Heeeyyyy people! How goes things? I'm in a good mood, despite being stuck
on a bus in a blizzard for over two hours a couple of nights ago, which
just goes to show watching LOTR cures anything. This chapter's a little
shorter than the others, but that's because the next one is a bit longer -
also, at the end of this is the ULTIMATE CLIFFIE!!! that I've warned you
about. So I hope you enjoy it, and I have to go flee attack chickens now,
who have redoubled their assault since they learnt I was doing this. bye.
*flees*
Chapter 11 - Calypso and Choice
If anything had truly made her stop and think what was going on, it was that. Of all the things she'd thought could have happened, this wasn't it. But it had. In front of her was Asha, herself. The same brown eyes, the same brown wavy hair, the same nifty leather ensemble. There was one difference. Asha's face was flushed, with anger and from running faster than she had before, and her eyes showed grief for her friend but were burning with anger. The other girl's face was calm, but she was smiling maliciously, and there was a glint in her eyes.
"Hello Asha," she said, perfectly cheerfully. Asha continued to stare, disbelieving. What was happening here? The girl seemed to enjoy Asha's confusion. "I believe you've met my mentor?"
Asha looked over her shoulder. If possible, her heart sank even lower. Agent Smith stepped forward from behind the girl, also smiling. Seeing him reminded Asha of what he had tried to do to her last time they'd met, and subconsciously she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Once or twice," said Agent Smith, his smile matching the girl's. Asha shivered. "But, Miss Warner, you haven't met this young lady."
"Um, no, I haven't," said Asha, still looking at the girl. They were identical to the last detail. "But I can guess - a sentient program?"
"She's good," said the girl, smiling at Agent Smith, who rested a hand on her shoulder. Asha stared. This wasn't right. What was going on? "Created for one thing."
Asha was amazed that she could still use her voice after everything that had happened that afternoon. "And, um, that would be?"
The girl's smile grew. "For the destruction of the Nebuchadnezzar, of course." Her eyes flashed with malice. "Starting with you."
Asha's mind snapped from grief for her friend and anger. When she heard that her crew was in danger, her mind focused. She had a mission. Time to feel sorry later. She had to do something. Not yet, though - may as well try and alleviate confusion as much as possible.
"But I'm being rude," said the girl, holding out a hand, "My name is Calypso."
Asha didn't take it. "Why do you-"
"Oh, that's just for dramatics," said Calypso, "I can look like this..."
Before Asha's eyes, the girl began to change shape. The brown, wavy hair lengthened, straightened and turned a sort of mousy colour. She started to grow taller, Asha noticed with a slight feeling of jealousy - she hated being small. This all happened in a split second. Now there was an older girl standing in front of her, mousy hair and blue eyes. Kathryn.
Asha blinked. Calypso grinned at Asha's obvious bewilderment.
"Clever trick, isn't it?" she said, "One of the things I thought of. Fooled Jon, anyway, and made you come to England - didn't you know that appearances can be deceiving?"
"How can you talk to me like this?" said Asha suddenly, "If you remember, you just said that you're planning to kill me, and you've already killed my best friend-"
"Killed?" said Calypso, "I don't think so."
"You did," said Asha.
"Well, you see, he's not dead," said Calypso. Asha felt her heart miss a beat. Of course - why didn't she check his pulse? "Not yet, anyway."
"What do you mean?"
"See this?" said Calypso, holding up what looked a bullet. "I wrote the program myself. It doesn't kill straight away. It remains inside, and for all the world looks like an ordinary bullet - no injuries except unconsciousness, for fifteen minutes, and then-" She again smiled when she saw the horror on Asha's face. "Unless..."
This was it, thought Asha, here comes the punchline. The kick when I'm down. The reason they lured me here. Calypso was drawing it out, obviously enjoying this.
"Unless what?" said Asha, unable to bear it any longer.
"Unless," said Calypso, saying it slowly, as if nothing gave her greater pleasure than tormenting Asha, "You administer this." She held up a small vial, filled with a clear liquid. "This counteracts the program. Smart, no?"
