Trinity was the last to board the ship, hanging around a bit longer than necessary just to see if her results would come through. She was approached by Councillor Hammond as she came off the lift in the docking bay, about to leave. He took her to one side, away from the crowds of people exiting the dockings bay, heading to their ships or working on repairs. The councillor told Trinity, 'I'm sorry that I've been unable to mark and score your exams, Trinity, but I'll send them through to Morpheus within the next month.'
'Thank you,' Trinity said politely, 'I better go; my crew and captain are waiting.'
'Of course, off you go, and don't worry about these exams, everyone expects high things of you, Trinity, and I know you'll have done us proud.'
Trinity nodded in thanks, not sure whether she should now be more nervous or more comforted. She hoisted her bag back up onto her shoulder, all her things packed ready for the next three or four months, and then headed off to Neo who was waiting for her with Morpheus at the top of the Nebuchadnezzar's ramp. She handed her bag to Neo, saying, 'please can you put this in our room; I have to help up in the cockpit but I'll see you in a couple of hours.'
'Ok,' Neo said, taking the bag from her and waiting as she pecked him on the cheek before walking off.
Councillor Hammond stood watching the three people standing at the top of the ramp, and upon seeing Trinity with Neo, he noted it mentally so he could discuss this with Morpheus. He continued to watch for as long as he could until the ramp had been brought fully up and locked, ready for departure. He headed back to his chambers, finding Trinity's file he had been given and attached a piece of paper to the top with a note on, commenting on her relationship with Neo. He sat back, slowly opening he file, and began to look through her work, taking his time to make sure he made no mistakes upon marking. The same long process would have to go with the exams that she had sat, but all the results could be in by the end of the day, the only thing stopping him from sending them out to her was the oracle. He had been sent word from her, saying that no matter what the circumstances, in order to fulfil the prophesy Trinity must not receive her results until exactly one month and five days since she sat the exam. He knew that Neo was the one, although Morpheus did not bring him to the council, knowing the tests that would be run and the constant arguing over his legitimacy. He knew that Neo and Trinity were in love, which was why Morpheus was protecting them. He knew that the captain was going to gather evidence prior to standing before the Zion council, knowing that they would not believe a word he said without back up.
Two hours away from Zion was where the Nebuchadnezzar was to stop for the next couple of days, before they moved further out and spent time either staying in place or roaming. Trinity helped to land the ship with Morpheus, before Tank used to the intercom to inform them both, 'Morpheus, Trinity, the oracle has called and requests to speak to Neo.'
Morpheus picked up the system in the cockpit and replied, 'prepare both my chair and Neo's and get ready to send us in. I want to be inside the matrix within the next ten minutes.'
'Roger that, sir,' Tank's cheery voice came back.
Morpheus turned to Trinity, seeing her face stricken with held back fear, 'Trinity, it's ok, nothing will happen.'
Trinity nodded, although she wasn't convinced, and then joined Morpheus down to the core, where Neo and Tank were already waiting. Morpheus sat back in his chair, Neo did likewise, and while Tank plugged in the captain, Trinity plugged in her love. Trinity said sternly to Neo, 'you better keep safe.'
'I will,' he promised her, pulling her down for a soft kiss on the lips while no one was watching, 'I'll see you when I get back, hopefully with good news this time.'
'I'll be waiting,' Trinity told him, and then hit the load button on his screen, sending him into the construct.
Morpheus and Neo stood in the construct together, Morpheus waiting as Neo grabbed a couple of hand guns, and he himself did the same. Neo's mentor called up to Tank, 'send us in, Tank.'
Neo took several deep breaths as the world of the matrix appeared around them, letting them arrive in an abandoned shop, a phone ringing in front of them. Morpheus picked it up, 'we're in.'
'Hello, kiddo, how're you?' the oracle asked Neo as he entered her kitchen.
'I'm ok, thanks,' Neo replied politely.
'Take a seat,' the oracle instructed him.
