Chapter 27

Indigo awoke the next morning to find Talon (who was really Smith) singing to himself as he was shaving in the cell next to her.

You'll remember me when the west wind moves
Upon the fields of barley
You'll forget the sun in his jealous sky
As we walk in the fields of gold

So she took her love
For to gaze awhile
Upon the fields of barley
In his arms she fell as her hair came down
Among the fields of gold

The song sounded familiar and it caught her attention.

Will you stay with me, will you be my love
Among the fields of barley
We'll forget the sun in his jealous sky
As we lie in the fields of gold

Finally Indigo spoke.

"Talon, Where did you learn that song?"

Smith turned to her. His heart skipped a beat just looking at her. But he could not reveal himself to her ... not yet. And then he started to speak.

"I uh, heard it back before I was unplugged." He lied.

"Really?"

"Before I was unplugged my mom used to sing me to sleep with that song." Smith continued to lie.

"I don't know, maybe when I heard the words I ..." She let out a sigh. "Never mind."

"What?"

"You would think I was crazy."

"Maybe not. Try me."

"That the person who I cared about back in the matrix was right here next to me. I know I sound crazy don't I?"

"No, not really." Smith reassured her.

By this time she was leaned against the bars facing him. He finished shaving and walked over to her. She looked into his eyes.

"There's something about your eyes that seem so familiar."

"Like what?"

"I don't know, it's like I know you for some strange reason."

"Stranger things have happened."

Just then Doc and Onyx came in. Doc didn't look too pleased with Smith. Onyx was carrying a gun.

"Hey sis! We're going to get you out of here!"

"What?" Both Smith and Indigo said at the same time.

"There's no time." Doc explained. "We have to get you both out of here now!"

"What about the guards?" Smith asked.

"I gave them a knockout drug so that should buy us some time."

Onyx took the keys and opened both doors setting both Smith and Indigo free.

"Why is Talon coming with us?" Indigo asked.

"You'll understand why soon. Let's get the hell out of here!" Doc told her.

They made there way out of the brig and into the corridor of the ship. It was dark, the only little points of light were sparks from the coils. It looked as if the ship had been beaten up pretty badly. Out of nowhere an electric jolt sent Doc flying and then Onyx. The gun flew out of his hand as he hit the ground. And then out of the shadows Cutter stepped out with a menacing grin on his face. A knife was in his hand.

"Hello Smith." Cutter said in a menacing tone as he advanced towards them.

"What the hell are you talking about, this isn't Smith." Indigo said in disbelief.

"I see that you're as predictable here as you are in the matrix."

"What?" Was all Indigo could say.

At the moment he grabbed Indigo and held the knife to her throat.

"You are out of your fucking mind!" She shouted at him.

Smith grabbed the gun and pointed at Cutter.

"You see babe, it might appear that way to you. But loverboy and I know that appearances can be deceiving."

He held the knife tighter to her throat as he continued to speak. A small cut started drip out of her skin.

"Confused Smith? I'm sure it will all be clear in a moment."

Cutter motioned to the weapon in Smith's hands.

"I do want to thank you for bringing me the gun. You can set it down at your feet."

"Don't do it Smith! Just shoot him!" Indigo shouted.

"Yeah that's right!" Cutter laughed. "Go ahead shoot us all three us, me, your lady love and your unborn child!"

Indigo had a look of pleading in her eyes.

"Shoot him Talon!" She yelled. "If you don't he'll kill us all!"

"Look at your loverboy Indigo. He knows what to do, but yet he can't do it." Cutter said mockingly.

"Please Talon!" Indigo continued to plead with him.

Smith put the gun down

"Now back away from the gun and turn around." Cutter ordered him.

"Let her go." Smith shouted.

Cutter released his grip on Indigo and threw her to floor. She grabbed a tube that sparked and tripped Cutter with it. They fought and then the sparks catch Indigo's eyes, she screamed in pain. Her eyes were now welded shut. She laid on the floor as she writhed in pain.

"Oh god!" Smith yelled.

'Ooops! Your girlfriend is blind." Cutter mocked him.

"You bastard!" Smith charged at him.

Fists started flying as both men leaped at each other. Smith knocked Cutter to the floor. By this time Cutter couldn't get up.

"I wish your lady love could see herself Smith. The blind fair maiden. Such a symbol for all women. Helpless, pathetic. Just waiting to be put out of their misery."

Just then Smith grabbed a crowbar and swung as hard as he could knocking off Cutter's head. His headless body flopped for a few seconds until it fell over dead. Smith dropped the crowbar and rushed to Indigo's side. He held her in his arms and started to cry. She reached out her hands to touch his face.

"Smith?"

"Indigo, your eyes ..." Smith continued to sob.

"It's alright Smith I can see you." She said as she continued to touch his face.

"But ..." And then she kissed him.

Even though she could no longer see in the real world, she could see the man she loved sitting before all in bright yellow code, she could even see his tears as he held her.

"I have missed you so much Indigo."

"I missed you too Smith." She felt like crying but she couldn't due the damage in her eyes. But she did sob uncontrollably in his arms.

Just then, they were joined by Onyx and Doc who were now groggy from the blasts they received earlier. Onyx noticed his sister's wounds and realized she was now blind.

"Oh my God Indigo."

"It's okay little brother, I can see you too."

She reached out for her brother who was now also in bright yellow code as well as Doc.

"But how?"

"I can explain Onyx. I just can. We have to get to the machine city. This is the only way for this battle to end."

"I understand now sis."

And then Onyx looked at both Smith and Doc.

"You heard her, let's go." Onyx told them.

Smith scooped Indigo up in his arms as the three of them made their way to the bridge. He sat her down in the captain's chair and started the ship.

Back in the matrix. The Architect got word of Cutter's death through the mainframe. He was not pleased.

"Never send a human to do a machine's job." He said out loud to himself.

He walked along the streets and spied one of the agents who was newly programmed with wings, it was Jones. He followed him to a playground. Just when Jones wasn't looking, the Architect caught up with him and caught the agent angel by surprise.

"You!" Jones said.

The Architect plunged his hand into Jones' chest as he writhed in pain.

"Me ... me ... me!" The Architect said.

"Me too." His copy answered back.

"Smith wasn't the only one who could do that trick you know." The Architect said to his copy.

He straightened the copy's suit and white beard and continued to speak.

"We have work to do."