Agent Smith stepped forward. "This is what I've been working on," he said, "I've been training this girl. She is perfect for destroying your crew. She knows your weaknesses, and can exploit them. In fact, you helped slightly in that." He smiled at the look of horror on Asha's face. "When I attempted to turn into myself? As I neared completion - so close I came - I gained access to your thoughts. Yes, Asha, I now know everything there is to know about you - even some things that you have forgotten."
Asha was frozen. He must know something that she'd forgotten, otherwise he wouldn't be smiling so widely as he remembered. "She came up with this plan by herself," he added, "Not surprising, considering that she has a machine's intelligence."
Asha felt numb. Her eyes were fixed on the vial. Jon's life was ebbing away as they stood here chitchatting. How could she get it? She daren't fight them - she would never win, and there was a danger that the vial would be smashed, and any chance Jon had would be lost. There was a reason they were showing this to her.
"Time for me to go," said the girl, resuming Asha's shape. "I have business elsewhere." She handed the vial to Agent Smith, shot Asha a sunny smile, and walked down the alley the way Asha had come. Asha watched her go, then turned back to Agent Smith, whose smile had not left his face. It looked so strange - like it didn't belong there.
"So, I doubt you're just going to give it to me?" said Asha.
"Of course not," said Agent Smith, "You are here, because we are going to make you an offer."
"An... an offer?"
"As we speak, Calypso is making her way back to your friends. Neo, Morpheus, Trinity, and the latest - Falcon. I know that you are especially close to him," he added, watching the look of fear in her eyes, "She is going to destroy them.
"I know what you are thinking. Neo will defeat her, no problem. But don't forget who she looks like. Will it be so easy for him to kill you? You, who he tries so faithfully to protect?"
Asha realised with a jolt what he said was true. Neo would be worried, and wouldn't kill her readily. Calypso would use that to her advantage. Suddenly she realised. Neo had foreseen this. That was why he had been afraid of her. He had seen her fighting them. That was why he had tried to hurry her away, as well - why hadn't she gone with him? None of this would have happened...
"And he won't even be able to tell that she's a program," said Agent Smith, "There's a blocker which would make her seem, in Neo's eyes, to be you. He won't suspect a thing."
"You're a monster," she whispered, anger again filling her mind, "You're heartless, you're evil - why trap me here? Worried I would defeat Calypso if I was there?"
"Trap you?" said Agent Smith, "I believe you misunderstand me, Miss Warner. You are free to go and save your friends." He paused, watching Asha's reaction to these words, which was mingled surprise and confusion. "But you may remember that the vial to save your friend Jon is here. You leave, and it will no longer be accessible..."
Asha suddenly saw his plan. It was evil, it was truly evil.
"If you stay here, and let Calypso destroy your friends, I will let you use this vial, and even allow you to be reinserted into the Matrix, everything forgotten. A new life. No more fighting, no more work, just a normal teenage life. No more fear, no more - confusion.
"It seems that you are going to have to make a choice. Where do you belong - The Real World? Or the Matrix?"
*****
So there it is, the ultimate cliffie - please don't send out too many evil creatures, the attack chickens are enough to be dealing with right now!
Two Bored Idiots - You've been sending them?? I think they've escaped your control. The other day, they captured me, but I managed to escape - but before I did, I learnt that they are planning world domination after they've, uh, 'dealt' with me, as they put it.
Theshiz - It was only this morning that I realized just why you were seeing Asha as Indiana Jones - to my horror, I realized this whole thing is just like that scene in 'The Last Crusade'! EEEK! It's not intentional, I'd completely forgotten about that!
Tanuki Yasha - Ooh, I've seen 'Big Fish', it's great. Too heroic? Is he really? Oops, didn't mean to make him too heroic. I think the reason he went is that he didn't fully understand the danger of it. Silly boy. While we're on the 'is killing your clone suicide?' question, if a man with multiple personality disorder threatens to kill himself, is a hostage situation?
MollyJean - He's not dead yet! Yes, he's fine, he hasn't joined the attack chickens. he's actually been quite helpful regarding them, helping me organize the Wob-Wobs into armies and sorting out the pineapples and everything.
