30. Coffee Shop Brawl

"Trinity is held in the Anomaleum, which is in this transmission tower," Sati began as Enigma, Neo, and Mnemosyne crews listen. "The passages used to rescue Neo and Enigma are now sealed and a legion of Sentinels patrols the tower. So, stealth will be paramount. As long as we raise no alarms, this first part of the mission should be the easiest."

"You mean crossing the Fetus Fields, sneaking across an entire power plant, climbing a two-kilometer tower guarded by thousands of Sentinels?" Berg addressed. "That's the easy part?"

"Exactly so. Because all we have to do is convince someone who does this every day to take one of us along." From the well, they all watch the schematic while she continues her explanation. "Fifty meters below the Anomaleum is a stratum of amniotic filters. Hidden along this edge is a small hexagonal vent. This vent feeds the air intake into the corpuscular modifier, which oxygenates the bio-gel used in both Neo and Enigma's pod."

"I get it," Morpheus said. "The exomorph slinkies up Neo and Enigma's old umbilicus. What could go wrong?"

Enigma makes a confused look as her father looks uncomfortable.

Sati clears her throat, keep continues. "Once inside, Morpheus will use the System Operator to open the devacuator line and disengage the macerators. In order to unplug Trinity's body, while her mind still remains connected to the Matrix, I'm gonna need a second human brain to implement the bypass. And since Neo and Enigma must be with the Analyst, the only available mind that's a near-enough match is," Sati looks at Bugs, "yours."

"Figures," the bluenette noted.

"Does Trinity still have to take the red pill?" Lexy inquired.

"Since Kujaku and I are transferring her consciousness onto the ship, it's not strictly necessary. But what matters is that this is her choice," Sati empathized. "Extracting a confused or an uncertain mind will, in all probability, kill her."

"But even if it is what she wants, won't the Analyst just order the Sentinels to stop you?" Neo asked.

"He will. But if my plan works, it won't matter."

"Why?"

"Because we'll already be gone."

Enigma admits, Sati's plan is very good. "Sati," she called. "I can't help but wonder," she glances at her. "This plan of yours is way too detailed and needs precisement. There's no way you can plan all this in a short time."

Sati lowers her head a little. "When my father realized how the Anomaleum was going to be used... he covertly transferred the designs to me," she pauses, as if unable to speak more. "While my mother input a safe inside your program."

"A safe?" Neo wondered with this revelation like others. "What kind of safe?"

"I do not know myself. Even when my mother gave me the data, I still do not understand what it really means. The codes are very complicated. But I did discover why she input it inside Enigma." From the well, the scenery changes into lines of complicated codes that Neo himself doesn't understand. He admits, Kamala truly was creative. "According to this, apparently the Analyst was going to killed Enigma."

Enigma clutches her hands, finds her body's temperature going down, even while Neo's hand holds hers. "Why?"

"I cannot say for sure, but she started inputting it after she and my father spoke to the Oracle. I never listen to their conversation because Seraph took me outside her room, but their face was terrified after that. They entrusted everything to me. Shortly after that, the Analyst discovered their betrayal... and had my parents purged." She inhales sharply. "I would have been murdered too if it wasn't for Kujaku. Not a day goes by that I don't grieve them. I've been praying for this day for a very long time."

"I'm sorry," Enigma quietly said, knowing how hard that must be for Sati to endure. To lose her parents like that.

Sati shook her head. "What happened to them, Enigma, was not your nor your father's fault. My parents did what they did. And I will honor them by helping you and Neo."

▪︎1001▪︎

Lexy opens the door unlocks. "We're coming up on broadcast," she announced to Neo. Her eyes catch Enigma's sleeping on a bed as Neo sitting near her, guarding her. Even in sleep, she looks tired and caution. Like she she can't resting in peace.

The man nods and about to wake his daughter up, but Lexy continues. "I... thought you should know that I'm here because of her. All I ever wanted was to be as fearless as Trinity," she confessed. "But I saw how she reacted in the garage, and I..."

"You're wondering if both of us are wrong," he finished, watching Enigma with unread expression.

"What if we're too late?" She quietly questioned, unable to look at the daughter of her hero, knowing such a question would kill her heart. "What if she's not Trinity anymore?"

He sighs, likely gathering an answer. "I never believed I was The One," he admitted. "But she did. Her and Enigma." A corner of Neo's mouth lifts up as he's looking at Lexy. "She believed in me. She believed in Enigma... and Enigma believe in her. It's my turn to believe in her."

