Chapter 29

Smith had a look of questioning on his face.

"What do you mean by we're not out of the woods yet?" He asked.

"There is still Cutter to deal with." The Oracle told him.

"That's impossible, I killed him back in the real world after he blinded Indigo." Smith told her.

"Well The Architect is quite resourceful. Cutter's consciousness was uploaded into the matrix, so just incase his physical body expired in the real world, he would still be here to do The Architect's dirty work." The Oracle informed him.

"Shit." Smith muttered under his breath. "Now what do we do?"

"You're going to have to face him son ... I'm sorry."

Meanwhile, back in the machine city, Doc and Onyx were hoping for the best as Indigo laid there in her physical body. To their right was a large computer screen and what they saw was not good.

"What's going on in there?" Onyx asked.

"I have no idea, but whatever it is, it's not good." Doc answered him.

The horde spoke once more.

"It seems that program called The Architect is no longer reading like a program." The horde said.

"So what does that mean?" Onyx asked.

"That it may be the end of both of our worlds as we know them." The horde said sadly.

"Not if I can help it!" Onyx shouted.

"There is nothing you can do." The horde explained.

"Well we can't stand here and do nothing dammit!" Doc said.

There was an awkward silence between the two humans and the horde and then finally Onyx spoke up.

"Jack me in." He told the horde.

"Do you understand what you are asking?" The horde informed him.

"I understand perfectly." Onyx said.

"There have been enough lives lost on both sides, we cannot risk it!"

"This is fucked up!" Onyx shouted. "That's my sister in there god dammit! If you can't find it in your artificial heart to let me go in there and help her, you can at least do it for future peace between humans and machines. Right now she is needing all the help she can get. And I will damned if I just sit here and watch both of our worlds fall apart! YOU HEAR ME?"

A few moments passed and then the horde spoke again.

"Very well then." The horde answered.

Doc looked at Onyx.

"You're gonna need back up." Doc told him.

"Doc, you could get killed."

"I know the risk Onyx. I knew that when I took the red pill a long time ago that it would come to this. The Oracle told me that when I was first unplugged. She told me I would know when it was time to help preserve the peace and that time is now."

"But Doc ..."

"Please Onyx, I know what I'm in for."

There was a look in Doc's eyes, and that was a look of determination and there was no way he could be talked out of it. He knew Doc's mind was made up, he was going to follow him into the matrix whether he liked it or not.

"Alright then Doc." And then Onyx turned to the horde. "We're ready."

Tubes rose from the grating and both men were seated in a resting position like Indigo was and then they were jacked in and for the first time in a long time, Doc was back in the matrix. Both men were an empty street just then they heard a voice.

"Hello Mr. Thomas, surprised to see me?"

"It can't be ... " Doc said in shock.

The only one to call Doc by that name, was a certain agent back when he was a young operative. Doc and Onyx turned around quickly and came face to face with none other that Agent Kinney himself.

"Uh, do you two know each other?" Onyx asked Doc.

"Mr. Thomas and I go way back. It's good to see you again."

Doc's heart rapidly beat in his chest. There was Agent Kinney in his black Prada suit and dark sunglasses, the only thing missing was his earpiece. But to Doc he still looked young vibrant and beautiful. Doc, on the other hand had aged 20 years since the last time they saw each other. Finally he got the courage to speak.

"I thought you had been deleted a long time ago. Where have you been all this time?" Doc asked him.

"Living as an exile and working for The Merovingian, I narrowly escaped when The Architect started his cloning rampage. I'm here to escort you both to The Oracle. There isn't much time" Agent Kinney told them.

The agent escorted both Doc and Onyx and a sleek black vehicle conveniently parked nearby and as they pulled out it started to rain as they went to see The Oracle.

In another part of town it was raining hard. Indigo flew above the city and landed in the middle of the street. To each side of her, there was an army of Architects, all dressed the same and all had a look of hatred on their faces.

"Ah welcome back Indigo! We've missed you my dear." Said a lone Architect as he stepped out of the sea of clones.

"Hello Indigo, do you like what I've done with the place?" The old man asked mockingly.

"It ends now!" She shouted.

"We agree ... one way or another!"

And then they started to charge at each other in the pouring rain.

Smith walked down the green lit hallway of his building, he looked over his fallen comrades. Carl was among them and was barely alive. Smith rushed to his side.