Im a Brandybuck - Glad you're used to the cliffies, I know I'm going slightly overboard with them. But they're so fun! (wiggles toes with glee)
DarkGoddessLuna - There's going to be more details about 'Problems in the Matrix' in the next chapter of the Madness Reloaded - keep an eye out for that. Hee hee, I love my sword. I told my art teacher about it, and he's bringing in swords for me to play with tomorrow! COOL!!!
Sirocco.flow - Makes sense? Really? Well, I'm glad it makes sense to someone, at least.
Alocin - (watches her fall) Oops. (runs with a trampoline to catch her at the bottom)
Huntress - What, your dreams come true? Freeeaky. Closest to future- predicting I come is occasionally foreseeing what Simpsons episode it's going to be next. Useful, I'm sure.
Kit19 - No, as you saw, he didn't make a copy, but now I'm, uh, wishing I'd thought of that. But I did take an element of that idea - hope you didn't mind too much, it just seemed to make the story make more sense. If you do mind, just tell me, and I'll change it. And sorry about the cliffies. And Jon isn't dead yet! Japanese? Whoa.
Trinity144 - Ah, vanilla coke. I have experienced such matters. Sorry I don't update sooner, but I have all these callouts to write, and I think it's better to space the chapters out.
Ieva - Yes, evil cliffies ARE fun! Yay, I've finally found someone who agrees with me!
Trineo4life - I will, as soon as I can, but I have other stories to do as well.
Jack Cole - Firefly? What's that? And we also came up with 'The Office', which I haven't actually ever watched, but from what I've seen of clips it looks really funny. Ha, we won two Golden Globes with it! It's nice you think so highly of our little country. HUZZAH FOR BRITANNIA!!
Sci-freak GrodySpork - Yes, that's what I heard. I'm not telling you what's going to happen, but I do know that I had great fun writing it, and I think it's going to be good!
Deity of Sorrow - Evil? Yay, I'm evil! At last, someone doesn't think that I'm the sweet and innocent one in the group! MWAHAHAHA!!!
Becca, Claire and a whole lotta other people - Um, no, I haven't. *cowers* I can't rent them, I'm too busy renting other stuff! I'll see them at some point. I do still have vampires in my wardrobe, but I think they've joined the chickens - I think they're trying to get me.
Speaking of attack chickens and vampires, what's that noise outside? (goes to look out back window) Oh heck. May not be updating for a while, the chickens are breaking in. (runs as fast as she can, and behind we here the back door crash open and ominous clucking coming closer.)
Chapter 11 - Calypso and Choice
If anything had truly made her stop and think what was going on, it was that. Of all the things she'd thought could have happened, this wasn't it. But it had. In front of her was Asha, herself. The same brown eyes, the same brown wavy hair, the same nifty leather ensemble. There was one difference. Asha's face was flushed, with anger and from running faster than she had before, and her eyes showed grief for her friend but were burning with anger. The other girl's face was calm, but she was smiling maliciously, and there was a glint in her eyes.
"Hello Asha," she said, perfectly cheerfully. Asha continued to stare, disbelieving. What was happening here? The girl seemed to enjoy Asha's confusion. "I believe you've met my mentor?"
Asha looked over her shoulder. If possible, her heart sank even lower. Agent Smith stepped forward from behind the girl, also smiling. Seeing him reminded Asha of what he had tried to do to her last time they'd met, and subconsciously she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Once or twice," said Agent Smith, his smile matching the girl's. Asha shivered. "But, Miss Warner, you haven't met this young lady."
"Um, no, I haven't," said Asha, still looking at the girl. They were identical to the last detail. "But I can guess - a sentient program?"
"She's good," said the girl, smiling at Agent Smith, who rested a hand on her shoulder. Asha stared. This wasn't right. What was going on? "Created for one thing."
Asha was amazed that she could still use her voice after everything that had happened that afternoon. "And, um, that would be?"
The girl's smile grew. "For the destruction of the Nebuchadnezzar, of course." Her eyes flashed with malice. "Starting with you."
Asha's mind snapped from grief for her friend and anger. When she heard that her crew was in danger, her mind focused. She had a mission. Time to feel sorry later. She had to do something. Not yet, though - may as well try and alleviate confusion as much as possible.
"But I'm being rude," said the girl, holding out a hand, "My name is Calypso."
