(Again a bit longer chapter, because a lot has happened again. Changes, changes, changes. Can't be boring! ;) )

You were sitting on a hot water pumping pipe, smoking a trashy joint. The pipe was too hot to sit directly on it, but when you put one of Opticia's recycled rubber rugs under your butt, you only felt pleasant warmth and you could sit there forever. Your favorite place in Zion - the boiler room, as you liked to call it in your mind. In fact, a control room with all the machines that would enable Zion to survive. You could rarely meet someone here because everything worked on its own, so you could hang out here undisturbed by anyone.

The joint smelled terrible, but it was better than nothing. Scrap collectors made such from the remains found in the rubble of fallen human civilization. They contained traces of tobacco and some shavings of unknown origin.

You hadn't needed more to be happy lately; a little warmth, calmness and something that looked like a cigarette. It was enough. Besides, Zion didn't offer much more; community work (you took care of the kids), tasteless meals, sleeping, occasional parties. Okay, the Zion's dances were great, you have to admit that. At each of them, you appeared at the very beginning, and you were one of the last to lose strength. You also had a lot of fun looking after the kids. You were given a group of seven-year-olds, most of them born in Zion, with a few exceptions.

Pixie was just such an exception. She was taken from the orphanage by the Oracle and disconnected from the Matrix very early, due to some genetic defect that would have led to her imminent death if she had remained in the power plant longer.

You had been still on Nebuchadnezzar when you took her out. The little girl recovered quickly, after a week she was able to freely roam the ship, following you like a shadow. As if she intuitively felt that you needed someone at that moment, to distract you from the pain and sadness that had settled in your heart. You had a hard time recovering from Smith's death. You couldn't really think about that, not to mention to speak.

***

Wrapped in two blankets, in a warm hat on your head and with the remains of Dozer's hooch in a mug, you sat on the bridge, watching your surroundings through the glass. Morpheus, Trinity and Neo were back in the Matrix, Tank was watching over them, and the little girl (then still called by her name from the Matrix - Matilda) slept soundly. Or so you thought.

You had nothing better to do, so you went to the bridge and looked for possible threats in the tunnel where you had set the ship. The warning system would probably have been faster than you anyway, but it was good to pretend to be useful at least.

Tank's company might have been preferable, but you didn't feel like being the target of his compassionate gaze.

Not today. Not now.

Grief was still too fresh; it was easier for you to feel it alone. In your cabin, however, you were not able to stay too long because you were getting claustrophobic, so you chose a place with a wide view.

You heard footsteps approaching, far too light for a Tank. You knew immediately who was coming.

Mathilda slipped silently onto the bridge, looking at you questioningly. The little one looked comical, a thin and tiny body with a large head, surrounded by a still not too large halo of thin hairs and huge blue eyes. As you looked at her, the phrase "unfledged chicken" came to your mind. It was cute.

'May I come in, Imp?' she asked.

'Of course.' Reconciled with fate, you turned the chair towards her and pointed to the neighboring one.

'I've never been at the controls.' Matilda smiled broadly.

'So what are you waiting for?' You smiled too. 'Just try not to fly too far, because Morpheus will get very angry.'

The kid chuckled happily as she sat down in the chair and pretended to turn the ignition on and fly away.

'Where are we going?' You asked, sipping a sip of hooch stealthily.

'Somewhere where it's warm and the sun is shining, and where everyone likes each other.' She yelled, maneuvering the rudder.

You didn't have the heart to tell her there was no such place, certainly not on Earth. Besides, you haven't traveled the whole world by yourself, so you couldn't be absolutely sure, maybe there was a nice place somewhere, beyond the reach of the machines. The journey was only in your imagination, so you didn't have to philosophize too much and spoil the child's fun.

Matilda, laughing, told what she saw behind the glass. You've passed the power plants and the city of machines, but you kept going on and on. The girl thought of places like mechanical farms and gardens, full of robotic animals and flowers.

'You know what, Imp?' She said suddenly, stopping her fantasizing. 'I've already decided on a new name.'

