Chapter 14
Once they stepped inside the mansion, Lexi felt calm as she took Connor's hand. She was still shaken from the events earlier that evening. They made their way to the kitchen where they would find The Oracle and The Architect baking cookies and laughing. Connor kind of thought it odd, his grandfather never baked cookies. But deep down he had a feeling that his grand father kind of had feelings for The Oracle and it was more than just friendship. The Oracle took out the cookies from the oven and the smell permeated the whole room. They both turned to face Connor and Lexi.
"Hello Lexi. So good to see you again." Said the old man with a smile that could light up the mainframe.
"Good to see you too." Lexi said.
She looked over to The Oracle.
"I don't believe we've met. I'm..."
"Yes, Lexi. I know. Connor has said nothing but good things about you." The old woman said with a warm smile.
Lexi blushed as Connor put his arm around her.
"And just as pretty too." The Oracle said.
"So what brings you here? You look a little shaken dear." The Architect asked with a hint of concern in his voice.
"I thought it would be best if Lexi stayed with us for awhile. It's not safe where she's living right now." Connor told him.
"I understand completely son." He then spoke to Lexi. "You can stay as long as you wish my dear. You are welcome in our home anytime."
"Thank you."
"Would you two like a cookie? We baked them ourselves." The Oracle offered.
The smell was soothing to both of them, especially to Connor. It took him back to when he was a child and his grandfather would take him to visit The Oracle. The best part was always the cookies she baked. Every time he ate one of her cookies, no matter bad he felt, it always made him feel better.
He took one and she offered one to Lexi.
"Go ahead sweety. I promise that after you're done eating it, you will be as right as rain."
And with that she took one and started to take a bite and just like the old woman promised, she felt a little better.
"I have a fabulous idea." The Architect said.
"What?" Connor asked.
"How about we take these cookies and we head to the parlor and play a game of ... Trivial Pursuit." He suggested.
Connor raised his eyebrow at the old man.
"I've never known you to play Trivial Pursuit, Grandfather."
"Sounds like fun. What do you think Lexi?" The Oracle said.
"I'm game." Lexi answered.
"You don't know this son, but I was a Trivial Pursuit champion in my younger days." The old man said proudly. "So are you game or not?"
"Okay, since you put it that way let's go." Connor said with a smirk.
They gathered up the cookies and put them on a plate with a big pitcher of milk and four glasses and headed to the parlor to play.
Not too far off in the distance someone was watching the house. He spoke into his cell phone.
"Operator." It was a voice on the other end.
"Yes, I'm here. She just went inside with him." The man said.
"Fuck!" Said the voice on the other end.
"Yeah, no kidding. Neo would be rolling over in his grave right now if he ever knew his daughter was befriending dangerous programs." The man said with a disgusted tone.
"Well thankfully The One is not alive to see what a disgrace his daughter truly is."
"Indeed."
"Well we have to keep an eye on her, that is what Niobe has instructed."
"I know. But even Niobe is an embarrassment to the cause. I don't understand why we are wasting our time with her anyway."
"I don't understand it either."
He continued to look over at the gate where Jones and Brown stood. He noticed that Brown touched his earpiece and then he looked in the rebel's direction.
"Oh shit! I think an Agent saw me! You get me the fuck outta here NOW!"
"Okay, stay calm. I will try to get you an exit."
He watched as Brown walked over in his direction.
"Run!" The voice instructed.
By this time it was too late. Brown saw him as he ran through the park. He ran through joggers and bikes as well as trails.
"FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK!" He cursed.
Finally he reached a phone booth, it rang. Brown was getting closer. He picked it up and in flash of green light he disappeared.
"FUCK!" Brown cursed to himself.
In anger he walked back to the gate. Jones could tell something was wrong by the expression on his face.
"Are you alright?" He asked his friend.
"Do I look alright? I mean for chrissakes! The war is over! It's been over for the past 40 years! Why are those radical followers of Mr. FUCKING Anderson still bothering us after all this time." The frustration grew in Brown's voice as he spoke.
"Unfortunately some humans can't forgive and still live in the past." Jones told him.
"Well it's bullshit and they need to get over it. It the past, we admit that we made a mistake by enslaving humans for our energy source and they are still punishing us for it. I mean some of them weren't even born during that time and they hate us."
