Another longer chapter (ah, but that's so relative in this story), and also one of the ones that I enjoy better. Actually, Seraph's powers are a new occurrence, and will be explored further in Scene 6-1 (the next chapter). Do I have Merovingian right this time?
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Scene 05: Battling Legends
The complete silence of the street was shattered as a polished, black shoe stepped onto it. For a moment the sound of the heel clicking on concrete rang through the air, then a second noise broke the silence again as the figure continued walking. Another set of shoes stepped onto the street, then another, and another.
A small army of Agent Smiths marched across the street, moving in unison. One walked at the front, designated as the leader for this relatively inconsequential mission. None the less, it had to be done, and only Smith could do it. How fortunate Smith happened to be available.
Moving through the broad doors that marked the Merovingian's lair, Agent Smith moved on, striding through the hallways undaunted. They were completely unchallenged until they reached the end of the hall, where a polished looking program was writing something at a small desk. He looked up, and his face paled visibly.
"I believe I have a reservation," Smith said cordially, a sardonic smile on his face. "A party of twelve under the name Smith?"
"Get out!" the doorman demanded. "I vill explode ze bombs on this floor if necessary. Do not come any further!"
"Oh, and wouldn't that be a shame?" the corrupted Agent asked condescendingly. "After all, it isn't like I can come back, is it?" Behind him the assorted Agent Smiths sniggered in near unison. Before the doorman could respond again, or even think to move toward the security button, Smith darted forward, a hand sinking into the startled program.
Within moments, a thirteenth Agent Smith joined the others. Nodding to each other, they turned as one and strode into the heart of the building.
"...Smith's power is spreading, he now controls most of this city. However, he has not dared to attack any fortified locations, such as the machine mainframe or here. In the real world, the Sentinels have drilled into the dock of Zion. Information there is scarce, but last we heard they were still experiencing heavy resistence." The aged program ceased speaking, relaxing back into his soft chair.
"I see." Seraph nodded, ingesting this new information. Using the Trainman's system, he had been able to get directly into the heart of the Merovingian's complex without any resistence. It looked to be a quite convenient method of travel. "I thank you."
"No," the program shook his head, shaking his head slightly. "It is I that must thank you."
"Why?" Seraph demanded, eyes narrowing.
"The answer is simple," the informant smiled broadly. "The Merovingian will give anyone who brings you to him dead or alive their wildest dreams. How kind of you to put it directly in my grasp." Instantly his expression darkened. "Now that I have fulfilled my end of the bargain and given you the information you seek, I see no reason at all why I should not capitalize on this moment. Prepare to be terminated, Seraph."
Though he could sense no nearby programs, Seraph ducked regardless. His sense were not infallible. In truth, his decision was a wise one, a barrage of bullets broke through the air where his head had been. They riddled the informant full of holes; his expression was one of shock for a moment before he collapsed.
Whirling, Seraph found himself facing four men. Three of them were similarly clad, programs that Seraph recognized. From the most primitive version of the Matrix, these three had been vampires. They would be difficult to terminate. The fourth figure was clad entirely in a dark cloak that encompassed his body. Before Seraph's eyes, a gun floated through the air in front of the programs, then turned.
Something flickered, and then there was a hand holding the gun. Another program stood before the others, now visible once again. Seraph's eyes narrowed; having an invisible opponent was a serious liability. Whatever his ability was, it also effectively masked his code from sight. It was a small comfort that the gun was visible.
"There is no reason for us not to take the bounty ourselves," the program who had been invisible said in a chill voice. "You always were an uppity b******, Seraph. Goodbye."
Instantly he was invisible again, he leveled his gun even as the other four pulled theirs. Weaving with inhuman speed, Seraph dodged their bullets, getting behind a large stone pillar in the room. His back to the pillar, Seraph pulled both of his guns as well. It was quite fortunate that the Marovingian had such a fondness for stone pillars.
Coming from behind his cover, Seraph immediately somersaulted toward the next, firing with one hand. He caught a quick glimpse of the three vamparic programs, all of which hid themselves behind other pillars. The other two were nowhere to be found, a fact that worried him far more.
