Everett Trinn walked through the halls of his school, treading lightly, not daring to annoy any of the other passersby. He entered his classroom and sat down at his desk. Trying not to attract attention, he looked down at his hands, his fifteen-year old hands, and heard a scream. He looked up quickly, knowing who it was. It was his younger sister, Leslie, who was so smart she was pushed up four grades to join Everett's grade nine class.

She was being held by a couple of Marty Callahan's thugs, and he was poking her, pinching her, lightly slapping her, and in every way being the bully and ass he was. He and his two cronies laughed as she cried in pain from the attack. There was nobody else in the room, the teacher nor any other student having yet arrived.

Deciding to take action, the lanky and light Everett rose from his chair, and with all the courage he could muster, ran up to the large Marty and slammed his fists down on his back. Marty just stopped, stunned. Not in pain, but in surprise. As he turned, Everett noticed that it was surprise that a flea as small as Everett would dare to attack the great Marty Callahan during one of his bullying sessions.

He grabbed Everett by the collar and lifted him up right off the ground, towering at least two feet over him. "Listen, you little ass-licker," came his shrewd comment, accompanied by annoying chuckles by his cronies. "You do not EVER touch me. The next time you do, I'll-" he never finished his sentence, because at that moment he was kicked square in the groin by Everett, and he fell to his knees.

Everett quickly recovered himself grabbed his sister. In Callahan's pain his flunkies had become stunned. The two young Trinn siblings raced out of the room. Soon they heard Marty calling and cursing at them. After that, Everett looked back to see his goons come after them. Before he could escape down the staircase, however, the two cronies had caught them, and pulled Everett down to the ground, pounding him in the face and stomach.

Leslie screamed and tried to pull them off, but she was just too small. Her voice became muffled as she was grabbed by the face by Marty, and pushed over, her head slamming on the floor. Marty called to two powerful cronies off, and then as Everett began to rise, Marty put his foot down on his bloody face and held it there, looking at his unconscious sister.

"Look at that, ass-wipe," said Marty, now cocky again. "You can't do a damn thing about your sister. I'm gonna torture you, and then her." Everett tried to fight back, but he was trapped under that large, strong foot. "Now, since you kicked me, you get it back, tenfold."

Then Marty brought his other foot up, and Everett screamed as all of the large seventeen-year old weight was pressed down on his face. Then Marty brought his foot back down, squarely booting Everett in the jewels. Everett screamed and brought his hands to hold itself, but Marty's goons grabbed his hands and made sure he couldn't protect himself. Then Marty did it again. And again. Ten times total he kicked Everett where it hurt most, and ten times Everett screamed in pain. At last, the pressure on his face was removed, and he dared to open his bloody eyes to see Marty looking down into them.

"Next time, you lose them," Marty said, and turned to leave. One of the goons kicked Everett in the face before turning to follow. Everett stood up, and launched himself with strength he never knew he had at Marty, latching onto his back and biting and ripping at his hair. Marty bellowed in anguish and his goons pulled Everett off, slamming him back to the concrete floor on his back.

"I warned you, Trinn," came his voice, now filled with malice. "Now you lose them." He got back into the position, with his foot on Everett's face, and lifted his leg again, placing all his weight on Everett's face. This time, however, Everett had gotten so angered that he didn't scream, didn't respond at all to the attack. "Look, you little fuck," continued Marty. "I'm gonna rip your balls off, then take your hot little sister there back to my place for some…fun."

Again his goons laughed, this time heartily, and Everett opened his eyes, glaring through the blood red at his sister's still unconscious form. He wasn't going to let them take her. That was his little sister. He had to protect her. He had too.

With all the anger and strength he had, Everett roared and brought his hands up, then drove his right fist into Marty's knee, breaking it. Marty fell back onto his other foot, and Everett leaped up, turning to face Marty, who now had a look of fear in his eyes.

