Why, oh why, didn't I take the blue pill? ~ Cypher

Cypher still remembered that day. The day it all changed.

   They ended up going back to Zion for a few months as the council was worried about the new “direction” the machines were taking.

   Phoenix gave up his ship, the Atlantis. He went into retirement and lived in Zion. He was coaxed back into service after the horrible disaster onboard the Reverie. He captained the Solaris now. But he was never the same.

   Morpheus began to grow more and more distant. He blamed himself for so many things. And each potential he found only drove him more into seclusion when they died. Whatever the relationship he had with Switch began to erode as he pulled away and became more and more private. They remained friends but Cypher always felt Morpheus was both sad and relieved when Apoc came aboard and he and Switch grew close.

   As Morpheus had said that day, Trinity began to also grow away from Cypher. He never did tell her about what had happened and perhaps that is what started the rift.

   But, disenchanted with Morpheus’ leadership and the increasing difficulty dealing with the AI and the agents caused Cypher to grow bitter and disillusioned with the cause. He lost a lot that day.

   He walked into the mess hall to see what all the laughter was about. He was not surprised to find that he was, once again, the butt of some joke. Mouse was to Morpheus, the incident a couple nights past when there had been a sentinel scare. Morpheus was asleep and they had been doing routine monitoring when the long-range sensors picked up a roaming Sentinel. There weren’t too many up that late and they were all crowded around in the dark as the power switched off. Cypher did on occasion like to play a little trick with Trinity and Switch by grabbing their ass when it was all quiet and dark. While it got him a few bruises and even a black eye once he still got a kick out of it.
But he missed his target that night. He accidentally grabbed Mouse’s butt and while it was funny Mouse seemed to enjoy ribbing Cypher a little more than he thought he should.

   “So I told him,” continued Mouse, “You want to grab my ass you better be wearing red!”

   Morpheus continued to laugh especially when he saw Cypher walk in. “Yeah, it was real funny Mouse,” remarked Cypher with mock humor.

   “I actually am glad you have a new main ‘squeeze,’ Cypher,” added Switch.

   Cypher looked at her with some actual shock. It was not like Switch to make jokes. He thought briefly that it could be her reaction to hearing Morpheus laugh. “Et tu, Switch?”

   Cypher walked over to get his morning slop. He found he was enjoying this lightheartedness. But then he found it was only succeeding in increasing the contrast of the normal day-to-day drudgery of life on the Nebuchadnezzar and in this pitiful “reality.” The slop protein blend splashed into his bowl. Another day in paradise. 

   Cypher sat and tried to eat the sickening muck that everyone was so happy to call food. God, what he wouldn’t give for a good steak, a decent glass of wine? But instead they “feasted” on some coagulated goo that tasted like...next to nothing, as far as Cypher was concerned.

   The laughter had died down and yet the spirits of the crew was still high. For some reason this bothered Cypher. He had an urge to rain on their little parade of happiness. He fought it at first but then thought, what the hell. 

   “Morpheus.”

   Morpheus raised his head, a smile still on his lips. “Yes?”

   “What makes you think this new guy is the One? I mean, what’s he got the others didn’t?”

   Cypher had to give Morpheus credit, the question, posed in front of almost the entire crew, didn’t shake him. He continued to smile. But his gaze met Cypher’s straight on. “He is the One, Cypher. I know that.”

   “Isn’t that what you said about the others?” Their eyes still locked.

   “No, I didn’t. If you recall I only told the crew that I had found a candidate, a possibility. I made it a point to not tell them. Not lead them toward any conclusion. I was...never sure before.”

   “You may not have sent them an engraved announcement but you sure led them. They knew something more was expected of them.”

   Morpheus still seemed unchanged but Cypher thought he could detect a saddening in his eyes. “I did my best to help them. To develop them and their potential. I never told them.”

   “What about Joshua?” With that name Morpheus had to look away.

   “I...he...he insisted on knowing. I would not have told him otherwise.” Morpheus looked pained. His laughter, his smile had vanished. “Some how he already knew. I only confirmed his suspicions. I never knew what would happen.” Morpheus stood and left. Trinity turned on Cypher.

   “You are a first class asshole.” She walked after Morpheus as did Switch and Apoc, both giving Cypher icy looks.