Neo thought about it for a minute, and then decided to sit as she had told him to. He waited as she finished laying the cookies out to cool on a rack. She turned on her stool to face him. She took a good look at him and then smiled. She said, 'as you and your friends may have gathered, you are the one. I think you know that Trinity has a little something to do with that.'
Neo nodded, and then the oracle continued, 'so, have you told her how you feel? Is everything good between you two?'
'You already know the answer to your questions though, so why do you keep asking me?'
'Because otherwise this wouldn't be very good conversation,' she reasoned. 'I've never known someone as inquisitive as you, Neo, and I don't think I'll ever meet anyone like you ever again. I still want to hear it from you, Neo, are you and Trinity happy?'
'Yes, very much so,' Neo told her.
'Are you in fact in love with her? Do you see a future with her?'
'Yes, I love her with everything I have and I can only see forward with her,' Neo admitted, surprising himself at how unlike him it actually sounded, although this was entirely how he felt.
'Have you ever thought about starting a family with her?'
'No,' Neo was a little bit shocked to say the least, 'we've only admitted our true feelings a couple of weeks ago…Trinity can't have kids…' The question had brought surprise to Neo, only because he in fact had never thought about it before. He knew that he and Trinity didn't use protection, but only because she had assured him that she couldn't get pregnant. He never thought any more of it after that, I mean, after all, they had been together as a couple for a maximum of four months, and had only had a sexual relationship for the last two of those weeks at tops. This wasn't the point where Neo was meant to be thinking about starting a family, although he could see himself with Trinity for the rest of their future, but surely anyone who can admit that they love someone must see a future there. A relationship's pointless to start unless you want more, and Neo just knew that he would be more than happy to live out the rest of his life with the strong female figure that was his second in command.
'Don't be so shocked, kiddo, I was just asking, although I do have something to tell you. I don't know if you'll like what you'll hear, but I feel I must tell you, for your own good.' Now the oracle was starting with her mystics again, the speech now seemed pointless. No matter what Neo felt after he was told, he would be told, he would want to be told. The way the oracle phrased the lead up to the foresight was enticing, you'd have to be a very strong person not to be intrigued and want to learn more. How are you supposed to know how you're going to react until you've actually already heard it? Another thing that Neo noted somewhere in the back of his mind was how the oracle said that she didn't know how Neo would react, but of course, she must have seen further into the future than this point of time in order to be able to tell Neo what she was going to say, so she would have already experienced the one's reaction.
'Tell me what?' Just like any other person, Neo inquired what she wanted to tell him, not bothered by how he would feel afterward.
'Neo, Trinity will become pregnant with your child and there is no way you can prevent it, somehow I don't think you'll be able to just stay away from her; you fallen for her too hard.'
'What? When is this going to happen?' The idea didn't process properly in his mind; it wasn't the sort of thing you are told everyday, so of course how was he meant to know what to say or do?
'Next time you two sleep together, but I don't advise talking to her before hand, she might not take it well. It will happen tonight, Neo, and you can't stop it.'
'Is this all?' The initial shock was wearing off, overtaken by anger. He didn't know what he felt like, he would be pleased, but what about Trinity? She probably didn't want a kid, it wasn't right at this time; they were in the middle of a war. But how could Neo stop it from happening? No matter what he said or did, this was going to take place. It's that feeling that Neo hated. That Fate crap. Anyone else who was put in Neo's position could see where he was coming from with his hate of fate. Who really wanted to have their whole life already laid out in front of them, unable to change it? From the moment you were born that was who you were sentenced to be, even before you were born though. Before you were in the womb, before you were two separate parts of a jigsaw in two different people, before those people were in the womb, before they were parts of a jigsaw, before their parents were in the womb, before they were parts of a jigsaw… it could go on for ever and it did in fact, right back to the beginning.
'Yes, I'm sorry if that wasn't the news you wanted. Here, have a cookie.'