"Never, ever touch my sister," he said, and reared back with his right arm and drove it as hard as he could into Marty's face, amazingly sending him flying over the staircase to land at the bottom of the twenty steps, completely unconscious. Marty's cronies gasped and looked with complete and utter fear at the small boy who miraculously took down the school's biggest thug, and then they rushed down to try to help him up.

Then the surge of anger was gone, and only pain was left. He picked up Leslie and carried her over his shoulder down the stairs, not looking at the three heathens as he passes, then carried her all the way home, and placed her into bed.

Days later, he would find out she had a concussion and was in a coma. He also found out that Marty Callahan was dead, killed as fragments of his skull sliced through his brain from a very hard blow on his head.

Everett Trinn was charged with manslaughter a quarter-year later, and placed into normal prison. He was at that time 16, and at his court hearing he looked deep into Leslie's eyes, as she sat in her wheelchair, then was carried off by the bailiff to serve his sentence.

When he got out seven years later, he was taller, stronger, smarter. He had learned the ways of fighting. Had learned the ways of life.

He met his sister in open arms, and then noticed his brother. Cal had finally returned from his schooling in Poland, and was now also taller, though not nearly as much so as Everett. The two simply nodded at each other, because Everett could sense the tension in him.

At the hearing of Everett upon his release, terms were read to him as he stood with his family. He noticed as he left the courtroom that a pair of government-like agents were watching him and his siblings intensely. As Everett & co. passed, they both turned their heads to follow them, looking much like twins, with their black suits, clean-cut hair, and earpieces.

As Everett was exiting the courtroom building, he proceeded to the washroom, and was followed by Cal. Everett knew a confrontation of some sort was coming, so he simply sighed and turned to face his younger brother.

"How could you?" were the first words from Cal's mouth. He moved his mouth as if he was trying to say many things at once, but couldn't get them out.

Everett looked into the devilish eyes of his brother, and was somewhat at a loss for words. At that moment Cal had finally found his tongue.

"You…you couldn't protect her, could you? Protect Leslie? That day, she was being attacked. You could have stepped in and stopped it. But you didn't," Cal saw Everett's expression, and expected him to retort that he did, but Cal stopped him before he could speak. "I know. She said you helped, but she got a concussion, Everett. A concussion. She was injured, and you did nothing. Then you ended up killing a man. She still cries at night, and screams out your name in fear. You son of a bitch, you're a wraith to our family. You shove fear into her…into all of us. Then you disappear. Now that you've come back, you're going to cause more trouble. Well, I for one am NOT going to let that happen."

"Cal, you're wrong. I-"

"No, Everett. You're wrong. You're wrong for killing a man. You're wrong for going to prison. You're wrong for letting Leslie be injured. You're wrong for coming back. And now, I'm going to right your wrongs, Everett. I'm not letting you do anything to harm her again. Don't get close to her, or else you'll deal with me."

Everett was shocked at Cal's ideals. Why should he not see Leslie? It wasn't his fault. He'd tried to save her. If he hadn't stepped in, she'd have been violated. Everett was angry now. "Cal, I'd like to see you stop me. I haven't hurt her. If it wasn't for me…she'd be off a lot worse."

Cal looked hurt for a moment, then his face turned downward. His eyebrows bunched at the ridge of his nose. He snarled, then brought his right hand up to punch Everett in the jaw.

Everett stumbled backwards and hit his head on a mirror, shattering it. He reached up and grabbed his jaw, staring into Cal's eyes in shock. "You…" he began, then couldn't find words to describe what he saw and felt. How can he be so strong? Came Everett's thoughts.

"Just remember," Cal said, shaking his right hand in pain, "if she ever gets hurt again, I'm blaming you, and you'll get a lot worse than this."

With a start his eyes opened. He sat up. Sweat was falling down his face. Disturbing… he thought. He stood up, and cracked his neck.

So…your brother is the key to your downfall…Mr. Trinn.

