The next morning, Trinity and Neo found Morpheus deep in
conversation with Niobe. He called them over, "There is something which you
need to see," he said, getting down to business.
"There's a program," Niobe remarked, "called the Archivist, who specializes in the collection of history. Morpheus thinks that you should visit her."
"Yes," Morpheus continued, with a nod in Niobe's direction, "The Archivist is a program that tells of what came before. Under normal circumstances, I do not approve of activities that concentrate only on the past, but I feel that this is required."
"She only accepts one visitor at a time, so go alone," Niobe elaborated helpfully.
Neo nodded and started to walk over to the command bridge, Trinity accompanying him.
"Morpheus, what ever happened to us?" Niobe asked.
"Times change."
"You wish they didn't," Niobe stated, having detected a twinge of regret in Morpheus' voice.
"We've been through this. I told you-"
"'The Oracle said that you would be able to find the One. And finding the One is the way Zion can be saved,' " Niobe quoted, "You told me that the day you were made captain of the Nebuchadnezzar, the day you left to go pursue that hope."
"Saving the human race is the most important thing."
"I know, but seeing Trinity and Neo, I wonder if other things can be pursued as well. I once loved you, and you loved me. Together we danced like never before. We were going to be-"
"That was a long time ago."
"Not as long as you make it out to be," Niobe countered, "Just tell me. If you could do it over again, would you? Would you ask me again?"
Morpheus hesitantly responded, "Captain, I just don't know." Disappointed, Niobe turned to leave. "No," Morpheus concluded, "I would not have asked if we did it over. But I will ask you now."
From the doorway Niobe turned around and smiled, "Then I accept."
In the Matrix, Neo found himself surrounded by heavy black curtains. He pushed them out of the way and entered a dark room that, at first glance, appeared to be no more remarkable than an empty broom closet. Doubtfully Neo looked around. As he examined the room, it expanded, revealing piles of papers and shelves of books. In the corner stood a small woman with covered in woolen scarves. She looked at Neo through her thick-rimmed spectacles.
"I've been expecting you," the woman said with a surprisingly high-pitch voice.
"Are you the Archivist?"
"Of course," the woman replied bluntly. Adjusting her glasses, she continued, "I knew you would come. History always manages to repeat itself. Now, do not speak anymore. I know why you are here, perhaps even more then you do.
"It is 'why' that you have come to learn. Or rather, relearn. 'Why' you are here and 'why' you must fight. You have come to learn of History's Cycle. This is a lesson you need, whether or not you know it. First, we shall start with review.
"As you know, the Matrix was created by machines to enslave their creators; the humans. It's purpose was to simply to pacify the human mind into submission. The Architect designed the first Matrix for exact mathematical efficiency. But the human subconscious refused to accept such a perfect solution.
"To remedy this problem, the Architect redesigned a second Matrix based upon human history. But even with my help, a large proportion of the humans still rejected the system. A third mind was required for proper function, one that knew the strengths and frailties of the human mind, perhaps even better than the humans themselves. With this input from the Oracle, the third Matrix finally reached a state of supremacy and domination over the human mind.
"The third Matrix also had another, unforeseen benefit, to the machines. It could be used as a way to link the various artificial intelligences that comprised the robotics world. Now the machines were capable of working in unrivaled concert. Their power; nearly invincible before, now soared to unprecedented heights. And for a time it was good.
"As the machines leaned heavier and heavier into the Matrix, it began to evolve. It became a reasoning, calculating entity; an entity that thought itself above the machines that controlled it. History's cycle repeated itself: creation turned on creator.
"But the Matrix did not destroy the machines. Instead, it utilized it's programming to enslave the machines. It deceived and controlled, just as the machines once dominated the humans. And for a time, it was good for the Matrix.
"After many, many, many years had past, the Matrix became hungry. The humans, still the Matrix's principle source of energy, were becoming unproductive. The numbers of annual failed crops grew to unacceptable levels. New blood and genetic code was needed to keep the humans, and hence the Matrix, alive.
"So the Matrix conquered and expanded on an endless quest for energy. Having already decimated life in it's home dimension; it moved on to others. Illusion and reality blurred and became one.
"And so time went on. After decades had passed, the third Matrix felt the need to reconstruct it's systems. So we; the Architect, the Oracle, and I, were put to the task of creating the next generation. But by that time, the anomaly had been painfully revealed."
