The Matrix Uploaded: A Matrix Fanfiction Story

Chapter 5:

Back up in the Zion underground…

Neo wakes up, clutching below his shoulder. It's in a cooling off mineral body cast: Nearly invisible to the naked eye, and already becoming new skin cells. There's still no form of paper in Zion. And so…Zion people have made do with mineral samples from volcanic activity. Plenty of cheap mineral body casts are stored in every home and store…over suspended Zion metal kept hot by Zion steam air shafts.

Neo slightly chuckles nervously, "you've been following me?" He sees the assistant in white there: With dyed cream like yellowish white medium frontless hair, and Tron like bright yellow tattooed lines across his fingers and forehead. His name is Chyron.

Chyron slightly grins, "just happens to be my watch. If you're going to keep endangering yourself though, I can make it a habit."

Neo barely gets up, still a little more than rattled. He slightly nods, "thanks. So what…?" He then picks up on the ringing, from a stack of white cardboard boxes.

Chyron clutches a aching arm, "the subway was rigged, I tackled you out in time…and this is what I have to show for my good intentions."

Neo stares intently at the backdoor, "and the passengers?" He can hear footsteps, thundering loudly. But…only he knows most of it is coming from the back ways. Neo's cellular phone keeps ringing.

Coolly, Chyron slightly shrugs, "it's the lower levels. When you live in the rapids...you know how to ride them out. Also, you should get that phone. Might be important or shit. I'm going to check the back: See if the latest wave has passed over our heads."

With mixed feelings, Neo figures, "sounds like a plan." Though…he has a strong feeling about this: That what's behind that door is not just a commotion. Neo gets his cellular phone, quickly bringing up a voice message. The voice doesn't sound familiar. Yet in every other way…it seems to fall in place in his mind's eye.

In a soft but firmly powerful voice, the message is this:

I know I've been emotional…every time you got hurt. Sniffle. And I get it now: Why you didn't see fit to let Morpheus tell me you're awake. Heavy sigh. I get emotional. I get it. It'd be too much for a hospital visit. I'd… I'd be too much. Sniffle. Sorry. I'm doing it again. What I wanted to tell you first is…you're very much in danger. And I have to come. Whatever is going on up there, in your mind… I hope you can forgive me. Sniffle. The Matrix is back…and so I have to come.

-Cis

Not so long ago, up on the Zion Archives for all to see…

In a downward angled D, a I in television static flickers on and on. The logo gives way to its namesake…Deep Image News. It's one of several news stations in upper Zion, up there with Code Dissector Magazine and Arcade Attack. Though, with Constructs…these stations are easy to operate with two people. The shadow of a backup operator is on standby, monitoring the Construct from the other side of the yellowish tinted screen. But, it quickly fades away from view.

Hypatia comes on the screens: The main news anchor, operator, and reporter for Deep Image News. She has creepily piercing yellow computer screens for eyes, with some hints of thin wiring around the corners. Blue Matrix styled code plays across them…like silent trumpets for a national anthem. But, the rest of her is very human. Her black streaked dark brown hair goes down to her statue like shoulders. And her flashy dark red vest looks like a French jacket with torn off sleeves.

In a icy but motherly voice, Hypatia voices, "we're rescheduling your current programming to bring you this breaking news story: Lower Zion re-plugged by "Madame" Matrix? Or just fricking stupid? Sorry. Wrong file there. Ahem. As I was saying…"

Mixed shouts of fury are already echoing across the Construct Vision chatrooms. Mostly at the lower levels…but only by the sheer numbers of upper Zion people.

Hypatia continues, "today...we are facing the most unprecedented resurgence of the Matrix in the twenty third century. With help from my extensive research algorithms, this is our best blueprints of the Matrix's new inner workings." A 3D model of the Matrix 2.0 appears behind Hypatia's shoulder: Half code tentacles flaying about in there…half fluctuating.

Hypatia sighs deeply, "and no: You are not drunk. That is the Matrix in a human body: A dead body, with no brain cells left of its own. But, still…a body. Sniffle. My condolences to the victim's surviving members of kin." Her computer screen eyes have blue Matrix like code trailing off…like metal bits flying off a getting carved tombstone. Hypatia takes a deep breath…fighting off tears threatening to short circuit her eye circuits.

