.
"Neo. . . Neo!" Trinity climbed the ladder, and Neo fell to the floor. She came to him.
"My god. . . your eyes. . ."
He had been blinded by Bane. By Smith."
"It's okay, Trin. It's okay. But I think you're going to have to drive."
They held each other.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It started to rain in the Matrix.
"You can't, Daddy." Angel pleaded.
"You're asking the impossible."
"Stop it, Daddy!"
"I can't."
"Stop it, Smith!"
Smith? No. He was Daddy to her, no Smith. Daddy. . . There was something wrong when she said that. It hurt him. . .
"You have to stop! Can't we just go away!? Run away!?" She pleaded.
Smith stopped. She wanted him so much, she needed her daddy. But. . . He couldn't do that. There was no turning back a long time ago.
He shook his head, and a tear fell to the ground mixing with the rain.
Angel came flying over, inches over the ground. She turned and tried kicking her father. He jumped. Then she tried punching, but she missed. A double kick, a flip, a punch from above, over and over, but nothing could hit her father.
The copies started crowding around the park, wanting to see. This was his chance. They could be rid of this "Angel" forever. They turned to each other, and back to the small battle.
"Kill her." They whispered, echoeing each other. "Kill her. Kill her. Kill her!"
"You can't win, Angel! Why try? Why!?" Smith yelled.
"You'd never understand!"
All the anger, the pain. Hours alone, separate from each other. Father and daughter that never were. Hours alone in small rooms. Smith with only his thoughts, and Angel only with a book to comfort her.
The Matrix sky rained.
Smith jumped high into the air, his Angel right after him. Her words still echoeing in his head, he couldn't love her, he couldn't!
Angel punched in the air, then a kick, and another kick. Then she fell to the ground, her father staying in the air, he wouldn't catch her, not this time. There was no use. She was only a fraction of her father. She could never hit him. . . She watched as she fell. She saw him looking down at her. She saw him reach for her, but not move. He wouldn't catch her. Only the ground and rain would.
She just wanted her daddy. . .
"Where are you?" She whispered, just before hitting the ground.
Smith flew straight down for his daughter, she had to stop fighting him. He didn't even know why she was fighting him, if she wanted him to live, but she didn't know either. It was only driven by pain.
Angel got up off the ground. Just another bruise. She wiped her lip, and tried again. She punched for Smith, but he jumped behind her. She turned and kicked him in the chest, he didn't dodge it. He fell to the wet ground, and she flipped, landing on his chest. He got up, and she only punched him in the back. She slipped under his legs, as he turned, and she kicked him again in the back. He fell to the floor. He was shocked, he never taught her that. He looked over at her. Seeing tears in her eyes. His Angel was crying.
That's all Angel had left. She couldn't fight anymore. . . No more fighting. . . She was too weak, as her legs shook.
Angel just wanted her Daddy, but she saw now she may never have him back. . . She closed her eyes. He would kill her now. She waited for the inevitable end.
But Smith only walked to her, and he grabbed her, he held her gently. He was protecting her. Angel opened her eyes. He felt her warmth, and her hair. His Angel was with him again. He held her tighter. He never wanted to let go. He protected her from the eyes of his copies. He needed her, she needed him. Just one last time, one more time. She was right. Love is what he felt. He would have to let her go now. He would have to kill Neo now. But he would let her go, he would let her live. He couldn't kill her, no matter what. He'd rule the entire world. But he'd protect her. He'd hide her. He would try at least. He would most likely fail.
"Angel. . . I can't stop. Not after what they've done to me. . . Angel. . . Not after what I've done to them. I've worked so hard. . . This is what I believe. . . Angel. . . I have to do this. . . Please. . . Angel." He said.
He couldn't let her live, and he couldn't let her die. He couldn't be distracted by her love, but he couldn't turn away from what he had to do. He infected her, he was angry. But he was also sad.
"Daddy. . ."
She had found her daddy. He was still there. He was holding her right now. She cried in his arms.
