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

Author's Note: Sorry about taking so long, I know the chapters seem to be coming fewer and further between, but bare with me. I'll try to post the next one soon. Meantime, please continuing reviewing as your previous one have been greatly appreciated.

Chapter 17

For two days Nysa did not speak. Her parents barely whispered. Livi's parents only cried. The rest of Zion however could not muster such silent solemnity. For someone to be killed during a Temple gathering was not only a horrific crime, but entirely blasphemous as well. All of Zion was outraged, even those who supported the rebel cause could not fathom how such an act could be perpetrated. The New Resistance of course denied any responsibility, saying they had no plans to attack anyone, least of all some young innocent girl. Most did not believe them, after all the attack did follow a very inflammatory speech opposing the resistance, one that everyone knew would likely lead to some sort of violent outburst. But no one, from either side assumed responsibility, nor did they provide the authorities with any information.

For the rebels the military was the enemy, so naturally they refused to lend any aid in their investigation, claiming that they would look into the matter themselves. And they did. Everyone inside the New Resistance was asked if they had any knowledge of the crime. Certain individuals who were suspected of acting on their own and swaying the mission of the group were effectively browbeaten for information. But the Council could not see past their refusal to cooperate with the official investigation and encouraged the belief that this was proof of their guilt.

As for the assailant himself, he was found later that same night, throat cut, in one of the catacombs where the rebel rallies often took place. No one knew of his affiliation, whether he favored the resistance or the Council, in fact few people knew anything of him at all. He had been one of the first pulled from the Matrix since the peace began some 16 years ago. Growing up an orphan, then choosing to work alone as an engineering assistant, he kept mostly to himself, forging no real ties with anyone in Zion. His death, of course, was quite suspicious. Some thought he was killed because he had acted alone, possibly putting the group's mission in jeopardy. Others wondered if he did not act alone at all, but was told to kill the girl that night, then was himself killed so as to ensure his silence.

For Neo, the identity of the killer did not matter nearly as much as the identity of the intended victim. No one had really seen the murder take place, seen the assailant lunge at Nysa, the knife just missing her as she slipped and fell to the ground. As a result, most people thought that Olivia was the target, or if not specifically her any innocent person in the crowd. But Neo had seen it all, not then of course, there were far too many people surrounding him as he ran, but in his mind's eye, as he stood above the dancing crowd watching a stranger approach his daughter. He did not just sense it, feel that there may be trouble, as Trinity believed he had, he truly saw it. Only in his vision, Nysa was stabbed, just as the man clearly had intended. He did not tell anyone this though, not Trinity, he didn't want her to worry, not Link, he had too much on his mind now anyway, and certainly not Nysa who would naturally blame herself, feeling guilty for her friend falling in her place. It was not until Livi's remains were interred and things began to calm down a bit that he spoke of it, confessing to Morpheus and Niobe as Trinity sat seemingly not at all surprised.

"That is possible," Morpheus said after Neo finished telling them about his theory, about Nysa being the real target.

"It's more than just a possibility," he countered. "Someone wants my daughter dead and I want to know who."

"And why," interjected Trinity.

"Someone wanted her dead ten years ago too," Niobe began. "We never solved that one. Now it's coming back to bite us."

"The same person?"

"Or group."

"That is an awfully long grudge to hold against a little girl," Morpheus commented.

Neo turned his back sullenly before speaking. "They don't have a grudge against her."

"You can't just assume it's about you," Trinity said, causing him to turn again and face her.

"What then?"

"Maybe," Morpheus began slowly, contemplating his next words, carefully compiling his thoughts. "Maybe it is Nysa. Maybe there is something about her we are not aware of."

"What do you mean?"

"Perhaps others believe she is important, or will become important in this next revolution. If it is believed that she is meant to fight on one side, even somehow lead them to victory, then it would stand to reason that the opposing side would want her dead."

"Even as a child? That's barbaric," Niobe commented. "Besides, the New Resistance and the Liberators hadn't even formed yet when she was first attacked."