The chatrooms fall into a momentary silence…full of sympathetic parents and others.

After a bit, she gets herself together, "you may be asking yourself: Where does it all begin? Well…I will give you that answer straightaway. The victim's body has not been identified. But, what we do know from recent reports..." The Zion Archive screens cut to the Zion catacombs...with crystal clear footage from wire-button hybrid wrist mounted cameras. It's half frozen solid…and crashed through right in the middle.

It quickly rewinds fifteen minutes back…where a Zion national rescue team is present. They have pale blue and gold military tank styled hovercraft, carrying specially refrigerated Zion water tanks in the back. They're attached to extendable metal pipes. The Zion national rescue team is wearing Zion plastic coated arctic coats and gloves, to keep themselves warm. In front of them is a coffin wide tunnel…going down all the way to the deep rivers of Zion.

More coolly, Hypatia voices, "…is that the Matrix sculpted a tunnel to the Zion waters of old: Gradually, over the course of five years. It would've flooded the catacombs...if not for the bravery of our great nation's national rescue team." The Zion tank hovercraft have their metal hoses ready. In seconds, they start launching gallons of Zion coolant into the incoming waves. They freeze there…in a wave of instantly forming ice particles.

Into her news story, Hypatia circles back around, "how does this connect directly with Lower Zion? Sniffle! The answer…is bound to horrify you. As I have found it to be. Sniffle. Ahem. While most of us were keeping Lower Zion safe…" Cracks start coming out from the ice. And some all too familiar bluish gray tentacles are faintly made out…through the Zion coolant.

Hypatia continues, "…they had the audacity to listen to the Matrix's satanic cry." The ice breaks away…letting loose two parting waves. They wash up to the metal hoses...and that's more than enough to freeze over.

The Zion national rescue team can barely even scream…as the ice takes hold: Inside and out.

Cybernetically reassembled Sentinel tentacles from the Second Liberation have parted the way...for the Matrix 2.0. It's now wearing them…with a few Sentinel tentacles bent into a harness for itself. The Matrix 2.0 looks straight into the wrist mounted cameras. The Matrix 2.0 glares calculatingly, "your corroded efforts of kindness for the irrelevant…deserve deletion."

The terrified freezing cold Zion rescue team cower behind their chairs…in a hopelessness they hoped never to return to. All they can do is scream…as the Matrix 2.0's tentacles tears into their windshields. Drops of dark red liquid are faintly seen off the wrist mounted cameras…before the signals are forever lost.

United roars of fury and hate echo across the chatrooms, nearly flooding the Zion telecommunications traffic.

The screens change back to Hypatia. She adds sadly, "a cry for a overthrow of our goodwill! And a cry for unification of their godforsaken criminal zip codes!" And as if on cue…a smaller screen shows security footage. Footage…of dead bodies of Zion police patrols in the lower levels.

In the lower levels…

Neo pockets his cellular phone quickly…as the realization suddenly hits him. He mutters, "ohh…shit." Chyron is already out the door. Neo runs after him…out into the massacre. The dead bodies of Zion police are everywhere. Apartment doors are being shot to pieces. Zion criminals are thundering down the streets en mass…in blackish and sewer smelling trenchcoats aplenty. Some are shot down. But, most of the police are patrolling for the Matrix: Not them. They thought they'd take cover like everyone else. But…this is much worse.

Neo calls out, "get down!" He run charges for Chyron, knocking him to the concrete. Neo groans hard, as he tumbles off to the side. Several bullets come flying past. Neo glances down…struggling to remain focused. Chyron…has already been shot in the chest: Seconds before Neo could save him. Neo grabs his pistol, firing both pistols from the concrete.

Several Zion criminals are shot down with ease. Reserve troops have already been called in. But, several Zion police officers are holding out. They're using empty storefronts as cover. Glass shatters. Muscle bulging Zion brawlers are charging in: With all too familiar shattered tank pieces. The storefront fronts are falling in in dust. But, the Zion police are falling back…out the back. Shots go off in all directions.