'Really?' she intrigued you. 'Have Morpheus suggested you something?'

'No, I chose it myself.'

'Will you tell me?'

'Pixie.'

You blinked. 'Was there any specific reason for this particular name?'

'Well ... It perfectly matches yours.'

You thought so. It was quite nice that the little girl liked you so much. Actually, you like her too. She was a child that was impossible to dislike. 'You're right. We could pretend to be sisters.'

'Will you call me like that from now on? Okay?

'Sure, Pixie. I like this name even more than Matilda.'

'Me too!' But suddenly the girl grew serious and looked at you. 'Imp, why aren't you getting into the Matrix anymore? Trinity said you were going in with them not so long ago, but now you don't want to. Why?'

You gritted your teeth, completely unprepared for the question. The little one has thrown you off the hook. What were you going to tell her? That you loved a program that wanted to kill you all but finally it died, and you couldn't take it? It must have been too twisted for a child's mind.

'They just don't need me anymore, I did my job,' you answered, in a way truthfully.

'And what was that job?' Pixie asked tirelessly.

You sighed. 'Keep one of the agents at bay.'

Her eyes widened. Even she, despite her young age and little experience, knew to stay away from agents as far as possible. 'But... it's very dangerous. How did you do that?'

'I had it much easier than the others.'

'What does it mean?'

'Well, this particular agent just fell in love with me.'

It was surprising that you suddenly felt better when you talked to the child about it. Of course, sadness squeezed your throat from time to time, but you also felt a pleasant warmth that flooded you with kind, very fond memories.

Pixie's mouth was open so wide that if there were flies flying on the ship, one would surely have fallen into it. 'Is it possible? To make the program fall in love?'

'It seems so ... He is ... I mean, he was very devoted to me, I always effectively distracted him when others needed that, but he did not want to, or maybe he simply could not come over to our side.

'You loved him too, Imp? Didn't you?

You smiled sadly at her. 'Yes. I still love him and that will not change.'

'So where is he now?' She asked carefully, probably guessing it was a story with no happy ending.

'He died fighting Neo,' you said shortly.

'NEO KILLED HIM?'

'You could say.'

'And ... you are not mad at him ?!'

'I was only mad at myself for not staying in the Matrix when it happened. I think... maybe I could have prevented it somehow. But I don't blame Neo. Smith, that was my agent's name, was terribly hard at him, obsessively, I felt that in the end, it might be that one will kill the other.'

'Maybe he was jealous? You know, maybe he thought you and Neo ...'

'No, that wasn't it. Something else was driving him that I completely didn't understand. I often asked him to come to his senses, to leave us all alone ... Unfortunately, my requests were for nothing ... Maybe the system was influencing him too strongly. Hard to say.'

'Are you still mad at yourself for not being there?'

She was asking such mature questions. It was easy to forget that she was only six years old.

'No, not anymore. Now I am just very sad that I will never see him again and that I did not say goodbye to him in a more... appropriate way. His last words and actions towards me showed a great attachment and mine ... that I don't care.'

The tears ran down your cheeks and you sobbed softly. Pixie was next to you at the moment and hugged you as if she was an adult and you were a child.

'Tell me something nice about him, for example how you two met?' She suggested, wanting to cheer you up.

You smiled through your tears. 'It's quite a long story, Pixie.'

'But nice?'

'Very nice.'

'Then we have plenty of time.' She climbed on your lap. 'Tell me everything, and if you need to, cry, it will help you.'

She was right. After talking to her, you felt like you were in the best therapy session. Telling your and Smith's story was liberating. You realized that you were always understanding and tender, you never really hurt him. And even the last words you addressed to him, despite their importance, were full of love. It cheered you up.

***

When you finally returned to Zion, you took care of Pixie, you could not have done otherwise, especially since you decided to resign permanently from the ship's service, and you had already attached to each other. Neither of you imagined you could separate.

You had to admit that you enjoyed spending almost every moment with her and the other kids. Pixie came to live with you, of course, but the rest, apart from the time you spent studying, also visited you very often. However, there were times when you needed to be alone, with yourself only, in a quiet and inaccessible place ...

