Real World, Real Love
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Real World, Real Love
God, she's killing him. The worry came to her mind easily, but not so to her lips. It was late at night, and Trinity sat alone, silently watching the code scroll down the screens. It was Neo's first encounter with the new agent, and she wished she could be there with him. Their captains, despite their sympathies, forced them apart, assuring them that it would only be for a short time. Besides, they would meet again in Zion, during their appeal.
It would be, to a normal person, a relatively short time: 3 days. But after such a long separation and a short reunion, three days seemed unbearable.
He was back on the Kedavra, she on the Neb. She couldn't be there for this, couldn't hold his hand while he fought her. It was something she'd lived with for weeks now, but even so, the need was there.
The agent was called Lorelei. The name chilled her. Temptress. She had read the coded description. Terrifyingly, just about everyone had noticed one key detail in this agent that made her different from any agent ever. It wasn't her speed, her knowledge, her strength. It was her appearance.
She bore a striking resemblance to Trinity.
It was more than a resemblance though. It wasn't the similarity that existed between sisters. She looked just like her. The only difference was their aura. With Trinity, there was a layer of steel under her beautiful appearance, and just under that was a warm loving woman. Not nearly as much as the average woman, but it was there.
Lorelei appeared every bit as stunning as Trinity herself, but under that cold steel interior there was..nothing. Nothing. She was but a machine, a program. A program that could kill.
That thought was accentuated as Lorelei struck blow after blow, far too few missed their mark. She was an excellent fighter. Damn it. Neo was getting hurt. Badly hurt.
They had chosen to go in during the night, they'd hoped it would be unexpected. They were wrong. She was ready every minute of the day, every day of the week. Surprise would buy them nothing.
She flinched as he spat up blood. He was getting killed, and until he could stop her for just a minute, he wouldn't escape; without escape, death was a likely ending. Yeah, he was the One, but being the One did not come along with immortality. He could be killed, just like the rest of them. Sure, the prophesy foretold against it, but there was no way she was going to let some long dead soothsayer's words hold his life in the balance.
Like hell she was going to watch this. Damn it, she wasn't about to sit around and do nothing. He'd come to save her before, now it was her turn. She set the program, checked the settings once over, and slid into the chair. She twisted awkwardly, plugging herself in. Closing her eyes to the matrix, she called out silently, I'm coming.
A distant voice echoed in his head, I'm coming, and this distraction made way for another painful blow. He fought desperately, knowing that if he lost this one, it could very well mean his life.
He knew he was distracted, although his will pointed the other way. She looked so much like Trinity. So much like the woman he loved. Although she was totally different, and the enemy for that matter, attacking her looked like attacking Trinity. He knew no one else would have this problem, their minds were not inhibited by appearances.
She fought fiercely, her blows striking hard and quick. He should have been faster, more powerful. He shouldn't be weakened by her appearance. But he was.
He fought back; memory would give him strength. Her voice echoed in his ears, and in a heartbeat, she was there. Not sure whether to be astounded or crazily happy, he moved, allowing her to take part in the battle.
It was a strange sight, two almost identical women fighting one another. She had no inhibitions; she was seemingly untouched by the other woman's presence. Her spirit gave him a renewed feeling, made powerful by his fulfillment in knowledge. He knew the difference, and the two presences simply accentuated it.
And though she was outnumbered, Lorelei was as fierce as ever, matching both for speed and accuracy. Although their combined forces should have overpowered her, she stood her ground, something even Trinity would have to admire. She was beautiful, cunning, and deadly.
She was also killing them.
Considering their status, renowned fighter and ice queen, and the One, combined, they should have been able to beat her easily. Neither could understand why victory seemed impossible. Perhaps they didn't. The crew watching on the Nebuchanezzar did. As predicted, two warriors, fighting together who were bonded by love were weakened. They could see, that with every defended blow, and every strike that hit its mark, love was what blinded them both.
"It's killing them," Morpheus murmured. His crew nodded in agreement. They all agreed with their leader. All save one.
"No."
Morpheus turned to stare at the stricken form of Lucas.
He continued, "It is not love. Not love. Why do you not understand? They," he gestured to the screens where the coded battle took place, "were right. Love makes them strong."
Morpheus stepped up to him, looking straight into his eyes, "Then explain why they are having so much trouble fighting now."
Lucas smiled, getting into the rhythm. "It is not love. It is the need to protect." He gestured to his crewmates, "You are all willing to sacrifice each other or yourselves for the good of the rebellion. They? They will give their lives for each other. It is the need to protect each other that impedes their abilities. Why do you think Trinity became sick? Why did they both stop eating? They need each other. More than any of us could need anything we have here. But it was not love that hurts them now. Never love."
