From flat on her back, Veritas could do nothing to prevent Trinity's finishing punch. She scrunched up her face and waited, but all she felt was a gale force wind. She slowly opened her eyes to find that Trinity's fist had stopped a few millimeters from mostly likely causing a painful death for poor Veritas.

"God, you're amazing," she wheezed.

"There isn't one technique I know that you don't."

"Then why can't I beat you?"

"Because you don't know how to use them. You're still holding on to logic. You analyze every move and then try to focus on perfecting it."

"It just feels so weird, not natural, not like me at all. I mean, I don't kick ass. You're awesome for doing it, and I want to be just like you, but kicking ass just isn't me."

"You just need experience until it becomes second nature to you."

"Neo didn't need any experience," Veritas muttered almost bitterly.

"You weren't watching close enough. "

"But isn't it all about freeing your mind and stuff?"

"You're right, but now we're talking about the 'and stuff,' the stuff Morpheus will never tell you. Now, get up and try again."

"Trin, I'm dying here."

Trinity grabbed her arm and pulled. "Get your ass up. Now, hit me."

"I don't think I can."

"But don't you want to?" She twisted Veritas's arm and held it behind her back. "Now get away." With out thinking, Veritas stomped her foot on Trinity's. "Harder."

She stomped again and jerked her head back so that she hit Trinity on the bridge of her nose. Just for good measure, she thrust out her right heel in a turning-back sidekick once her arm had been released, but Trinity caught the kick and, with some skilled joint manipulation, she sent Veritas back to the ground in a crumpled heap.

"You're too slow."

"You're just too damn fast."

"How many times have you seen that movie?"

"Umm, thirteen."

She rolled her eyes. "Don't you remember anything? Now, I'm going to punch you. Don't let me." Veritas knocked away Trinity's fist with a crescent kick. "Now hit me so I can't try again." She raised her foot in a front kick but couldn't reach above Trinity's shoulder. "Why did you stop?"

"I can't reach any higher."

Veritas lifted her arm and blocked the fist that was headed straight for her solar plexus. Trinity then sent another punch to her philtrum, but Veritas deflected it as well.

"Caught you off guard?" Veritas nodded. "So you didn't have time to think about it. Good, don't think about it. No positive, 'I think I can,' bullshit. There should be absolutely no doubt in your mind about how hard or fast or high you can do anything."

"I think I understand."

"You thought you understood after just seeing them movie."

"I know." She almost felt ashamed. She'd actually thought that she could just upload some kicks and punches, jack into the Construct, and actually be as good as Trinity.

She launched another punch, which Veritas deflected with a well placed crescent kicks. With a twist of her hips, she changed it to a side kick. Her heel hit simulated flesh. Encouraged, she threw a jumping turning-back side kick. Trinity caught her foot before she touched the ground and helped her along with a little tug. After Veritas slapped the floor with both her palms, Trinity pressed her bare heel into the young girl's thigh to turn her hip. Still holding her foot, she pressed it and twisted it until Veritas cried out and the breaking of bones could be heard.

"Stop!"

"What am I doing to you?"

"You're killing me!"

"No, try again."

"You're hurting me…God!"

"No, I'm not doing anything to you. I'm asleep, remember?"

Morpheus appeared in the Construct and approached the pair. He leaned over so he could look Veritas in the face. "Listen to me, Veristas. You need to focus." She cried out again. "This isn't real." She clinched her teeth but caught the soft inside of her mouth. She tasted blood. "This isn't real."

"This isn't real," she echoed, her voice sounding a thousand miles away.

"Are you strong?"

"I'm…" She tried to scream, but her voice caught in her throat. I'm weak! I'm not strong. I'm not Veritas; I'm just Jane…just Jane She looked up at him from her vulnerable position. "I'm not, but it doesn't matter, does it?"

"No, because this isn't real. You'll have time to be strong later, but for now…"

She said clearly, "For now, I'll just believe."

Trinity released her foot, took her hand, and helped her up. Jane almost collapsed as pain shot through her foot and up her leg. Before she could steady herself, Trinity spun into a perfect roundhouse kick aimed at her head. An arm rose to block it. Morpheus grabbed her from behind, but she threw him over her shoulder and then dropped her knee to the ground to punch him in the face. She stood tall once more, straightened her uniform, and tightened her white belt before offering him her hand.