"You're not concentrating." She snapped angrily.
"I know, I'm sorry."
"You're going to be." Kick, block, punch, thrust, counter, spin, jump, swivel, backflip, stance.
"Jesus Trinity, what are you doing?"
"Making sure you're ready." Punch, block, pause.
"Read for what?" Kick, duck, kick, jump, pause.
"The Councilors." Feint, swivel, connection.
"They're going to spar me?" He rubbed his jaw, confused.
"No, they want to see you in action." Her warrior smile flickered onto her face, he shrugged.
"I can fly, no problem."
"Go on then." She challenged.
"What?"
"I want you to try flying in here."
"But we agreed…"
"You haven't used flight in a sparing sim before."
"So?"
"How do you know it works?"
"I…"
"Prove it."
"Alright." He clenched his fist, concentrating on breaking gravity. A foot collided with his gut.
"I see."
"Shit, how did you do that?"
"I'm faster than you remember."
"Sure are."
"And you're getting arrogant."
"What?"
"In here, you're so sure of yourself you forget things."
"Like your speed."
"Exactly."
"Damn, how can I beat Morpheus but not you?"
"I'm not Morpheus."
"I noticed that. You're not as fast." He considered slowly.
"But I still hit you."
"And I can't figure out how."
"Because you don't want to hit me."
"What?"
"I can beat you because you let me."
"No." Punch, block, kick, counter, flip, evade, thrust, grab, lock.
"See? You're not letting me get to you now." She smiled, hands caught by his.
"Trinity, I want to stop now."
"No."
"Why?"
"You haven't hit me yet."
"No Trin."
"Yes Neo, we're not leaving until you hit me."
"Trinity…
"Neo."
"Damnit."
"You're move." She backed away, taking a defensive stance.
"Link, get me out of here."
"Don't even think about it!" She counted the silence that followed.
"Shit."
"You're going to have to play my way."
"This isn't a game Trinity."
"I know." Her eyes were cold, determined. Fighter's eyes.
"Shit."
"Scared Neo?"
"No."
"Then stop screwing around and hit me." It was a command.
"I can't."
"Then you can't face the end of the war." She didn't know what made her say it.
"What?" He was startled, unsure. Doubt flickered in his mind.
"If you can't hit me and see I can go on fighting, how do you expect to know I'm inside fighting?"
"No Trinity, you won't get into situations where I should worry." 'You won't be in there, anyway.'
"Yes I will." She hissed angrily.
"What?" Could she read him so easily?
"I will be in there, fighting as hard as you are, and you're going to need to know I can't be hurt by anyone."
"But you can."
"Not if I don't let them."
"Prove it." He mimicked.
"Alright, I'll take on an Agent." Her voice was hard, but the tone was complacent. She shrugged.
"No, Trinity, don't, please." He was panicking, forgetting they were sparring, hands upward, begging.
"I won't, Neo, I'm not that much of a coppertop." She replied, eyes searching his for something.
"Trinity, I want to get out of here, I don't want to have to hit you."
"Alright Neo. This time we can leave it." Her eyes still searched, seeing the haunted look across his face.
"Thank you."
"Link, bring us out." And the world disappeared, leaving them for a moment in the white before they opened their eyes to the ship. It was still there, she noted as she looked at his quiet form. Whatever it was, was still there, he was tense, tired and as he opened his eyes she swore he looked as though he had awoken from a nightmare. He looked like he had seen a ghost. Or if not a ghost, she pondered walking over to the Op station to get statistics, someone who would be. 'But that would mean he had the sight', a small voice countered almost freezing in fear. 'That would mean he knows something's going to happen…' She looked over the report screen, checking the data for any trace of faltering. It was easy to identify where she had started to challenge him, where she had told him to hit her. Gritting her teeth, she refused to let it get to her, absolutely refused. But there was a niggling worry, and always her mind went back to the reaction to the mention of the Agent. He knew she wouldn't do it, not unless it was to save is life. If it were a choice between his life and hers, she would slip into the cold darkness for him. Surely he understood that she would die if it meant he lived?
*~*
A/N: Okay, I have some good news, and some bad news. Bad news is I'm starting a course in the next week that means I might not have time for my fanfiction writing, and therefore updating. Good news, if you send me ideas I can get this fic finished before I go, my muse is playing so all is well.
Please, help me finish this story, I would love the input. Thanks guys.
Trinfan: I know this wasn't romantic, but there is some really fluffy bits I've got ready for the end, but they have to wait until we actually get to the end of Reloaded/start of Revs. Hope to hear from you soon.
Da Buffster: I must admit that your reviews are getting to be chapters in themselves ;). I see your 4 ramblings and raise you to 5 ramblings in a rambling sentence, my dear rambling reviewer, for I am a rambling authoress in myself! (5, did it!) You really make me smile when I get the email that says review alert. Then I sit there and read what you've written and almost fall of my chair sometimes. I must admit, creating things is tonnes of fun. I did get carried away with Conclusions chapter 7, I hope you got the one I resent with the attachment and stuff *blushes*. Your website is cool, much better than I could come up with :) And I'm on your messages for your mates page!!! YAY!!! :D So hyped! Very cool! My chicken is evil, because Nugget is really a rooster and roosters are evil, Evil, EVIL!!!! (Dudley Do-right movie, I had to make a monologue about the blinking guy. Was good, the movie is average though.) I really hope you like this chapter, it's getting there and don't worry there will be plenty of fluff later :) I'll have to make a note of the tear scene idea though, it might just work somewhere… *drifts into the land of ponderous story possibilities*
Cinn: You are a real character, I almost wonder what you would be like unplugged and on a ship doing some serious Resistance work :) Scratch the almost, I do wonder. And I want to know! Anytime you send the references would be fine, not really a big deal, just curiosity for me :) Bring on your next review!
Sci-freak GrodySpork: Mmmm, last chapter was kind sweet :) unlike this bit I think. I'm really having trouble with Trin, she's just being so unpredictable, almost as bad as my muse darn it. Ah well. I write by the directors' code, "Everything by design, nothing by accident", it's the only way for me :). *Grins broadly at the thumbs up* Yay, my story was good enough for someone to take their fingers off the keyboard to react, yes!
Trineo4life: As you wished, I have continued. Please tell me if this is satisfactory :)
Divamercury: I've continued, I'm trying to get a Switch/Apoc up and writing, possibly another part to "Comparisons", which is M/N, but I don't know if the characters are true enough. I suppose you get that though. I have a tidbit for you, which I can't remember if I already mentioned. To get temporarily get rid of the dreaded WB (Writers' Block, not Warner Brothers), try playing a cd/tape. Have a piece of paper or a new word document ready and let the images create themselves in your mind, don't stop to think, just write/type whatever comes into your head. That's how I got "Comparisons" and almost all of my short stories. Not to mention parts of this story. This may not work for you, but it does wonders for me. I hope it's useful :) Let me know what you think of this chapter!