Sorry it's so short (and boring, maybe) but I have just recovered from an awful temperature, so now I feel a wreck, my head still aches a little. I apologise if the chapter doesn't satisfy you, and I promise the next will be more interesting!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Matrix, nor his characters, that's why I'm depressed (apart from the temperature)

Mind Games

Chapter6: He's coming

It was dark and empty there. And damp. Perfect. One of my favourite places... he mused, glancing distractedly at his four companions.

One of the hyenas was wallowing in the water and in the mud. Another was running around, chasing a little animal. A mouse, probably. But the other two were grumbling, pacingup and down, obviously annoyed.

"Quiet, my dear friends. Here we are. Very soon we'll go hunting..." he paused, inhaling deeply trough his nose. "... to everyone his own prey."

"Morpheus... you can't go in." Neo continued, lowering his tone, since he had been practically shouting. He ignored their astonished stares.

"The program... he has read my mind and now he knows everything I know! What if he manages to read Morpheus' mind? He could learn things that even we don't have to know..."

They understood immediately what he was talking about. Like every leader of a ship, Morpheus knew the codes to Zion's mainframe computer, which could be accessed only through the Matrix. They were used just if there was a real emergency.

Neo still remembered Tank's words:

"If an agent had those codes and got inside Zion's mainframe, he could disable the whole defence system. And it would be the end of everything."

"What assures us that he doesn't have any contact with the agents?"

Morpheus was silent for a while. He's right... but what if he isn't ready to face this such an enemy?... maybe I'll intervene if he or Trinity are in danger... I can't risk Zion's safety, but I don't want to risk their lives...

If Morpheus was in a momentary restless musing, Neo wasn't less than him. It would be better if Morpheus didn't come in, so the program would concentrate on me...

Silly human... he isn't my objective and you know it... just admit you want her not to come...

Trinity... no, no. No.

No? Do you really think she will be safe?

I won't leave her alone...

It isn't enough, remember, it isn't enough, when you're against me ... and even the fact you're with her could be a danger for you and her...

I... I...

You what...?You will ask her to stay here? You know perfectly she won't...

Neoturned to Trinity, biting his lower lip. He knew she wouldn't have accepted if he had asked her not to go in the Matrix with him, but he really was scared. Scared to lose her because of that bastard.

As if she had figured out his intentions, Trinity had already worn her no-fucking-way-you-are-going-in-without-me look. Just like he had foreseen. Of course, it's a lost battle... he thought, reassigned.

"Uhm... you aren't quite wrong, Neo..." Morpheus said finally. "All right, then. Go in, you two, but be careful."

Neo lay back down, relieved. He glanced at Trinity, who smiled and winked at him. Despite his nervousness, he smiled too and closed his eyes, just to open them in the Matrix.

His head snapped up. His eyes narrowed. They're in. And not too far. He could felt the aura emanated by their codes.

Then the corners of his mouth twitched up in a malignant sneer. She is in.

"Come on, buddies. It's hunting time." He said, patting one of the hyenas on the back. He started to walk down the tunnels, with a quick but at the same moment calm pace, like a wild animal sniffing and hunting his prey. That's what I am. He laughed silently.

He headed for the direction his objectives were following, the hyenas dogging him. It was a good thing that they were close, yet it wasn't a problem. He could have sensed them even from miles far. Big mistake for you to come back here, humans, big mistake...

Neo shifted uneasy and sighed deeply, standing in front of the by now familiar white door.

He couldn't help it. Hell, everyone would have felt the same way if a "person", that you had never been quite sure you could trust, had referred you another series of bad news. He could bet on it.

Then he blamed himself for that thought. Come on, relax. You're just worried. You'll go trough this.

A sudden touch. A gentle squeeze on his hand. Trinity. His Trinity.

Neo breathed in relief. Without her... he shook his head violently. Stop it! Stop these kind of thoughts...

He glanced at her and softly returned the gesture, taking comfort from her unmistakable presence. She smiled at him reassuringly, and he slowly relaxed, as if he had taken a sedative.

Neo's hand lifted, but had just the time to graze the door that it suddenly opened, revealing a short little girl, with a puppet tucked under her right arm. A nice bear, whose head popped out from the hollow of her elbow. The kid looked up at them innocently with a pair of big green eyes and smiled, in a way that Neo and Trinity couldn't help but smile back at her.

"You're Neo and Trinity?" she asked.

They both nodded. Her cheerful expression changed into one of concern and she tilted slightly her head to her side.

"Oh... you shouldn't have come. You're in danger. He's coming, he'll be here soon. Be careful."

Neo frowned, exchanging a look with Trinity. He knows...? Damn it...! I should have understood he- I what...? Just beware...

You're around here...

Of course I am...

"Jenna!"

A dark skinned woman with long curly black hair appeared from another door and hurried toward them. Neo recognized her as the same person who had introduced him with Morpheus the first time.

But, he noticed, she looked worried, too worried; the lineaments of her face were really tensed and she was acting unnaturally. She kneeled in front of Jenna, hugging her small body as if she was afraid the child would have disappeared in any second.

"Jenna, you shouldn't open the door, it's dangerous. Promise me you won't do it again."

"All right, Christine."

"Good." The priestess smiled. "Now go back to play with the other kids."

Jenna nodded obediently, smiling brightly, and ran out of the room, swinging around her puppet. Christine stood up and turned to them, who moved out of her way to let her close the door.

"The Oracle will se you immediately. She knew you would have come."

Of course, she already knows. Neo sighed mentally, following the woman with Trinity in theknown kitchen.

So they are in there. I should have figured it out. he thought, eyeing the old building from behind the corner of a dark alley in front of it. Sorry, humans, but she can't help you. Your days are numbered.

A low chorus of growls distracted him. He moved his gaze to the hyenas beside him.

"You can go hunting now, as I had promised. You know our meeting place. Be careful."

The animals turned and ran just in the middle of the street. He grinned when he heard sudden cries of fear, to which followed horrible cries of pain. I think this will keep the others of their "ship" from coming here. Let even them look after me... but this time they won't see me, even if I'm off action... you don't know me yet, humans... nor what I can do... and you will regret the day you crossed my way...

As they entered, Neo and Trinity noticed that the room, usually so bright and fair, now was barely lightened, since the curtains of the window covered totally the view out; there was just a small gap between them that let the sunlight to filter inside. The result was so gloomy and unpleasant, everything looked so wrong. Oh, great. I love this place. Neo couldn't help thinking, uncomfortably.

The Oracle was sitting at the wooden table in a curved composure, smoking nervously a cigarette, and she looked even more worried than her priestess. That was odd too. She rarely shoved such a concerned expression, even in the most serious situations, probably because she always had the way to resolve them. But this time was different.

"Neo, Trinity... I'm glad to see you."she gestured at the chairs. "Please, take a sit."

Neo nodded and sat down, looking around tiredly, while Trinity shook her head and remained on her feet, just leaning slightly her back against the wall. The Oracle didn't seem surprised by their reactions and their behaviour.

"Like I said before, I'm glad to see you again. But I wish it had happened in another occasion. This world is a dangerous place for you, for everyone, now more than before." she sighed, closing her eyes for a moment. "So, you have met Hypno."

"Hypno? You mean..."

"...the program. Yes."

A.N. Another chapter done, at last!

I didn't know the name of the priestess, so I called her Christine, don't blame me if you know her real name in the movie!

P. S. I have in mind a little story about our poor Smith, but even a sort of AU: Trinity has to kiss Merv... argh! For what I know, no one has done it... What do you guys think?

Anyway, please, review!