Chapter 28

Indigo was blind but yet she could still see. Smith wanted to talk to Onyx alone so they excused themselves so they were not in earshot of her. Once they were alone, Smith spoke.

"Onyx, there is something I have been wanting to talk to you about since I got here."

"Well?"

"You know I love Indigo very much and I know that you love her too."

"Yes."

"So I know it is a human custom ask family members before taking one's hand."

"What are you saying?"

"I want to spend the rest of my exsistance with Indigo."

"So you're asking me for my sister's hand in marriage?"

"If that is what you humans call it, then yes I am asking."

Onyx was silent for a moment and then he started to speak again as he took a deep breath.

"I never dreamed it was possible. That a program such as yourself, given your past could even love. Your recent actions have proven otherwise. But I have one question for you."

"Yes?"

Onyx took a deep breath.

"Do you promise me that you will be good to her?"

"I love her more than anything in the matrix or even in the real world. She is a part of me now, so yes I promise. I will be good to her."

Onyx smiled.

"You better be. Because if you're not." He leaned closer. "I will make the final battle between you and Neo look like a high school wrestling match."

Smith knew Onyx meant business when he said that.

"I understand. So does that mean I have your blessing?"

Onyx patted Smith on the shoulder as he said, "Welcome to the family."

"Have you asked her yet?"

"No I want to wait until the time is right to do so."

"I understand."

Both men went back up to the bridge where Doc and Indigo were starting to power up the ship. The craft started to fly at maximum speed and they would be at the machine city in no time at all. Smith was the co-pilot.

"We can't see shit!" Doc exclaimed.

"Don't worry I can." Indigo answered.

"But Indigo, you're blind!"

"Just trust me Doc."

And then she pointed out in the distance through the vast darkness.

"There, there's mountains! That's it!"

"You mean you can see what's out there sis?" Onyx asked her.

"Yes." Indigo answered her brother calmly.

"Indigo, if you tell me we will make it, I will believe you." Smith said as he held her hand.

Doc and Onyx looked scared.

"We'll make it. We have to." She told them.

"We'll believe you sis." Onyx told her.

The ship sped to the machine city. As they got closer flying bombs started attacking the outside hull making the ship rattle and knocking bot Onyx and Doc off their feet.

"What's happening?" Onyx yelled.

"Sentinels!" Doc shouted back.

"There's too many of them!" Indigo yelled back.

"Come on Indigo I need your help!" Smith shouted.

"We can't beat them!" She shouted back.

"What do we do?" Onyx yelled over the explosions.

"I have an idea! Let's go up over them!" Indigo said.

"What?" All three men shouted.

"The sky! It's the only way!" She answered.

"Then up we go! Hang on!" Smith said.

They got past the cloud cover and for the first time through human eyes, Smith saw a bright blue sky as well as Doc and Onyx. They were all in awe of it's beauty.

"Oh my God." Onyx said under his breath still looking at the sky.

"It's so beautiful." Smith said as a tear slid down his cheek when he marveled in it's beauty.

It seemed like that moment was frozen, that was until the ship descended back below the dark clouds. It seemed to slowly fall to earth and now everyone was panicked.

"Pump the igniter!" Indigo told him.

"What?" Smith shouted.

"Pump the igniter and the ship will start."

Smith pumped the igniter frantically.

"Now do it again slowly!" She ordered.

Smith did it slowly.

"Now!"

And the ship once again took flight but only briefly as it crashed roughly, throwing everyone around inside. Indigo was disoriented for a brief and started reaching out for Smith.

"Smith? Smith? Where are are you?"

And then she heard his voice. It was faint.

"I'm here Indigo."

Doc and Onyx were just fine but Smith on the other hand was not. They both noticed a pipe had impaled his torso and there was no saving him now. She crawled over to the sound of his voice.

"Where are you Smith?" She called out.

"I am right here love."

She crawled over to where he was and rested her hands on his face.

"We made it." She choked.

"You said we would." Smith said softly.

"It's so beautiful Smith. There's lights everywhere. Like it was built with light. I just wish you could see what I'm seeing right now."

Smith choked back his sobs as he spoke.

"You have shown me so much."

"Smith? What's wrong?"

"I forgot how fragile these human bodies really are."

And then her hands went lower she could feel where the twisted metal had impaled him. She started to cry.

"Oh no, no, no, no. Please don't die! It's not fair! Just when I find you again I lose you!"

Onyx and Doc stood nearby, both of them started to cry as Indigo cradled his head in her arms.

"It's going to be alright Indigo."

"No it's not!"

Smith struggled to speak.

"Yes it will. I have done all I can do. Now you have to do the rest. You have to finish it. You have to save both of our worlds. For our child."

"Smith I can't do it without you."

"Yes you can. I believe in you."

"Why?"

"Because I love you Indigo ... I always have. I loved you since the first day we met."

"Please Smith!" She pleaded. "You can't die!"

"In this body I can die."

Indigo shook her head. Smith stroked her cheek as he continued to speak.

"Do you remember when you said goodbye to me back in the matrix?"

"Yes."

"Before you came back here, I wished I could have told you how much I really loved you. Back there I didn't get that chance, to say what I really felt and how grateful I was for every moment I got to be with you and, how thankful I was that you changed me for the better. Now that I am here with you, I have that chance. I want to thank you for making me the man I am now."

"I love you Smith."

"I love you too Indigo."

She held him in her arms and stroked his head.

"Will I ever see you again?"

Smith nodded as the life was slowly draining out of him.

"Yes, you will see me again ... I promise. Now I want for you to kiss me once more."

And with one last kiss, Smith died in her arms. And at that point she sobbed uncontrollably. Onyx and Doc rushed to her side. Onyx by instinct gathered his sister into his arms as she cried.

