Chapter 16

She Isn't the Only Dreamer

"Friggin' great!" Faith exclaimed.

Neo groaned as he searched for a way out of this mess as Trans glanced over the edge of the building.

"What cha looking at?" Faith asked quietly.

"The subway system runs under here. Yo, Neo, when's the next train?"

"Twenty minutes," Neo replied without a pause.

"Good boy," Faith commented as she took Trans' hand.

Neo grasped the changeling's hand and all three leaned back and fell off the building. With Trans' help, they slipped straight through the cement and landed in a dark dank subway tunnel.

Faith flipped her phone open.

Oz glanced at the screen as the trio appeared on the roof, "it's a trap isn't it?"

"Looks like," Kale spoke.

Oz turned and ran toward the cockpit where Ivy was awaiting orders. "How far?"

"They seemed to have split into teams, Morpheus must be near by."

"How far?"

"Four miles," Ivy yelled back.

"El, guns," Oz yelled knowing that El was still standing with Kale, "Frost, engine room, Kale, do we have Twitch yet?"

There was a loud gasp, and then Twitch spoke, "that was close."

Oz stepped over and unhooked him. "Engine room, sentinels are coming."

Twitch sat up, "aye, aye Capitan!"

Neo started to lead the way out of the tunnel when it started to shake.

"Shit!" Faith yelled.

Trans grabbed them and pushed them into a wall as an express train rushed by.

"They're on to us." Neo spoke as they emerged from the wall after the train had passed.

"Yeah, well we don't have much time Sentinels are attacking our ships we have to go!" Faith replied as she started running for the nearest platform. Once they got back to the platform, they ran straight up the stairs to find SWAT teams and police waiting for them.

"Got anymore tricks?" Faith asked Trans.

"Jump and we'll see."

Neo started to bend his knees to jump when he felt a great burst of power, he let it build up and then explode. With the explosion he shot straight upward pulling the other two with him. He could hear Faith cursing below him.

"Head west," Trans yelled.

"Morpheus!" Tank screamed.

Morpheus jumped down along with Trinity to see Tank pointing at the screen before him. "How is he doing that?" Tank asked.

"Because he's the one." Trinity spoke.

"He can fly?" Kale exclaimed.

Oz just stared at the screen.

"How?"

"He's a changeling?" Oz whispered.

"Are you asking me or telling me?"

"Both."

Neo felt the power rush through him, but he also felt Trans squeezing him hand so tightly that he might fracture Neo's hand.

"Hey, super boy, we have to head east!" Faith yelled.

Neo changed direction with ease and glanced down at Faith. She was staring at the city below her. He wished she would look up at him, but she didn't. He wondered about her, why had the Oracle only wanted to see her and not him? What did the Oracle say? He glanced down and saw the pay phone they were looking for. He landed in front of it as it began to ring. Faith took it and handed it to Trans.

"What did she say, I have to know." Neo demanded as Trans dematerialized.

She hung up the phone. "No, you don't, but the labyrinth is not for you it's for me. This is your world, out there is mine. She'll contact when she's ready right now, she's in hiding, why I don't know."

It rang again and she handed it to Neo, "your crew is in trouble hurry."

Neo awoke to see Tank blasting at a squid, Tank glanced back. "He's out!" He screamed.

Trinity yanked the plug from Neo's head and then ran for the guns on the roof. Neo leaped out of the chair to help Tank when the machine was hit by the electrical charge. The machine was shocked, shut-down, and fell. Neo rushed to pull Tank out of the way. As he pulled him away Neo felling something wet and sticky, Neo laid Tank on the floor to see a large gash in Tank's gut.

"You're safe, that's all that matters." Tank gasped.

"No, it's not." Neo said as he tried to bandage Tank.

"Give it up, I'm dying."

"No, you can't, not like this."

"Neo, take care of them, they believe in you." Tank sighed and closed his eyes.

"Tank! Tank!"

Morpheus and Trinity dropped down next to Neo.

Faith glanced up at Kale, "did he get out in time?"

"I don't know, an EMP just went off so I guess so."

"Faith, guns!" They heard Oz yell from above.

Faith leaped out of the chair and leaped straight up to the upper deck. She sat next to El. "Any get past you yet?"

"Nope."

Faith swung her chair around and waited.

Oz glanced down and watched the screen clear. The threat had been neutralized, but at what cost. "Ivy, find them."

