LM begins his training with the basic hand-to-hand combat. But the only person he wanted to fight is Neo.

Chapter Notes

This fight scene is similar to the one where Neo and Morpheus fought in the first Matrix movie.

Narrative: Italics

Disclaimer: I don't own the Matrix.

Chapter 8: LM vs. Neo

The next day, LM woke up from his sleep, freshened up, and had breakfast. After getting dressed up, he heard a knock at the door. He then approached the door and opened it, only to see Morpheus at the door.

LM: Morpheus.

Morpheus: Good morning to you too LM, sleep well?

LM: Sides the fact the bed feels uncomfortable, I slept peacefully.

Morpheus: Good, follow me please.

They then walked out of LM's room and left the orphanage level. When they went up to the docks LM was wondering what's he going to do in training today.

LM: Hey Morpheus, I was wondering. What am I doing today?

Morpheus: Well, both me and Neo talked this over and thought maybe we needed to train you for your future.

LM: (in thought) Yeah, I know that. I mean I heard you guys talk about it. (talking) What type of training?

Morpheus: Just the basics that every newcomer must do.

They then entered the Nebuchadnezzar where Neo, Trinity, and Link were waiting at the main deck.

Neo: Morning LM, I trust that you had a well-deserved sleep last night.

LM: At least the beds in the Matrix are more comfortable then what you have here.

They all had some laughs after that joke, then got serious on today.

Morpheus: Now LM, for your first part of training, you going to be in hand-to-hand combat. Do you know how to fight?

LM: Well I do take lessons at the Maywood Academy of Okinawan Karate, but I'm a Blue/Green belt.

Morpheus: Well we can help you become a black belt.

LM: And how are you going to do that?

Morpheus: Simple, just sit down.

LM then looked at the chair with a hole in the headrest.

LM: Here we go again.

LM sat back on the chair as Trinity cuffed LM's feet and Link plugging the needle into LM's neck. Unlike yesterday, the needle didn't hurt LM at all. Link then sat on the chair close to the command council, looking through small diskettes.

Link: O.K. LM, let's get started. These disks are combat programs that can be downloaded into your brain. Once the download is loading up, you could have a slight rush. Here's a small demonstration.

Link then placed one of the disks into the command slot and typed a few key sequences. LM then looked up at the computer screen above his head and a picture of a 3D human body. Below it is a sign that reads, "Ju Jitsu".

LM: Ju Jitsu? Who do you think I am, Jackie Chan?

Link: (typing) Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

Link then pushed the enter button on one of the keyboards. LM suddenly a whole lot of pain that made him closed his eyes tightly and gritted his teeth. What is really happening is that Link is downloading all the information of Ju Jitsu to his brain. When it was finished, LM's eyes snapped open and was amazed to how quick he learned about one technique.

LM: Holy crap, that was amazing!

Link: I think he likes it. Do you want me to add some more?

LM: Yeah, give me some more.

Link then continues giving LM more combat downloads.

LM: When Link kept downloading the information I need for fighting, it was like a heavy wind going through my brain. For ten minutes almost every piece of fighting technique went into my brain from Tai Kwon Do to Kempo to Savate and all the way down to wrestling. It was a wonderful feeling.

Morpheus approached LM sitting on the chair, enjoying all the downloads that was processing. When it was all done, Link ended the downloads. LM opened his eyes to look at Morpheus.

Morpheus: How do you feel LM?

LM: Great, so great that I feel like whooping someone's ass.

Morpheus: Easy tiger, I have to test you before you can start fighting. Consider this a battle test.

LM: That sounds nice and all but if you don't mind, I would like to fight Neo.

Morpheus: What?

LM: I know it sounds crazy, but I think since Neo was the one that talked to me, I just want to know how tough he is.

Trinity: It looks like he's really serious.

Morpheus: I don't know if you can take on Neo. You see LM, Neo has far more experience then you and your just a rookie.

LM: I don't care; I really want to fight him.

Morpheus: Listen I understand that you have the unique fighting tactics, but that doesn't mean you can-

Neo: He can battle me.

Morpheus: (looking at Neo) Excuse me?

Neo: If he thinks he can take me on, he can do it. Like I said before, LM is special.

Morpheus then looked at LM then looked back at Neo.

Morpheus: If you want to fight with LM, that's fine by me. But when you're done with him, I'll handle the next lesson.

Neo: Very well. (looking at LM) Are you ready LM?

LM: As ready as I can be.

They soon both entered into the Matrix and were inside a Japanese Dojo with padding on the ring floor, wooden columns around the ring, and a small temple shrine at the back of the dojo. In the ring, LM and Neo were facing each other. LM was wearing a white karate uniform with a white belt (Even though he has all the moves in his mind.) while Neo was wearing black karate uniform with a black belt with a thin red line in the middle.

Neo: Welcome to the sparing program. This area is somewhat similar to the Matrix. But like the Matrix, there are some rules that can be broken. One of them is gravity; the way you have to do that is to focus on what you see. Do you understand it so far?

LM gave a nod.

Neo: Good, now let's begin. Now this here is a simple task that anyone can do. If you can hit me then you'll pass this course.

LM: That's it? All I have to do is give you one punch and it's all over? Sounds easy.

Neo: Well since you like it, then give me your best shot.

