Chapter 18

They kept running through dark alleys and dimly lit streets. Finally they stopped when they reached the building. Indigo was out of breath.

" I think we lost him!" she said, it was obvious she was exhausted from running.

Smith didn't say a word. He just pulled her close to him in the pouring rain. They stood there for a moment, letting the rain soak them until finally they went inside. Once inside, Carl just stood there with a look of concern on his face.

"What the hell happened to you two?"

Indigo spoke.

"You really don't wanna know."

Carl then looked to Smith.

"Are you okay?"

"We'll be fine." Smith reassured him.

Carl spoke again.

"Okay you kids have a good night."

They didn't say a word as they made their way to the elevator. The doors closed and there was silence between them. She was content to be just holding his hand. Once they reached the hallway they made their way to Indigo's room. They were tired from the excitement that evening and decided to go to bed. They changed for bed and fell asleep in each other's arms to the sounds of the rain falling on the roof.

She was dreaming again......

It was the same dream where she ran in slow motion towards Smith and Cutter. Once again, guns were being fired and there were bodies that littered the hallway and blood was everywhere. Smith was still fighting for his life and just like before, Cutter had killed him in the same fashion over and over again. She cried out but no one could hear her. She could hear Cutter laughing manically as he was killing Smith. And just like before Cutter walked towards her, she tried to run away but he caught up to her slamming her against the wall. He uttered those same words as hatred seethed in his steely grey eyes:

"Agent loving whore!"

And once again his hand plunged into her chest making her feel coldness and pain......

Indigo sat up, sweat was rolling down her face. She reached for Smith but he wasn't there, she looked towards the balcony and there he was in just his pants and shoes in the heavy rain. It looked like he was in thought. Indigo stepped out of bed and went to him.

"It's wet out here." She said.

He looked in her direction and gave a slight smile. "You're supposed to be asleep."

"I couldn't sleep."

"I understand."

Smith put his arms around her, his bare chest felt good against her. And then she spoke again.

"You have to be nuts to be out here in the rain with just your pants on."

He chuckled to himself.

"So why are you out here anyway?" She asked.

"I don't know, maybe sometimes when it rains like this I am reminded of what I once was." His tone was somewhat sad.

His hand touched her wet cheek. By this time they both soaked to the bone but they didn't care. Her lips touched his lightly.

"How about we give you a new memory of the rain." She whispered.

"I think I like that idea."

He wrapped his arms around her and started to kissed her deeply.

Money can't buy it...

baby Sex can't buy it... baby

Drugs can't buy it... baby

You can't buy it... baby

His lips made his way to her neck making her sigh as she arched herself into him, his hands traveling down her back. All around them rain was pouring making them both wet.

I believe that love alone might do these things for you I believe in love alone yeah yeah

Her robe fell to the ground and his hands explored her back. The straps of her nightgown fell down around her shoulders exposing her breasts.

Take the power to set you free

Kick down the door and throw away the key

Give up your needs...

Your poisoned seeds

Find yourself elected to a different kind of creed

She could feel how hard he was through his wet pants and slowly undid his zipper, not breaking their kiss.

I believe that love alone might do these things for you

I believe that love alone might do these things for you

I believe in the power of creation

I believe in the good vibration

I believe in love alone yeah yeah

His pants fell down around his feet and he hoisted her onto him, she wrapped his legs around his back, taking him inside of her.

Won't somebody tell me what we're coming to

It might take forever till we watch those dreams come true

All the money in the world won't buy you peace of mind

You can have it all but you still won't be satisfied

He held her close as they moved together in the rain, they looked into each other's eyes as they moved.

Money can't buy it... baby

Sex can't buy it... baby

Drugs can't buy it... baby

You can't buy it... baby

Their rhythm increased and the rain got even harder and the thunder became even louder, but all that mattered was them.

Now... Hear this

Pay attention to me 'cause

I'm a rich white girl and it's plain to see

I got every kind of thing that the money can buy

Let me tell you all about it

Let me amplify

I got DIAMONDS...

