Disclaimer: If you recognize it, it's not mine.

Chapter 9

"Absolutely not. It's out of the question." Commander Lock paced angrily in front of his desk. He had been under more stress in the last week than in the last five years combined. The council had asked that he put together a ground force to keep the peace inside the walls of Zion, monitor the passages for rebel meetings, quell any potentially out of control demonstrations. His men hated the task, being forced to spy on their neighbors. And the citizens felt it was a violation, a punishment for the possible deeds of some outrageous sect. Of course Lock himself was not entirely convinced that any sort of sabotage had occurred at all, but being an experienced leader he knew that all that was needed for an uprising was the planting of a seed of doubt and fear.

That said, all of his fleets were being asked to increase rescues, to leave their families and loved ones for an unspecified amount of time. What made these two any more important than all the others who feared for the safety of their children? Naturally he knew the answer to that question before he had even finished formulating it; he was the One, or so everyone believed.

"The child is at risk here," Morpheus continued. "She was poisoned."

"We don't know that for certain."

"We do."

"No, we don't!" Lock pounded his fist in frustration causing the desk to shake violently. "The matter is under investigation."

"You can't expect them to leave her like this."

"I heard she was doing much better."

"She is still in danger. Even if you do not believe that, they do. They will not leave her."

"They have a duty to the people of Zion. They are needed."

"They are needed by their child as well. They have a duty to keep her safe." Morpheus rose as Lock moved to the other side of the desk and finally sat, slouched in his chair. "Think of it this way," the captain continued, "she's not merely a child, not necessarily. Being Neo's daughter it is very possible that she too is somehow… special."

"Only the religious assembly believes that."

"Yes but how many of your own men are part of that assembly. They will understand."

Lock considered his argument. As much as he would like to deny it, Morpheus was right, no one would blame him for allowing this favor. It was against military rules of course, having a child aboard a ship. It could be dangerous with so much for her to get into. She could hurt herself, and who would libel for such a thing? And she would almost certainly be a distraction.

"Who would watch her? When both her parents are inside, you as well. You still have only one operator."

"Nysa is a rather mature child."

"But a child none the less."

Morpheus considered this. "The boy, the one known as Kid, has asked to join our crew. I have been considering for some time bringing him on as the chief mechanic. He would not enter the Matrix of course, since he has no training."

"And you think he would be willing to join the Nebuchadnezzar as a babysitter?"

"As a mechanic, I do think he'd be willing. And when no one was available to keep an eye on Nysa, I believe he would be willing to help with that as well."

"I don't like it Morpheus. It's dangerous, for your entire crew. And it sets a precedent. The city is in unrest, and I fear things will only get worse. There may come a time when other military personnel will wish to bring their families with them to keep them safe also. That's not what our ships are built for."

"I understand, but Trinity and Neo are not simply other military personnel, even you must admit that. If you are serious about freeing so many from the Matrix, then you must know that we need them. And they will not leave here without their daughter."

Lock fumed. He had spent years making decisions regarding how to defend the city against machine-led attacks. He could put together a plan for preemptive strike in his sleep. Choices concerning the positioning of ships or arming of personnel were ones he had made on a daily basis. But these kinds of decisions, ones that had the potential to pit man against man, soldier against soldier, he was not used to.

"Fine," he relented. "It's your ship, bring aboard who you like. It is of course to your detriment. I assume that as captain of the Nebuchadnezzar you will take full responsibility for all those on board?"

"Just as I always have."

"Fair enough. Tell them they can bring her along, for now at least, until the mystery surrounding her infection has been solved."

"And have there been any leads on that subject?" Morpheus inquired.

"No, there have not. I still remain unconvinced that she was poisoned at all, just as her physician does. Even if she was, it could have been anyone at any time. She came in contact with numerous people, hundreds really, just by virtue of walking the tunnels. And the virus has an incubation period of anywhere from a week to a month, so there's no way of telling when any injection may have occurred."

"If it even did at all," Morpheus added sarcastically.

"Have you anything else, Captain?" Lock spat.

"No sir, that was all I needed."

"Then perhaps you should go. I trust that with this all settled the Neb will be able to depart shortly?"

"As soon as we're given permission by the medical staff."

"That had better be pretty damn soon Morpheus."

"I imagine it will be."

"You're may go then," Lock said waving a dismissive hand at him. Morpheus turned and smiled to himself as he walked through the door. He had gotten his way yet again.