Disclaimer: The Matrix belongs to Warner Bros. and the Wachowski brothers. I don't own Smith or anybody from the film. The other characters may or may not show up later. If anything is familiar to you from this or any other movie I don't own it. I'm just playing with them.

Chapter Seven: The Meeting

Agent Smith was standing in his office behind a huge window. He was staring out of it and he was thinking. He still thought that there was something wrong with this meeting. But what if he is wrong? No! It's hardly possible. But why do his superiors trust humans? Or do they? They must have an other purpose with this. Maybe. But he couldn't continue thinking because Agent Brown stepped into the room.

"What do you want?"-asked Smith as he turned.

"There is a list of the potential Resistance targets and an other one. We also have to check these names."

"Why? What's wrong with them?"

"They seem to be suspicious but valuable for us."-said Brown as he handled the papers to Smith.

Smith looked them over. The lists weren't too long. Brown was just standing and waiting.

"All right. Inform Agent Jones and after this meeting we will take care of these persons."

"Anything else?"

"Yes. I need somebody to watch over Mr. Samuel Potter."

Brown was taken aback. Smith lifted his gaze from the list at the Agent in front of him.

"Don't worry, Brown. It won't be you. I just want you to find somebody. That's all. Now leave me!"-said Smith and sat down to his computer.

Brown left him alone. Smith checked the names and gathered every necessary information about these people. Dates, addresses, relatives' names and so on. 2 hours later Brown came back. He was alone.

"Agent Smith. I think I found somebody."-said Brown and he was waiting.

"And is he visible, Brown?"

"He is waiting outside."

"Then call him in!"-said Smith and rose from his chair.

Brown called the Agent in and left them alone. Smith measured him with his eye and finally asked:

"Your name?"

"Agent Stevenson."

"Well, Agent Stevenson, your task will be to watch over a human. He is Samuel Potter, one of our most important informants. He is going to arrive with the other humans tomorrow but he is with us. He is very valuable so he needs looking after. But do it inconspicuously! Do you understand me?"

"Yes, Agent Smith."

Smith took a step closer.

"And let me call your attention to an important thing. If you fail, you will be deleted, I can promise this to you."

"I understood, Agent Smith. There will be no problem."

"Good. Now you can go."

Now everything was settled but Smith wasn't satisfied.

It was Friday, late in the afternoon and it was raining. Three black cars were proceeding towards the warehouse. They stopped and several "people" stepped out of them. They were Representatives and Agents. They looked almost the same except that the Representatives didn't wear sunglasses and earpieces. They walked in front. The Agents were behind and next to them. Before they reached the entrance of the building it's large doors opened. Inside they could see several people. All of them had guns but their clothes weren't the same. The men in the middle were wearing long, strange clothes. They must have been Council members or Representatives of Zion. Sam was with them. Around them there were several armed men. They might have been bodyguards. The tension could be touched. Sam stood almost in front so he could see the machines. He was looking for Smith. He was there and he was looking at him. Sam had had no time to inform Smith about Stevenson and now he thought that Smith would think that he betrayed him. That was something he never wanted. Although Smith was unique he was an Agent, so he was as dangerous and cruel as the others. And because of his anger sometimes he could be more dangerous. But Sam couldn't do anything now but waiting. If Smith had known that these people were just criminals from Zion dressed up to Representatives and bodyguards he wold have killed him immediately. But suddenly something happened. Somebody switched the light off and before anybody could say a word several shots were fired. The machines believed that humans shot, humans believed that the machines shot. And all hell broke loose. It was chaos in the semi-darkness. Smith was looking for Stevenson and Sam but he didn't have enough time to find them in the shower of bullets.

"Where is Stevenson?"-shouted Smith to Jones.

"I haven't seen him since we arrived."

"Dammit!"

As he said this suddenly Sam banged against him.

"Smith?"

"As usual."

"Oh, thanks God!"

"Get out of here, Mr. Potter. Take cover!"

