Wraith's eyes again opened to look up upon the Prophecy, and he sighed. He'd entered, exited, and re-entered the Matrix so many times during the past few hours, it made him nauseous. He sat up slowly and stopped, clutching at his chest. His ribs were still broken, because a heavy hurt like that would carry over to his real body.

Twisting his head around, he saw the rest of the crew, many just looking blindly at him. He sighed again, then stopped himself halfway from the pain that coursed through his body. He swung his legs over the side of the cot, and stood up. Cosine came to help him, and he rested a hand over her shoulder as she led him to the medical bay on the ship.

They entered, and Wraith lay down on the bed there, holding his ribs. RAM was on the other bed, with some sort of band around his upper thigh where the wound had landed.

Cosine grabbed a medical device and came over to him, slapping it onto his broken bones and hitting a few sequences of buttons on the computer.

As she continued her work soundlessly, more of the crew gradually entered the bay and stood silently around the table.

All were silent, waiting for Wraith to speak. He smiled, and looked around at them all. Silent whizzes and whirs could be heard as the machine worked on Wraith's beaten body.

"Alright," Wraith said. "you want to know what's up. Let me tell you all first: this is a threat possibly bigger than the entire war against the Machines."

A few hurried murmurs rippled through the crew, and Wraith revelled in it himself. There was a single Agent, who was different. Was not part of the system. Was not a mindless drone. Was no longer an Agent. It was sentient. It was copious, powerful, and evil.

It was…alive.

He told them of how he had entered the chapel, and fought against the two 3.0 betas. The team was scared that an even newer version of this program was in existence, for two of them had nearly killed Wraith, and once there were many of the full version…

The phone call from Malcolm was hard for Wraith to recall precisely, as he had been stunned at it at first. He tried to speak all the details, but Cosine spoke up.

"Wraith, don't you know about your phone?"

"What? What about it?"

"I've entered a subprogram into it that records anything spoken over it. It is automatically downloaded into the ship's computer when you return to the real world."

Wraith was genuinely impressed. He smiled at his sister, and hugged her with some effort due to his ribs. She said she'd go retrieve the file to the medical bay, and left. Wraith's attention turned dark again as he spoke once more.

"Listen, all of you, I didn't want to scare her with this…but Malcolm said, and I completely believe him, that he will soon be in control of the Matrix. His abilities are endless. I don't know how we can stop him."

Lost Hope spoke up with a trail of fear in his resounding voice. "But, if that's true…that he will control the Matrix, that means we have to stop him."

"And soon," came Ice Fox's low voice.

"I know," Wraith said, and leaned back, looking up into the dim light as he pondered over the situation. They had no idea what had happened to him. They had no knowledge of his new abilities. There was really nothing they could do themselves.

They would have to go back to Zion.

"Ve half to go back to Zion," RAM said from the other bed, mimicking Wraith's thoughts.. "Ve half to varn zem about dis."

Then Webb spoke up. "Yes, but what would Zion do?" came his literal, to-the-point voice. "They would not believe us. We know how stubborn the Grand Council is."

"So we go back into the Matrix now and take Malcolm out," Pike said. Wraith turned to him angrily at first, then sighed. There was no getting around it, Pike was to quick to anger and far too immature to realize that that simply wouldn't work.

"Pike, it won't do us any good to go back in there," Lost Hope said. His orange eyes looked across to Pike.

"Maybe not, but that won't stop me," Pike said, charging out of the room.

Again, Wraith shook his head. He'll never learn, will he? He looked to the door as Wraith left to see Cosine re-enter. She held a small chip in her hand, which she inserted into a slot on the machine.

At first there was an image of a cross-section of Wraith's torso skeletal system overlain with translucent skin. There were 3 green points which pointed out fractures. Then Cosine hit a button on the machine, and the image switched to a grid-like image with an extra thick line running horizontally through the middle. Obviously this was a sound analysis program.

Malcolm's voice began to speak again and sent cold shivers down Wraith's back.

"…Respect the fact that I have a glitch…you scum such as you rebels…in essence, I became my own Matrix…tyranny of the Source…true ruler of the Matrix…but now that I wish to be the ruler of the Matrix, I will be…"

Those words rang again and again inside Wraith's head. He concluded that Malcolm obviously had a glitch, and it was tearing him apart. One side of him hated the Source, the profane repetitiveness of the machines. On the other, he felt the Rebels were "scum", and were meant to be destroyed nonetheless. He had strayed from his position within the Matrix, but still followed his original purpose.

And wanted to control the Matrix himself.

Wraith shivered. He knew that Malcolm could possibly claim it,  and with a bit of time, he would.

