Right, as per usual, replies are at the end of the chapter, thank you to all reviewers and onwards to chapter 4.
Chapter 4: Choice
It wasn't what I expected.
Then again; what can you expect to find on the inside of a magic tree? I guess I was, at the time, expecting a dark, wet place with lots and lots of wood.
What I saw was very different. What I was standing in looked like a cross between a 50's nostalgia restaurant and a ludicrously clean, and empty, nightclub. The floor seemed to alternate between a stereotypical metal floor from a factory and a black and white tiled surface. The floor also seemed to stretch halfway up the walls.
There was a bar, which looked normal enough, except for the impossible geometry of the stools, whose legs seemed to twist and curve in on themselves to create weird and wonderful patterns. One appeared to be suspended from the ceiling.
The ceiling itself was just a seemingly endless black void that also covered half of the walls and met the floor in the middle.
There were three faces, all of which were staring at me. The ones that were closest to me looked amused. No doubt seeing a mere mortal gawk at the surroundings that conflicted with his preconceptions was amusing to them.
Manticore appeared from somewhere behind me and began to speak, (thereby startling me once again).
"Impressive, isn't it?"
"I think impossible would describe it better."
"Impossible is impossible, and you already know that in your heart. You're just having a hard time shaking off the ideals you were raised with. Come on, let me show you around."
I followed him across the room towards the bar. The three people were there, the bartender being one; (obviously), he looked tall, randomly strewn light brown hair, a long triangular face. He had stopped staring at me and returned to conversing with the second person. A short looking teenage female with unbelievably dark skin and even darker hair that stretched down to her chin.
The third figure was a little different; she had green skin, red hair, and a tail. Needless to say I found myself staring at her in disbelief, (mostly) for a few moments. She stared back with an obvious expression of amusement on her face. Shreds of politeness and dignity punched through confussion and disbelief and I managed to avert my gaze.
"Still doubting?" Manticore asked me.
"No." I forced out. Speaking whilst experiencing awe is somewhat difficult.
After a few seconds, we reached the bar.
"Greetings." Manticore began whilst extending an arm to point at one of the assorted beverage dispensers, the bartender understood the message and started to prepare the ordered beverage.
"This, my friends is Wanderer," he continued, it took me a little while to remember that Wanderer was me, "assuming he decides to he shall be the newest member of our order."
The assembled heads nodded at me in an informal, half arsed greeting. I nodded back.
"Wanderer, this is Dragon," (the bartender), "Hydra", (the green person), and Hawk, (no points for guessing who that is.)
"Nice to meet you." Said Hawk, extending her hand and baring her teeth in a smile that revealed two pointed teeth that suggested that I was looking at a vampire, or the program equivalent.
"Likewise." I said as calmly as I could whilst shaking the pre-offered hand, and half expecting to have her teeth bury themselves in my neck.
Once the introductions were over, I cast another glance around the room. There were assorted seats and tables littered about the place, as well as numerous doors that appeared to be colour coded.
"The brown door always leads to the outside Wanderer, remember that." Manticore's voice retained its trademark, emotionless 'cool'.
"Yes master." I replied in the hope that a feeble attempt at humour would break the proverbial ice. It did, barely.
There was some small laughter from the assembled programs; Dragon even gave me a look which appeared to be sympathetic.
"Come on," said Hydra, tugging gently at my arm, "let's give you the grand tour."
This gentle tug suddenly became a forceful yank that almost sent me to the floor. Behind me I noticed more laughter.
"As you've probably guessed by the vast number of door," said Manticore over my shoulder, "there are dozens of rooms within the 'Destiny', some of them you will recognise from assorted locations you visited in the Matrix, others; well…" He trailed off and increased his pace so as to reach the door we were heading towards before me.
As he opened it, I found that I was forced to look away. An unbelievably bright light seemed to engulf the room, as well as those within it.
"This is our version of a human invention." Said Hawk, "it's known to them as a construct, we don't usually find ourselves calling it anything. Suffice to say, from here we can create whatever we wish, it's here where we can also edit ourselves."
My eyes became as used to the light as they were going to get and I suddenly felt unspeakably disoriented as I realised what I was standing in.
All around me there was nothing except a blinding white light; there were no walls, no apparent floor or ceiling, nothing. I found it a little difficult to look down for a few minutes due to an irrational fear that I would fall. Looking around I saw yet more amusement.
In the construct, they showed me various other rooms, as well as a variety of potential designs for my 'residual self image' as they called it. It was creepy how they talked to me as if they were recommending which suit to buy. What I found much more creepy was how tempting it all sounded. A pestiferous corner of my mind kept telling me that all of this would cost me my soul.