But she knew it couldn't last.
She quietly screamed, and pushed him away, her tears falling to the ground. Her cloak spinning in the rain, and splashing water all around.
"I love you, Daddy!" She yelled.
Then she ran away again. Smith stared as his Angel left him again. She was gone.
Then he froze. The copies would be looking, they would be watching. He straightened his tie, and stood straight. Just like he should. He started walking back to the building. Then he stopped. Down at his feet, was Angel's book. He bent down, and brushed the water off of it. He held in, and brought it in with him.
"Why didn't you kill her!?" They copies yelled.
"Because that is not my duty. It is yours." He spat. "Now if you will excuse me, I'm going to prepare for Mr. Anderson. I suggest you do the same. Do not worry, the child is not a threat." He lied.
The copies stood, unbelieving. They stared at each other. And then they walked outside, and lined up on the sidewalk.
Smith instead walked up the stairs, away from the copies. He was still wet from the rain, but he didn't notice. He hid the book as he crept up the stairs. And then he entered Angel's room. He sat on the bed. And he opened the book. Reading every wet paged, but not seeing the beauty that was supposedly there.
He loved when he could not love. He let live what should have died. He didn't know what he would do. He couldn't love, he should have killed Angel just now. She had infected him. . . She had made him feel these things. He had to let it go. Stop thinking of her. Kill Neo! He had to! Even if he couldn't. He couldn't do this. . .
He wanted to scream. He could have. No one would hear him. No one was listening. He put his hands over his blue eyes. Angel was right, that damn poem was right. He hated this! He hated everything. He didn't want to love! He didn't want such a distraction, a weakness! He couldn't allow this to happen, but it had already passed. Too late to turn back for anything. There was nothing he could do. He felt anger.
Then Smith got to the last pages of the book. And he was puzzled to see more poems, but not printed poems. Poems in his daughter's handwriting. There were about four pages of her poems. Even the back cover had poems. Smith opened his mouth.
He saw beauty in Angel's poems. He saw hatred, and anger. But mostly saw sadness
He saw her pain. The pain he had caused her. He sat back down. And sighed. He read them. He read them again and again and again.
"Angel. . ."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next Chapter: Poems
The end is coming
The darkness rising
Death is close
Or is light?
Will day rise again?
He hadn't seen her for hours. . .
It was all coming together. Smith's power continued to rise, there were no humans left now. He would soon spread to the rest of the Matrix. Soon. It would all be his, then onward to the Real World. The sky grew darker all around him, almost as dark as his own shades. He could see the future, and he saw him win. Neo would die. All of his dreams, his purpose. It would all be fulfilled, it would all be his. All of it. Nothing could stand in his way.
But Smith sat in a place far away from everything, in silence, separate from everything else. He was hiding. He sat on top of Angel's bed, his legs stretch out, and his blue eyes staring at nothing. He didn't think of his increasing power, or the death of Neo. He only thought of his daughter. He pictured her in that suit, wither his blue eyes, and her smile. Not his smile, but hers. Hers full of purity, and happiness. He wondered if he could change this. If he had never lied to her, if she was still with him, in his arms. He needed her, but he didn't. He wanted her. He wanted to hold her. . . But then he stops, and shakes his head.
"No." He says.
He shouldn't be like this. He shouldn't think about Angel. Not his Angel.
What had she done to him?
Why was he different?
What happened?
He didn't want to be like this. This was distracting, it was weakening, he couldn't be like this. He always knew emotions would do this to him. He always knew. . . But he couldn't stop. He couldn't help but wonder what had happened to her. He couldn't stop worrying. He needed to know. He needed his Angel.
He turned to his side on the bed, facing the wall.
But then again, maybe it was best he didn't know what had happened to her. She was either a copy by now, or somewhere lying in a ditch, blood all over her. . . He shook his head, trying to get that thought out of his head. It didn't matter. She was dead by now. No matter how much he wanted, she was dead. She couldn't run forever from a city full of his copies, all trying to kill her. She was dead. But he didn't want that. He didn't want her to be dead, her warmth to be gone, her eyes never to open again. . . He didn't want that.