Everything was silent as Morpheus wrapped Tank's body in a blanket and moved it to Tank's room. THUNK! Neo and Trinity glanced at the ceiling before running to the gun deck. As they got there they could hear voices above them at the exit hatch.

"Think anyone's alive?"

"Possible, if not we have to take this back to Zion, report casualties and such."

"Scratch, I don't want to see bodies, it makes me queasy."

Trinity picked up a hand-held tazer gun.

"You hear some'n."
The hatch was unlocked and opened. A man's head popped in, his eyes widened at the sight of the gun.

"Whoa, Scavengers, here, we saw you get attacked, just here to help."

"Scavengers?" Neo asked.

"Yup, just here to help."

"Where was your help when we were getting attacked?" Trinity asked glaringly.

"Out here shooting, what were you doing?"

"Probably waiting for someone to pop out," the other Scavenger replied from outside.

The one with his head in the hatch sighed. "Want to come out, we'll show you the guns." He pulled himself out of the hole. Trinity put the gun down and followed. Neo followed her. They stood on the roof of the ship and looked at the wall of the tunnel. There in holes and large cracks were men and women with guns and harpoons. Most were watching them, while others were reloading their guns and repairing things.

"Trinity! Neo!" They could hear Morpheus calling.

"Up here, el Capitan!" The one named Scratch called down into the hatch.

Morpheus appeared a minute later. "Who are you?"

"Rat and Scratch, scavengers extraordinaires at your service," Scratch replied.

"Well, more like at ours." Rat mumbled and was poked in the ribs by Scratch.

"Scavengers, so I assume you need something?"

"What we can't be concerned for your safety, and ask why you alerted the machines to our presence here?" Scratch asked.

Morpheus just glared at him.

"Fine, we'll ask the other ship for a ride." Rat added.

"What other ship?" Morpheus asked as he climbed up onto the roof.

"That one," Rat replied pointing to his right.

All heads turned to see the Apollo's Chariot hovering nearby. The top hatch opened and Faith emerged.

"You all alright?" She yelled.

Morpheus glared at her.

"Just dandy, milady." Rat yelled back.

"Oz, wants to know if you need at tow back."

"We are fine." Morpheus spoke.

"You guys need a ride," she asked the two scavengers.

They looked back at Morpheus.

He glared at Faith, "no, they will be returning with us."

She waved and then hopped back into the ship; the hatch closed behind her.

Neo ignored them and climbed back inside. He needed a nap. He entered his room and closed and locked the door. He laid down, pulled the blanket over his head and fell asleep.

He found himself in an icy cave lit by balls of fire hanging down from the ceiling. Facing him was a block of ice with an object sticking out of it. Before he could get closer to see what it was, a petite blonde woman appeared in front of it. She stood with her hands behind her back and wore a face of pure mockery. "So you're the One? I don't feel any power. No real strength, I understand the slayer, but you're just second rate."

"Who are you?" He asked.

"Me? I'm the whisper in the dark, the evil essence, the devil on your shoulder, invincible, indestructible, forever," she spoke with a sneer.

"Nothing is forever." He rebutted.

"Nothing tangible," she replied.

Before he could ask, she punched her right hand right through his chest. He felt nothing; it was like a ghost passing through him.

"Nothing tangible," she repeated. Then before his eyes, she morphed into Tank. "I have no form, no true form that you can conceive. Human eyes cannot comprehend my true form."

"So what are you?"

"She knows, she's battled my forces, she might even resurrect them."

"Why?"

"To continue to exist, to help you; you are part of her. You must learn to feel her, as a child can feel its mother in the womb."

Neo leaped out of bed, Morpheus stood before him. "I need you to help me start up the engine."

Neo shook his head, but heard a faint whisper behind him. "Feel her as you feel me," he turned but there was nothing there.

"Neo, what is it?"

Neo turned back around. "The whisper in the dark," he replied.

"Nonsense, that's some ridiculous changeling story."

"Morpheus, I am a changeling!"

"No, you're the One."

"I'm both, the son of a changeling and the fulfillment of the prophecy."

"Who gave these ideas? Faith, did Faith tell you this junk?"

"The whisper in the dark; haven't you figured it out? In there only the changelings believe in prophecies anymore, yet you claim that I fulfill one. Figure it out, Morpheus!"

Rat and Scratch stood just outside the door listening to them argue.

"The whisper in the dark," Neo replied.

"Nonsense, that's some ridiculous changeling story." Morpheus scoffed.

