Title: Rescue Run

Author: Lady Rheena

Genres: Alternate Universe, Action/Adventure, Romance

Rating: R

Disclaimer: If you recognise it from a fandom, I probably don't own it. That includes the world of The Matrix, all its characters and the concepts it entails. The idea of the Fleet and the Planetary Coalition are technically my own, but you'll probably recognise bits and pieces from various sci-fi media.

Chapter notes: Well I had to get him in here somewhere.

Part 9- What's Space Like?

Three weeks later Dena was sure she was actually in the middle of some kind of ship-refitting nightmare and kept telling herself to wake up. The problem wasn't so much the ship, or resources, or manpower- Lock had given orders, reinforced by the Council, that the Logos Project (a label Niobe found very funny) was to be given as high a priority as humanly possible. In fact most of the dock technicians were drawing straws and climbing over each other to see who got a chance to work on it on any given day. Various other departments had an informal competition to see who could turn out necessary parts or equipment the fastest. The crews of the other ships, which came and went almost continuously, often found 'excuses' to stop by and lend a hand wherever they could. No, the problem was that Dena herself was the final word. There wasn't a single other person in the whole of Zion who had the slightest clue how to make a ship spaceworthy. Her schematics for the energy converter were, as the engineer corps put it, revolutionary by Terran standards. The idea of a ship being able to get anywhere without repulsor-pads was barely credible. So every twinge to the design, every miniscule alteration, every slight equipment incompatibility she had to check. Because there simply wasn't anybody else to do it, of course. And everyone involved- which seemed to be the whole city, at select moments- were throwing themselves into it, doing their best…but they just didn't have anything like the expertise. Space travel was like a myth to them, an ancient legend or a fairytale for children's bedtime stories. But she kept going, had to keep going, because if she was being honest she liked Zion's people a great deal and damned if she was just going to sit back and watch them all rot fighting a pointless, endless war against a vastly superior enemy. They deserved better than that. And if it killed her she was going to give them a chance to have something better.

'Hey.'

The vaguely familiar voice made her glance round, then turn around with a smile that she found was entirely genuine and even rather pleased.

'Hey there, Neo. Didn't see the Neb come in.'

'We don't as much as the others.' He stuck his hands in his pockets and gazed up at the Logos, which currently bore a close resemblance to a building site. 'You've certainly been causing a stir around here, huh?'

'So they tell me.'

'You really planning to take that heap into orbit?'

'She's not a heap,' Dena found herself shooting back.

'Sorry.' He gave her an impish grin. 'Why the Logos?'

'Well the Neb's got too much of an ass, if that's what you mean.'

'Too big, huh? I thought it might be that.'

Stowing the bolt-gun on her belt, Dena came over to stand by him and look up at the ship. Then she was unable to resist asking.

'So what does Morpheus think of all this?'

'Morpheus?' Then he caught her meaning and snorted. 'He's reserving judgement, I think. Doesn't see how it fits in with the prophecy. Although in that respect I think I owe you one.'

'Meaning?'

'Well Trin and I arrived at our quarters today and there were only five people there.' At her quizzical look he sighed. 'There's usually about fifty or more, all trying to catch a glimpse or ask a question…or a blessing or some shit like that.'

'Glad my little project's given you some peace, Your Holiness,' she said wryly. He laughed.

'I'm guessing you don't believe in that kind of thing, huh?'

She shrugged.

'Well I'm not denying the existence of a higher power- you look at the faces on some ugly people and you just know that not only is there a god but he's got a sense of humour-' this prompted another laugh '-but I'm afraid where I come from what you do isn't a matter for superstition, it's a matter for a neurologist.'

The smile vanished, replaced by interest.

'What do you mean?'

'Neo, I'm no medic. But I do know someone on the Gormenghast who has the same effect on me as you do when you give me one of those stares of yours. His name's Kerry Maloney. He's Psi, ESP grade three.'

'ESP? You mean extra-sensory perception?'

'Yup. Where I come from it's just a genetic anomaly- pretty rare, I'll grant, and even more useful, but an anomaly nonetheless. Something like one in every ten thousand people are born with extra mental abilities- TK, TP, etcetera. Psi corps are attached to Fleet. Every heavy cruiser I know's got at least two officers on board. Now, since you've never been exposed to the proper stimulus for any such abilities you have to manifest themselves, I'm guessing the reason you can do what you can do inside this Matrix thing is because it works via a direct neural interface which speeds the whole shebang along a few notches.' She flashed him a grin. 'Sorry to rain on your parade as I am, that's my opinion on the One.'

