Chapter 22

Indigo awoke in a cold sweat. She had the dream again about Cutter and Smith fighting to the death in the hall and Smith dying. God, how she wished Smith was there to hold her and tell her that everything would be alright. She missed his touch, his smell, his voice, his kisses and the way he made her feel when they made love. But what she missed most of all, was being in his arms and how she felt when he told he loved her. She wished things had been different, then maybe she wouldn't have to go away. The baby in her stomach moved, making her feel a fluttering sensation. She put her hand to her stomach and felt her child kicking. She smiled knowing that if anything a part of him was with her when he couldn't be there himself.

Back in the matrix, Smith and Onyx sat at a chess table. Onyx listened patiently as Smith told his story. Onyx was grateful to the agent for saving his life, but old habits of distrust between humans and machines died hard. Smith could tell by his demeanor he was having a hard time believing him, but was thankful that he was still listening. After all, this was a member of her family.

"Is Indigo alright?" Smith asked.

"Yes, but uh when she came back to our world ... let's just say she came back with a little something extra."

"What?" Smith looked confused.

"I don't know how it happened because I was with her the whole time while she was jacked in. But she's pregnant."

"But how?"

And then Onyx gave him a look that said 'Don't play dumb with me.'

"I think you know how." There was a hint of sarcasm in Onyx's voice.

And then he thought back the all the times he and Indigo made love. A smile spread across his face.

"What the hell are you smiling at?"

And then Smith was brought back down to earth and looked at Onyx once more who obviously pissed off over what he did with his sister.

"You know Smith, you just knocked up my sister. I should kick your ass."

Just then The Oracle had arrived. The old woman smiled at both men.

"I knew it would be a matter of time before you two would meet."

They both looked at her with very confused looks on their faces.

"Yes gentlemen. It was fate that you two meet. I'm just glad it was under more peaceful circumstances."

"But how did you ..." Onyx started to speak.

"She's The Oracle, she knows everything." Said Smith.

"I also know that with what is coming, and Indigo needs both of you."

"So you know about ..." Smith started to speak.

"Yes son, I know about the child she's carrying. This child is a part of a prophecy."

"And what prophecy is that?" Asked Onyx.

"This child which will be from both worlds will be the one who will bring peace for both human and machine. You must make sure this is fulfilled."

"What will happen if the my child's birth is prevented?" Asked Smith.

The Oracle looked down at the ground and took a deep breath and then she looked at both Onyx and Smith.

"Then war will start again, only this time it will much worse." The Oracle then looked at Smith.

"A darkness much more evil than what you had done in the past when Neo was alive will consume everything and there will be no way of stopping it. Only this time a human will bring the darkness and it will be even worse than anything human or machine will ever experience."

"Cutter." Smith said under his breath.

"That's right kiddo. Both of you have to do what you can. If he finds out about the child, all hell is going to break loose."

Both men didn't know what to say. The Oracle continued to speak.

"The fate of both worlds in your hands now."

And then she looked at her watch.

"I have to go, I just wish I could have good news for you boys."

And then she walked off leaving the two men in silence. Finally Onyx spoke.

"I guess I'm going to an uncle after all."

"And I guess I'm going to be a father."

Back in the matrix, Indigo was in sick bay for another ultra-sound.

"So have you made a decision?" Doc asked her.

"Yes."

"And what have you decided?"

"I want to keep this child Doc."

It seemed as if the doctor breathed a sigh of relief. He had performed abortions before. But to abort this pregnancy, something was telling him it would have been on his conscience had she consented to terminating it. But yet he was concerned for his patient.

"Your situation and how this baby was conceived, there may be a chance that if you give birth in the real world, that you may die."

"It's a chance I'm willing to take Doc. But what if I were to have the baby in the matrix? What would happen?"

"Chances are good that you may live. Are you sure about this Indigo?"

"Yes. I am."

She lost Smith, and she would be damned if she was going to lose this child too. And deep down, Doc understood that as well.

"Well since it is your decision, I want to monitor your progress."

"I understand Doc."

He then told her to get on the table and she lifted her shirt up exposing her belly. At this point it was still flat but she could feel her child move inside of her. Doc put the clear jelly on her stomach and moved the paddles around until finally the image of her baby was on the screen. It looked so small and fragile, but it was amazing to see something that she and Smith both created.

"I'll be damned." Said Doc.

"What?"

"It's a girl."

Back in the matrix and not too far from Smith and Onyx's conversation was The Architect who had overheard everything. Smith, at one time had been the best sentinel program in the matrix. And now he and this human female were going to be the down fall of everything he worked so hard to create. In his mind he knew this child would cause nothing but chaos and was a threat to everything he held sacred and Smith had committed the deadliest sin of all, breeding with a non-program. The old man had to do something to preserve his way of life, even if that meant preventing this child from being born ... by any means necessary. He walked to an abandoned building where he was supposed to meet Cutter. Cutter was running behind but he finally showed up several minutes later.

"You're late." The Architect told him.

"I'm sorry but I was a little distracted."

"We have a situation." The old man informed him.

"And what is that?"

"It seems like there could be a what you humans say ... monkey wrench in our plans?"

"How so?"

"The girl is with child."

"What? How the fuck did that happen?" Cutter had a look of shock and disgust on his face.

"I wondered the same thing myself. But it has happened."

"So what do we do now?"

"We have to stop this birth or it will be the end of both of our worlds as we know it. As it stands, you hate us and we hate you, imagine if this ... child were to live."

"It would be an abomination to both our worlds." Cutter said in agreement.

"Yes."

"Tell me what I have to do."

And then an evil glint sparked in The Architect's eyes.

Back in the park Smith and Onyx sat and talked more, by this time they looked up when they noticed something in the sky. It looked like a group of four to five men in black suits with white wings attached, they were laughing because they were happy. They flew in closer and Onyx ducked.

"What the fuck?" Was all Onyx could say.

"Oh my God. It finally happened." Smith said under his breath.

"What happened?" Onyx asked.

And then the group of men landed and walked towards the two. It was agents Jackson, Johnson, Brown, Jones and Thompson. As they walked their wings retracted into their suits making them look like men again, they weren't wearing their sunglasses or their earpieces and for the very first time they all looked happy.

"We got our original programing back." Smith said with a smile.

"What? You mean to tell me you guys were ..."

"Protectors." Smith finished.

"Holy shit! Can this get any weirder?" Onyx just shook his head in disbelief.

Smith was happy that he and the other agents were back to being the way they were before, but his heart still ached for Indigo. Onyx, after witnessing everything that happened felt like he needed a strong drink.