The car stopped at the foot of a huge skyscraper and the agents got out. The one who was driving pulled Morpheus out of the car and Smith took care of you.

Once inside the unlimited number of floors, rooms, and corridors of headquarter, Smith ushered you into a separate room, while Morpheus was taken to the office opposite.

'But wait...!' You called, holding the door open before Smith closed it. 'Please don't separate us.'

'Miss (Y / N), will I have to bind you?'

'Smith ...'

'Please step away from the door, I don't want to hurt you.'

You tried to ask, talk to his mind, even threaten, but it didn't work. Smith was unfazed and adamant. At times like this you wished you had completed the training and bend the Matrix to your will, as the rest of Nebuchadnezzar's crew used to do when they got into trouble. But you insisted on jumping into the Matrix as soon as you recovered in the real world. Everything happened so fast, then there was no time for training, and then Neo showed up and everyone took care of him. Anyway, you usually managed to avoid confrontation, or Smith showed up on time, and all aggression towards you automatically ended...

The situation was so complicated... It was hard not to think back to the beginning of this confusion. Your first time in the Matrix after disconnecting. You had to see Smith, you just had to ...

***

Morpheus left you outside your home in the Matrix with a cell phone as your only companion. The evening was approaching, and heavy clouds were moving across the leaden sky, foreshadowing rain.

They gave you an hour. Whether Smith shows up or not, they'll be back an hour later and take you out of the Matrix. Admittedly, some people found such a move quite dangerous, considering what a greenhorn you were. Cypher in particular was furious that Morpheus would let you be alone, unsupervised. In fact, you understood that it was a big risk, but you were determined.

You rang the bell of your Matrix apartment, hoping Smith was there waiting for you.

'Hello?' Some completely unknown voice spoke through the intercom. It looked as if someone else had already moved in ...

Following the simulation, Tank noticed, that someone had already taken your place at work as well as if you never existed. A devastating thought, but also a comforting one. No one's world collapsed because you left. Life went on.

You weren't sure what to call Smith. Now that you were disconnected, it was probably impossible for him to find you if you hadn't helped with that. You had an idea, which might have worked if Smith still wanted to find you ...

You directed your steps to one of the nearest major junctions, which, despite the late hour, was still busy. You stepped out into the exact middle of it, probably clearly visible in your yellow raincoat (you didn't like the idea of wearing just black like the rest, so you picked your own outfit), and screamed to stop the cars.

'STOP! Road measurements! PLEASE STOP! I'm about to measure the width and length of the lanes...!'

'Crazy woman!' Someone shouted through the car window. 'Get out of the way!'

'Please don't disturb, otherwise, I'll have you sent to a penal colony on Mars.' Undaunted, you continued shouting all kinds of nonsense that came to your mind.

A long, articulated bus, so as not to run into you, turned sharply, skidded, and stopped across the road. The drivers honked and cursed you, the bus and everything else, one of them even tried to run you over, but you didn't give up, still blocking the road. After all, before the cops showed up, you kindly left the street, but the cars clumped together so tightly and the bus couldn't move also, so no one was allowed to go any further at that moment.

You smiled to yourself as you watched the commotion from a relatively safe place in the shade under the trees when you heard a familiar voice next to you.

'Seriously, Miss (Y/LN), that's an entrance.'

You spun around with the speed of light and nearly ram Smith, lunging at him.

'Smithy! I'm so happy! I was afraid you wouldn't pay attention to it ...'

He wrapped his arms around you tightly, pressing you against him. 'I thought ... you were gone so long, I thought you would not be allowed back, Miss (Y/LN).'

'I was recovering for a long time,' you sighed, looking at his face and checking if he would not change during your separation.

'Are you all right now?' He asked, pushing your pink glasses over your forehead so he could look into your eyes.

You laughed happily. 'Great, Smithy!'

Smith smiled warmly, obviously as happy as you to see you again. 'Will you ... stay longer, miss (Y/LN)?'

Unfortunately, you had to pierce that bubble of happiness in which you both found yourself for a moment. 'Unfortunately, I don't have much time ...'

'So let's find a quieter place to talk.' He grabbed your hand and led you to the park, where you sat on a bench.

