Chapter 16
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The choice
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... ... The Architect told me that if I didn't return to the Source, Zion would be destroyed...
... ... Please. You and I may not be able to see beyond our own choices, but that man can't see past any choices. He doesn't understand them. He can't. To him they are variables in an equation . One at a time each variable must be solved then countered. That's his purpose. To balance the equation.
... ... What's your purpose?
... ... To unbalance it.
... ... Why? What do you want?
... ... I want the same thing you want, Neo. And I'm willing to go as far as you are to get it.
... ... The end of the war.
... ... Is it going to end?
... ... One way or another.
... ... Can Zion be saved?
... ... I'm sorry I don't have the answer to that question, but if there is an answer, there's only one place you're going to find it.
... ... Where?
... ... You know where.
... ... And if you can't find the answer, then I'm afraid there may be no tomorrow for any of us.
... ... What does that mean?
... ... Everything that has a beginning has an end. I see the end coming. I see the darkness spreading. I see death. And you are all that stands in his way. If you cannot stop him tonight, then I fear that tomorrow may never come.
... ... Smith.
... ... Very soon he is going to have the power to destroy this world. But I believe he won't stop there. He can't. He won't stop until there is nothing left at all.
... ... One way or another, Neo, this war is going to end. Tonight the future of both worlds will be in your hands. Or in his.
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... ... Choice. The gift we are forever unwrapping. And you know better than most that certain choices can forever change our lives...
The Oracle's words turn in Neo's mind. It's been a one-track mind since their last encounter, a few days before. He'd like to know what he's supposed to do now. Every encounter with the Oracle leaves him with more questions than answers. Or maybe, he knows what he has to do, but the truth is that he's not ready to accept it yet. But there's no time, there's no time anymore.
He sighs in the darkness of his room, absently caressing Trinity's forearm, wrapped around his chest. He's not ready. He knows he has to be, but he's not ready to leave her. And yet he knows there's not another available option.
... ... Choice is an illusion created between those with power and those without...
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The Captains and Seconds of each ship are gathered around the table in the mess hall.
"The Machines have taken junction TwentyOne. The way I see it, if we drop down from broadcast here, intersect OneSeventy, we might surprise them"
There is an intricate map of the sewer lines spread out on the table and Trinity's eyes stare at it, pondering Ghost's words, her arms folded as she doesn't bother anymore how that particular posture stresses out her baby bump.
"We'll go first, hammer as deep as we can, then blow our EMP. Hopefully we can punch a hole big enough for you to get through"
Morpheus leans back, looking at Niobe as she shakes her head instead, her hand on her chin as she's clearly pondering an alternative move.
"It ain't pretty, but the way I see it, it's the only way back" he tries again, in an attempt to have the approval for the Captain of the Logos.
"No, it isn't" she says, standing up, her arms folded as she gives Morpheus a piercing look " There's another way. A support line. It drops down right here, at least a thousand meters short of Twenty-One. If we're lucky, we may be able to slip down without them ever knowing"
It's Morpheus time to shake his head.
"Niobe, that's a mechanical line. It's impossible. No one can pilot mechanical"
"I can" she says in a firm and clear tone, staring at him.
He knows she can actually, but...
"That was a long time ago, Niobe and nowhere near this long a run"
Her dark eyes pierce his.
"I said I can do it"
Niobe stares at Morpheus as he stares back at her.
"But, if you can, you're the only one that can, Niobe" Ghost says as the Captain look at her second in command "There's no way they can follow us"
The door suddenly ratchets open and they all turn to find Neo standing in the doorway.
They wait for him to speak.
Neo's eyes meet Trinity's as she unfold her arms, letting them fall at both sides of her hips, like foreseeing what's about to come, then Neo's eyes move on the two Captains.
He had to take too much time after his last encounter with the Oracle, once more to try to find a sense to her words, to understand what he's really supposed to do, if they want to have a chance to save Zion. He knows time is against him, against them all, but he has to be sure. And there's not an easy way to tell it.
"I know what I have to do" he says in what is just a little more than a whisper but loud enough to be heard by everyone in the silence of the room. Enough for Trinity's lips to part.
" I have to take one of the ships. To go to the Machine city"
Trinity stares at him and he is unable to hide his thoughts from her. Something unspoken passes between them.
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Neo takes a deep breath, an useless attempt to swallow the lump in his throat while, in the deadly silence of the room his thoughts torture him.
He knew it wouldn't been easy. Easy for Trinity to accept it. He'd read it in her eyes. Exactly like he knew there was no chance to make her change her mind. Her blue eyes got stunned for a moment, like trying to figure out if she'd heard him right, then she'd given him a piercing look.
... ... You'll never make it. In a hundred years no ship has been within a hundred kilometers of it. You'll never make it.
