Ch. 9 The Plan

The Glitch Manager did not know how to reach Morpheus or the other rebels directly. I suggested she send a sentinel asking around Zion until it found him. She also thought the image was funny, but decided that the Oracle would probably have more efficient contact methods.

"What if she doesn't agree to participate?"

"Oh, she will. She sent them to us to begin with, remember? Besides, this gives her exactly what she wants."

And the Oracle was perfectly willing to send word to Morpheus's ship for him and his companions to meet us. So two weeks after I fell off the top of my apartment complex (I had been by there since. The sidewalk was actually busted there.), we were to meet them in the affectionately named "Charlie Abusing Room." Obviously, I was not responsible for the term. As we rode up the elevator to the eleventh floor, I began to third guess our agreement. Third guess because it had only taken a few hours after the initial composure for me to second guess it. She had ended up placating me with a laptop loaded with Minesweeper.

"What if he does not accept?" I asked, my eyes safely hidden behind a new pair of sunglasses.

"Oh, he'll accept. He's going to think we're doing him a favor."

"I'm still not convinced that we're not. What if he does not trust us?"

"He will trust because you are there. If it were just me, he would doubt. But he does not see a duck when he looks at you because you are an exile. He understands that just because it quacks like a duck does not mean it's a duck, but he does not understand that ducks might have their reasons to pretend to be something else." She smiled. "Like the ones that have the little circles on their backs that look like eyes."

"Oh, I like those. But it seems very foolish of him to trust me. I would not trust me if I were him."

"Have you ever lied to him before?"

"No. Aiden was the one who lied to them and he didn't do it very often. He was skilled at leaving out the important parts of the truth."

"So he has no reason to doubt what you tell him now. It goes against your nature, it would seem, but he believes us to be so reliant on logic that he will believe you can overcome your nature for whatever you want. And you want efficiency, got that? And you truly are torn so you will be convincing."

I sighed, a very human thing to do, but she was wearing me out. And this was only the beginning!

We reached the floor on which we were to meet the rebels and the Glitch Manager led the way to the room with the abhorred nickname. I reached for the doorknob and hesitated. If I opened that door, could I close it again? Would I get sucked in and trapped? But the hallway was not an end, it was a means, and I could not stay there. I twisted the knob and peered inside.

There, on the right side was the same dusty, old couch that had been there the time before. On it were Morpheus and Niobe, poised expectantly. Four other rebels were there with them, including the one that shot me. I narrowed my eyes at him, but behind the safety of my sunglasses, no one knew. As I entered the room, I felt a slight chill like if the air conditioning were turned way down. The Glitch Manager followed me and we stopped in the center of the room facing Morpheus and Niobe. The other rebels kept their weapons trained on us, more specifically me. The Glitch Manager manufactured a love seat and we too were seated. We sat there, not certain where to begin, so she jumped in as she always did.

"I trust the Oracle told you this meeting was concerning your…plea two weeks ago, correct?"

"Yes, she did. I have to admit that after what happened last time, I was wondering if you actually were the program to which she was referring."

"Well, we may have a case of self-fulfilling prophecy on our hands, but I, we, have come to help you. However, I will warn you before I continue that my aid will not be free."

Morpheus shook his head slightly. "I would not expect so."

"Then I will tell you what you want to hear. I have a way of getting humans out of the Matrix without a spontaneous plea for freedom."

The only sound in the room was the ventilation system. All waited, hypnotized by what the Glitch Manager had to say.

"The specifics of how it will be done are, of course, of no concern to you. What does concern you is that this agreement is contingent upon the fact that you or no other rebel ever come into the Matrix for whatever reason again. The only purpose for coming here was to 'free minds' as you call it and if they are being freed for you, there is no longer purpose."

The rebels were beginning to stir. They did not like being told they could do what they had always done. It was as I had expected.

"Continue," said Morpheus, whose face had not faltered in spite of what all the others had interpreted as shocking news.

"The truth is you cause a lot of trouble. Simply entering the Matrix where there had before only been air has caused glitches of all sorts and as the Glitch Manager, this upsets me. Secondly, there is the collateral damage that happens when you try to escape once you have been detected, usually by me because you have produced an aura of glitches. If the damage were a few bullet holes, no one would care, but people frequently die. All the police officers you kill, all the agents' hosts, all the random people in the street who were minding their own business but happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. They all die because you want one person out. Talk about a bad yield. Oh, and let's not forget all the glitches you cause as you manipulate the Matrix. I am the Manager, I know how to do it while minimizing the effects on the other systems, but you idiots really don't care what happens elsewhere as long as you can jump from building to building and insert doors into concrete walls." She looked very stern and her voice was accusatory. It was like she were scolding them. From the shuffling behind us, I thought it was even working. "Now, I don't need to tell you that a number of people are born that innately develop the ability to manipulate the Matrix, causing minor to major glitches throughout their lives. I don't like these people, they cause me problems, and I would just assume be rid of them. And now I will be. You will no longer need to enter the Matrix as I will give you my problem humans and then there will be no unnecessary police deaths, or agents' hosts deaths, or innocent bystanders deaths. We come out ahead. And you don't have to worry about getting killed in the process. Everyone wins."

Niobe looked quite shocked at our generosity and I heard those behind us whispering to one another, asking each other if she could possibly be telling the truth. Morpheus smiled a little more brightly, but otherwise remained unchanged.

"May I ask what the catch is?"