Neo accepted a cookie sourly, and then said his goodbyes, leaving the room in search of Morpheus. The cookie tasted as sour as his thoughts, he couldn't believe that this woman could just do this to people and not give a shit. It wasn't right, didn't she feel any remorse?
Morpheus sensed that Neo was in a state of confusion and anger, so did not press him for anything, preferring he found it inside himself to talk. Neo remained silent though, walking along side Morpheus to the nearest exit. The calls were made and both men were brought back to the real world. Neo sat up slowly after Trinity had unplugged him. She searched for meaning in his angered eyes, but couldn't see past the barricade he had built. He didn't want to hurt her, he didn't want to upset her, and he didn't want her to know this yet.
Trinity said quietly, still looking into his eyes, 'Neo?'
Neo allowed a wall of his defense to fall, opening up a little bit more to her. He smiled at her, trying to reassure her. He told her quietly, 'I'm the one.'
Trinity hugged him, knowing this wasn't his secret, she asked in a whisper, 'what's the matter, Neo?'
He buried his face in her shoulder trying to hold back the tears that were now forming. He wasn't upset, but he was scared, he didn't know where he was going or what he was doing. He only knew that he had the full ability to hurt Trinity, to make her vulnerable, to make himself vulnerable, and he didn't want that. The tears started to flow Trinity could do nothing but hold him tighter. She slowly directed him out of the room as their captain looked on, standing next to their operator.
Neo and Trinity were given time off for a while, allowing Neo to pull his thoughts together in the company of Trinity, who sat silently and comforted him as much as she could. Neo cried for a bit, and then he lay back on the bed next to Trinity, hugging her as he thought things over, but he kept bringing back bad ideas into his mind quite by accident. He thought of the woman who lay in his arms, knowing that the same time tomorrow she'd be carrying his child inside her.
Trinity asked, 'do you want to talk?'
Neo turned to see her face, showing her the fear in his eyes, letting her know that as much as he'd love to talk to her he just couldn't bring himself to do it. Trinity nodded in understanding, letting it drop, 'if you ever need to talk to me, Neo, I'm here for you. I want you to know that.'
Neo hugged Trinity tighter to his chest, feeling her relax in his arms, sort of melt inside. He just felt comforted by her presence, and wanted to stay like that forever. They lay together on their bed for quite sometime, just remaining in each others arms.
Later on there came a knock at the door, and after being called through, Mouse entered. He said, wide eyed, 'Trinity, Morpheus requests that if you are both up to it now that you take your shift together before breaking for the night.'
'Thank you, Mouse, we'll be through in the core in a minute,' Trinity replied, watching as the door squeaked shut again. Neo's grip around Trinity loosened, and they stood up. Trinity stopped him before he got to the door, 'Neo, are you sure you're ok?'
'I'll be fine, Trin,' Neo told her, standing before her looking lost and helpless. Trinity held her arms out to him, and he soon joined her in an embrace. Once finished they headed to the core, ready for their shift.
As the hours grew later and later Neo was becoming more and more nervous, knowing what was to happen soon between him and Trinity. The rest of the crew had left to return to their quarters by now. The only people that were up would be Cypher and Apoc, both on night shift after Neo and Trinity. Soon Apoc would be appearing to relieve them, but even that didn't stop them from catching sight of what was going on in front of them.
Each second they watched on their mouths became drier and drier, but they felt unable to stop watching. Neo knew where this would lead to, but still, he couldn't help it. They watched the couple that had just arrived back from some piss up. They were obviously completely out of their heads with alcohol, unable to think straight. They rushed into the bedroom, stripping off their clothes, and then they were straight down on the bed having very passionate sex.
Neo and Trinity could feel the heat radiating off of each other, and the sexual friction between them couldn't help but be noticed. Trinity noted the time, knowing that Apoc would be here soon, so she got up, taking Neo's hand and dragging him away after zooming out of the scene they had stumbled upon. She quickly pulled Neo into a fiery kiss, blowing his mind away. He was slow to respond, but it was worth it when he did. They continued in the darkness of the core, kissing passionately, before Trinity broke the kiss to drag him back to their quarters.
