Neo awoke slowly as the lights blinked on and off several times before stabilizing. Hearing the reassuring hum of the engines, Neo stretched his arms above his head, only to feel Trinity tighten her grip around his midsection. As she exhaled softly, Neo felt the tickle of breath upon his neck. Lifting his head slightly, feeling the muscles in his neck strain, Neo looked down at the sleeping figure beside him. Letting his muscles relax, Neo's head dropped back down onto his pillow, cushioning the otherwise painful collision.
Turning to face Trinity, Neo shifted to his side. Moving his hand across the unique planes that made up her face, he smiled in unabashed awe. I could easily call her an angel, but that seems too damn cheesy to be thought of. She could be a goddess, but that is too romantic even for my taste. She could be a soldier, but right now, rank and occupation are meaningless. She could be a woman, who hides behind a pair of dark glasses and a commanding voice, who fought not to love me instead of giving in immediately, who made everyone else look past the gender and see the spirit, who can hide who she is from everyone except me, and who can only be defined as irreplaceable. Kissing Trinity's nose softly, Neo pushed his musings to the back of his mind as he watched her wake up.
Moving her head to the side slightly, Trinity slowly lifted her heavy lids to see a pair of soft brown eyes watching her intently. Yawning, Trinity stretched her arm out across Neo's stomach and moved her legs, bumping against Neo's in the process. Moving her head up, Trinity pressed her nose to Neo's.
"Morning."
"Sir, you'd better have a look at this!" Tank yelled over the intercom, pulling Morpheus from his breakfast.
Reaching the core in under a minute, Morpheus leaned over Tank's shoulder, his eyes searching the screens in front of him.
"That's the Vigilant! They're sending out a sentinel S.O.S. call. How far away are they?"
"Barely three kilometers. We should be able to reach them in less than five minutes." Tank replied, pulling up a map of the surrounding tunnels to get a better timeframe.
"Sound the alarm. Get Trinity out to the cockpit as soon as possible." Morpheus commanded before he turned and ran to the ladder, the alarm wailing overhead.
Trinity jumped at the startling sound before quickly following Neo out of the bed to get their clothes. Tossing various articles of clothing to one another, they dressed quickly. Wrenching the door open, Trinity turned to Neo.
"Go down to the core, be ready for anything and listen to Tank, he knows what he's doing." Trinity turned back in the direction of the ladder, but Neo grabbed her arm and spun her back around.
"Where are you going?" Neo asked, wincing at the shrill sound of the alarm.
"The cockpit." Trinity stated before attempting to turn, only to find that Neo hadn't loosened his grip. Pausing to calm the sudden rush of anger, Trinity took a step towards him. This has never happened to him before, he's just scared, he doesn't know. When this is over, by God, I'll explain to him that protocol is to get your ass out to the core as soon as possible, not hold me up because you're afraid. "I'll be fine."
Neo nodded in submission at the firmness of the statement before releasing her. Trinity turned and ran to the ladder, Neo in tow. Climbing up as fast as she could, she heard Neo get off at the core level and continued up to the cockpit. Jumping off the ladder, Trinity ran to the co-pilot's seat and sat down, pressing buttons as she settled in.
"The Vigilant sent out a sentinel S.O.S. call." Morpheus explained before Trinity had a chance to speak.
"How long until we get to them?" Trinity asked as she pulled up a map of the surrounding tunnels.
"They were downed around the next connector. Take the controls for me." Morpheus ordered as he grabbed the intercom. "Tank, Neo, man gun turrets three and four. Five sentinels will be on attack."
Trinity stole a glace at her captain. "You're going to use the gun turrets?"
"We have no other choice." Morpheus explained, looking at her sadly.
"Which turret was Forrest killed in?" Trinity asked, a sudden wave of fear causing heat to rush through her body.
Morpheus paused as the Vigilant came into sight and the two turrets began firing. "Turret three."
Trinity looked at him suddenly. "Was the malfunction ever fixed?"
Morpheus's eyes widened at the direction the conversation was going in before shaking his head 'no'. Looking at her a moment longer, Morpheus grabbed the controls. "Go."
Trinity didn't need any other word. Springing from her seat, she ran out of the cockpit. Climbing swiftly down the ladder, Trinity moved down around the main part of the core towards the bow of the ship. Finding Neo and Tank next to each other, firing shell after shell, Trinity knew she could do nothing, lest she wanted one of them to make a mistake that could very well be fatal to all. So she stood behind Neo, worry etched on her face, sparks of heat rushing through her body, anxiety twisting her stomach in knots, and the knowledge that she could do nothing. Absolutely nothing.
