So sorry this is the first update in weeks. I have exams soon, so don't expect much from me for a few weeks!
Trinity rounded the corner, back against the wall, her movements swift and precise as she glimpsed the retreating figures of the agents up ahead of her. She raced down the hall after them, catlike, her feet beating noiselessly on the marble floors. She was desperate not to lose them as they turned to the right at the end of a long hall. Reaching the end herself, she promptly spun around the corner herself...
...running headlong into Smith.
"Do you have any idea how many times I've chased you. Each time, just longing to catch you unaware and finally gain what is truly mine- your purpose." Trinity stared helplessly down the barrel of his gun. Realising that running was pointless. She'd reached the end, and he knew it too, as he plunged his hand into her body.
Neo's senses alerted him that all was not right. Though it was a feeling he was used to. Since being caught in the portal, his whole nervous system had been on edge, keeping him consistently aware that there was a problem, though is weary mind and complex web of thought prevented him from delving further into this. He simply glanced up at Morpheus, noting that his mentor's expression had stayed the same.
Trinity's face was locked in a tight grimace. Her body painfully transforming. All felt cold, as if ice-cold water were seeping through her veins, intoxicating her system. She became suddenly aware of how it felt when her body left the Matrix. Images of Morpheus' face flashed before her eyes, and the liquid formation of the mirror that had crept over her whole body. And as the feeling depleted as suddenly as it had begun, she opened her eyes.
Before her lay a world she could not have imagined.
A white void, filled only of a countless number of human RSIs. Like cattle awaiting slaughter, most simply stood around, appearing confused. But what startled her the most was the silence. Considering that so many people were stood infront of her, not a single sound could be heard. As she looked further, she could see more bewildered humans appearing out of seemingly thin air, but no one spoke. It was as if everyone on the endless space was simply trapped in their own thoughts, and that no one dared speak.
She could only stand and stare, not understanding why no one moved. It lasted for an eternity, as each moment melted into the next, she lost track of all time and space.
"Somebody must be sent to organise the soldiers in the portal." Morpheus' utterances had become short and declarative, and Neo detected a hint of awkwardness on Morpheus' behalf when in the presence of the Merovingian.
"I agree, Morpheus," replied the Merovingian, completely unfazed and unaffected by the atmosphere radiating from Morpheus. "You."
"No," replied Neo. "He is to stay here. I know who is to go." He was learning that the only way to get anywhere with the Merovingian was to be defiant. "I must speak alone with Morpheus." The Merovingian at first looked a little taken aback, as if he was not used to being spoken to in such a way, but after a moment, he simply nodded and left the room.
"Niobe should go," muttered Neo, keeping his voice to a hoarse whisper. "I want you here with me Morpheus. At least until I know what to do and how to handle this." Neo knew that Morpheus would be reluctant to put Niobe in any danger. "She'll be safe, Morpheus, and if something goes wrong, or if he is lying," he paused. "Niobe can handle herself. And we can trust her."
Morpheus' face remained vacant for a while. Eventually, he shook his head. "Neo, I have always believed in you, and I know that it is your destiny to end this war. If it was any other way, I would not be going through with any of this, but I trust your judgement. Niobe will go." For a few moments, there was a silence between the two men, motivated by the mutual self- respect, broken suddenly by Neo's cell phone. Instinctively, he reached for it and snapped it open.
"Neo, it's Link. I have...news." Neo's mind flicked immediately to Trin.
"It's Trinity," continued Link, exercising caution in his tone, but still confirming Neo's worst fears. His breath caught in the back of his throat, Neo found himself unable to speak. "I'm sorry," continued Link, "Smith- he..." He didn't need to finish. Neo already knew, and he immediately felt bad for suggesting to Morpheus that Niobe allow herself to be taken by Smith, for the pain of loving someone, and being unable to find out if they had lived or died ripped him apart inside. Without replying, Neo snapped the cell phone shut, a look of defeat crossing his features- a look that worried Morpheus, as he was unaccustomed to seeing his One look defeated.
"I need to be alone. I won't be long. Please stay here." Morpheus nodded once, slowly, understanding, as Neo crossed the room and left.
Upon walking out into the grand entrance hall, Neo was surprised to be faced with Persephone, if only for the reason that it almost appeared as if she had been stood outside the room awaiting him. Dressed in a spectacular black satin dress, with her gothic hair tumbling around her shoulders, her face displayed a subdued expression. He wondered if she knew.
However, if she did know, rather than condolences, she simply said, "If you want alternatives Neo, follow me."
Hesitantly, Neo followed her into a small side room. Two large sumptuous armchairs and a glass coffee table were all that occupied the room, though the décor still resembled a palace. He watched as she lowered herself into one of the armchairs, elegantly crossing her legs and he followed suit at her gesture.
"I know about Trinity." She lowered her eyes, as if out of a mild form of respect. Neo wondered if at this point she was going to request another kiss. And he knew exactly what he'd do if she did.
"I know what you are thinking," she continued, literally as she had read his thoughts, "but you are wrong. I believe you overlooked my role in all of this earlier. Do you not know who I am?"
Neo narrowed his eyes, wondering if this was a game, and if he should simply leave now. However, he merely shook his head, eyes fixed on hers, totally unprepared for her answer.
