Thanks everyone who reviewed! Got my GCSE results – 7 As and 3 As. No-one was more amazed than me. By the way, I'm suffering a bit of writer's block concerning this story, so apologies for delays in updating. Also, I'm just about to go back to school and, stupid me, I've taken on an extra subject – I'm taking 5 AS Levels instead of 4. I'm mad. Completely mad. So that could cause delays too. But I will definitely finish this story, don't worry!
Chapter 6 - Paris
"This is so unlike her though," said Morpheus, looking more tired than Asha had ever seen him. "She normally follows rules to the letter, but to go into the Matrix without authorization, without even telling anyone..."
Neo was standing next to Trinity's chair, almost protectively. Asha glanced at her monitor. Though the Trinity in the chair looked perfectly calm and tranquil, her brainwaves were slightly sharpened, showing that she was feeling slightly on the edge. Asha wasn't surprised. She could hardly blame her, either, as she'd done the same thing. She hoped anxiously that the same thing wouldn't happen to her sister as had happened to Kathryn.
"Either way, she's in there," said Neo, "We need to go and find her."
"You're right," said Morpheus. He caught Asha's shoulder as she headed towards one of the chairs. "Asha, I think it's best if you stay here."
"But-"
"We need someone to keep an eye on all those who've been unplugged and to keep watching the monitors for any sign of Falcon. You're the most tired out of all of us." Asha glanced at Neo accusingly.
"Hey, don't blame me," said Neo, "I could have told you were tired from a mile off."
"Stay here," said Morpheus firmly. "Should we get into any real trouble, I'm sure Neo can handle it."
Asha was about to argue, when she realised he was right. Besides, he was her captain; though he often didn't act like it, she still had to obey his orders. "OK."
Tank started to load both Neo and Morpheus in. She wandered over to the monitors, sat down and started a trace on Trinity. About a minute later, Tank came and joined her.
"Where am I loading them?" he asked.
"She's in France, I think," said Asha, "Why's she there?"
"Well, that's where she grew up."
"Of course," said Asha, "Silly, silly Asha..."
Tank ran a search on nearby entrances and loaded Morpheus and Neo into the Matrix. Meanwhile, Asha narrowed down the trace. Paris, she seemed to be in. Asha smiled. Paris. Many fond memories of a school trip there came flooding back; when she and Jon had waved a pirate flag off the top of the Eiffel Tower until their teacher had told them off; when she'd eaten snails just so that she could say that she'd done it, and ended up feeling sick for the rest of the day; and when they'd overheard two French motorists arguing vociferously on the Champs-Elysees and the boys had been gleefully trying out their new French vocabulary for the rest of the day.
"There she is," pointed Asha, "There doesn't seem to be any trouble from agents. Her hack must have been pretty traceless, they may not have noticed she's there."
"That's good," said Tank, "More chance of getting this resolved soon. She seems to be making for La Rue de Matou. Check to see if there's anyone with her sister's name living there."
Tank tapped the keys quickly with practised ease. He didn't have to search long. "Yes. Someone called Elsa Lemaitre lives in one of the apartment buildings. No record of any husband. She has a medical degree, and also works part-time for the Missing Persons helpline."
"Obviously hasn't forgotten Trinity then," said Asha.
xxxx
Trinity was walking through the backstreets of Paris when her phone rang. She tried to ignore it, but knew she had to answer it really. But she was so close, she couldn't give up now. Morpheus had been an only child, he wouldn't understand. The phone rang again, seemingly more insistently. She was starting to attract attention, so she took it out of her pocket.
"Hello?"
"Trinity, where the hell are you?"
It was Neo. He sounded concerned. And angry. He had reason to. She hadn't had authorization to go into the Matrix. But she knew that if she'd asked, Morpheus would have said no, and kept an eye on her. And some things were more important than rules.
"You found me then."
"Of course we did. What on earth were you thinking?"
Trinity paused for a second. "I have to do this, Neo," she said finally, "You probably won't understand fully, even if I explain for hours, but I can't just leave her here."
"Hang on," said Neo, "We've nearly reached you."
"You've come in?"
"What did you expect us to do, wait by the phone?"
The phone went dead. Trinity replaced it in her pocket, feeling slightly guilty. If anything had happened to Neo while he was in here, it would be all her fault. She sat down next to the wall to wait.
xxxx
Neo, having hung up, hurried along the Champs-Elysees with Morpheus whilst trying to ignore the admiring glances of some of the Parisian girls. The Matrix wasn't quite as popular here, but it would only take one to recognize him to start a chain reaction that could quite easily bring agents.
And speaking of agents... The phone rang. Morpheus pulled it out of his pocket in a lightning-quick movement. "Yes." He listened for a moment then hung up. He turned to Neo. "Agents," he said, "They seem to be moving towards Trinity."