You heard about those I got so many that I can't close my safe at night in the dark

Lying awake in a sick dream

She felt like exploding as she bucked like a wild animal on him, he matched her.

I believe that love alone might do these things for you

I believe that love alone might do these things for you

I believe in the power of creation

I believe in the good vibration

I believe in love alone yeah yeah

Finally they both exploded. She could feel him spasming and continued to ride until he couldn't take it anymore. He stopped her and pulled her close, she could feel his hot breath on neck. She felt weak but yet she felt stronger at the same time. The rain continued to pour as they kissed.

On the roof of the building across the way Cutter was watching everything. He felt sickened at the site of Smith making love to her, he was even more sickened by enjoyment Indigo was showing as he was doing it to her. He had to make his move and he would have to make it fast. But first he had to speak to someone. It was almost time for their meeting and he had to go.

In a room filled with television screens sat The Architect in nice large comfortable chair. Cutter walked in.

"I've been expecting you." Said the old man. "Please have a seat."

"I'll stand thanks."

"As you wish."

Cutter gave The Architect a look of question.

"I was told that you could help me?"

The old man's mouth curled into a slight smile.

"I do believe this about the program Smith and the human girl correct?"

"Yes that is correct. It seems as if you and I believe in the same thing."

"And what is that young man?"

"That humans and A.I. have no business being together."

The old man grinned some more.

"I never thought I would see a human being agreement with me it is quite impressive."

"I'm glad to see even though you're a part of the matrix you think the same way I do."

"I too find it disgusting. Love is insipid, even if it is between humans and A.I."

"I agree."

"Smith and the other agents used to be the best programs I ever had, until something got screwed up along the way. The Oracle wanted to teach them about humanity, along the way their programming became flawed. They became more human."

Cutter had to laugh slightly.

"So where do I come in?" He asked.

"I want for you to help restore order, keep humans with their own kind, I am afraid that Indigo is infecting Smith and the other agents. And to be perfectly honest, I won't have it."

"Neither will I." Cutter was in complete agreement with the old man. "Tell me what I have to do."

The Architect pointed to a black door.

"Inside you will find the answers for restoring the natural balance of things, once inside you will be able to harness the power of Neo and the ones before him. Are you willing?"

An evil smile spread across Cutter's lips.

"Hell yes."

Cutter walked to the door and opened it. Light came in from all directions as he stepped inside, a searing pain shot through his whole body and he screamed in agony. The Architect looked on calmly.

"Oh I forgot to tell you .... it might hurt just a little bit." and then The Architect threw his head back and laughed out loud. His twisted plan was now taking shape.

Smith and Indigo walked through the park, it was lovely day outside and the birds were singing. They noticed a mother with her child. Smith was fascinated at how small this little human was. They sat down next to the mother and the baby who was not more than a year old looked at Smith a smiled at him. The baby reached out it's hand and snagged his earpiece out of his ear.

"Jadzia! Don't mess with the nice man's earpiece!" The mother told her baby and then the mother apologized. "I'm sorry, she likes to touch everyone and everything."

"It's alright." He told her.

Baby Jadzia continued to look up at Smith with those big blue eyes of hers and continued to smile and coo at him.

"Looks like she likes you." said Indigo teasingly.

Baby Jadzia still continued to look at Smith and smile.

"So how old is she?" Indigo asked.

"She'll be one in a few days."

The baby still tried to paw at Smith. The mother observed her child's reaction to him.

"You know she doesn't take much to strangers, but she is really liking you."

"Really?" He asked.

The mother explained, "Babies seem to have a sense on people, they know who's cool and who isn't and since Jadzia here is taking a liking to you, you must be okay."

Smith and the baby exchanged looks.

And then the mother asked. "Do you wanna hold her?"

Smith was surprised.

"Uh ... I ..."

"It's okay." The mother reassured him. "She won't break."

