Chapter 5

'Doors opened, beds made… welcome home'

'Thank you Control. It's good to be home' Niobe answered as the doors of gate three were opened and Zion was revealed.

'Zion' Eternity muttered.

'We're home…' Morpheus said.

Morpheus went to show Eternity Zion and her quarters, when suddenly…

'Morpheus!'

'Hey Kid.'

'Hello I … Holy Christ!' Kid started thinking that he was in heaven, and Trinity was with him.

'Kid, this is our newbie, Eternity. Eternity, this is Kid, Captain of the One.'

Eternity nodded seriously.

'Well… I had just wanted to tell you that the Horus, the Zeus and the Hammer are in Zion too and there will be a meeting tonight before the party.'

'We'll be there' Morpheus assured.

'Good… see you later then' and Kid went away.

'Isn't he too young to be a Captain?' Eternity asked.

'A little, but he's a good fighter' Morpheus answered. 'Here we are. This is your room. I'm with Niobe on this level too. If you need something, just ask.' And with that he turned around.

'Wait.'

Morpheus faced her.

'I need to tell you… Those disks have information about the life of two plugged-in people… We have to get them out' she informed, not too sure of herself.

Morpheus looked surprised at her 'Why do we have to go inside the Matrix?'

'There is only one person that can decrypt those files entirely… it's a program… his name is Kript. He's the best' she said.

'May I ask why you're telling me this?'

'I told you I don't believe in any of this fate crap. I just don't tell you more because I'm sure you're not ready. It's difficult, but you have to trust me…' she assured.

'I do. See you later' he went away.

That evening, the chamber which was known as the "crews' room" was full.

While the captains were talking, men fighting and seconds-in-command drinking, the crew of the Nebuchadnezzar got in.

'Morpheus… you're here at last' a woman greeted.

'It's good to be here, Orion.'

'Hey, Ghost ol' buddy'

'A newbie, Niobe?'

'Ariel, this is Eternity.'

After a few more compliments and introductions, Eternity sat down alone with a drink in her hand.

Kid had just lost the iron arm against Niobe for the tenth time and Roland was getting bored, so he got up and announced 'Hey, everybody what about a real fight, uh? We haven't seen someone in the arena for a long time… Ghost, this time there's no possible escape…'

Ghost shook his head, while voices around them were rising.

'What happened?' Eternity murmured to Link.

'After his sister died, he just fought for need inside the matrix.'

Link said that to avoid his own pain. What he didn't know was that Eternity knew exactly who he was referring to. Trinity she thought, while getting up.

'Ghost…' she headed to him. 'I'll fight you.'

'Uhhh, the newbie has some guts and what a nice as…' a guy named Crush said.

'Say that and your mouth will never say anything again' she menaced, at the same time as glaring at him. He shut up.

Eternity looked at Ghost and advised 'I won't let you win'.

'That, dear newbie, is typical from the members of my sex into the member of your sex to join into playing' he retorted.

Eternity looked slightly surprised and said 'Oh yes. You've done it. You'll eat those words and half the rocks of that garden'.

There was peace for a couple of seconds. Eternity and Ghost were gazing at each other. How is this possible he silently asked himself… Alright, let's see how much she knows…

'C'mon Eternity, make me' he accept the challenge.

Eternity nodded and went with him to the processing unit.

Everyone was excited and talking.

'Morpheus, where did you find her?'

'Is she nuts?'

'I'll bet on Ghost'

'If I were you, I would think twice before doing anything,' Sparks advised.

The Zen Garden materialized around Ghost and Eternity.

'Looks like you're lucky. There are lots of rocks here' Eternity commented, assuming an attack position.

Ghost nodded and the battle began. Eternity attacked with a couple of punches easily defended by Ghost. He took the opportunity and kicked her hard on the ribs. She pulled back a little, regaining her position. He continued his offensive and tried to punch her quickly on the nose. But she was faster, avoiding it and sending him several meters back with only one kick.

'Wow… ah Link… do you think that there is any possibility for me to take back my bet on Ghost?' Kid asked, looking with disbelief at the screen in front of him.

'Sorry Kid, but a bet's a bet. And I'm goin' to win a lot betting on Eternity' he grinned.

Ghost was trying to get up, when Eternity came through the air, kicking him with her special kick (or Trinity's?). Ghost was thrown against the wall. She came to him and instead of attacking him, she offered her hand to help him getting up.

'Can you continue?' she asked.

'Continue? Jeez, I haven't been beaten like that in years' he answered, accepting her help to get up.

'Sorry. I guess that I've a lot of pent-up frustration' she apologized.

Ghost curiously looked at her 'I'm happy to serve you as your punching bag anytime'.

She slightly smiled 'Appreciate the offer'.

When they got out of the artificial garden, everyone was chatting and Eternity received couples of compliments like 'You're a hell of a fighter, yah know?' or 'Well, I won't be stupid enough to fight you'. Link and Sparks started kidding with her and Niobe called Ghost so they could have a private conversation.

'Ok, now tell me, what the hell happened there?' she asked.

'She is really good, Captain. I've never been beaten like that' he replied.

'You know what I'm talking about… So I'll ask again: what happened there?'

Ghost took a deep breath 'She knows things that nobody else knows…'

'What kinds of things?' she inquired.

'She tells me things that Trinity used to tell me…' he murmured 'And I'm sure it's not a coincidence'.

Niobe stayed quiet for some minutes… 'This girl is too damn much like her…'

'Indeed she is' Ghost confirmed, taking a look at Eternity in the exact same moment that…

'I bet that I can take you!' the guy named Crush shouted.

'No you can't. At least while you're drunk' Roland noticed.

'Yes I can. C'mon here, sweetheart… you've got a nice ass.'

Eternity took a look at him and obeyed. She went to him and when she was one step away from him, she put her fist on his face with all her strength.

He fell to the ground unconscious.

Everyone stopped and there was a freezing silence. Eternity turned to face Morpheus and said 'If you need me Captain, you know where I will be'. And with that, she got out of the room.