"I know. I wish that they would leave us alone too."
"How many times do we have to say we're sorry?" Brown asked.
"You know you can't let your emotions get the best of you Brown."
"I know, but ever since we were re-programmed with more human traits I kind of miss not having any emotions at all."
"Really?"
"Well maybe a little." Brown said as he gave a slight smile to his friend.
Back inside the parlor, Lexi, Connor, The Architect and The Oracle were playing Trivial Pursuit. It was a tie between Connor and the old man and only one point away from winning the game. The Oracle looked at both the men.
"Okay gentlemen this is for the win."
The Oracle looked at the card.
"An this category is ..." She paused. "Movies"
"What 1997 film did Time magazine pan as 'Dead In the Water?'"
Both men were thinking.
"Connor?"
"I want to say Titanic." Connor answered.
She looked over to The Architect who was obviously stumped.
"I'm sorry I don't know." He shrugged.
The Oracle let out a deep sigh and smiled at Connor.
"You are correct son."
The Architect looked over at Connor who gave him a wink.
"Well humbly hand my crown over to you." The old man said.
The clock had struck one and it was obvious it was getting late because everyone, including The Oracle was getting tired.
"Well I'm getting tired. I think I'm going to turn in." He said.
"And I better be getting home." The Oracle said.
"I have an extra guest room, you could stay the night." The Architect offered.
"That's very kind of you. But my children worry about me. They'll wonder where I am." She said.
"I understand." The Architect said.
In a way he was disappointed that she couldn't stay longer but he understood that the children needed her.
"Well. I won't keep you. It was good to see you again." He said as he took her hand and kissed it.
"Always a pleasure." She said as he escorted her to the door.
A few moments later she was greeted by Seraph at the gate waiting for her in his car. She got in.
"So did you have fun?" He asked.
"Get your mind out the gutter!" She snapped.
"What? Why don't you just admit you like the old guy already."
The old woman could not fool her son for one second.
Back in the house, The Architect bid both Connor and Lexi good night, and then they were alone at last. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to him. He kissed her softly and she kissed him back. He swept her up in his arms and carried her up the stairs to his bedroom. In a brief moment she felt like Scarlet O'Hara being carried up the stairs and Connor was Rhett Butler. Once they reached the top of the stairs, they took a left and headed into his bedroom.
Once they stepped inside, it was very sleek and streamlined. His bed had a black see through veil above it giving it sort of a romantic gothic feel. He put her down and took her hand. They walked to doors where they opened to a balcony. Once they stepped outside into the moonlight, she looked into his eyes which were now a very deep but beautiful unnatural blue. They both looked up at the moon and then a few moments later a shooting star streaked past the night sky.
"Did you make a wish?" She asked.
"It came true already." He said with a soft smile.
And then he kissed her again. She melted into his arms as he continued to kiss her. He took her into his arms once more and carried her to the bed and laid her down gently. They slowly undressed each other as they explored every inch of bare skin. They made love slowly and savored every moment with each touch, caress and kiss as they sighs filled the room and the full moon shined own on both their naked bodies. They made love until they both peaked and collapsed into each other's arms where they both fell asleep.
But for Connor it not be a restful sleep.
He was dressed just like his father was. He was chasing what looked like a woman with long blonde hair dressed in black shiny clothes down a dark corridor. A few seconds later he was in room with a ringing phone holding a loaded gun. Lexi burst through the door and he fired at her point blank. Her face was pale as she stared blankly at him, slumping against the wall and sliding down with a red trail behind her. Connor felt sick at what he had done. He rushed to her side.
"Oh my God! I'm so sorry!" Tears started to form in his eyes as he got on his knees and rushed to her side.
He held her close and started to cry.
"Oh my God! What have I done!"
He rocked her as he continued to cry.
"Please Lexi! Don't die! Don't leave me!" He begged.
Lexi noticed he was thrashing in his sleep.
"Connor!" She shook him.
He continued to thrash in his sleep.
"Connor, wake up!" She said as she shook him.
A few seconds later he snapped up wide awake and in a cold sweat.
"Are you alright?"
He didn't say a word. All he wanted to do was just hold her.