'You know I probably should be annoyed,' he agreed. 'But actually that's…pretty reassuring. And it does make sense, what you've said.'

Dena smiled, more gently this time, and jerked her head at the Logos.

'When we make contact with Fleet, I'll have them pass the word along. Psi's still rare enough that they'll be hopping up and down to have a potential dropped into their laps. In fact I think from what I've heard you might be a higher grade than Kerry. But if you ever meet him, don't tell him I said that.'

'My lips are sealed.' He folded his arms and stared blankly ahead for a moment, then a small and rather distant smile settled on his face before he looked back at her. 'Thanks. And, uh, good luck. If you don't mind my saying so I think you need it.'

'Now luck is one superstition I'm never adverse to. See you round, Neo. Say hi to Trin and Link for me. And that old crackpot captain of yours.'

'I will. And,' he added as he turned to leave, 'I think I'll keep quiet about this Psi thing when he's around. It might piss him off.'

Once Neo was gone Dena found herself feeling surprisingly refreshed. Definitely a high grade ESP, that one. He was in a good mood, for whatever reason- she suspected the lack of a crowd outside his and Trinity's door might have something to do with that- and had probably been broadcasting it without realising what he was doing. That was one of the most obvious signs a potential displayed, she remembered Kerry once telling her. Not that it was unwelcome, she thought grimly as one of the junior technicians on duty came sprinting up to her carrying a conduit section as though it were some kind of holy object.

'Captain Reese, we were looking for something to use as the core for the central coolant valve and I was wondering if this would do-'

'Lemme see.' She took the section from him and gave it a once-over. It was the right size, certainly, and an appropriate diameter. Taking the scanner from her belt, she ran an integrity analysis. 'Yeah, that ought to do just fine. But you'll need to coat it inside and out with some of that great metallic polymer you guys came up with.' It was then that she abruptly recognised the overeager face that bobbed in front of her. 'Hey, aren't you the kid who haunts Neo?'

He gave her a sheepish grin.

'Yeah, that's me. I was going to volunteer on a ship next year but I'm already old enough to start training in the tech corps so I signed up now for that instead. I wanted to help with the Logos.'

She handed planted her hands on her hips.

'How old are you, kid?'

'Fifteen,' he said, sounding vaguely apologetic for some reason. 'And- I don't know if I should say this, Captain, but Neo told me that he thought you were a better hope for the city than he was.'

Dena had to smile at that.

'Between you and me, kid, I don't think Neo likes being a messiah very much.'

'I think that sometimes too. And I know I annoy him- a lot of the time.' He dropped his eyes.

'Hey, chin up kid.' She gave him a wink. 'You help me get this old girl here in orbit, I'm sure he'll forgive you.'

'Yes ma'am!' He snapped to attention, reminding her of the rookie pilot squad on the Gormenghast for their deck training. 'Can I ask, Captain- what's space like?'

'It's a big cold vacuum full of stars, kid.'

'I know that- I mean- you know, what's it like? To fly in it, and see other worlds?'

'It's-' the question moved her more than she cared to admit '-it's like nothing you can imagine, kid. Something I hope to hell you do see one day.' She hesitated. 'You pod-born?'

'Yeah. Neo got me out. So we got that in common, I guess. Both came in on the Neb.'

'So you remember what blue sky looks like? And grass?'

'Sometimes.' He shrugged. 'Sometimes I forget. It doesn't matter. That wasn't real. Do you see sky very much, Captain, even being a space pilot?'

'Often enough.'

'Is it…beautiful?'

'Yes, it is.' Her brows creased slightly. 'I never realised just how beautiful, but it really is. Like the feel of grass under your feet…or starlight glinting on a screen.' Suddenly she remembered where she was and snapped out of it, pushing the conduit into his hands. 'You get that coated, kid. Mech chief knows the one to use. Inside and outside, mind!'

'Yes ma'am!' he said again, and sprinted off. Dena shook her head and turned around, to find Sparks leaning against one of the hoists that held the ship far enough off the ground for technicians to walk freely underneath and make alterations. He was watching her with a look on his face that she couldn't decipher.

'Some kids just lurch from hero to hero, huh?' she said, aware that her voice sounded hollow in her own ears, and hurried back up the access ramp to see how the new power distribution grid was coming along.