   He turned back to his “breakfast.” “No one ever wants to deal with the truth around here,” he mumbled.

   Mouse came over to pick up the bowls at the tables. He looked at Cypher. “What is going on? Who is Joshua?” 

   Cypher ignored him. Mouse looked at Dozer. “What?”

   Dozer gave Cypher a disgusted glance then looked at Mouse. “It was just before you came on board, kid. We usually don’t talk about the others; the ones that were lost.”

   Cypher slammed down his spoon. “And why is that Dozer? Have they done anything wrong other than disappoint Morpheus and his quest for the One? Why won’t anyone acknowledge his mistakes?!”

   “You are out of line Cypher. You best just shut up,” cautioned Dozer.

   Cypher stood. “I’ve had enough of your shit! And I’m not just talkin’ about this slop!” He stormed out into the corridor. He headed back towards his quarters to think. Think and remember. Remember those who died in vain according to Morpheus twisted dream.

   The others. He remembered all of them like they were fellow members of a secret fraternity. Cypher had done his best to squelch the disappointment of finding out he wasn’t the One. But as each other potential came out of the matrix he found himself disliking them for the thought that they could become what he could not. It made him feel inadequate as a minor foot soldier for Morpheus’ private army.

   The mission of the Nebuchadnezzar was to find the One. It was Morpheus’ destiny and all of the Council believed that. So the vast majority of the people pulled from the matrix by the Nebuchadnezzar crew were at Morpheus belief that they could be the One. Occasionally they would pull someone out that wasn’t a candidate but those were few and far between. Morpheus did like to hand pick his new crewmembers from the matrix because he found they became the most loyal. But sometimes they would supplement the crew with transfers from other vessels when time was not permitting. Morpheus’ reputation was revered and his mission almost sacred so volunteers were never hard to come by.

   But it was those that had been pulled from their “peaceful sleep” by Morpheus in hopes they would save the world that Cypher felt for. While he hated them for taking his place, he mourned them most of all when they were gone. This was actually more a reaction to guilt from his hostile feelings and resentment than from actual loss or sense of injustice. But Cypher would never admit or realize that. He continued to convince himself that it all was because of Morpheus’ misguided mission. He saw them as innocent soldiers cut down in their prime by orders from a blinded general.

   And Joshua was the final straw.

   He entered his room and slammed the hatch, spinning the dogging wheel tight. He switched off the light and sat in the dark on the edge of his cot. Joshua.

   He had actually grown to like Joshua despite his patterned behavior. In fact, although he never mentioned it to anyone, he had started to believe.

   Joshua had a charisma that was hard to overlook. A quiet confidence. He had been a quick study. The loading programs had been much refined since the days Cypher had come aboard. The transference was much quicker and the memory branches much stronger. What had taken Cypher a few of days to “learn” now took a few hours. But even given the advances in the download process Joshua was fast. He passed the jump test on his second try. He was young and his mind adapted to the ideas Morpheus put forth much easier than those who came out a bit more grounded in their make-shift reality.

   Cypher had started to believe so much that he told Joshua what his ultimate purpose was to be. He wasn’t suppose to, no one was. It was a rule of Morpheus’ that the potential was never told so as not to sway them. Morpheus believed that if they were the One they would find out on their own as their powers manifested. But Cypher let it slip to Joshua. And Cypher was not surprised when Joshua immediately confronted Morpheus. Joshua never told how he had found out and to this day no one knew it was Cypher that told him.

   Morpheus confirmed Joshua’s questions. And while Cypher was surprised at how well Joshua took it all as the days progressed, he always felt Morpheus’ words had been the catalyst for that horrible day in the Matrix. The day his belief died.

   “So where is this little pipsqueek?” asked Sparks.

   “He works in this building,” answered Trinity. The four of them were standing outside of a large corporate building. It was the home of one of the most popular game development companies in existence. They were on an information-gathering mission. There was a programmer that worked for this company that Morpheus had his eye on. A brilliant programmer, according to Morpheus. Someone he felt could make a great difference in the resistance’s programs. While Cypher, Sparks, and Trinity had been on these kind of trips before it was usually for a potential candidate for Morpheus not a “simple” programmer. Only Joshua had not been on one of these missions before.

