Forever, I know...
I'm a lazy butt.. I know... I've been working on this forever....
Enigma's intro to the world... entitled Dreaming of Zion...
Dreaming of Zion
Cassandra Roberts gasped awake, her heart pounding in her ears, trying to claw her way free of the monstrous dream that she had been trapped in. She felt sick to her stomach. As the visions faded away she flopped back onto the bed and tried to take deep slow breaths. It was just a dream. As her heart rate slowed, she tried to gather some of the images into her mind but failed, yet again. She had been having this dream for a few months now, but every time after she awoke, the images slipped away so fast, she couldn’t make sense of it.
The dream seemed always the same as well. There was an overwhelming feeling of being trapped. Large monsters with red eyes hovering above her, keeping her hostage, and she didn't know why she was being kept prisoner. However, that's all that she could really remember of the dream, she just couldn't seem to recall anymore than those few images. It was frightening and frustrating all at the same time. She didn't understand why she had this trapped feeling, but she really didn't like it all that much.
She rolled over and continued to breathe steady, trying to calm her nerves. It wasn't really helping. She looked at the clock, the digital read out displayed 1:30 AM. Groaning she rolled out of bed and shuffled over to her desk. There would be no sleeping for awhile yet. Not after having the nightmare again. She pulled on her oversized black zippered hoodie and sat cross-legged on her computer chair. Opening the lid on her laptop brought it out of sleep mode and she logged into a chat room.
She pulled her mp3 player out of the pocket of her sweater and put in her earphones. She scrolled through the songs with the click wheel to find her favourite and pressed play. Loud music came streaming out of the little ear buds and she leaned back sighing softly into her chair as the song cascaded through her mind.
Reveal to me the Mystery
Can you tell me what it means?
Explain these motions and metaphors
Unlock these secrets in me
Describe your vision, the meaning is missing
Won't anybody listen?
Nothing is really what it seems
Dreaming of Zion, Awake
Sleeping Awake
Dreaming of Zion, Awake
Can't stop Sleeping Awake
Do you see what I see?
And can you hear what I hear?
Do you feel what I feel?
Can't stop Sleeping Awake
Do you see what I see?
And can you hear what I hear?
Do you feel like I feel?
Can't stop Sleeping...
Can you see it? The writing,
Can you tell me what it means?
Translate the symbols, Enigma
Expressions keep questioning me
The message is written, the meaning is missing
Won't anybody Listen?
Prophesy, interpreting the signs
Nothing is really what it seems
Dreaming of Zion, Awake
Sleeping Awake
Dreaming of Zion, Awake
Can't stop Sleeping Awake
Cassandra’s eyes started to close softly as the music drifted through her soul. She absolutely loved this song. The voice of the song quelling the memories of the dream that haunted her more and more often. Though the song seemed to speak of something more in the world. If she hadn’t been given the mp3 by one of her chat room friends, she never would have chosen her online persona “Enigma”.
Her chat room friends tended to speak of the possibility of this reality not being, well, real. She didn’t know what to believe. She did know that she felt there had to be more than this boring world had to offer. She just didn’t know what. She stopped the music and put the mp3 player back into her sweater pocket, yawning at the same time.
She said her farewells to her chat friends and logged off the internet. She felt sleepy and it was now 2:30 AM and she had to work in the morning. She closed the lid on her laptop, putting it back to sleep, and took off her sweater leaving it in a pile on her desk chair. She shuffled back to her bed and tumbled in, hoping that she wouldn’t have the nightmare for a second time that night.
~*~*~*~*~
Cassandra flumped down in her computer chair and sighed, she took off her sweater and then opened the lid on her laptop, waking it up again. The day had been yet another horribly boring day at work and she just couldn’t stand it anymore. It was so mundane. Something had to happen to improve her life. Something soon, too. She felt at the bursting point of boredom. She felt she might do something crazy to fix it herself if something didn’t happen.
She logged onto her messenger programs, her chat room and opened up her online journal to write. She felt blocked, frustrated and annoyed with routine. However, it was a comfortable routine and she decided to stick with it, at least for another day.