Asha didn't take it. "Why do you-"
"Oh, that's just for dramatics," said Calypso, "I can look like this..."
Before Asha's eyes, the girl began to change shape. The brown, wavy hair lengthened, straightened and turned a sort of mousy colour. She started to grow taller, Asha noticed with a slight feeling of jealousy - she hated being small. This all happened in a split second. Now there was an older girl standing in front of her, mousy hair and blue eyes. Kathryn.
Asha blinked. Calypso grinned at Asha's obvious bewilderment.
"Clever trick, isn't it?" she said, "One of the things I thought of. Fooled Jon, anyway, and made you come to England - didn't you know that appearances can be deceiving?"
"How can you talk to me like this?" said Asha suddenly, "If you remember, you just said that you're planning to kill me, and you've already killed my best friend-"
"Killed?" said Calypso, "I don't think so."
"You did," said Asha.
"Well, you see, he's not dead," said Calypso. Asha felt her heart miss a beat. Of course - why didn't she check his pulse? "Not yet, anyway."
"What do you mean?"
"See this?" said Calypso, holding up what looked a bullet. "I wrote the program myself. It doesn't kill straight away. It remains inside, and for all the world looks like an ordinary bullet - no injuries except unconsciousness, for fifteen minutes, and then-" She again smiled when she saw the horror on Asha's face. "Unless..."
This was it, thought Asha, here comes the punchline. The kick when I'm down. The reason they lured me here. Calypso was drawing it out, obviously enjoying this.
"Unless what?" said Asha, unable to bear it any longer.
"Unless," said Calypso, saying it slowly, as if nothing gave her greater pleasure than tormenting Asha, "You administer this." She held up a small vial, filled with a clear liquid. "This counteracts the program. Smart, no?"
Agent Smith stepped forward. "This is what I've been working on," he said, "I've been training this girl. She is perfect for destroying your crew. She knows your weaknesses, and can exploit them. In fact, you helped slightly in that." He smiled at the look of horror on Asha's face. "When I attempted to turn into myself? As I neared completion - so close I came - I gained access to your thoughts. Yes, Asha, I now know everything there is to know about you - even some things that you have forgotten."
Asha was frozen. He must know something that she'd forgotten, otherwise he wouldn't be smiling so widely as he remembered. "She came up with this plan by herself," he added, "Not surprising, considering that she has a machine's intelligence."
Asha felt numb. Her eyes were fixed on the vial. Jon's life was ebbing away as they stood here chitchatting. How could she get it? She daren't fight them - she would never win, and there was a danger that the vial would be smashed, and any chance Jon had would be lost. There was a reason they were showing this to her.
"Time for me to go," said the girl, resuming Asha's shape. "I have business elsewhere." She handed the vial to Agent Smith, shot Asha a sunny smile, and walked down the alley the way Asha had come. Asha watched her go, then turned back to Agent Smith, whose smile had not left his face. It looked so strange - like it didn't belong there.
"So, I doubt you're just going to give it to me?" said Asha.
"Of course not," said Agent Smith, "You are here, because we are going to make you an offer."
"An... an offer?"
"As we speak, Calypso is making her way back to your friends. Neo, Morpheus, Trinity, and the latest - Falcon. I know that you are especially close to him," he added, watching the look of fear in her eyes, "She is going to destroy them.
"I know what you are thinking. Neo will defeat her, no problem. But don't forget who she looks like. Will it be so easy for him to kill you? You, who he tries so faithfully to protect?"
Asha realised with a jolt what he said was true. Neo would be worried, and wouldn't kill her readily. Calypso would use that to her advantage. Suddenly she realised. Neo had foreseen this. That was why he had been afraid of her. He had seen her fighting them. That was why he had tried to hurry her away, as well - why hadn't she gone with him? None of this would have happened...
"And he won't even be able to tell that she's a program," said Agent Smith, "There's a blocker which would make her seem, in Neo's eyes, to be you. He won't suspect a thing."
"You're a monster," she whispered, anger again filling her mind, "You're heartless, you're evil - why trap me here? Worried I would defeat Calypso if I was there?"
