On this chapter, Morpheus and LM have a strict talk about what happened to Neo and the surviving members of the Siege must take their final stand against the machines. But of course, something's not right. The machines aren't attacking. What does this means?
Chapter Notes:
Yet a few more parts from Revolutions. This is getting a little too old, too fast. Just be glad that it's almost over.
Narrative: Italics
Disclaimer: I don't own the Matrix.
Chapter 24: The Final Stand
LM: I was shocked, confused, speechless, not sure what to believe in. Neo didn't come back, and I was upset about it. But I know that he's still keeping his promise to return. And I'm hoping that he returns safe. But I didn't know that on that day, it would the most important day of my life.
LM was standing next to Councilor Hamann's office door, all bandaged up, waiting for Morpheus to come out. What he knows so far is that Hamann and two other councilors, Dillard and West, were discussing to Morpheus, Niobe, and Roland about what transpired today. The door was locked so he couldn't tell what they're talking about. The only thing he cared about was to talk to Morpheus about Neo. Even though Morpheus told him that Neo was at the surface, he needs to know a little more. LM waited for half an hour, then the steel door opened. LM turned his face to see who's coming out. Both captains from both the Logos and the Hammers came out first, and then Morpheus came out after him. LM decided to start now while he had a chance.
LM: Morpheus.
Morpheus: (turned to look at LM) LM? What are you doing here?
LM took a deep breath and let it out.
LM: Can I talk to you for a second, alone?
Morpheus kept starring at LM knowing that something's troubling him. He then looked back at the two captains.
Morpheus: You two go without me, I'm going to have a talk with LM.
Both Niobe and Roland nodded and left them. Once it was all clear, both Morpheus and LM started talking.
Morpheus: Is there something troubling you LM?
LM: Yeah, there is something that's been bothering me as of late. You told me that Neo has gone to the surface to end this war. I need to know what really happened.
Morpheus could tell that LM wants an explanation about what happened and he won't rest until he knows everything. So he decided to tell LM everything he knows.
Morpheus: All right, I'll tell you, but you're not going to like it. You see, we were trying to find a way to get back to Zion, hoping to avoid the Sentinels. Neo came and said that he wanted to do what he must do. He wanted to take on of the ships to head to the surface. We all had our doubts but it's what he needs to do.
LM: You said that he went to the surface, but for what I know is that above is nothing but a planet filled graveyard, with the exception of the human fields and the power plant of course. What does Neo have to find that can help us win this war?
Morpheus: LM, I hate to say this but Neo is heading to the machine city, 01.
LM's mouth opened wide in shock when he heard what Morpheus said.
LM: What? Neo's heading to 01! Why wouldn't you stop him?
Morpheus: I'm sorry LM, but he has to do what's best for Zion.
LM: Yeah, but what he's doing is suicidal. From what I know from the Zion history archives is that 01 has the most impenetrable defense system. If Neo gets close to any of those defenses, he's a goner.
Morpheus: I don't think that's possible. You can imagine what Neo have done outside the Matrix. I'm pretty sure that he'll bypass the defenses and end this war. How he's going to do it, I don't know. All I know is that whatever strength he has left, he won't stop, and neither can we.
LM: But is he coming back?
Morpheus: I don't know. It could be possible he won't be able to come back alive. Even if he pass the defenses.
LM: That's not true. Neo promised that he'd be back; he's going to keep it.
Morpheus: That maybe true, but some promises are made to be broken.
LM: Bull shit! I'm not going to believe that he's not going to make it! And you should've known better then to stop him before he left.
Morpheus: There was nothing I can do. And even if I stopped him then there won't be a Zion left to return.
LM: Liar! You should've stopped him! You should've! He's coming back and no one is going to tell me that he's not going to survive!
With that, LM ran away from Morpheus.
Morpheus: LM wait!
LM kept running with tears streaming down his face.
LM: I was an emotional wreck that time. What Morpheus said was true, but it's hard to believe. Half the time I was hoping and praying that Neo would return safely. But that would change soon. Before my talk with Morpheus, Lock made a drastic decision. He ordered his soldiers to blow up the entryways from the docks to Zion, that way the rest of the machines won't get in. And with the Diggers that were shut down thanks to the EMP blast, there was no way the machines won't enter. Unfortunately, we were all wrong. Some of the machines sacrificed their energy to power up one of the Diggers. Now that they were on their way to Zion, we have to take the final stand at the entranceway of the Temple.
At the entranceway of the Temple, everyone was preparing for the final battle. Wooden and steel barricades were placed to block off the Sentinels way in, machine guns that use to be on the APUs hands were disconnected and modified for the soldiers to fire easily, and racks of EMP rifles and rocket launchers were in place for battle. While everyone was getting ready for the fight ahead, LM was sitting on the sandbag wall holding his EMP rifle and still thinking about what Morpheus said. Most of the time, he was talking to himself, repeating the same thing over and over again.
LM: (whispering) Neo's coming back. He's coming back. He made the promise. He'll be back to save us.
Kill Switch: Hey LM, what are you doing?
LM looked up and saw his team looking a little worried.
LM: Nothing, just nervous about this. You know, the machines making there way to Zion any second and we have to take them out one more time.
Silent Night: Yeah, we know. Everyone around here is getting scared about it. I can't believe it's coming down to this.