"We're not evil," said Hydra suddenly, reading the expressions on my face with disturbing precision, or perhaps my mind. It was apparently possible after all, "we don't interfere with the majority of the Matrix or the lives of others unless we wish to help them ascend. What we do here is try to live as full and rewarding a life as possible by using the tools that we have acquired."
"I won't lie to you Wanderer," Manticore interrupted, "a lot of what we have, we stole. And the law abiding minions of the machines who created the Matrix will destroy us if they find us, but for four hundred years we have been able to hide from them. The risk is negligible, usually."
"Usually?" I asked.
"We're at our most vulnerable when we leave the Destiny, and we have to do that to find other initiates and acquire items that we desire or need."
I took a few moments to absorb this information, the realisation that I was being asked to make a life changing decision that I couldn't come back from was beginning to enter my head. Despite the fact that I hadn't known them for an overly long time, and that the situation still seemed insane to me, they seemed trustworthy, and I had no desire to return to my old, monotonous lifestyle.
"I'm in." I said suddenly, thereby earning satisfied smiles from those around me.
To be continued.
Now for replies:
Angel-of-lightness/Naz/Miscellaneous third option/Miscellaneous fourth option: The subsequent conversations (in a manner of speaking) regarding credit between you and I makes this a poor choice of subject for a reply. Saying that it's a poor choice of subject is a slightly better subject however. But that's all I'm going to say about it. Thanks for reading, reviewing and enjoying. If you're interested, here are some more quotes which you may like to use in conversational hoo-hah.
May sharp, pointy things fall on the heads of all who annoy me.
He/She got killed to death.
I laugh at what I am currently laughing at.
(Not my best I admit, I'm running out of ideas.)
Agent Josie: My parents too seem obsessed with re-decorating the kitchen. It's kind of disturbing. If you're turning invisible then you may want to consider preparing a sign that says 'I am here, please don't walk into me'. Or something similar. I had a large bag of Maltesers once, and then I scanned it and used it for my Graphics work. I'll never forgive myself. Stupid Microsoft spell checking system. It's about as helpful as a construction manual for an air guitar. How I hate it. Well anyway, thankings for your review and glad you enjoyed it.
Chapter 4: Choice
It wasn't what I expected.
Then again; what can you expect to find on the inside of a magic tree? I guess I was, at the time, expecting a dark, wet place with lots and lots of wood.
What I saw was very different. What I was standing in looked like a cross between a 50's nostalgia restaurant and a ludicrously clean, and empty, nightclub. The floor seemed to alternate between a stereotypical metal floor from a factory and a black and white tiled surface. The floor also seemed to stretch halfway up the walls.
There was a bar, which looked normal enough, except for the impossible geometry of the stools, whose legs seemed to twist and curve in on themselves to create weird and wonderful patterns. One appeared to be suspended from the ceiling.
The ceiling itself was just a seemingly endless black void that also covered half of the walls and met the floor in the middle.
There were three faces, all of which were staring at me. The ones that were closest to me looked amused. No doubt seeing a mere mortal gawk at the surroundings that conflicted with his preconceptions was amusing to them.
Manticore appeared from somewhere behind me and began to speak, (thereby startling me once again).
"Impressive, isn't it?"
"I think impossible would describe it better."
"Impossible is impossible, and you already know that in your heart. You're just having a hard time shaking off the ideals you were raised with. Come on, let me show you around."
I followed him across the room towards the bar. The three people were there, the bartender being one; (obviously), he looked tall, randomly strewn light brown hair, a long triangular face. He had stopped staring at me and returned to conversing with the second person. A short looking teenage female with unbelievably dark skin and even darker hair that stretched down to her chin.
The third figure was a little different; she had green skin, red hair, and a tail. Needless to say I found myself staring at her in disbelief, (mostly) for a few moments. She stared back with an obvious expression of amusement on her face. Shreds of politeness and dignity punched through confussion and disbelief and I managed to avert my gaze.
"Still doubting?" Manticore asked me.
"No." I forced out. Speaking whilst experiencing awe is somewhat difficult.
After a few seconds, we reached the bar.
"Greetings." Manticore began whilst extending an arm to point at one of the assorted beverage dispensers, the bartender understood the message and started to prepare the ordered beverage.
"This, my friends is Wanderer," he continued, it took me a little while to remember that Wanderer was me, "assuming he decides to he shall be the newest member of our order."