Today was another ridiculous day at work. What a joke. All I do is answer the phones all bloody day and no one cares. I could just skip work and I’m sure no one would notice. Oh my god, I can’t believe how irritating people there are. How stupid does one have to be to nail themselves to the chair and answer the phone. I swear I’m just going to go there one day and tell the boss he can shove it up his ass. GOD! I hate my life right now. Why? Why why why...? I know there is more. I know it... I don’t know why I know, but I do know. I just know.
I had the nightmare again. The one where monsters with giant red eyes surround me and keep me trapped, and I don’t know why. I’ve been getting the dream a lot more often lately and I don’t know why. It’s so horrible. Sometimes I don’t want to go back to sleep because I don’t want to see them again. It’s scary as hell.
I was reading the newspaper at work today too, and there was an article about eyewitness reports to someone flying, as if he was “Superman”. There is something not right in the world. Something doesn’t add up, and I’d love to know why... more later I suppose.
She hit submit on her journal entry and let the world see it. Not that anyone really read it anyway. If they did, the didn’t comment on it. She focused her attention on the chat room and tried to forget her frustration. She chatted idly with a few of the room regulars and put her music on again from her mp3 player. She felt so alone at that moment. So very alone.
~*~*~*~*~
Gasping awake she shuddered and tried not to cry out loud, no need to wake her roommates up. She wiped tears away from her cheeks, she had been crying during her nightmare. She looked at the clock. 3:09 AM. Why was she being tormented now almost nightly with this horrible dream. Cassandra rolled out of bed and shuffled to her desk, pulling on her sweater she felt so alone again. She woke up her laptop and logged into her chat room and waited. She’d been waiting for a few weeks, she hadn’t acted upon her thought to tell off her boss, she needed the wages too much. She doubted her room mates would appreciate her lack of a job.
No one was online. She just wanted one person to talk to. Just one person.
Enigma: Hello? Anybody out there? Am I alone?
She queried the online users list, and there was no one in the room. Usually there were people here at all hours, but right now, she was all by herself. She sighed and put on her favourite song again, hoping to cheer herself up a bit. Hoping someone would come online to talk to her.
Neo: You are not alone...
Enigma: Who are you?
Neo: A friend...
Enigma: Really? I’ve never spoken to you before, how are you a friend?
Neo: I know the answers to the questions you have.
Enigma: How do you know my questions?
Neo: I’ve been reading your journal. I know you are frustrated with your life, and you feel there is more out there than what you are living. I have the answers.
Enigma: Well that’s good, at least someone does...
Neo: I’m serious. You have to trust that what you are feeling is real, and I will help you to see the truth.
Enigma: The truth?
Neo: Yes, that the world isn’t what you think it is. There is much more, but I can’t share it all here. Can we meet?
That stopped her in her tracks. Meet? That was not something she ever did.
Neo: Do you want to live a life that you find detestable when you feel there is more out there? You have to trust me. I will show you the truth.
She felt wary still, but something deep inside of her was telling her to do it. Telling her to meet with this Neo and find out what was out there in the world beyond her.
Enigma: Yes. Please, show me the truth. Where do you want to meet?
~*~*~*~*~
Cassandra sat at the bus stop and waited. Gripping the sheet of paper she had written the meeting details on in one hand and her iPod in the other. She was nervous. There were a million what if questions running through her head and she could not answer any one of them. She looked at her watch again, for the hundredth time. Two minutes to go. She wondered if this Neo person was even going to bother showing up. There were so many different things that could happen in the next few moments she was lost in the all the paths of possibility.
Suddenly she realised she wasn't alone. Quickly turning down her music, she heard footfalls on the flagstones of the sidewalk. Perking up, she turned in the direction of the sound and leaned forward a bit. Walking slowly through the golden circle cast by the street lamp, a very strong looking man made himself evident. Wearing a pair of dark sunglasses, black hair only slightly disarrayed, and in a full length black cloth coat she would later learn was called a cassock.
He looked very surreal almost, like there was something quite different about him. She rushed to her feet and popped the earphones out of her ears. "H-h-hello?" She tried. "Neo?"
The man nodded, and approached her slowly, sensing her discomfort. "Yes, I am Neo. Thank you for meeting with me, and for trusting me, Enigma."
Cassandra swallowed, her heart raced, no one ever called her that outside of the online world. She felt like she was spiralling out of control, and she didn't even know why. "I just want to know the truth."