LM somersaulted backwards and used his arms and legs to perform a low karate stance. Neo did his signature stance and did his "Bring it on" gesture. They stayed like that for a while until they charged in and start the fight. LM started with a few punches high and low, but Neo blocked them all with a couple of outside and inside blocks. Neo then performed a quick spin sweep with his foot but LM jumped flipped backwards and landed on the other side, doing another stance.

LM: This is going to be a lot harder then I thought.

Back in the real world, Morpheus, Trinity, and Link were at the control council watching the action on one of the monitors.

Link: You think he can pass this course Morpheus?

Morpheus: Who knows? Neo succeeded in this course last time; perhaps LM would do the same thing, if he doesn't get ahead of himself.

Back in the Matrix, LM charged right in and started a double jump kick as Neo's face. Neo however did a double high block to protect his face. As soon as LM landed, Neo jump and did a spinning kick while flying. LM stepped back and did multiple blocks to prevent the kicks from connecting. LM then did a straight punch to Neo's face, but Neo dodged it, grabbed his outstretched arm, and threw LM with an arm drag. LM was thrown to the floor but he jumped back up and went on the attack by turning around, charged, and did a clothesline. Neo bended backwards to dodge the clothesline and bended right back up. LM noticed he missed Neo, so he decides to take the offences. He continued running to the wooden pillar, jumped on it, and continued running up the pillar like gravity. He then jumped up off the pillar and did a somersault flip down to the ground. What he didn't know is that Neo was watching him coming down. When LM turned around to face Neo, Neo surprised him by a double fist to LM's chest, sending him flying to the other end smashed through another wooden pillar. After the hit, LM slowly got up and looked at Neo with a confused look on his face.

Neo: Not bad LM, not bad. You have the strength, the speed, and the courage. But there is one thing that your lack, and that's concentration.

LM: How the hell could I concentrate when you are moving too fast?

Neo: Do you think me moving faster is the reason why I beat you?

LM: Uh…

Neo: The reason why I beat you is that I believed that I could do whatever I need to do. What you have to do is to believe in yourself, concentrate on throwing a punch at me. Understand?

LM nodded.

Neo: Alright, let's try this again.

They did different stances waiting for the right moment. They then started attacking each other with an arsenal of punches, kicks, and blocks. Back in Zion, the others kept watching the fight in the monitor and noticed that LM is faster then the last fight.

Link: Jesus, look at the way he's moving, much faster then last time.

Morpheus: Let's see if he can pass this course.

Back in the Matrix, Neo and LM continued their combat. LM did a front kick and a spinning back kick, but Neo blocks both of them. Neo then did a double punch at LM's chest like last time. LM just held out his opened hands and grabbed Neo's fists and squeezed it tight. LM quickly put his feet on Neo's body and somersaulted away from Neo. He then landed on his hands and did break dancing kicks on Neo's head. Neo blocked them all, laid low, and did a sweep with his legs to take down LM's hands. LM saw it coming, so he quickly jumped off the floor seconds before the sweep happened. He flipped over Neo and landed behind him giving him a sweep of his own. Neo jumped up with his legs open sideways, landed back down, and did a spinning high kick. LM bended backwards to avoid the kick and did a spinning high kick of his own. Neo ducked under the kick and performed high low punch a few times, but LM just blocked them with high low blocks. Neo then jumped up, landed on the pillar, and jump off it for an aerial torpedo kick. LM then jumped off the floor the same time Neo implanted the floor with his foot. With Neo's foot stuck in the floor, LM landed on another wooden pillar and launched off it to finish the fight. Neo finally broke free, but it was too late, as LM turned upside down, grabbed Neo's karate uniform by the shoulders, and threw Neo to the floor. LM then finished it off with a fist straight to Neo's face. Neo thought it was over until LM stopped his fist inches away from Neo's face and had a smile on his face.

LM: So, did I pass?

Neo: Yeah, it looks like you passed this course.

Meanwhile in Zion, the crewmembers were amazed to see what happened.

Link: I can't believe it. I'd never seen Neo beaten by a newcomer like LM.

Trinity: He just got lucky, that's all.

Morpheus: I don't think its luck. Perhaps Neo is right, maybe LM is special. (looking at Link) Link, I want you to jack me into the Matrix.

Meanwhile in the Matrix, LM helped Neo up after the battle.

Neo: Thanks.

LM: Don't mention it.

Neo: You were pretty good during the fight, I'm impressed.

LM: Thanks. It is like you said; all I had to do is to believe in myself.

Morpheus: And you made us believe.

Both Neo and LM turned to see Morpheus in his signature suit, walking up to them.

Morpheus: You certainly pulled all the stops in fighting Neo, LM.

LM: I didn't pull all the stops Morpheus, I just accepted a challenge. A challenge in which I wanted to fight Neo and I did.

Morpheus: I see. Neo, do you mind leaving us, I'll handle it from here.

Neo: Fine. (patting LM on the shoulder) Good luck LM.

Neo walked back disappear in code.

Morpheus: You were able to pass the combat course, but let's see if you can pass the next one. Link, load the Jump program.

That's the end of chapter eight. To tell you the truth, I do take karate classes at the Maywood Karate School and I'm a Green/Brown belt. I'm hoping to get the Brown belt sometime after the New Year. Please Review, and Happy New Year y'all!