Neo knows that Ghost's word are not a lack of thrust. It'd been his attempt to protect his sister. Because he knows, as well as he knows, that she's going with him.
... ... I have to try.
... ... Is this what the Oracle told you?
... ... No.
... ... You have to believe me. I have to go.
Neo can remember Ghost's eyes as he watched Trinity. His eyes fixed on her like to try to have her attention and to make her change her mind. Pain and sorrow and fear, mixed together. He can't stand the idea of her, risking her life in what's clearly a suicidal mission.
Neo knows that feeling, because it's exactly his.
But Trinity's eyes never met her brother's, and she'd just stared at Neo. Her decision had been taken, and nor Neo nor Ghost, nor anyone else could change her mind.
... ... "You can take my ship. I'll pilot this ship, Neo can take mine. If we leave inside the hour, we should reach Zion as the Machines do. That plan sounds as good as any"
... ... "Two ships. Two directions. Sounds like providence, doesn't it Morpheus?"
... ... "You've never believed in the One."
... ... "I still don't. I believe in them"
Neo grabs his tools and shoulders his bag. When he turns, Trinity is standing in the door with her bag.
"I'm ready"
"Trinity ..."
He drops his bag.
"There's something I have to say. Something you need to understand... I know I'm supposed to go, but beyond that ... I don't know ... I'm not sure if..."
Heis unable to find the words, so she does.
"I know, Neo. You don't think we're coming back" He nods, surprised as always by her "I knew it the moment you said you had to leave. I saw it in your face, just like you knew the moment you looked at me, that I was coming with you"
"I'm scared, Trin"
She drops her bag and steps close to him.
"So am I. It took me ten minutes to buckle up one boot. And not because of my baby bump" the hint of a smile she tries to give him, to play down that painful moment, doesn't reach her eyes, and Neo just painfully stares at her "I'll tell you something Neo... I told the Merovingian I was ready to give anything and everything for you... he believed me... do you know what's changed now? ...Nothing"
She kisses him and in the kiss there is a vow.
Neo's hand finds her stomach, caressing it. Their eyes meet painfully again.
"What if we're wrong, Trin? About all the One thing..."
Her hand finds his face and her thumb caresses his cheekbone.
"Don't do this..." she looks at him as he looks down instead, closing his eyes at the touch of her palm on his cheek "We thought the One is the tool. I think it's our purpose instead. Our goal. Our aim. What move us to go on. It's what make every effort worth. Fighting, risking our life over everything else, even dying. You and I... we're both the One and none of us is" Neo's eyes open, but the blue of her eyes is still too painful. Her voice is a whisper, reassuring and yet strong. "I believe in us, Neo. In the three of us" their eyes meet as her free hand moves his on the side of her belly, where the baby is kicking "A part of me feels like I have been waiting my whole life for this... for our child. He's me and you, tied together" The grip of Trinity's hand on Neo's cheek tightens as he tries to look down again "You can't do this... you can't give up... please... I need you... with me... I need you to be strong"
He nods and she can see it in his eyes. He's not letting his fears to cloud his goal.
"I'm not giving up, Trin, I swear" his hand cups her cheek in turn "You're my strength, my reason of life... I'll give anything and everything for you... for both of you"
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In the cockpit the crew are preparing for taking off. Morpheus is on the radio.
"You finished loading that ammunition?"
Sparks answers from the loading bay of the Logos, looking at the crew of the Neb as they haul the last few boxes of ammunition.
"Just about, sir"
"Let's move it. We are out of time" Morpheus' voice comes from the receiver.
Niobe is in the pilot's seat.
"You're not leaving them anything?"
Her eyes are serious and questioning as she meets Morpheus' eyes.
"He said they didn't need it"
In the loading bay, saying goodbye is even more painful than they thought. They're soldiers, warriors... but they're friends...
Morpheus and Dozer are saying goodbye to Neo and Trinity. Dozer locks a bear-hug on her.
... ... "I'm asking Morpheus to come with you. If something happens... you are going to need my help"
... ... "It's out of question, Doz. Your kids need you more than I do"
"Take care of the little one in here" Dozer says touching Trinity's baby bump.
A sad smile curls up her lips.
"Take care of the kids. Kiss them for me"
He tries to give her a scolding look at her words, but he knows she's right... they don't know if they'll ever meet again.
"I ain't saying goodbye, Trin. I'm just saying good luck"
She just nods this time, unable to pronounce out loud that 'thanks'. And they hug again. Trinity bites on her lower lip and Dozer hides his tears as he turns away.
Morpheus isn't sure what to say to Neo.
"I can only hope you know what you're doing"
"Me too"
Neo offers his hand, as he did when they first met.
"It was an honor, sir"
Morpheus smiles as he shakes it.
"No, the honor is still mine"
Hauling their bags, Neo and Trinity head down the ramp, disappearing into the darkness of the pipe.