Neo smiled and nodded. "I will show you the truth. I can not just simply tell you. You need to see it for yourself." He turned slightly and gestured to a car just outside of the light, which she hadn't realised was there. "If you'll accompany me, I will make things clear for you."
She nodded, nervously, and followed him to the car. Just like a gentleman, Neo opened the back door to the car for her. She smiled her thanks and entered the car.
A woman smiled at her from the back seat, and moved over to make room. She was dressed in a bright green latex coat and sported a head of spiked, rainbow-dyed hair. Cassandra arranged herself next to the woman and looked drab in comparison. She was wearing her oversized black zipper hoodie with the roomy pockets over a black tank-top and black skirt. She hadn’t even taken the time to lace up her black boots before coming to meet with Neo. She dropped her iPod in the right pocket along with the now crumpled paper she had been holding. She stowed her black laptop sized shoulder bag at her feet. Her short, jet-black hair was spiky and going in different directions. She rushed out of the apartment so fast she hadn’t taken the time to fix it.
Neo slipped into the front passenger seat and took his place next to a large bald-headed, dark skinned man at the wheel.
The woman in the back seat extended her hand in greeting. “Hey! You must be Enigma. I’m Karma. I sorta feel like I know you, after reading your journal these last couple of weeks.”
Enigma shook her hand. “I like your hair...” And smiled a bit, thinking to herself that her journal now has gotten her into a weird spot of possible trouble and found it funny.
“Thanks!”
The driver turned in his seat to look at her and in a deep even voice, said “Hello, Enigma. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you. I am Morpheus. And you’ve already met Neo.”
A look of slight shock crossed her features. “The Morpheus?!”
“That depends on what Morpheus you’ve heard of.”
“There is only one Morpheus... you’re like, famous...!” Enigma looked so surprised. She can’t seem to figure out why she’s here. What would Morpheus want with her? Her blue-grey eyes sparkled with confusion and concern.
Morpheus smiled slightly, looking back at her through the rear-view mirror. “To some, Morpheus is an international terrorist. To others, he is a thorn in the side of the establishment.”
“And to some of us, you’re a beacon of hope. Especially when we start out on this path.” Karma throws out, turning to Cassandra. “He’s the captain of our ship.”
Smiling, already at ease with these people, Cassandra blurts out: “I was thinking the thorn to establishment angle....” turning to her side she looked at Karma: “Ship?”
Neo gently cuts into the conversation, without skipping a beat. “There’ll be time for that later, Karma.” Neo turned to Cassandra as Morpheus put the car in gear and pulled away from the curb. “First, I’m sure you have questions. We can’t promise you all the answers - or that the answers will be easy to deal with, however.”
She smiled softly, her facial expression starting to have one of acceptance and ease. “Yes. However, having other people here reduces them a great deal...”
“Why, what was your first question? ‘Neo, are you a nut?’” Karma interjected, cheerfully.
Cassandra laughed slightly out of nervousness. “Something like that...”
“Thought so!” Karma smiled, still cheerful.
“The truth looks like insanity to those still trapped in the lie.” Neo stated, in a matter-of-fact way.
Cassandra looked very thoughtful at those words and mulled them over. “I’m tired of being trapped.”
“Should I tell her now that being freed isn’t always a picnic either?” Karma said, almost without thought, turning her gaze out the window scanning for potential trouble.
Neo’s gaze at Cassandra over the seat is silently beckoning. She was askance, but remained quiet in the face of the statement. She looked at Neo, slightly confused, yet realising now there is something much more than even she originally thought.
“The world really isn’t real... is it... I mean... not the way I thought...” she whispered, very quietly, feeling quite small.
“No. It’s not.” Neo stated, again matter-of-factly.
“I ... thought so.... so, this superman thing... this isn’t just media hype for something... it’s a real guy?”
Neo smiled very slightly. “It’s me.”
In Cassandra’s eyes, Neo can see the gears turning and the puzzle pieces starting to fit together. “It’s you?? Wow...”
“The world as you know it, Enigma, is a computer simulation - one whose rules can be bent, or even broken.” Morpheus stated, in his soft manner, speaking for the first time since he’d revealed who he was.
“A simulation?....” she trailed off, pondering the statement deeply.
