Chapter 6

Before going to her bedroom, Eternity passed through the Temple. The music was loud and everyone was dancing. 'Now, this feels like home' she thought.

Eternity took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

'I missed you.'

'Yeah, I can tell…'

'I was thinking… everybody else is here'

'Follow me.'

She opened her eyes, revealing two sapphire crystals 'Soon - very soon - everyone will be at home'.

Eternity made her way to her room. However, she noticed that someone was chasing her 'Can I help you Captain?'

Kid got out of a dark corner and asked 'How did you do that?'

'I've had people pursuing me since I was very young. I know when I'm being followed' she answered, watching the city from the balcony.

'Yeah, well…a… Crush won't get out of his bed for days…' Kid commented.

'I warned him… if you play with fire, you get burned' she stated.

Suddenly, Eternity became serious and looked at Kid straight in the eyes 'What do you want?'

'I…' Kid looked embarrassed. 'I wanted to know if the rumors are truth…'

'What rumors?' she quietly asked.

'Well… I heard that you have been unplugged for a couple of days…'

'It's true, then.'

Kid looked at her and his jaw dropped 'I mean… and you already can kick Ghost's ass… you should have worked a lot…'

'I've been training all my life.'

The Captain of The One didn't know what that meant, however he decided to ignore it for now 'What about your hair? It looks like you've been unplugged for, at least, four months…'

'As a matter of fact, I am out for a little more than twenty-four hours.'

Kid opened his eyes, with amusement.

'Don't look at me like that. It's nothing, compared to what He did' she whispered firmly, not taking her eyes out of the city lights.

The eighteen year old boy was surprised. He wasn't aware that Eternity already knew about Neo. Kid's big eyes fixed the ground 'Sparks says that you've seen the Oracle. Did She tell you something… about Him?

The newbie closed her eyes and took a deep breath 'You still believe, don't you?'

He looked at her seriously and he determinedly affirmed 'Yes, I do! I have always believed and I won't stop believing it until I have proves against it.'

She slightly smiled 'Yes' she answered.

'Yes, what?' Kid curiously asked.

'She talked to me about Neo.'

There was a long silence between them. The city was calm, since everyone was in the party.

'I can't sleep'

'It's a good sign'

'A sign of what?'

'That you are still human'

Eternity turned to Kid and looked deeply at him. For the first time, she realized that War had been a reality. She realized that this kid had grown faster than he was meant to…

'She told me that light was about to return. Don't lose hope.' And with that, she got inside her quarters.

Next morning, Morpheus was packing his things when he felt Niobe's eyes fixed on the back of his skull.

'What is it?' he asked, turning to her.

'She told you something.'

'And Ghost told you something' he retorted.

'You can't hide it from me' she warned.

'Neither can you.'

'Fortunately, some things in this world never change' she remembered.

He smiled 'Those disks have info about two plugged-in people'.

'Who?' she asked, slightly curious.

'She tells me we're not ready.'

For some reason, Niobe wasn't very surprised. 'Why does she want to get in?'

'No human can decode the disks. She told me we need a program to do it' Morpheus informed, saving a shirt inside the bag.

'I hope it doesn't work for the Merovingian' she took a deep breath, sitting on the bed

'I don't know, but I've got a feeling she knows him.' he confessed.

'How come?' Niobe asked for an explanation.

'It's just a feeling' Morpheus admitted.

'And why are you packing in a hurry?' she noticed as he put another pair of pants inside the carrier.

'Because I want to leave as soon as possible.'

'I hope you know it won't be that soon…' she advised.

'Yeah, I know. The Council wants to see her in a few hours…' Morpheus remembered, worried.

'But you didn't want them to have contact with her' she observed.

'Not so soon. It may be dangerous…'

'For whom?' Niobe asked, now, helping Morpheus packing.

'Everyone. Us, them and her' he let her know.

Niobe moved her eyes from her task, and looked at Morpheus 'Why do you think that?'

'We don't know everything about her, yet. So, I don't think that she will tell the Council what they want to know. In addition, they may think that she is some kind of… anomaly…' Morpheus' eyes were unfocused.

'They know it's not possible, and so do we' she affirmed strongly.

Morpheus nodded, resigned.

There was silence for a moment, but she decided to break it 'Did Lock talk to you?'

'No, he hasn't… at least not yet.'

'Last time, you had an excuse. What will he do this once?' she wondered out loud.

'I have no idea' he half laughed.

Niobe chuckled out loud.

Morpheus seemed to be amazed 'What is it?'

'Well, I don't know what will happen, now. But I know that he was really pissed, last time…' she remembered.

The Captain of the Nebuchadnezzar, nodded with pleasure 'Oh, yes, he was'.

A few hours later, Morpheus, Niobe and Eternity were sitting outside the Council Chamber, waiting for the young girl to be called in.

'Are you going inside, too?' she asked.

'Yes, we are' Niobe answered.

Then, Commander Lock passed through them, in the direction of the Council Chamber's door, not looking at the crew of the Nebuchadnezzar.

Morpheus took a look at Niobe and she nodded.

'Jason' she called, going to talk with him.

Dreadbolt looked at her, despicably 'Second-in-command Niobe', evidencing her lower rank.

'We have an audience with the Council' Niobe started.

'Well, SOLDIER, matters that concern the security of this city are more important than…' he looked pass Niobe, at Morpheus and Eternity '… whatever you have to say'. And with that, he got inside the Chamber.

Niobe glared at him and the door closed. She went back, near her Captain and the newbie. 'It may be an emergency' she informed.

'That means that he will be there for a long time. Am I right?' Eternity noticed.

Morpheus exchanged a look with Niobe.

'How long do these meetings of his last? Two hours?' Morpheus asked.

'Usually three' Niobe corrected.

'What do we do, Captain?' Eternity asked.

'I'll have a conversation with the one who's in charge here' he said, walking to talk with a colonel, near the entrance of the room.

There was silence for a moment, then Eternity observed 'It's true, then'.

You used to be with Lock she thought.

'What?' Niobe curiously asked the newbie.

'Nothing' she answered. 'I was just thinking out loud.'

Morpheus came back 'We can go away, since we get back in an hour and a half'.

'Are you sure you want to do this?' Niobe asked a little unsure.

'Yes' Morpheus answered.

'OK. Where do you wanna go?' she typed a few keys, on the keyboard.

'I think we will be fine in the dojo' he told her, by his cell phone.

After pressing "Enter", Niobe watched the monitor of the Nebuchadnezzar that showed Eternity and Morpheus standing in a dojo.

'I don't know why, but I've got a feeling that you will get hurt, Morpheus' she thought.