Chapter 7: Freedom

Over the next few weeks, Lewar, Mace and Paradox jacked into the Matrix to communicate with Fear. He became more and more confused and curious and time went on, and was sometimes desperate for answers.

Lewar knew how aggravating it was as she watched Fear through the code, watched as he spent hours on the Internet searching for clues laid down by others on the same search. She had been spending almost every shift watching Fear and his hacker friends, to see how he was going, and if the Agents were getting any closer. She looked over at Paradox's still body in his jack in chair, and felt concerned for him. She knew she had no choice but to let him go inside to watch over Fear.

Since Dox's car incident, and the way the Agents just appeared into the code, all the crew had been very on edge about Fear's safety within the Matrix. It was as if they had found some sort of gateway through the Matrix, some sort of transport system. Paradox now spent hours inside the Matrix as a guard for Fear, ready to protect him if Agents came to stop him being freed.

Ransom was yet another problem for Lewar. He was quite openly discussed as the size of the ship, believing that the bigger the better. He didn't pay heed to Lewar, only doing what Paradox said, even if all he did was repeat what Lewar had just said. It annoyed all of the crew. As much as they didn't like to admit it, though, they needed him. Lewar could feel the strain of flying constantly and occasionally jacking into the Matrix, and Reflex had to keep an eye on the Matrix when he was awake. Ransom was almost as good a pilot as Turb0 had been, but not nearly as good a person.

Staring at the screen of code rushing down, she noticed something that made her laugh out loud. Fear was actually visiting the site she'd made during her search for answers! She had put down all the names she'd known, all the locations, sites, information and clues she'd had found, just incase someone else had more information, or if that information would come in handy to anyone else. It was a foolish attempt, she had been unplugged about 4 weeks after putting the site up, and she'd barley had any hits, but during her absence, she'd had thousands! Opening up a Matrix Internet feed in one of the other screens, she realized that the guest book had many people signed, including a few names she knew in the real world, people who had been freed over the years. Lewar was quite amazed. Who'd of thought her site would actually come in handy for anyone?!

He was becoming more aware, she noted as scanned around the code for the position of Paradox. They should be able to unplug him in the next week, and she had full confidence that Fear would take the red pill. It suddenly struck her as odd how casually she planned out changing this young boy's life. He would never be the same. He wouldn't have the chance to say goodbye to his friends, his family, his friends on the Internet. They would be the ones to take him away from all that.

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Paradox started to get up from their morning meal of slop as Lewar came in and sat down, looking tired.

"You ok, Cap'n?" asked Reflex as he finished of his breakfast.

"Yeah," she answered wearily. "Just finished working everything out for today."

"What's happening today?" Paradox asked

"We're getting him out," she stated in a business like way.

"Ok, I'll get everything ready then," said Reflex as he jumped up and bounded out of the room towards the Core.

"He has way too much energy," muttered Lewar.

"You alright?" Paradox said sincerely

"Yeah, yeah, just been a bit worried, that's all. And a bit nervous. We've never unplugged anyone before."

"Everything'll go to plan," he said confidently. "The Oracle said we needed him, so fate can't afford to let anything go wrong."

"Well, you better get to work then," she half suggested. Paradox didn't want to test her patience today and walked out, helping Mace get the extra room ready for Fear's arrival.

Paradox gave Lewar's hand a good luck squeeze from his docking chair as he was about to be jacked in. He and Mace were being loaded into a street not far from where they would pick Fear up, while Lewar would go straight to the old phone company building where the choice would take place, as well as all the equipment needed. As he closed his eyes to the real world and opened them to a totally white existence, he felt the addition of guns and Mace. He smiled at Mace, and then shouted up into nothingness "Hey, we could use a ride here!". Reflex sometimes forgot to add things, and occasionally needed a bit of a prompt.

Paradox noticed Mace smile sadly as the familiar Hotrod materialized, and he didn't know if that was just habit of Reflex, or a tribute, or just trying to hold on to such a great vehicle.

"Here we go," Mace remarked as the white surroundings dissolved into buildings and streets, and they felt their feet touch the ground their mind was telling them was under them.

As the Matrix was completed, Paradox took out his phone, and called the cell they slipped to Fear. It rang for a few seconds before it was answered by an young hesitant voice.

"He-hello?"

"You said you wanted to end the riddle, stop the questions," Paradox stated in a flat voice.

