Chapter 10 Warm Machine
On the other side of town, Agent Smith felt a click in the back of his mind and he knew she had just entered the Matrix. He had set a subroutine to run and automatically to detect her voice pattern the minute she used any phone system. He smiled with satisfaction as he walked from the office. Agent Jones looked over at him and only said, "Where are you going?" He didn't look back as he walked to the door and said, "I will be in contact when I need to be." The two Agents exchanged looks but knew better than to question him further.
Mia walked around the apartment and felt herself becoming nostalgic about her past life but she shook her head – none of this was real. She walked over and placed a Cure CD in the stereo and waited.
Agent Smith got into the car and drove the several city blocks it took to get to their meeting place. He parked in front and got out, glancing up at the window as he did. He wondered if she was standing there waiting for him, was she nervous and how much time would he have to talk. He calmly took the elevator and walked to the door. He walked in without knocking.
Mia heard the door open and stood up from the sofa not sure how she would react. He walked up and removed his sun glasses, folded them neatly and placed them in his front jacket pocket. He then inclined his head and said, "I am pleased to see you again, it's good that we can continue our discussions. As I expected, your superiors would think of this as a better understanding between machine and man – or should I say machine and woman." Mia felt her stomach knot as she answered, "Ah, hello again. Yeah, they are as curious about you as you are about us. They were quite surprised at how you chose to do it and through me. Agent Smith, how can I know what you're telling me is the truth and not just some fabricated tale to get me to tell you about us or even me? " He walked over and stood in front of her again, she watched as he removed his ear piece and said, "Alright, how do I know what you are telling me is the truth and not something just to deceive me?" Mia just stared at him as he then smiled and said, "Trust is something that needs to be earned on both sides." He then leaned over and said, "what is that scent you always smell of it?" She quickly stepped away from him and said, "Soap, it's my bath soap – here, I'll show you." She didn't like it when he invaded her personal space as it made her nervous when he was so close to her that she could feel his breath. She walked to the bathroom with him following her and reached into the shower stall and bought out a bottle of some green liquid. She opened the cap and breathed in the scent and then held it out for him to smell. Agent Smith smelled the bottle and looked at her and said, "Yes, that's it. Do you reproduce the scent every time you enter the Matrix?" Mia placed the bottle back in the shower and answered, "It's one of the few things I miss about the Matrix. I miss some of the wonderful smells." Agent Smith seemed to be considering her words and said, "Some of the smells are pleasant but not many. If you like, you could bathe and experience what that feels like again." Mia looked at him and thought that was an odd thing to say but only answered, "Ah, maybe next time." He was standing in the doorway to the bathroom and had blocked her in and she realized she couldn't get by without either him moving or her brushing past him. She waited but when he showed no signs of moving she said, "Do you want to go back into the living room?" He still stood there and said, "After you." Mia realized he wasn't going to move and she didn't want to be in the bathroom any longer with him so she went for the door. He was standing sideways and watched her as she tried to brush past him without touching him. Her breasts briefly brushed against his chest as she made it in to the other room. He smirked as he saw her discomfort and how she wouldn't meet his eyes as she moved past him.
Mia walked into the other room and if she didn't know better, she would think he was flirting with her. She composed her face and turned facing him and said, "Okay Smith, you don't mind if I call you Smith do you? What will we talk about this time?" He shook his head and said, "Smith will suffice." Mia sat down on the sofa and said, "So do Agents have first names or are you all just 'Agent' whatever?" Agent Smith undid his suit jacket as he sat down and said, "We are all just Agent and then our designated program name. I am designated Agent Smith and that is my program name as are Agents Brown and Jones." They talked of various things – everything from how the Agents talked to the mainframe, to what the free people were reading. When ever a subject crossed a line, the other was quick to answer that it was off limits. As he watched Mia talk about how she interacted with her crew mates, he could see where, as a human she would be considered attractive. He had accessed the data bases on human behavior and what humans thought was attractive. He liked that she had a sharp mind and he found her pleasant to listen to she talked about various things. His eyes traveled over her features before settling on her breasts. He was curious about the fabric that covered them and almost reached out to feel it but stopped himself just as she finished speaking. She had not been looking at him while she was speaking and was now looking at him in an odd way. He raised his eyes up to hers and asked how many crew mates she had, knowing full well she wouldn't answer him.
Mia glanced over at him as she finished speaking, it made her nervous the way he looked at her some times and this was definitely one of them. She tried to ignore him as he looked at her hair, her face and her body. She played it off as he was probably just curious and didn't know any better. But this time, he was just looking at her chest and when she caught him, he just gave a slight smile. It was almost like he knew what he was doing and it made her uncomfortable. She answered him that her crew count was probably something she shouldn't talk about and shifted on the sofa. As if suddenly aware he seemed to sitting a little closer than he was before. He seemed to have thought about his next question and casually reached up and undid the ear piece, letting it fall over his collar. Mia almost held her breath as she waited knowing this was another thing he didn't seem to want to share with the mainframe. These questions made her uneasy as they always were of a more personal nature. He said, "Okay, let's talk about something you can talk about. What do you look like outside the Matrix? Is your hair really this long and are you as popular with the males of your species as other attractive females are?" As he said that, he reached out and touched her hair and brought it up to his nose and said almost inaudibly, "It's so soft and it smells of your soap."