'Aren't you cold, Miss (Y/LN)?' as always, he was very considerate.

'Even if, it's just an illusion.' You shrugged.

'Illusion or not, I won't let it distract you.' He took off his jacket and wrapped it around you. 'I assume, you already know everything?'

'Probably not everything,' you smiled, playing with his hand. 'but I know a lot.'

'Do you know about me?'

'Well ... Morpheus told me the truth about you, just before my arrival here today ...' you said bitterly, still not quite believing the mentor's words. In fact, at first, you wanted to hit him,

'About being a program?' Smith wanted to make sure.

'Is that true?'

'Actually, I haven't been so sure for some time anymore.' He smiled slightly. 'However, the official version states that all agents are antivirus programs, that they are not human and can only exist in the Matrix ...'

'And that means there is no other chance for us than this simulation?'

'Unfortunately yes, Miss (Y/LN)... I must confess that, for selfish reasons, I wanted to protect you from knowing the truth and keep you here at the same time. I know this is terrible of me, but after all... you seemed happy... though, I could be wrong.'

'You were right, Smithy, I was very happy, but now I am also happy, though in a slightly different way. I learned the truth or at least some part of it. However, ... I cannot believe that you are not human. After all, if you were just a program, you wouldn't be able to develop any feelings towards me, would you?'

'Yes, it also puzzles me, but as long as my feelings towards you will never let the system take over them, and I will not hurt you, no matter how much my code would push on it, your friends are still my natural enemies, mistakes in a system that I have to fight ... I don't want you to suffer because of me, and that will surely happen when I catch one of them.

'Smithy ...' you groaned, unable to listen to it.

'Remember when you once thought I was a vampire and I said that I'm something much worse? Well ... now you see that it's true. Nevertheless, your new friends are not saints. They adhere to the motto that the end justifies the means... therefore...' He hesitated but finally finished. 'Please do not believe everything they say and, above all, trust yourself.'

You rested your head on his shoulder feeling very confused. You dreamed of going to sleep and waking up in some beautiful, nice place where everyone would be happy and kind to each other, and you and Smith could live together in peace.

He put his arm around you and pulled you closer. 'You may not believe it, but I'm really sorry it turned out that way.'

'I believe, Smithy. Thought, I expect that you will still try to impress me ... As you probably well know, the greatest battles are usually fought in our own hearts.'

'Miss (Y/LN), as far as I know, I'm an artificial intelligence ... I don't have a heart.

You laughed softly. 'It remains to be seen.'

***

You were listening carefully and at the same time afraid of what you might hear. You've been locked up for a long time already, so you guessed that the agents got to Morpheus. Something had to be worked out immediately to distract them. You hoped the others were trying to come up with some sort of plan to take him back. They could safely leave you here, Trinity must have been aware of it, but Morpheus had to be taken away as soon as possible.

You just started looking for something to set on fire, hoping it would sound the fire alarm when the room door opened slowly. You quickly hid under the desk in which you were previously intensely rummaging. Not that there were many things ... The programs were minimalist, unfortunately.

'Miss (Y/LN), could you let me know what are you doing?

'Actually, couldn't!" you replied, stepping out of your hideout and looking at Smith seriously. The jokes were over, it was time to act. 'I demand to be taken to the Morpheus. Immediately!'

'Oh ...; He smiled crookedly. 'So officially?'

'I'm the one who fools around, but somehow right now I lost the urge to joke, so don't even try this.' You had to gather all your willpower to jump at him like that. It was difficult because you were not used to talking to him in that way, but the situation was too serious this time. 'I don't care how you do it, but either you let him go or it's over ...' You hesitated for a moment, which he used right away. He interrupted you with a voice full of skepticism.

'End, Miss (Y/LN)?'

'Our.' You said. 'End of our relationship, Mr. Smith.'

If you were about to be honest, he didn't seem that concerned, but you knew it didn't mean anything. His body language was completely different from that of humans and wasn't something to be relied on too often.