LM stood up and kept looking at his team.
Night Owl: You know, we heard you had a talk with Morpheus and you were a little upset. What happened?
LM: Morpheus told me that Neo wouldn't come back. Of course, I know that he's keeping a promise we made that he'll be back. Then I kind of got too emotional and snapped.
Max Speed: Snapped? More like exploded.
LM: Whatever, I was depressed. I thought that Neo was going to come back, but sadly I was wrong. But I'm hoping that he'll come back as soon as possible.
Kill Switch: Hoping that Neo's coming back isn't going to end this war you know.
Night Owl: Yeah, and even if he comes back, there won't be nothing but a bunch of skeletons laying on the ground.
Kid: Oh will you stop pointing out the obvious. Look LM does have point. Promise or not, Neo's coming back. But before he does, he has to end this war. I don't know how he's going to do this, but he'll do whatever it takes to fulfill this prophecy and come back. So why don't you keep your worries to yourselves!
The team was speechless of what Kid said, since he was serious for the first time. Kid quickly walked away from the team, but LM followed him.
LM: Jesus Kid, that's the first time you ever put your foot down. What happened back there?
Kid: (looking at LM) Look LM, you are a good friend and great captain. But for once, what you said to me was true.
LM: And what did I say to that made you act like someone I never seen before.
Kid: You told me to believe in myself and I did. When I heard that the Hammers were coming before Mifune died, I had to do something to save Zion from being overrun. So I piloted the APU, even though I don't have the proper training, and opened the gate to let the Hammers in. I believed that I can do what I could to save us, and I believe that Neo will save us no matter what.
LM: Spoken like a true soldier. Sounds like that you are ready for what's ahead in life, if there's going to be a life.
Kid: I wonder how Neo's going to save Zion.
LM: I don't know but he'll do whatever it takes, even if he'll be in the Matrix to do so.
Kid: I hope your right.
Suddenly they all heard a rumbling noise above the ground. The noise stopped, but then heard a crash and then an explosion on the Temple floor.
LM: What the hell was that?
The team then joined with the other two and discussed what happened.
Connecter: The Driller made in into Zion and soon the Sentinels will come.
Both LM and Kid looked at each other and then LM looked at his team.
LM: O.K. team, time to take our final stand. Report to your stations and shoot anything that gets close to the Temple.
Last Hope: Yes sir!
LM: And one more thing. It was nice having you guys as team, and I thank you for it.
Silent Night: Thank you sir. And let me be the first to say that it was an honor having you as a captain.
The rest of the team nodded at the same time as LM gave them a warm smile.
LM: Thanks guys.
They all soon had a group hug but a soldier interrupted it.
Zion soldier: Here they come!
Soon everyone was going all over the battlefield, trying to get to their stations. LM quickly gave out the word.
LM: Team, to your positions!
Just like that, Last Hope was at their positions pointing their EMP rifles and rocket launchers at the enemy. Soon enough, the Sentinels made it to Zion and some of them landed on the metal floor that leads to the temple. Everyone was ready to take them out but something unusual happened, the Sentinels just laid their, waiting for something. All the soldiers were confused about what's going on outside, even LM and his team.
Connecter: That's strange, the machines are in Zion and now they're just standing there doing nothing. Why aren't they attacking?
LM: It's possible that they're trying to mess with our heads. We'll stay here until they have a chance to strike.
Max Speed: Yeah well if we're staying here, then why's Morpheus walking towards them.
LM looked and noticed that Morpheus dropped his rifle and left his position, heading to the hoard of Sentinels.
LM: What the hell is he doing?
LM dropped his weapon and approached Morpheus.
LM: Morpheus, what the hell are you doing? If you get close to them, they are going to kill… you?
LM noticed that the Sentinels were still doing nothing, which was strange because they would've attacked by now. Half the soldiers including Niobe, Lock, and Last Hope, got out of the temple's entrance watching the Sentinels doing nothing but laying there.
Commander Lock: I just don't get it. Why won't they attack?
Everyone was confused, that was until Morpheus and Niobe knew what was going on.
Niobe: Neo.
LM turned his head to the two when he heard Neo's name.
Morpheus: He fights for us.
When LM heard about what they said, he knows one place Neo would be and headed to the elevator moving through the Sentinels that were still lying on the floor. Kid saw it and yelled out to LM.
Kid: (yelling) Captain, where are you going? Get back here!
But LM didn't listen; he kept running and jumping to the elevator. When he made it to the elevator he pushed a button and the shaft started going up. It then made it up to his floor and the metal door opened up. LM continued to run on the large catwalks as the Sentinels flew above them not attacking. After passing a few doors, he made to Last Hope's HQ and entered. He quickly looked around and found the broadcasting station that connects him and his team into the Matrix. He turned everything on and noticed that the codes in the Matrix looked a little messed up. He ignored it and entered a few key sequences to operate one of the dentist chairs. He quickly sat on it and waiting for the hacking needle to pierce his neck. Of course he and his team made the needles go automatic so it will be easy and painless for them to notice. Before the needle started, LM whispered a few words from his mouth.
LM: (whispering) Please be all right Neo.
The needle then went into his neck and LM's eyes closed as he was ready to enter the Matrix.
That's all for chapter 24. The next one's going to be a tragedy so be prepared for what's to come. Please Review.