With a sigh, Malcolm flexed his arm muscles. They were sore, mostly due to his continual work of pumping out his armies. He resented the fact that even though he made these creations, he had little to test them against aside from the insects continually following him.

Soon, though…soon he would attain his revenge. Every minute that passed he was releasing streams of data from his body, creating stronger and stronger versions of the 3.0. But he knew it wasn't enough. He would have to find another method of making himself powerful beings to control the Matrix.

Then in his mind something hit him. Hard. He gasped lightly. More coding had been found, and it was such a sweet discovery. The coding was that of a dispersal sub-program.

Deciding to see what his newfound ability was, he called over to him a 2.0 he still had remaining, and the large fiend stepped in front of him and returned to his statue-esque stance. Malcolm wasted no time in gabbing the large monster's head with both of his hands and somehow activating the program within him.

The 3.0s looked on at the scene with little to no emotion whatsoever as the 2.0 began to scream in pain and then twist into a semi-silver mould of it's shape, then shift around to another shape. It re-materialized, and there, next to Malcolm, was an exact copy. Precisely the same in every way.

Malcolm looked in reverence at this creation. It was perfect. Just like him in every way. "Welcome to the Matrix," Malcolm said.

Then his clone gave a little smile, and said "Glad to meet me."

Malcolm felt ecstatic. He cloned another 2.0 into himself, then another, and another.

There were five total when Malcolm stopped. It was a dispersal program. He was being spread.

Not duplicated, but split.

Each of his own abilities and powers were now cut into five, and they were equally set among them. They all had some skills, but of a lesser degree. He knew that he alone retained the ability to clone and set the scanning shield, and the others now had more physical power, and the ability to warp around inside the Matrix.

Malcolm chose to stop, so that he wouldn't become too weak. He also realized he set himself up into a bad situation, but still profitable in many ways.

He was now in five parts, and so could do anything from any number of places. But each of his five entities were only a fifth as strong as he was. He also assumed that if one were to be destroyed, the power of it return to the others, and continually do so until only one remained.

Nonetheless, five times as many of himself means his digging into the code of the Matrix would go five times as fast, producing five times as many results.

The others would disperse in the way the sub-program projected and continue the work. He however, would remain behind.

"We will all separate," a clone said.

"Go to different locations around the Matrix," said another.

"Each search in different portions of code," said a third.

"Four of us are expendable and we will take on the Rebels if they attack," said the fourth clone.

"And become the ruler of the Matrix," said Malcolm.

Wraith sat on the bridge of the Prophecy beside Cosine, as he lifted off from the drop point and began to carry them back towards Zion. The door slid open behind them and Pike stormed in, muttering and cursing under his breath as he checked a computer console, then began to exit again.

"No luck, I presume?" said Wraith sardonically, casting a wry smile to his sister. The three siblings often did this, where Pike would be in anger, and Wraith and their sister would toy with him.

"No shit," he said, then left, closing the door harshly behind himself. Wraith just turned and smiled at his sister again.

Many hours later the team arrived back at Zion. After pleasantries at the dock, everyone headed in their own directions, except for Wraith. He had to go make a few reports to the Grand Council. He strode through the Halls, and realized Webb was close behind him.

"Where are you headed?" asked Wraith. "I thought your quarters were back down the hall."

"They are," said Webb, catching up to stride alongside Wraith. "Chess isn't there, though. She left a note saying she knew I'd returned, so If my assumption proves true, we'll both see her soon."

"What assumption is that?"

"Wait, you will learn in time."

Typical Webb, thought Wraith. Just tells me enough to keep me guessing.

They both arrived at the Grand Council chamber, and the dark blue shading everywhere filled Wraith's eyes. The Council now entered, six elderly people whom had previously been great captains of vessels. They all nodded towards Wraith as they sat. Nobody was in the seats of the chamber behind him, but ahead, behind the great table the Council sat at, a female strode into view, but only enough so her lower body was un-shadowed. Wraith could not see her face, but he could tell Webb tensed up when she appeared.

"Welcome back, Wraith" said one of the Council members. Wraith nodded to her and began his report. He outlined everything that had happened, but didn't note the fear all of his crew felt for the Malcolm. It was unbecoming of him, and he didn't want to show his fear to the highest order in Zion.

"Interesting," said the oldest man. He was wizened, and had a lean but strong face despite his age. "This Agent…he has disbanded from the Source, but still carries out his mission?"

"Yes, he's still intent upon primarily destroying Freeminds," Wraith said.

"Well, that will complicate matters…" the old man said, trailing off.

"Thank you for your report, Wraith, we will discuss it further and decide what to do," said the first Council member. "Oh, and we are all saddened by the loss of Flash, but losses must be taken. We have a new member for your crew…and you know her." She turned her attention to Webb as she said the final portion of her sentence.

