Before the One Pt. 2

The darkness overwhelmed them and the only thing they could see was smoke rising from the fallen machines.

"Please tell me they made it." Dozer whispered.

Switch turned on a small emergancy light and gave the two a reassuring look. "I'll find out."

After she had gone, Dozer and Apoc pressed their foreheads against the window and looked out, attempting to count how many sentinals were shut off.

"I see six." Apoc commented.

"I only see four. It doesn't matter, I just hope they're all right."

The electrical systems on the ship crackled to life making both Apoc and Dozer jump.

The intercom chirped and Tank's voice echoed through. "...Alive" was all they heard, but it was enough.

They leapt to their feet and ran out.

Mixed feelings were shared between them. Trinity was hurt but not badly.

Morpheus was the first to speak. "This has been difficult. It's not often that we find ourselves face to face with an agent, but it does happen. We all know this job is dangerous and we know it still isn't finished. Our job . . . our mission is to find 'the One' and get him out. We must hold to that duty. Go eat something and get some rest. We're going back in tomorrow."

As they made their way into the kitchen, Trinity hung back. "Morpheus?"

"What is it, Trinity?"

"You could take me with you tomorrow, I don't feel any pain."

"You can hardly walk!"

"But I can. Aren't I good for anything?"

"Yes, but not with a broken arm and fractured leg."

"I don't even feel it!" She balled her fists and stared straight at him.

"Trinity, calm down. I'm trying to do what's best for each of you. Right now you're hurt and I don't want to put you in a situation where you might get worse. Just trust me, Trinity, please."

He squeezed her shoulder and walked toward his room.

She sighed and went into the kitchen.

"Hey, Trin." Apoc smiled and handed her a bowl. "What took you so long?"

"I wanted to talk to Morpheus." She sat down and Dozer rested his knee on the bench next to her.

"Let me take a look." Dozer spoke softly as he rolled her sleeve up.

Trinity tried to begin a conversation to take her mind off of what was sure to hurt. "How's your family?"

"They're fine. The children have begun to read."

"That's - ow! - wonderful." She winced as he dabbed an anti-bacterial liquid on her arm.

Tank walked over and handed her a few crackers. "I've been saving these. They're hard as rock so when you bite down, it takes your mind off the pain."

Apoc grunted. "It only serves to set your mind on the bloody gums and cracked or missing teeth."

Trinity took them gratefully.

Dozer wrapped a bandage around her arm and took her hand. "I want you to lay down. It'll be easier for me to examine your leg."

Nodding, she slipped a cracker into her mouth and Dozer eased her onto the bench.

Apoc couldn't help it. He fell backwards off the bench laughing. Switch tried to pull him up, but she went over with him. Mouse jumped over the table to help them, but when he landed on the opposite bench the table tipped toward him. Dozer leaned his entire body weight on his side to keep it on the ground.

The commotion distracted Trinity just enough for Dozer to finish up.

"I'll never understand how getting hurt in the Matrix effects you here." He mumbled, helping her up.

Switch and Mouse finally managed to get Apoc to his feet and he straddled the bench. HE clasped his arms across his stomach and sighed heavily. "Thanks, Trinity. I don't think I've ever laughed so hard."

Switch pulled out a deck of cards. "Let's play before bed."

Everyone liked that idea and they gathered around the table.

Sleep came to no one that night as thoughts of agents and sentinals filled their minds.

The next morning everyone prepared for the dangerous day ahead.

Morpheus briefed Cypher who was going as Trinity's replacement. "The only change is that this time, we're going to split up to cover more ground. We need to know exactly where he is."

Cypher nodded and Tank loaded them up.

"Let's go!" Morpheus said when they got in.

Cypher and Morpheus rode off, leaving Apoc and Switch to guard the building.

"I don't see the point in standing here with a gun." Switch yawned.

"What makes you yawn inside the Matrix?"

Switch glanced over at him, a crooked and very puzzled look plastered on her face.

"There is no point. If an agent comes, we'll empty our guns or we'll run for it. Either way, we die."

She shook her head and smiled. "You are very strange."

Cypher crept up to a government buildng and slipped inside. He shuffled through the metel detector and the guards ignored him. He hurried past the foundational posts that lined the walls of the main lobby. He reached the elevator and slammed the button. The doors slid open and he went in.

When he got to the 16th floor, he walked to the farthest door on the left and knocked.

"Yes?" The voice was cool and precise.

"I have information you may want." Cypher spoke.

Footsteps approached and the door awung open revealing a man wearing a dark suit and dark glasses. "Tell me."

"I want something in return."

"I don't know if I can trust you." The man began to close the door.

"Fine. I'll tell you a little and you'll see that you can trust me."

"If you are able to prove yourself, then we will make a deal."

"What do you want to know?" Cypher held his concentration. Betraying his friends shouldn't be this hard. He felt as though they knew and were disapointed.

"Who is their next target?"

"I'll get you that information when I'm safely outside the Matrix. Then we'll see what you think of my loyalties."

The agent nodded and shut the door leaving Cypher to find Morpheus.

Apoc paced restlessly while Switch played with the floor board on the porch.

"Why do you find that so fascinating?" Apoc rested his chin on her shoulder.

"I think we're being watched."

"You're paranoid, my dear. Leave it alone. They should be back soon." He pulled her to her feet and leaned to kiss her. Just then Cypher and Morpheus pulled up.

Morpheus hurried inside, but Cypher lingered.

"Were you going to kiss her?"

"Cypher!" Switch hollered and she followed Morpheus.

"What difference does it make to you?" Apoc tapped his gun on Cypher's head and he went in.

Later that evening, Morpheus allowed Trinity to go inside of the Matrix.

"We may know where he is now, but he is still unaware of our presence. In fact, his mind may be too old to release."

"I know. I'm just . . . curious."

"Be careful. He helped her into the chair and Tank plugged her in.

As her mind entered the Matrix, Cypher sent an encoded message to floor 16 of a government building.

"I'm in." She said as she picked up the phone.

When she hung it up again, she worked her way into a computer system. She picked through codes easily and was soon inside Neo's computer.

"Anderson." She mumbled. "Thomas. Very nice."

The phone rang again.

"You're not supposed to relieve me." She said, almost annoyed.

"I know, but I felt like taking a shift. You like watching him don't you?"

"Morpheus believes he is the One."

"We're gonna kill him. You know that right?"

They're conversation continued for a few more moments when Trinity heard something.

"Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"Are you sure this line is secure?"

"Of course I'm sure."

"I better go."

A few moments later a group of police officers rushed in. Jumping up she kicked one of them into the wall. Lifting a chair she took out another. One pulled a gun on her and shot it as she ran up the wall and down toward him. She grabbed his arm and shot the remainder. Once again she was alone.

Opening her phone, she called Morpheus. "Are there any agents?"

"Yes." Came the worried answer. He gave her directions to the nearest exit and she took off.

When she got there, the sound of screeching tires filled the air. A large truck driven by one of the agents spun around the corner.

She looked straight ahead toward a phone booth; she could make it. She ttok off and reached it just in time for the truck to come smashing through it.

"She got out."

"It doesn't matter." Came the voice of the agent Cypher made his deal with . . .

(Concluded in "Matrix The Movie")