Disclaimer: I don't own any of the goddamn matrix characters! So don't sue me Andy and Linda! (Was it Larry that became a transvestite?)

"Who are you?" Aires had never seen the old lady before, but she was talking to him as if the two went way back. "Where is the oracle?"

"She's sitting right in front of you," the stranger replied.

"What do you... there's no way!" Aires was in shock. "How did you... Change?"

"Yes, there is," the oracle replied. "Do you wish to hear the story?"

"I would like to very much," Aires replied.

"Good. Then let's get started. As you may already know, I guide the one."

"Yes, I do know. I know the two of you speak very little; only on a need to know basis. I also know he listens to you above all others. Besides Trinity," Aires replied.

"And I know a little about you history with Neo," the Oracle replied. "I know fought him once, and to get back at you, he jacked himself in while you were on a recon mission and completed your task in thirty minutes. I know that after doing that, he dressed you in a too-too outfit and made you dance, threatening to give you to the agents if you didn't. The next time you saw him in Zion, you beat him so badly they threw you in the stockade."

"We never liked each other," Aires replied. "I knew he was the one, he knew I was the best samurai ever to come out of the program. He also didn't like that one time in Zion, I taught him the art of the matrix samurai. I guess I was a little too harsh on him, though. I mean, showing everyone how I was teaching a slow learner, and pretending that he was retarded, were rather puerile. There was no permanent damage from that beating I gave him, was there?

"Two things," the Oracle replied. "One: no there was no permanent damage, just two black eyes and a bloody nose. Two: do you want to tell your stories or should I tell mine?"

"You tell yours," Aires replied.

"Good," the Oracle replied. "So as I said, I guide the One, Neo. Neo is the only one who can stop Zion from being obliterated. I knew this, and I made a choice. A costly choice."

"What choice?" Aires inquired.

"A choice to help Neo. A choice to give Zion hope. A choice," She said, "To tell Neo of the keymaker. That choice, my dear friend, cost me my shell."

"How?"

"Because the Merovingian knew of the keymakers pertinence. You see, the keymaker is very important, for he leads to the source. Aside from a select few, how is not for anyone's ears. What has happened in the last 24 hours you can never know. It would disturb the entire Matrix, which would disturb the real world. It is a matter of kings, is all that I will say. Anyway, I told Neo of the keymaker, and Neo took the keymaker. Upon seeing what I had done, Merv terminated me. However, I found another shell. How I did that is also not for your ears, so I suggest we drop this subject right now. Why don't we talk about you now?"

"What about me?" Aires replied. "The crew was gonna use my energy to get t he ship running again, and the next thing I know, I'm in the fucking Matrix. How the fuck did this happen?"

"Questions, questions," the Oracle replied. "I can't blame you though. I mean, who wouldn't wonder how that all happened. Since you need to know, anyone would, here's what went wrong: As you know, an EMP went off before it should have. Who set it off is also a matter of kings, and I must refrain from giving you that information. Anyway, your ship needed the energy from a human body to recharge and..."

"Please just tell me what happened," Aires interrupted.

"As you wish," the Oracle replied. "Basically, what happened is that you didn't get in quickly enough, and by the time you did, half your crew was dead. The rest couldn't get 10 feet to you, the machines had them cornered. Everyone on your ship died...except you."

"Why," Aires questioned.

"Because you were inside. If the sentinels were programmed to kill those jacked in, the matrix would collapse. Entire cornfields would be lost. I know what you're thinking, by the way. Many have died while inside. It's impossible that those were all accidents. But I'll give you a hint: All those that died at a sentinels hand while jacked in... died due to explosions or EMP's," the Oracle said with a slight chuckle, not a masochistic one as much as anticipating Aires surprised look when he comprehended what she had just said. To her surprise, though, he simply just nodded his head, a symbol of his acceptance for her wisdom.

"I wish I had gotten a chance with her, I always liked her," Aires abruptly said.

"If it makes you feel better, Winter was a crush, not love," the Oracle replied.

"It could have become love, though. Love sometimes must be developed in a relationship. Our one night together could have become something more," Aires responded stubbornly.

"Aires, there is one thing I cannot predict, and that is the future had different choices been made. I wish I could tell you of what would or what wouldn't have happened. But I predict the future, I don't revise it. All that ever happened was that two years ago, the two of you celebrated your incredible victory in killing a captain that would have given up Zion, and you slept together. It wasn't true love that night I assure you. Everyone knew winter was a knockout, and everyone knew, pardon my crudeness, that you were very lucky to knock her up. Whether it could have turned into love will never be known; just because a person has all the qualities you find attractive doesn't mean they're the right one for you," the Oracle said with a twinkle of wisdom. "On to another subject; do you wish to survive?"

"Yes," Aires replied.

"Let us see what you say after I tell you something: You're the reason Zion was found. Your assassination of the Captain wasn't quick enough. It may have taken the most advanced machines and programs two years to decode the location. You may have prevented them from gaining the codes to the Zion mainframe, you may have shown incredible bravery, but, technically you still failed your mission. How ironic that you were able to sleep with the woman every man in Zion pined after due to a failed mission, even if neither of you knew it at the time. I'm sorry, I wish I could tell you that I was lying, but sadly I am telling the truth. I hope you will believe me."

"I always have believed you, Oracle. What you have just told me does not surprise me. I always had a feeling it hadn't worked out right. Thank you for letting me now be able to comfort a fact I always knew deep down," Aires said as a sad smile escaped his lips.

"Do you still want to survive?" The Oracle asked.

"For my little girl," Aires replied.

"It was very brave of you to adopt a child at such an early age," the Oracle said with a look of admiration towards Aires. "For you to be so mature at nineteen. Even seventeen years later, I'm sure you still feel proud of you decision."

"She was only two years old," Aires interjected. "Her parents had both died onboard the Larciant. The little girl was crying. I decided to adopt her, since she had no other family," Aires said, tears nearly at his eyes. "I would do anything to see my little girl again."

"If that is the way you feel, Aires, than I shall show you how to survive. Soon Agent Smith, the rouge program, will take over the Matrix. He is spreading through the Matrix at an unprecedented speed. Soon he will have invaded everyone in the Matrix, human or machine. When this happens, Neo and he will fight a grand battle. By midnight, both worlds will be in the hands of one of them. Your only hope is to seek refuge in a place called the Train Station, and wait for midnight. The only problem is that the Train station is owned by one of my more nefarious enemies."

"The Merovingian? Oh, Fuck. How am I ever gonna get him to let me stay in the train station?"

"It won't be difficult getting him to let you in, it'll be difficult finding a way for him to let you out. I suggest you kill the train man and commander the train in and out. Oh, and don't let him bring any bodyguards."

"How do I get to him?"

"That's easy," the Oracle replied. "Seraph will lead you to him."

"I guess that's all for this visit," Aires said mournfully as he again followed Seraph into the white corridor. "Goodbye Oracle," he said.

"Goodbye child; your journey is more perilous than you know," she replied under her breath.