From the shadows a woman walked. It was Webb's fiancé, Chess. She was young, lean, and of average height; her beauty nearly overwhelmed Wraith. She had striking black hair, darker than the darkest night in the tunnels, which contrasted to her ice blue eyes and pale skin.

Webb walked past Wraith and he and Chess met, and they embraced. Wraith nodded to the Council members and left, heading for his quarters.

An couple weeks later, after Wraith had fully recovered, he got a message saying the Prophecy would be sailing again, at 0600 hours the next morning. Wraith notified all members of his team via computer, except for Webb and Chess, who occupied the same quarters, so he went there personally.

As he entered the low-lit room, he saw Webb and Chess on opposite sides of the room, both plugged in to their own Personal Processing Unit. Wraith looked at both, then lay down beside Webb and jacked in.

Inside, he appeared in a Zen garden, where Webb was sitting cross-legged on a rock, his eyes closed. Rather than disturb him, Wraith decided just to tell Chess to tell him.

Wraith jacked back out of Webb's PPU and crossed the room, laying down next to Chess. He envied Webb, who got to do that nearly every night he was in Zion. Wraith jacked into the PPU, and this time he was in an open field, with nothing but a single tree in the middle. Chess sat under it, looking at Wraith, then beckoned him over.

"Yes?" she said, when he reached her.

"We leave again at 0600 hours. Webb was meditating, and I didn't want to bother him, so could you tell him for me?" Wraith said, and after she nodded in confirmation, he decided to try to continue the conversation. "Uh…nice place you have here…" Wraith said, then felt stupid as he looked around the meadow, which extended out thirty meters in every direction from the tree and disappeared into a grey nothingness.

"I prefer the serenity of a meadow and a tree to a Zen garden," she replied, and Wraith nodded. So they have different ways of self-peace, that's why they're on separate PPU's.

"I see. Uh, Chess…I was wondering…" he began, but trailed off, thinking of nothing to say. She looked at him, expectantly awaiting the end of the sentence, but it didn't come.

"Wondering what?" she asked.

"Spar?" he blurted out without thinking. She tilted her head to the side and then shrugged.

"Sure," she said, and stood up, brushing off her pants and reaching into her pocket for a small control pad, which apparently controlled the PPU.

Instantly, Wraith's and Chess' clothing changed to that of a martial arts gi, white with a black belt and a V-neck extending to the belly button. Wraith noticed hers did as well as he got a good shot of cleavage. She pulled off her belt and tightened the shirt, so it went right around her neck, then she put the belt back on. She input another command into the pad, and two katanas appeared on the ground midway between them, stuck into the ground.

The two looked at each other and got into a stance, preparing themselves for the fight. Wraith got into a low defensive stance, but Chess countered by entering into a high offensive stance, placing one arm across her waist, and the other across her head.

Wraith smiled. She knows what she's doing.

The two launched at each other. Wraith brought his arms up to his face to block a kick he knew was coming. He caught her foot with his right forearm as she brought it down in an axe kick, and with his left hand, chopped her leg to the side so she spun. As she completed the 360, he brought his right leg forwards to give her a low spin kick, but she brought her knee up and blocked.

Using Wraith's foot's momentum, she caught onto it at the shin and easily flipped over it, being half Wraith's weight, then still holding on, twisting it over her head as she completed her flip, which sent Wraith spinning through the air before crashing down in the smooth grass. He got onto his knees and elbows, and stood up, turning to smile at her.

In response she smiled back and again got into the same stance. Wraith threw a punch towards her neck, but as he expected, she brought her arms together, closing them on his fist and blocking the attack. He threw out his left leg behind her right and swept it to the right, tripping her down. She fell and now he used her momentum to bring his fist that was caught forward to her.

Chess braced her face for the impact, but opened her eyes to see Wraith smiling as his fist hung an inch above her nose. He opened it, inviting her hand to take his to help her up. She did, but as she stood she jumped up and with both legs kicked Wraith in the gut, sending him hurtling backwards.

He fell onto his back, but rolled over his head and as he faced down he pushed up with his hands, throwing himself into a standing position.

The two again smiled at each other, and got into another stance, this time the same one. Both held their fists forward, approximately at stomach level, while going into a semi-crouch. Wraith knew this was a violent style, fast and hard, but if she was doing it, he wasn't going to let himself get beaten by a woman.

Chess charged forward, and Wraith awaited her. She reached him and stopped, throwing her fists forward in many punches. Wraith barely had time to throw his arms around to block them. She's good. He noticed, however, that she almost always left her left side open, so he took the advantage, spinning to his right.

