Well well well. . .welcome back, my friends, it's been a long time, had it not? I have a new computer finallyand am on my summer vacation, so it's all good. I am SO sorry I took so long. I am SO SORRY you guys had to wait without anybody saying when I was coming back or anything. I give you all muffins, apology muffins. Sorry sorry sorry. : (

And thank you to everyone that reviews, it is much appreciated and makes me type faster! Muchos thanks to anyone who started reading this and is STILL reading it a year later! kisses for all! MWAH!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Matrix characters, but I DO own Tish, Mia and the anonymous rebel you will meet in this chapter!

THANK YOU for reading this!

Chapter 9

Dinner and a movie. That was all. It had sounded so wonderful. Two sighed into his popcorn and squirmed around in the uncomfortable seat. Come to think of it, the dinner hadn't been too bad; an expensive, subtle French restaurant with a waiter whose head bobbed furiously up and down as he surveyed the strange couple- Two was just beginning to think he could pull this off. . .but no. The problem was the movie.

Never having been to the movies before, Two had let Mia choose what film they were to watch. He hadn't counted on her, a woman of such style, wit and general loveliness, to pick such a mundane, boring, never-ending piece of crap. "Romantic Comedy", it had said on the poster. And whilst Two had to admit the romantic bit was right- there was plenty of relationships and kisses and meaningful looks- there was a definite lack of comedy. It wasn't funny at all. No-one was mauled, beaten, blown up, slashed, bit, ravaged, drugged, decapitated, killed, shot, bludgeoned, sliced, diced or even hurt the tiniest little bit. Nothing! But Mia had chuckled intermittedly throughout, so Two found himself conjuring up a strange noise somewhere in his throat whenever she laughed to convince her he was having a good time.

'Just half. . . and hour left' he kept telling himself. ' Just. . .half . . . and hour. . .'

It had not all been bad, though. Mia hadn't minded when he had delicately placed his arm around her. In fact, she had snuggled into his side more than anything. She felt nice there. She had this wonderful warmth to her, and if he listened hard, he could hear her heart beating. He could her breathing, watch her blink, feel her hand on his knee, feel the vibration in his jacket pocket. . .

Wait- vibration? Shit. His phone. Why was The Merovingian phoning him now?

"My boss," He said to her, pointing to his flashing phone in a way of explanation. Mia nodded, though there was a look on his face he hadn't seen before. "I'll be back, ok?"

He answered his phone the second he was outside.

"What?"

"Erm. . ." The Merovingian's voice was slightly crackly through the speaker. "I appear to be 'aving a certain. . . problem you need to deal with." He seemed less confident than usual.

"What with? This isn't the best time. . .sir." Two was forgetting to be polite. His boss had torn him away from Mia, he wasn't about to be a nice polite little assassin.

"Just get down to ze Mall in South Road." The Merovingian sighed. "One is already on ees way. Some rebels, zhey 'ave stolen somethink of mine, I would wish to 'ave back, you see." He hung up. Great, Two thought. A date cut short by the rebels messing around in the Matrix. Why couldn't they have waited until half an hour?

"Two!"

He spun round to see Mia running up to him.

"What's wrong? Why did you leave?" She asked.

"Uh," Two said, thinking. He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he could hear police sirens in the distance. "You know, my boss- I've got to do something." Yes, the police sirens were definitely getting louder. Mia's face was mixed with curiosity and disappointment.

"Can't it wait?"

"No. It can't. I'm sorry, but it can't." The sirens were deafening now, and a few seconds later two police cars whizzed round the corner and raced past them. Two hoped Mia wouldn't make the connection. She seemed oblivious.

"Well. . .okay. Phone me tomorrow?"

"Yes," Two said, as another police car raced past. He needed to get away, the sooner the better. "Okay. Tomorrow. Yes. Fine."

She leant closer, Two could see every little detail on her face. He felt himself leaning toward her too, and just as he was forgetting the apparent emergency, just as he could feel her soft breath on his face, feel her lips brush his, a loud explosion a few blocks away broke them apart.

"I reallyhave to go." He said.
Two arrived at South Mall to find it in pieces. The police were already swarming over the scene and the rebels had scattered. No sign of One either. Not that Two was worried- One could look after himself. He wondered what it was that the rebels had stolen from The Merovingian. Something important, if they had done this amount of damage.