Lexy slowly nods, leaving the room without words.

▪︎1001▪︎

The night sky in San Francisco has never been so dark. As Enigma and Neo held each other's hands, they notice the noise-filled highway slowly diminishing the closer they get to Simulatte. It's clear that the Analyst's doing this on purpose for both of them.

As soon as they enter, the whole Simulatte's fills with police and SWAT teams who stare blankly at them. Ignoring their gaze, Neo and Enigma dash past them valiantly, until they stand before the program that had manipulated and controlled the three of them for the past 60 years. "Welcome home," he greeted.

"We want to talk to Trinity," Enigma announced, glares him.

"Do you mean Tiff? Come back, and you can talk to her as often as you like. I mean, handsome Chad may have something to say about it."

"If she tells us this is what she wants, you win," Neo stated, unafraid.

"Really?" He scoffed.

"But if she wants us, then you'll let us go free."

"And why would I do something as stupid as that?"

"Right now, we're on a ship full of people who will unplug us before they'll let you take both of us back," Neo asserted. Technically, Enigma could exit the Matrix without outside help. But considering what happened when Enigma did it, Neo wouldn't take that risk. After all, he knows how stubborn his daughter is, especially about him and Trinity. "If you want this Matrix, this is your only chance."

"But how do I know they won't unplug you anyway?"

"The same way I know you'll let us walk out of here," Enigma claimed, gestures at the door. Berg, Lexy, Sheperd and his members all enter Simulatte.

"You two ready to sacrifice your life just for her?" The Analyst pondered, finds these amusing despite knowing the answer. "Okay. I like test. We'll let Tiff decide."

▪︎1001▪︎

Tiffany's heart grows even more restless as she rides her Ducati to Simulatte.

This whole day, she can't calm herself. Chad and her children are worried about her, but she always dodges their questions. She doesn't know why, but ever since her meeting with Thomas and Alice in the garage, Tiffany begins to distrust her family. It was as if she had to protect Thomas and Alice from outside threats and her family is that threat.

Not only that, but Tiffany also starts crying for no reason. Sees the sadness mixed with fear in Thomas and Alice makes Tiffany unable to cope. She tries to understand the reason for her emotions to be the way by playing The Matrix, which only confuses her more. And that dream she told them... police and SWAT teams surrounding Thomas and Alice, her riding her bike with those two behind her back, bullets firing at their direction...

Between these circumstances, Tiffany makes a unanimous decision. By going to Simulatte in the early hours of the morning, even though the place wasn't open 24 hours.

When her feet arrive in front of the cafe, she found a lot of police and SWAT already gathering inside. It's the same as the dream she had told Thomas and Alice. Tries to stay strong, Tiffany goes inside, walks over to Thomas and Alice who's standing close by, their gazes nailed to her.

Refraining from embracing them suddenly, she speaks in a whisper. "I saw this in my dream."

Alice's jaw tightening. "If I had the Oracle's wisdom, maybe I could help you."

"The Oracle," she repeated, needs to be sure. "From the game?"

"It's not a game," Thomas quietly noted, shaking his head.

"Oh, God," she whispered as the realization hits her of what it implies. Slowly, she takes a seat, watching Thomas and Alice do so. Their kind eyes still look on hers. "After you two left," she trailed off. "I went home... and I played it." She can see enormous expressions in their eyes. But she forces herself to continues. "I kept thinking... why does this story feel like a memory? There's a part of me that feels like I have been waiting my whole life for you two," she confessed, fighting back her tears that's coming out. "And that part is like, 'What the hell took you so long?'"

Alice's eyes swim with tears. For some reason, Tiffany hates herself for making this girl cry. "I'm so sorry," she agonized, gripping her hand onto her father. "I don't know what to say."

"Neither of us have an easy answer. Maybe I was afraid of this," Thomas looks around, scared beyond anything, before stares her again, sincerely and wholeheartedly. "Afraid of what might happen. Afraid of hurting the only person we ever loved."

"Romantic or familial," Alice offered, in a way a shy child often does to their parents.

Hearing their words makes Tiffany's heart touches. But it feels too real to be true. She can't be Trinity, the brave woman whom Neo and Enigma care so much. She's Tiffany, wife of unwanted husband with three children. "I wish I was who you two think I am," she softly said. "But look at me. I can't be her."

Their expression is still the same, but Tiffany feels she's crossed the boundary with her statement. Like she just cut their heart without knowing it.

