Gifts
Disclaimer: These characters don't belong to me. They belong to the Wachowski Brothers and all parties associated.
Author's Note: Hey. I'm sorry it took me like a year to update. I just couldn't think of a suitable storyline. I recently re-watched the trilogy and it gave me inspiration to write. Sorry for any mischaracterizations on my part.
A girl, perhaps eleven, was seated next to an elderly lady in a small kitchen. The floor tiles were different shades of green and the walls were stained. They were baking cookies and exchanging small tokens of friendship.
"I got you this," the girl said, handing the elderly woman a wrapped box. The elderly lady smiled as her trembling hands undid the ribbon.
"Candy. You got me candy," the woman said with an odd joy. "I love candy. Did you like what I gave you?"
"Yes, but you shouldn't have. There's a visitor coming today. They want to see you." She giggled. "But they don't know that I'm going to be who they're seeing." The old woman smiled.
"Did I surprise you?"
"When?" The girl got up and peeked into the oven to check on the cookies.
"When I returned to this for," she said. Out of nowhere, she suddenly stated an off-topic comment. "This peace…it's very alarming."
"Just a little. But you were still you. Why is it alarming?" She returned to sit across from the old woman. There was a knock on the door. The teenager got up and opened it. A couple walked in, the woman was carrying an infant.
"Neo. Trinity," Sati tipped her head in acknowledgement. "And who is this?" Her words blended together in a unique lilting coo.
"This," Trinity said, with utter pride and happiness, "is Deux." The baby was wrapped in a pink blanket.
"Is it a 'she' or a 'he?'"
"It's a she."
Sati peered over the blanket in an odd manner. "May I speak to Neo, and the baby—alone?" Trinity nodded and handed the baby over to Neo, walking silently out into the living room.
"I bet you're surprised to see me here," Sati said, reaching for the baby. He nodded as he handed her the child. She sat down and cradled the girl in her arms. "And I bet that you didn't see that sky I made you. And I bet that you're just bursting with questions about that program, but there's time for that later."
The Oracle stood and walked over to pull the cookies out of the oven. "Hey, kid." He nodded slightly at her greeting.
"You made me a sky?" he asked, removing his sunglasses. His face was different. It was less pale and more colorful. It was the appearance of a man, not at war, but experiencing happiness. Death had seceded slightly, leaving him room to breathe and enjoy the simpler joys of life. "You know there are talks of creating cities above ground? Zion will not be the only human city anymore."
"Enough small talk," she said in a cheery tone. "I need to get to the point here. You see, there is talk that I may be the last exile…and there was talk that you would be the last anomaly. However, upon seeing your daughter, I doubt you are. You came here with a purpose." He began to speak, but she interrupted. "But that purpose cannot be fulfilled just yet. You are quite the overeager parent." He was speechless. The Oracle smiled.
"She's good, ain't she?" She began to remove the cookies from the baking sheet. "Quite an extensive vocabulary for an eleven-year-old."
"How are your parents doing?"
"This meeting is not about me, it is about you. You need to have a little patience." Neo woke with a start. Trinity, who had been awake for some time, looked at him.
"Are you okay?"
"Fine. Just fine." He glanced in the corner and in his mind, he could almost picture the little infant peacefully sleeping in its bassinet.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Link and Zee had spent the remainder of their morning together, embracing and kissing and just enjoying each other's company. Later in the day, Cassandra had visited, bringing along her two children. They laughed and played like they hadn't done so in their entire lives. There was a knock at the door. It was Morpheus.
"There's something you all need to see." So they followed him, treading the expansive paths of Zion, until they arrived at a house. They opened the door and stepped inside. Cassandra gasped and almost had a heart attack when she was tackled, playfully, and pulled into a large hug. There were amused chuckles and glances all around the room.
"I missed you," someone spoke in her hair. There were light tugs on his pants leg and he glanced down to see who the culprits were.
"Stop it," the little girl spoke timidly. "Momma, are you alright?"
"I'm fine," was the reply. It was his turn to gasp softly as he picked the two children up. "Kids…" she said with ecstasy in her voice, "…do you remember how Daddy went on a long vacation?" They nodded. "Well, he came back." She embraced Dozer as her tears slowly slid down her face. Zee had momentarily forgotten about Link as she went and embraced Tank. As she hugged him, she noticed plugs.
"You were plugged into the Matrix?" she asked. He shrugged. It was good to have them home, plugs or no plugs.