This was her fault. . . She infected him. . . They all infected him. . . All he had to do was kill Neo. That's all, then everything would be his. But he had these thoughts of his daughter. She was even really his daughter! But. . . She was his. No matter what she did, she was his. His Angel. His. . .
"She's here!" A copy busted through the door.
Smith's eyes widened, and he sat straight up.
"What?" He asked, not believing.
She was alive. . .
"Look!" The copy pointed out the window.
Smith looked over, there she was. Swinging on the swings. Smith stared at her, open mouth. She was okay. . .
Angel always knew she would come home. She always knew she would have no other choice. She would have always had to have gone back to him. Always have to go home. She had nowhere else to go. . .
Her hair was in her eyes, and she didn't bother moving it. They blocked her eyes from the rest of the world. She didn't want to see what was happening. She wasn't going to hide behind shades anymore, unlike her father. But she still didn't want to see. Her hands had dried blood on them, she had cuts on her arms, her cloak was torn and ripped. She had bruises on her back and legs. Her eyes were red from her tears, and it was getting harder to breath. But she kept going. Strength of her father. Going on when there is no hope. Going on in a world full of pain, trapped. A world full of ignorant creatures. Just like her father.
She couldn't take this anymore. She had nothing else. She had to come home. Go back to Daddy. She needed to see.
Smith stared at his daughter, she was alive! But then he realized something. He would have to kill her. . . No! He would have to. . .
Smith stopped thinking about that, just had to go to her first. He made a fist, and broke the already broken window. He flew right through it, and the copy ran down to the others.
She didn't even look up as he floated down to her. She stayed still, slightly swinging, and her head tilted down. Smith landed pretty far from her, being cautious. He saw now she no longer wore her suit, but a cloak, like Neo. Smith turned. Her cloak blew in the wind as Angel swung, making the chains squeak. Smith stood there for a moment, waiting for her. But Angel didn't move, she didn't look up at him or anything.
Only silence, only the wind.
Just like when they first met.
"Look at me." He whispered. "Please. . ."
She did not.
"Look at me." He whispered again.
She did not.
"I've had to run from them, you know." She finally said, still not moving.
Smith opened his mouth, he wanted to say something, but he didn't. He turned around to see his copies on the balcony and windows, backing away from his view. He turned back to Angel, and all she did was quietly swing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"We've been here before, you and I. Remember? I do, I think of nothing else." A bloody Bane said, a gun his hand.
Aboard the Logos, Neo bowed to Smith. In the Real World the copy of Smith was about to kill Neo, finally.
"Who are you?" Neo asked on the floor.
"Still don't recognize me? I admit it's difficult to even thin, encased in this rotting piece of meat, the stink of it filling every breath suffocating clouds you can escape. . . Disgusting. Look how pathetically fragile it is. Anything this weak is not meant to survive." The true words of a Smith uninfected by emotions of a daughter.
"What do you want?"
"I want what you want. . ."
Neo couldn't believe it.
"That's it Mr. Anderson. Look passed the flesh, look through the soft guillotine of the talcow eyes, and see your enemy. Oh, yes Mr. Anderson you can, there's nowhere I can't go, there's nowhere I won't find you."
"It's impossible."
"Not impossible, inevitable."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He didn't know what to say. For once there was nothing he could say. . .
"Daddy. . ."
Maybe there are no words.
Maybe there's only silence.
"How could you!?" Angel yelled.
Or maybe only anger and pain.
"What. . ?"
"You lied to me! You're killing people! You have no purpose killing them! How could you!?" She yelled.
She finally looked up at him. He stepped back from her gaze. Her eyes were so red from crying. Something so beautiful shouldn't be in such pain. Her blue eyes pierced right through him, like he had been shot right in the chest. He didn't want to see her gaze, he didn't want her looking at him.