"What the hell happened here?"

"Cutter ..." And then Carl slipped into unconsciousness

Just then Smith heard a familiar voice behind him.

"Hello Smithy! Surprised to see me?" It was Cutter.

"I killed you once." Smith said.

"Now it's my turn." Cutter said.

And then both men started to fight. Smith would be fighting for his life.

In another part of the matrix, Onyx doc and Agent Kinney traveled down a long white hallway on their way to see The Oracle.

"How much further?" Onyx asked.

"It shouldn't be much further now." Agent Kinney informed them.

Just then a door opened and The Architect appeared before the three men.

"I'm sorry gentlemen, but I do believe this is a dead end." The old man told them.

There was a look of horror on their faces as The Architect continued to speak.

"You gentlemen look surprised to see me, but there's a slight difference, I've been expecting you."

"What do you want?" Agent Kinney asked.

"You mean you haven't figured that out? Still using the muscles except the one that matters the most. I want exactly what you all want. I want everything." The old man sneered.

And then Agent Kinney drew his Dessert Eagle and pointed at The Architect's head.

"Would that include a bullet from this gun?" He challenged.

"Go ahead ... shoot."

Agent Kinney cocked his gun at the old man's head. He continued to speak.

"But you know what the best thing about being me is?"

"And what's that?" Doc asked.

"There's so many of me."

Just as he finished speaking and right on cue behind each door out came a perfect copy of The Architect.

"Oh shit!" All three of them said in unison.

Back in the other part of the matrix where the army of Architects were, they were watching the battle between Indigo and their leader with great interest. Fists flew at super speed and then Indigo threw a punch that would land him right on his ass. Finally he got up and started spinning, kicking her in the face knocking her down. And then he stood menacingly over her.

"Can you feel it my dear, closing in on you, well I can."

And then Indigo quickly got to her feet and with one swift kick, she hit him in the balls knocking him to the ground. The other copies covered their crotch areas in sympathy for their leader.

In the hallway, Smith was still fighting Cutter, blocking every one of his moves. Finally Cutter got the best of him and backed him up against the wall, punching his torso at super speed and making Smith spit blood with each blow. Finally Smith fell to the floor and the last thing he would see is Cutter drawing his gun.

In the other hallway, Kinney, Onyx and Doc were fighting for their lives as the sea of Architects finally overpowered them. All three of them were helpless. Just then the leader looked at them as they struggled.

"If you can't beat us ..." And then the old man plunged his hand into Kinney's chest. "Then join us."

"Kinney!" Doc yelled out.

Just at that moment a door opened and out came The Oracle, Red and Seraph with machine guns, killing every Architect in sight. They did not stop until there was not a single clone standing. Even the clone that was cloning Kinney died on contact, releasing him. He collapsed as Doc caught him in his arms.

"It's a damned good thing we got here when we did." The Oracle said. "Now let's get the hell out of here!"

She ushered everyone out the door and into her kitchen where they were safe. Agent Kinney was limp in Doc's arms as he guided him to the couch.

"Now what do we do?" Onyx asked.

"Now we wait kiddo."

Back in the street Indigo still fought The Architect and then they both took off as they continued their battle in mid air. Nothing was safe. Not even the strongest buildings as the fight raged on. They would leave nothing but glass, concrete and rubble in their path. Finally they bot fell to earth and where they landed would be a crater. Indigo was disoriented and then she felt a kick to her head. He looked up to see the Architect standing above her. He yanked her up by the hair.

"This is my world! My world!"

And then old man threw her against the wall of the crater, knocking the wind out of her. He walked towards her.

"Why Indigo? Why? Why, why do you do it? Why get up? Why keep fighting? Do you believe you are fighting for something? Could it be that you are fighting for love? Love is just as artificial as the matrix itself. Although only a human could invent something as insipid as love." He hissed.

"It is because I believe in love. And that is why I choose to fight for it." She said.

And then she got up. The Architect backed away in fear.

"What are you afraid of?" She asked as she advanced towards him.

"Stay away from me!" He shouted.

"But then again, I guess you're right." She told him.

At that moment he knew he won. The old man smiled and plunged his hand into her. Her body jerked and until there was nothing more than a perfect copy of himself.

