Chapter 9

Indigo and Smith were facing each other in the rain. It was at the same place where Smith and Neo had done their final battle, only this time it was different. They stood looking at each other surrounded by thousands of Smith clones. He slowly walked towards her but his presence was not threatening and Indigo was not afraid. As the rain fell, Indigo could feel her nipples harden underneath her clothes, her breathing had quickened and her heart was beating very fast. She just stood there as he walked slowly towards her. Finally they were nose to nose and he slowly took off his sunglasses revealing his deep blue eyes. His hands cupped her face and he slowly moved his lips to hers. He kissed her softly at first and then their tongues intertwined as Smith kissed her deeply while the clones were watching them. Their breathing got heavier and they started to tear at each other's clothes in the pouring rain. At that moment the clones seemed to disappear and it was just the two of them in the rain. Their passion grew and Indigo leaped in Smith's arms not breaking their kiss. She sighed as he kissed her neck and then out of nowhere she heard a knock which woke her from her slumber. She was groggy, yet still aroused from her dream.

"Just a minute!" she said.

She took a moment to compose herself and answered the door, it was Smith.

"Good morning Indigo."

"Morning."

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"Uh yeah. Why?"

"Well you seem a little flushed. Are you running a fever?"

"Uh no! I'm ... I'm okay ... really!" she was quite flustered. Dare she tell him about the dream she had? She thought better of it. He was an A.I. after all, there would be no way he would ever be attracted to her. But she was starting to be attracted to him nonetheless.

"I have something for you." he said.

He produced a shopping bag. Indigo took it wondering what was inside.

"I do hope they will fit you."

Indigo opened the bag and inside was a shoe box. Inside the shoe box was a pair of heels that were velvet and had rhinestone trim.

"Feel free to try them on." said Smith.

"Uh okay." she tried the shoes on and they fit her perfectly.

"Wait there's one more thing." he said as he pulled out a long black dress with a slit up the side with rhinestone straps.

"I don't know if I can accept these Smith." she protested.

"Well I thought that maybe you could wear something more appropriate when I take you out for dinner tonight."

Indigo was shocked. She wondered if she was dreaming because it seemed to her that Smith asked her out on real date! But she was human and he was an A.I. Humans and A.I. do not date! She kept thinking about this over and over in her head until she spoke.

"So is this a date?" she asked.

"Just be ready by 7 p.m." he told her.

"Ok."

Smith exited the room, Indigo just sat there dazed still trying to fathom what just happend.

Smith entered the hallway and was greeted by agents Thompson and Jackson.

"Well did she accept?" asked Thompson.

"Yes." came Smith's reply.

"Good." said Jackson

"I have things I have to do." said Smith "Will you make sure things are okay until I get back?"

"Don't worry..." said Thompson.

"We have everything under control." finished Jackson.

"Thanks."

Smith walked down the hall and into the elevator. The doors closed and he went down to the lobby. There he greeted Carl as usual but he could tell the head agent had a few questions.

"So what's troubling you?" Carl asked.

"How do you impress a woman on a first date?"

"Oh! Does this have to do with our guest?"

"Well yes, I'm actually wondering what to do at this point. I asked her to join me for dinner, thinking she would say no and ..."

"To your surprise she said yes right?"

"Yes. So what do I do?"

"Well Smith my boy," as Carl put his arm around his shoulder, "if you really want to impress her, get red roses. Women love that."

"Okay. Anything else?" Smith asked.

"Well tell her how pretty she looks, compliment her, women like that too. But most of all, just be yourself."

"Thanks." Smith smiled.

Smith made his way out the doors and was on the search for red roses. While he was walking he bumped into The Oracle and Sati, it was somewhat of a cloudy day outside.

"Hello there son!" said The Oracle as she gave him a hug.

"Hi." he said.

"So where are you heading to?"

"I was actually going to find a place that sells roses."

The Oracle and Sati got a smile that seemed a mile wide across both of their face like they knew something was up.

"Did you ask Indigo out? If so, I'm glad you did. She's really pretty and I like her." said Sati.

'She's more that really pretty.' Smith thought to himself as he smiled back at Sati knowing she and The Oracle approved.

"So what are you going to wear son?" The Oracle asked him.

"Well I thought I would wear what I have on now." replied Smith.

"Why? You're going on a date!" said Sati.

The Oracle lit a cigarette and took a long drag.

"She does have a point there sweetness."

"Huh?" said Smith.

"Well a first date," said The Oracle, "is all about first impressions. And that suit you're wearing makes you look constricted."

"Constricted? How? This is what I was programmed to wear."

"Well sweetheart, programs can be changed. We need to get you into something ... say ..."

"A little more sexier?" finished Sati.

The Oracle looked at Sati "Well something like that, but a little more classy at the same time."

They both studied him for a minute until finally The Oracle said "Follow me."

Smith went with both Sati and The Oracle back to her apartment and once there, Smith was ordered to sit down. The Oracle took off his sunglasses.

"You have pretty eyes, it's a damned shame you have to hide them behind these things all the time."

Smith said nothing and let The Oracle and Sati work their make-over magic on him. First the tie clip went and then the tie. Then they removed the earpiece. The Oracle studied his hair which was perfectly slicked back. She asked Sati to get her one of those Hollywood magazines where she turned to a picture of a Hollywood actor who's hairstyle she thought would suit Smith better. So she worked her magic on his hair until finally, Smith was able to look in the mirror at his new look. His hair was not slicked back, it was a little more wilder but so much. Thankfully The Oracle and Sati decided not to dye his hair. He would not have looked good as a blonde. Sati and The Oracle stood back and admired their work and The Oracle thought to herself that maybe there could be one more thing and then she had an ephiphany, she went to her bedroom and brought out a red scarf, she folded it neatly and tucked it into Smith's pocket and undid the first two top buttons of his shirt. Smith looked at the finished product in the mirror confused at his new appearance.

"I don't know ... I feel somewhat awkward." said Smith.

"I think you look cute." said Sati.

"Don't worry about it baby." reassured The Oracle "I think Indigo will like it."

"I hope so."

"Before you go ... " said The Oracle "feel free to pick some fresh roses for Indigo. There are some pretty red ones that just started to bloom in my personal greenhouse on the roof."

Smith thanked The Oracle and Sati and made his way to the greenhouse, once inside he was surrounded by thousands of red roses. He took a dozen of his choice and made his way back down to the street. As he walked, he got some interesting looks from members of the fairer sex, he even spied some women pretending not to stare in his direction. And occasionally he did hear a few whistles from female passerby. He finally reached the bulding and was almost stopped by his fellow agents Jones and Brown.

"Wow!" was Jones' response.

"Almost didn't recognize you there Smith." said Brown. "You look great."

"Thanks." said Smith.

Smith made his way through the lobby and into the elevator. As the doors shut behind him, he was feeling a little shaky. He should not have felt this way but he did. Finally the doors slid open and Smith made his way to Indigo's door. He stood there for a long time and he breathed a deep sigh. Finally he got up the courage to knock. It would not be long before Indigo would answer the door. She looked absolutely beautiful.

"Hello." it felt like it was the only thing he could say.

"Hi."

"These are for you." he said as he handed the dozen red roses to her.

"Thank you." she took the roses and immediately found a vase to put them in. And then she grabbed her shawl.

"Well shall we go?" she asked him.

"Yes we shall." was his reply.

Smith escorted her down the hall and to the elevator, they stepped inside and there were no words between them as it was going down. Once in the lobby, Carl greeted them and told them to have a good time that evening. Once they reached the outside there was Johnson waiting outside holding the door open to Smith's Black Audi.