The realization made her anger boil beneath her skin. She, Trinity, had never been unable to do anything ever before. What made now so different? Because if I do anything, we all die. Trinity's rational mind seemed to be getting the better of her lately, and she decided she'd better start listening to it sometime soon. Seconds turned into minutes until the last sentinel dropped. Neo had just fired the last shot when one of the bullets discharged wrong, slamming back into the ship. Neo ducked in time, and turned to cover his head, remembering the story Trinity had told him only to hear a cry of pain from a distinctly female voice.
"Trinity? Trinity!" Tank yelled, clambering out of his seat to land at her side.
Neo reached her a moment later, cradling her head in his hands. Blood was seeping out onto the floor from a wound in her upper arm; the bullet had sliced right through it. Neo lifted her up into his arms and half ran, half walked to the med lab. Tank pushed open the doors, and ran to get an anesthetic. Neo put her gently down on the table, gripping her good hand. Trinity groaned in pain, tightening her grip on Neo.
"Hurry Tank." Neo commanded.
Tank nodded before rushing around to put the needle in the plug on her bad arm. Trinity winced as he gripped her arm, before letting out a haggard breath when he finished. Tank went around to get some medical tools and gauze, while Neo grabbed a sponge, soap, a towel, and a small bowl of water. Sitting down next to her, Neo lifted her arm, and gently washed around the wound as Tank put a tray of various medical supplies next to him.
They both looked up as Morpheus walked in, worry etched on his face. Neo backed away from Trinity when he finished and moved towards the sink. Morpheus watched as he cleaned the bowl, tossed out the sponge and put the towel in a basket before washing his hands.
"When you are done, I would like you to help me with the Vigilant." Morpheus looked at Neo, before glancing at Trinity's slack face.
"All right." Neo nodded, his eyes immediately returning to Trinity.
"What happened?"
Neo looked up at the sudden question before shaking his head. "I'm not really sure. The last bullet I fired ricocheted back and hit her. That was the turret that killed Forrest, wasn't it?"
Both Tank and Morpheus looked up at him in surprise. Morpheus figured Trinity had told him, and nodded. "We never fixed the malfunction because I never wanted to use the turrets again."
"Well, I think our next trip into Zion should include repairs for the turrets." Neo coldly stated.
Morpheus was a little perturbed at the quiet fierceness of the statement and suddenly realized just how deep Neo's love for Trinity went. He nodded once in agreement before leaving.
Neo climbed down the ramp with Morpheus, an EMP gun and flashlight in his hands. Walking slowly towards the slightly smoking hovercraft, Morpheus wasn't surprised to see Soren step out from the shadows and call up to him.
"Anyone hurt?" Morpheus asked.
"Axel is. I think his knee was broken in several parts when a sentinel smashed into him." Soren replied, before calling out towards the ship. "Guys, come on, get everyone out of there."
Neo looked around the ship as Binary, Vector, and Jax carried Axel on a makeshift stretcher. Climbing down the rubble, he grabbed part of it, leveling out the carriers as he placed the gun next to Axel's good leg.
"Thanks Neo." Binary murmured.
Neo turned to look across at her, wondering for a moment how she knew his name before remembering how Morpheus had sent out a copy of his "Matrix flight" to every ship. Allowing the corners of his mouth to flick up for a moment, Neo turned to concentrate back on climbing up into the Nebuchadnezzar. Once they were on the ship, Neo helped guide the other three towards the med lab.
Pushing open the door, Neo found Trinity sitting up, wiggling her fingers before her eyes flicked up to his. Jax and Vector grabbed the ends of the makeshift stretcher as Neo and Tank moved around Axel. Tank slid his hands under Axel's shoulders as Neo slid a hand under his waist and down at his calves.
Tank looked at Neo. "Ready? One, two, three lift!"
Axel let out a loud cry as Neo and Tank lifted his body and moved it onto the table. Trinity moved around to get a sedative out while Jax, Vector and Binary watched in silent acknowledgement: it wasn't their ship; let the others care for their wounded crewmate.
It does not escape the ever-watchful eyes of the Vigilant's crew that Trinity spares more than just one glance at Neo. Nor does it escape their eyes that he catches those glances and holds them for several moments before going back to setting Axel's leg in a brace. All three spectators knew enough about Trinity to know this man must have made more of an impact on her than any other man or woman ever has. They also knew just how hard it must be for her to even let him in after everything she had gone through.
