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 Eighteen: Homeward Bound

The black sedan left the B&B at full speed. Everything happened so fast and Kate was really worried about her friends whom she left behind without a word but with an Agent.

"We have to go back!"-said Kate to Smith who was sitting next to her on the back seat.

"No." - sounded his simply and obvious answer.

"But what if he kills them?"

"He won't."-answered Smith but he didn't look at her.

"Oh! And how do you know that?"

"He didn't kill you either. And he doesn't want to attract attention."

"But........."-started Kate but Smith interrupted her.

"There's not going to be a debate! We won't go back! Is that clear?"- asked Smith rudely. And maybe it sounded louder than he wanted it to be.

Kate didn't answer. She turned away from Smith and just stared through the window. Smith looked away too but several seconds later he glanced back at her. He could see a teardrop running down on her cheek. He must have been louder than it was necessary. But she deserved it. How did she dare debate with him? Especially in front of his colleagues?

"Our destination?"-asked Jones.

"The Agency."-answered Smith without taking his eyes off Kate.

But she just wiped her tears off and didn't look at him. And at least for an hour none of them spoke. But that silence started to become quite annoying. For Kate of course. The Agents were more than satisfied with it. She glanced at the dashboard. The radio was in its place. All right. Now she glanced at Smith. He was staring through the window and was deep in thought. Two of his fingers were on his earpiece. He was downloading something. And Kate's observation was correct. Smith made use of the occasion to download the H.B.R.C.'s files. Actually they were quite interesting. Drawing conclusions from his smiles or sneers some of them were amusing too. She couldn't see too much of Agent Brown because he sat in front of her. Agent Jones was driving. Now she really realized where she was. In a car with three Agents. Normally she wouldn't have survived such a journey. But it was a different situation. Thanks God. Soon she gathered all of her courage and strength and asked:

"What about some music?"

The only effect her question produced was that Smith looked at her with an expression on his face as if Kate had asked: "What about a collective suicide?". And they stared at each other for a while. Then Smith looked away. But after some minutes he said:

"Turn on that radio, Brown."

Agent Brown did so. And the music filled the car. Yes, it was definitely better. Bruce Springsteen. Great! But the words of the song? Well........

".......You might need somethin' to hold on to

When all the answers, they don't amount to much

Somebody that you could just to talk to

And a little of that Human Touch ..............."

Human touch? Smith glanced at Kate. Yes. Observing her face he was sure that she had the same thought in her mind. That early morning "accident". That human touch. But now he had to glance away quickly because she moved her head toward him. OK, he managed to do it in time. Now. Kate looked away. At least Smith thought that, and he looked back. But now he couldn't avoid her eyes.

"What?"-asked Kate.

"Nothing."-said Smith and turned his head.

And they didn't talk to each other any more during the journey. But Kate realized something strange. She glanced at Smith several times and finally she noticed that with his fingers he beat time on his leg. It was a surprising revelation. He liked the music.

They wasn't been followed and they arrived at the Agency safe and sound. But things didn't happen as Smith wanted to. As soon as they arrived he was ordered to report to his superiors personally and immediately. And alone. So he had to leave Kate for a while. He led her to a chair which was on a huge corridor.

"Sit. And wait here."-said Smith.

"Where are you going?"

"I have something to do but it won't take long. Just wait here." - said Smith and glanced at Agent Brown.

"You stay here too and watch over her. Understand?"

When Brown nodded Smith left them on the corridor. He went to the elevator and stepped in. Kate followed him with her eyes until the elevator's door closed. She glanced at Brown and walked over to a chair and sat down. Now - that Smith wasn't with her - she didn't feel secure. Not even with Agent Brown. And it was quite strange. But she was too tired to search for the "why." Instead she tried to find the most comfortable position on the chair. She pulled her legs up and encircled them with her arms. Now she could rest her head on her knees. Brown was just standing almost opposite to her. He was motionless and expressionless like a statue. But soon footfalls could be heard. A man was approaching toward them along the huge, sterile corridor. Walking stick in the right, coffee in the left hand. But before he could reach Kate, Agent Brown stood in his way. Then the man lifted up his gaze at the Agent and asked:

"Agent Brown, right?"

Brown nodded.

"All right. I take it over now. You can go back to your work."

"But Agent Smith....."

"Agent Smith isn't here right now. And I outrank him anyway. So go."- said he, now in a firm, commanding voice.

Brown nodded again and turned on his heel leaving the Prof. and Kate alone. Kate's eyes were closed before the Prof. appeared on the corridor and she didn't open them when he talked with Brown. She thought that he was just another Agent. And she was tired too. So she paid no attention to the Prof. who stood next to her chair.

"Kate Thompson if I am not mistaken."

"I'm out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message."- said she still with closed eyes.

"Okay, if I sit here?"-asked he.

"Got any easier questions?"

The Prof. just smiled and sat down next to her. Then Kate opened her eyes and lifted her head and looked at him. She was surprised. He was not an Agent but a strange old man next to her. He must have been an another program but his face registered more humanity than an average human face on the street. Then the old man reached the coffee toward her.

"Hold it."-said he in a pleasant voice.

Kate was observing the black liquid for a while. It smelled like coffee. Then she took a sip of it.

"Mmmm! That's great! From where did you bring it?"

"From my office. The Agency's coffee can't be used internally. But it must be effective at interrogations."

"Yeah."-said Kate with a sad smile and looked away.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said it. I didn't mean it."

"Never mind. I didn't take it seriously."

"Thank you."

"But may I ask who are you?"

"Would you be surprised if I said I'm a program too."

"No. Nowadays nothing surprises me."

"Yes, I can imagine."

"No, you can't." -said Kate and took another sip of her coffee.