"But the seeds had been planted."

Trinity shifted uncomfortably while refilling her cup. "Maybe people want her dead because they think she's not human, not playing for our side." Neo gave her a disgusted look from across the table and she winced. "I'm not saying…I know she's human. But I also know what others have said from the time she was born. They've always suspected there was more to our return, that we sent back by the machines for some reason."

"That is true," Morpheus considered. "It may have nothing at all to do with the new revolution. People may not trust her because they fear she was sent, perhaps even created by the machines. If they think she is here to do their bidding or in some way act on their behalf, of course they want her gone."

"So what do we do?" asked Niobe.

Trinity glanced sidelong at the closed bedroom door that had kept Nysa shut off from all others for the past few days. She had not left her room since returning to their apartment that fateful night. Trinity had helped her wash off Livi's blood and change into clean clothes, and Neo had quietly tucked her into bed just as he had when she was a small child, and she had barely risen since. "She's safe here. She hasn't even left her room, so I'm not too worried about someone attacking her now."

"At this point," Neo added solemnly, "I'm more concerned about her starving."

"Well," said Niobe as she rose from the table, "you just take care of your daughter and we'll handle the rest."

Morpheus followed Niobe's lead as she headed for the door. "We will figure this out. And we will ensure that Nysa remains safe," he said before exiting.

Trinity and Neo sat in their quiet apartment, both looking down pensively, focusing on nothing at all. This is how they had been spending most of their time lately, thinking, worrying, mourning. With the Neb currently interred and their jobs on hiatus, the couple had plenty of time to wallow and grieve, not only for Olivia, but for all of Zion, which they feared was headed down a miserable path. It was, of course, entirely normal for Neo to behave this way, living inside his head, contemplative, introspective. Trinity however found this way of life simply depressing. She wanted to do something, needed to. A friend was dead, her daughter in jeopardy, her people at each other's throats, and all she could do was sit and mope.

"I'm going to see if she needs anything," she said, rising quickly from the table, determination in her voice.

"Yeah," he responded, then looked up at her with red eyes. "See if she'll eat."

She nodded, grabbing a small basket of sweets that Link had sent home with her. The remembrance ceremony had been earlier that day and the grieving family was overloaded with various offerings, primarily foods. Nysa was noticeably absent. Heartbroken, traumatized, those were the words floating around. As difficult as he found it to see past the blinding pain of loss, Link still recognized that Nysa was hurting, and so he made a small though heartfelt gesture collecting the pieces of food he knew she would enjoy most and instructing Trinity to give them to her.

"Nys," she said softly, tapping on the door as she entered the dark room.

Nysa felt the side of the bed sag as her mother perched on the edge. She feigned sleep just as she had been doing for days. Eventually, after hours of lying utterly still, she was able to trick her body into sleeping, but only for moments at a time. Though she remained motionless, eyes tightly shut, Trinity knew that this was not one of those brief moments of rest. Trying not to overtly disturb her, she sat quietly, using the pad of her thumb to trace lines across her daughter's forehead. The touch was soft and gentle, just as Nysa had remembered it from years ago when she was tucked in again after a nightmare or being sick.

Sick. She remembered it all only vaguely, being so ill those many years ago, having all the adults looming over her, expressions of concern consuming their faces. She knew of course that someone had made her sick, her parents told her that much, more in an attempt to get information than to encourage her to look out for herself. That was long ago and at that time she was not expected to take care or herself, her parents were responsible for that. Now things were different. Someone still wanted to hurt her and despite being old enough and more than capable, in her estimation at least, of protecting herself, she managed to let her guard down, and Livi had paid the price.

She turned slowly, the mattress creaking beneath her, and looked up into her mother's eyes. It was still dark in the room and she could only barely make out the familiar lines and curves of her face, but she could tell Trinity was smiling at her, a sad smile though it may have been, and it comforted her, if only a little.