AUTHOR'S NOTE: ONCE AGAIN I DO NOT OWN THESE CHARACTERS! ENJOY!
A woman dressed in a black spandex Catwomanish suit quickly got on her motorcycle and sped after Anthony. She finally caught up with him in a very upscale bar and restaurant. She watched him go inside and made a call. "Operator." the voice said. "I need a change of clothes. A black designer dress, something classy." "Got it, just a moment," the voice on the other end said. Then her clothes sparkled with light and changed shape into a Doir original. She also received a small purse to match. "Going in." she stated. When she went in she walked up to the bar where Anthony stood waiting for a drink. She could see he was tense and upset. She ordered a drink and as she spoke Anthony noticed she was there. She said, " It's been a rough day and it isn't even over yet." She slid closer to him and extended her hand. "My name is Trinity and you are, if I am not mistaken...Anthony." Anthony was surprised at this and raised his eyebrow. His eyebrows were slightly pointed, almost like an elf's. His jet black hair which was short yet sheepdoggish in style. He normally had it slicked back in a part but because of the fight had come loose and now it was wavy and hanging partly in his face. He was pale and now he looked almost like a ghost. He kind of looked like Gomez Addams because he was wearing his black pin striped suit. He now looked Trinity up and down and he actually appeared tired for a second. Then the bartender handed him his drink and he swallowed it at first hurriedly, then he stopped and seemed to compose himself and took another swallow and gave Trinity a gesture which she took to mean, he wanted her to continue. Trinity got her drink and drank from it first. "I know who you are and I'd like to arrange a meeting for you with a...very important man. He can give you what you need and what you want."
"What I need..." Anthony thought,"Is to be left alone right now." Anthony hated to admit to himself but he was shaken up by the events this early afternoon, since it was now 2:00 in the afternoon and he was exhausted. First the deal fell through and then...the agents. Oh, how he wished he could be free from them and more importantly, to get rid of them! But Anthony knew he could not get rid of them. It had taken them this long to find him, he should feel lucky but..."What you want" Trinity had said. "What I want...what I REALLY want...is Dylan!" With that thought, Anthony ground his jaw and stared off into space.
"If you come with me now, he would be free to talk business," Trinity said. She then slid her hands around his arm to coax him into leaving with her. He seemed not to like the gesture but he got up anyway.
"Just another job..."Anthony thought. "Maybe this time, nothing will go wrong." He got out a pad of paper and wrote on it. "Who are we going to see?"
"Morpheus," Trinity answered. Anthony got agitated. What should he do? Morpheus was the name of the man the agents seemed to be concerned about. It was like they were almost afraid of him. They REALLY wanted him and Anthony just HAD to know why! He might be the key to it all. "Are you coming?" Trinity seemed concerned for a minute that he wasn't going to go. Anthony once again composed himself and nodded yes. "Good." They got into Anthony's car and they arrived at a seemingly deserted building. They went up the stairs and then she opened a door and gestured for Anthony to go in. He could see a man with his back to him, looking out the window. He turned and Anthony saw a black man in a very nice suit. He stood with an air of pride, like a dignitary at a high class charity event. He must certainly be someone of great importance but then why meet here? This run down old building?
"Good day to you, friend. Please sit down. I am Morpheus," Morpheus sat down in a red leather chair and gestured again when Anthony just stood there. "Please?" Anthony sat down in the other red leather chair. He stared at Morpheus but in a good way. "I have heard about you. They say your fighting skills are extrodinary. That you know all the martial arts, can shoot a gun accurately and sword fight better than most pros." At this Anthony seemed to relax a little and sit back in his chair, instead of sitting on the edge.
Anthony thought, " I guess I was wrong. He seems to be like every other client. Still...the agents... their connection to him...
"You also, if you don't mind the term...speak several languages. Do you know sign language?" Morpheus asked. Anthony nodded yes. "Good. I can understand you then. Anthony, I know what happened to you this afternoon and I'm ready to answer questions you might have...about the agents or the Matrix."
Anthony gripped the arm rests of the chair, he was obviously very upset. "What? How do you know...Why do they want you so badly?"he asked then ran his fingers through his hair and started to shake somewhat.
