"I'm in." Never before had those words meant so much to him.
"Okay, they should be at the corner of Rivers and Hume, you have three minutes." Link said.
"Ten." She countered.
"Five."
"Seven." Morpheus nodded his approval.
"Done."
"Good."
"You need to find the exit on your own, they'll all ring but you have to pick the right one."
"I know." She was gone then, her voice lost as she ran towards her destination. Gunfire.
"Shit." The One settled his weight on his back foot, ready to move.
"She'll be alright." The captain had his arms behind his back, quiet. Silence.
"Link, what the hell is going on?" The man looked at the screens dumbfounded. No phone rang.
"I don't know, are you sure you're are the right spot?"
"Yes." Her voice was beginning to hold fear.
"It was supposed to trigger itself."
"Hurry Link, they're coming." Fingers flew over the keys.
"Sir, we have some serious problems."
"What?"
"The controls we got sent aren't working, nothing is working!"
"I'm going in."
"No Neo, I can't afford to lose you both."
"I can't lose her Morpheus."
"And nor can I." The tone was sharp. "Some sacrifices have to be made Neo."
"No, never. I will not stand here and watch her die."
"Then I suggest you help us change the code."
"I can't unless I'm in there."
"Then she is on her own."
"Can't you pull the program?" Link shook his head.
"It's turned viral, I can't stop it."
"Morpheus please." His eyes met the captains, portraying meaning. "I love her." A pause.
"Alright, get ready to go." He almost ran but the distance was too short.
"Come on." He sighed, waiting to feel the familiar sensation of invincibility flood him.
"I'm in." The phone to his ear he ran.
"There's three, she's holding her own but they haven't drawn guns yet, two are watching."
"I'm nearly there." A scream tore the air, he called her name, pushing his legs faster than they had gone.
"We meet again, Mr. Anderson."
"Out of my way Smith." The alley was blocked.
"I have been waiting for this for a long time, Mr. Anderson."
"Out of my way." She landed with a sickening thud, colliding with brick, concrete and steel.
"She will die Mr. Anderson, and you will not be able to save her."
"Shut the fuck up." A fist flew and the suited man fell, dissolving into green runes.
"Neo! Get out of here!" Her voice gurgled against the liquid in her throat. His heart wrenches.
"No, something's wrong with the program."
"Neo, now!" An Agent slammed a balled hand into her face.
"Trinity!" Rage and horror filled him, the green lines appearing before his glassed eyes. The image died.
"What happened?" Her voice was soft in the white of the construct, her face cupped by his hands.
"I almost lost you."
"You never let me go."
"I can't." She smiled weakly.
"Let's get out of here." He nodded, the world of the ship before their eyes. The captain releases them both in turn, the woman making her way slowly to her room, the others standing and watching as she leaves. There is a slight hesitation in her steps and the One makes to go after her. A hand on his shoulder stops him, a shake of the dark head reprimands him and a glance at the appropriate quarters directs him. Sighing the eyes are followed, Neo making his way exhaustedly to his bed. Sleep evades him. The nightmares have begun.
*~*~*~
A/N: Due to the overwhelming reviews, which are all very welcome, I'll keep writing. I thank you all for your reviews, they mean a lot to me. If things don't seem clear when you first read something that's because they aren't meant to be obvious. I hope that if you have any ideas you will let me know, since this was meant to be a single chapter and has now evolved to three, I need some help J . I write by the directors' code, "Everything by design, nothing by accident" so I try to give everything meaning. Please review and let me know how this is going, I'll do my best to keep the quality up.