Although the sex was as silent as they could make it, the fire was roaring more than ever. The first hit was enough to drive them both insane, thinking that they couldn't move for a least a couple of days, but their exhaustion was quickly overcome as they stepped back in the ring for a second round.
Each time they came back for more, totaling in seven sessions that night before both falling asleep, unable to go on.
Neo woke up first the next morning, cursing quietly to himself as he remembered what he had let happen. He couldn't tell Trinity of what he had done though; he couldn't tell her that she was pregnant. He could hope that the oracle was wrong or that she had lied; he couldn't face the truth. The woman that lay in bed with him was pregnant with his child. He looked up at the ceiling just in time to see the lights flickering on, telling him by their timings that it must have been about 6 AM. Trinity woke up as the lights were coming on. She sat up next to Neo, holding the sheets around her. She blinked heavily, trying to hold up the sheets in one hand whilst combing back her messy hair with her fingers of the other hand. She sighed heavily about forgetting to change the settings for the lighting in their room. On board the ships, the lights were used as a wake up call, and you could set them to whatever time you needed to be up at. Trinity felt Neo's hand against the small of her back, rubbing her lightly there.
She turned and smiled at him, taking a good look at his chest, loving waking up like this with him, apart from the obvious risk of someone walking in and discovering them. She suggested, 'maybe we should go for a shower.'
'Good idea,' Neo said, helping Trinity up, grabbing some clean clothes for them both as they walked through to the bathroom. Trinity got the hot water running, and then pulled Neo in with her. They each washed themselves, washing their hair as well, removing all signs of last night's events.
Morpheus was in the core, on the phone to Councilor Hammond. The councilor had phoned that morning wanting to speak to Morpheus about three things; Neo and Trinity's relationship, Trinity's results, and Neo being the one. Morpheus was willing to talk, eager to find out how his second in command had done.
'Morpheus, one thing that I hold of major importance is your discovery of the one. Although you have not brought it to council, I know that you believe you have found him in your latest freed man, Neo,' the councilor started.
'That is right, Councilor, I hope you can understand my reasoning for not bringing him forward yet though. The oracle has confirmed that he is the one, but I know that many of the council are non believers, so it thought it wise to gather evidence first,' Morpheus explained.
'It is well though out, Morpheus, and I credit you for it, but I'd just like to say, that I am a believer in him and I will support your claim all the way.'
'Thank you councilor,' Morpheus said.
'That's quite alright. Moving on, I have Trinity's results, but after being told by the oracle not to let her know until a further month, I must not let her have them. If you wish to know them I may tell you, but in order to protect the one, you can't tell her.'
'It would help me to know, just so I could prepare her in anyway if necessary, though I promise on my life not to tell her. The oracle must have reason for them not to be passed on, and no matter what the reason I will understand that.'
'Good, well, as you know, Trinity was offered the change to become a captain, all she had to do was take these exams and complete the paperwork set. I've always expected high things of her, but she has astounded even me. In each exam she managed to get full marks and for her paperwork she received full marks as well. Upon further discussion with the council, we decided it would be unsuitable for her to receive a captainship, so she has been offered the chance to be a commander. She would be in control of all maintenance and construction in Zion, including the electrics, the ship repairs, the way in which the academy teaches electronics and construction. But also she would be in charge of al programming used on board the ships, able to designate the programs to use in training. As you know, Morpheus, the opportunity for her here is enormous; she would be straight in line for a place on the council.'
'I don't know what to say in reply, all I can say is that I've never been prouder in my life. I know she will be happy to hear the news, but there's one problem with this offer, since we left Zion in search of the one…'
'She has fallen in love with, Neo, and you don't think she'll leave him.'
'It is true that she has fallen in love, but I'm not sure that the problem is that she won't leave, the problem is that she will leave. Trinity was told by the oracle that she would fall in love with the one, hence why she fell in love with Neo, who loves her back very much, but Trinity's love is what makes Neo the one. Although Neo is the one without her, he will refuse to believe it and so Zion will fall. Maybe this is the reasoning behind the oracle's advice to you.'