"I believe The Architect told you of my existence. I like to be referred to as 'The Mother' of the Matrix."
Trinity rounded the corner, back against the wall, her movements swift and precise as she glimpsed the retreating figures of the agents up ahead of her. She raced down the hall after them, catlike, her feet beating noiselessly on the marble floors. She was desperate not to lose them as they turned to the right at the end of a long hall. Reaching the end herself, she promptly spun around the corner herself...
...running headlong into Smith.
"Do you have any idea how many times I've chased you. Each time, just longing to catch you unaware and finally gain what is truly mine- your purpose." Trinity stared helplessly down the barrel of his gun. Realising that running was pointless. She'd reached the end, and he knew it too, as he plunged his hand into her body.
Neo's senses alerted him that all was not right. Though it was a feeling he was used to. Since being caught in the portal, his whole nervous system had been on edge, keeping him consistently aware that there was a problem, though is weary mind and complex web of thought prevented him from delving further into this. He simply glanced up at Morpheus, noting that his mentor's expression had stayed the same.
Trinity's face was locked in a tight grimace. Her body painfully transforming. All felt cold, as if ice-cold water were seeping through her veins, intoxicating her system. She became suddenly aware of how it felt when her body left the Matrix. Images of Morpheus' face flashed before her eyes, and the liquid formation of the mirror that had crept over her whole body. And as the feeling depleted as suddenly as it had begun, she opened her eyes.
Before her lay a world she could not have imagined.
A white void, filled only of a countless number of human RSIs. Like cattle awaiting slaughter, most simply stood around, appearing confused. But what startled her the most was the silence. Considering that so many people were stood infront of her, not a single sound could be heard. As she looked further, she could see more bewildered humans appearing out of seemingly thin air, but no one spoke. It was as if everyone on the endless space was simply trapped in their own thoughts, and that no one dared speak.
She could only stand and stare, not understanding why no one moved. It lasted for an eternity, as each moment melted into the next, she lost track of all time and space.
"Somebody must be sent to organise the soldiers in the portal." Morpheus' utterances had become short and declarative, and Neo detected a hint of awkwardness on Morpheus' behalf when in the presence of the Merovingian.
"I agree, Morpheus," replied the Merovingian, completely unfazed and unaffected by the atmosphere radiating from Morpheus. "You."
"No," replied Neo. "He is to stay here. I know who is to go." He was learning that the only way to get anywhere with the Merovingian was to be defiant. "I must speak alone with Morpheus." The Merovingian at first looked a little taken aback, as if he was not used to being spoken to in such a way, but after a moment, he simply nodded and left the room.
"Niobe should go," muttered Neo, keeping his voice to a hoarse whisper. "I want you here with me Morpheus. At least until I know what to do and how to handle this." Neo knew that Morpheus would be reluctant to put Niobe in any danger. "She'll be safe, Morpheus, and if something goes wrong, or if he is lying," he paused. "Niobe can handle herself. And we can trust her."
Morpheus' face remained vacant for a while. Eventually, he shook his head. "Neo, I have always believed in you, and I know that it is your destiny to end this war. If it was any other way, I would not be going through with any of this, but I trust your judgement. Niobe will go." For a few moments, there was a silence between the two men, motivated by the mutual self- respect, broken suddenly by Neo's cell phone. Instinctively, he reached for it and snapped it open.
"Neo, it's Link. I have...news." Neo's mind flicked immediately to Trin.
"It's Trinity," continued Link, exercising caution in his tone, but still confirming Neo's worst fears. His breath caught in the back of his throat, Neo found himself unable to speak. "I'm sorry," continued Link, "Smith- he..." He didn't need to finish. Neo already knew, and he immediately felt bad for suggesting to Morpheus that Niobe allow herself to be taken by Smith, for the pain of loving someone, and being unable to find out if they had lived or died ripped him apart inside. Without replying, Neo snapped the cell phone shut, a look of defeat crossing his features- a look that worried Morpheus, as he was unaccustomed to seeing his One look defeated.
"I need to be alone. I won't be long. Please stay here." Morpheus nodded once, slowly, understanding, as Neo crossed the room and left.
Upon walking out into the grand entrance hall, Neo was surprised to be faced with Persephone, if only for the reason that it almost appeared as if she had been stood outside the room awaiting him. Dressed in a spectacular black satin dress, with her gothic hair tumbling around her shoulders, her face displayed a subdued expression. He wondered if she knew.
However, if she did know, rather than condolences, she simply said, "If you want alternatives Neo, follow me."
Hesitantly, Neo followed her into a small side room. Two large sumptuous armchairs and a glass coffee table were all that occupied the room, though the décor still resembled a palace. He watched as she lowered herself into one of the armchairs, elegantly crossing her legs and he followed suit at her gesture.
"I know about Trinity." She lowered her eyes, as if out of a mild form of respect. Neo wondered if at this point she was going to request another kiss. And he knew exactly what he'd do if she did.
"I know what you are thinking," she continued, literally as she had read his thoughts, "but you are wrong. I believe you overlooked my role in all of this earlier. Do you not know who I am?"
Neo narrowed his eyes, wondering if this was a game, and if he should simply leave now. However, he merely shook his head, eyes fixed on hers, totally unprepared for her answer.
"I believe The Architect told you of my existence. I like to be referred to as 'The Mother' of the Matrix."