Mia blinked and looked at him still holding her hair. What was he doing? She could have sworn he just told her she was attractive but in a round about way. She tried not to stutter and said, "Well, my hair really is this long and as for my popularity, I don't see where that's any of your business." He still held her hair and was looking at it as he ran it through his fingers and without looking at her said, "I would expect a woman like yourself would be very popular, do you have – I believe the words are – someone special?" Mia's mind whirled as she thought of an answer and tried to make sense of what she thought was happening. She looked over at him and he was watching her, waiting for an answer. She looked away answered, "I… I… I had someone but not any more." He nodded his head as if understanding and reached for her wrist. As he held it, he said, "In the Matrix, you no longer have the marks from the implants. I think one of them would be right about here…" He then ran his thumb along the inside of her arm over where the implant would be in the real world. She felt herself shudder as his thumb caressed the tender flesh of her arm – she wanted to pull her arm away but found she couldn't. He held out her arm and leaned closer, looking at her arm and said in a low voice, "Where are the rest of them?" Mia watched as he traced his thumb down her arm to her wrist and lightly ran his thumb across it. She looked up at him trying to make her mind form words, all the time trying to ignore the electric shocks that his touch was sending throughout her body. Her eyes widened as she saw him lean forward to kiss her and her brain screamed "NO!" – he was going to kiss her! Her reflexes took over and she pulled her hand way as she leapt up from the sofa. She shook her head and said, "I… I think I should get back." She absently mindedly rubbed her wrist where he had touched her, his hands were so warm and soft. She knew that her face was flushed and she didn't like the reason why. Agent Smith inclined his head and stood saying, "If that's what you want, alright." He walked over to her and stood in front of her and said, "I found our time together very stimulating and hope that we can continue 'this' at a later time. Mia found she couldn't look at him as she found herself suddenly aroused by his nearness. She only hoped that he would let her leave without touching her again. She felt him touch her face, forcing her to meet his gaze. His icy blue eyes met hers as he slowly brought his mouth down towards hers. She heard herself whisper, "No…"
On the other side of town, Agent Smith felt a click in the back of his mind and he knew she had just entered the Matrix. He had set a subroutine to run and automatically to detect her voice pattern the minute she used any phone system. He smiled with satisfaction as he walked from the office. Agent Jones looked over at him and only said, "Where are you going?" He didn't look back as he walked to the door and said, "I will be in contact when I need to be." The two Agents exchanged looks but knew better than to question him further.
Mia walked around the apartment and felt herself becoming nostalgic about her past life but she shook her head – none of this was real. She walked over and placed a Cure CD in the stereo and waited.
Agent Smith got into the car and drove the several city blocks it took to get to their meeting place. He parked in front and got out, glancing up at the window as he did. He wondered if she was standing there waiting for him, was she nervous and how much time would he have to talk. He calmly took the elevator and walked to the door. He walked in without knocking.
Mia heard the door open and stood up from the sofa not sure how she would react. He walked up and removed his sun glasses, folded them neatly and placed them in his front jacket pocket. He then inclined his head and said, "I am pleased to see you again, it's good that we can continue our discussions. As I expected, your superiors would think of this as a better understanding between machine and man – or should I say machine and woman." Mia felt her stomach knot as she answered, "Ah, hello again. Yeah, they are as curious about you as you are about us. They were quite surprised at how you chose to do it and through me. Agent Smith, how can I know what you're telling me is the truth and not just some fabricated tale to get me to tell you about us or even me? " He walked over and stood in front of her again, she watched as he removed his ear piece and said, "Alright, how do I know what you are telling me is the truth and not something just to deceive me?" Mia just stared at him as he then smiled and said, "Trust is something that needs to be earned on both sides." He then leaned over and said, "what is that scent you always smell of it?" She quickly stepped away from him and said, "Soap, it's my bath soap – here, I'll show you." She didn't like it when he invaded her personal space as it made her nervous when he was so close to her that she could feel his breath. She walked to the bathroom with him following her and reached into the shower stall and bought out a bottle of some green liquid. She opened the cap and breathed in the scent and then held it out for him to smell. Agent Smith smelled the bottle and looked at her and said, "Yes, that's it. Do you reproduce the scent every time you enter the Matrix?" Mia placed the bottle back in the shower and answered, "It's one of the few things I miss about the Matrix. I miss some of the wonderful smells." Agent Smith seemed to be considering her words and said, "Some of the smells are pleasant but not many. If you like, you could bathe and experience what that feels like again." Mia looked at him and thought that was an odd thing to say but only answered, "Ah, maybe next time." He was standing in the doorway to the bathroom and had blocked her in and she realized she couldn't get by without either him moving or her brushing past him. She waited but when he showed no signs of moving she said, "Do you want to go back into the living room?" He still stood there and said, "After you." Mia realized he wasn't going to move and she didn't want to be in the bathroom any longer with him so she went for the door. He was standing sideways and watched her as she tried to brush past him without touching him. Her breasts briefly brushed against his chest as she made it in to the other room. He smirked as he saw her discomfort and how she wouldn't meet his eyes as she moved past him.
