Part 6: Green
"They're there," Link announced, reading the falling lines of code as easily as most people read words on a page.
"What are they doing?" asked Kid eagerly, leaning over the console to get a better look. Everyone else held back, so as not to get in the way, but all of them wanted to see.
"Not a whole lot," he said. "Damn, I wish we could listen in..."
Smith and the agents continued looking each other up and down until Collins spoke again. "While you are within the Matrix, you will follow our instructions regarding security," she proclaimed. "Do not argue, do not question; your life may depend on your compliance." She tapped something on her earpiece; probably sending a message to the system that they'd made contact. Then she turned her attention back to him. "Come with us. We have provided transportation."
He smiled. "Well, I'm glad we won't have to walk all the way to the Oracle's -- this place is so out of the way that we probably wouldn't get there until tomorrow."
Collins didn't reply. She probably thought he was serious.
He shook his head, then got up and followed the agents. They led him through the park, along one of the many paths that cut through the greenery, all without another word or even acknowledging his presence.
"I wasn't expecting three female agents," he said, unable to think of anything else to say to them. Agents weren't much for small talk, but he had to do something to break the monotony.
"The mainframe felt we would be perceived as 'less threatening'," Agent Collins said blandly, although one eyebrow was arched. Smith was about to question this, as female agents (though fewer in number) were no less deadly than males, and anyone familiar with system agents would know that. Certainly the rebels and people of Zion would. But she seemed to have anticipated his response. "Less threatening," she continued, "given the intensity of your reaction -- your negative reaction -- to Agent Thompson, after your disconnection and exile."
Oh. Not less threatening to the humans...less threatening to him.
Smith thought back to his encounter with the other program. Yes, he'd taken malicious pleasure in besting the other agent, an upgrade supposedly superior to him. Even as a virus, he was superior, and there was no way he would let such an insult go unanswered. Gray hadn't been sent after him specifically, but Smith had used him as an object lesson to the rest that he was not to be trifled with. And now the mainframe didn't want him reminded of that incident, in case he would be compelled to repeat it.
A sudden stab of irritation went through him. Did the mainframe really think he would be influenced by such a thing, the way he was now? Maybe it did. Maybe it had pawned him off to the humans in Zion because of the possibility he was still unstable. And Collins' words annoyed him even more. He didn't want to be told what to do by agents who'd probably just come online...after all, they would have been his subordinates, under different circumstances. And now he was the One, chosen by both Neo and the mainframe, which should definitely count for something!
Smith's eyes narrowed. He knew that in here, he looked like what he used to be -- a dangerous agent and an even more dangerous virus -- and he decided to use that to his advantage. Neo's memories even told him which 'look' was the most menacing. Perhaps a healthy dose of intimidation would put things right.
He turned on his best glower. "Don't you know who I am? Who I was?" he asked, his voice a low growl.
It didn't seem to affect them. "You are the One," said Collins. She extended her hand to him, just as they reached the car. "It is a pleasure to meet you."
So much for intimidation.