“We have been waiting for Neo for a long time.... he is the One capable of shattering the illusion and revealing it for the lie that it is.” Morpheus cut into her contemplation, with the air of one who has said the same thing many many times over. She nods slightly, stunned look on her face. “The One capable of reaching out and gathering in our people - those who, in their hearts and minds, already sense the terrible falsehood that imprisons them.”
“When he freed me, Morpheus called it ‘the splinter in the mind’.” Neo interjected, quietly, turning to her. “You feel it too.”
It wasn’t a question.
“Like how... there is so much more beyond what we think there is? It’s just something that I can’t put to words.... I just know....” She nodded in agreement, finally seeing the scope of it all. Finally realising that the world is truly an enigma, just like her.
“There’s a whole world beyond this one. But to be honest, it’s not exactly Palm Springs.” Karma pipes up, suddenly.
“The world that the computer simulation is run from. A world controlled by the Machines.” Neo finishes. “You think it’s the year 1999, right?”
Enigma is perplexed, and mutters: “It has to be better than being trapped in a perpetual loop....” She then looks up at Neo. “Well, I did...”
“Try 2199.”
Enigma raised an eyebrow, and just kind of stared at him.
“There was a war - a war between the human race and the Machine race... We struck first.”
“So says Smith...” snorts Karma.
“Figures,” Enigma breathes quietly.
“I don’t believe he’s lying.” Neo turned his eyes to Karma with the comment. Turning back to Enigma “We also darkened the sky, cutting the Machines off from their source of solar power. In retaliation, the Machines found an alternative power source: human bodies, harvested for heat and electromagnetic energy. While their bodies are hooked into the system, their minds are locked into a computer simulation we call the Matrix.”
Enigma nods, trying ot follow but not quite getting it all in the first go. Her eyes widened at the mention of the term Matrix.
Neo raised an eyebrow, noting the reaction. “You’ve heard the term?”
She nodded. “Some of the people in the places I hang out online have mentioned it... but only in passing... I didn’t pay attention at the time...”
“The Matrix is your prison.” Morpheus cuts in again, quietly.
“How do you get out of a prison you can’t even see??” Enigma squeaked, suddenly afraid.
“You find someone who’s already gotten out, and has the key.” Neo stated, again with a matter-of-fact air about him.
“Congratulations.” Karma smiled.
“Congratulations?” Enigma asked, looking at her, obvious confusion on her face.
“Morpheus just happens to have one.” Karma answers, grinning.
“So, it’s my lucky day then....” Enigma tried to suppress her slight concerns getting caught up in Karma’s enthusiasm.
“You will be freed, Enigma, I promise you -- but not tonight.” Morpheus cut in.
“Why not tonight? I don’t understand?”
Neo starts "We..." He glanced at Morpheus and Karma. "Our ship is on the run from the rest of the fleet. We're on our own -- and we have limited resources. We'll notify another ship that you need an extraction. They'll do the rest."
Enigma nodded, not following, but wanting to desperately.
Karma laid a sympathetic hand on her arm: "It might take a few weeks, but they'll get to you."
"If your on the run, why would they help me just ‘cuz you told them to?"
"Because every unplugged human is vital to our cause -- resistance against the rule of the Machines." Morpheus stated, quite logically, but the logic was far beyond her. Enigma nodded, looking very confused and disappointed at the same time - this hadn't been what she expected.
Morpheus continued "How they found you will not matter. What matters is that you will join us." Enigma nodded again.
"We should get you home. It's not safe to hang around with us." from Neo, who was looking out of the window while speaking. "Any other questions?"
"Just let me know when and where to be and go..."
Neo nodded "They'll know your chat handle and your e-mail. Someone will contact you."
Enigma smiled softly. "Fair enough..."
"They will use the word 'trebuchette" as a code verifying that they are one of us." Morpheus spells out the word for her. "You must do exactly as they say."
"Trust them. They'll get you safely home." Neo reassured her calmly, which was more than she could muster herself. She jots the code word down on her crumpled paper, nodding. "I understand." The car stopped, and Enigma recognises that she's about two blocks from her house.
Neo smiled at her one last time "Good luck."
(to be continued...)
comments welcome :) I tried really really hard to get all the tense the same, if you notice where it's not lemme know so I can fix it so it's all in the same voice.... Thanks guys :)
Enigma's intro to the world... entitled Dreaming of Zion...