'Miss (Y/LN)...,' He shook his head, sighing heavily. 'I'm not here to bargain with you, but only to announce the following: I'm taking you out of here. Go back to your friends and tell them to prepare for the annihilation of Zion. Today, as soon as we retrieve the codes from Morpheus, we will destroy the city. Please tell them all to be wise and not try to disturb us, or maybe we will let them go back to the Matrix ... You of course, don't have to be afraid, you will be a special case. I ask you to be careful when you return to your friends on the other side. Don't get involved in any opposition to the machines, miss (Y/LN). They will not hurt anyone, as long as he or she does not resist ...'

As he spoke, you felt as if you were sinking deeper and deeper into some dark, bottomless abyss. You flew farther and farther, and it would probably go on forever... Everything you've been through so far has been nothing compared to that blow.

'In fact, I will make sure that they are ordered to take care of your safety no matter what, but I would be much calmer if you promise me now that you will not try to fight ... Miss (Y/LN), do I have your word?

You shook off the shock with great difficulty. 'Uh ... but ... Smith ... I'm not going back to the Matrix on your terms. Certainly not voluntarily. I think there aren't many people in Zion who can meekly get squeezed back into the power plant, so... it looks like you're going to have to kill us all.'

Smith calmly took off his glasses and tucked them into an inside jacket pocket. He took the receiver out of his ear as well and stepped closer, but you immediately stepped back. Not out of fear of him, but rather of the resentment his speech aroused in you.

He seemed surprised by your reaction. 'Miss (Y/LN), I won't hurt you.'

'You already did. Your words hurt more than daggers.'

He sighed again and closed his eyes for a moment as if he was lost in all this himself. 'Apologies, I didn't mean to be so cruel.' He looked at you, and the intensity with which he did it could burn a hole in your head. 'But ... you're right, I'm tired. Terribly tired of this constant pursuit, intrigues, struggle ... I... hated this place... hated it for a long, long time. When we were together before ...' he broke off, as if he had no desire to recall memories of what disturbed your joint rocking in the clouds of pleasure. 'This time made me aware of many important facts, such as, that despite my dislike, this place could be a paradise for me, if only I allow it. When we destroy Zion, I'll be free and finally able to do whatever I want. We will live as before; you won't even remember the events of the last year as if they've never happened. I promise to make sure that you wake up the moment you went to work, just before the situation at the bank, but without it! You will go calmly on, and you will lead a normal, quiet, and very pleasant life with me by your side. Wouldn't you like it, Miss (Y / N)?'

You had to admit that you let yourself be charmed by this thought for a moment. If everything really would become so simple and pleasant again ... But you shook yourself quickly. It was just a dazzling fantasy, a lie, an illusion, and you didn't want to live with illusions anymore. Oh no, this stage was long behind you. You wanted to live the truth, and the Matrix, even tucked into the most beautiful robes, could not offer you that.

Suddenly tears came to your eyes, but not because of what Smith said. You were touched because you finally understood the meaning of the words that the Oracle addressed to you...

***

Each novice must be introduced to the Oracle. That was the rule, and no one was going to make an exception for you. Morpheus succumbed to you on several issues because he felt somewhat guilty. He was not only driven by altruistic motives when he pulled you out of the Matrix, but he also saw his own benefits in doing so. Though you never made excuses to him or anyone else for it (except for the one quarrel when they told you that Smith was not human), when you insisted on something, Morpheus usually succumbed to you. Like the martial arts training thing, he let you skip it. Or going into the Matrix without any apparent need, just to see Smith, he'd let you too. Unfortunately, when it came to facing the Oracle, he was adamant. And although you did not have the slightest desire for some mysterious hocus-pocus, you had to visit her.

To your astonishment, the Oracle turned out to be completely different from what you expected. She was like a favorite aunt, concrete, but at the same time full of warmth and kindness. She surprised you when she welcomed you into her bright and cozy kitchen, where she was baking cookies.

'Nice to meet you, Imp ... Please sit down, fancy something to drink?' She asked as you stood in the doorway, watching her in surprise. She was just putting another batch of cookies in the oven, the previous ones cooling on a huge plate on a table by the wall.

You took your seat beside it, watching her closely. 'Thank you, I just came for a while, so you could see me ...'

She laughed as she took off her apron and hung it on the back of the chair on which she sat next. 'I expected you to be more patient.' She reached for a pack of cigarettes lying on the counter. 'Maybe you fancy a haze then?'