Wraith shuddered and closed his eyes. He had had a funny feeling, as though someone was watching him. But it soon passed, and he left his quarters and headed through the hall to the bridge of the Prophecy. In there, he saw Cosine, hunched over her keyboard, typing to herself while humming lightly.

Wraith sighed and leaned on the wall, studying his sister. Her beauty was radiant, and she was one of the kindest people Wraith knew. Truly one of only people in this world that Wraith could trust. He sighed again, and this time she noticed and turned to look at him.

"Orders finally came in," she said, and hit a key, turning the right screen from Matrix coding to regular text. Wraith read it and sighed, shaking his head.

The Council had instructed the Prophecy to leave Zion and head to a far, secure drop point, while they would contemplate what they would do and send the orders when the time came.

"That bad, huh?" said Cosine, peering over to look at the orders.

"Uh huh…" Wraith said non-chalant as he reread the orders.

"Want me to call the crew?" asked Cosine, and Wraith nodded. She went across to room, hit a couple of switches, and spoke into a microphone instructing them all that a meeting was at hand.

A few minutes later, everyone was in the breakfast room, sitting at the table and waiting for Wraith to arrive. He had waited to print out a hard copy of the instructions, and brought them with him to the room. When he arrived, every head turned to him expectantly, even Pike's.

Wraith noticed that under the table, Webb and Chess were still holding hands, and Webb still had a sour look in his eyes that were directed towards Wraith.

He cleared his throat, and looked down at the orders, beginning to recite them. "Instruction 57-SR-G3. Ship: Last Prophecy. Orders: The Last Prophecy is instructed to move to drop point Alpha-G-SS-2 and enter the Matrix at rendezvous point Echo-3-F. From there, a route is included with these orders as to the location of the irregular Agent. The crew of the Last Prophecy is ordered to engage the Agent, and try to learn as much as possible of it, then exit the Matrix and report finding to Zion."

"A freaking suicide mission," said Ice Fox, shaking his head. Wraith considered berating him, but he was right. Never before had a crew of a ship intentionally been sent to fight an Agent. Perhaps this situation was strange enough and frightened the Council that it was necessary.

"Indeed," Wraith said, placing the paper down and standing at the head of the table. "Any problems?"

Nobody responded. Wraith looked expectantly at Pike, expecting him to voice some concern, but he appeared to be ready to go after the Agent again.

"Fine," Wraith said. "We jack-in at 1600 hours. Enjoy your time."

Three hours later, everyone was on the uplink deck, getting into position in their seats to enter the Matrix. Wraith entered, followed by Cosine. "Ready?" she asked. In answer, Wraith sat down in his char after plugging everyone else in.

When he and Cosine were the only ones left, she looked down at him and kissed him on the cheek. "Don't worry about Pike," she said. "He won't do anything bad." She held his hand, and looked down at him.

"Just like he didn't before," Wraith muttered under his breath, letting go of his sister's hand and fidgeting around, getting comfortable in the dark, rough seat. She reached behind him to plug him in, and looked down at him again, holding the plug an hair's breadth from the back of his head.

"Good luck," she said, he closed his eyes as she shoved the sharp electronic device into Wraith's head, jacking him into the Matrix.

He opened his eyes, and looked out upon disaster. Buildings were torn down, looking very wire-frame. The ground was twisted. The sky-the sky was black. Totally. Everything had an odd eerie green glow to it. It looked like a hell. Looking down the street he stood on he noticed it ended a hundred yards away. Wraith turned to look the other way, and saw the same.

It was as though they weren't in the Matrix at all. It looked nothing like it should. It was a dark green abyss of mismatched coding and ruin. At the ends of the street and around the area was total black nothingness.

Everyone stood on the street, looking around at the scene and ominously at each other. Wraith, Webb, Chess, Ice Fox, Lost Hope, and RAM watched as Pike cautiously strode up to a building and gingerly reached forward to touch it with his hand. Immediately at one end of the street what looked like a hole in the wall opened. Beyond it Wraith could see normal daylight in the Matrix on a normal street. Then a figure entered.