Dreaming of Zion
Cassandra Roberts gasped awake, her heart pounding in her ears, trying to claw her way free of the monstrous dream that she had been trapped in. She felt sick to her stomach. As the visions faded away she flopped back onto the bed and tried to take deep slow breaths. It was just a dream. As her heart rate slowed, she tried to gather some of the images into her mind but failed, yet again. She had been having this dream for a few months now, but every time after she awoke, the images slipped away so fast, she couldn’t make sense of it.
The dream seemed always the same as well. There was an overwhelming feeling of being trapped. Large monsters with red eyes hovering above her, keeping her hostage, and she didn't know why she was being kept prisoner. However, that's all that she could really remember of the dream, she just couldn't seem to recall anymore than those few images. It was frightening and frustrating all at the same time. She didn't understand why she had this trapped feeling, but she really didn't like it all that much.
She rolled over and continued to breathe steady, trying to calm her nerves. It wasn't really helping. She looked at the clock, the digital read out displayed 1:30 AM. Groaning she rolled out of bed and shuffled over to her desk. There would be no sleeping for awhile yet. Not after having the nightmare again. She pulled on her oversized black zippered hoodie and sat cross-legged on her computer chair. Opening the lid on her laptop brought it out of sleep mode and she logged into a chat room.
She pulled her mp3 player out of the pocket of her sweater and put in her earphones. She scrolled through the songs with the click wheel to find her favourite and pressed play. Loud music came streaming out of the little ear buds and she leaned back sighing softly into her chair as the song cascaded through her mind.
Reveal to me the Mystery
Can you tell me what it means?
Explain these motions and metaphors
Unlock these secrets in me
Describe your vision, the meaning is missing
Won't anybody listen?
Nothing is really what it seems
Dreaming of Zion, Awake
Sleeping Awake
Dreaming of Zion, Awake
Can't stop Sleeping Awake
Do you see what I see?
And can you hear what I hear?
Do you feel what I feel?
Can't stop Sleeping Awake
Do you see what I see?
And can you hear what I hear?
Do you feel like I feel?
Can't stop Sleeping...
Can you see it? The writing,
Can you tell me what it means?
Translate the symbols, Enigma
Expressions keep questioning me
The message is written, the meaning is missing
Won't anybody Listen?
Prophesy, interpreting the signs
Nothing is really what it seems
Dreaming of Zion, Awake
Sleeping Awake
Dreaming of Zion, Awake
Can't stop Sleeping Awake
Cassandra’s eyes started to close softly as the music drifted through her soul. She absolutely loved this song. The voice of the song quelling the memories of the dream that haunted her more and more often. Though the song seemed to speak of something more in the world. If she hadn’t been given the mp3 by one of her chat room friends, she never would have chosen her online persona “Enigma”.
Her chat room friends tended to speak of the possibility of this reality not being, well, real. She didn’t know what to believe. She did know that she felt there had to be more than this boring world had to offer. She just didn’t know what. She stopped the music and put the mp3 player back into her sweater pocket, yawning at the same time.
She said her farewells to her chat friends and logged off the internet. She felt sleepy and it was now 2:30 AM and she had to work in the morning. She closed the lid on her laptop, putting it back to sleep, and took off her sweater leaving it in a pile on her desk chair. She shuffled back to her bed and tumbled in, hoping that she wouldn’t have the nightmare for a second time that night.
~*~*~*~*~
Cassandra flumped down in her computer chair and sighed, she took off her sweater and then opened the lid on her laptop, waking it up again. The day had been yet another horribly boring day at work and she just couldn’t stand it anymore. It was so mundane. Something had to happen to improve her life. Something soon, too. She felt at the bursting point of boredom. She felt she might do something crazy to fix it herself if something didn’t happen.
She logged onto her messenger programs, her chat room and opened up her online journal to write. She felt blocked, frustrated and annoyed with routine. However, it was a comfortable routine and she decided to stick with it, at least for another day.
