Conviction
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Just my mind… I think. The characters in my fiction, apart from Eve, Fathom, Janus and Leda, are the works of the supreme imaginations of the Wachowski bros. Don't sue.
8. The Oracle.
Neo wandered into the mess room of the Nebuchadnezzar, taking care not to make too much noise. It was late, and he had left Trinity sleeping as he could not seem so sleep himself. He took a step forward and jumped as he saw Morpheus sitting at the table, staring into space.
'Good evening, Neo.'
'Hi. I, um, I couldn't sleep.'
'Neither could I. I don't know what to do with Eve.'
Neo sat down. He had been thinking about this himself, wondering if it was just because she was connected to Trinity, but he felt an affinity for this girl.
'What do you mean?'
'She's at a loose end. I know that new recruits often are for the first few weeks, but she has so much potential. Trinity was like that. She takes after her so much.'
'I know.' He paused, unsure of what to say next. 'So, what did you do with Trinity?'
'The same thing I did with you. I took her to the Oracle as soon as she was ready.'
'Is Eve ready?'
'I believe so. Do you think we should take her in?'
'Why are you unsure?'
'It's so soon. But I think it's time. We will tell her tomorrow.'
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'So then the blue connects with the brown, and you solder it in?'
'That's right. Then we're online. You sure learn fast.'
Eve watched Link put the last drop of solder onto the connection, and then stand back to admire their handiwork. She felt pleased that she was of some help on the ship, and had a job to do.
'Link, we need to get up to broadcast depth, as soon as possible.'
Eve turned around, and saw Morpheus standing a few metres away. She ran her hand over the stubble on her head and looked to the floor. She had never been someone who respected authority much, but there was something about this man, the presence he had, the calm and power that he exuded, that made her feel uncomfortable.
'Yes sir,' said Link, before walking away.
Morpheus smiled at Eve slightly, and followed after him.
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'Alright, are we ready?'
'Yes sir, we are.'
Link settled himself in the operator's chair and put on the headset that would connect him to the rest of the crew once they were inside the Matrix. Morpheus walked towards his chair and then turned to Eve.
'Eve, take a seat. We're going in for you. We think it's time to take you to see her.'
Eve looked around, looking for somebody to validate this cryptic comment. She saw Trinity standing behind her, and her eyes pleaded for an explanation.
'The Oracle.'
Eve turned back to face Morpheus who smiled knowingly and indicated the chair. She sat down and was plugged in, followed by the rest of the crew.
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'We're in.' The calm voice of Morpheus, in this world where nothing was as it seemed.
They stepped out of the abandoned warehouse, into the harsh artificial sunlight, and to a car that was waiting. Fathom took the wheel, and they drove off towards the apartment block where the mother of the Matrix resided.
As they drove, Eve noticed all the places that she had known, loved and hated. She watched all the people living out their lives and felt a tremendous sense of pity for them all, unknowing and oblivious. She felt like jumping out of the car and screaming at them that none of this was real, their lives were meaningless and they needed to wake up and know the truth. She looked across to Trinity and saw that she too was staring out of her window at the park where they had played together as children, her face inscrutable behind dark glasses.
'This is it.' Morpheus' voice broke the silence like cut glass.
Eve stepped out of the car and looked up at the building. How many times had she walked past this, idly looked up at it, but never really cared? Everything was so different now.
She entered the building with Morpheus and took the elevator upwards, to a graffiti covered corridor. They walked down it in silence until they came to the door he had been looking for.
'Here we are Eve. Did I ever tell you about the Oracle?'
'She knows everything, right?'
'She knows enough, but remember, she is only a guide.'
With this remark, the door opened, and a woman dressed in white robes looked out at them.
'Morpheus. Welcome back. And Eve. We've been waiting for you. Follow me.'
Eve followed, not knowing what to expect. After all, it was quite unexpected that the Oracle would be living in an apartment like this in the first place.
'Go on through to the kitchen. She is waiting for you.'
Eve walked through the archway into the kitchen, taking in the cramped surroundings and the out of date furnishings, before her eyes came to rest on a woman in badly fitting clothes sitting on a stool staring at something cooking in her oven.
'Hello Eve.'
'Hello,' she replied tentatively.
The Oracle turned around and smiled reassuringly.
'Isn't that uncanny. You are so much like her. But it seems that you have quite a different role to play.'
Now- onto my reviewer thankyous!
Agent Josey- Ah, awards. Dontcha just love them? Thanks for your comments on the fight sequence- it was…hard. It took a while. So did this chapter actually. Keep on reviewing, they mean a lot.
Da Buffster- Oh no. I hate that, when you're up all hours just trying to get some work done. It always happens that when I'm doing stuff at the weekend or whatever, we get a ton of work and I can't fit it all in. But then when I'm doing nothing, we get barely anything! School is against me. :( Glad my fic gives you ideas, even if they are random thoughts! Good luck with your fics to come, and stay hyper!
SapphireNight- Thankyou! Its always nice to know that people are reading my stuff. :D I'm trying to keep up this sibling rivalry, as you said, (although there's not that much in this chapter) so keep reading!
thereisnobrain- Again, thankyou! Zion…hmm. That may come later- so watch this space.
Take a guess- Oh I wonder who this could be! Thankyou, I trust you enjoyed the fight scene. ;) With the email- you could have just asked. You are dead, get your head down and revise dammit! No I haven't either. Ciao sexy, and keep reviewing or I will get you!
Protectress of Dalidon- Thanks for the constructiveness of your criticism! I have already adressed those points in that email, but here I will just say that I appreciate you analysing my story like that, carry on!
Hopefully I will get the next chapter up and running faster than this one. We shall see.