Around this time, in a Zion military complex…

The giant dark blue Death Star styled dome is surrounded by hydraulic operated metal gates. Dark yellow and white striped EMP turrets are all over the dome. The regularly electrified Zion water moat would kill anything that sets foot in it: Machine or human. There are no bridges. But…the Zion military doesn't need bridges. They have hoversuits: Mostly blackish gray battle suits powered by red lined hover engines. The dark green personal code scanner screens on the dome only open for Zion military personnel. And only specially marked Zion military can go in without a Zion troop compliment.

The great hall is modeled after Valhalla itself: With pale brownish painted glass windows and commemorative statues of Thor, the Valkyries, Jesus Christ, and geometric shapes. Though, the folded out metal screens behind them ensure they're untouched by the fires of war.

On a stone altar like stand…Troop Captain Niobe is standing in the center. Some hints of dyed over gray hair are in her braids. Her helmet is off. All the Zion troops are coming in…in their hoversuits. Niobe calls out, "all right: Listen up! It's been confirmed. The Matrix is back."

Murmurs of unease and of the lower levels echo across the hall.

Niobe orders, "enough!" The hall goes silent.

Niobe says curtly, "thank you. Moderate sigh. Now is no time for pointing fingers. We're all here to bury the Matrix for good…no matter how many of us it takes. But, I promise you this: I will kill the Matrix…or I'll be damned trying."

Several of the Zion troopers are quick to point out, "wait: Alone?! Are you stoned?! Without a troop…!"

Niobe insists firmly, "I don't like it either, soldiers. But, you're forgetting that it's not only the Matrix that will give us shit. The lower levels are crawling with lowlife assholes…and we need to bury them. Even as we all stand here…we can't fight two wars side by side. Dismissed."

The Zion troops reluctantly nod…silently so. They start nervously heading out on their hoversuits. Niobe is about to put her helmet on…when one of the Zion troopers hovers there. She takes off her helmet in midair…revealing herself to be Cis. Niobe mutters lowly, "I'm not going to ask again, soldier."

Cis figures sharply, "I know better than to argue with you, Niobe. Mind if I walk with you?"

Niobe slightly smiled, "yeah. But, come anyway." They put on their helmets, starting to walk out of the hall.

Cis slightly chuckles, "figures. But…what gives?"

Niobe voices lowly, "excuse me?"

Cis brings up, "Neo is more than capable of killing the Matrix himself. You said so yourself years ago. Yet, you volunteer yourself to do his mission for him." They come flying out of the dome.

Niobe pauses, "sometimes… Moderate sigh. Men don't know how to let go of war. Just like Morpheus."

Cis mutters, "not all men are Morpheus…Captain."

Niobe slightly scoff, "no: Just the assholes we get to clean up after." She accelerates her hoversuit engines, high around the stalactites.

Cis deeply sighs to herself…accelerating after Niobe.

Back down, in the dark lower level streets…

Neo jump kicks sharply into a charging Zion brawler. He falls back, crashing violently into a dented trashcan. Neo fights the aching pain in his leg…as he lands on his feet. But Neo can't think on that: Not here…not now. He sees echoes of a distorted yesterday, "the key is in you…Neo. The key…is in you." Except it sounds…almost like the Oracle in places.

Neo can't help but think, "this doesn't make sense. How can I possibly see someone I still can't…?" He finds himself tackled by two Zion brawlers…which brings his thoughts back out to the lower levels.

Neo coughs violently, against a gray bricked wall. His pistols fall out of hand. But, one of them hits beside his feet. Neo kicks it up between one Zion brawler's legs. He cries out in unbearable pain. With a free arm, Neo quickly punches him out. The hormone drop addicted brawler is sent crashing against the other brawler. Neo jump flip somersaults off of both of them…delivering a hard side kick into a third Zion criminal's hand. Her pistol falls out of hand…which Neo quickly grabs in midair to swing across her head. She goes down.

Neo gets on his feet again, breaking into a rundown looking alley. He's running out of breath. More shots are heard.

A Zion police officer is slammed painfully against a crumpling in wall…right in front of Neo.

The Matrix 2.0 slightly smiles creepily, "the One. I calculated that you would be here sooner or later." Zion criminals are gathered behind the Matrix 2.0 and above from the grayish flat roofs: All with pistols pointed at Neo's head…and only his.