Conviction

A/N: Sorry about the HUGE delay with this chapter- I have just been loaded with so much work it is incredible. I promise I will try to keep updating quicker from now on. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Matrix, or any of the characters therein. They still belong to the Wachowskis. L

3. We want you out.

Eve wrapped her black jacket tighter around herself as she walked down the road with an icy wind whipping through her hair. She remembered the time she had heard of her mother's death, two weeks ago. It was a car crash, although, not many people knew that she was drunk at the time. She was free now, Eve thought to herself. No close relatives left, no friends, no one to worry and raise an alarm if one day she simply disappeared…

She focused on the pavement again, swerved to avoid a suited man in a hurry, and turned the corner towards the church. The funeral was quiet. The Taylor family had all but fallen apart, and Eve knew the things that were said about them. Most of them she even agreed with. She felt she was no longer part of their family. That part of her life was lost, along with her old name. The priest spoke the final words, and Eve heard her aunt crying. Stupid cow, she muttered under her breath. They were all such hypocrites. They never helped, they were never there when she had needed them, and now they cried at her funeral.

Eve left early and walked back to her apartment. She began to tidy her things and shut down her computer. She was leaving. She checked her watch. 11:30 p.m.

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'Fathom, where is she?' Leda was pissed off about this one. She knew how important Eve was to Trinity, and she didn't want a bad unplugging on her list.

'She's coming. I said midnight. Calm down.' He looked around through the gloom, but there was still no sign of her. She will come, she will, he thought to himself.

'The longer she's in here, the more likely it is the agents will find her. We're not immune from them just because we have Neo.'

'I understand Leda. She will come.' He sounded more confident than he was. What if she had changed her mind? She had sounded scared before. If that was the case, they were all in deep shit. Even Morpheus, waiting in a building four blocks away.

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Eve turned the corner, walking fast and huddling against the cold. Apparently the real world was cold. Brilliant. She looked ahead and made out two figures, both in black, standing next to a car. She moved closer, and saw one of them was Fathom. She relaxed slightly.

'Bingo,' he said softly to Leda, who met the comment with an icy glare.

She turned to Eve, who by now was only a couple of feet away.

'Get in.'

Eve slid into the car, between Leda and Fathom. From the front driver's seat, a man with dark hair turned around and smiled gently at her.

Fathom spoke. 'That's Janus. He and Leda are new recruits. Bit like you really. They replaced Switch and Apoc. You heard what happened with them, didn't you?'

Eve nodded. She decided not to say anything until she was absolutely sure what was going on. Janus began to drive off and Fathom continued.

'That complete bastard Cypher. Well, there's been a lot of weird shit going on since then. And now you turn up. Trinity's sister. Funny really. She doesn't seem the sisterly type.' He smirked to himself and the rest of the journey passed in silence.

They arrived at a tall, imposing building and began to walk upstairs inside it. Leda was watching Eve, looking for signs of fear, signs of weakness. She found none, although she knew that on the inside Eve was terrified. She was a tough cookie. Very much like Trinity.

Janus knocked on the huge double doors, and opened them for Eve to pass through. She walked in smoothly, like a cat, and he whispered, 'Good luck.'

Morpheus turned around to see her slim figure pass through the doors and wait pensively for him to speak. My God, he thought. She is exactly like her sister.

'Hello Eve. I am Morpheus.'

'I guessed.' She put on a brave face, although inside she was quaking.

'My speech this evening will be slightly different than usual, as you already know so much about the Matrix. So I will save being cryptic for now. The truth is, we want you out. Trinity wants you out. If you are not unplugged soon, the agents will surely find, and eliminate you. We cannot risk that. You still have a choice, although I will say now; I sincerely hope that you choose the red pill.'

She looked down at the table he indicated with his hand, and saw two pills, a red and a blue one. She reached down and took the red without hesitation. No turning back now.

'Good. Now, if you follow me, we can begin.'

She followed Morpheus out of the room they were in, and into another, full of high tech computer equipment. Fathom, Leda and Janus were there, surrounding a reclined, battered old chair.

'Take a seat.' Morpheus then turned. 'Janus, are we on-line?'

'Almost there…I got her!'

'Good luck, Eve.'

Yay! This chapter took so long, I was wondering if it would ever be finished. Just to say thanks to my reviewers:

Agent Josey: Yayayay! Sorry it took so long. The final outcome still isn't clear in my own head, so any ideas would be considered.

Nobody's Princess: Thankyou! Again- sorry it took so long. Trinity/Neo jealousy? Well I can't guarantee there won't be any, but yes, they do still love each other. More about Eve to come!

Da Buffster: Lots of reactions coming! And this time sooner I promise!

Well I seem to be apologising to everyone, so I guess I'll just have to update faster next time! Keep reviewing!