He pulled over and got out of the car, his senses on overload. The night was clear- although the streetlamps blotted out most of the stars he could still see the clear, cloudless sky up ahead. He stalked past the scene of the crime looking for clues, something, anything.

All of a sudden he felt himself being drawn towards a dark alley. Two had always learnt to trust his instincts. He clenched his left fist, his right hand disappearing in his pocket and bringing out the deadly switchblade. Although it was very dark his sharpened senses could still see. He followed the alleyway, which brought him out onto another road, and something caught his eye. Something dark that had stained the road. Two knew it was blood the second he saw it. He turned left, running now, and followed the path his instinct was taking him.

Ten minutes later he found himself slightly out of breath and outside an old abandoned building. Perfect. He phased through the thick wall easily, and everything became tinged with green. Once inside, he spotted the phone sat on an old table. This must be the point. He settled into a corner and waited.

It wasn't long before he heard a door being wrenched open and the sound of dragging feet. He saw a young man stagger into the scene, one arm clutching his side. Two stepped forward, still in shadow, watching him. The man was standing by the phone now, waiting for it to ring. Two knew it wouldn't, having disconnected it a minute before. He stepped out of the shadows silently. The rebel turned around and the breath caught in his throat.

"Don't fight, you won't stand a chance." Two said, advancing, his switchblade flashing in the dull light that leaked in from the outside streetlamps. "I know you're hurt."

The rebel shifted his weight and grimaced. Two scrutinized him- by the looks of it, a sprained ankle and the possibility of a few broken ribs. This would be easy. With lightning speed Two ran at the rebel, his free hand grabbing him by the throat and pushing him upwards, so his feet were lifted off the floor. The rebel spluttered and his hands locked onto Two's arm, trying to throw him off, but it was no use.

"I'm going to ask you this once." Two said, his voice cold. This little maggot was the reason he had left Mia early, the reason their first kiss had been interrupted- it was safe to say Two was pissed. " What was your target?" The rebel only gasped more, his eyes bulging. Two dropped him, he landed with a heavy thud on the floor. Two waited until the rebel could breathe again. "Well?"

"Go. . .to. . .Hell . ." The young man managed between gasps. Two rolled his eyes.

"It's just a simple question." He breathed, his voice amicable and almost friendly. "You tell me, I plug that phone back in, you get to go back. What was your target? Tell me."

". . .No."

Two kicked him in the ribs, hard. He heard a crack even through the screams.

"Now, it's your fault I'm doing this." Two said. "Just tell me and I'll stop." The rebel writhed on the floor, his arms wrapped around his ribs.

"Please. . ." He said. " I . . .can't tell you. . "

Two knelt down and held the switchblade close to the young man's face.

"Do I really have to use this?" He asked, twirling it expertly with his fingers. The rebel's eyes widened with fear. "Because, my dear friend, you are really forcing me to, I-" But he was cut off. Another vibration in his pocket. He flipped the cell open.

"What?" He said, expecting The Merovinigian to start barking orders.

"Two? Hi, it's Mia, I just wanted to see if you were alright." Oh, shit. Two ran a hand through his dreadlocks.

"Why wouldn't I be fine?" He said irritably, before adding: " Fine? I'm fine."

"I just got back, on the news, the Mall's been destroyed, some terrorists, they said someone with white dreads was spotted at the scene, I just wanted to check. . . I-"

"Look, Mia." Two said, "Now's not a good time. Really busy."

The rebel saw Two's anticipation to end the call, a cried out:

"Help!" He yelled, before Two launched another foot at his face, which shut him up pretty quickly.

"What was that?" Mia seemed shocked.

"Uh. . . nothing," Two lied unconvincingly. "Something on the TV." She seemed to accept that explanation.

"Okay. Call me tomorrow."

"Yes." He hung up on her. He would have to apologise tomorrow. Back to the rebel, who was now unconscious on the floor. Damn. Now the interrogation was over. Two sighed. The Merovingian would not be happy. He stepped over the rebel, looked back, thought about killing him, but it was never any fun when they were unconscious. Instead, he searched the rebel quickly and pocketed his cell phone. A contact- useful. At least tonight hadn't been a complete loss. He opened the old door and walked quickly into the night.
Well done! You've got to the end of this long-awaited chapter. Again, I AM SO SORRY it has been, what, a year? But I am determined to finish this story. So, if you review, you get lots of cookies, and more apologies I made you wait do long! SORRY!
eddie