"It's alright, you don't have to be afraid...they can't find you here. The agents are part of the system. They protect the secret of the Matrix." Morpheus said. "The Matrix is..."
"The Matrix is all around us, it is the lie the machines feed us to keep us slaves," Anthony signed.
Morpheus actually looked amazed. "You knew that already? How? Who told you?"
"My parents. They were rebels against the system." Anthony then decided he needed a cigarette, so he pulled out his case and then offered one to Morpheus.
"They were unplugged, then? They lived in Zion?" Morpheus asked.
Anthony took a drag then asked, "No, they lived with me in the Romanian Circus. Where's this Zion? I recall it as a city in the Bible...but I know geography and don't recall any city by that name anywhere."
"That's because it's under the ground," Morpheus said. Anthony kinda shrugged with a how about that look on his face. Morpheus seemed kind of confused. "But if they were not living in Zion and they were NOT unplugged...then how did they know about the Matrix?"
"We were from the old country. Romanian gypsies with our old ways and our old knowledge. We have always known about things that others have not...herbal medicines, vampires and werewolves...it is conceivable to me that my people would know about the Matrix. Know about the false world. It would be viewed as a kind of magic to us." Anthony wondered, "Could you understand that kind of magic?"
Morpheus was silent at first then answered, "I have seen much in my life. I guess you could say that...yes, I believe in magic, in a way. What I believe is that there will come a savior to free humanity and I believe...that savior is you, Anthony."
"What? I'm confused. You think I'm what?" Anthony shook his head.
"Anthony, there is a prophecy that says that "The One" will come and that he will save humanity." Morpheus said. "You have the knowledge, the strength, the will power. Plus all the tricks you can do, like walk away from an exploding fortress unharmed, your wounds healing fast...the list goes on."
"Yes, it is true that I can do all those things and more but I'm not a savior. I'm an assassin. There was a savior that saved humanity, a long time ago and his name was Jesus," Anthony stated.
"I forget, you were raised by nuns. But Anthony you do not want to join the agents and you do not want to see innocent people enslaved do you?" Morpheus was grasping at straws. He just HAD to convince Anthony! "Then what do you fight for! Surely not money!"
"No, I fight for the children. The orphans who are just like I am...alone in the world. I work for bad men and take their money to kill even badder men, so I can take their money as well and give it to the orphanage so they can continue to help the children...to help them be happy...happy in their prison!" Anthony stood up. "The agents stupidly thought I loved only money and not people, but I DO! I care about people! I love.." Anthony stopped quickly. He shouldn't tell Morpheus about Dylan. He should keep her out of this.
"Anthony, you want to help? Well, we WANT your help. Join us and together we can make that safe world for the children. Come to the real world with me. To Zion and then you will realize just how powerful the magic is." Morpheus stood there and then picked up a red pill.
"What's that?"Anthony asked.
"You take this pill and we can find your real location and unplug you. You will be freed, Anthony! Just imagine all the good you will be able to do." Morpheus hoped he had reached him. "Or take the blue pill and when you wake up you will believe whatever you want to believe."
Anthony stood there. He wanted to believe him. He was SO tired! But he couldn't believe that being freed from the Matrix was the best way, the only way to help the others. "I'm not taking either one. I'm sorry but I can't be of help." He turned away and Morpheus grabbed him by the arm. He should not have done that as Anthony was tired and upset about the whole ordeal, so Anthony elbowed him and gave him a roundhouse kick. It sent Morpheus flying backwards onto the wall where he fell on his butt.
"Anthony! Please reconsider, if you join us, you won't have to fight alone! It's either us or them, Anthony. This is a WAR we're fighting here!" Morpheus sat there and then struggled to get up. Anthony had turned the doorknob and opened the door to leave. He had stood there frozen for a minute. "Well? What's your answer, Anthony?" Anthony turned around slowly and looked at Morpheus who had still not managed to get up after the blow he had dealt him. Anthony smiled and with no real disrespect intended...he used the universal sign language and gave Morpheus the finger.
TO BE CONTINUED!