It was Malcolm. Not a machination of his, but the true Malcolm. Every one of the Prophecy's crew members at that point got into a fighting stance, ready for a battle. He simply strode forward and stood a good twenty yards from them, smiling, as the hole closed up behind him.

"Welcome to my Matrix, Mr. Trinn," Malcolm said, calm and casual. "Do you like what I've done?" he added, looking around at the chaotic realm they all stood in. "This way I can destroy you without actually hurting the world I am soon going to rule over, because the tear in the Matrix I'm going to cause will be so drastic, nothing in this desolate hole will exist. Come to me now, doomed ones. You cannot stand to my power. I am the true ruler of the Matrix, and nothing and nobody will stop me!"

Wraith & co. felt around for their firearms, but there were none. Pike didn't even have his swords, and Webb lacked his staff. They were weaponless. "No, weapons are not allowed here. We fight my way."

With that he stood in a fighting position, and in seconds, the seven fighters promptly surrounded him. With a leap Pike came in for a flying kick, but was stopped with a forearm and punched in the gut, sending him flying across the street to hit Ice Fox and send both crashing into a building. Then Lost Hope and RAM both went in for a kick, RAM kicking up high at Malcolm's face and Lost Hope down at his calves to trip him. He flipped back onto his hands, and over back onto his feet, then charged back at the two and elbowed RAM in the chest. Malcolm spun quickly and launched his foot into Lost Hope's chin, punting him down the street.

Malcolm ducked his head under a swift kick from Chess, and tripped her other leg, then punched her gut and sent her sprawling to the sidewalk. Wraith leapt forward with Webb to strike out at him, and he grabbed both after dodging their collective attacks, striking them together and tossing them away.

"Come on, you can all do better than that!" he roared, as the fighters stood again, looking warily at Malcolm and each other. Then together the four who were nearest to him dived at him, all attacking different points. He blocked three, but another high kick from RAM sent him backwards, stumbling and trying to regain his balance. Quickly and with as much grace as possible, Ice Fox charged at him and speared him in the gut, but Malcolm caught it and pressed his hands down onto Fox's shoulders, flipping over him just in time to be caught in the chin by a high kick from Pike. He was tossed a few inches up into the air, but as he came down he brought his fists together down onto Pike, slamming his face down onto the pavement.

Lost Hope had finally recovered and raced the distance back to Malcolm, leaping at him for a high kick. Malcolm pivoted on his right foot, swinging around his left and bringing it up to boot Lost Hope in the face as he flew in, sending him careening to the ground. Wraith tore up to him and managed to land a fist in his gut, but Malcolm reacted quick, bringing his own fist into Wraith's face, tossing him too across the street. Webb, Chess, RAM, and Ice Fox all attacked simultaneously, swinging their fists and knife-hands rapidly at Malcolm as they surrounded him, but he managed to twist away or block every attack. He back kicked Ice Fox, knocking him back, then brought his foot forward to kick Webb away, and throw out both his arms to send both Chess and Pike flying.

Wraith launched up, and rushed at Malcolm, and with accuracy predicted where Malcolm's fist would be, so he ducked under it and sent his knee into Malcolm's gut. Malcolm careened over holding his gut, then in anger looked up at Wraith, sending a shiver down his spine.

"Alright, then, Mr. Trinn. Time we now get busy." He stood up and held his hands out. Suddenly a large force appeared to come from his body, sending Wraith onto his back from the pressure. Malcolm's muscles bulged and he appeared to look a lot larger. "There we go," he said, cracking his neck. "Now executing at one hundred percent efficiency. Now, let's go."

Without Wraith even seeing it, Malcolm had picked him up by the collar and tossed him across the street. He crashed headfirst into a door, splintering and shattering it as he fell through into the building. When he managed to prop himself up and head back out the door, the scene was worse. Everyone was scattered around, beat up and hardly having strength to stand. Webb was held up by the neck by Malcolm in the middle of the street, who's fist was propped back, prepared to deliver a harsh blow.