She gingerly rested Jadzia in his arms. He was very careful. He held her head with one hand and her little body fit perfectly in his arms. She cooed and smiled some more at him. The feeling of holding a small human like this was amazing to him. Indigo just looked at him and a smile crossed her face. This was the softest side she had ever seen in him. He smiled back at the baby and rocked her gently. Finally she reached up and grabbed his sunglasses off his face making him laugh. The mother looked at her watch and realized it was time for an appointment and they couldn't be late. Smith gently handed baby Jadzia back to her mother with his sunglasses still in her tiny hands. The mother wrangled them free and handed them back to him.

"It was nice chatting with you. But we have to go. Say bye-bye sweety!"

"Bye-bye!" Jadzia said in her tiny voice.

The mother walked off and little Jadzia was waving to Smith as she was resting on her mother's shoulder. Indigo sat with him for the longest time after that just holding his hand.

"I never realized humans could be so small." He mused.

"Yes but then we grow up." She told him.

"Were you that tiny once?"

"Yeah, I was."

"Well you grew up quite nicely."

Indigo blushed at the comment.

All of a sudden the silence was shattered by gun shots whizzing by in their direction, it was Cutter. Smith pulled out his Dessert Eagle and fired at him. Cutter dodged every bullet with lightening speed, he was a blur as he ran towards them. Indigo screamed as they ran toward each other. Smith was careful not to shoot any of the humans who might have come in harm's way. Cutter, on the other hand didn't give a shit as long as he hit his target. But he couldn't. Indigo did her best to stop the bullets like she did in the train station, she stopped all except one and it hit her in the chest. She fell to the ground, Smith looked over in horror seeing her slumped over.

"Oh my God!" Was all he could say.

Cutter ran away from the scene as Smith rushed to her side. Indigo couldn't breathe.

"Hang on!" He told her.

"Smith ... I ..."

"Shhhh ... don't talk ... it's going to be okay ... I promise... just hold on." Tears started to form in his eyes.

He held her hand and she was slowly starting to fade away. She was losing a lot of blood.

"Please stay with me!" He pleaded.

She was losing her grip on his hand.

"No! No! No!" He started to sob uncontrollably.

And then she stopped breathing. He plunged his hand into her chest, her lifeless body spasmed as he pulled the bullet out of her. He held it in his hand and then her reached into her chest once more, this time massaging her heart and sending a direct shock.

"Come on!"

He gave her heart another shock, still nothing.

"Come on dammit!"

And then he gave her heart a final shock, her eyes opened and she gasped loudly. Her heart was beating and she was breathing once again. He just held her close and sobbed. She wrapped her arms around him.

"I thought I was going to die."

"I wouldn't let that happen."

"He's not going to leave us alone is he?"

"No."

"What are we going to do?"

"You might have to go back to Zion."

"But I don't ..."

"Please this is the only way Indigo."

"But why Smith?"

"I can't risk letting you get hurt again. I just can't."

"But I don't want to leave you. I love you."

"I know and I love you too. But this is the only way I know you will be safe."

He just held her for a long time and then finally they got up. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her once more and then he took out a cell phone and handed to her. She took it reluctantly and dialed the operator. A man's voice was on the other end.

"Operator."

"Yeah, it's me. I need ... uh ... an exit."

"Okay there's a phone booth just a block east of here. Your exit will be right there. You okay Indigo?"

"Yeah. I just need an exit."

"Okay I understand. We'll be waiting."

Indigo hung up and handed the phone back to Smith, they walked in silence to the phone booth, it had started to ring. In the past she would have been happy to hear that sound but now she dreaded it, she knew that if she picked up that phone she would never see him again but she knew in her heart this was the only way. She slowly walked up and to the ringing phone. Smith went with her. She rested her hand on the receiver and looked into his eyes.

"Kiss me." She said.

Smith gave her a long gentle kiss as she picked up the receiver and held it to her ear, she dissolved in a green light and it was that last thing he touched before letting her go.

Indigo was awake and back in the real world. She was greeted by security officers and was promptly escorted to the brig. The charge they explained would be treason to Zion. They put her in shackles and threw her in a dirty dingy cell.

Back in the matrix Smith went to see The Oracle. The moment he stepped through the door she could tell something was wrong. She reached out her arms and hugged him as he sobbed uncontrollably in her arms.

"I know baby." She said as she continued to hug him and let him cry.