"But. . ." He started.
Then silence once again.
Angel only swung again, and turned away from her father.
Such purity shouldn't be in pain. Smith stared at her through his shades. He saw the cuts and the bruises. She was hurt. . . She shouldn't be. She was only a child, only an angel. His Angel. How could he allow her to be hurt? Where did the bruises and cuts come from?
"I've wanted to show you something for awhile now. . ."
Angel said, reaching into her coat pocket. She pulled out that book of poetry and lyrics. She held it tightly. She wasn't going to let it go.
"It's a book of poems and stuff. You said their culture was plane, boring, but I found this beautiful. . . I wanted to show you. . . Then I found this."
She flipped through the pages, and Smith stepped closer. She looked up at her father.
"It's called, "Behind Blue Eyes."
Her eyes looked like they were about to cry again.
"No one knows what it's like
To be the bad man
To be the sad man
Behind blue eyes No one knows what it's like
To be hated
To be fated
To telling only lies" She looked up at him, and he only stepped back. "But my dreams
They aren't as empty
As my conscience seems to be I have hours, only lonely
My love is vengeance
That's never free No one knows what it's like
To feel these feelings
Like I do
And I blame you"
Smith didn't know. . . "No one bites back as hard
On their anger
None of my pain and woe
Can show through But my dreams
They aren't as empty
As my conscience seems to be I have hours, only lonely
My love is vengeance
That's never free When my fist clenches, crack it open
Before I use it and lose my cool
When I smile, tell me some bad news
Before I laugh and act like a fool If I swallow anything evil
Put your finger down my throat
If I shiver, please give me a blanket
Keep me warm, let me wear your coat No one knows what it's like
To be the bad man
To be the sad man
Behind blue eyes" She finally finished.
Then there was only silence.
Angel put the book down, on her lap. She turned, and a tear fell on the book. Smith didn't know what to say. He wasn't human. He didn't feel emotion! But he knew he did. . . But. . .
"Take off you sunglasses." She said, looking up at him. "Take them off."
Angel got up, and Smith backed away.
"Daddy. . ."
"No." He said.
"Take them off."
Angel jumped, the book still in her hand, she reached for her father's sunglasses. She grabbed them, and stood before him.
"Stop shielding your eyes. . ." She said, throwing them to the ground, breaking them. Then she dropped the book.
Smith stared down his sunglasses, now he had to look his daughter in the eye.
He must have looked scared, as he stared down at his daughter. Her gaze stronger than his, as she searched for something good in her father.
"What did you dream of?" She asked, almost interrogating him.
"What. . ?" He asked.
"What did you dream about!? I know you fell asleep! I know you. . . dreamed. . ."
"I. . ." He couldn't tell her. "That doesn't matter!" He said, regaining his strength.
"Then what does!?" She yelled back at him. "What are you going to do now!?"
Angel knew there was love somewhere in her father, she knew it. . . But all this pain was because of him. . . His lies. . .
"Are you comparing me to a virus?" He asked.
This was her fault, she infected him.
"You are a virus! You spread through the Matrix, just like a damn virus!" She yelled.
"I'm not a human!"
"Neither am I. But look at us!"
"I'm not human!"
"Look at you! Even now! You feel anger!"
Smith stepped back, he really wanted his sunglasses now.
"You're so angry! So sad! Confused! Denying! And you love me!" She yelled, pointing at him.
Smith stopped. His eyes widened, and his mouth opened. The very thing he had been denying for so long, was finally screamed right at him. He loved her. . . But he couldn't! He couldn't! He looked down at his Angel. He couldn't look at her! He couldn't!
Angel had to die. . .
"Go ahead! Blame the rest of the world for your pain! You were weaker than Neo, and you blamed him for it! You grew angrier, and you blamed the Matrix! You love me and I know you're going to blame me!" She yelled.
He didn't know. . .
"You love me." Angel said, quieter.
"I. . ."
"If you don't then you should delete me now." She said.