"We'll help repair the Vigilant tomorrow, for tonight, you can rest in one of the spare rooms." Morpheus offered as he put away air-dried cups and bowls in the mess hall.
Soren glanced up at him, truly grateful. "Thank you, Morpheus. I'm just glad you got to us in time."
"I wouldn't call finding your hull ripped open like a tin can 'in time,' but if you think so, then I won't argue." Morpheus smiled gently before sitting down across from his fellow captain.
"You know, up until a week ago, many of the ships didn't believe the rumors they had heard about your new recruit. In fact, many of us actually started to believe the rumor that you were crazy was true. We didn't talk about it at the poker game because it would have only overshadowed the happiness of the time. But I ask you now, away from Zion, away from the other captains, away from our ranks, how can you come to believe in one man who is over the age limit of unplugging, who is as thin as a rail, and who still trips over the ground wires in the core?" Soren questioned Morpheus, a desire to believe in his eyes.
Morpheus looked down at the table for a moment, taking a breath, and thought over what he could say. Sure he could say what he told Neo, Trinity, hell, even the Council, but this was Soren, his longtime friend. No, long-winded speeches created to stir hope in someone was not needed, not required. Soren wanted a reason, that's all he ever wanted, and he would give one to him.
"Have you ever watched a mother care for her infant? Have you ever seen a family sit down at dinner, praying in thanks for what they have? Have you ever seen a blind man sitting out on the streets let in from the winter snow to a warm shelter? These are all blessings to see, both in the Matrix and out. They bring compassion and love into one's heart. It is because of the simplicity of the acts, the humanity in them, that we feel blessed. It is because he is human, because of his compassion and humanity that I believe in him. He could walk like a king, and yet, he gives all of his treasures to the less fortunate. Not because he thinks they are lesser than he, but because they need them more than he does. He gets along with a small pillow, three threadbare blankets, two shirts, and recycled boots from six previous crewmembers. And yet, he does not complain.
"I haven't even heard a moan from him about too much work or too few material things. He will take another person's shift in the middle of the night simply so they may get more sleep, even if it deprives him of his own. Even in the Matrix, his skills are second to our safety. I think it is because he has the constant burden that he cannot be harmed in virtual reality, and we can. A guardian angel who gives his help with no desire for thanks. He does his job tenfold without a murmur. That is why I believe in him. Not because he can fly, or stop bullets. But because, despite all of that, he remains irrevocably human. He will never let his powers get the better of him because he has too many burdens on his shoulders to let him."
Soren sat silently for moment, digesting all of what he had just heard.
"Does Trinity have any influence on his humanity?"
Morpheus blinked at the question; surprised at the way it was stated. Perhaps more surprised because of the agreement in the answer.
"She is his only weakness, I would say. When she is hurt, he may not bleed, but her pain is his pain multiplied because he must watch her suffer, he must look at the wounds. He probably would believe that any injury she sustains within the Matrix is his fault because he was not there to protect her. Which therein lies his weakness. He won't always be there to help her, and each bruise gained from his absence will only fuel his anger at the perpetrator and deepen his anguish at the sight of her pain. He loves her so deeply, I can almost believe it's wrapped around his every nerve and muscle, expanding and contracting with every action she makes."
"Does she love him as deeply?"
Morpheus took a moment to cast a look at Soren before replying. "It was prophesized that she would love the One, but I think Trinity loves the man who is the One, not the One himself."
Soren nodded, instantly understanding the deepness and complexity of the statement. Trinity was always a hard person to figure out, most knew she was a damn good soldier and left it at that. Others, like Ghost and himself, looked under the armor, behind the glasses, and saw the complex thunderstorm just waiting to be unleashed within her soul. Her eyes could hide everything but her humanity. Ghost had told him once that Trinity had said she hated her humanity and how it made her weak, but her argument was deflated when he had told her that the weakness of humanity was better than the inhuman mind of any machine.
"She could always turn heads, whether she wanted to or not. How do you know he's not just sticking around for her body?"
Morpheus quelled his initial rush of anger immediately. "Sometimes, my words cannot do justice. Tomorrow, keep your eyes open to them, both of them, not just Neo. You will most likely catch a glimpse of what I feel my words could never fully explain. What did they always say? 'You have to see it to believe it.' With that, I bid you goodnight. We all have a long day ahead of us, and I would like to be well rested." Morpheus nodded once before standing, Soren quickly following him out.