THE MATRIX: THE REMAINING FATE

By Michael Carruthers (urbanlegend23@hotmail.com)

***HUGE SPOILERS FOR "THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS"***

For the purposes of this story, everything that happened in "The Matrix Revolutions" happened, except Trinity's death. I need her in this story, so just think while reading this fanfic that her death never happened and she survived the ordeals in the final entry into the trilogy.

Please also note that this story has no connection to my other Matrix fanfiction.

Chapter 2: New Threats

Morpheus stepped back inside his room. Niobe lay on their bed, her hair had grown sufficiently since the machine war. Commander Lock had broken it off with Niobe after seeing Morpheus' real connection to her. Morpheus still wondered where Lock had done it out of jealousy or was it an act of compassion, and letting his pride go? Either way, Lock had left Zion and travelled with 250-something machines, many other men and the majority of the previous Zion Council to built another city, which planned to be even more technologically advanced than Zion.

Morpheus had his Niobe back and was ever thankful. But he had a deep mourning in his heart and a lot of the time felt somewhat empty. It wasn't that he couldn't feel for anyone or anything...it was that he felt too much. Morpheus sat on the edge of the bed, his thoughts swimming through his mind. What was his purpose now? Morpheus had always believed Neo would save the human world, and he did. But he also believed that his sole purpose in life was to train Neo, to be his mentor for all his years. But Neo was dead.

"Dead..." Morpheus said quietly, realising the true meaning of these words once and for all.

Morpheus felt he had no place in The Matrix or in Zion, he had no reason to tutor. Was Neo's death his fault? It was him that sent Neo and Trinity to the Machine City, it was him that had so much faith in the One. He believed that Neo would be the saviour of them all...but he never once considered Neo himself. Was it his fault? Was his emptiness because he had no purpose left in life?

Maybe Morpheus just missed his friend.

**

The Council of Zion sat at a square table. They were the greatest and wisest of all freed minds, the ones who made the decisions that changed the current human world, for better or worse. The Council had greatly changed after the sentinel war in Zion, almost all of the previous members had left Zion to construct another human world, along with the likes of Lock and the 250-something sentinels. Morpheus, Trinity and Niobe - great warriors sat adjacent to each other, and on the left to Niobe was Valerie Grace, a white woman who's hair was completely covered in beads. She spoke with such clarity and grace that anyone around her was instantly captivated.

"The Council of Zion has gathered today to discuss the threats still living inside the Matrix," Valerie spoke. Her voice was not loud yet it caught the attention of the Council.

"Threats?" Burfay, a bearded and strong African American man asked. "The Agents were destroyed. There are no threats except simple human beings now living inside the Matrix."

"Simple human beings they are not," Morpheus spoke. "Human beings are as dangerous as Agents in many ways."

"They do not have the ability to, let's say...be anyone they want, anywhere they want, any time," said Fior, a sarcastic European woman.

"However, we - the race of humans - do have the power to commit crimes, kill people, wield guns and weapons, therefore there is a threat to the people of the Matrix, and the potential freed minds," Morpheus replied.

"I'm sorry...I'm not quite getting this," Link said, sitting with Zee. "We're now needed back in the Matrix, after peace has finally been made in Zion? So we need to fight, to risk our lives, when we thought all of that was over?"

"Goddamn it, I just, really don't see why we don't let the police and other organisations already inside the Matrix deal with this stuff," Zee added.

"But then we come back to the simple answer - humans in the Matrix. Police. They are as dangerous as the Agents were, they are threats to us. If we want to free more minds, if we want more humans in Zion, away from that danger and living in harmony, we are going need to restore order in the artificial world," Morpheus said assertively.

"That means we're gonna have to send out another ship, Morpheus!" Link cried. It was obvious of late that Zee had much distress over the possibility of Link having to leave her once again, after almost losing him before.

"We must do what we must, Commander Link," Valerie said. "The Logos will depart - with Niobe's agreement -" Niobe nodded to Valerie - "before dusk this very night. We want to leave so we can be back as soon as we can, to continue the production of another city."

"Who will be on this ship?" asked Trinity.

"You, Morpheus, Niobe will venture into the Matrix first. Link, you will take the ship's command. Fior, Burfay, will be back-ups. I will stay here and maintain order as I must. And Zee, you will accompany me in seeing that-"

"No way, Valerie. If Link is going on the Logos, I'm afraid I am as well," Zee interrupted, standing up.

"We need people here, Zee," Valerine began, but was once again cut off by the argumentative Zee.

"You have many people here able to help in the production of another city, and order is maintained. I am going on the Logos and you are not stopping me," Zee confirmed, and her voice was simply so strong willed that Valerie dare not answer back.

"Very well. Return to your rooms, gather your things, and be ready for exiting Zion at dusk. The Council is adjourned."

The members of the Council began to rise and leave, but a voice suddenly spread through the room. A weak voice, but the words that were heard made everyone's heart skip a beat.

"The Logos must depart now, for the birds shall sing, the sun shall rise as in the Matrix the day of the One has returned!"

To be continued...