'Imp?' A voice rang out in that inaccessible place.

You frowned. How the hell did he know where to find you?! You decided that if you kept quiet, maybe he wouldn't notice you and would walk away.

'Here you are.' Morpheus appeared in sight and slipped between the pipes, sitting down next to you. So much for peace.

'How did you find me?' You murmured reluctantly.

He pointed to the cigarette in your hand. 'You were betrayed by smoke.'

'Damn.'

'Look, Imp, I wouldn't have bothered you if it wasn't important.' Morpheus got straight to the point. 'I promised to leave you alone, but something none of us could have foreseen happened. We need you Imp. This time more than ever.'

'No, no, no,' you growled angrily. You thought you had it settled. You didn't want to go onboard on Nebuchadnezzar or any other ship no matter what. Never again. You wanted to live peacefully in Zion and not have to think about the Matrix anymore. 'No way, I have responsibilities here that are much more important than your saving the world game.'

Morpheus slowly nodded his head. 'Yes, I know that perfectly well, but ...' He thought for a moment, as if considering whether to continue or not, then sighed and finished. 'He's back, Imp.'

You snorted loudly, puffing on your joint. 'Who?' Even in your wildest dreams, you wouldn't have foreseen what the answer would be.

'Agent Smith.'

***

'You have to go?'

'Yes, I'm sorry. I do not want this. Believe me, I really prefer to stay here with you Pixie, but Morpheus insists. He thinks I can help ... The situation is serious, Zion is in danger ...'

The girl looked at you seriously. Since you disconnected her from the Matrix, she has gained a bit of weight, first of all, her muscles have strengthened and she looked much healthier than before. 'Yes, I know, he mentioned it at the ceremony yesterday ... But you'll be back, right, Imp?'

'Yes, of course! You will stay with Opticia, you will be well looked after and before you know it I will be back.'

Pixie looked from you to your bag, loaded with spare clothes and essentials. It wasn't much. Living in Zion taught minimalism and detachment from objects.'

You didn't like to leave her in town, especially in the light of the revelations that Morpheus offered you during the conversation in the boiler room. The machines were coming, and they were obviously going to destroy Zion once and for all, sparing no one. However, it was still safer for Pixie to stay in town than to go with you on such a risky mission. The oracle signaled, that she needed to be contacted, and in light of Smith's possible return, you had been needed to be guard again.

'I wish we were together, Imp. No matter where. When we are together, it feels like ... as if nothing bad could happen.'

Moved, you knelt down to catch your eye with the child. 'Pixie, my thoughts are always with you, no matter what distance separates us, but remember ... you don't really need me for anything. You alone are enough. You are much stronger and smarter than most adults I know, and it is your own power that will keep you safe. Will you remember it?'

She nodded, but tears ran down her cheeks. You hugged one last time and you made your way to Opticia, where Pixie was to stay, and from where you were supposed to go to Nebuchadnezzar.

'Miss... ehem... Imp?' Bane literally sprang out of the ground, blocking your way. You have never developed a closer acquaintance with him, hence you were surprised by his confidential behavior. 'Are you ... going with Morpheus?' He looked at you as if you were some kind of amazing phenomenon, not a person he had treated quite indifferently in the last few months.

'Yes ...' You replied. 'Just take this young lady to Opticia and I'm gone. Tell Morpheus something from you?'

Bane ignored your question, and now he stared at Pixie who seemed scared by this fact.

'It's your child?' He asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.

'Not really ... I thought you knew ... I look after her. She is one of those chosen by the Oracle.'

Bane nodded and looked at you again as if losing all interest in the little girl. 'Wouldn't it be better to stay, Imp?'

You frowned, completely staggered. 'Bane, I have no idea what you mean. If you have something important to tell me, say it or forgive me, because we really have to go.'

'I thought there might be some chance of keeping you here in the city.'

You blinked a few times, unable to contain your surprise. 'Er ... no, it might not, I'm sorry. Something else?'