This threw her off balance, and he turned, kneeing her in the side. She nearly fell, but turned back and knocked Wraith's knee away, then quickly ducked under a chop and elbowed him in the chest. She followed it up by grabbing his head, behind hers, and using his weight as leverage she lifted her feet off the ground, swung them back behind Wraith's, and then transferred her weight to her upper body, swinging it downwards and launching Wraith over herself. He fell face first to the ground.

He rose slowly, shaking out the dizziness he now felt. She's really good. He turned back to her just in time to take a flying kick to the gut. He soared back and hit the tree, sending a shockwave of pain to his head. He shut his eyes and winced, and when he opened them he had to duck, or else be decapitated by the katanas.

She swung them in opposite ways, bringing the katana in her right hand from her left side, and vice versa for her left. They met in a scissor way at the spot on the tree where Wraith's neck had been, but he was now crouched beneath her arms. He threw out a punch towards her gut, but she pulled herself up with her crossed arms, as the swords she held were jammed into the tree. She twisted midair, righting her arms as she hung upside down, pushing up with her hands to hold her feet against the tree.

She looked down on Wraith, who turned to face the tree and looked up at her. She dropped again, swinging her legs but still maintaining hold of the blades, and she brought her heels into his shoulders. His face pummelled into the tree, and he fell, lying face down.

That's it, make sure I'm okay, he thought as she pulled the swords from the tree but still held them. She leaned over Wraith.

"Are you-" she managed to blurt out before Wraith twisted up and locked his feet around he leaning form, bringing them and her down to the ground. He hopped up just as she did. She swung a katana at his midriffs, but he skipped forward and grabbed her wrist, then twisted it, forcing her to drop the sword.

He caught it with his heel as he ducked under the other sword, which was aimed at his neck again. It sliced off a few hairs, and he felt a scare. She's really, REALLY good. He threw the katana balancing on his heel up and spun to catch it in his hands. He twisted back to her and swung the blade, meeting hers midway.

They held that position momentarily, both in the same one, and looked at each other, smirking at the cocky fight they were having.

They again acted simultaneously, bringing their swords out and then in again in a different strike, but the both blocked each other. This continued for a moment, both striking simultaneously and blocking each other, until Chess leaped back from a low cut and then dive forward again, stabbing out at Wraith's heart. He ducked right under her as she flew over him, then he brought his foot up behind him and caught her in the stomach.

She flew up from the kick, then as she came down she landed low and quickly cut again, spinning to slice off Wraith's leg. He leaped up, but unfortunately she stood and spun delivering a large kick to Wraith, sending him soaring back into the tree again. She twisted her torso towards him and launched the katana at his chest. He leaped up and it passed between his feet, with such force it sunk right to the hilt. He quickly brought his feet together and perched on the handle, then catapulted off and as he came down he made a mighty swing with the blade.

She sidestepped and brought up her knee to catch him in the gut. He flipped over onto his back. As he arose, she jumped backwards to the tree, and he aimed a kick low, she held the sword and flipped up, pressing her feet against the tree again, with both hands on the katana that was thoroughly stuck into the tree.

He brought his own katana back, then up in a grand arc over his head. She managed to barely pull out the sword to block the attack, then she threw her feet forwards, placing them on either side of Wraith's head, and swung herself back, then over his head, pulling him along. He flipped and landed hard onto the ground on his back. She feinted a swing down at his neck again, and he brought up his sword to block. Chess instead kicked hit out of his hands and across the meadow.

Wraith began to sit up, but she smacked his forehead with the hilt of her katana, and he fell back. She stepped onto his biceps with her feet and placed the tip of her blade against his neck, effectively defeating him.

"Checkmate," she said.

Wraith nodded and she let him go, and he stood up. The two bowed at each other. "You're good," said Wraith, which was a supreme understatement, but she flashed a toothy smile at him nonetheless.

She was about to respond when another person appeared behind her. She turned around to face Webb, and the two smiled and embraced in a quick kiss, then a hug. Wraith looked at the two, and then was surprised by Webb.

His face, looking into Wraith's, was perched on her right shoulder. Instead of his serene blank look, or the smile he held all the time when in Chess' presence, he had a look of anger and contempt.

It was hard to notice, but Wraith saw it nonetheless. Chess and Webb pulled apart, and he was all smiles again. Wraith looked on as Chess turned to nod at him, then pressed a button on the pad which brought the three back to the real world.

They all sat up, and Wraith rubbed his neck, still pondering Webb's expression. He said his goodbyes and left the room, and as he walked down the hall only one problem was in his mind. It wasn't the upcoming suicide mission against Malcolm.

It was wonder at why Webb was angry at him.