For a moment, the people around him stared. Just stared.
Morpheus wasted no time in staring. "So how do you suggest we save them?"
He grinned a strange grin, half sad and half joyous, "We go in."
********
She had knives. Lots of them. And in a minute, both Neo and Trinity were bleeding profusely. Major ouchie. And still the trio fought. And fought. And fought. Neo watched helplessly as Trinity began to stagger, unaware that he too was stumbling.
Just as the battle seemed to have been finished, a deep familiar voice spoke, "That is quite enough." Distracted, Lorelei turned to see who had spoken. In a flash, both Aurelia and Clip were on her. Angered by their intrusion, she threw both off, displaying the incredible strength both Trinity and Neo had endured.
She twisted in a cat-like movement, to face her victims. She smiled devilishly, a smile not unlike the one Trinity often gave him before she kissed him. Before they could react, the gleam of her blade was visible. She lunged for the final strike, and an electrical crackle was heard. She was replaced by some woman in a navy suit, the bullet hole apparent in the back.
Morpheus stood over her, grim expression and dark lenses hiding his feelings towards finding them there. "Trinity."
She tightened her grip on Neo's hand before letting go. She stood to take her place with her crew, leaving Neo to sit on the hard ground. In that instant, the division Zion had created was more apparent then ever.
Before leaving, a prolonged leave at that, she removed her glasses, something she rarely did here. Her bright blues eyes brimmed with tears that she contained and controlled. She would not cry. Cry for what? For love? Yes. It was all she ever cried for. As the turning of her people subconsciously pulled her away. She dared not to smile; the tears might fall, and there was nothing to smile about.
Back on the Neb, smiles were even less abundant. She would be confined to her quarters, despite her rank. She had disobeyed orders, risked her own life, perhaps that of her crewmates. All just to save him.
It was worth it.
A/N: HEY!!!! Well, I hate to say it, but I'm going away for awhile, on the 25th to be exact, and will not return until the 17th or so. Unfortunately, this means that there will be no new posts until after then, although I WILL try to write while I'm away. R/R!
Love you all,
TigerLily
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Real World, Real Love
God, she's killing him. The worry came to her mind easily, but not so to her lips. It was late at night, and Trinity sat alone, silently watching the code scroll down the screens. It was Neo's first encounter with the new agent, and she wished she could be there with him. Their captains, despite their sympathies, forced them apart, assuring them that it would only be for a short time. Besides, they would meet again in Zion, during their appeal.
It would be, to a normal person, a relatively short time: 3 days. But after such a long separation and a short reunion, three days seemed unbearable.
He was back on the Kedavra, she on the Neb. She couldn't be there for this, couldn't hold his hand while he fought her. It was something she'd lived with for weeks now, but even so, the need was there.
The agent was called Lorelei. The name chilled her. Temptress. She had read the coded description. Terrifyingly, just about everyone had noticed one key detail in this agent that made her different from any agent ever. It wasn't her speed, her knowledge, her strength. It was her appearance.
She bore a striking resemblance to Trinity.
It was more than a resemblance though. It wasn't the similarity that existed between sisters. She looked just like her. The only difference was their aura. With Trinity, there was a layer of steel under her beautiful appearance, and just under that was a warm loving woman. Not nearly as much as the average woman, but it was there.
Lorelei appeared every bit as stunning as Trinity herself, but under that cold steel interior there was..nothing. Nothing. She was but a machine, a program. A program that could kill.
That thought was accentuated as Lorelei struck blow after blow, far too few missed their mark. She was an excellent fighter. Damn it. Neo was getting hurt. Badly hurt.
They had chosen to go in during the night, they'd hoped it would be unexpected. They were wrong. She was ready every minute of the day, every day of the week. Surprise would buy them nothing.
She flinched as he spat up blood. He was getting killed, and until he could stop her for just a minute, he wouldn't escape; without escape, death was a likely ending. Yeah, he was the One, but being the One did not come along with immortality. He could be killed, just like the rest of them. Sure, the prophesy foretold against it, but there was no way she was going to let some long dead soothsayer's words hold his life in the balance.
Like hell she was going to watch this. Damn it, she wasn't about to sit around and do nothing. He'd come to save her before, now it was her turn. She set the program, checked the settings once over, and slid into the chair. She twisted awkwardly, plugging herself in. Closing her eyes to the matrix, she called out silently, I'm coming.