   Cypher looked at Joshua trying to see some evidence of nervousness. He could find none. He looked over at Trinity. He wondered if she was developing feelings for Joshua. It was, after all, her destiny. But she looked as stoic as usual.

   “What do you think, Joshua?” asked Cypher.

   “About what?”

   “About Trinity,” he grinned. Trinity looked over at him annoyed.

   “Uh, what about her?” asked Joshua.

   Ah, there was the nervousness, thought Cypher with a smile. He could rustle this bird’s feathers yet. “Think she wears underwear under all that leather?”

   Joshua didn’t say anything. Cypher had gotten underneath his calm exterior with that comment. He laughed. Trinity gave him an angry look he could read through her sunglasses. He had also managed to rustle her at the same time. That made him feel good.

   Sparks slapped him in the back of the head. “Cut that shit out, Cypher. We’ve got work to do.”

   “Sparks, you’re turning into a real asshole,” said Cypher as he rubbed the back of his head. They started for the building. “Let’s find this Squirrel and get out of here,” urged Cypher.

   “Mouse.”

   “Eh?”

   “His nick is Mouse,” corrected Trinity.

   “Whatever. I’m gettin’ antsy. The drive is way too long. Tank couldn’t get us a hardline near here and I don’t like that.” Cypher was losing his sense of humor as they approached the door. 

   Trinity looked back at them. “We just want to talk to him for a minute. Get a feel for his perception then we are going back.”

   “Not soon enough for me.”

   But when an agent met them at the door it turned out to not be soon enough for any of them.

   “Run! Back to the car!” yelled Trinity almost before the others could recognize the agent. It was a revolving door at the entrance. Trinity managed to jam a pistol into the framework stopping the door from turning. Guns materialized in the others’ hands. They began to run for the car.

   Cypher had a healthy fear of agents. He had seen former friends murdered by them. Seen them do things he couldn’t believe. He knew that to face an agent was a death wish. And the rest of them knew it too. Panic began to eat at his mind. He fought it. If he lost his focus now he was as good as dead.

   Why didn’t they leave someone at the car? The AI was getting smarter all the time; they all should have foreseen this possibility. Morpheus should have foreseen it! All these things passed through his brain as he rushed blindly towards the car. He was almost there.

   A bullet kicked its way through the windshield of the car. Two more tore through the metal of the hood. One hit the fender and made a high pitched whine as it ricochet off into the sky. Two final ones deflated the right front tire. The roar of air from the tire matched the rush of breath that Cypher exhaled as his hope left him. The night streets were fairly quiet but he knew they could not outrun the agent on foot. He vaulted the car and pulled up close to the other side for cover. Maybe he could get lucky and get a round into the agent. That would buy them a few seconds of time as the sentient agent program searched for another host. His gun came up and he drew a bead on the agent close on the heels of the others.

   Trinity’s tactic had bought them the tiniest of a lead. The agent was now trying to run and aim at them after removing the option of their car as a getaway. Cypher’s gun roared. It hit only emptiness as the agent dodged each successive round.

   But it did slow him down giving them a little more time.

   “That cab!” yelled Trinity pointing behind Cypher. He turned and saw a cab at the curb behind him. The driver looked to have been napping but was now trying to get himself and his vehicle away from the sound of gunfire and the conflict that was ragging near him.

   Cypher spun for the cab and pointed his gun at the driver. “Out!” he yelled. Later he was thankful of his actions and the fact that his adrenaline had his body primed because the agent had decided to jump bodies at that moment deciding the cabby was a better position. His gun already drawn, Cypher fired as the first bits of static and morphing distended the poor cabby’s body. He died and the agent program went searching for another person. Within seconds Cypher had the body out of the cab and was behind the wheel as the others dove in. He punched the accelerator before Sparks could even secure his door. But no complaint came from Sparks.

   They raced down the streets for the hardline outlet ten miles distant. Trinity made the call to Tank to let him know they were on their way back with an agent sure to be right behind them. He informed them there was a hardline available five miles closer at a payphone at the intersection of 32nd and Cannon. Cypher altered course to head for it. Payphones were not used to hack themselves in but made fine emergency exits.

   Two miles from the extraction point the car hit them.