'Not. Well, then I'm sorry to disturb you.'

'It's okay. Take care and hope to see you soon.'

'See you soon, Imp.'

When you and Pixie walked past Bane who never took his eyes off you and walked quite far away, the girl asked in a whisper. 'Who was it?'

'Bane, from the Caduceus crew.'

'He's scary.' She said it so seriously you couldn't help but giggle a little.

'Don't overdo it. I'd rather say he's strange. But now listen to me, Pixie; be polite, listen to Opticia and take care of yourself, okay? I don't know why I'm telling you this, you always behave perfectly ...

It was not easy for you, but you tried your best to focus on the present moment and completely ignore the dark visions of your future, Pixie and Zion that your mind was sending you.

Whether Smith was really back, you'd rather not even think about yet. Morpheus himself admitted that these were only their suspicions, nothing certain. You thought it was just some kind of mistake, maybe a new agent with a similar code ... Maybe even identical, but so what, it was definitely not your Smith. You'll show up like you used to do in the past, and he, if there is one, will kill you without blinking an eye, and it'll be over. That's how you perceived it all. But who dared to oppose this stubborn Morpheus?

***

You and the crew just had a tasteless dinner on the ship.

'Sorry, but when we get into the Matrix, the first thing I do is eat something, anything, even a candy bar.' You announced to Morpheus, Trinity and Neo. 'I also hope the Oracle offers me a fag."

Trinity smirked a little at you, but men, like men, didn't react to your attempt to relieve the tension you found hard to bear. Yes, the situation was difficult, but their gloom made it even worse.

Suddenly, you heard the voice of Link, the new operator who stayed in the control room to follow the Matrix.

'Imp! Morpheus! Come here quickly!'

As per command, you all rushed to him, nervous and unsure what he could see on the monitors. However, the boy was not sitting in front of the monitors, but was standing in the middle of the room with his arms folded over his chest, measuring the little girl with his eyes.

'Pixie?!' You couldn't get out of amazement seeing her in this place. You were convinced that she was safe in Zion at Opticia's. Despite the danger she had gotten herself into, the irrational part of your mind was overjoyed to see her.

'I'm ... sorry, but I had to,' The girl blurted out. 'I know you wouldn't take me voluntarily, so I sneaked in here before you left and ... here I am. Now you can't send me back.'

Morpheus gave you a reprimanded look, but before you managed to react somehow, Pixie immediately stood up for you. 'Don't look at her like that, it's not her fault. I arranged everything myself. Imp left me at Opticia's, but I slipped out of the vent, take it easy, left her an explanation note so she wouldn't worry. I made it to the ship before you and hid so you might not realize my presence too soon, but I got a little hungry so I decided it was time to reveal myself.'

'Pixie, do you realize that nowadays it is very dangerous on the hovercraft?' Morpheus turned to her. 'The sentinels are literally everywhere; they can track us at any moment.'

'Yes, I know that, but it makes no difference to me. I'd rather risk but be with Imp than sit in Zion without her. It is my choice, Morpheus, and please respect it.'

Your mentor couldn't help but smile at such serious words on the lips of the six-year-old. He nodded. 'Okay, I'll accept it, but on the condition that you agree to be treated like a crew member in return, which means that you must obey my orders.'

'Aye, aye, Captain!'

'Fine, now let's all go eat. Link, you too. Leave it all for a while.'

They headed back towards the canteen, but you and Pixie lingered. She walked over to you, and you knelt down to catch up with her.

'You're angry at me?' The girl asked.

You hugged her tightly and whispered in her ear. 'Not at all, but just don't tell anyone.'

***

'Smithy!' You squeaked, completely confused. Could it be that your eyes were playing tricks on you? But Neo had seen him too, so he was there. But was it really him? Though, would the Oracle get out of here so quickly if it wasn't the real agent Smith?

Before you could think about it in-depth, your body ran up to him and gripped him in your arms, as it was in the good old days.