"What?"
"You heard me."
So much pain, so much anger. So young.
"I. . ." Smith started.
"What's wrong? Emotions in the way?" She spat.
Why couldn't her father just accept it? Why was he like this? Why couldn't see reach him? She only wanted her daddy back.
"You're wrong!" Smith yelled.
"Then delete me. Kill me."
She sounded so much calmer.
Smith couldn't let this happen!
He punched towards his daughter, but only struck air. He panted and stopped to see Angel ten feet away from him. She jumped.
"I love you." She said.
What had she done to him?
"Daddy. . . You have to stop this. . ." She continued.
He didn't understand. He never did.
"What?" Smith asked.
"He's going to kill you, I know it. You won't win. Neo will."
Impossible.
"How can you say that? I've seen it, with the eyes of the Oracle. I saw it! I win!" Smith argued.
"You're only seeing what you want to see." She said.
"That's impossible! You can feel it! My power surging through you! How can you think Mr. Anderson could win!?"
"Because he fights for a greater purpose! Stronger than yours! He fights for the people he loves! His purpose is to save them, and he's going to do that! No matter what. . ."
She knew it, Neo would win. She had so much time alone. She thought of so much. She understood more than her father would ever. She had grown up. She had become stronger.
"You have to stop or you'll die." She pleaded.
She loved him, no matter what. He was her Daddy. Her father. She had to protect him. Angel just wanted to reach him. Show him the purity, the happiness. Why wouldn't he let her?
Smith couldn't stop. Not now. Not after all this. He had worked so hard, for his whole existence. He couldn't stop, he couldn't let her get in the way.
"I love you, Daddy." Angel said.
But she loved him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Trinity!" Neo yelled.
"Neo. . . Neo!" Trinity climbed the ladder, and Neo fell to the floor. She came to him.
"My god. . . your eyes. . ."
He had been blinded by Bane. By Smith."
"It's okay, Trin. It's okay. But I think you're going to have to drive."
They held each other.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It started to rain in the Matrix.
"You can't, Daddy." Angel pleaded.
"You're asking the impossible."
"Stop it, Daddy!"
"I can't."
"Stop it, Smith!"
Smith? No. He was Daddy to her, no Smith. Daddy. . . There was something wrong when she said that. It hurt him. . .
"You have to stop! Can't we just go away!? Run away!?" She pleaded.
Smith stopped. She wanted him so much, she needed her daddy. But. . . He couldn't do that. There was no turning back a long time ago.
He shook his head, and a tear fell to the ground mixing with the rain.
Angel came flying over, inches over the ground. She turned and tried kicking her father. He jumped. Then she tried punching, but she missed. A double kick, a flip, a punch from above, over and over, but nothing could hit her father.
The copies started crowding around the park, wanting to see. This was his chance. They could be rid of this "Angel" forever. They turned to each other, and back to the small battle.
"Kill her." They whispered, echoeing each other. "Kill her. Kill her. Kill her!"
"You can't win, Angel! Why try? Why!?" Smith yelled.
"You'd never understand!"
All the anger, the pain. Hours alone, separate from each other. Father and daughter that never were. Hours alone in small rooms. Smith with only his thoughts, and Angel only with a book to comfort her.
The Matrix sky rained.
Smith jumped high into the air, his Angel right after him. Her words still echoeing in his head, he couldn't love her, he couldn't!
Angel punched in the air, then a kick, and another kick. Then she fell to the ground, her father staying in the air, he wouldn't catch her, not this time. There was no use. She was only a fraction of her father. She could never hit him. . . She watched as she fell. She saw him looking down at her. She saw him reach for her, but not move. He wouldn't catch her. Only the ground and rain would.
She just wanted her daddy. . .
"Where are you?" She whispered, just before hitting the ground.
Smith flew straight down for his daughter, she had to stop fighting him. He didn't even know why she was fighting him, if she wanted him to live, but she didn't know either. It was only driven by pain.
