Protector of Men Ch 102
Zandra found herself back in the room that she had left just minutes ago – just as dark, just as quiet. She didn't pay attention as she sat down at the laptop again. A prompt flashed on the screen; it took her a few moments to realize its existence.
Execute program? [Y/N]
She stared at the question with resignation – what was the point sending out the virus now? They couldn't extract anyone from the Matrix as long as the war continued, so why make them want out? Enough people knew already, so wouldn't it make more sense to let the others live the lie peacefully for a little while longer? Wasn't ignorance bliss, anyway?
But perhaps that was what the Architect wanted, Zandra mused. Perhaps the only thing he wanted was for her to pull out prematurely and run home to be destroyed herself. Maybe he was lying – Neo said he was false, hadn't he?
But Neo was dead, and his credibility faded with each moment he was gone. The fact was, whether they told the coppertops or not, it wouldn't make a difference. They couldn't save anyone for now, so all it would do was further jeopardize the overall stability (and therefore, survival) of everyone left in the Matrix. It didn't matter much whether she trusted the Architect, because what was important was survival – and right then, the survival of Zion was in peril.
"Keep firing!" Captain Aegir shouted to his group of soldiers, which happened to be little more than his crew and a few stragglers. Sentinels flew in tight circles around the docks, but not many were falling at the hands of the soldiers. Their fire was more a deterrent from attack than an offensive tactic. As long as the rebels kept firing, the sentinels might not go after them.
"Where's the Mayflower?" One of the soldiers shouted. He had to repeat his question a few times before Aegir could understand him amidst the penetrating roar of gunfire.
"They're out!" he shouted, "Just keep steady!"
The soldier was quiet and resumed his pointless fire. The batteries hadn't been fired in a while – at least half an hour, and it disturbed him. The batteries were the secret weapon of Zion and without them, they wouldn't stand a chance against the hordes of sentinels. Plus, the Mayflower had some of the best shooters available and, in addition, they tended to keep everyone's hopes intact. The Mayflower had lost everything, and through the reminder of their losses, others saw an overwhelming survival of hope. If they could keep fighting, everyone could. But without them…
There was a loud explosion and the firing stopped for a moment. All the soldiers looked to their left and saw another group of sentinels – must have been almost fifty – erupt from what was now a irregular hole in the metal paneling between two floors of apartments.
Hopefully no one was taking refuge on that floor.
"Fire, fire!" Aegir screamed as a small detachment of sentinels turned to their quiet battalion. Their weapons erupted instantly, their scared faces transfixed on what seemed to be their coming doom. The sentinels advanced, but then instantly paused. A few turned around, as if something had called them. One fell to the ground a few hundred feet below, succumbing to the eventual wear of thousands of rounds. It crashed a few seconds later, a wave of heat slowly coming up to the group huddled on one of the residential floors.
Aegir's radio spouted a short order and he suddenly sprang to life, jumping from the ground and tearing apart a canister before lobbing it into the air in the direction of the sentinels, which were slowly retreating from them. It was as if something had gotten their attention, however distant or amorphous.
"Air round!" He shouted, and hit the ground. The canister exploded in the air almost a hundred feet short of the sentinels, but it got their attention for a moment.
"More!" He ordered, and the soldiers pulled out their own canisters. Soon there were many shouts of 'air round', and two sentinels were down. The rest seemed perplexed.
"Keep 'em occupied!" Aegir continued, starting his rifle fire again. The rest of his battalion followed suit, starting their volleys again. Another sentinel fell.
"What are we stopping them for?" One soldier asked, inching slowly over to where Aegir was situated. He stopped firing for a moment and looked over at the scrawny soldier.
"It's the Mayflower," he shouted, looking back out into the air. For the moment, the sentinels were back to attacking the small battalions that were sporadically placed on Zion's floors. The soldier waited for more.
"The Mayflower!" Aegir repeated, trying to concentrate, "We're covering them!"
"What are they doing?" the soldier yelled, almost hysterical.
"They're leaving! They're going for Libertas!"
Zandra pulled out her phone and dialed for Kesia. It sounded like she had been crying.
"Kesia, I'm back," Zandra said quietly, "Take me out."
"But you didn't do it yet," Kesia said in a whisper. "You're not going to?"
"I can't. I – I'll explain when I'm out."
"Then come out, then."