Briefly leaning around the pillar, Seraph continued to fire, keeping down the vampires. Quickly Seraph realized that there was only one vampire behind the pillars. Immediately suspicious, he took counter-measures. Just as the two vampires appeared on opposite sides of him, Seraph ran up the wall, guns out in either direction, firing toward each vampire. One slumped to the ground, the other ducked behind a pillar.
Flipping to his feet as he came off the wall, Seraph only barely dodged several bullets that seemed to come from nowhere. A glint of sunlight caught off the barrel of the gun held by the invisible program. Firing in that general direction, Seraph fled from the room, whirling and slamming the door behind him.
Now in the next room, Seraph quickly reloaded. Finding a wooden chair, Seraph smashed it, then took three of the legs. They would serve as stakes well enough. Getting directly beside the wall, Seraph waited. Only moments later the doors were blown to pieces. Behind them, the figure in a dark cloak continued firing his automatic weaponry.
Firing from the side, Seraph struck him with bullets from both guns. The figure in the dark cloak practically burst apart. Dozens of ravens flew in opposite directions, leaving the dark trenchcoat to fall to the ground unoccupied. Shocked, Seraph only barely dove to the side as the birds swarmed down at him.
Briefly the birds collected at the opposite side of the chamber again, forming a dark figure. It fired several times, and Seraph only barely rolled along the floor to avoid them. He fired back, and instantly the figure became a cloud of ravens once again. A few fell to the floor, but the vast majority flew toward him.
Getting to his feet, Seraph snagged the weapon the dark program had originally held and let loose on the birds. Under the onslaught of heavy weaponry, the birds all quickly fell. Moments later, Seraph found himself forced to drop the weapon as several more bullets flew toward him.
Grimly Seraph realized that the invisible program was already within the room, firing from an unknown location. He was staying silent and keeping the gun out of sight. One of the vampires abruptly leapt from the door at him, Seraph ducked and he went flying through.
Instantly Seraph was after him, smashing several blows into him. The vampire attempted to fight back, but at close range his gun was easily knocked away. Connecting with several kicks, Seraph sent him stumbling backward. In one clean motion Seraph whirled, flinging one of the chair legs toward the open door, where another vampire had just appeared.
As the nearer vampire gawked at his staked comrade, Seraph drove one through him as well. Rolling across the ground, Seraph avoided yet more fire from his invisible opponent. Still he couldn't manage to pinpoint his sniper's exact location. Getting his back to a large statue in the center of the room, Seraph continued to plan his next move.
Amid the hale of bullets that crashed against the opposite side of the statue, Seraph realized that one wall of the room was lined by a large mirror. And in the mirror, a pale figure was standing in the center of the room, firing at the statue. Using the mirror as his guide, Seraph burst out from behind the statue, crossing the distance to his opponent in an instant. Knocking the gun aside, Seraph smashed a fist into the invisible program's stomach. He was tangible enough, alright.
Focusing, Seraph began to consume the code of this program. Abruptly he was tackled from the side, the force of the attack sending him flying. The last vampire had attacked, undaunted by the bullet wound and also by the mirror. Cursing his oversight, Seraph began to grapple with the vampire on the floor. From the corner of his eye he saw his invisible opponent retreat back into the room with the pillars.
Finally throwing his opponent off himself, Seraph leapt to his feet, smashing a kick into the vampire's jaw. As the program fell back through the air, Seraph glided beside him, then drove a stake into him as well. Even as the vampire struck the ground, he shattered to dust.
Slowly getting to his feet, Seraph reloaded his weapons, then cautiously moved back into the main room. Glancing from side to side slowly, he held both weapons level, ready to fire at a moment's notice.
"Do you really think you can win?" a voice cackled, bouncing off the walls so that it was impossible to judge its origin. "You will never know where I am! I could be anywhere in front of you, and you would never know! How long do you think you will remain so lucky?"
"I am not so concerned," Seraph answered evenly.
"Why? What makes you think you can beat me?"
"I can see you." Bringing both guns into position, Seraph fired a bullet from each, striking the invisible program at the same time. He was flung back across the floor. As he struck, he became visible and laid still. Though Seraph had been unable to completely consume the invisible program's code, he had managed to discover how to crack the invisibility encryption. That was all that was necessary.
Replacing his weapons, Seraph swept from the room. Staying here could gain him nothing. The humans needed help and Smith was spreading. There was work to be done.