Today was another ridiculous day at work. What a joke. All I do is answer the phones all bloody day and no one cares. I could just skip work and I’m sure no one would notice. Oh my god, I can’t believe how irritating people there are. How stupid does one have to be to nail themselves to the chair and answer the phone. I swear I’m just going to go there one day and tell the boss he can shove it up his ass. GOD! I hate my life right now. Why? Why why why...? I know there is more. I know it... I don’t know why I know, but I do know. I just know.
I had the nightmare again. The one where monsters with giant red eyes surround me and keep me trapped, and I don’t know why. I’ve been getting the dream a lot more often lately and I don’t know why. It’s so horrible. Sometimes I don’t want to go back to sleep because I don’t want to see them again. It’s scary as hell.
I was reading the newspaper at work today too, and there was an article about eyewitness reports to someone flying, as if he was “Superman”. There is something not right in the world. Something doesn’t add up, and I’d love to know why... more later I suppose.
She hit submit on her journal entry and let the world see it. Not that anyone really read it anyway. If they did, the didn’t comment on it. She focused her attention on the chat room and tried to forget her frustration. She chatted idly with a few of the room regulars and put her music on again from her mp3 player. She felt so alone at that moment. So very alone.
~*~*~*~*~
Gasping awake she shuddered and tried not to cry out loud, no need to wake her roommates up. She wiped tears away from her cheeks, she had been crying during her nightmare. She looked at the clock. 3:09 AM. Why was she being tormented now almost nightly with this horrible dream. Cassandra rolled out of bed and shuffled to her desk, pulling on her sweater she felt so alone again. She woke up her laptop and logged into her chat room and waited. She’d been waiting for a few weeks, she hadn’t acted upon her thought to tell off her boss, she needed the wages too much. She doubted her room mates would appreciate her lack of a job.
No one was online. She just wanted one person to talk to. Just one person.
Enigma: Hello? Anybody out there? Am I alone?
She queried the online users list, and there was no one in the room. Usually there were people here at all hours, but right now, she was all by herself. She sighed and put on her favourite song again, hoping to cheer herself up a bit. Hoping someone would come online to talk to her.
Neo: You are not alone...
Enigma: Who are you?
Neo: A friend...
Enigma: Really? I’ve never spoken to you before, how are you a friend?
Neo: I know the answers to the questions you have.
Enigma: How do you know my questions?
Neo: I’ve been reading your journal. I know you are frustrated with your life, and you feel there is more out there than what you are living. I have the answers.
Enigma: Well that’s good, at least someone does...
Neo: I’m serious. You have to trust that what you are feeling is real, and I will help you to see the truth.
Enigma: The truth?
Neo: Yes, that the world isn’t what you think it is. There is much more, but I can’t share it all here. Can we meet?
That stopped her in her tracks. Meet? That was not something she ever did.
Neo: Do you want to live a life that you find detestable when you feel there is more out there? You have to trust me. I will show you the truth.
She felt wary still, but something deep inside of her was telling her to do it. Telling her to meet with this Neo and find out what was out there in the world beyond her.
Enigma: Yes. Please, show me the truth. Where do you want to meet?
~*~*~*~*~
Cassandra sat at the bus stop and waited. Gripping the sheet of paper she had written the meeting details on in one hand and her iPod in the other. She was nervous. There were a million what if questions running through her head and she could not answer any one of them. She looked at her watch again, for the hundredth time. Two minutes to go. She wondered if this Neo person was even going to bother showing up. There were so many different things that could happen in the next few moments she was lost in the all the paths of possibility.
Suddenly she realised she wasn't alone. Quickly turning down her music, she heard footfalls on the flagstones of the sidewalk. Perking up, she turned in the direction of the sound and leaned forward a bit. Walking slowly through the golden circle cast by the street lamp, a very strong looking man made himself evident. Wearing a pair of dark sunglasses, black hair only slightly disarrayed, and in a full length black cloth coat she would later learn was called a cassock.
He looked very surreal almost, like there was something quite different about him. She rushed to her feet and popped the earphones out of her ears. "H-h-hello?" She tried. "Neo?"
The man nodded, and approached her slowly, sensing her discomfort. "Yes, I am Neo. Thank you for meeting with me, and for trusting me, Enigma."
Cassandra swallowed, her heart raced, no one ever called her that outside of the online world. She felt like she was spiralling out of control, and she didn't even know why. "I just want to know the truth."
