Disclaimer: Refer to the first chap.

Author's note: Hey everyone! Long time no update and I apologize, but I'm sure everyone can understand with the end of school! Hurray! Summer break is here! I hope everyone has plans!

Kit19: Yeah, Rain was forced back into the Matrix but I explain why in a later chapter. Rain does know how to kill Agents but since the crew is dead they sorta… can't. Lol. I'm glad you like the idea! I was trying not to go all cocky and still keep it in the Matrix theme. Apparently the idea works, I guess.

Now, onto the story!

Revolution Rain

Chapter Three

Twisting and turning through allies like some sort of crazed mouse running in a maze that never ended, Rain ran for her life. Her mind was working overtime as she plotted her course through the streets and back ways of New York. This was her turf, her home, and she could easily take anyone on-hell, she did it all the time. So why was she running?

Because I've got two people after me and I don't know what they want, she thought as she dodged a woman with her hands full of shopping bags. I don't trust them. Something isn't right… She had grown up learning to trust her instincts and right now they were screaming at her to run. Or was that frear? Darting through crowds Rain did everything she could to lose her followers. Of course, in the mobs of people all around, running people did not attract attention.

I thought that those people who I saved last night were rebels and that I could meet their commander but no rebel would go and track me down. It would draw too much attention to them inside and out of the Matrix, she thought.

But things might have changed, a voice told her.

No, things are always done the way they're supposed to be done. Rebels are not to draw attention to them selves. They are like assassins in this world and out. Anyone trained differently won't last long.

How do you know that? Maybe they're making way with the war. Maybe things have changed.

It still doesn't give into reason. It has worked well so why change their training? Why would rebels track me down if they were fighting for freedom? Why track down one survivor? The machines would notice and track them down in both worlds. There is no way they would to put this much effort into finding me if they were rebels. They must be some kind of program created to capture me.

Why do you doubt the people who want to save you?

Because they have no reason for this! It's not logical!

They do. Look past history and maybe you'll stop running from it. Things change.

Rain shook her head as she ran into an ally. That wasn't true. Things didn't change, not that easily. She stopped, knowing that she was in downtown NYC at night, but ignored her urge to run and rested against the wall of the shopping complex behind her, trying to catch her breath. Her eyes darted around as her sensitive ears tried to catch the sounds of someone who might've followed her. Only the faraway sounds of the mains roads and the occasional voice of someone coming out of the closing shops behind her reached her ears. Glancing around, only shadows in the long ally stood still, broken by the occasional light hanging high on the wall above a backdoor, but still mostly covered in shadows. She could see no one lurking behind the metal trashcans or the large dumpster in front of her. She heard and saw no one. Smiling with self-satisfaction, she started to walk away.

Suddenly a hand darted out of nowhere, capturing her mouth and violently yanking her back into the shadows. Another hand appeared out of nowhere and encircled her waist, clamping her hands to her sides, her body pushing against a large, warmer body. She could feel her attacker's breath on her ear as he leaned in. "Stay still," commanded a man's voice.

Eyes widening unnaturally, Rain realized that it was the guy from Rockfish: the rebel. How did he get here? She wondered. I thought I lost them. Remaining silent but body tensed, ready for action, she watched as two Agents suddenly rounded the corner and another one stood up from behind the dump she was almost ready to walk by. Damn, it was a trap! She thought as she watched. "The Rogue disappeared," one said, his voice monotone.

"Possible known location?"

"Unknown."

"Any trace on the Rogue?"

"None."

"Then we return to base."

Rain watched as the Agents left the ally. Strange, they never give up so easily, she thought. Could he really be a program? Then why didn't he call them over? Questions raced through her mind as her attacker doubled checked to assure that the Agents were actually gone before he let go of her mouth, still keeping her body pinned to him. "Now, maybe we can talk," he said. "I doubt that," Rain sneered. Now she saw that they were in a small wedge of the ally, small enough that the walls were just barely a foot from Rain and deep enough that the shadow of it barely covered them. She had an idea that the man was probably backed up against the wall. Her mind raced as she formulated a plan to get out of the man's grip.