A distant voice echoed in his head, I'm coming, and this distraction made way for another painful blow. He fought desperately, knowing that if he lost this one, it could very well mean his life.
He knew he was distracted, although his will pointed the other way. She looked so much like Trinity. So much like the woman he loved. Although she was totally different, and the enemy for that matter, attacking her looked like attacking Trinity. He knew no one else would have this problem, their minds were not inhibited by appearances.
She fought fiercely, her blows striking hard and quick. He should have been faster, more powerful. He shouldn't be weakened by her appearance. But he was.
He fought back; memory would give him strength. Her voice echoed in his ears, and in a heartbeat, she was there. Not sure whether to be astounded or crazily happy, he moved, allowing her to take part in the battle.
It was a strange sight, two almost identical women fighting one another. She had no inhibitions; she was seemingly untouched by the other woman's presence. Her spirit gave him a renewed feeling, made powerful by his fulfillment in knowledge. He knew the difference, and the two presences simply accentuated it.
And though she was outnumbered, Lorelei was as fierce as ever, matching both for speed and accuracy. Although their combined forces should have overpowered her, she stood her ground, something even Trinity would have to admire. She was beautiful, cunning, and deadly.
She was also killing them.
Considering their status, renowned fighter and ice queen, and the One, combined, they should have been able to beat her easily. Neither could understand why victory seemed impossible. Perhaps they didn't. The crew watching on the Nebuchanezzar did. As predicted, two warriors, fighting together who were bonded by love were weakened. They could see, that with every defended blow, and every strike that hit its mark, love was what blinded them both.
"It's killing them," Morpheus murmured. His crew nodded in agreement. They all agreed with their leader. All save one.
"No."
Morpheus turned to stare at the stricken form of Lucas.
He continued, "It is not love. Not love. Why do you not understand? They," he gestured to the screens where the coded battle took place, "were right. Love makes them strong."
Morpheus stepped up to him, looking straight into his eyes, "Then explain why they are having so much trouble fighting now."
Lucas smiled, getting into the rhythm. "It is not love. It is the need to protect." He gestured to his crewmates, "You are all willing to sacrifice each other or yourselves for the good of the rebellion. They? They will give their lives for each other. It is the need to protect each other that impedes their abilities. Why do you think Trinity became sick? Why did they both stop eating? They need each other. More than any of us could need anything we have here. But it was not love that hurts them now. Never love."
For a moment, the people around him stared. Just stared.
Morpheus wasted no time in staring. "So how do you suggest we save them?"
He grinned a strange grin, half sad and half joyous, "We go in."
********
She had knives. Lots of them. And in a minute, both Neo and Trinity were bleeding profusely. Major ouchie. And still the trio fought. And fought. And fought. Neo watched helplessly as Trinity began to stagger, unaware that he too was stumbling.
Just as the battle seemed to have been finished, a deep familiar voice spoke, "That is quite enough." Distracted, Lorelei turned to see who had spoken. In a flash, both Aurelia and Clip were on her. Angered by their intrusion, she threw both off, displaying the incredible strength both Trinity and Neo had endured.
She twisted in a cat-like movement, to face her victims. She smiled devilishly, a smile not unlike the one Trinity often gave him before she kissed him. Before they could react, the gleam of her blade was visible. She lunged for the final strike, and an electrical crackle was heard. She was replaced by some woman in a navy suit, the bullet hole apparent in the back.
Morpheus stood over her, grim expression and dark lenses hiding his feelings towards finding them there. "Trinity."
She tightened her grip on Neo's hand before letting go. She stood to take her place with her crew, leaving Neo to sit on the hard ground. In that instant, the division Zion had created was more apparent then ever.
Before leaving, a prolonged leave at that, she removed her glasses, something she rarely did here. Her bright blues eyes brimmed with tears that she contained and controlled. She would not cry. Cry for what? For love? Yes. It was all she ever cried for. As the turning of her people subconsciously pulled her away. She dared not to smile; the tears might fall, and there was nothing to smile about.
Back on the Neb, smiles were even less abundant. She would be confined to her quarters, despite her rank. She had disobeyed orders, risked her own life, perhaps that of her crewmates. All just to save him.
It was worth it.
A/N: HEY!!!! Well, I hate to say it, but I'm going away for awhile, on the 25th to be exact, and will not return until the 17th or so. Unfortunately, this means that there will be no new posts until after then, although I WILL try to write while I'm away. R/R!
Love you all,
TigerLily