Okay this chapter is going to be confusing, I know. Bare with me. I had this HUGE blowout idea for this story and I really want to use it as soon as I could. For future explanation: Paz is the Spanish word for "peace," Narcissus is a Greek god in mythology, and Emmanuel is an old name for "hope."
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"Morpheus, I'm telling you, the machines did something to him. I want to go back to 01, I want to talk to those bastards." Trinity looked hard into her captain's eye, no room for negotiating.
"What happened exactly?" Morpheus calmly asked. One thing at a time.
"He collapsed, something about pain in his head." Trinity shook her head, worry evident in every twitch of her muscles.
"Trinity, if what you say is true, then I'm not sure that you going to see the machines would be such a good idea."
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"Hold it. Hold it. Just wait one fucking second. Up until this point, everything you have been telling me is quite believable. But Neo being taken over by the machines? That's just fucking crazy!" a dark skinned woman around the age of twenty interrupted.
"Hey, Narcissus, do you think that my parents would tell me the story of their lives, and lie about it?" a boy replied, his temper rising.
"Emmanuel, why don't you go take a break from story telling and let me continue?" Paz smiled softly at Narcissus as her brother stood and walked out, his anger vanishing at the appearance of his younger sister. "I'm sorry Narcissus. I know that Morpheus and Niobe could only tell you so much about our parents' lives. I also know that most of the stories told about them have more fiction than fact. But he is not lying when he tells you anything about them."
"I'm sorry, it just seemed as if he wanted to show off or something." Narcissus smiled apologetically.
"He likes you, of course he's going to show off." The smile was returned before Paz spoke again. "When I was 10, my father brought Emmanuel and I into the kitchen, where my mother was already was waiting. They told us everything. I was always closer to my mother, some say because we were both female, others, because I took on many of her traits."
"You have. My father used to tell me all of these seemingly old, but actually recent, stories of The Trinity. He used to tell me how much you were like her. He would laugh when you would be dead set on doing something right, saying, "Just like her mother."
"You know, you're like your father in many ways, but I think you have more of your mother in you." Paz commented, hearing her brother ruffling through his desk. "Emmanuel, what are you looking for?"
"Mom's book of philosophy."
"You do know that Ghost gave her that to borrow and she never returned it?" Paz sarcastically commented.
"Yeah, I know. I figured that I'd finally give it back to him. Narcissus, if you don't mind waiting for the rest of the story, my sister and I have somewhere to go."
"We do?" An intent stare. "Oh yeah, we do! I'm sorry, Narcissus, why don't you come back tomorrow? I can make you some hot tea and we'll give you the rest of the story."
"That sounds great. Oh, remember, in three days they're unveiling the newest building. I can't believe that the above ground construction has worked so well. Anyway, I'll catch you guys later." Narcissus, stood and exited, allowing a small smile to flash in Emmanuel's direction.
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Paz leaned down and placed a handful of flowers at the base of the granite monument. It was the largest monument in the village, the stone to make it taken directly from Zion. Standing, Paz backed up to where her brother stood, a graying Ghost standing next to him. Gazing at the sign chiseled into the stone, Paz smiled gently:
"Here lies the eternal resting place of mankind's' saviors.
May their memory live on forever.
Neo & Trinity"
"They were truly great." Ghost murmured.
Paz shifted her gaze to the elder man, watching the intelligence and sadness flicker in his eyes. She had always known, thought her brother would never believe it, that Ghost had loved their mother. Ghost was too much of a gentleman to admit whether this was true, but Paz didn't need him to say it. She could read it in his eyes, how he watched her and Emmanuel.
"Ghost, may I ask you something?" Emmanuel turned slightly, blue eyes gazing down at the shorter man.
He has his father's height and his mother's eyes. Upon nodding and smiling inwardly at his rambling thoughts, Ghost listened to Emmanuel.
"Did they ever marry? I mean, I know that Uncle Link and Aunt Zee were, as were Morpheus and Niobe, but did they ever?"
Ghost thought for a moment, although he knew the answer. Of course he would, he had been sworn to secrecy just for knowing. They should know.
"They would tell you, if you asked either of them now, without a second's pause, that no, they hadn't. And in truth, they never really did. Trinity and Neo were built up into icons and heroes, and they knew that they did not need something to add fuel to the fire. But, that is, of course, a lie. They were married quietly with myself, Link, Zee, Cas, Morpheus and Niobe as the only witnesses. The marriage was never publicly acknowledged, so they were believed to have never married." Ghost paused, thinking. "You know, Trinity never dressed up often, but when she did, she was beautiful. She was absolutely stunning when she walked into the small cove where they were married. I remember Neo's jaw dropping slightly at the sight of her off-white dress. It was so simple, completely accentuating her body. I'm sorry, you probably wouldn't want the details."
As Ghost turned slightly, Paz grabbed his arm, turning him towards her. "Please."
Ghost regarded her for a moment before cocking his head to one side. As Paz and Emmanuel slide in step beside him, he continued where he had left off. "Neo wasn't dressed elegantly, but that would never be expected. He was barefoot, as was Trinity, wearing a pair of tan, synthetic cotton pants. His shirt was white, or close to it. Zee and Cas had sown his shirt and Trinity's dress specifically. He was as cleaned up as possible, but I swear, he forgot the entire English language when your mother walked in.
"She was already five, maybe six months pregnant with Emmanuel, and she positively glowed. Anyway, the service began, and finished within twenty minutes, nothing fancy. A rather chaste kiss was exchanged, causing us to smile."
"Why?" Emmanuel broke in suddenly. At seeing the look Ghost gave him, he bowed his head slightly. "I'm sorry."
"Quite all right. We smiled because we all knew how much they were holding back just for our benefit. A meeting was to be held that evening at Temple anyway, so we all planned to meet and dance there. That was their wedding day. Neither of them, nor any of us were really ready for the real world without a war. Trinity probably took it the hardest, but was thrown into the role of mother quickly, so she adjusted fast. Neo, I believed, was at a loss for what to do. Ever since he was freed, he was told he was meant to end the war.
"Neither thought about what would happen after if they survived. A year after Neo first met with the machines to end the war, the war was finally over. Peace was given one full year before it actually came true. I still remember standing next to Trinity in 01 as she outright threatened the machines. I thought she would be killed right there, but they let whatever force they had on Neo go, releasing his mind for the last time. I seem to go on about things you already know, don't I? I'm sorry. Emmanuel, could you tell me the time?" Ghost smiled softly at Paz while her brother turned to look at the clock on the watchtower nearby.
"Quarter to three."
"It's that late already? My, I'm sorry, I really must be going. I promised Sparks that I would visit him today. Good day." Ghost nodded once before moving off towards the road.
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Love it? Hate it? I don't care! (Shocked?) I was so psyched about this idea I had and I just HAD to do it. Up next, whether you want it or not, is Ghost and Sparks, the old men they are...just 25 years later. Also, the reason why Neo and Trinity are gone when they would only be in their 60s if they were alive.