   Cypher had suspected the agent was jumping bodies from car to car to find them. He had caught sight of a couple of accidents in his review mirror. But when the car coming toward them on the street suddenly turned into them he knew for certain. He pulled the wheel hard right and managed to slam the side of the cab into the agent’s vehicle.
Without a word they left the cab as one and began to fire into the other car while racing on foot back to the old storefront they arrived in.

   Trinity raised her hand and made a purposeful motion of spreading her fingers. They all knew the sign: spread out. It was standard for a situation like this. An agent could not follow all of them so their best chance was to split and meet at the location. Cypher took an immediate right and sprinted down a side street. His thoughts were, for once, quiet. His only idea to pump his legs as fast as possible and keep on the lookout for an agent.

   Minutes later he rounded the corner onto Cannon. He saw Trinity at the booth down the street and heard the phone ringing. “Take the call!” he yelled still running toward her.

   She shook her head. “Not until everyone...”

   “Godammit there won’t be time! Take the fuckin’ call, Trinity!” She hesitated then picked up the receiver. Then she was gone and the phone dropped, dancing on the end of its cord.

   Cypher was nearing the booth as he saw Joshua round the corner from the opposite direction.

   Cypher was almost to the booth when he saw Sparks round the corner behind Joshua. Cypher could see the panic on his face even from the distance he was. He reached the phone and slammed the receiver home. It rang almost instantly.

   But at that same instant the agent turned the corner behind Sparks. Joshua was between Sparks and the phone. “Run Joshua! RUN!” screamed Cypher. He placed his hand on the receiver. With a sickening realization he knew only one more person would make it out. It had to be...

   Sparks’ body convulsed at the same time Cypher heard the roar of the agent’s gun. Sparks’ body fell tumbling with his momentum. His body rolling across the pavement of the street he still managed to aim his pistol and fire at the rapidly approaching agent. The bullets went wild into the night. Then the agent was standing over him firing almost point blank into him. The muzzle flashes illuminating the agent’s cold expression. Cypher already had his gun up and was firing at the agent. Joshua was almost to the booth.

   A minute later Cypher opened his eyes on the Nebuchadnezzar. He was back. His eyes were moist with tears as he looked up at the ceiling. He turned his head slightly to the right and saw Sparks' motionless body. “Joshua,” he said quietly and tried to sit up. Apoc gripped his head and gave his plug a forceful tug. Cypher sprang from his chair and looked at Joshua’s body. The monitor above showed flatline. Trinity was looking down at him, touching his forehead. Morpheus stood next to her and looked at Cypher. There was sadness in his eyes and something else, a disapproval. Then he saw it again in Trinity’s eyes as she looked up at him. He didn’t like it.

   “What happened, Cypher?” asked Morpheus, his voice accusatory.

   “The agent. He killed Sparks and Joshua. I couldn’t help them.”

   “But Joshua was alive when you picked up the receiver.”

   “He...he made me go instead of him,” explained Cypher but he saw no sympathy in their eyes, no sense of belief. 

   “You don’t believe me?”

   Morpheus said nothing but continued to look at Cypher. All of them did. They couldn’t voice their suspicions, couldn’t come right out and accuse him. But he knew they were in their minds.

   “Well fuck you all!” and he stormed off to his quarters.

   Cypher got the silent treatment for a couple of days from the rest of the crew. The Nebuchadnezzar was not a big ship. There weren’t a lot of places to be alone besides one’s quarters. So contact with the others was unavoidable. Finally he made his stand in the galley.

   “It wasn’t my fault,” he suddenly announced.

   No one responded.

   “It wasn’t. It was because he thought he was the One.” The nerve was hit. Everyone looked up.

   “Shut up,” warned Dozer.

   “I know you all think I left him behind but I didn’t. You should at least hear me out,” pleaded Cypher.

   People started to get up to leave but Morpheus motioned for them to sit. “Let him have his say. It is only fair.”

   “Thanks. I was holding the receiver down waiting for Joshua to get to it so he could leave first. The agent killed Sparks and Joshua was almost to the phone. Only one of us was going to get out. I wanted it to be him. We were suppose to protect him at all costs remember? I was firing at the agent trying to keep him busy. My gun clicked empty just as Joshua got to the phone. The agent was coming up fast. I picked up the phone to pass it to Joshua and that’s when it happened.”

   “What?” asked Switch.