Suddenly she hears the voices of her children.

"Mom!" Donnie shouted.

"Mom! Come on," Brandon yelled.

"Mom!"

"It's Callie."

"Is this real?" She hesitated, sounds begging, shifting her gazes between Thomas and Alice.

"You have to come with us," Donnie insisted.

"Come on, we gotta go," Brandon agreed.

"Tiff, hey," Chad called, holding her shoulders, staring at front, warry. "Don't know what's going on here, but I'm glad we found you."

"She got hit by a car!" Donnie added.

Thomas looked like he didn't know what else to say, seeing all this happening. But Tiffany felt Thomas was deliberately hiding his sadness and pain, deliberately looking tough in front of her.

"I know, it's crazy," Chad commented. "She was chasing after you."

"They're casting her arm. We gotta go," Brandon urged.

Alice's expression kept changing. She looked at Chad and his two children with passive anger, but at Tiffany, she wears a calm face with a hint of gentle.

"Doctor said she's gonna be fine," Chad said.

"You have to come with us to the hospital," Donnie addressed.

Tiffany looks at both again. "It's too late," she whispered as her husband drags her away.

"I understand," Thomas answered with an understanding look that Chad never displayed at her.

"You can go," Alice muttered in a peaceful expression that hurt Tiffany deeply.

They were just two strangers that Tiffany had met for a few days. But why do they have such a meaningful impact on her? Like she dedicates her life for Thomas and Alice? Like she belongs to them?

"You feel this? I'm never letting go."

"Sweetheart? What is it? What's wrong?"

She looks back and sees the police and SWAT teams taking them away. Thomas and Alice don't even flinch as they keep their gaze on her, briefly looking at each other as if accepting their fate before return back to her.

Like they want her face as their last.

"Tiffany," Chad called, sounding cold and demanding. "Tiffany, you have to come with us."

"I believe if you're really serious about saving him, you are going to need my help. And since I am the ranking officer on this ship, if you don't like it, I believe you can go to hell. Because you aren't going anywhere else."

"As a mother, I disagreed with this. But we both know that's not gonna keep you away forever, right?"

Thomas and Alice's hands are held behind their backs before their heads are being slam down by many SWAT members on the table.

Anger begins to peak in her heart.

"Tiffany!" Chad shouted, this time with more force.

But she can't leave.

Not without Thomas and Alice.

Not without helping them out.

No. That's not even their name.

"You are really ready to die for this man? For this child?"

"Believe it."

A single tear almost comes out of her blue eyes as one thing becomes clear now. She fight back those tear, knows what to do, as rage swimming in her blood. "I wish you would fucking stop calling me that. I hate that name," she growled, releases her hatred of this man.

The man who makes her life miserable.

The man who who's taking her away from her real family.

"Touch me, and that hand will never touch anything again."

"My name is Trinity," she declared with conviction, "and you better take your hands off of me."

His eyes turn black. Quickly, she spins his hand, dodges his attack. Chad grabs her neck, and she uses the same technique in the past by taking his one hand, chops it along his nose. She adds her scorpion kick before throwing Chad on the floor.

"Neo! Enigma!" She shouted to them, signaling her love partner and daughter to fight back.

▪︎1001▪︎

"Trinity!" Both yelled as they're struggle to get out from the hands that hold them back.

Enigma squeezes her hand into a fist as she slams it against the desk while Neo forcefully pulls away from those hands by his telekinetic power.

But then time stops moving. Goddamnit!

"Aye-yi-yi, what a mess," the Analyst mumbled as he stands up. "I own that mistake. Shouldn't have pressed. Women used to be so easy to control. You know there's no way I can let you three go free. Cannot happen." He takes a gun... and aims it at Enigma's forehead. Despite freeze, Enigma can see panic and despair on both Neo and Trinity, desperately wanting to stop him. "So, I guess it's deja vu all over again. This time," he glances at Trinity, "your precious daughter dies," he smirks at Neo, "and it's all because of you two."

▪︎1001▪︎

"What's going on?" Bugs pondered when Trinity's body suddenly rebelled, as if she wants to be freed blindly. Her calm face turned into one of fear.

"I don't know, I'm not sure," Sati confessed, tried to do her job quickly as the lights of the Anomaleum alternately dimmed.

If Trinity forced herself to be free, there could be bad side effects for her.

