Trinity awoke some time later to a muffled tapping coming from the wall that separated hers and Neo's rooms. Leaving her room to go investigate, Trinity grabbed an extra blanket to wrap around her shoulders. Upon entering Neo's room, Trinity felt for the wall lamp near the head of the bed. As she leaned down further, she could feel his warm breath near her collarbone. When her hand finally grasped the lamp's switch, Trinity jumped at the hand that silently covered hers.
Switching the light on, Trinity turned her head to face Neo's as he moved his own to look at hers. As they did this in unison, their noses lightly brushed against one another- sending a shock of electricity down both of their spines. Moving back suddenly, Trinity blinked- breaking the uninterrupted eye contact- but was again taken by surprise when Neo gently placed a hand on the back of her neck and pulled her face down to his. Trinity half-heard, half-felt, Neo's gasp as she moved her lips gently against his. Slipping her tongue out to trace his bottom lip, Trinity felt Neo softly suck on her top lip and pulled it with him slightly to end the kiss.
Eyes still closed- trying to place the sensations and feelings Neo had so easily provoked from her, Trinity spoke in a slightly ragged voice, "Was that what you woke me up for?"
Neo sensed no anger or resentment in her voice. Instead, dare he say it, let alone believe it, he heard a slight playfulness and even a bit of sarcasm in the tone of the question.
"Possibly." His answer caused him to pause at the sight of the arched eyebrow she gave him. "Yes. I just...I wanted to see what would happen."
"Satisfied with the results?" Trinity asked softly- again with a playful undertone in the inquiry.
"Definitely."
After Trinity had returned to her room, she had fallen into a dreamless sleep that left her feeling safe and warm instead of the usual cold and tense. Figuring it was due to the middle-of-the-night interlude she'd had with Neo, Trinity quickly went about getting ready. Buckling up her boots in record time, Trinity stood to stretch her arms above her head. Yawning, she turned around to fold up the blankets and place them at the end of the bed before exiting her room to check on Neo. Knocking lightly on the metal door before entering, Trinity couldn't stop the small smile from forming upon her face at the sight of a sleeping Neo.
Turning on her heel, Trinity left Neo's room in search of three things: Morpheus, food, and more painkillers. She climbed up the ladder to the core, and arrived at the med lab without so much as a thought to where her feet were taking her, Trinity quickly found another bag before turning to see Tank sleeping peacefully on the table- his side bandaged up and an IV in his arm. Returning to the ladder, Trinity glanced around her for Morpheus, before continuing on down towards the mess hall. Upon arriving on the crewmembers' floor, Trinity climbed off the ladder, only to almost walk into Morpheus.
"Sorry, I didn't see you there." Trinity apologized, moving back a few steps.
"Quite all right. I wasn't really paying attention anyway. Too many things to think about." Morpheus smiled, an unobtrusive look gracing his features.
"Morpheus, I was wondering..." Trinity paused for her captain to turn and begin walking with her to the mess hall. "Do you think the machines would send another group of sentinels here if they never returned? It's just- they know where we are- what should stop them from sending out more to make sure we were eliminated?"
"Nothing except-" Morpheus paused in thought before continuing. "They are machines. They deal with a problem one bit at a time and then take action methodically. They do not move on to another piece of the problem until they have dealt with the first piece. My theory is that they believe that since they can create hundreds of thousands of sentinels, four or five won't be missed. The answer to their problem would be simple: the ship was taken out, all of the survivors eradicated, but only after the EMP switch was flipped."
"Oh. They really have simple thought processes, don't they?" Trinity asked as she hugged herself, the IV pouch under her arm.
"Do not for one second believe they are not intelligent, but yes, the way they deal with something is simple and elementary but- it works." Morpheus finished solemnly as he twisted the door to the mess hall open.
"What were you thinking about when I bumped into you?" Trinity asked offhand, changing the topic smoothly.
"Many things. Mostly about how to get out of here, Neo and what we'll do once we return to Zion." Morpheus explained, leaning against the wall as Trinity moved across the room to grab a tray and two bowls.
"Do you think they'll try to take him away from us?" Trinity asked, worry evident in her voice.
Morpheus paused for a moment, briefly surprised at Trinity expressing any emotion other than anger, before answering. "I don't see why they should. Many people don't believe in the prophecy- it's been so long since it was made and all. They'll probably make many inquiries- just enough to make Neo want to slam his head into a wall- before releasing us back up to broad cast level. By the way, how is he?"
Trinity hesitated, momentarily busying herself by placing two spoons on the tray before responding. "He's sleeping at the moment. His chest has retained a few bruises from the gunshot wounds. I'm keeping him as pain-free as possible without making him numb to the world. Other than that, I think he just wants company- so I was going to visit him occasionally when I had a break from working on the ship."
"That's good to hear- that's he's decently healthy. I agree- you should visit him, no one on this ship that's not under enough drugs to stay unconscious for an extended period of time should be left alone for long."
"Speaking of unconscious crewmates, when's Tank going to wake up?" Trinity asked, lifting a mug of metallic water to her lips.
"Not for at least thirty-six hours. Is that for you and Neo?" Morpheus lifted a hand, gesturing to the tray.
"Yeah. I was going to bring it to him now." Trinity put the mug on the tray and proceeded to pick it up.
"All right. When he's settled and you've finished your breakfast, I'll meet you in the core." Morpheus smiled gently, ending the conversation.