   Cypher shook his head with sadness. “He grabbed my hand and looked me in the eye and said, ‘I’m the One, remember? You go first, I’ll follow after I take care of this...thing.’ He smiled and shoved the receiver to my ear instead of his own. He saved my life because he believed he was the One.” The last words caught in Cypher’s throat and a tear rolled down his cheek. He stood up. “You can believe what you want but you only disrespect the sacrifice he made.”

   Cypher left them all in stunned silence, Morpheus’ head in his hands. Cypher had seen their true colors and would never forget how they had all thought so little of him.

   As time marched on Morpheus further withdrew from the others. They all sensed his pain and his self-blame for what had happened. And while the rest didn’t talk of it and tried to forget it, Cypher wouldn’t. He let it burn in him and turn him against Morpheus and his ideals. There would never be a “one.” It was all a myth to keep them going. A fantasy to keep the troops fighting against impossible odds to attain an impossible goal. Cypher began to realize that there was no way they could ever win.

   As the days progressed more time was spent on gathering information on Neo. Cypher feigned interest. He knew it was all pipe dreams. He had to put an end to this. He alone would free mankind from these illusions of freedom. He was forming a plan. A plan that only he would have the resolve to accomplish. Sacrifices would have to be made. The first step was to make contact. He would have to play it safe at first, could he trust a machine?

   The night shifts were always quiet. Cypher found it the best time to get some “work” done. He volunteered for the night shifts. Tank suspected he was only doing it so he could sleep on watch but he found Cypher was always wide-awake when he checked on him in the morning.

   One night Cypher finally made contact with the AI. Cypher was very intelligent and he was second only to Tank on understanding the Matrix code. He sent out message after message to the AI through a false e-mail account in the matrix’s network of computer simulations. He covered his tracks easily from Tank. That night he finally got a response in his e-mail box. It contained a phone number. He called it.

   “Agent Smith,” came a rather emotionless voice.

   “Uh, yeah. Hi,” said Cypher, not quite sure what he would say now that he had the AI’s attention. “I am aboard a resistance ship. I’m sure your trace programs are already alerting you that I am calling from outside your network.”
“Yes they are. How is it I can assist you, Mr...”

   “Reagan. I have a proposition for you.”

   “What is this proposition?”

   Cypher felt his palms getting sweaty. He was starting to feel nervous. “I can help you crush this rebellion.”

   “And why would you do that, Mr. Reagan?” The voice still showing no emotion. Cypher wondered if it even cared.

   “I realize that there is no way we can beat you. People are dying for an impossible dream. I want to save them by stopping this stupidity.”

   “What do you suggest?”

   Cypher realized that time was ticking away. They would eventually be able to track him to the ship and Sentinels would arrive. He had to cut it off.

   “I will let you know.”

   “We will need proof.”

   “Of what?”

   “That you are...sincere.”

   “You’ll get it,” and Cypher cut the connection.

   For some reason he felt drained. He began to erase the residue of his conversation from the Core’s computer database. What could he do to show them he was earnest about this?

   As he worked he began to formulate more of the plan.

   Work toward Neo’s extraction grew closer. Trinity was spending more and more of her time on the away missions in the matrix watching Neo and gathering information. Cypher watched with curiosity. Morpheus was playing this one very open; like he was so sure that this Neo was indeed the One. He was taking every step carefully. Planning each move. The crew was becoming energized again. Morpheus’ assurance was spreading and he wondered if trinity was starting to buy into it again. She had been very disturbed by Joshua’s death and Cypher thought she would never buy into it. And yet she ventured into the matrix at every chance to watch him.

   It was starting to get under his skin. He had to put an end to it.

   That night he called Agent Smith again.

   “Agent Smith,” came the same dry tones.

   “I can give you proof that I can get you what you want.”

   “Yes, Mr. Reagan, I am listening.”

   “Monitor this number, 555-0690. Trace it back to the originating cellular phone and you will have the location of one of operatives.”

   “And then?”

   “I’ll let you know.” He terminated the call.

   Something inside was bothering him. He ignored it.

   He awoke the next evening to take his watch. He started for the Core to relieve Tank and stopped in his tracks when he got there. Trinity was plugged into the matrix, her prone body motionless in the chair.

   “What the hell is she doing?” he asked Tank.