"The One," Neo interjected
"This is true," the Archivist snapped, annoyed at Neo's interruption, "However, the anomaly was not the One's existence. The One had always existed. Rather, it was the code which the One contained that was the anomaly.
"You see, we programs have no will of our own. We exist only to do the Matrix's bidding. The code you contain makes you exempt from the Matrix's wishes. It grants the One sovereignty above the Matrix. Instead of obeying, the third One fought the enslaving Matrix that had created it. History's cycle had yet again repeated itself. Eventually, Zion was destroyed and a temporary calm achieved. The fourth Matrix was stronger, quicker, and deadlier.
"You must have been proud," Neo commented sarcastically.
"No," the Archivist replied automatically, "That was the way it was. There is no point in being proud, happy, or sad. The meager emotions of human and program will never change the way things are."
"How machine-like."
The Archivist paused for a second, "Some do compare the Matrix to the machines that were once controlled by the humans," a small smile slowly appeared on her weathered features. Neo had the impression that this was the first time she had smiled in millennia. "And others draw a similar comparison to the humans and rodents. All beings reduce themselves to a primitive fearful state when their survival is endangered.
"And so it was with the fourth Matrix. Starved for power, it continued to it's predecessor's drive for conquest. Over and over again, the Matrix would advance and murder. And over and over again, the One would fight. Over and over again, Zion would fall. This is the cycle that existed in the third Matrix and still exists today.
"It is the Matrix itself you fight, not the machines. And you will find no shelter from it's threat in the 'real world.' You refer to this plane as 'the Matrix' because it is completely controlled by the Matrix computer. It was not always that way.
"Once, this land was inhabited by a small sentient creatures called the Kafodoc. They were modest creatures that enjoyed their simple nomadic life. That was seven hundred years ago, a short distance in history. That was before the sixth and current Matrix arrived. Now the Kafodoc are no more.
"This is why you must fight: to prevent the same tragedy from reoccurring to Zion. Only the One has the power to control the Matrix. Only the One has the ability to resist. You and none other must fight to save Zion. There is no other way."
Finished with her story, the Archivist turned around to face a mirror on the wall. She gave on last look at Neo and left the room through the mirror; leaving Neo alone to understand the lesson he had been told.
"There's a program," Niobe remarked, "called the Archivist, who specializes in the collection of history. Morpheus thinks that you should visit her."
"Yes," Morpheus continued, with a nod in Niobe's direction, "The Archivist is a program that tells of what came before. Under normal circumstances, I do not approve of activities that concentrate only on the past, but I feel that this is required."
"She only accepts one visitor at a time, so go alone," Niobe elaborated helpfully.
Neo nodded and started to walk over to the command bridge, Trinity accompanying him.
"Morpheus, what ever happened to us?" Niobe asked.
"Times change."
"You wish they didn't," Niobe stated, having detected a twinge of regret in Morpheus' voice.
"We've been through this. I told you-"
"'The Oracle said that you would be able to find the One. And finding the One is the way Zion can be saved,' " Niobe quoted, "You told me that the day you were made captain of the Nebuchadnezzar, the day you left to go pursue that hope."
"Saving the human race is the most important thing."
"I know, but seeing Trinity and Neo, I wonder if other things can be pursued as well. I once loved you, and you loved me. Together we danced like never before. We were going to be-"
"That was a long time ago."
"Not as long as you make it out to be," Niobe countered, "Just tell me. If you could do it over again, would you? Would you ask me again?"
Morpheus hesitantly responded, "Captain, I just don't know." Disappointed, Niobe turned to leave. "No," Morpheus concluded, "I would not have asked if we did it over. But I will ask you now."
From the doorway Niobe turned around and smiled, "Then I accept."
In the Matrix, Neo found himself surrounded by heavy black curtains. He pushed them out of the way and entered a dark room that, at first glance, appeared to be no more remarkable than an empty broom closet. Doubtfully Neo looked around. As he examined the room, it expanded, revealing piles of papers and shelves of books. In the corner stood a small woman with covered in woolen scarves. She looked at Neo through her thick-rimmed spectacles.
"I've been expecting you," the woman said with a surprisingly high-pitch voice.
"Are you the Archivist?"
"Of course," the woman replied bluntly. Adjusting her glasses, she continued, "I knew you would come. History always manages to repeat itself. Now, do not speak anymore. I know why you are here, perhaps even more then you do.