"Trap you?" said Agent Smith, "I believe you misunderstand me, Miss Warner. You are free to go and save your friends." He paused, watching Asha's reaction to these words, which was mingled surprise and confusion. "But you may remember that the vial to save your friend Jon is here. You leave, and it will no longer be accessible..."
Asha suddenly saw his plan. It was evil, it was truly evil.
"If you stay here, and let Calypso destroy your friends, I will let you use this vial, and even allow you to be reinserted into the Matrix, everything forgotten. A new life. No more fighting, no more work, just a normal teenage life. No more fear, no more - confusion.
"It seems that you are going to have to make a choice. Where do you belong - The Real World? Or the Matrix?"
*****
So there it is, the ultimate cliffie - please don't send out too many evil creatures, the attack chickens are enough to be dealing with right now!
Two Bored Idiots - You've been sending them?? I think they've escaped your control. The other day, they captured me, but I managed to escape - but before I did, I learnt that they are planning world domination after they've, uh, 'dealt' with me, as they put it.
Theshiz - It was only this morning that I realized just why you were seeing Asha as Indiana Jones - to my horror, I realized this whole thing is just like that scene in 'The Last Crusade'! EEEK! It's not intentional, I'd completely forgotten about that!
Tanuki Yasha - Ooh, I've seen 'Big Fish', it's great. Too heroic? Is he really? Oops, didn't mean to make him too heroic. I think the reason he went is that he didn't fully understand the danger of it. Silly boy. While we're on the 'is killing your clone suicide?' question, if a man with multiple personality disorder threatens to kill himself, is a hostage situation?
MollyJean - He's not dead yet! Yes, he's fine, he hasn't joined the attack chickens. he's actually been quite helpful regarding them, helping me organize the Wob-Wobs into armies and sorting out the pineapples and everything.
Im a Brandybuck - Glad you're used to the cliffies, I know I'm going slightly overboard with them. But they're so fun! (wiggles toes with glee)
DarkGoddessLuna - There's going to be more details about 'Problems in the Matrix' in the next chapter of the Madness Reloaded - keep an eye out for that. Hee hee, I love my sword. I told my art teacher about it, and he's bringing in swords for me to play with tomorrow! COOL!!!
Sirocco.flow - Makes sense? Really? Well, I'm glad it makes sense to someone, at least.
Alocin - (watches her fall) Oops. (runs with a trampoline to catch her at the bottom)
Huntress - What, your dreams come true? Freeeaky. Closest to future- predicting I come is occasionally foreseeing what Simpsons episode it's going to be next. Useful, I'm sure.
Kit19 - No, as you saw, he didn't make a copy, but now I'm, uh, wishing I'd thought of that. But I did take an element of that idea - hope you didn't mind too much, it just seemed to make the story make more sense. If you do mind, just tell me, and I'll change it. And sorry about the cliffies. And Jon isn't dead yet! Japanese? Whoa.
Trinity144 - Ah, vanilla coke. I have experienced such matters. Sorry I don't update sooner, but I have all these callouts to write, and I think it's better to space the chapters out.
Ieva - Yes, evil cliffies ARE fun! Yay, I've finally found someone who agrees with me!
Trineo4life - I will, as soon as I can, but I have other stories to do as well.
Jack Cole - Firefly? What's that? And we also came up with 'The Office', which I haven't actually ever watched, but from what I've seen of clips it looks really funny. Ha, we won two Golden Globes with it! It's nice you think so highly of our little country. HUZZAH FOR BRITANNIA!!
Sci-freak GrodySpork - Yes, that's what I heard. I'm not telling you what's going to happen, but I do know that I had great fun writing it, and I think it's going to be good!
Deity of Sorrow - Evil? Yay, I'm evil! At last, someone doesn't think that I'm the sweet and innocent one in the group! MWAHAHAHA!!!
Becca, Claire and a whole lotta other people - Um, no, I haven't. *cowers* I can't rent them, I'm too busy renting other stuff! I'll see them at some point. I do still have vampires in my wardrobe, but I think they've joined the chickens - I think they're trying to get me.
Speaking of attack chickens and vampires, what's that noise outside? (goes to look out back window) Oh heck. May not be updating for a while, the chickens are breaking in. (runs as fast as she can, and behind we here the back door crash open and ominous clucking coming closer.)