Notes! If you have been following this fic, then I suggest you reread chapter 9! Sorry, but I've had to alter it slightly, as I've changed my mind about certain elements of where this story is going. If it helps, I have only changed the paragraphs explaining Trinity's feelings after she enters the Portal. Sorry again!
It was more of a dreamworld than the Matrix, actually having the effect of being in a dream with each passing moment that blended into the next so perfectly, timeless. Until eventually, it seemed as if the only possible way to break the spell was to communicate. It felt wrong to break the awesome silence, as if this silence was designated by God himself and that to disrupt such a flat calm, an flawless peace, would be a grave act of taboo.
Yet she did it anyway. Shrugging away the nauseous feeling that had occurred within her as a result of the lengthy time in complete silence, Trinity approached the nearest person to her. A man, middle, aged, with a sedate expression on his face, as if locked in a lucid dream.
"Hello," she stated clearly. Upon receiving no response, not even a flinch, she repeated herself, louder this time, and gently placing a hand upon his arm.
His eyes opened, and he fixed her with a bewildered gaze.
"Where is this? Who are you?" his voice was calm, and his speech slow, and slightly muddled.
"I don't honestly know where we are," she replied, not taking her eyes from his, realising that for him to stay awake, she must maintain eyecontact and keep his focus. She could see his eyes drooping already.
"I am Trinity."
"I am Griffin."
It was a start at least, she thought, as she lost his gaze for a moment, looking again to find that his eyes had closed once more.
Neo had left Morpheus to tell the other rebels from the Hamman. He didn't know if could face them all, and besides, he felt obliged to find the Merovingian.
Morpheus waited, and it was not long before he was gathered with the remainder of the crew from the Hamman, or at least those who could be jacked in.
"There is something you should know before we begin, Morpheus," Captain Roland began. "It's to do with Trinity." Morpheus' head snapped up. "Though Smith took her, she is not dead. Her body is still functioning, though we have lost track of her mind. We have run numerous searches for her in the Matrix, yet she is not there. Her neural patterns read the same of someone who is jacked in."
"But you definitely saw her be taken by Smith?" asked Morpheus.
"Yes."
"Then you may be more lenient towards my requests."
Neo wandered quite aimlessly for a while, still not meeting his adversary however. The Chateau was so extensive, that Neo realised he could walk around in circles forever and never find him, so surrendering to his need for quiet thought, he headed foe the nearest external door, letting himself out onto a wide patio, overlooking the breathtaking mountain range. Settling himself onto a elegantly carved wooden bench, he finally let his attentions slip.
As with before however, his peace was to be short-lived. He was restored to his senses by slow footsteps, and turning, he saw the Oracle walking towards him. He had to admit he was a little surprised.
"Astounding view, isn't it?" she remarked, seating herself beside him, not taking her eyes off the mountain ranges ahead of her.
"They're not real," stated Neo, rather bluntly.
"Well, that is true, but you still sit here and spend time marvelling over what I say, and I'm only as real as them. It's all just one big elaborate game, Neo, and you're the main character. It all revolves around you. You're the hero; the Sonic the Hedgehog; the SuperMario. Yet your actions mean nothing and are nothing."
"That's not true. Although this isn't real, one thing I've learnt is that my actions here have maximum effect on the Real World. No matter where that is." He added the final bit on second thoughts. It had still not fully sunk in that the Real World was completely devoid of any real Human life. That Zion was just another extension of the Matrix. It was mind blowing.
"I'm glad to see you're learning, Neo. Maybe this state of mind will help you in what you must be prepared for. You have a new fight ahead of you now. And believe me, this will be unlike any other. Prepare yourself, Neo."
He looked at her blankly, though she ignored this, rifling through her handbag, and pulling out a small paperbag.
"Candy?"
It was more of a dreamworld than the Matrix, actually having the effect of being in a dream with each passing moment that blended into the next so perfectly, timeless. Until eventually, it seemed as if the only possible way to break the spell was to communicate. It felt wrong to break the awesome silence, as if this silence was designated by God himself and that to disrupt such a flat calm, an flawless peace, would be a grave act of taboo.
Yet she did it anyway. Shrugging away the nauseous feeling that had occurred within her as a result of the lengthy time in complete silence, Trinity approached the nearest person to her. A man, middle, aged, with a sedate expression on his face, as if locked in a lucid dream.
"Hello," she stated clearly. Upon receiving no response, not even a flinch, she repeated herself, louder this time, and gently placing a hand upon his arm.
His eyes opened, and he fixed her with a bewildered gaze.
"Where is this? Who are you?" his voice was calm, and his speech slow, and slightly muddled.
"I don't honestly know where we are," she replied, not taking her eyes from his, realising that for him to stay awake, she must maintain eyecontact and keep his focus. She could see his eyes drooping already.
"I am Trinity."
"I am Griffin."
It was a start at least, she thought, as she lost his gaze for a moment, looking again to find that his eyes had closed once more.
Neo had left Morpheus to tell the other rebels from the Hamman. He didn't know if could face them all, and besides, he felt obliged to find the Merovingian.
Morpheus waited, and it was not long before he was gathered with the remainder of the crew from the Hamman, or at least those who could be jacked in.
"There is something you should know before we begin, Morpheus," Captain Roland began. "It's to do with Trinity." Morpheus' head snapped up. "Though Smith took her, she is not dead. Her body is still functioning, though we have lost track of her mind. We have run numerous searches for her in the Matrix, yet she is not there. Her neural patterns read the same of someone who is jacked in."
"But you definitely saw her be taken by Smith?" asked Morpheus.
"Yes."
"Then you may be more lenient towards my requests."
Neo wandered quite aimlessly for a while, still not meeting his adversary however. The Chateau was so extensive, that Neo realised he could walk around in circles forever and never find him, so surrendering to his need for quiet thought, he headed foe the nearest external door, letting himself out onto a wide patio, overlooking the breathtaking mountain range. Settling himself onto a elegantly carved wooden bench, he finally let his attentions slip.
As with before however, his peace was to be short-lived. He was restored to his senses by slow footsteps, and turning, he saw the Oracle walking towards him. He had to admit he was a little surprised.
"Astounding view, isn't it?" she remarked, seating herself beside him, not taking her eyes off the mountain ranges ahead of her.
"They're not real," stated Neo, rather bluntly.
"Well, that is true, but you still sit here and spend time marvelling over what I say, and I'm only as real as them. It's all just one big elaborate game, Neo, and you're the main character. It all revolves around you. You're the hero; the Sonic the Hedgehog; the SuperMario. Yet your actions mean nothing and are nothing."
"That's not true. Although this isn't real, one thing I've learnt is that my actions here have maximum effect on the Real World. No matter where that is." He added the final bit on second thoughts. It had still not fully sunk in that the Real World was completely devoid of any real Human life. That Zion was just another extension of the Matrix. It was mind blowing.
"I'm glad to see you're learning, Neo. Maybe this state of mind will help you in what you must be prepared for. You have a new fight ahead of you now. And believe me, this will be unlike any other. Prepare yourself, Neo."
He looked at her blankly, though she ignored this, rifling through her handbag, and pulling out a small paperbag.
"Candy?"