5. Training Session
As Enigma helps Neo sits down, Tank quickly sits on the Operator's chair, checking all sorts of data they had. "Now, we're supposed to start with these operation programs first, that's major boring shit. Let's do something a little more fun."
"What about combat training?" Enigma proposed, taking a CD that says 'Jujitsu'.
"Jujitsu? I'm going to learn Jujitsu?" Neo asked, disbelieving. Tank quickly uploaded anything related to Jujitsu into Neo's head. "Holy shit," he mumbled.
"Hey, Enigma. I think he likes it," Tank chuckles. "How about some more?"
"Hell yes."
▪︎1001▪︎
Ten hours later, Morpheus found Tank on the main deck. Enigma sleeps peacefully beside him. "How is he?"
"Ten hours straight," Tank denoted. "He's a machine."
Gasps, Neo opens his eyes. "I know Kung Fu."
Morpheus glances. "Show me."
As Tank helps Morpheus jacked in, Enigma slowly wakes up. "What happens?" She mumbled, still sleepy before her eyes caught something on a monitor. "Holy moly," she blurted before grinning. Oh, this is gonna be so fun.
"This is a sparring program," Morpheus explained inside Construct that has changed into the dojo. "Similar to the programmed reality of the Matrix. It has the same basic rules, rules like gravity. What you must learn is that these rules are no different than the rules of a computer system. Some of them can be bent. Others can be broken. Understand?"
Neo nods.
"Then hit me. If you can."
Both immediately go into their position, ready to fight.
"Hey, what's up?" Mouse approaches them. Enigma simply points out the screen where Neo and Morpheus try to punch each other. "Holy shit," he reacted before leaving. Enigma can guess he'll tell everyone in Neb with this fight. It's too entertaining to be missed, after all. Especially when new mates start their first training with Morpheus.
She remembered her first training as well. Even though she was only five, Morpheus didn't underestimate her when they fought, although he refrained from harming Enigma. Of course, in the end, she lost. But he and others complimented Enigma's skill and determinism, which makes Enigma always happy whenever she trains at the dojo with the rest of the crew.
"Good," Morpheus stated. "Adaptation, improvisation. But your weakness... is not your technique."
Neo slightly nods before giving him another attack.
Enigma admits, even though Neo is new and amateur, his fighting style is impressive. He can easily dodge and lay an attack in a quick manner that takes quite some time to improve. And part of her also smiles a bit when others, who already observe this fight, also enjoy this fight.
"Whoa," she reacted, awe, as Neo walks into a wall, flipping backward in a graceful way... before Morpheus sends a kick at his stomach, hitting him onto a wooden pillar. Enigma winces, remembering the pain of getting hit as well.
"How did I beat you?" Morpheus simply asked.
Neo didn't answer for a moment, trying to breathe out, tired. "You're too fast."
"Do you believe that my being stronger or faster has anything to do with my muscles in this place?" He asked before leaning. "You think that's air you're breathing now? Again."
As Neo and Morpheus attack each other again, Mouse whispered. "Jesus Christ, he's fast. Take a look at his neural kinetics, they're way above normal."
"Come on," Enigma pleaded as they stop for a moment. She can feel a hand touching her shoulder. Trinity's. "You can do it, Neo."
"What are you waiting for? You're faster than this," Morpheus alluded. "Don't think you are. Know you are."
They resume their fight. Enigma spots how different Neo's fighting style is from before. He seems much calmer and in control.
"Come on! Stop trying to hit me and hit me."
For several moments they keep attacking and dodge each other's movement. Although now, Enigma can see Morpheus had some trouble keeping up with Neo's attack. It wasn't until Neo gives a quick punch in the air that surprises them all.
"I don't believe it," Mouse mused.
Enigma smiles, looking at Trinity. "That was cool."
Trinity gives a small nod but didn't say anything as they all watch the dojo replacing it with a tall building, listening to Morpheus's explanation to Neo regarding the Jump Program.