'Something must happen within the next month; else she will leave the Nebuchadnezzar and Neo behind, not understanding what she is doing. She may be able to last, or think that she can last, for a few days, but she will soon miss him dearly, and by that time it would be too late.'
'I will see what happens, and maybe everything will work out. It all depends on Trinity's decision, so let us just hope she makes the right one.'
'Inform me when she has decided, Morpheus.'
'I will, councilor.'
'Goodbye Captain, and keep safe on you journeys.'
'Thank you, councilor.' Morpheus waited as Councilor Hammond put the phone down before he did just the same.
Neo and Trinity reported to the core after having their breakfast. This would be their last shift taken together for a couple of days, seeing as they couldn't be together all the time, and Trinity would be working a couple of night shifts. Morpheus was waiting when they arrived, and he informed them that they would be going into the construct and testing the latest programmed equipment; one of the best shifts that could be offered to anyone.
Whilst testing the equipment with Trinity, Neo decided he would try out some of his powers, switching his view to see the coding he started ending the code to see what the extents to his ability were so far along the line of life as the one. Mouse was soon sent in to help Trinity whilst Neo continued to work in his own little world of being the open. For some time Mouse and Trinity just watched Neo, but they soon got back to their work, occasionally surprised by some of the stuff that he could do. Sometimes he was flying around, others he was making things appear as if by magic in his hand, and at other points he seemed to be fighting no one, just seeing how fast he could move.
Neo stopped about ten meters in front of Trinity, telling her, 'Trin, shoot me.'
'What!' Mouse sounded shocked as shocked as Trinity as the exclaimed in unison.
'Please,' Neo said, persisting.
Trinity picked up her hand gun anxiously, holding it with an unsteady hand, pointing it at him. She fired one bullet, sending it straight at the man she loved. Neo held out one hand, making in stop in front of him, leaving both other rebels in shock, watching as he made the bullet fly around and then eventually drop to the floor.
'Right, Mr. Smart Ass,' Trinity said upon seeing Neo's smug look, 'dodge this.' She fired three more bullets directly at Neo, and as she had instructed him to do, he dodged them, not stopped them, just bent his body to move around them.
She grabbed a machine gun next, waiting until he was stood back up and ready, and then releasing a whole round at him. He stooped every bullet, about a meter in front of him. Once Trinity had stopped shooting, Neo lowered the bullets to the floor.
The three of them awoke again in the core to see that everyone had been crowded around the screens, watching what was going on. Dozer unplugged each of them, allowing them to get up from their chairs. Everyone was staring at Neo, apart from Trinity, who had found sudden fake interest in her boots. Neo stood still, unsure what to say or do. It was Tank who broke the awkward silence, 'shit, Neo, I knew you could do some stuff but that shit was bloody excellent.'
'Jesus, I'll ever know how you can do all that,' Cypher breathed, 'it's truly unbelievable.'
'You just turned up several notches on the super and phreaky scale,' Apoc said, completed by Switch, 'congratulations.'
Morpheus dismissed Neo, 'go on, Neo, go get some rest now, you've earned it. You too, Trinity.'
Neo nodded, leading Trinity out of the core. Trinity's usual confidence came back to her as they entered the mess hall to get some goop quickly before going back to bed for a couple of hours. Neo would be due to take a shift in the afternoon before her evening shift, and they both wanted to spend as much time with each other as possible. Trinity was unsure how to react to what had gone on in the construct. She was in a strange position; considering that she and Neo were romantically involved and she had always emphasized how much she believed in him, but now he had proved himself and she didn't know what to do.
The words slowly came to her as they were eating together. She told him, 'I'm proud of you, Neo…'
She was cut off by him reaching for her hand across the table, taking it into his won ad squeezing lightly, thanking her silently, showing that no words were needed; he already knew how she felt.