Neo smiled and nodded. "I will show you the truth. I can not just simply tell you. You need to see it for yourself." He turned slightly and gestured to a car just outside of the light, which she hadn't realised was there. "If you'll accompany me, I will make things clear for you."
She nodded, nervously, and followed him to the car. Just like a gentleman, Neo opened the back door to the car for her. She smiled her thanks and entered the car.
A woman smiled at her from the back seat, and moved over to make room. She was dressed in a bright green latex coat and sported a head of spiked, rainbow-dyed hair. Cassandra arranged herself next to the woman and looked drab in comparison. She was wearing her oversized black zipper hoodie with the roomy pockets over a black tank-top and black skirt. She hadn’t even taken the time to lace up her black boots before coming to meet with Neo. She dropped her iPod in the right pocket along with the now crumpled paper she had been holding. She stowed her black laptop sized shoulder bag at her feet. Her short, jet-black hair was spiky and going in different directions. She rushed out of the apartment so fast she hadn’t taken the time to fix it.
Neo slipped into the front passenger seat and took his place next to a large bald-headed, dark skinned man at the wheel.
The woman in the back seat extended her hand in greeting. “Hey! You must be Enigma. I’m Karma. I sorta feel like I know you, after reading your journal these last couple of weeks.”
Enigma shook her hand. “I like your hair...” And smiled a bit, thinking to herself that her journal now has gotten her into a weird spot of possible trouble and found it funny.
“Thanks!”
The driver turned in his seat to look at her and in a deep even voice, said “Hello, Enigma. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you. I am Morpheus. And you’ve already met Neo.”
A look of slight shock crossed her features. “The Morpheus?!”
“That depends on what Morpheus you’ve heard of.”
“There is only one Morpheus... you’re like, famous...!” Enigma looked so surprised. She can’t seem to figure out why she’s here. What would Morpheus want with her? Her blue-grey eyes sparkled with confusion and concern.
Morpheus smiled slightly, looking back at her through the rear-view mirror. “To some, Morpheus is an international terrorist. To others, he is a thorn in the side of the establishment.”
“And to some of us, you’re a beacon of hope. Especially when we start out on this path.” Karma throws out, turning to Cassandra. “He’s the captain of our ship.”
Smiling, already at ease with these people, Cassandra blurts out: “I was thinking the thorn to establishment angle....” turning to her side she looked at Karma: “Ship?”
Neo gently cuts into the conversation, without skipping a beat. “There’ll be time for that later, Karma.” Neo turned to Cassandra as Morpheus put the car in gear and pulled away from the curb. “First, I’m sure you have questions. We can’t promise you all the answers - or that the answers will be easy to deal with, however.”
She smiled softly, her facial expression starting to have one of acceptance and ease. “Yes. However, having other people here reduces them a great deal...”
“Why, what was your first question? ‘Neo, are you a nut?’” Karma interjected, cheerfully.
Cassandra laughed slightly out of nervousness. “Something like that...”
“Thought so!” Karma smiled, still cheerful.
“The truth looks like insanity to those still trapped in the lie.” Neo stated, in a matter-of-fact way.
Cassandra looked very thoughtful at those words and mulled them over. “I’m tired of being trapped.”
“Should I tell her now that being freed isn’t always a picnic either?” Karma said, almost without thought, turning her gaze out the window scanning for potential trouble.
Neo’s gaze at Cassandra over the seat is silently beckoning. She was askance, but remained quiet in the face of the statement. She looked at Neo, slightly confused, yet realising now there is something much more than even she originally thought.
“The world really isn’t real... is it... I mean... not the way I thought...” she whispered, very quietly, feeling quite small.
“No. It’s not.” Neo stated, again matter-of-factly.
“I ... thought so.... so, this superman thing... this isn’t just media hype for something... it’s a real guy?”
Neo smiled very slightly. “It’s me.”
In Cassandra’s eyes, Neo can see the gears turning and the puzzle pieces starting to fit together. “It’s you?? Wow...”
“The world as you know it, Enigma, is a computer simulation - one whose rules can be bent, or even broken.” Morpheus stated, in his soft manner, speaking for the first time since he’d revealed who he was.
“A simulation?....” she trailed off, pondering the statement deeply.
