Heart pounding, she landed as light as a cat, pausing to watch and assess her surroundings. The alley she had been in last time was a block north, she realized that her mistake had been going that way in the first place. She wasn't Trinity, she didn't like heights. Licking her lips she walked quickly the opposite direction. The crowded streets parted for her and dispersed into the night, that was the best bit about programs, the time never changed. Unless it was specified before running the initial start up procedures, but she wanted to get it partially right once in the same time, she felt more comfortable there. Taking a deep breath, she moved swiftly through a narrow gap between buildings, aware that the windows opened just above jump height, making it almost impossible to get into them. A wry smile twisted the corner of her lips. But then, nothing was impossible. Casting a glance at the wall she assessed the chance she could use it as a rebound point, but the gap was far too thin. All there was room for was the old balcony that hadn't been taken down when the newer apartments had been built. Eyes flicking up, she prepared to push off, her fingers only extending as she left the ground, reaching for the rusted metal. With a groan, the supports began to leave the wall; she angled her swing so she could hook her feet on the ledge of the window. It was a risky move but there were always reasons for what she wore. The toes held for long enough for her to check her momentum and crash through the window… Into an empty room. The place had been deserted for years by the look of it, dust covering the ground thickly. A smile almost touched her lips. She didn't have time to marvel at the graphics. Quietly she drew the gun she always carried, opening the next door softly. Another empty room, probably the lounge or dining room judging by the size. The windows opened onto the other building's side. Pursing her lips, she considered taking the chance of getting into the other apartment block, but that was far too dangerous, even for her. There was a manhole in the ceiling, which was odd since the flat she was in was only on the second floor. Eyes narrowed with determination, she pushed off the cover and discovered the warren that had been left to fester, it was disgusting. Rolling her eyes, she crawled through the filth until she saw another opening, this one to the outside. A ventilation shaft of some descript. She frowned again, the dust clinging to her body. The opening occurred above a Dumpster, the lid closed. The alley was empty and it was with relief she realized it looked nothing like the one she had taken the last time she had been in. With grim satisfaction, she prepared to dive out of the tunnel. As her feet touched the ground, barely coming out of the summersault in time, her phone rang. She snapped it open.
"Yeah?"
"I have to pull it, someone is very unimpressed."
"Shit, he's there?"
"Sorry Switch, he figured it out himself." 'Ah,' she thought, 'he's standing nearby.'
"Ok, where?"
"You want to keep going? He's damn mad." It was a clear warning, but she ignored it. Screw him, not.
"I want an exit, I'm on a mission remember."
"Ok, go to the end of the alley, go left, first right, left door. Got it?"
"Left, right, left door, not hard. I'll make it."
"You're going to have to." The phone was closed and with a sigh she shook off the clinging dust. Definitely one of the benefits of RSI, you didn't really get grimy. It was somewhat an anticlimax as she headed to the exit, she had been sure she had made the right decisions, they had been instinctive, gut-felt, this time. Cursing fluently in her mind she picked up the receiver, rushing back into her body. She could feel the waves of anger rolling off him and she had to find courage to open her eyes and face his. There was more fury behind the dark depths than she had ever seen and for a moment she thought she had made the wrong choice. But this wasn't a red or blue; this was a no option type. Come to think of it, that was what the red and blue had been for her so it really didn't matter. Blue had never been an option. He was silent and she waited for Tank to undo the restraints before gracefully sitting up.
"I told you I didn't want you back in there." It was deathly quiet as he hissed the words through clenched teeth.
"And I told you I could beat it. How was I doing Tank?" She asked, never taking her eyes from the angry man's.
"You were doing what was best, you were closer by half a mile than last night, your reaction times were quicker and your vitals were more stable…"
"Gee, looks like practice pays off." She set her feet on the floor and rose quietly. She'd be damned if she'd let him win this one.
"Yeah, but you don't have time to practice in there."
"More reason for me to get it out here." She snapped quickly, voice as soft as his. No one would wake other crew if they didn't have to.
"Switch, I'll finish the rest of this shift."
"No, I swapped it, I do it. You have to help Morpheus find that kid tomorrow, that'll be hard work." He was silent, eyes pegging her. But he gave in, walking away from her, going back down the ladder and finally closing his door with a gentle click.
"That is the scariest thing I've ever had to deal with from you two."
"We didn't do anything." She said, checking over the green code on the monitors.
"Yeah, which is my point. I would have been less worried if you'd screamed at each other."
"But that would have woken the others and we all need our sleep." He shook his head with a small smile.
"That's what's so funny Switch, they're all awake, They knew you were going in again."
"And they wanted to know how I did, right?" It wasn't really a question and the subjected dropped as something in the Matrix caught the attention of the woman. She pointed a finger slowly at the area of code.
"Oh shit, that's the one we were watching."
"What happened?"
"He's hit the jackpot."
"He found the archives we left for him?" The Op nodded grimly.
"And not a single problem with getting around the walls."
"Like a maze…" She mused softly, watching as the boy voraciously devoured the information. He really did earn his name.
"And he's just turned 18, if he chooses red we don't have to let Deadbolt get to him."
"Perfect, absolutely perfect." But even as her features held an air of excited expectance, the words from the Oracle repeated recklessly in her mind, tearing up her confidence and her peace. Couldn't there be one potential she didn't suspect? But then, this slip of a boy was too young and far too unstable to be who she feared. It was that simple, he wasn't someone she would die for, not yet and that helped her breathe normally again. She would have known by now, she would know and that was all she needed to count on. She'd know before anyone else, and then she'd be able to make the choice she wanted. Until then, it stayed as it had been. Nothing, never.
*~*
A/N: There is a prize to the person who guesses who they're talking about at the end of this chapter. So please, take a wild shot and see what you come up with :) Enjoy!
Da Buffster: I hope you did ok on your maths test, I Hate maths to. I think I'd like a ramble on the possibilities for funny lines in stories. Or odd things that characters do. Something like that but please, no chickens, pretty please? ;) I hope to hear from you soon with the next chapter of your story!
Summer: Here you go, an update! Have fun! :)