"Is it over?" He asked his copy.

Indigo who was now the copy nodded and then all of sudden streaks of light came from his eyes as he started to crack.

"No, no, no, no! No! It's not fair! The Architect screamed.

A sea of light washed over the army of Architects, restoring everyone to their original state, even where the previous copy stood, Indigo was there once more. The Architect was all alone and sobbing because he knew he lost. The agents who were now angels swooped down from the sky to assist Indigo and take The Architect into custody.

"You are under arrest for treason and trying to violate the peace between Zion and 01." Angel Johnson informed him.

The angels put him in handcuffs as he kicked and screamed.

"Where you're going, you will be there for quite a long time!" Angel Jackson said. "Take him away guys!" He signaled the other agent angels as they flew him to prison.

"It's not fair!" The Architect shouted as they flew him away.

And then Angel Johnson turned to her and spoke.

"Thank you Indigo for fighting for all of us both human and machine. We are in your debt."

"Where's Smith?" She asked.

Just then Johnson got a look on his face like something was wrong.

"I think I know, we have to hurry!"

Both angel and human took flight towards the place where Smith was having his final battle with Cutter.

Smith was down on the ground and Cutter stood over him.

'Come on Smith! Get up!' He told himself.

He mustered every ounce of strength to get to his feet. Finally he stood before his enemy. Cutter fired a shot into his chest but he still continued to stand. One bullet after another struck him. And then he heard a scream, it was Indigo.

"No!" She screamed.

Cutter continued to fire on him, but he held his hand out just like Indigo had done at the train station. One bullet after another had been fired, only this time they were all suspended in mid air for a moment and that all fell to floor. Cutter's silver grey eyes flashed as the room swirled around him. And just like in her dream, she was helpless to do anything as she watched Cutter lunge towards Smith, going inside of him and making him explode from the inside. There was nothing left except for him and then he turned to her. She tried to run but he grabbed her by the throat and slammed her against the wall.

"Agent loving whore!" He hissed.

And then, just like in her dream he plunged his hand into her chest but he had a look of pain on his face. His eyes rolled into the back of his head and then by instinct she plunged her hand into his chest. His hand slipped from her chest as she continued to rip his heart out. Like a warrior in battle and with one swift move his heart was ripped out of his chest. Cutter looked in horror as it was still beating in her hand. She gave him a scowl as he dropped dead at her feet, leaving blood everywhere. And then she dropped his heart and slumped down to the floor.

Six months later, after the battle had been won, there was a meeting between the agent programs of the matrix and the council of Zion. By this time she was six months pregnant and she still missed Smith. Due to the nature of her pregnancy she chose to live in the matrix. During the night of the meeting, both sides agreed to keep the peace and the treason charges were dropped against Indigo. It was a joyous day to see both agents and humans shaking hands and working together side by side.

Onyx hugged his sister. "How is my niece doing?"

Indigo patted her growing belly. "She's being very active. It seems like she's using my bladder for target practice though."

Jones chimed in offering her chocolate. "Want some?"

"You know that's the kiss of death for me right now." Indigo told him.

"Oh sorry I forgot." Jones apologized.

"No problem."

"You know sweety, this baby is very lucky." The Oracle said.

"How so?" Indigo asked her.

"How many little girls grow up having agent programs as uncles?"

"You got a good point there." Indigo said solemnly.

The Oracle could tell something was wrong.

"You still miss him don't you sweety."

"I just wish he were here."

The old woman gave her a hug.

"I know honey."

At that moment there was a knock at the door. Doc opened the slot. There was a dark figure in the hallway.

"Is Indigo here?" Asked the man.

"What do you want with her?" Doc asked.

"I have something for her."

"Okay."

He slipped an envelope through the crack, Doc grabbed it.

"I want to thank her for setting me free."

"Okay uhm, I'll give her the message."

"Thank you." And then the man disappeared from sight.

Doc walked into the kitchen. Indigo noticed the envelope.

"What's that?" She asked him.

"I don't know." Doc answered. "All I know is that he told me to give you this."

He handed the envelope to her. She opened it and inside was a small silk rose and attached to it was an earpiece. Tears of joy streamed down her face.

"Are you alright?" Onyx asked her.

"I'm more than alright."

Somehow The Oracle knew that this story might possibly have a happy ending after all