"Are you with them or us?" He questioned.

"I'm not telling."

"What's your name?"

"None of your business." She felt his grip tighten.

"I don't have time for this. Answer me!"

"I don't have time for this, either. Sides, I'll only answer to one person; your captain." Time to escape, she thought. With that Rain used her heel and nailed the guy in the shin. His grip weakened a bit but not enough, so she stomped on his foot. Now his grip became loose enough for her to break free. Jumping up and planting her feet flat against the opposite walls, she used her weight to push the guy into the back wall, officially knocking him off balance.

Balanced like a snake stretched between two branches, she took a couple hard steps up the wall before she grabbed hold of the bricks to her left, moving so she was now perched in the crevices of the brick wall. Jumping to the other wall, she then pushed herself forward using the wall as her springboard so she was propelled towards the opposite wall again. Using the same technique she flew upwards until she reached the top of the building. Flipping out of the wedge she landed on the roof. Not even waiting for her body to recover from the jolt of hitting concrete she was up and already running away from the man.

Ten days later Rain sat in apartment, her body curled up on her couch with her head resting on her knees, arms loosely thrown around her legs. Her life was pathetic she had decided. She had quit her job, been evicted from her apartment, and she still had Agents after her.

But did she regret her decision?

Maybe. She had to make her life look miserable if she wanted her plan to work. She did everything to identify herself with the rebels-if that was even who they really were-and make sure she had their attention so that two days ago when she had sent the message to the rebels, they would get it. It read:

Captain,

Meet me in Central Park at four AM or lose your war.

It was simple, there was no way to trace it, and it didn't give much information. If they had been suspicious that she held some secret weapon for them, whether rebel or machine, she had just confirmed it. She had to admit, she must've looked really odd, and confirming that image of her hidden identity had given her the upper hand. Yet why did she feel like she was about to walk into a death sentence?

I can't shake this feeling that there's something I'm missing, she thought. I've avoided the Agents for years and they're convinced I'm some rogue program because they can't track me easily. All the while, I've been tracing the rebels, trying to find a way to contact them. When I finally find them I can't decide whether they're real or not. God, my sense of reality is so screwed from this stupid program.

Not wanting to follow that line of thought she looked up at her alarm clock glowing in the darkness of her apartment. Better get going, she thought. Standing up, she ignored as her body protested as she pulled on a long dark coat and left the apartment. Disguised with a black beanie that covered her hair, goggles, and a long black coat, no one could notice her. Not even if Agents suddenly appeared, and certainly not if that "rebel" showed up. I can't believe I'm doing this, she thought as she walked. Am I desperate or just too idealistic?

Fifteen minutes later Rain stood in Central Park in the location where she was to meet this captain. She hadn't mentioned to come alone-she knew that the captain would bring backup whether or not she had requested or not. She had been right. Right as her watch hand clicked into the four o'clock position the sounds of footsteps drew her attention to a tall, burly man with a baldhead and small round glasses approach. He had muscles and looked like he could handle himself. His dark skin made his companion seem like a ghost, with his white skin and dark hair. Rain almost smiled-her favorite rebel has accompanied his captain, though she doubted he was the only one to do so.

"So you came," she said coolly as they stopped five feet from her. She noticed they both wore sunglasses even though it was dark; their shadowy clothing and black jackets blended into the darkness as if they were one with the night. It added to the effect of "people on a mission" theme. "I… assume you are the contact," said the burly man. His voice was uneven and Rain knew that he was unsure of this.

Rain nodded as she used her ability to quickly scan them from behind her red lens goggles. What she saw threw her just a bit-their code was that of a rebel's. There is no way the Matrix could copy that, she thought, slightly reassured deep inside. "This is where you introduce yourself," she almost commanded. "I am Morpheus, and this is my companion Apoc," the black man said after a pause. Obviously he wasn't used to not being the authority figure.