   Tank spun around in the operator’s chair. “She was restless and wanted to go in. Morpheus told us that he wants to move up the contact with Neo. Switch and Apoc just finished setting up the equipment fifteen minutes ago. She said she’ll relieve you when she gets back.”

   “Which hardline is she using?”

   “That old hotel. She’ll be calling shortly. She seems pretty excited about this,” Tank smiled. “Think that’s a good sign?”

   Cypher shot him an annoyed look. “Just go to bed.”

   Tank stretched and rubbed his eyes. He wandered off toward his quarters.

   Cypher sat and looked at the matrix code stream by. Trinity would be calling soon and the game would begin. He hadn’t intended for it to be her. Switch and Apoc called in on the hardline when they finished. That was standard operating procedure as they were at the location of the extraction and couldn’t afford having that location discovered by a traced cell-phone call. But Trinity would be using hers. And it was set to auto-dial the Neb at the number he gave Agent Smith. It could go bad for her.

   Cypher was surprised at how little that bothered him.

   Cypher sat at the operator’s console and waited. He jumped slightly when the phone rang in his ear. “Yeah.” It was Trinity of course.

   “Is everything in place?’ she asked.

   “You weren't supposed to relieve me,” he said a bit annoyed that she was forcing his hand.

   “I know, but I felt like taking your shift.”

   Cypher knew she was doing it only to keep her eye on Neo. “You like him, don't you? You like watching him.”

   “Don't be ridiculous.” He couldn’t believe she was still denying it. When would she wake up? She needed a dose of reality.

   “We're going to kill him, do you understand that?”

   “Morpheus believes he is The One.”

   “Do you?” How could she buy into that after all she had seen? Was she still so blind?

   “It doesn't matter what I believe.” Evasive as ever. Cypher pushed the question.

   “You don't, do you?” There was a tiny click and echo as the trace completed. It was barely perceptible but it brought Cypher back to focus on what was about to happen. For a moment he thought to warn her but his conviction washed it away.

   “Did you hear that?” She was perceptive, he had to give her that.

   “Hear what?” he lied. She was growing suspicious. If she put it together...

   “Are you sure this line is clean?”

   “Yeah, 'course I'm sure.” There she was, blaming him again. Blaming him for every bad thing just like with Joshua.

   “I better go,” she said as she hung up. A tiny part of him hoped the backward trace didn’t have time to locate her. But it he knew it had. A minute later the hardline went dead. They were on to her. He watched the code swirl in the monitor. Police were surrounding the old hotel already. “Morpheus!” he yelled. His voice resounded through the quiet ship.

   Seconds later Morpheus was next to him. Others were running up behind him pulling on the rest of their clothing and rubbing sleep from their eyes. “What happened, Cypher?” asked Tank.

   Cypher looked back over his shoulder at them and then at Morpheus. “She was at the hotel finishing the tap on Neo’s computer to contact him. The hardline went dead. Cops are coming to get her. We have to get her out of there.”

   “Any agents?” asked Morpheus.

   “No...” Cypher started but Tank cut him off.

   “Like hell! Look!” Tank pointed at the Monitor. The distinct matrix signature of agents flashed across it.

   Even through his pain, anger, and resolve Cypher felt a pang of guilt. This wasn’t really what he had in mind. The phone rang. “Trinity,” whispered Cypher.

   Morpheus snapped a switch and the call went live in the cabin so that the others could hear. “Trinity,” he said.

   Trinity was tense over the speaker, “Morpheus, the line was traced, I don't know how.”

   “I know, they cut the hard line,” said Morpheus. “There's no time. You're going to have to get to another exit.” He looked at Tank who was already pushing Cypher out of the operator’s chair. Tank nodded and began to punch up some maps for another exit.

   “Are there any agents?”

   “Yes,” said Morpheus using his better judgement and not telling her the number.
“Godammit!” she exclaimed.

   Morpheus was picking up the beginnings of panic. He knew that if she lost her concentration she would be lost. 

   “You have to focus, Trinity.” He glanced at Tank who quickly pointed to an intersection on the map display. “There's a phone at Wells and Lake. You can make it.”

   “All right.”

   “Go!” The call ended.