"Yeah…"

"Then come to Bell and Arden, I'll be waiting for you in flames." He hung up before Fear could answer, and climbed into the car. As Mace drove, Paradox felt sorry for Fear. He had led the poor kid around by the nose with riddles and answering questions with questions. They pulled up to the intercession, and waited for about a minute, until Fear seemed to materialize from the darkness and look around. He suddenly spotted the classic car, and seemed to understand what Paradox had meant, judging by the body art of flames licking at the tires.

Paradox opened the door for him, saying "Come in, Fear." He came forward, and stepped inside, looking around nervously.

"You're Paradox, aren't you?"

"Yes."

"You're still wanted, you know," the young boy warned. "There've been big guys in suits asking around, showing pictures, tracing the net for you."

Paradox glanced at Mace, who shrugged. "I was wondering when they were going to start doing that," she said.

"Who are they?" Fear asked.

"They are the ones trying to keep us from the truth," answered Paradox.

They were silent for the rest of the trip, but Paradox knew that Fear was bursting with questions that couldn't be answered with words.

"We're here," said Mace as she stopped the car. Paradox lead Fear up the starts of the dark building, and stopped when they reached the door of what used to be the head office.

"Here it is," he said. "Think hard, be honest, and make your choices well."

"Here is what?" Fear asked. "What choices?" But Paradox had already opened the door and showed him inside, to where Lewar was waiting.

"Good luck," he said as he walked through the door on the other side of the room, leaving a very nervous and apprehensive Fear.

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Fear looked around the room. There was a desk, holding nothing but a glass of water. Sitting in one of the chairs was a young woman, probably in her early twenties. She had flaming red hair tied up, and as she took of her sunglasses, Fear noticed she had rich blue eyes. He also thought he saw a gun inside her coat, be he couldn't be sure.

"Sit down," she motioned to the other chair, and he sank into it. She looked at him over the desk as the twirled a sliver tube in her fingers. "My name is Lewar. We've been looking for you for a while, Fear."

"You've been looking for me?!" he thought to himself, but stayed silent.

"You know why you're here, don't you?" Fear nodded. "You're not able to say what you know and feel, but you are sure what you feel is true."

Fear nodded again. He was trying not to get too excited. Hopefully, very soon he'd get all his riddles and theories answered. He had gone over every book on philosophy he had ever read, and some he hadn't. Fear was one of the very lucky people who could absorb knowledge at an extreme rate, understanding in minutes what took some people months. He had just finished high school, and was about to start University, at the age where most children only start their secondary education. He was known as a child genius.

"What you feel," Lewar continued, "is what we call the Matrix."

He leaned forward in his chair. "What is the Matrix?"

"The Matrix is everywhere you look, everything you touch. It lies to your senses, and shields the truth."

"What truth?"

"That all that you know is a lie,"

Those words hit him like a blow to the face. He prided himself on his knowledge, on not being ignorant or average.

"The only way to fully understand what the Matrix is, is to see it. But to do that, you'll have to risk everything."

Fear's mind was racing. What did all of this mean? Lewar took the top of the metal tube and emptied it's contents onto her hand.

"This is the point of no return," she told him. "What you choose now will define the rest of your life." She showed him a small blue capsule. "If you take the blue pill, you'll keep your currant life, believing what you want." She showed him a similar pill, but red. "If you take the red pill, your new life will begin, and I will show you the truth."

Fear hesitated. His mind was screaming 'blue', but his heart was telling him 'red'. "Why pills?" he thought. "Is this some kind of druggy gang? Show me the truth… truth about what? About me? About what I can do? Give up this life…. No one in this life for me anyway…" His curiosity took control of him as he stretched out and took the red pill from Lewar's hand, swallowing it uncomfortably.

Lewar smiled and put her sunglasses back on. "Come with me," she said, moving towards the door behind the desk. He followed her in, feeling a little nauseous.


YAAAY!!! REVIEWS!!! *bounces up and down, then hits her head on the ceiling and stops* well that was fun, wasn't it? Longer chapters coming up (I know they're long to begin with, sorry bout that) cos now they'll have Lewar, Paradox AND Fear.

now I know I can't spell AT ALL so sorry about all the terrible spelling mistakes, but at least you have a crappy little story to keep you busy J

Keep them reviews coming, dudes!!!!! (and dudettes, if you would rather be called that :P )

*starts bouncing, only to hit the roof again* fast learner, aren't I?