Suddenly, Malcolm's head seemed to convulse and twist, then he came back to his attention, surprised. "Ah…so, they've learned something new," he said as he stared at nothing. Then he turned to Webb. "Let's try it on you."

With malicious speed, he brought his fist forward, and instead of punching Webb, he stopped an inch from his face and opened his hand. He then pressed his palm down on Webb's face, and a bright flash of light caused Wraith and the others to close their eyes as they heard Webb's anguished holler.

When they reopened them, Webb was on the ground, appearing unconscious, and Malcolm was keeled over, placing his hands on his knees for support as he breathed heavily. He looked up at them and laughed.

"Excellent," he said, smiling broadly as all the Freemind Commandoes rose to face him. "I'm off. If you can't beat one of us, you can't beat five of us. Farewell," he said, and he saluted them, then melted into a vortex and disappeared.

They all stood, apart from Webb, and went over to him, to see what Malcolm had done. Chess went down onto one knee and lifted him and turned him over so his blank face was facing upwards. His eyes were closed and emotionless. She leaned down over him, and suddenly his eyes opened. Chess screamed out in fear, and for good reason.

They were red. Pure red. No pupils. Just solid crimson. He sat up quickly, and then stood, as if reacting in a robotic way. Then all of a sudden, he struck. His foot came out and caught RAM in the chest, sending him soaring to the ground at the base of a building. He spun with his foot still in the air, and slammed it into Ice Fox's temple, knocking him too. Then he turned back to face Wraith, who was about to demand to know what he was doing, and hissed in an animal way, then brought his fist forward into Wraith's gut, then his head. Webb followed up with a quick set of jabs to Wraith's face, then a super-strong punch to Wraith's gut sent him flying back, landing at the base of a set of stairs.

Looking quickly for a solution, Wraith saw a small section of an iron guardrail that was on the stairs. He hopped up, noticing Webb approaching him, and kicked the rail into the air, then caught it in his right hand and turned back to Webb. Wraith ran forwards and then stopped, standing in a defensive position. "What are you doing, Webb!?" he bellowed.

In response, Webb roared at him in his animalistic way and then launched forward. Wraith had no choice but to swing the pole at Webb.

Big mistake. Webb brought his hand up and caught the pole, then jumped up and kicked Wraith, dropping him onto his back. Webb roared again and brought the pole back over his head, preparing to swing it down at Wraith.

Chess came running up to Webb, pleading with him to stop. Suddenly the monstrous expression he had fell, and as Chess came up to him and grabbed his arm, he confusedly looked at her, lowering the weapon.

With amazing speed, Wraith kicked it up out of his hands, and rolled back over his head, standing up in time to catch it as it fell. Chess let go of him and Webb raced at Wraith, now roaring again. Wraith brought the rail back, and then swung it forwards, towards Webb's head, as he approached.

Webb's head twisted around 180 degrees from the impact. He looked blankly at Chess behind him, who was holding her breath in a silent gasp, and he fell forwards, dying with a crash onto the pavement.

Chess rushed to him and held his head, then let go with repulse and realization that it was backwards. She looked up into Wraith's face, fear rampant in her eyes.

"I had no choice," Wraith said hurriedly. "I'm sorry," he added, with contempt. Webb was a great man. Or…had been a great man. And now he was dead, killed by Wraith.

No, not Wraith. Killed by Malcolm. What had he said? They'd learned something new…what did he mean? Did he suddenly learn how to convert people, or infest them, or something?

Looking down on Chess crying over Webb's carcass, he realized that it was true.

Enveloped in his thoughts he was called over by the others, who had witnessed the scene. Pike looked as angry as ever, and the other three seemed shocked beyond belief. Again a phone stood on pedestal, just waiting to be used. It rang, and Wraith gladly picked it up, leaving the dark abyss of the Matrix.