Protector of Men Ch 73
Zandra walked up to assigns unsure of herself; unsure of how to act in Zion. People had already recognized her, had already come up to her introducing themselves, thanking her, and it put her off-guard. At least Shade had understood, and only retreated to his own apartment when it was clear that no one would bother her further.
The man behind the assigns counter smiled as she approached. Here we go.
"Zandra," the man greeted, holding out a hand. Zandra shook it with feigned confidence, but the man wasn't able to see through it.
"We've got something for you," he said, a sly grin creeping across his face. Zandra didn't say anything. No one had told her why she was going, someone, (Probably Cover,) had decided to keep it a secret from her.
"And what would that be?" she asked in return, attempting to sound as jovial as the man. He pulled out a key and jangled it a few times before presenting it to her.
"Gift from an old friend of yours," he said, "Left it to you just in case."
Zandra held her breath for a moment. An old friend? Could it be…?
"Tevy, I think… Yeah," the man mumbled, pulling out a piece of paper from a metal cabinet behind him, "Tevy."
Zandra sighed and accepted the key; the rest of the formalities were soon over. It wasn't as shocking as she would have guessed, though it did surprise her that Stephen had written out a will for himself. Zandra didn't even know that such things existed in Zion. She was on the first floor; the trip to Stephen's old apartment would be long. Ahead of her was the restaurant that she and Stephen had visited their first visit together; Zandra remembered how she had cast him off in her insecurity… why couldn't she have accepted his compliments?
"Zandra," someone called behind her. She turned around, expecting another Zionite. She was surprised when she realized it was Councilor Gallup.
"Hello… councilor," she said.
"Been looking around for you for a while,"
"I'm sorry," she answered confusedly, "Did someone tell you I was here?"
"I asked around,"
"Oh," she murmured. Zandra wasn't sure where the conversation was headed.
"Well," he started, suddenly full of life, "Is now an alright time to meet with the council? We're anxious to discuss matters of Zion events with you… are you busy?"
Zandra paused a moment, but then shook her head feverishly.
"No, no."
And soon they were on their way to the councilor's quarters, Gallup leading at a fast pace, and Zandra trotting along behind. The other councilors were already waiting for them when the two arrived. They stood when she entered, and Zandra soon turned a bashful shade of red. Nonetheless, they motioned for her to sit across from then on their semicircular table.
"Zandra," one said, "We hear that you were successful in retrieving the informant."
She nodded.
"He'll be staying with the Oracle?" Another asked. Zandra was confused – how did they know about the Oracle?
"Yes," she stammered, "I think so."
"She's become quite the woman in Zion," Councilor Yogere mentioned. Zandra remembered her from a long time ago; when Stephen was still fresh on her mind.
"A lot of our new recruits are going to see her," she continued, "She's got a lot of information to dole out, and she's quite the motivator for us."
Zandra nodded blankly. It was exactly what she would have dreaded: the one woman she didn't trust was now doling out propaganda to everyone in Zion. Gallup suddenly coughed very loudly and sat up in his chair. Everyone looked to him as he began to speak.
"Well, Zandra, we guessed that since you've come so far within the matrix, we should probably keep you equally up to date with Zion's matters."
Zandra was silent; she hadn't caught on to Gallup's clue.
"I think you need to know everything that we've known," he continued, gesturing to all twenty-two of the councilors, "If you're going to lead us, as they insist, you'll need to be accurately informed."
Zandra nodded, and quietly thanked him, though inside Zandra's mind was a tumult of thought.
"He's an amazing man, Neo," another Councilor mentioned, his eyes resting somewhere in space. Again Zandra was befuddled.
"Why?"
"He freed the first of us," Gallup started, "It was him that started the resistance."
Zandra blinked twice; started the resistance?
"He was the one who freed all of us in this room," the first Councilor continued.
"Well, plus one."
Zandra made a face of confusion that they detected readily.
"Emory used to be a councilor," another began.
Everyone became silent for a moment, unease filtered through the air. Zandra watched as flickering glances bounced through the room. Gallup coughed once, and continued.
"He decided a long time ago it was not for him."
"So Neo freed you?" she asked. Zandra had to straighten it out, and even though she trusted the councilors, she still was reluctant to tell them what Neo had explained to her.
"All twenty-three of us," one answered. "He stayed inside, but we became unplugged and started Zion with his help."
His help? How could they have started Zion without help of the machines? Zandra must have looked thoroughly confused by this time.
"Is there something wrong?" Yogere asked, her face an expression of worry. Zandra shook her head.
"No," she said, "Just taking it all in."
"It is amazing, isn't it?" Another councilor continued, a grin plastered across his face. "All this progress, and only thirty-three years. Imagine: probably only a little longer and we'll have won the war!"
Zandra was quiet.
"Thirty-three years," he repeated, leaning back into this reclined chair, "And they thought they could control us."
Slowly he mumbled his way into silence, and Zandra was thankful. Gallup sighed loudly and changed the subject again.
"Well, when you go back in, be sure to talk with him about a plan."
"He knows a lot; he can control almost anything."
Zandra nodded again, but knew what they told her already.
"We're pleased to say that Zion has rallied one-hundred percent behind you," Gallup stated with confidence, swinging his fist in the air. Zandra smiled weakly.
"We're actually having a gathering tomorrow night to celebrate," Yogere said, then quickly corrected herself, "We're having an annual celebration… it's tomorrow. An annual celebration for the establishment of Zion."
Zandra tried not to make a face, and instead continued watching the councilors.
"It's in the gathering hall," another continued, "Speeches first – of course commending our (and your) work concerning the war – and then we provide food and music. It's all quite entertaining."
"Will you join us?" a councilor asked, tilting his head to the side. Zandra nodded, and they were satisfied.
The meeting was over soon afterwards; Zandra retreated into the hallways of Zion alone and depressed. The council had no idea of what Neo really knew; and they were leading the war that supposedly was going to send them all to salvation. She pulled out the key she held, rubbed it with her thumb as she wandered her way to Stephen's old apartment. Shade would probably be wondering where she was about now, but she forced into the back of her mind; Stephen came first.
She still found it hard to believe that she had missed Stephen's innuendo, the insinuation that would have alerted her to his feelings – and now left her in charge of his possessions. She basically owned his life now that he was incapable of it himself. Her thumb grew warm with friction as she continued walking towards his room.
It was hard for her to go through the rooms without having to stop. Many times she shut her eyes, half of herself trying to calm down, the other trying to remember the essence of what it was like when he was there.
She fell asleep on his couch, an old book resting on her chest. Tomorrow would come early, from habit. But for now, she would be lost in a dreamworld of her own devices not far from the oppression of the matrix.
