The next few days are spent on basic agent training, and then go back to some basic combat and weapons.
I learn to drive like a pro in about 5 minutes. I think how drivers-ed would have taken up half a school year.
Another few days pass without event.
I wake up like I usually do, lying face up on my cot, my eyes opening up to cool air. Blinking several times and focusing on a line of bolts holding together the ceiling above me. I swallow and take a few deep breaths, shifting slightly under the worn blanket. I stretch my arms over my head and take in a large yawn, and then sigh, my eyes watering slightly. I lick my lips and crack my ankles, counting the 28 bolts that arch above me until the beam meets the wall for what seems like the hundredth time.
I chew on a blister on my thumb for a moment and then with a screech and a clank my door opens and Switch stands in the opening, looking apprehensive.
"Come with me." She says.
I vault out of bed and follow, not bothering to ask where we're going. Switch is a woman of few words, and she seems like she's in too much of a hurry to listen to me anyway. We make our way down the corridor to the control room where Tank is seated at his regular spot, Dozer standing behind him, wiping his hands with an oily rag. Morpheus is standing by the chairs, Trinity and Apoch beside him.
"We found an opening." Morpheus says. His expression is hard to read. I'd expect him to be relieved, yet he looks apprehensive, as does Switch, and the others.
"Well…That's good." I say. "Right?" I add, incredulously, their expressions remaining stony.
"It is good, Mouse." Trinity says. "But you have to understand that any venture into the matrix is dangerous. And last time we were with you agents found us. You didn't see them face to face, but Switch, Apoch, and I had to hold them off. Any of us could have easily been killed. This is a rescue mission, and a dangerous one."
I nod. I feel tense just standing among them as they make the preparations for our entry into the matrix. I twist my hands and bounce slightly on the balls of my feet.
This will be my first venture into the matrix since I was unplugged, I think.
Hopefully my last.
I try to relax as I settle back into a chair, my hands gripping the armrests nervously. Then with a scraping noise my eyes squeeze shut, and when they fly open I'm standing again, my hand holding a phone to my ear.
"Hang it up." Apoch's voice says from behind me.
I put the phone down on the receiver and step back, surveying my surroundings. I realize I'm in a dingy room of the little motel on the edge of the city. I squint out the grimy window to the street outside, and then step back, surveying my threads. I'm dressed in a comfortable black suit. I move around in it a little bit, walking across the room. It'll be fine for running or whatever. Hopefully I won't need to, though. I'm absent mindedly examining a fixture on the bedpost when I hear a little buzzing sort of sound. When I turn around, where air had been stands Switch, holding the receiver.
She puts it down and then steps back to murmur furtively with Apoch. I watch the phone this time, and after a moment there's another slight noise and then the phone lifts up and Trinity materializes holding it to her ear. She steps back, looking nonplussed (unlike me) and then Morpheus appears a moment later. All of us appear cleaner, and well dressed than we ever are aboard the Nebudchanezzar.
Morpheus is carrying a large black case. He sets it on the table and opens the latches. Inside is a mini-armory. I'm handed two sig sauers and several clips. I handle them as though it's second nature, sliding the guns into my holsters, hidden under the jacket of my suit. All my training is finally coming to use. Everyone else loads up with weapons and then Morpheus slides the case under the musty bed and then stands, looking impressive and strong. I suddenly feel very small, and all the fear I'd had inside me starts boiling up to the surface. I feel ridiculous in my little suit with big guns under each arm. What am I doing?
Then I look up, from staring at my feet. And everyone's eyes are on me. Morpheus is looking at me…Could that look be admiration?
"I have to tell you Mouse." He says in a warm voice. "You're the youngest crewmember to be taken on a mission."
I'm not sure how to feel about this, and I shift my weight from one foot to another, staring up at Morpheus.
"And if you're not sure what that means, I'll tell you. It doesn't mean you have any reason to worry. What it means is that all of us have complete faith in your abilities, and your strength. You have absorbed more information and trained harder than anyone with a newly freed mind that I've seen in a long time. And I believe that with your help, this can be a successful mission."
I feel some of my fear dissipate. Switch throws me a shadow of a smile, and Apoch nods at me. Trinity's eyes are full of admiration, and Morpheus's mouth twitches slightly in the corner.
"Come on." He says suddenly, and we all, without a word, follow out of the room.
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a/n: AHH! I'm a bum!!! I'm sorry if there's a long wait between chapters, but don't worry - I'm continuing this story! Please review!! Thanks!!