And everything went black, then white, then dark again. Zandra remembered cold when she woke up in Libertas. The one light in the room cast a blue tint on Kesia, holding her hand out for Zandra to take. Their breath formed small vapor clouds in the fry freezing air.
"They've been sitting there for almost ten minutes," Shade told them as they entered the cockpit, "They're just watching us."
Zandra was quiet. This was the Architect's doing, she knew it. But how long would they leave her alone, and what were they trying to do? Zandra knew they could destroy the sentinels in a moment with a well-placed EMP blast. Certainly they knew their own peril?
"Should we get rid of them now?" Shade whispered, looking to Zandra. She shrugged.
"What happened in there?" Kesia asked.
"They're going to watch us," Zandra whispered, looking out into the pipeways. "I met the Architect of the Matrix," she continued.
"He said we might win the war in real life, but the Matrix wouldn't survive – and he said we won't survive without the Matrix."
"But if we win out here…"
"It doesn't matter. We have to get Zion to stop fighting, and they'll leave us alone for a while."
"How?" Shade asked, the skepticism obvious in his tone. Zandra tried not to take it personally. She looked at the ground deliberately as she answered him, her jaw minutely clenched in concentration.
"They're surrendering the Real," she said quietly, "If we leave them the Matrix. It's just temporary, but it looks like the only thing to do."
Shade sighed, still not convinced. Zandra made an effort not to look at him. Kesia was quiet, having sensed the slight and unspoken argument between the two's ideology. They were silent for almost a minute before Kesia finally spoke up, however quietly.
"What… what do we do then?"
Zandra finally looked up to Shade. "We have to go back." He nodded, and they were all quiet again. Kesia and Zandra took seats at the cockpit, while Shade put a consoling arm on Zandra's shoulder. Her legs began shivering, but his gesture was enough to keep her comfortable. It was all the two of them needed to know they were there for each other.
"Can we go, with them there?" Kesia asked, gesturing towards the six or so sentinels quietly watching them. Zandra shrugged.
"I'm not sure of anything," she started, "But either way, we have nothing to lose."
"Okay," Kesia whispered, and flipped up a switch on the console in front of them. "Shade," she asked, "Start up our breakers downstairs."
He followed her orders, a quick squeeze of Zandra's shoulder before he left. Zandra watched the reversal of command with silence – though Shade was supposed to be next in command, Kesia had cleanly taken control. It made sense; Kesia had been with Purgatory for long before Shade had. Always the trusty operator, Kesia had watched as every other newcomer to the crew was put up in line for command except for her. Now, when the orders were for survival, Kesia had gained her post.
The lights began to come back on in the Libertas; Zandra felt an uncommon wave of heat hit her where the vent on the wall was. Silently she moved her hands behind her and began warming them, moving them in an attempt to bring full circulation back. Being in the Matrix hadn't made her feel any better; if anything, worse. Her stillness for those few minutes lowered her temperature further and though she felt somehow warmer, it was only because the deadly cold had numbed her to feeling. A minute later Shade came back up, his job done.
"We'll be ready to move in about ten," Kesia said, looking to Zandra, her eyes questioning.
"We should go," Zandra replied. Kesia nodded.
"Shade should probably copilot," she said, looking out to the pipeways. Zandra sat still for a moment, but Shade gently prodded her to get up.
"Sorry… that means me," he whispered with a slight smile that disappeared quickly. Zandra made a weak attempt at a laugh and moved out of the way. Shade squeezed her hand, and she thought she heard a slight 'thanks'.
"Where's the blanket?" Zandra asked, her eyes roving the cockpit.
"It's back in the Core."
Zandra went to retrieve her blanket, and the crew quieted down again. It was only a few minutes to their departure.
A/N – hello! Just got back from spring break and BOY, did I need that. Feel very rested now. Only a few chapters left and I'm still debating on how to end this. There are two ways, I'm just not sure which one I'd like better, or which one you guys would like better. What do you guys think?
Aquaphoenix1 – I'm sorry your internet got cut… scares me about college with all kinds of responsibilities and such *cowers in fear of bills and stuff*
Alocin – oh yeah, weird thing! Kal's review didn't show up, and it didn't email me that he reviewed until a few hours *after yours came! Weird.
Kal Torak – aw, I'm sorry I didn't recognize your review… I promise! It didn't email me until I had posted the next chapter! Anyway, thanks :)