▪︎1001▪︎

"Seq!" Ellster shouted while restraining Neo's trembling body, his face panicked while his arms were moving wildly, like he was trying to help someone but couldn't.

Seq hastily checked Neo's condition through the monitor. As soon as Seq turned his head to Ellster, she realized how confused and worried Seq was.

"His brain activity has increased beyond normal!" He shared, couldn't believe what he saw and said.

Ellster pushes Seq lightly as she takes out some medical equipments, knowing very well if this continues, Neo might killed himself.

▪︎1001▪︎

"Lies, lies, and more lies."

The Analyst frowns, confused as Smith suddenly appears inside Simulatte and walks easily. "Smith?"

"What has the world come to when you can't even trust a program?" Smith exasperated. "You know you can't kill her."

"How..."

Smith throws the gun away from his hand. "Tom and I have more in common than you know. Once he and his family got out, let's just say... I was free to be me."

With that, he punches the Analyst and time resumes.

"Yeah!" Lexy exclaimed and the fight continues.

"Trinity?" Neo whispered as he covers Enigma by using his powers. Bullets stop in the air. Enigma's suddenly pulled from behind, slams onto the floor. Her eyes found three children. Brandon, Callie, and Donnie, who were looking at her with black eyes with growl.

Rage immediately overtakes her. She has never fought kids before, but this time, she can make an exception. She should have cared that she would hurt children. But remembering Brandon alluded her father as a pervert, remembering Donnie interrupted their conversation twice, remembering Callie ruined her former workplace while accused her, made the blonde not care about any of that.

She kicks Donnie and Brandon as she's about to stand up while dodging a few bullets from those damn cops. As Callie slams her against the wall, Enigma slams her in the face against a nearby table before giving a double kick to Donnie and Brandon, knocking them for good.

She sees Simulatte's chaotic state. Berg and Sheperd fight some policeman while their backs are against each other. Lexy has a lifetime of shoots and kicks like a champion. Smith fights some old Agents. Neo restrains some SWAT team who's still about to attack him and Enigma, while Trinity tries to approach the two of them as well.

From a distance, Enigma sees Bugs taking the place of Trinity several times. Although it looks smooth, Enigma's aware that Bugs is having a hard time controlling Trinity's RSI. All of a sudden, her mind had shifted to Trinity's body, fighting some police. Enigma immediately realizes that she had experienced this before, where her consciousness shifted to Neo's body at the subway station for a few seconds. Wasting no time, she helps Bugs for a few laps while her RSI's still standing behind Neo in a marionette-like stance.

Her body suddenly slammed onto the floor. Enigma lost her focus and saw Callie holding her back while choking her neck. She struggled, trying to get to her feet with a scream that spontaneously erupted from her vocal cords. It had a thrust effect that sent Callie bouncing a few meters away. But it's not over. Enigma saw Donnie getting up and ready to beat her again. Without much thought, Enigma let out a deep force from her legs, kicking Donnie's stomach into one of Simulatte's window, sending him outside the coffee shop.

"Look out!" Her mother's voice echoed in her head. It took Enigma a moment to realize that Brandon was about to lunge at her, clearly wanting to attack her on the spot. She felt Trinity move to protect her, push Brandon into a drawer that's decorated with drinking glasses for customers.

Enigma's thoughts continued to wander. Sometimes she fought the children, sometimes she fought the police and SWAT members, like she was having an out-of-body experience. There were times when she felt Trinity and Bugs continue to fight and help her up.

She feels a hard tug from the back of her neck. Neither Enigma, Trinity, nor Bugs could endure the pain, letting out a scream that echoes each other. Her consciousness returns to her RSI and Enigma feels overwhelmed. But she ignores them, only focusing on one thing now.

Pull and push.

Desire and compulsion.

Old and new memories.

It all becomes one thing as Neo, Enigma, and Trinity move around to reach each other's hand.

"You don't like that name?"

"Not that I don't like it. It's just... I feel alienated by that name."

"Who are you?"

"My name is Trinity."

"If you're afraid of something..."

"I just wish... I wish I knew what I'm supposed to do. That's all. I just wish I knew... What do you do when you don't know about these dreams?"

"I'm usually trying to process it. Or trying to forget it. Some of those can be... too much."

"You two go after them. I'll handle them."

"I wished I had one more chance... to say what really mattered. To say how much I loved you, Neo. How grateful I was for every moment I was with you, Enigma."

Their hand touch together.

A huge light shot out from their hands and many people get blown away.