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: Wow, we made it! Thanks for reading, everyone. LR x x x

Epilogue

'Is that-'

'That's it.'

'Wurm! Over here, the viewer!'

'Oh my god…Neo, it's green!'

'And blue.'

'Blue sky, Lorri- like Earth was further up-'

'But we'll see it from the surface, all day and night…'

'Not at night, dummy, at night it'll be dark!'

'Is there a city down there? Where're we gonna live, mama?'

'We gotta build it first, that's what Teacher said, and we'll have to build gardens and stuff too, and a power plant-'

'What's the surface there like, mama?'

What it was that made Morpheus sense Dena's entry into the mess room and turn to approach her, she wasn't sure. He folded his arms and looked at her levelly, as if daring her to say something.

'So,' she drawled, 'Still believing in your prophecies, Morpheus?'

'Of course,' he replied simply. 'Now more than ever.'

She snorted, lost somewhere between disdain and incredulity.

'Have you never stopped to wonder, Captain, why it was that all three of your four engines on the Mariposa failed on that flight at the precise moment where your trajectory would cause you to land on the surface above Zion?'

'Faulty maintenance. Coincidence,' she said with a shrug.

'Perhaps.' His smile was oddly knowing, but it vanished before she had time to ponder the meaning behind it. She did, however, follow him to one of the empty viewers where green-blue Capella revolved gracefully beneath the Gormenghast's newly-established orbit. 'Tell me, Captain, are you aware that the scanners on my former vessel were not equipped to detect body-heat signatures?'

'Well it's not like you were expecting to find live bodies in the tunnels, were you?'

Another small, deliberate smile.

'You asked me if I still hold my belief in the prophecy of the One who would save Zion and end the war, Captain. Did I never tell you who it was who spotted you on the ground in that tunnel?'

She stared at him. The smile was back.

'It was Neo.'

Then, with the self-assured air of one in a completely unassailable position, he crossed the room again to join his comrades in perusal of their new home.

Finis