"Do we have time?" asked Neo.
"You have time," said Morpheus, raising an eyebrow. Neo understood, looked around to check for more Parisian girls, and shot into the air.
xxxx
Trinity heard footsteps and glanced upwards. There was no-one there. She remembered that she ought to be on her guard and got to her feet, hand going for the gun at her side. Agents weren't the only danger for a woman in the backstreets of Paris. She remembered that much from her time here, even though it had been so long ago. She doubted things had changed much.
But it seemed she didn't have to worry about those things at that moment. She had enough to be getting on with; especially with three agents coming down the alley, all with guns.
'Great,' she thought, tensing herself, reading for action, 'Neo, in the films you have great timing; I could really use that right now.'
xxx
Neo, as he flew, suddenly saw Trinity surrounded by three agents. They all had guns, and Trinity was preparing to fight them. But he could see that the fight was hopeless.
The vision vanished as soon as it had come. Neo urged himself to go faster, hoping he wouldn't be too late. The idea of losing Trinity was so unacceptable to his mind, it made his head spin. But it seemed to be happening more and more frequently.
As he speeded around a corner, the full impact of that thought hit him. The machines must be aware that she was his only weakness – their attachment was putting her in danger. He shook his head; he'd face up to that fact later. Now, he just had to make sure that she was OK.
xxxx
Trinity threw herself behind one of the large dustbins in the alley as bullets shot through the air where she had just been. She quickly glanced up – there was a windowsill about ten feet off the ground. She could make it, but then she'd be an obvious target for the agents, and she knew that didn't miss regularly. But it was either that or stay here, where she really was an obvious target. There was a small chance she could get onto the roof of the building with only minimum injuries, and maybe she could lose them.
She took a deep breath, well aware that it could be her last, and leapt into the air.
As she flew through the air, she felt a pain in her side, and immediately knew that she'd been shot. Luckily the wound didn't seem too deep, so there was a strong chance that she could still make it away. However, a bullet in the side can affect one's concentration, and she missed the windowsill completely and fell back to the ground. She sprung back to her feet as quickly as her sore limbs would allow, and found herself facing all three of the agents. All still with guns, apparently. Great.
But before any shot could be fired, a black shape came hurtling round the corner, and collided with all three of the agents, sending them flying down the alley. Trinity recognized it immediately – only Neo could come at just the right time.
He got to his feet in one fluid movement, grabbed onto her and leapt into the air. "What took you?" she asked.
"Lot of traffic," shrugged Neo. They landed on a roof nearby, where Neo set her on her feet and pulled out his phone. "Morpheus, I've got her," he said, "She's been shot, but it's not bad. Is there an exit nearby?"
"I'm not leaving yet," said Trinity, drawing breath in short gasps, holding onto her side.
"You're wounded," said Neo, "We have to get you back to the Nebuchadnezzar right now. And agents know we're here."
"But Neo, I can't just leave her in here," protested Trinity. Neo sighed. Trinity could get very stubborn about things like this. "You don't have any siblings, you wouldn't understand. But please. Just let me get her out of here."
Neo threw her the phone. "Well, you can try to persuade Morpheus. It's not my call."
Trinity smiled. She lifted the phone to her ear, her arm giving a painful throb as she did. "Morpheus-"
"I understand, Trinity," said Morpheus, not even needing her to ask, "But it's too risky, the agents are already aware that you're there."
"Then you don't understand. If you understood, you'd realise that I'd face any risk just to get her out. If you don't help me, then I'll just stay and do it on my own. I don't care if I get suspended from duty, some things are more important than that."
She could almost hear Morpheus thinking. "Alright then," he said, "But you come back here first. Let Neo do it. You're wounded and would only slow him down," he said seriously before she could object, "He can do it fine by himself."
"Alright," she said. She hung up, then turned to Neo.
"What did he say?" he asked.
"You've got a little job to do."
xxxx
Im a Brandybuck – Eep, she was. Argh. I can't escape LOTR, no matter which fandom I flee to!
Eowyn Skywalker – Not more minions! I've already got the attack chickens after me because my stories got taken down! And garlic would be a good evil minion, but not necessarily the best one for vampires...
Hogwarts-Drama-Queen – Ah yes, a lack of love interest is one of the things holding it back from the vast pit of Sueness. But that may change.
Sirocco.flow – Getting signed photos is definitely a bonus. I've also got a signed photo of Andy Serkis now. And thanks!
Nina Hikari – Wow, thanks! I've been wondering that for absolutely ages! Swedish Pagans? That's, um... interesting.
LiMiYa – Yas, SAH! One continual story coming up!
Trinity144 – (sighs despairingly) Not MORE winged monkeys...