DISCLAIMER: The Matrix Characters and the Universe are not mine.

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MATRIX 4: RESURRECTION by -yannik-

TRUTH OR DARE

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This time Neo responded.

She held her breath, as she felt his lips part slightly. She wasn't sure – did he really move? Or did she just imagine that.

But right then she realized that Machines wanted her to get back into VR, so something must have happened. She plugged in…

… and saw Neo sitting on his bed.

Not paying attention to Phoebe whatsoever, she run to Neo, and clung to him like a grapevine. He sat motionless for a second, and then he let his arms engulf her, clutching her ever harder, and he whispered her name "Trin" with such a shuddered voice, she got frightened something bad happened. They parted, and she looked deep into his eyes.

"He just woke up" Phoebe interrupted, but they paid no notice. "I thought you wanted to know that."

"You're alive" Neo whispered, holding her face in his palms.

All she was able to do was nod, voice stuck in her throat. Oh, there was time for explanation, for everything… later. Now she just wanted to feel his presence.

"You touched him in the real world, didn't you?" Phoebe continued not abashed. "Human touch – that was the key."

Finally she reached her goal – they noticed her. Or at least Neo did, and he responded – with a question:

"We're in the matrix now, aren't we?"

"Not in the matrix, but in similar program. Yes."

"And our bodies?…" his gaze went to Trinity for a second, but he was most definitely asking Phoebe. "We're somewhere in the machine city?"

"That's right."

"And, uh…" he hesitated, looked down. And when he rose his sight again and continued, Trinity could swear this was not what he initially wanted to ask about. "What about the war? Smith?"

"The war is over" Phoebe answered with a tone as calm, as only machine could master. "He's been deleted."

"Zion?" All the right questions. As Phoebe started answering, Trinity couldn't help to think, that the program-woman was much more satisfied with this one conversation with Neo, than whole weeks with her. Which wasn't bad after all.

"We don't know what's been happening in Zion ever since the war ended" Phoebe explained. "And that is part of the problem. We wanted to release some of your people from the matrix – those who wanted that. But we cannot, since nobody from Zion entered the matrix since the end of the war. That's why we want you to go back to Zion, and find out what's happening there. Then you must enter the matrix and inform us."

"We can leave?"

"Yes. Your hovercraft is repaired, and loaded. All you need to do is improve your physical strength. It shouldn't take more than a few days. You must spend more time in the real world however."

Neo gazed back to Trinity

"She's been badly hurt" he said under his breath.

"She's okay now. We healed her."

He just kept looking, as though expecting something from her. And Trinity knew just what he wanted to hear. But she couldn't make herself say that. Instead she just looked back at him, without a smile, without any emotional response marking her features.

"That's… " Neo breathed. "That's great."

And then he turned to Phoebe again, trying to delay the inevitable.

"What are you going to do about all those people still plugged into the matrix?" he asked.

"We intend to set some of them free – those who want that" she explained, her calmness only slightly altered. "And we are trying to find another energy source now. It's a complex case, but we are patient."

"Good."

There wasn't anything more to say, or to ask. Phoebe eyed them both cautiously, before repeating her request:

"You should wake up in the real now."

"Wait!" Neo tried nonetheless. At least he could be prepared. "What about my wounds?" he asked, struggling to sound steady.

"You mean your eyes?" Phoebe aimed straight to point, with complete lack of compassion. No human emotions. "I'm sorry. We were unable to find any solution about that."

"Okay…" Neo sighed. "Let's wake up then."

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Neo could see. He could see all the wonders of the machine city, all the life pulsing there in golden, shiny currents. But he couldn't see Trinity any longer, and that was the only sight he was craving for right now. There was only this vague shape of a human body, a shade against surrounding brightness.

"I'm so glad you're back. I was scared I'd have to go to Zion alone…" He heard her voice. He saw the shade growing bigger. And then he felt her arms around him.

This was how it was supposed to be now?

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It was only few days, but Neo had to admit his strength had returned. They sat in this white, bright room again, after Phoebe informed them about all the actions they were supposed to undertake, in order to restore communication between Zion and the machines. They needed communication to be restored. And Neo understood it was important, but… He didn't want to go back there. He disliked weird visions the real world offered him now, and used any opportunity to escape into this virtual environment. Trinity was opposing at first, but eventually she joined him, and they were both spending their resting hours in a clean room, where he could absorb the view of her face, of her body sleeping next to him.

He needed to see her.

And not just her…

And that was soon to be taken away from him.

"It's time" Phoebe announced.

"All right then." Trinity was more than ready to leave the Machine City behind. "Let's go!"

"I don't know" Neo said, startling even himself. He never thought he'd be actually able to say that.

Both Trinity and Phoebe looked at him – Trinity surprised, even angry a little, Phoebe only slightly amused. And they were both waiting for an explanation.

"I don't want to go" Neo started explaining. "I'm not ready. Phoebe, we'll need some more time before we go. Trin, I'm sorry. I know how much you wanted to go back…" he wanted to apologize, but Phoebe interrupted him.

"And so she will. If you're not ready to go, you may stay, but one of you must go."

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t.b.c.

Please, let me know what you think.