"Scratch, isn't that the story the Out Landers are always talking about?" Rat asked nervously.

"Yeah, real spooky business," Scratch replied.

"So it's been talking to the One? Is that good?"

"Doubt it, the whisper in the dark is supposed to be like evil."

"Thought so," Rat was silent for a minute. "So what's going on?"

"I'm both, the son of a changeling and the fulfillment of the prophecy." Neo yelled.

"Who gave these ideas? Faith, did Faith tell you this junk?" Morpheus sounded angry.

"I don't know, but I think we just signed onto the loony ship." Scratch replied.

"I should have never suggested we help these freaks." Rat mumbled.

"No, you really shouldn't." Scratch agreed. "We should have went with the slayer."

"Yeah, she was hot."

Trinity listened to the conversations. She worried about Neo; he had a lot on his shoulders. Whether Morpheus was right or wrong, it doesn't matter this is Neo's fight. It was for him to figure out. The 'whisper in the dark' part scared Trinity, she too had heard the conversations. The Out Landers were important people in Zion; they had actually evolved. They weren't human and they weren't changelings, they were something else. They barely visited Zion, because the heat was too much for them. They were a mystery. Some in Zion think they protected a weapon for the One. Others think they are guarding something from the humans, something evil and dangerous. There are rumors that say that if anyone were to ever come for what the Out Landers protect they will have to pass a series of trials first.

"I don't know, but I think we just signed onto the loony ship." Scratch replied.

"I should have never suggested we help these freaks." Rat mumbled.

She smiled, out of all of the different groups in Zion; she had considered asking to join the Scavengers. They reminded her of gypsies, not in a bad way either. They were a very close knit group, like a family. She missed that feeling. She wondered if Rat and Scratch were brothers.

Suddenly the door to Neo's room swung open with a bang. Trinity turned to see Morpheus shocked that everyone was standing outside. He had only taken two steps out the door when Neo yanked it closed behind Morpheus with another loud bang. Trinity ignored Morpheus and headed for the bridge. She sat down and turned to see Rat had followed her.

"So he's the boss?" Rat asked.

"Yes, he's the captain."

"And the whiner is the One?"

Trinity restarted the ship and set a course for Zion, "Yes."

"So what does that make you?"

"First officer and Neo's girlfriend."

"Never had a captain," Rat replied.

"So who's in charge?" Trinity asked.

"Anyone, but the machines," he replied, "when it comes to survival, there's no time for politics; probably why the council barely stands us. Sides Scratch is the only captain I need."

Trinity smiled, "so are you brothers?"

"Yup, they wanted just him, but he wouldn't go without me."

"Why did they just want him?" Trinity asked as she steered the ship around a bend.

"Scratch built harpoons for fishermen. They were spring loaded ones, but his were too powerful, used to rip straight through a fish. He was coming home from the docks one night, when he saw and agents fighting someone. He said it was an instinct."

"What?"

"He fired a harpoon at the agent, he said it was an instinct to shoot the agent and not the other guy. He hit the agent and killed the body it possessed. The guy asked Scratch to come with him, but he refused without me. The guy was uneasy about it, but said to meet him later. We came, I was skeptical, but if it meant getting out of that rundown poor town then I would do it. They put us through matrix training like everyone else, but we kept failing, so we got this instead. More fun anyway."

Trinity smiled as she steered the ship around another turn.

Neo stared up at the ceiling, angry at Morpheus; when a shiver of cold passed over him. He felt a warmth next to him, but saw nothing. The figure from the dream popped into his mind, "feel her". There was no one there, but he still felt an odd warmth next to him.
Faith lay on the floor under a gun adjusting the seat, she couldn't wait to get back to Zion so they could go and find what the Oracle told her about. She was feeling useless, a huntress without prey, a slayer without a demon to chase. Only in prison did she ever feel like this, but even then she had some way to take out her frustration. Whether it was proving herself to the other inmates or working her stress off out in the yard. Here it was too confined and claustrophobic. She put the tools down, without a way to blow off this energy she just wanted to sleep. She rolled onto her side and closed her eyes, in her mind she saw Neo laying on his bunk staring up at the ceiling. Her eyes popped open, maybe she'd sleep later.
I don't actually know how Tank died, but he must have since he wasn't in any other movies. I know this chapter was kinda blah, but the next chapters will be better promise, with less Neo and more Faith. Cause I don't want to end up rewriting the movies.