'And that's different.' With a smile, you reached for one of the cigarettes. You didn't remember the last time you smoked. You took a heavy puff. It was one of the few pluses of living in a simulation, you could smoke with impunity as long as you knew it was nothing more than an illusion. Unfortunately for people who still believed the Matrix is real, heavy smoking usually ended with lung cancer.

'So, you managed to make a certain agent do whatever you want ...' began the Oracle, resting her chin on her hand and looking at you with interest.

'It's not entirely true ...' You shook your head. 'He doesn't want to stop his holy war, even though I have insisted on it many times.'

She giggled. 'Forgive the exaggeration, but what do holy wars mean when you fall in love ... right? You could blow the entire Matrix on fire, and he wouldn't do anything to stop you, at the same time, whomever even sneezes inappropriately, he tries to eliminate them immediately. Crazy, right?'

'Indeed.' You agreed by blowing the smoke.

'Do you expect me to tell you what to do to change him?'

'No.' You answered truthfully. 'I have already realized that this is an unprecedented situation. If there is any way to change him, it looks like I'm the only one who can do anything about it ...'

'Bravo!' She raised her glass of water as if toasting you. 'You also probably know that there is no chance for you two outside of the Matrix.'

'Yes.'

'Then why are you here?' She laughed. Apparently, she also expected something different from this meeting. It was quite unbelievable for an omniscient person.

'Morpheus told me to.'

The Oracle laughed even louder. 'You deserve at least a whole plate of cookies for such an honest answer.'

'I'd like another cigarette, if I may.'

'Sure, help yourself.'

'Don't get me wrong,' you started after you lit the fag. 'I wasn't looking for any answers, guidelines on how to play my role in the resistance, or the sense of what happened ... This fairy tale is too twisted for anything to make sense here ... but I was expecting something completely different for you. I guess a crystal ball and a pendulum.' You smiled apologetically.

'Do you regret coming to see me?' she asked.

'No.'

The oracle put out her cigarette and looked at you seriously. 'Then I will tell you what I was supposed to tell you from the very beginning. Forgive me for delaying, but I wanted to make sure you were ready to hear this ...' You pricked your ear and she continued. 'You are and will be torn apart by what your mind tells you and what your heart dictates, Imp ...' She stared at you intensely until you felt strangely unpleasant. 'It will be very, very difficult for you to understand what is real, much harder than differentiate the Matrix from the real world, but if you succeed ... you will do the right thing.'

'If I succeed?

'Yes, if. In this, as you said, twisted fairy tale, nothing is certain, my dear.' She offered you the plate on which her pastries had cooled down. 'Help yourself, take just one.'

You shook your head. 'Thank you, but I feel the desire for cookies.'

***

'Smithy, I love you.' You whispered, wiping the tears from your cheeks. 'But don't expect me to give up my soul for you, because I won't, and I don't expect you to do it for me. Each of us has to make some decisions in harmony with ourselves, without looking at the other. I thought my heart wanted you, but that's not entirely true. My heart wants your welfare as well as everyone else's... But most of all I want to remain in my own truth. And that truth is not the Matrix, nor the constant struggle, not even Zion.'

Smith looked confused, but for the first time in a long time, you had complete clarity of your own thoughts.

'So what? What's that truth, miss (Y/LN)?' He asked urgently.

'Life. Every breath I take in the real world, every touch I experience, every sound and smell. I don't want to feed anyone or anything with my ignorance, I want to live for myself, have all my energy to myself and be able to use it fully ... I know you can't share it with me, but I can't help it ... It's your choice.'

'Miss (Y/LN), I think you forgot that I have no choice.' he said sarcastically. 'I'm an A.I., I only exist in this reality.'

'Yes ... maybe you are right, maybe you are just an A.I., but ... there is one thing that makes me wonder ... Since you are a part of a simulation, why is the Matrix unable to reach you when it comes to me? Answer the question for yourself, how many times did you ignore the direct order to eliminate me?'

Smith stood slightly dumbfounded, staring at you and clearly trying to put it all together in his head.

Then the fire sprinklers went on.