"ZION! HERE ME!" the roar of the voice belonging to Captain Morpheus echoed through the assembly hall, as it had done so many times before. The murky colours below his mighty podium were the inks of the Zion inhabitants, in bleak clothes and bland expression. Parents held their young ones tight- and those with none feared for themselves. The N2's crew exchanged awkward glances from their own seats and Trinity held Neo's hand from the seat next to him.
"I'll be frank-" Morpheus continued. "Agent Smith is back and he's bigger and better than before." He waited for a shocked murmur amongst the crowds but there was none. This was old news.
Commander Lock stepped up behind Morpheus and proclaimed loudly: "There is no need to panic. We are dealing with this."
"We're past panic!" Neo spoke for the first time, standing up and pushing his way to the podium. Then there was murmur from below. "Commander Lock thinks we've got everything under control, but he knows it himself. Smith's getting the machines again and we don't really stand a chance."
Someone shouted a comment about Neo's alignment as "The One." He gave a sad laugh and shook his head. "The One can't save you now. Go one- here's my advice to Zion- run. Don't stick around and try to wait it out. Take your children, take your wives and go." Morpheus rolled his eyes and Lock tried to fight Neo for the centre stage, but Neo stood firm. "If you thought the first one was bad, then you'll think this one's the apocalypse now. But you don't believe in God, do you? Because right now, there's no point. No higher being can stop him now."
The many Zion residents were silenced as Neo sighed an angry sigh. "Don't try and be fooled again." He left the stand and stormed back to his cabin. Lock turned to Trinity and glared at her, as though she had somehow influenced him. She looked through grey eyes to her black shoes and tugged at a loose thread on her jumper. Morpheus muttered to himself and exited the hall, as many of the hoards were doing. Commander Lock shouted profanities and left gesturing about Neo's "absurd" performance.
Absurd, but true and to the point. Trinity thought as she led the N2's remaining crew back to the ship.
"Neo?" Trinity whispered comfortingly as she slipped through the metal door to his bedroom. There he was- lied on the bed, facing the wall and looking most uncomfortable. Trinity gave a sad sigh and sat on the bed, stroking his head. "Why did you do that today? Morpheus didn't want anyone to panic. He knew that was what should be said, but he couldn't do it."
"Well, I could." Neo replied hotly, not budging. He could be so stubborn sometimes- it upset Trinity to see him like this, and she hated his bad moods.
"Neo, we can't worry them too much." Trinity sighed again, looking at him with desperation. "We know it's coming, but we can't let them know. Zion will break without them, and we can't keep them under control and hold off Smith at the same time, can we?"
Neo didn't respond to this, but he didn't have time anyway as Morpheus entered the cabin.
"I can go if you want to speak to Neo." Trinity stood up, about to exit.
"No Trinity- I need to speak to you both." Morpheus sat down in a nearby chair and a little surprised, Trinity sat down on the bed again. Neo still refused to shift.
Morpheus wore a stern look, but there was a trace of worry and urgency in his face. "The Council of Elders want someone to go into the Matrix to do some undercover work. It's something we haven't tried before, but we think it's worth a shot. They use it in the Matrix and it's quite successful."
"Let me guess." Neo interrupted. "They want me to go?"
"No, actually." Morpheus shook his head. He had expected this reaction. "The council want Trinity to go."