He didn't return the hug, which you only realized after a few moments. However, he did nothing to counter your exuberance, so you didn't give up hope. You stepped back a little to look at his face. You took off his glasses, and under them, you could see the same bright eyes staring at you with the intensity of burning holes.

'Is that really you, Smith?'

'Yes, miss (Y/LN). It's me.'

'Why ..., you haven't given any sign of life for so long ...?'

'You stay silent, too,' he muttered.

'I haven't entered the Matrix since ... since then ...' Tears welled up in your eyes. 'I thought I'd never see you here again, so what was the point of plugging in ... If I had any, even tiny, signal that you didn't disappear forever ...' you sobbed involuntarily.

Smith's expression visibly softened. He put his arm around you and pulled you close. 'Miss (Y/LN), I know I ruined everything before and I am asking for forgiveness. I was a fool, luckily, thanks to your friend, I got a second chance, which I certainly won't waste. Let me act, and I promise to make the Matrix a perfect place for both of us.'

'Smithy, but ...' You couldn't finish because he pushed you softly to the side and rushed towards Neo.

'First, however, I have to settle some scores from the previous incarnation.'

'Smith! No!' You failed in helping Neo, because someone locked you in an iron grip. You looked up over your shoulder, ready to fight, but seeing who was holding you, you literally dumbfounded. It was Smith! But how was that possible? After all, he fought Neo ... You looked at the Chosen One again and your jaw dropped. He had fought three, not four Smiths at once, and more were coming.

'What ... How ...?' you stuttered.

'You see, Miss (Y/LN), this is another of my many advantages in this lifetime,' Smith whispered in your ear. 'I come in many versions.'

'Perhaps I would consider it an advantage if you would end this aggression of yours ... Smith, please. We've been through this before, I thought you understood that you weren't going to get anything done this way.'

'Miss (T /LN), trust me and, as the saying goes, just enjoy the view.' He pressed his face to your neck, inhaling your scent. 'Mmm ... I missed it.'

'Stop Please.' You had a hard time controlling yourself not to succumb to his tendencies. Not at a time like this! 'How is it even possible that there are so many of you?! Which of you is real?!'

'All of us, Miss (T/LN), we all share one consciousness ...' He kissed your neck, sending shivers down your spine. 'Duplication is a special gift I got after confronting your friend ...'

Suddenly, in the midst of this commotion, a pink jacket and yellow sunglasses appeared - the color opposite of your own outfit. You froze, unable to believe what you see.

'Imp?' Pixie gave you a clearly worried look over the glasses. She had the same feathery hair in the Matrix as in the real world, but longer. She was heading in your direction, completely ignoring the Smith-Neo big brawl. Either you went crazy and had hallucinations or Morpheus lost his mind by letting her in here.

Neither of these assumptions was found to be true later on.

The girl was incessantly trotting towards you among the fluttering Smiths. One, who had fallen beside her, got up and, seeing the child, pressed a hand into her chest, and something like black goo began to spill over the little body.

'PIXIE!' You screamed wildly.

This was the first time you really freed yourself from the Matrix limitations. You threw Smith away from you as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world, and in two moves you caught the little one, grabbing her in your arms and pushing other Smith away, far, far to the other end of the yard. You moved out of combat range. 'Are you okay?'

'Yup.' The little girl was trembling slightly.

'What are you doing here?!'

'Sorry, but I felt you were in trouble ...'

'Miss (Y/LN), won't you introduce me?' Smith, who had been holding you, appeared next to you, apparently not resentful by your brutal push.

You put the child down on the ground and stood so, to separate her from him. 'Stop it. Stop it immediately!' You said pointing to the fighters.

Smith glared at you and suddenly, the rest of the Smiths stopped. And it was literally. They stopped half-step, half-moving, and turned towards you as if on command. Neo was dumbfounded, looking at you as well, his fist halfway to the jaw of one of the Smiths.

'Run!' You ordered. 'Now!'

He shook his head, but you gave him a stern glance and he obeyed. What had just happened that suddenly everyone was listening to you like that?

At last!

Maybe something good will come of it.