Chapter 21
Smith was alone with his thoughts as he walked through the park. He thought about when he first encountered Indigo and her brother and how resistant she was at first. He felt an empty space inside of him now that she was gone. It was a beautiful day outside and so he took a seat on a bench. He sat and watched an elderly couple sitting on the bench next to him. They just sat there smiling at each other and holding hands as they were feeding the pigeons. They looked happy as they talked and laughed. The sight made him smile, but it also made him wonder if things had been different, if Indigo didn't have to go away like she did. How he missed her. Behind his dark shades, a single tear rolled down his cheek because he ached so much and would give anything just to hold her again. And once again, he was alone with his thoughts.
Back in Zion, Indigo still sat in her cell. Finally, Onyx came in. He had a look of concern on his face. He took a seat next to her. It was obvious to him she had been crying.
"Sis?"
"Yeah?"
"What really happened back there when you were jacked in?"
He wanted to know what had really transpired between Indigo and the agents and she could tell by the tone of his voice that he was somewhat upset.
"Onyx. You wouldn't understand."
He took her hand and squeezed it lightly.
"Try me. Please tell me what really happened to you in there."
Indigo took a deep breath, tears started to form in her eyes. There was a look of pleading on Onyx's face.
"Sis, how can I help you if you don't tell me?"
Indigo started to sob uncontrollably. All he could do was hold her as she cried in his arms. Indigo was afraid of what Onyx might do if he were to find out what really happened between herself and Smith.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you Onyx."
"Indigo, when we were kids, we could tell each other anything. Why is this so different?"
"Because it is." She told him.
And then a look of anger crossed his face.
"The agents didn't rape you did they? If they did so help me..."
Indigo was hurt, she knew in her time she spent with them that they would ever in a million years do such a thing to her, especially Smith. Onyx's question made her angry.
"No, they didn't. They never hurt me in any way."
"I'm sorry but I am finding this hard to believe."
"Why? When I was there, they treated me quite well. They even became my friends, including Smith."
Onyx shook his head.
"You know sentinel programs aren't friends with humans Indigo, especially Smith. Don't you remember the history?"
Indigo was angry and it showed in the tone of her voice.
"Yes I remember the history Onyx. But Smith is not that man any longer. And the agents are more like protectors now."
"I'm still finding that very hard to believe Indigo."
"It's true!"
"You still didn't answer my question. Did they rape you or not? Why are you protecting these programs?"
"They didn't rape me Onyx!" She shouted.
"Then how do you explain being pregnant? I remember when we were first unplugged, the doctors told you would not be able to have children. You were devastated. And now by some twist of fate you're expecting. I just want to know what the fuck is going on here?"
Indigo turned away from him and faced the wall.
"Alright, little brother, you really wanna know?"
"Yes I do."
"Okay. At first I was a captive but it developed into more than that."
"What do you mean?"
"I fell in love Onyx."
Onyx shook his head in disbelief.
"No fucking way."
"Yes."
Onyx started to pace and started to hold his head.
"Who was it?" He asked.
Indigo was silent for a moment and then she spoke again.
"It was Smith."
Onyx slumped back against the wall there was a long silence between them until he spoke again.
"You mean to tell me that you had sex with Smith willingly?"
"Yes."
There was another long moment of silence.
"So ... do you love him?"
"Yes ... I do."
"Does he love you?"
"He told me that he does."
Onyx could believe what he was hearing.
"You honestly can't believe a program can express love can you?"
"You know, I thought that too, until I experienced it myself."
Onyx knew Indigo all his life and there was no reason not believe her. But his distrust of the machines and what they done to humans before made it hard for him to believe. And he wanted with all his heart to believe his own flesh and blood and not history.
"You have to believe me, Onyx."
He reached over and hugged his sister tightly.
"I want to believe you Indigo ... I really do. Who else knows?"
"Just you and Doc."
They got one last hug in and parted ways leaving Indigo alone in her cell once again. Onyx made his way to sickbay, and there was Doc running some tests. Doc noticed as Onyx walked in.
"How is Indigo?"
"She is doing okay."
"Did you talk to her at all?"
"I think I got some answers, but you will this hard to believe."
And then Onyx proceeded to tell Doc what Indigo told him. Doc didn't seem surprised. As Onyx told him Indigo's experience, his mind wandered back to when he was a young operative back in the matrix and how he too had feelings for a program. An agent program as a matter of fact. He remembered how beautiful he was and how safe he felt when he was in his arms, so he too knew how Indigo felt when she had to leave Smith. He also remembered his tearful goodbye to him as he went back to the real world and he never jacked in since.
"Doc?"
"Oh I'm sorry Onyx I was off in my own world."
"Yeah it seemed like it."
"I'll be monitoring Indigo's progress."
"Okay."
Onyx excused himself and left Doc to his thoughts. The memories came flooding back to when he and agent Kinney said their goodbyes. By this time Doc was sure that Kinney had been deleted or he was an exile with the Merovingian, he had hoped it was the later of the two. But he knew that if he went back into the matrix, he would be old man and Kinney would still be young and beautiful like he always was. Kinney probably would not remember him. But he couldn't ponder on such things, he had to concentrate on Indigo and her situation.
