Days later I began combat training, and immediately fell in love with the programs.  I learned as much fighting as I could absorb, and loved practicing.  I thought perhaps I'd been getting rather good, but one spar with Apoch showed me I still had a lot to learn.  I'd been elated to find I could leap farther than I'd ever imagined I could.  I still couldn't quite master the jump program, but my thirst for these news skills and knowledge was virtually insatiable.  When I wasn't training within the construct, Tank was showing me how to create my own programs outside of it.  Always however, in the back of my mind, was Sherin. It had been 6 weeks, and still, there was no sign of a safe place to land and broadcast.  Apparently the sentinels had been quite busy of late.

One day when sitting with Trinity, but otherwise alone in the mess hall finishing our dinners, I put down my spoon and looked at her.

"Trinity." I said softly. "What are agents?"

I still hadn't learned anything about them since the brief description of them given to me on the night of my escape from the matrix.  But now, not learning any more about them, I felt solidified the fact I wasn't going back in.  I wanted to know about them, so that I was ready. And so that they knew I was ready to go and see her again.

Trinity paused looking at me.

"They're programs within the matrix.  Just like other things.  Trees, buildings, cars, animals.  Those are all programs.  Only they are there just as benign things to keep us occupied.  Agent programming wouldn't exist if it wasn't for the rebels.  They're in human form, always dressed like what you know as a secret service agent.  Suits and dark glasses.  They are constantly tied into the matrix and all its little nuances.  When we hack in, if we somehow don't have a secure line, then they will immediately know.  They are unbeatable.  They are programmed to be able to do all the things that we can do in the matrix, and then much more.   They can leap farther, kick harder, load clips faster, and move more swiftly than anyone ever could who was freed from the matrix.  Whenever we see an agent, there are two options.  Run, or die.  Their one goal is to destroy the resistance.  They will not hesitate to kill you, or anyone around you, even if that person is simply a civilian.  We're constantly in danger of them when we're freeing new minds."

"But they're still programs like anything else, right?" I say, thinking quickly, "They can't move much faster than you or me, as long as they're confined to a human form. It's just not possible.  I mean, besides, how would they know how to find you guys, exactly pinpointed?"

"Because not only are they tied into people coming into the matrix, they're constantly tied into everyone who is already plugged in.  If someone sees one of us, whether they know it or not, an agent sees too.  If they're looking out for us in a certain area, and someone takes a second notice of us for any reason, then they will know.  And they will most likely then inhabit."

"Inhabit?" I say, slowly.

"Yes." Trinity says coldly.  "The one thing you have to know about the matrix, Mouse, is that if you're not one of us, you always have the potential to become an agent.  They can take the body of any person plugged in, and inhabit them with a program.  That way, if by some fluke, the agent is injured, it automatically does the person plugged in damage, not the agent.  He can flee to another host as soon as this damage occurs.  You have to be prepared to kill any civilian you come across who you see becoming an agent.  It happens quickly, but there are tell-tale signs."

"Like what?" I ask.

"It's too hard to explain without showing you…but you'll learn.  Don't worry.  You'll start agent training soon enough."

After a few more moments in silence, where I pondered and she stared at the dregs of her glop, oozing around the bottom of her tray, I stood, and with a clatter slapped down my plate, and then hurried out of the mess without a backward glance. 

I lay down in bed that night, and though mentally and physically tired, I couldn't stop thinking about Sherin.  Trinity's new words about agents struck a chord with me.  She'd said, anyone who wasn't one of us…it made it sound like Sherin was an enemy…but surely she couldn't mean that.  No.

I told myself this firmly, before drifting into dreams.

……………………………………………………………………..

A/N: Alright, lately I've been a very good little girl about keeping ahead of myself in my writing so I don't run out of chapters for all you readers out there.  However, due to lag in the holiday season I'm currently running out of chapters. I'm working diligently, but if there's bigger time gaps from posted chapter to chapter, don't fret. I'm still working!! Please review!! THANKS!!!