Mia walked into the other room and if she didn't know better, she would think he was flirting with her. She composed her face and turned facing him and said, "Okay Smith, you don't mind if I call you Smith do you? What will we talk about this time?" He shook his head and said, "Smith will suffice." Mia sat down on the sofa and said, "So do Agents have first names or are you all just 'Agent' whatever?" Agent Smith undid his suit jacket as he sat down and said, "We are all just Agent and then our designated program name. I am designated Agent Smith and that is my program name as are Agents Brown and Jones." They talked of various things – everything from how the Agents talked to the mainframe, to what the free people were reading. When ever a subject crossed a line, the other was quick to answer that it was off limits. As he watched Mia talk about how she interacted with her crew mates, he could see where, as a human she would be considered attractive. He had accessed the data bases on human behavior and what humans thought was attractive. He liked that she had a sharp mind and he found her pleasant to listen to she talked about various things. His eyes traveled over her features before settling on her breasts. He was curious about the fabric that covered them and almost reached out to feel it but stopped himself just as she finished speaking. She had not been looking at him while she was speaking and was now looking at him in an odd way. He raised his eyes up to hers and asked how many crew mates she had, knowing full well she wouldn't answer him.
Mia glanced over at him as she finished speaking, it made her nervous the way he looked at her some times and this was definitely one of them. She tried to ignore him as he looked at her hair, her face and her body. She played it off as he was probably just curious and didn't know any better. But this time, he was just looking at her chest and when she caught him, he just gave a slight smile. It was almost like he knew what he was doing and it made her uncomfortable. She answered him that her crew count was probably something she shouldn't talk about and shifted on the sofa. As if suddenly aware he seemed to sitting a little closer than he was before. He seemed to have thought about his next question and casually reached up and undid the ear piece, letting it fall over his collar. Mia almost held her breath as she waited knowing this was another thing he didn't seem to want to share with the mainframe. These questions made her uneasy as they always were of a more personal nature. He said, "Okay, let's talk about something you can talk about. What do you look like outside the Matrix? Is your hair really this long and are you as popular with the males of your species as other attractive females are?" As he said that, he reached out and touched her hair and brought it up to his nose and said almost inaudibly, "It's so soft and it smells of your soap."
Mia blinked and looked at him still holding her hair. What was he doing? She could have sworn he just told her she was attractive but in a round about way. She tried not to stutter and said, "Well, my hair really is this long and as for my popularity, I don't see where that's any of your business." He still held her hair and was looking at it as he ran it through his fingers and without looking at her said, "I would expect a woman like yourself would be very popular, do you have – I believe the words are – someone special?" Mia's mind whirled as she thought of an answer and tried to make sense of what she thought was happening. She looked over at him and he was watching her, waiting for an answer. She looked away answered, "I… I… I had someone but not any more." He nodded his head as if understanding and reached for her wrist. As he held it, he said, "In the Matrix, you no longer have the marks from the implants. I think one of them would be right about here…" He then ran his thumb along the inside of her arm over where the implant would be in the real world. She felt herself shudder as his thumb caressed the tender flesh of her arm – she wanted to pull her arm away but found she couldn't. He held out her arm and leaned closer, looking at her arm and said in a low voice, "Where are the rest of them?" Mia watched as he traced his thumb down her arm to her wrist and lightly ran his thumb across it. She looked up at him trying to make her mind form words, all the time trying to ignore the electric shocks that his touch was sending throughout her body. Her eyes widened as she saw him lean forward to kiss her and her brain screamed "NO!" – he was going to kiss her! Her reflexes took over and she pulled her hand way as she leapt up from the sofa. She shook her head and said, "I… I think I should get back." She absently mindedly rubbed her wrist where he had touched her, his hands were so warm and soft. She knew that her face was flushed and she didn't like the reason why. Agent Smith inclined his head and stood saying, "If that's what you want, alright." He walked over to her and stood in front of her and said, "I found our time together very stimulating and hope that we can continue 'this' at a later time. Mia found she couldn't look at him as she found herself suddenly aroused by his nearness. She only hoped that he would let her leave without touching her again. She felt him touch her face, forcing her to meet his gaze. His icy blue eyes met hers as he slowly brought his mouth down towards hers. She heard herself whisper, "No…"