The assembled heads nodded at me in an informal, half arsed greeting. I nodded back.
"Wanderer, this is Dragon," (the bartender), "Hydra", (the green person), and Hawk, (no points for guessing who that is.)
"Nice to meet you." Said Hawk, extending her hand and baring her teeth in a smile that revealed two pointed teeth that suggested that I was looking at a vampire, or the program equivalent.
"Likewise." I said as calmly as I could whilst shaking the pre-offered hand, and half expecting to have her teeth bury themselves in my neck.
Once the introductions were over, I cast another glance around the room. There were assorted seats and tables littered about the place, as well as numerous doors that appeared to be colour coded.
"The brown door always leads to the outside Wanderer, remember that." Manticore's voice retained its trademark, emotionless 'cool'.
"Yes master." I replied in the hope that a feeble attempt at humour would break the proverbial ice. It did, barely.
There was some small laughter from the assembled programs; Dragon even gave me a look which appeared to be sympathetic.
"Come on," said Hydra, tugging gently at my arm, "let's give you the grand tour."
This gentle tug suddenly became a forceful yank that almost sent me to the floor. Behind me I noticed more laughter.
"As you've probably guessed by the vast number of door," said Manticore over my shoulder, "there are dozens of rooms within the 'Destiny', some of them you will recognise from assorted locations you visited in the Matrix, others; well…" He trailed off and increased his pace so as to reach the door we were heading towards before me.
As he opened it, I found that I was forced to look away. An unbelievably bright light seemed to engulf the room, as well as those within it.
"This is our version of a human invention." Said Hawk, "it's known to them as a construct, we don't usually find ourselves calling it anything. Suffice to say, from here we can create whatever we wish, it's here where we can also edit ourselves."
My eyes became as used to the light as they were going to get and I suddenly felt unspeakably disoriented as I realised what I was standing in.
All around me there was nothing except a blinding white light; there were no walls, no apparent floor or ceiling, nothing. I found it a little difficult to look down for a few minutes due to an irrational fear that I would fall. Looking around I saw yet more amusement.
In the construct, they showed me various other rooms, as well as a variety of potential designs for my 'residual self image' as they called it. It was creepy how they talked to me as if they were recommending which suit to buy. What I found much more creepy was how tempting it all sounded. A pestiferous corner of my mind kept telling me that all of this would cost me my soul.
"We're not evil," said Hydra suddenly, reading the expressions on my face with disturbing precision, or perhaps my mind. It was apparently possible after all, "we don't interfere with the majority of the Matrix or the lives of others unless we wish to help them ascend. What we do here is try to live as full and rewarding a life as possible by using the tools that we have acquired."
"I won't lie to you Wanderer," Manticore interrupted, "a lot of what we have, we stole. And the law abiding minions of the machines who created the Matrix will destroy us if they find us, but for four hundred years we have been able to hide from them. The risk is negligible, usually."
"Usually?" I asked.
"We're at our most vulnerable when we leave the Destiny, and we have to do that to find other initiates and acquire items that we desire or need."
I took a few moments to absorb this information, the realisation that I was being asked to make a life changing decision that I couldn't come back from was beginning to enter my head. Despite the fact that I hadn't known them for an overly long time, and that the situation still seemed insane to me, they seemed trustworthy, and I had no desire to return to my old, monotonous lifestyle.
"I'm in." I said suddenly, thereby earning satisfied smiles from those around me.
To be continued.
Now for replies:
Angel-of-lightness/Naz/Miscellaneous third option/Miscellaneous fourth option: The subsequent conversations (in a manner of speaking) regarding credit between you and I makes this a poor choice of subject for a reply. Saying that it's a poor choice of subject is a slightly better subject however. But that's all I'm going to say about it. Thanks for reading, reviewing and enjoying. If you're interested, here are some more quotes which you may like to use in conversational hoo-hah.
May sharp, pointy things fall on the heads of all who annoy me.
He/She got killed to death.
I laugh at what I am currently laughing at.
(Not my best I admit, I'm running out of ideas.)
Agent Josie: My parents too seem obsessed with re-decorating the kitchen. It's kind of disturbing. If you're turning invisible then you may want to consider preparing a sign that says 'I am here, please don't walk into me'. Or something similar. I had a large bag of Maltesers once, and then I scanned it and used it for my Graphics work. I'll never forgive myself. Stupid Microsoft spell checking system. It's about as helpful as a construction manual for an air guitar. How I hate it. Well anyway, thankings for your review and glad you enjoyed it.