The Prof. was observing her for a while. She was quite exhausted. Tired. Her hair was tangled and the branches made several holes in her clothes. So she looked miserable, confused, scared, helpless.

"Are you all right?" -asked he finally.

Kate looked at him again. She could see he was concerned. Or at least he seemed to be concerned.

"Yes, thanks. These are just holes and some scratches. Nothing serious."

"I meant not your psychical injuries. Is everything OK between you and Agent Smith?"

"Of course. ............. He has a nice personality."-said Kate and tried not to laugh.

The Prof. got the joke.

"Yes. But not for a human being, right?"-asked he.

"Right. But, at least, he has a positive attitude about his destructive habits. And, you know, he is really easy to get along with once you learn to worship him." - said Kate with a faint smile as she glanced at the Prof..

"Yeah. I think you're right." - laughed he.

"Do you know him too?"

"I know lot about him. Data, pieces of information. Things like that. So I know Smith, the Agent. But I think nobody knows Smith itself."

"What are you talking about?"

"I think you already noticed that he is everything but not an average Agent program. And because of it he could be very useful. ............. Or extremely dangerous."

"I'm afraid I still don't get you."

"Smith's so-called abilities also aroused the Mainframe's and other higher quarters' attention. But what matters is not what Smith is now. It's more important what he is becoming. And in this process you play an important role. Because before he met you, Smith just observed humans from a far distance. And he never let anybody - neither another program nor humans - close to himself. His 3Ps kept him back."

"His 3Ps?"

"His 3Ps. His Program instruction, his Prejudice and his Pride. But now, as I see, his attitude is changing."

"And is it good or bad?"

"It depends on whom or what we are talking about. It's good for you, because it might make it easier to get along with him. It's good for me, because I have the opportunity to study a really unbelievable phenomenon. But it's not so good if we are talking about the Mainframe. It exercises tight control on its Agents. And it doesn't tolerate any mutations or disobedience."

"So you say that Smith doesn't obey the orders?"

"No. It's not exactly the truth. He does his duty but usually he goes on his own way. And that kind of self-determination is completely unacceptable for his superiors. Moreover he serially neglected several check inspections in the last few weeks. It is also against the rules."

"Check inspections?"

"These are test routines. Every Agent is checked regularly and everything that considered to be useless or could have deleterious effect is removed from their data bases. And at the same time they are refreshed and updated of course."

"And why do you think Smith neglected them?"

"These control programs erase everything that the Agents have seen, learned or experienced or downloaded to solve a case or to find someone, because these data aren't useful anymore and later these things might confuse them. But I think Smith doesn't want to loose this information. Or loose his memories."

"I see. But is it good for him?"

"Excuse me?"

"You said that sort of change in his personality is good for us but it will cause further problems to the Mainframe. And for him?"

"Are you so concerned?"

"Concerned? I'm just the Smith monitor here."

"Believe me, I know that it's really a thankless job."

"Yeah, but I've got a lot of Karma to burn off."

"Great. Never loose your humor, Kate. Sometimes it's a great help." - smiled the Prof..

"All right. But what is your answer?"

"I don't know the answer, Kate. Nobody knows it yet. But I'm sure that he can't handle or control his emotions properly. And because of it his behavior is really incalculable. And that's why he is more dangerous. And it will have unforeseeable consequences."

"Yes. I agree. ....... And did you talk about these things with Smith too?"

"I talked with him but not about this last thing. But I think he knows it well too. He didn't mentioned me to you before?"

"No."

"Well, I'm not surprised. He is cautious. And I can understand him. There are so few people in life whom you can trust."

"Then what do you suggest?"

"Trust only yourself, Kate. ................. And rarely." -said the Prof. and rose to his feet.

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it. But my time is over now. I must vanish before Smith comes back."

"Why?"

"Because by now I'm sure he realized that no one wanted him to report."

Kate looked at him.

"You?"

"Yeah. I know it wasn't the best idea but I wanted to talk with you alone. And I'm glad we did this."

"But he will be furious."

"I know. So I'd better go."

"But you can't leave me with him."

"Don't worry, Kate. He is incalculable, not stupid. And I'm sure he will never hurt you. But I'm not sure what he would do with me right now. So...."

"But will we meet again?"

"Sure. Soon. Bye!"-said he with a smile and turned on his heel and walked away.

"Bye!"-said she and her gaze followed him.

As soon as the Prof. disappeared at the corner the elevator's door opened. It was Smith. And he was rather worried than furious. When he arrived at the given floor he didn't find the given room. That room number didn't even exist. As soon as he realized it he had a really bad feeling. He hoped that nothing happened with Kate. And when he found her on the chair safe and unharmed he calmed down. He stepped out of the elevator and walked up to her.

"Did everything go well?"-asked Kate with a faint smile as Smith stopped in front of her.

"May I ask a question?"

"It's not the stork that brings the babies, Smith."-said Kate as she looked at him.

That remark made Smith frown. And a little bit confused. What is the connection between birds and human procreation? But it didn't matter. She was in a good mood and he wanted to know why.

"Would you be so kind as to share your information with me about what the hell happened here?"

"Calm down, Smith. Nothing happened here. I'm OK. So you are. And now, if it's possible, I wanna go home."

Smith was just standing, waiting and staring at her.

"Please?!"-said Kate as she stood up.

Smith finally nodded to her and turned. Kate was slower but she managed to follow him to the car. But this time they were alone. And it was better. The apartment wasn't far away from the Agency's building. And she was really thankful for it. Everything Kate wanted was a hot bath and her bed. Smith was driving in silence. Kate was silent too. She huddled herself up on the passenger seat and before they arrived she fell asleep.