Angel got up off the ground. Just another bruise. She wiped her lip, and tried again. She punched for Smith, but he jumped behind her. She turned and kicked him in the chest, he didn't dodge it. He fell to the wet ground, and she flipped, landing on his chest. He got up, and she only punched him in the back. She slipped under his legs, as he turned, and she kicked him again in the back. He fell to the floor. He was shocked, he never taught her that. He looked over at her. Seeing tears in her eyes. His Angel was crying.
That's all Angel had left. She couldn't fight anymore. . . No more fighting. . . She was too weak, as her legs shook.
Angel just wanted her Daddy, but she saw now she may never have him back. . . She closed her eyes. He would kill her now. She waited for the inevitable end.
But Smith only walked to her, and he grabbed her, he held her gently. He was protecting her. Angel opened her eyes. He felt her warmth, and her hair. His Angel was with him again. He held her tighter. He never wanted to let go. He protected her from the eyes of his copies. He needed her, she needed him. Just one last time, one more time. She was right. Love is what he felt. He would have to let her go now. He would have to kill Neo now. But he would let her go, he would let her live. He couldn't kill her, no matter what. He'd rule the entire world. But he'd protect her. He'd hide her. He would try at least. He would most likely fail.
"Angel. . . I can't stop. Not after what they've done to me. . . Angel. . . Not after what I've done to them. I've worked so hard. . . This is what I believe. . . Angel. . . I have to do this. . . Please. . . Angel." He said.
He couldn't let her live, and he couldn't let her die. He couldn't be distracted by her love, but he couldn't turn away from what he had to do. He infected her, he was angry. But he was also sad.
"Daddy. . ."
She had found her daddy. He was still there. He was holding her right now. She cried in his arms.
But she knew it couldn't last.
She quietly screamed, and pushed him away, her tears falling to the ground. Her cloak spinning in the rain, and splashing water all around.
"I love you, Daddy!" She yelled.
Then she ran away again. Smith stared as his Angel left him again. She was gone.
Then he froze. The copies would be looking, they would be watching. He straightened his tie, and stood straight. Just like he should. He started walking back to the building. Then he stopped. Down at his feet, was Angel's book. He bent down, and brushed the water off of it. He held in, and brought it in with him.
"Why didn't you kill her!?" They copies yelled.
"Because that is not my duty. It is yours." He spat. "Now if you will excuse me, I'm going to prepare for Mr. Anderson. I suggest you do the same. Do not worry, the child is not a threat." He lied.
The copies stood, unbelieving. They stared at each other. And then they walked outside, and lined up on the sidewalk.
Smith instead walked up the stairs, away from the copies. He was still wet from the rain, but he didn't notice. He hid the book as he crept up the stairs. And then he entered Angel's room. He sat on the bed. And he opened the book. Reading every wet paged, but not seeing the beauty that was supposedly there.
He loved when he could not love. He let live what should have died. He didn't know what he would do. He couldn't love, he should have killed Angel just now. She had infected him. . . She had made him feel these things. He had to let it go. Stop thinking of her. Kill Neo! He had to! Even if he couldn't. He couldn't do this. . .
He wanted to scream. He could have. No one would hear him. No one was listening. He put his hands over his blue eyes. Angel was right, that damn poem was right. He hated this! He hated everything. He didn't want to love! He didn't want such a distraction, a weakness! He couldn't allow this to happen, but it had already passed. Too late to turn back for anything. There was nothing he could do. He felt anger.
Then Smith got to the last pages of the book. And he was puzzled to see more poems, but not printed poems. Poems in his daughter's handwriting. There were about four pages of her poems. Even the back cover had poems. Smith opened his mouth.
He saw beauty in Angel's poems. He saw hatred, and anger. But mostly saw sadness
He saw her pain. The pain he had caused her. He sat back down. And sighed. He read them. He read them again and again and again.
"Angel. . ."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next Chapter: Poems
The end is coming
The darkness rising
Death is close
Or is light?
Will day rise again?