"So what if he makes it?" Mouse pondered.
"No one's ever made the first jump," Tank remarked.
"Enigma did."
"Yeah... and proceed to destroyed half of Construct," Enigma added, looking down. Similar to what Neo did before, She also did one impossible thing that normal newbies were unable to do. Namely, made the first jump. But it cost quite a problem within the ship's system later on. She's not particularly happy with that.
"But what if he does?" Mouse still asked.
Apoc shook his head. "He won't."
"Come on."
"Come on," Trinity said, almost like hoping something else.
They all watch as Neo takes some step backward, running as fast as he can, jumping away... and failing miserably with landing on a street.
"Ouchie," the blonde girl responded, hearing a soft disappointed sigh coming from her mother as she left quietly. The girl wants to reach over her, asking what's wrong. But knowing Trinity, she needs time to be alone.
"Wha... what does that mean?" Mouse wondered.
"It doesn't mean anything," Switch said.
"Everybody falls the first time," Cypher commented. "Right, Trin?"
As everyone left the main deck, Tank and Enigma gently unplug Neo and Morpheus. As Neo frowns, Enigma approaches him. "What's wrong?"
He touches something inside his mouth before letting his finger out, spotting blood. Ah, that's why.
"I thought it wasn't real," Neo recalled.
"Your mind makes it real," Morpheus responded, standing beside him.
"If you're killed in the Matrix, you die here?"
"The body cannot live without the mind."
Enigma grimaces, remembering how she almost got killed inside the Matrix two years ago. Had Seraph and others didn't react quickly, she might never set a foot in this world forever.
"Want to see something else?" Enigma offered.
Neo smiles. "Sure."
▪︎1001▪︎
Later, at night, Trinity takes a tray of food Dozer made and steps inside Neo's room. "Neo, I save you some dinner..."
She stops, finding Neo and Enigma already passed out, both holding each other pinky fingers. She spots a small chessboard and a small book titled Cloud Atlas near the bed. Trinity recalls Enigma carrying those two things in a hurry, but never gets a chance to ask why. Guess now she knows.
The raven sets the tray down and pulls the blanket over him. She pauses for a moment before slowly and gently carrying Enigma, brushing her golden hair from her eyes, and steps outside.
As she closes his door, Cypher, who's watching Trinity enters Neo's room, speaks. "I don't remember you bringing me dinner," he mentioned, making Trinity glances. "There is something about him, isn't there?"
"Don't tell me you're a believer now?" Trinity asked back.
"I just keep wondering... if Morpheus is so sure, why doesn't he take him to see the Oracle?"
"Morpheus will take him when he's ready."
Cypher shrugs. "Hope so. Don't wanna another trouble happen again, right?"
Trinity quickly left, not bothering to answer Cypher's accusing question, trying her best to shake off that bad memory thaf left an impact inside her.
Or to be more precise... the realization of how much she loves her as her daughter.
▪︎1001▪︎
Over the next few days, Neo received a lot of training to improve his martial arts. Usually Morpheus tutors Neo at the dojo, but there are times when Apoc, Switch, and Trinity also help him. Sometimes Neo is also given the training to be able to jump, but because Neo manages to jump without problems, he spends a lot of time practicing fighting techniques.
Today is a little different from the previous days.
First, Morpheus invites Neo into a simulated replica of the Matrix.
Second, Enigma came in with the two men.
"The Matrix is a system, Neo. That system is our enemy," Morpheus denoted as he keeps walking without problem despite so many people walking in opposite direction. Unlike Morpheus and Enigma, Neo still bumps into several people when following them. "But when you're inside, you look around. What do you see? Business people, teachers, lawyers, carpenters. The very minds of the people we are trying to save. But until we do, these people are still a part of that system, and that makes them our enemy. You have to understand, most of these people are not ready to be unplugged. And many of them are so inured, so hopelessly dependent on the system that they will fight to protect it."