Back in the matrix, Smith still walked along the trail in the park. He felt so out of place being a lone person in a sea of couples, young and old, gay and straight that were very much in love. It made him sad, how he wished Indigo didn't have to leave. He sat down and was once again alone with his thoughts, just then a family of three walked by. The father picked up his child who about two and started to toss her lightly. She giggled at her father's playfulness, the mother who was about eight months pregnant smiled as she looked on at her husband as he showered their child with love and affection. To Smith, the pregnant woman looked beautiful and radiant and he wondered if Indigo would look just as beautiful if she were to carry his child. He was somewhat amused by the idea of a little Smith running around but now that would never happen.
The family left and Smith was alone once again. After a few long moments a man in a similar dark suit and te same style glasses sat down next to him. He had light brown hair and was a little smaller but not by much. Smith was a little curious as to why he was dressed the same way as he was. Was he an agent from another division because he had never seen him before, especially since he knew all of the agents in the matrix.
"Hello." Said the other agent.
"Uh ... hello." Smith felt awkward he didn't know how to react, but he was polite.
"You look a little down."
This other agent was insightful.
"Yes, you could say that."
"You lost someone you love."
"How did you..."
"You just have that look about you."
The other agent seemed to have a look of understanding in his eyes and he continued to speak.
"The pain will go away over time ... trust me. I loved someone too once."
But before Smith could say a word the other agent walked off and was no where to be seen. Smith thought that was kind of strange. But he didn't think any more of it. Just then he felt a kick to the back of his head and he was sprawled out on the ground. Was it the other agent coming to beat him up? He quickly rolled over onto his back to see who it was and it was none other than Cutter. An anger fuel up inside of him. It was because of him that Indigo had to go away. At this point all Smith wanted to do was kill him.
"So Mr. Easterly..." His tone was calm. "We meet again."
Cutter just laughed.
"I'm here to finish what I started."
Cutter whipped out his gun and fired, the bullets whizzed by Smith's ears as he ducked each shot. Cutter, who was getting more angry with each shot because he couldn't hit him. Finally, Smith lunged at him, knocking him to the ground. Fists were flying. Cutter took both hands and threw Smith off of him, making him fly into the bench, shattering it into a million pieces. Smith was in pain and could barely move. Cutter just walked up to him and pointed the gun to his head.
"Do you honestly think she could ever love you?" Cutter had a self-satisfied smirk on his face.
Smith said nothing.
"Look at yourself? Why the hell would she want you when she's got a guy like me back in the real world?"
Smith grabbed for the gun and wrestled Cutter to the ground, shots flew everywhere, some ricocheting off of the trees. Finally the gun was out of Cutter's grasp, and fists started flying at bullet speed. Smith fought with all his might but he was no match for Cutter and then finally he punched him in the face and kicked him in the balls. Cutter fell to the ground in pain. Smith grabbed him by the hair and rammed his face into a tree several times. Cutter was laughing the whole time. By this time Smith felt another person jumping on him from behind, it was Onyx. He had knocked Smith to the ground.
"You have some explaining to do!" He yelled.
And then there was a shot. Cutter had meant to shoot Smith but instead the bullet hit Onyx in the chest. Like a coward, Cutter ran away like he always did. On the ground Onyx was limp and blood was everywhere. Smith took Onyx's head. He recognized him from before.
"Hold on!" He told him.
"What?" Onyx was in a daze and close to death.
"This is going to hurt." Smith warned him.
Smith plunged his hand into his chest and Onyx writhed in pain as Smith took the bullet out.
"OH MY GOD!" Onyx yelled as his body spasmed.
Finally the bullet was in Smith's hand and he dropped it to the ground. Onyx was in disbelief over what had just happened. This sentinel program who was one of the most hated had just saved his life. Maybe Indigo was telling him the truth after all.
"Why did you save me?" Onyx asked.
"Because something was telling me to." Smith explained.
They both got up off the ground and dusted themselves off. And then they started to face each other. Smith recognized him right away.
"You're Onyx."
"Yes."
"And Indigo is my sister."
Onyx looked down on the ground and felt bad for making an assumption about someone who just saved his life. It was then he knew that Indigo was telling the truth all along.
"How is she?" Smith asked.
"She's safe ... for now."
Smith had a look of concern on his face.
"What do you mean 'for now'?"
"Indigo could be tried as a traitor to Zion because of what transpired here between the both of you. All this time I thought she was lying about you but now I know the truth."
Smith was silent.
"I do have to know one thing Smith."
"Yes?"
"Do you love her?"
A look that was a combined look of sadness and happiness crossed his face as he spoke.
"Yes very much."
Onyx just stood there and instead of seeing a cold-blooded killer of many humans and sentinel program with no emotion, all he could see was a man who was clearly in love.
"Well I think we need to talk." Onyx said.
"About?"
"Everything."
