8. Rescue And Attack
"Wow," is all Enigma can say as she watches Neo and Trinity fight for each other against all odds. From firing their gun at the lobby into fighting on the roof.
Honestly, it is a shame for these two to carry out attacks on these innocent people. They don't know about the real truth, about the Matrix, and why people keep fighting. But what else they can do? Even if they tried to explain, the words they uttered will be a joke for crazy people. Not to mention the potential for Agents to take over their bodies.
Enigma isn't very fond of violence. But in any world, both Matrix and Real are equally cruel. It's better to accept it than try to deny the truth.
"He's on the top floor," Tank provided as Neo and Trinity walked upstairs and face-to-face with many officers. As Enigma takes care of his injury, she bites her lip. She knows, deep down, Tank won't make it. It's just a matter of time until death takes him like others.
But she can't mourn or cry about that. She needs to assist him, to help him.
"Please," she begged as Trinity brings the helicopter down and Neo already had his gun in position. "Please make it work."
She raises her fists in the air with absolute victory as they're successful in their mission.
"I knew it. He's The One," Tank cheered before hugging Enigma. The girl beams.
"Operator?" Morpheus called.
"Goddamn. It's good to hear your voice, sir," Tank confessed as he smiles, holding Enigma closer.
"We need an exit."
"Found one," Enigma provided as she checks. "Subway station. State and Balboa. Be careful."
"I will."
▪︎1001▪︎
The moment Morpheus wakes up, Enigma launch a big hug.
"Good to see you too," he said with an assortment tone before standing up. Tank helps him for unplugged. While doing so, Enigma stares at the monitors, watching in no particular order.
At least, until odd codes resurfaces that look as close as...
"Oh no," she mumbled in panic. Nonononono.
▪︎1001▪︎
Neo frowns for a moment. For a moment, he hears Enigma's panic voice in his mind. But that can't be true. That doesn't make any sense.
But his eyes soon gaze upon the broken phone, dangles in the empty booth.
"Mr. Anderson."
Don't. Just run. Run, Neo!
Her voice again. Warning him in a desperate tone, like any scary girl when they see something's awful.
But he ignores it. Instead, Neo sighs, turns around and finds Smith in the station.
He won't run.
▪︎1001▪︎
"What is he doing?" Trinity pondered, not understanding why Neo won't run away.
"He's beginning to believe," Morpheus answered.
Enigma gulps. She knows Neo has the potential to become The One. But her heart is still in mess now. Smith is a dangerous Agent. It will be a challenge to fight him. She only met Smith once, and it already scar her for life.
Both quickly aim their gun at each other, firing while dodging as they're getting closer. In a moment, time moves slowly as both men hold their arms, avoiding each other bullets from hurting them as they point their gun mouths at each other temple.
"You're empty," Smith sneered.
"So are you," Neo added.
Neo throw himself backward, giving some space in between. Smith throws his gun and cracks his neck. Curiously, Neo also throws his gun. Enigma taps her foot, holding her nervousness as Neo attacks Smith that he easily dodges. He gets Neo into nearby debris, aiming for his face before Neo avoids it and gives him some solid kick at his face, breaking his sunglasses.
"I'm going to enjoy watching you die, Mr. Anderson," he said, looking deadlier than normal, and attacks Neo again. This time, Enigma can see how much force he releases as Neo himself struggle to protect himself and fight back.
She turns around, looking at his actual body with uneasiness. His body jerks and blood comes out from his mouth.
"Jesus, he's killing him!" Trinity mumbled, takes a tissue, and wipe his mouth, looking at his life signs warily.
"Get up," Enigma smooths down her shirt. Oh, her nervousness already overwhelmed her. "Neo, get up."
And he does. The blonde girl fiddles with her fingers, watching intensely as Neo attacks Smith. He seems able to counterattack and much more in calm precision. But alas, despite his best effort, Smith still beat him. The girl winces, biting her mouth as Smith gives rapid punches at his stomach before throwing him.
She looks at one monitor, finding a code that indicates a train's coming.
Oh no.
And suddenly, Enigma isn't in the Neb. She's at the station, tired and sick. Her head feels dizzy. Her eyes found Smith, who already carrying her with one of her legs... or is it her legs? She's not sure. She feels like she's entering someone's body. But she can't focus on that. Enigma tried to fight back by kicking her other leg, but in vain as Smith immediately brushed her leg away without turning his head.
The sound of the subway getting closer and closer. Smith threw him against the wall again and held her to the train tracks.
Before she can fight back, she returns to Neb.
What in the world was that all about?
"Do you hear that, Mr. Anderson?" Smith taunted Neo, distracting Enigma from her thought as it got closer. "That is the sound of inevitability. That is the sound of your death. Goodbye, Mr. Anderson."
"My name... is Neo!"
He hurls himself straight up, smashing Smith against the concrete ceiling of the tunnel, and falls. Neo quickly backflips up off the tracks, just mere seconds as the train arrive.
After that, nothing.
"What happened?" Trinity asked.
"I don't know. I lost him," Tank stated before a loud siren rang. "Oh shit."