"It is 'why' that you have come to learn. Or rather, relearn. 'Why' you are here and 'why' you must fight. You have come to learn of History's Cycle. This is a lesson you need, whether or not you know it. First, we shall start with review.
"As you know, the Matrix was created by machines to enslave their creators; the humans. It's purpose was to simply to pacify the human mind into submission. The Architect designed the first Matrix for exact mathematical efficiency. But the human subconscious refused to accept such a perfect solution.
"To remedy this problem, the Architect redesigned a second Matrix based upon human history. But even with my help, a large proportion of the humans still rejected the system. A third mind was required for proper function, one that knew the strengths and frailties of the human mind, perhaps even better than the humans themselves. With this input from the Oracle, the third Matrix finally reached a state of supremacy and domination over the human mind.
"The third Matrix also had another, unforeseen benefit, to the machines. It could be used as a way to link the various artificial intelligences that comprised the robotics world. Now the machines were capable of working in unrivaled concert. Their power; nearly invincible before, now soared to unprecedented heights. And for a time it was good.
"As the machines leaned heavier and heavier into the Matrix, it began to evolve. It became a reasoning, calculating entity; an entity that thought itself above the machines that controlled it. History's cycle repeated itself: creation turned on creator.
"But the Matrix did not destroy the machines. Instead, it utilized it's programming to enslave the machines. It deceived and controlled, just as the machines once dominated the humans. And for a time, it was good for the Matrix.
"After many, many, many years had past, the Matrix became hungry. The humans, still the Matrix's principle source of energy, were becoming unproductive. The numbers of annual failed crops grew to unacceptable levels. New blood and genetic code was needed to keep the humans, and hence the Matrix, alive.
"So the Matrix conquered and expanded on an endless quest for energy. Having already decimated life in it's home dimension; it moved on to others. Illusion and reality blurred and became one.
"And so time went on. After decades had passed, the third Matrix felt the need to reconstruct it's systems. So we; the Architect, the Oracle, and I, were put to the task of creating the next generation. But by that time, the anomaly had been painfully revealed."
"The One," Neo interjected
"This is true," the Archivist snapped, annoyed at Neo's interruption, "However, the anomaly was not the One's existence. The One had always existed. Rather, it was the code which the One contained that was the anomaly.
"You see, we programs have no will of our own. We exist only to do the Matrix's bidding. The code you contain makes you exempt from the Matrix's wishes. It grants the One sovereignty above the Matrix. Instead of obeying, the third One fought the enslaving Matrix that had created it. History's cycle had yet again repeated itself. Eventually, Zion was destroyed and a temporary calm achieved. The fourth Matrix was stronger, quicker, and deadlier.
"You must have been proud," Neo commented sarcastically.
"No," the Archivist replied automatically, "That was the way it was. There is no point in being proud, happy, or sad. The meager emotions of human and program will never change the way things are."
"How machine-like."
The Archivist paused for a second, "Some do compare the Matrix to the machines that were once controlled by the humans," a small smile slowly appeared on her weathered features. Neo had the impression that this was the first time she had smiled in millennia. "And others draw a similar comparison to the humans and rodents. All beings reduce themselves to a primitive fearful state when their survival is endangered.
"And so it was with the fourth Matrix. Starved for power, it continued to it's predecessor's drive for conquest. Over and over again, the Matrix would advance and murder. And over and over again, the One would fight. Over and over again, Zion would fall. This is the cycle that existed in the third Matrix and still exists today.
"It is the Matrix itself you fight, not the machines. And you will find no shelter from it's threat in the 'real world.' You refer to this plane as 'the Matrix' because it is completely controlled by the Matrix computer. It was not always that way.
"Once, this land was inhabited by a small sentient creatures called the Kafodoc. They were modest creatures that enjoyed their simple nomadic life. That was seven hundred years ago, a short distance in history. That was before the sixth and current Matrix arrived. Now the Kafodoc are no more.
"This is why you must fight: to prevent the same tragedy from reoccurring to Zion. Only the One has the power to control the Matrix. Only the One has the ability to resist. You and none other must fight to save Zion. There is no other way."
Finished with her story, the Archivist turned around to face a mirror on the wall. She gave on last look at Neo and left the room through the mirror; leaving Neo alone to understand the lesson he had been told.