Enigma spots the woman in the dress, knowing that Neo's eyes glance at her as well. "Find her amusing?" The girl suddenly asked.
Neo turns back. "I was..."
"Look again," Morpheus told him. He looks in her direction, but only finds an Agent that interrogated him takes a gun at his head. In response, he dodges.
"Pause!" Enigma shouted and the simulation stops moving.
Neo looks around. "This... this isn't the Matrix?"
"It's a training program Mouse and I developed together," Enigma denoted, her arms remaining at her side while eyeing the Agent. Agent Smith, as Enigma knows him. The man who haunts her to this very day. "I almost made this place as Wonderland theme," she joked. "Red Queen and stuff."
Neo gaped. Red Queen? She's Red Queen?! That famous hacker who managed to steal a high-class file from Pentagon a year ago? That's very impressive, especially at her young age.
Morpheus clears his throat so he can continue. "It designed to teach you one thing. If you are not one of us, you are one of them."
"What are they?" Neo pondered.
"Sentient programs. They can move in and out of any software still hard-wired to their system. That means that anyone we haven't unplugged is potentially an agent. Inside the Matrix, they are everyone and they are no one. We are survived by hiding from them by running from them. But they are the gatekeepers. They are guarding all the doors. They are holding all the keys, which means that sooner or later, someone is going to have to fight them."
"Someone?"
"I won't lie to you, Neo. Every single man or woman who has stood their ground, everyone who has fought an agent has died."
"Well, Miss Lovelace," Agent Smith points his gun at her head. "I do enjoy this long pursue. But now, it reaches the end." He tilts his head. "Goodbye, Miss Lovelace."
She shook her head, trying to forget that memory and listening to their conversation while controlling her heart from beating fast.
"But where they have failed, you will succeed," Morpheus finished.
"Why?" Neo asked.
"I've seen an agent punch through a concrete wall. Men have emptied entire clips at them and hit nothing but air. Yet their strength and their speed are still based in a world that is built on rules. Because of that, they will never be as strong or as fast as you can be."
"What are you trying to tell me? That I can dodge bullets?"
Morpheus smirks. "No Neo. I'm trying to tell you that when you're ready... you won't have to."
Suddenly Enigma's phone rings. "Hello?" She responded.
"Enigma," Tank said. "Tell Morpheus... We've got trouble."
▪︎1001▪︎
In a hurry, Enigma rushes into the cockpit. Neo and Trinity follow behind.
"Did Zion send a warning?" Morpheus asked.
"No, another ship," Dozer responded as Enigma looks at the hologram and goes pale. "Shit. Squiddies sweeping in quick."
She hears Neo's voice behind. "Squiddy?"
"A sentinel. Killing machine designed for one thing," Trinity explained, hugging Enigma, soothing her from panic.
"Search and destroy," Dozer added.
"Set her down right over there," Morpheus instructed as the Neb sets down. The entire ship shook a bit. "How're we doing, Tank?"
"Power offline," Tank informed. "EMP armed... and ready."
Neo frowns. "EMP?"
"Electromagnetic pulse," Enigma answered in a whisper. "Disables any electrical system in the blast radius. It's the only weapon we have against the machines."
"Where are we?"
"Their old service and waste systems."
"Sewers?"
Trinity shook her head. "They used to be cities that spanned hundreds of miles. Now these sewers are all that's left of them."
"Quiet," Morpheus urged them.
Enigma covers her mouth shut as she hears Squiddy slowly approaching the ship. Trinity holds her much closer she can hear her slow breath with her ears while Neo stands beside her, looking front with uneasiness. He wants to comfort the poor girl but is unable to do so as he's also scared of the machine in front of them.
Slowly, it silently glides over them with its red eyes before finally leaving.
Enigma opens her mouth, lets out a gasp from nervousness.
"Are you okay?" Neo asked her, concerned.
She nods. But Neo can tell she tries to cover her fear from the surface of her expression. "We're safe now."
