the matrix
second cycle

part 3: vampire's story

"Evil is a point of view." -- Lestat, Interview With A Vampire

Romania, 1891

Even his youth couldn't keep him from being hunted down by an animal. He was nine years old, and he'd been running for most of his very short life. He was not welcome in any of the villages he set foot in, and was chased out by either an angry mob or a group of strangely dressed men.

When the craving became too strong for him, he would attack anything that came near, be it human or animal, often killing it in the process. He didn't mean to do so, of course, but he couldn't control himself, couldn't control the urge, the instinct to completely drain the blood from his victim's body – and he hated himself for his lack of control.

His dark hair clung to his neck, damp with sweat despite the cold air. Steam issued from his lips as he breathed and rose off his normally cold body in waves; snow melted when he stumbled and fell, leaving depressions that marked his path as assuredly as his small footprints did.

He was falling more often now, from both exhaustion and hunger. He hadn't fed in some time, hadn't slept for nearly as long, and had been running for at least a few hours from the strange suited men who never seemed to tire. At last he fell, unable to rise and continue. He tried, whimpering as sore muscles protested, then gave in to his exhausted body's demands, losing consciousness as snow fell and covered his small body.

He was therefore unaware of the female tiger that almost stumbled over him, alerted to his presence by his scent almost at the last minute. She dug him out and lay beside him to keep him warm, treating him as a cub. Strange behaviour for a tiger, but she was no ordinary tiger. She was one of the sentient programs of the first Matrix, trapped as a tiger in her escape from deletion during the turnover from Paradise into Hell.

She was no longer capable of communication, but the intuitive program was able to care for the small one and keep him warm, not yet realising that sheer cold would not kill him. As the wind changed, she picked up the scent of those hunting the child and came to a decision.

Siberia, as she had once been called, woke the child and managed to indicate that he should get on her back. It took him a moment to get it, then, still half-asleep, climbed on, wrapping slender arms around her neck and laying his head against hers, nuzzling the warm fur. She sprang into a run, taking care not to dislodge the young one.

She knew who to take him to, but unfortunately did not know the location. However, there was a safe point that the angels would check regularly, so she could leave him there without worrying about these new guardians of the system. Perhaps she would even get lucky and the Merovingian would reward her with a human-based shell!

A tiger could hope, anyway.

Siberia loped off, doubling back, circling around, leaving as a confusing a trail as possible for her inevitable pursuers. The child on her back moaned softly after a few hours, saying one word: "Hungry..." So was she. She loped off to hunt and quickly found some prey. Setting the child down, she set off after the creature, not seeing the boy raise his head, red flashing in his eyes.

When she returned, dragging the carcass of a deer, she found him curled up near the body of one of their suited pursuers, lower half of his face smeared with blood, eyes closed and sleeping peacefully. Now she knew what this child was, and knew why these men had been chasing him. One of the vampires, due for deletion soon after his "birth". It was even more urgent that she get him to relative safety.

Siberia feasted upon her catch, then she and the silent child set off. He was much stronger now that he'd fed and rested, almost keeping up with her. He really was quite adorable, Siberia decided, even with blood dripping from his child's face.

After a week's travel, they arrived at the safe house just as one of the angels walked out. Seth, his brown ponytail now more than halfway down his back, paused as Siberia arrived with the boy. He arched an eyebrow. "Well, look at what the cat dragged in," he murmured, looking the young vampire over. The child stared back at him, eliciting a laugh from the much older program. "You, I like. What's your name, kid?"

The boy frowned, not sure of the answer. Seth frowned as well. "No name, then? Okay, then, we'll call you Tiger, since a tiger led you here."

The vampire tipped his head to one side, trying out the new word as if he was tasting it. "Tiger."

The first syllable exposed his slim fangs, and Seth grinned. "Bloodsucker, eh? I know just the place for you, kid. Why don't you come with me?"

The newly-christened Tiger considered this. "Why?"

"There's a program called the Merovingian who provides a safe place for programs like us. We're all of us Exiles, you see, so we need some protection from the System. We work for him, and he protects us. It's a good deal all around. And there's plenty of blood for you and your kind, so you don't have to worry about starving."

Tiger at last smiled. "All right."

Siberia smiled as well, or at least bared her fangs. Seth nodded to her. "I think you've been a kitty long enough, 'Ria. You're coming, too." The tiger purred and padded after Seth as he led Tiger to a door.

Yeah, it was short. But Tiger's story wasn't really that long. He grows up during the Third Cycle, you see. Next up, the story I know some of you have been wondering about: Shyama, the Invisible Program. The story of Krsna's grandmother. Enjoy!

EDIT 21 Nov 05 - Author's notes deleted as per new rules.