“We have been waiting for Neo for a long time.... he is the One capable of shattering the illusion and revealing it for the lie that it is.” Morpheus cut into her contemplation, with the air of one who has said the same thing many many times over. She nods slightly, stunned look on her face. “The One capable of reaching out and gathering in our people - those who, in their hearts and minds, already sense the terrible falsehood that imprisons them.”
“When he freed me, Morpheus called it ‘the splinter in the mind’.” Neo interjected, quietly, turning to her. “You feel it too.”
It wasn’t a question.
“Like how... there is so much more beyond what we think there is? It’s just something that I can’t put to words.... I just know....” She nodded in agreement, finally seeing the scope of it all. Finally realising that the world is truly an enigma, just like her.
“There’s a whole world beyond this one. But to be honest, it’s not exactly Palm Springs.” Karma pipes up, suddenly.
“The world that the computer simulation is run from. A world controlled by the Machines.” Neo finishes. “You think it’s the year 1999, right?”
Enigma is perplexed, and mutters: “It has to be better than being trapped in a perpetual loop....” She then looks up at Neo. “Well, I did...”
“Try 2199.”
Enigma raised an eyebrow, and just kind of stared at him.
“There was a war - a war between the human race and the Machine race... We struck first.”
“So says Smith...” snorts Karma.
“Figures,” Enigma breathes quietly.
“I don’t believe he’s lying.” Neo turned his eyes to Karma with the comment. Turning back to Enigma “We also darkened the sky, cutting the Machines off from their source of solar power. In retaliation, the Machines found an alternative power source: human bodies, harvested for heat and electromagnetic energy. While their bodies are hooked into the system, their minds are locked into a computer simulation we call the Matrix.”
Enigma nods, trying ot follow but not quite getting it all in the first go. Her eyes widened at the mention of the term Matrix.
Neo raised an eyebrow, noting the reaction. “You’ve heard the term?”
She nodded. “Some of the people in the places I hang out online have mentioned it... but only in passing... I didn’t pay attention at the time...”
“The Matrix is your prison.” Morpheus cuts in again, quietly.
“How do you get out of a prison you can’t even see??” Enigma squeaked, suddenly afraid.
“You find someone who’s already gotten out, and has the key.” Neo stated, again with a matter-of-fact air about him.
“Congratulations.” Karma smiled.
“Congratulations?” Enigma asked, looking at her, obvious confusion on her face.
“Morpheus just happens to have one.” Karma answers, grinning.
“So, it’s my lucky day then....” Enigma tried to suppress her slight concerns getting caught up in Karma’s enthusiasm.
“You will be freed, Enigma, I promise you -- but not tonight.” Morpheus cut in.
“Why not tonight? I don’t understand?”
Neo starts "We..." He glanced at Morpheus and Karma. "Our ship is on the run from the rest of the fleet. We're on our own -- and we have limited resources. We'll notify another ship that you need an extraction. They'll do the rest."
Enigma nodded, not following, but wanting to desperately.
Karma laid a sympathetic hand on her arm: "It might take a few weeks, but they'll get to you."
"If your on the run, why would they help me just ‘cuz you told them to?"
"Because every unplugged human is vital to our cause -- resistance against the rule of the Machines." Morpheus stated, quite logically, but the logic was far beyond her. Enigma nodded, looking very confused and disappointed at the same time - this hadn't been what she expected.
Morpheus continued "How they found you will not matter. What matters is that you will join us." Enigma nodded again.
"We should get you home. It's not safe to hang around with us." from Neo, who was looking out of the window while speaking. "Any other questions?"
"Just let me know when and where to be and go..."
Neo nodded "They'll know your chat handle and your e-mail. Someone will contact you."
Enigma smiled softly. "Fair enough..."
"They will use the word 'trebuchette" as a code verifying that they are one of us." Morpheus spells out the word for her. "You must do exactly as they say."
"Trust them. They'll get you safely home." Neo reassured her calmly, which was more than she could muster herself. She jots the code word down on her crumpled paper, nodding. "I understand." The car stopped, and Enigma recognises that she's about two blocks from her house.
Neo smiled at her one last time "Good luck."
(to be continued...)
comments welcome :) I tried really really hard to get all the tense the same, if you notice where it's not lemme know so I can fix it so it's all in the same voice.... Thanks guys :)