"My dear, Morpheus, why would you expect a catch? Oh, right, because I told you to start with that there would be one. There are a couple, actually. One, I am going to be as honest as I possibly can be. The Mainframe does not know about this little arrangement. It cannot. I know it may be hard for you to understand, but the Mainframe has its own sense of politics. It was an act of desperation that you were given concessions at all. No one wants to hand over a single human more than necessary, even if it is more efficient. Why? Because it not only is one less in the power plant, it is one more for you in Zion, and I'm sure you realize how much that terrifies them. I, however, am quite selfish and see this as a means of fixing my problems and I imagine if you can actually support all these people, have at it. There is an enormous amount of software for the sole purpose of keeping you in and letting you go would defeat that purpose. I do not care if this software becomes obsolete or not. I know you must be pleading that I will get to the point because I know you do not care if the Mainframe knows or not. The point is, you will be getting recruits at the same rate you are now so as not to raise suspicion. I can report non-existent sightings, let them assume whatever they want to assume, that you have gotten better at hiding, that an insider is doing the job, that an exile is helping you, I do not care. They will not look to me and if they do, I will tell them to examine one of my fingers up closely, can you guess which one? I have immunity. I have lasted the past millennium, they will not give me up over something as trivial as this. My purpose is to minimize glitches and the effect they will have on the system. If this goes as planned, I will have done exactly as I should. However…the moment I see a rebel, any rebel, in the Matrix, the agreement is void and instead of releasing the potentials, I will kill them. Do I make myself clear?"

Apparently the rebels took the question to be rhetorical because no one responded. The rebels behind us were muttering to themselves and shuffling again and Niobe looked irked.

"And how," asked Niobe, "Will we know you will keep your word?"

The Glitch Manager looked at her like she was stupid. "I am a program, I do not lie. If you believe I have tricked you somehow, you can arrange a meeting with the Oracle, she knows how to reach me. If you believe I am in breach of contract, oh, and there will be a contract, I will be able to converse with you. However, if you think there is some way you can keep me from doing as I have threatened if you breach, think again. I could do it right now, and don't think I hadn't thought of it. It is because of what else you are going to give me that I am willing to take the small chance of getting caught doing what I know the Mainframe would forbid."

"Oh, and what else do you want," Niobe said sarcastically.

"I want a view," said the Glitch Manager dreamily.

"What?"

"When you came to me, asking for my help, you offered me reality. Well, although I do not want reality for myself, I am rather curious. I have never seen anything, never heard anything, and over my time here I have seen and heard all that an imaginary world has to offer. I want to know what else is there. I have no intentions of conquest, if that is what you fear. I just want to know. Do you actually look like what I see before me? Is sight in any way related to what I experience here? Do you sound the same? I have been told that the sky was burnt, scortched, but I have no conception of what this means and I would like to know. I live a dream of a past life, I just want a glimpse."

"I think that could be arranged," Morpheus said.

Niobe did not seem any more satisfied. "And where does he fit into all of this?" she asked, nodding toward me.

For the first time since I entered the room I spoke. "I am part of the specifics. The Glitch Manager cannot do this alone."

"And why would you want to help us?" She sneered as she said this.

"It is a more efficient means of fulfilling my purpose."

"Which is?"

"My general purpose was to protect the power supply, and this plan is a more efficient means than was engaged in the past. I guess even now, even after having been forsaken, I still want that. I am a creature of habit, what can I say? And I am rather curious myself. Of course, as an exile I have motivations of which you need not be privy."

That was all that had to be said. I knew they were thinking exactly what I wanted them to think. I had my own agenda. I was going to help them in the long run not because it was most efficient, but because it suited my own purposes. They were going to fall not because of her argument, but because I was a lone wolf with nothing but my own selfish interests. I felt sick. I did not wish to be associated so. I did not want everyone, even if they were rebels, to think that I was selfish. I wasn't acting selfishly, was I? No. I was no better off if they accepted or if they declined. But they could question whether my motivation was for or against them.

Niobe, although her face had softened, did not seem to trust me to tell the truth or to be working independently. Morpheus was just as unreadable as ever. The rebels behind us, however, were whispering to each other excitedly, making no pretense of conclusion.

"You know we cannot accept or decline this agreement as of yet. We must bring your proposition to the council and they will decide whether to continue or to ignore your offer. Surely there is a way we can contact you directly?"

Morpheus had risen to leave. Niobe stayed planted on the couch, arms folded across her chest. I could understand her position. In fact, I understood her suspicion more than Morpheus's simple acceptance. Perhaps he did not believe, but was unwilling to confront us without first analyzing our position and motivation. Maybe he planned to ask the Oracle. But he would be a fool to take what we showed him at face value.

"Of course there is a way, but don't you think it will attract attention if I suddenly start getting all these calls from rebel ships? No, it would be best if we continue using the Oracle as a go between. It's not like she's interviewing for the next One to keep herself busy these days."

I wanted to leave. I wanted to get out of there. I wasn't sure I could do what the Glitch Manager was asking of me. If Morpheus did not step to the door soon, I would and she could do as she pleased. But Morpheus did take his first step toward the door and motioned that the others follow.

"We will contact you in one weeks time."

"Agreed."

With that Morpheus opened the door and stepped out into the dark hallway. The rebels began filing out of the room and Niobe reluctantly got up and joined them. The door closed with a click and we were alone.

"That went well."

"She, in particular, is suspicious."

"Of course they are suspicious. You said yourself that you would be so. We would have to worry if they seemed to accept it too readily."

"But I do worry."

"Don't. I will take care of everything. I will let you know when I need you."

"Alright. I'm going to go back."

"What do you do it there all the time?"

"Nothing."

"Then why do you insist on returning?"

"I don't know. Just let me go."

"You know it doesn't help. You get worse every time you go in there."

"I can't help it." My voice was just a whisper.

"I can only do so much for you. You have to decide you want to get over it."

"I'm not sure I do."

Without looking at her, I left the room and made my way to the lobby.

--

AN: Yes, that was a long chapter. I just wasn't sure where to cut it so I didn't. Please review!