"I don't take orders from you! I'm not in your chain of command, Smith!"

"No. But you are in my line of fire! Get out of here if you don't want a bullet!"

"There is force in what you say."-said Sam.

Suddenly Smith grabbed Sam's shoulder with one hand and pushed him out of the way. Then he shot the men in front of him. Sam fell next to a dead man. An almost filled gun was lying not far away the body.

"Give me that gun!"-said Smith.

"So you can shoot me"-said Sam.

"Mr. Potter!"-shouted Smith.

Sam dropped him the gun. Smith bent one knee and fired. Between two shots he said to Sam:

"Out you go! Behind the boxes!"

There were lot of wooden boxes put on top of the other. It was a good entrenchment. But Sam was quite shocked so he didn't move.

"Now!"-shouted Smith at him as several bullets stroke at the ground in front of him.

Finally Sam started running towards the exit behind the boxes. Outside it was raining fast. The other men were also headed towards the exit to the phone booth but none of them reached it. The machines were stronger. After the fight the Agents were checking the bodies and Smith ran out of the building. He caught sight of Agent Stevenson. He pointed his gun at two Agents who were standing next to Sam. He shot them. He could shoot them because they didn't even count him doing this. Then he pointed his gun at Sam. Smith drew out his gun and fired. But he came too late. Stevenson fired before Smith's bullet hit him in the head. And his bullet hit Sam in the chest and he collapsed on the ground. Smith went to him. After he looked around he bent down to him. Sam could hardly speak, but he tried:

"Smith?"

"It's me, Mr. Potter."-said Smith but he wasn't sure what he should say.

"It's funny that you're watching me die, isn't it?"

Smith lifted his gaze:

"Agent Jones! Call the ambulance, immediately!"- said Smith and looked back at Sam.

"I don't want to die in a way that the last thing I see is your sour face."

"Don't worry, Mr. Potter. I don't think you're going to die."

"Why are you so sure, Dr. Smith?"

"I suppose that comes from my experience with you."

"What?"

"Ever try to get a gum off the sole of your shoe?"

Sam started laughing but it turned coughing.

"Don't make me laugh, Smith. It hurts like hell."

"I'm sorry." -said Smith.

Did he really say this? He didn't believe it himself. Why? Why did he say it?

"Smith."-said Sam but he didn't have too much strength. He held Smith's hand tight. "Please, don't let ...."-but he couldn't finish the sentence. He fainted.

Smith was quite confused. First he said "sorry" to a human. Why? Second he was squatting next to him holding his hand. He could saw Agent Brown walking towards them. He quickly released Sam's hand and stood up.

"What were you doing? What happened?- asked Brown and looked at Smith.

"He fainted because of the loss of blood. He wanted to say something but I couldn't understand it."

"And why were you holding his hand?"

"Because he ...- but Smith didn't finish the sentence. "Agent Brown. If I were you I would find Agent Stevenson immediately, because he is responsible for this!- said Smith and pointed at Sam.

"What are you talking about?"

"Stevenson shot Mr. Potter. I saw it. So find him. Quick!"

Agent Brown turned on his heel and left Smith. Smith looked at Sam again. Then at his hands. They were bloody. So were his cuffs and his right sleeves. But he noticed something. A piece of paper was in Sam's hand. He wanted to give it to him when he held his hand. But Smith failed to notice it. Now he bent down and took it out from his hand. There was an address or something similar on it. But it wasn't complete. Smith couldn't read it because of the blood and the wet. But he pocketed it. He was standing next to Sam until the ambulance arrived. They dressed Sam's wounds and put him into the car.

"Will you come with him?"-asked the ambulance doctor.

"No."-said Smith and cast a last glance at Sam before he turned and headed towards his car to Brown and Jones. But before he climbed into the car he turned to the doctor:

"Will he survive it?"

"I'm not sure. To be honest to you it's hardly possible."

"Where will you take him?"

"In the City General."

Smith nodded to him and got into the car.