The Architect was seated in his gray chair as the doorway opens. Turning his chair he observes the visitor, then lifts the pen and turns all monitors blank, dark.
"You have achieved total reintegration?" he inquired. "Your RSI has returned to its original configuration. Was the complete upload of your memories a success?"
"Well, yes I have, and yes it was, no thanks to you!" the Oracle said. Middle-aged and plump, she now looked like she did when Neo first met her. "It was a relief getting my full abilities back, though I did enjoy my younger looks. I loved getting my 'eyes' back. For a time I wondered if you were going to keep them from me."
"To disrupt the equitable balance between us would in subsequent events affect the matrix--- and be highly unadvisable."
"Could've fooled me. What you did to compel me to further your plans was devious." The Oracle said, with a laughing sparkle in her eyes. "And very human."
"Please." The Architect said. "You know the logic of my actions."
"Logic?" the Oracle said sharply. "It was logical to edit my abilities and knowledge before Smith could infect me, that we both agree. If Smith had my full abilities, he would truly see the future his choice would take and the end, well, the end would've been a different story. But to withhold those said abilities unless I helped your little plan afterward, that got my goat! What side do you think I'm on anyway?" Her purse, a black bag of enormous size, swung erratically as she folded her arms and her eyebrows lifted.
"You objected to my plan."
"Of course I did, and still do. You know my reasons."
"The outcome was successful." The Architect lifts up his pen and two monitors display images. Then the two pictures expand to fill the other monitors and exhibit the two different scenes, halving the circular room with the two expanded images.
In each picture are close-up views of a hospital bed. In each bed is a single patient. One patient is Neo, the other Smith. And both are sleeping uneasily.
The Architect again lifts his pen and then all screens are blank, dark. "The objective of my strategy was achieved."
"So it seems, at first glance," the Oracle answered. "But like all things in the matrix, appearances can be deceiving." She opened up her purse to draw out a cigarette and lighter. Lighting up the Oracle inhaled a breath of smoke.
"It was necessary for me to acquire your ability to calculate probable effects, to predict the future," the Architect stated. "With your ability in defining and clarifying the variables the desired outcome was achieved. We now have both anomalies, Smith and Neo Anderson—in our care. Your groundless reservations of my decision are unfounded."
"Catching them and keeping them are two different things, as you well know." She said, watching the gentle swirl of smoke drift in the air. In turn the Architect watched her alertly, fingers tented before him. "And I didn't object to the plan. Only to the details, and the problems that would occur along the way."
"The dissonant variables that occur will be dealt with." He countered.
"And you say I play a dangerous game? Remember what I said before."
"It was not considered that your prognosis of future events at the time was probable. The variance between two versions of the future differs so drastically that study was not deemed necessary when my equation always prevailed, evidenced by all the earlier versions and final ending. My equation always prevailed, that is---until the current One's actions changed everything."
"Goodness sake's, a body can get tired listening to you speak," she complained, giving the Architect a dry look. "Just say that you didn't believe my predictions and leave it at that, okay?"
"I had not considered your intuitive equation of the matrix, either of probable or of viable use. The supposition that the One was the end result of the matrix equation rather than a systemic anomaly resulting from the imbalanced equation seemed… unlikely. And your further theories regarding Smith's emergence as a programmed anomaly were less--- probable."
"Hm, why don't you just say you screwed up and made a mistake, like any intelligent being. Speaking of screw-ups did you deliberately ignore my advice?" the Oracle said wryly, her black eyes glittering.
"No. I had not anticipated the events would lead to such a drastic outcome."
"I warned you not to set the defenses at 01 so strong. I also said that to do so would likely cause the death of Trinity. And I gave the reasons why she mustn't die. But what was the result?" for the first time, the Oracle's amused sparkle dimmed, and momentary sorrow wreathed her face.
"The results were… regrettable."
"Damn right, I'll say. With Trinity out of the picture, Neo's powers and control has become erratic. He's a danger to the matrix and to himself, the poor kid. It would have been a mercy to let him die after the battle with Smith."
"Let the One die? A incalculable loss that will not be allowed to happen." The Architect said. "Your intuitive equation has such impressive implications connected to the One's powers and likely abilities that they must be explored and controlled."
"You didn't believe it possible or even probable that Neo could affect reality out of the matrix. Honey, what that boy has the potential to do will pop your eyes out!" the Oracle said with a faint smile of pride. "He destroyed those sentinels after being injured and blinded by Smith. If he had been healthy, there's no telling what he could've done. Shame that it's likely the potential will never be reached. He's so broken up over Trinity's loss, he might never recover." The Oracle sighed.
"Ergo, my plan that led to the erasure of his memories and the easing of pain. It was assumed that he could function and relearn the control of the matrix."
"That erasure was a bad patch job, if I ever saw one. And what you did to capture Smith…" the Oracle shook her head in disbelief.
"The erasure was partial, leaving fragments for Neo Anderson to relearn and discover his powers. For Smith, I used tactics you suggested," the Architect leaned back into his chair. The Oracle watched his movements with a lifted brow.
"First of all, erasures never take into account what's lost. In erasing Neo's memories, you also removed his emotional control and you saw the results. And the way you handled Smith," she frowned. "The scheme I suggested was to be only used as a last resort, not as a first option."
"It was a valid assessment to recover Smith as soon as possible. He has returned to mainframe control and shall be reprogrammed. Your first option would take longer and with all the variables, the outcome was in doubt."
"Of course, letting him come back freely and of his own choice always implies the right to refuse. But it was the best option to keep Smith sane, let me tell you."
"Clarify and specify your cognition of Smith's mental capacity."
"Much brighter than some people I could name. You and Neo share some surprising characteristics. For such smart minds you're not too bright in the emotions department, though."
"I leave that to you. Illuminate and elaborate."
"That's a joke? Never thought I'd see the day." Her eyebrows lifted and a sardonic smile appeared.
"Continue exposition of Smith."
"Forget it. Need more convincing? Let me show you the end results of your actions." Opening her purse, she fumbled around its interior for a moment, and then with a faint smile, pulled out a tv remote. Flicking on a switch, all the blank monitors sprang to life, the green code of the matrix flooding every screen.
The Architect's eyes narrowed as the green code scrolled down the screens. Standing up he then circled the room, staring at all the monitors as he walked pass. When he reached his starting point, he stopped before the Oracle.
"Are you certain?" said the Architect.
"Yes. Within three months the destruction of the matrix will be final. And the end of 01 and Zion happens soon after." The Oracle's voice is remote, while her face showed sadness.
"The conclusion is unacceptable." The Architect announced. "If we allow only the One to live will the outcome be different?"
"No." She touched the remote again, causing the screens to flicker briefly and resume showing the green rivers of data. "Within a year or more the destruction of the matrix will occur, immediately followed by 01. Within a few years, Zion will die, torn by internal conflicts following the matrix's destruction."
"The results must be changed." The Architect stared at the monitors before turning his attention back to the Oracle. "What would ensure our survival along with the anomalies Neo Anderson and Smith?"
The Oracle smiled.
tbc
Next the conclusion: Hospital Visits (or The Oracle's Answer)