Enigma watches as Trinity and Morpheus run into the stairs. She doesn't know what it means, but she knows it's nothing good at all.
"Operator," Tank spoke.
She hears Neo's voice. "Mr. Wizard, get me the hell out of here."
"Got a patch on an old exit, Wabash and Lake."
Trinity immediately takes Tank's headset as he's searching for a safe route. "Neo, you better get your ass back here!"
"I'm trying, Trinity. I'm trying."
She sees Agents coming in his direction. Enigma's heart skipped a beat as she and Tank watched Neo run from the Agents. Her hands trembled violently whenever the Agents kept trying to stop Neo at all costs. From bullets to knives.
Racing with adrenaline, Enigma immediately took the headset from Trinity while looking at the route that Tank was looking for. "Fire escape at the end of the alley. Room 303. Quick!"
As he arrives at the corridor, at the door, Neo opens it... and finds Smith inside, pointing his gun at him.
He fires it.
Enigma drops her headset. Her mind shifts into uncertainty. Her hands cover her mouth with eyes trembles in horror. She can't even stop her yelling as Smith keeps firing Neo brutally, without mercy.
She steps aside from the monitors, slowly walking closer to Neo's body. Her eyes catch his life support turns horizon. Her eyes keep staring at Neo, not even bothering with their unfortunate situation with Sentinels. The blonde girl holds his arm, looking at Trinity, lost and confused. Tears shimmer in her blue eyes, unable to comprehend the reality right now.
The reality is that Neo's dead. Forever.
Trinity leans to his face and whispers. "Neo, please listen to me. I promised to tell you the rest."
Enigma glances at her mother, listening. Her voice sounds gentle and kind, like helping someone in ease from their nightmare as she used for her.
"The Oracle... The Oracle told me that I would fall in love... and that that man... the man who I loved would be The One. So you see? You can't be dead, Neo. You can't... because I love you. You hear me? I love you."
With that, she kisses him. Something like coming out of a fairy tale that Enigma used to read. Usually, it's the hero who kisses their heroine. But what she witness now is the opposite. This time, it's the heroine who kisses the hero.
And a miracle happens.
His vital signs come back.
"Oh my God," Enigma breathed, looking at Trinity with high happiness that she never experienced before.
Trinity smiles too. "Now get up."
▪︎1001▪︎
Neo stands up, and for the first time, feels calm than usual.
He hears bullets fire again. "No," he commanded, raising his hand as it slows down and stop in the air. He takes one, tilts his head, finding these bullets as mere nothing. Everything surrounding him read like symbols and numbers. Like he sees what the Matrix truly is.
Smith rushes with the attack, but he easily dodges him. He can read every movement he will do without looking back, like reading any old elementary book. As Smith is stunned by his action, Neo kicks him far away.
And then, an idea reaches him.
He runs towards Smith, enters his body, and destroys his code permanently. As Smith destroys, he stretches his body, bending the reality in his will. He stares back at the remaining Agents who quickly run away.
"Neo!"
He hears Trinity's and Enigma's scream, remembering what he must do. Enter Room 303 and pick up that phone.
▪︎1001▪︎
Enigma opens her eyes, peaking around. "Trinity?" She asked, slowly standing up from kneeling.
"I'm here," she responded, holding her hand in the darkness.
"Is Neo okay?"
She got her answer when Neo's eyes opened. Enigma wasted no time embracing him while trying to control her erratic breathing at what had happened today.
"You're quite a hugger," Neo joked and Enigma chuckles.
"It's been a rough day," she said, looking into Neo one more time before separating, letting him and Trinity have their moment in private.
Seeing the two kissings again, Enigma remembered the conversation she had with the Oracle two years ago.
"Do you love her?" Oracle asked as Enigma drinks her warm milk.
"Trinity?" She clarified shyly before nodding. She's still doesn't know where this conversation might go. So far, the Oracle kept talking about normal things. "I like her. I..." she twirls her golden hair. "I consider her as my mother."
The Oracle chuckles. "Is that so?" She puts down her cigarette. "Tell me, Little One. Do you ever believe in fate?"
Odd question. Since that's also what Morpheus asked her once. "Yeah," she confessed, which is weird. Most people, like Trinity, Morpheus, and other members of Zion, never believe in fate. Because fate makes them unable to control their choice, their freedom.
"Why?"
"Because, to me, fate doesn't mean we're destined with everything that stays forever. Fate is like another choice, another decision. Will we let our choice to be our fate or our fate to be our choice... is up to us."
"But that's not what you believe."
"No," Enigma agreed. "It's just a theoretical opinion. I believe fate, in a way I believe true love exists." She chuckles. "Switch always said that's childish."
"Maybe not."
She frowns. "What?"
The Oracle gives her that secretive smile of hers. "What if I tell you... one day... fate will bring you to your father? That one day, you'll get your family again?"
Enigma isn't quite sure what the Oracle was saying. The idea that she would have a father and a new family was what she wanted for so long, but with the state of war, that's impossible to be true.
But today... what she had witnessed had changed her mind.
Maybe the impossible is not impossible.