"Apoc, Morpheus, I am RedBird. The reason I contacted you was because I have a deal for you," she paused, gauging their reaction. Morpheus apparently thought she was waiting for some signal to continue for he nodded. Slightly irked, Rain continued. She had to keep up appearances, after all. "I know someone who has an ability which is extraordinary, unstoppable, revolutionary, pick a name and call it that. Their… ability could be of much use to you and they are willing to offer their services to you for one thing; you free them from the Matrix."

"If they already have this ability, why are they not free already?" Apoc asked.

Rain smirked. He was suspicious. "You could say… Complications arose. I am not entitled to give any more information then that. Either you agree and gain an upper hand in this war or you disagree and lose a very powerful weapon. Your choice."

"How does this person know about the war? Who are you?"

"If we agree, what are the conditions?" Morpheus asked, cutting Apoc off.

"The conditions are that you will receive help on missions which will require maximum security. This person will not accept any other missions, until you free them. Afterwards they will join your crew."

"If we do not agree?" Apoc asked.

"Then this person will find another source of freedom." Her tone was threatening.

"Do we have any assurances?"

"There are no assurances."

There was silence as Morpheus thought it over. She knew it was dangerous, she knew that he would probably chose to deny her offer, and she knew that not in a million years would anyone take such dangerous risks just to assure the possibility of winning a war. Yet this Morpheus seemed like the kind of person that gambled. She watched his face like a hawk, reading his emotions as they passed over his face. He was curious, but weary, yet he felt like this was their only option so far. Perfect, he is a gambler, she thought. There was a little bit more silence before Morpheus said something but Rain already knew what he was going to ask. "Do I meet this person?"

"You will know them on the missions by their actions."

"How do we contact them? I doubt they'll just know when we need them," Apoc said pointedly.

Oh, how he wanted to poke a hole in her argument. Cute, Rain thought idily. He doesn't trust me. Are you afraid for your crew Apoc? "Don't be thick, Apoc. They are willing to risk exposure to one person, a contact that can be used by your company. That contact will know the person but is to keep silent until that person is freed. Only then will you, Morpheus, and your crew-I assume you have one-meet them. Any breach of this agreement will forfeit your chances of using this person and their ability and they will seek another company. Any information they learned during this time can be used as bargaining chips only if the agreement is breached."

Apoc took a hold of Morpheus's arm and led him away from the woman, making sure to keep her in sight. "It's risky," he said. "Yes, but until we find the One we need someone to give us the upper hand in this fight," Morpheus sighed.

"You're accepting?"

"I have to. It's the best chance we're going to get."

"If you're sure…"

"I'm not."

Morpheus returned to Rain. She smiled polietely, though she knew what they had said. "I accept your terms," he said, sounding a bit gloomy.

"Good. They'll be pleased. Before I leave, you need to name your contact."

"Now?"

"Yes, now, or else the deal's off."

"Very well. Apoc will serve as the contact."

Rain nodded. Inside she was cursing her luck and, by the looks of it, so was Apoc. "The contact has twenty-four hours to meet the person at this location at the exact time named. If the contact is late the agreement is terminated. From there more instructions will be given." She handed him a floppy disk.

"Agreed."

"Then hope that everything goes smoothly, Morpheus."

Rain turned and left the park, weary, and listened for anyone following her. No one did. As the woman's form disappeared, Apoc turned to Morpheus. "You think they'll keep their end of the bargain?" He asked, making sure she was out of earshot. "I'm not positive," Morpheus replied doubtfully.

"It's a risky move."

"I know. That's why I picked you. You're the damn best security we have Apoc. We can't afford any goofs. You will protect this person with your life and assure that everything goes smoothly no matter what. However, if something seems the least bit off about either this person or the situation, you will report directly to me along with an update of what we're supposed to do to free this person's mind."

Apoc nodded. "I understand."

"The Subject has acquired a contract with the humans."

"This could prove to be a problem."

"Should we continue with the mission?"

"Hold formation until further information is acquired."

"Agreed."