"It's okay sis."

Back in the matrix The Architect was cloning everyone and everything in his path to prepare for the final battle. Finally he reached Club Hel where he encountered The Merovingian. An army of Architects stormed through the doors of the club. No one was safe as one copy after another was made. The Merovingian looked down at the sea of beards and white hair.

"What is the meaning of this?" The Merovingian yelled.

"Ah my rival!"

The french man turned to see The Architect and a large group of his clones where his comrades once stood. An evil smirk crossed the old man's face.

"What do you want?" Mero asked suspiciously.

Just then The Architect took a bottle of Mero's best red wine and threw it against the wall.

"Order." The Architect hissed.

"How can you have order when you rule with an iron fist?" Mero asked with a challenging tone in his voice.

"You have so much to learn young man."

"No, I believe it is you that has much to learn ... old man."

"You know if it weren't for you there would not be so many exiles running around and mucking up things."

"Is that so? I say if they didn't live in fear of deletion like they do under your rule, they wouldn't have to live in exile."

"You disappoint me Mero."

"And you are a bitter old bastard."

The Architect let out a small laugh.

"You should know ... son."

And with that the old man plunged his fist into The Merovingian's chest, making the french man writhe in pain until there was nothing but a perfect copy of himself. Once he was done, the old laughed manically.

Back in the machine city, Indigo, Onyx and Doc. Indigo led the way. All around her all she could see were bright yellow lights.

"Dorothy, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore." Doc said.

"No shit!" Onyx answered.

The three of them stuck close together as small machines scurried about. Some even stopping to observe them as they walked cautiously down the grating. Finally they reached what they believed to be the view of the machine city. Just then a group of sentinels grouped together in a swarm and formed a face that started to speak.

"What do you three humans want?" The horde asked.

"I only ask to say what I have come to say, after that, do what you want to us, and we will not stop you." Indigo said.

"Then speak."

"The program 'Smith' has evolved. But I believe there is a greater threat and I believe I can stop it."

"You are correct about that. How do you feel about the program 'Smith'?" The horde asked her.

"I love him." Indigo answered.

"Love? That is not possible."

"If it is not possible, then why am I carrying his child? If it is not possible, then why did he come here to be with me only to die in a human shell? Is that not love?"

The horde was silent for a moment and then it started to speak again.

"What are your intentions?"

"To keep the peace." Indigo answered.

"We do not need you to keep our peace! We need nothing!" The horde shouted.

"If we have made a mistake in coming here, then you should kill us now!" Indigo answered.

"What do you want?" The horde asked her.

"To be with Smith again. And to help you win the final battle."

"And if you fail?"

"I won't."

Tubes reached up from the floor and positioned Indigo into a seated position. Onyx rushed to his sister's side.

"Are you sure about this sis?"

"Yes."

And then she was jacked in and back in the matrix, she was dressed in dark suit similar to the agents. She was on a playground and was alone, but not for long. Just then she heard footsteps behind her and she quickly turned around. It was The Architect himself.

"Hello Indigo ... surprised to see me?"

"Not really." There was a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

The old man stepped closer until they were facing each other.

"I never thought it was possible ... the connection between you and Smith. I don't fully understand how it happened. Perhaps some part of you imprinted on to him, something overwritten or copied, But that point is irrelevant my dear. What matters is whatever happened, happened for a reason. And it's a reason I'm not liking too well."

"And what reason is that?"

"He should have killed you on sight, but he didn't. Instead he took you hostage a developed feelings for you ... how sickening. He knew the rules but yet he didn't want to obey. You infected my best program and now there's going to be hell to pay."

"You don't say gramps?"

"But as you know my dear, appearances can be deceiving, which brings me back to the reason why we're here."

"And what is that?"

"Purpose my dear lady."

Just then a copy stepped out of the shadows one right after the other, all cornering her.

"It is purpose that created us."

"Purpose that connects us."

"Purpose that pulls us."

"That guides us."

"That drives us."

"We are here because of that anomaly you are carrying inside of you. We're here to take from you what you are about to take from us. Total control!"

The sea of Architects charged at her as she fought them all like a skilled fighter. From the window of the Oracle's apartment. Smith, Sati and the old woman were watching the scene below. Smith felt helpless as the sea of Architects were surrounding her. Smith started to rush out of the apartment but Sati stopped him.

"Please Smith! You have to stay here or else The Architect will copy you too!" The little girl pleaded.

"She's right son." The Oracle told him.

"But ..."

"Everything will be fine sweetheart." She told him.

"She's getting creamed out there!" Smith said with concern in his voice.

Smith went back to the window and continued to watch helplessly as The Architects piled on top of Indigo.

"Oh no!" Smith cried out.

Just then the group old men started flying and Indigo erupted from underneath the pile like molten lava from a volcano.

"Yes!" Smith shouted.

Indigo ran to the other side of the play ground a pulled out a long metal pole, swing at the sea of Architects, knocking them down like bowling pins. One of them went so far that he shattered the brick wall. He groaned in pain.

"More!" The Architect growled.

Just as she defeated ten clones, twenty more came at her. She dug the pole into the ground and swung around it at super speed.

"Kick his ass!" Sati shouted from the window. Both the Oracle and Smith looked at the little girl in shock over hearing her say a curse word.

"What?" Sati asked.

As Indigo spun around, she knocked the sea on its ass leaving it unconscious. As the sea old men groaned in pain and crawled off. She then crouched down and jumped high into the sky as if she were going to take flight like Supergirl. Smith looked to the sky and smiled.

"That's my girl." He said proudly.

The Oracle had a look on her face and Smith knew something was wrong.

"We're not out of the woods yet kiddo. This is only the beginning."