   “What the hell did you do Cypher?!” yelled Tank still not taking his eyes from the monitors. He was tracking Trinity’s progress.

   “I...I didn’t...”
“Damn it!” swore Tank. “They are right after her. Only one on her tail, though.”

   Morpheus suddenly seemed concerned. “Where are the other two?”

   “I lost them.” Then he gave a start. “Shit! Now that was a jump!”

   “How far is she from the phone, Tank?” asked Morpheus. The rest of the crew stood tense and quiet.

   “Four blocks. We got lucky that exit was so close.”

   Anxious seconds scraped by.

   “She’s almost there. She’s...” Tank hesitated. “Oh no.”

   “What?”

   “A huge truck is coming up to the intersection and it’s full of agents!” Tank typed in a number. “Connection made.

   The phone is ringing.” He paused. “This is going to be close.”

   More seconds pass with the ease of sandpaper on skin.

   “Shit!” screamed Tank and a high pitched squelch blasted out of his headphones. The hardline was gone.

   He turned, almost in fear, to look at the chair behind him where Trinity’s body lay. The others were also slow to turn.

   Trinity’s eyes opened. Her arm was raised upward as if bracing against something. Apoc ran over and unplugged her. “That was a little too close, Trinity,” he said with a small nervous smile.

   She sat up and looked at the others. “What happened? How did they get a trace on the call?”

   Tank looked at Cypher; “I was wondering the same thing.”

   Cypher did not appreciate the attention or suspicion. “Why are you looking at me, asshole?”

   “If they had started a trace on a call in you would have known. You could have cut the call before they completed it. This light comes on to alert you. You know that, Cypher!” explained Tank.

   “Oh, so now it’s all my fault again. I see how it is. How it always is! It couldn’t be the friggin’ equipment. No, it must have been Cypher. Well, f*ck you!”

   Cypher’s temper was flaring, as was Tank’s. The two never did get along that well and now it looked like they would come to blows. Morpheus stepped up. “Tank, could the equipment have failed somehow?”

   “I doubt it. I ran a diagnostic two days ago.”

   “Can you check it again?”

   Tank looked at Morpheus, his gaze softened. “Sure, if you want,” and he started typing in a diagnostic command.
“We have a bigger problem,” mentioned Trinity.

   “What?” asked Morpheus.

   “I had the link-up completed with Neo’s computer. He was running a search program. I didn’t have time to disconnect when they found me. They may have Neo’s name. They could be looking for him right now!”
Morpheus’ face became thoughtful. Then he said, “We have to go back in and contact him tonight. Trinity you’ll make the contact but we will have to lure him away from his apartment in case they are watching already.”

   “Shit!” swore Tank. “I don’t believe it!”

   Morpheus and the others turned quickly to look at him. He held a small broken diode in his fingers. “The trace warning light was broken.” He looked at Cypher. “I’m sorry for doubting you Cypher.”

   Cypher smiled, “No problem. Next time you may want to get your facts straight before you accuse someone of screwing up. They might not be as forgiving as me!” Cypher continued to grin. He was thankful he had the foresight to crush that diode. He was also pleased with his performance. I should have gone into acting, he thought. That was academy award caliber.

   Trinity had managed to get Neo away from his apartment by using Tank’s feedback from watching the matrix code. Being mysterious helped keep Neo’s attention. He ended up following his friends to a club across town. No agents were in sight...yet.

   Trinity, Cypher, Switch, and Apoc all jacked in to cover the meeting. They were all too wary of the previous events of the night to let Trinity go it alone. All four entered the club and headed for a secluded table in a darkened corner. 

   Sitting they all kept surveying the crowd. “Is that a guy in a cage?” asked Cypher.

   “If any of us sees an agent we all leave immediately,” instructed Switch.

   “If any of us sees an agent don’t worry, you’ll be following me out.” explained Cypher.

   A waitress came over and asked for a drink order. Cypher ordered a round for all of them. “Don’t get drunk, Cypher,” cautioned Trinity.

   “Just keeping up appearances, Trin.”

   The drinks came and Cypher quickly emptied his glass motioning to the waitress for another.

   Trinity was watching Neo. He finally wandered away from his friends and stood alone against a wall. He looked lost; out of place. “I’m going to go talk to him now.”

   “You going to finish that?” asked Cypher pointing at her drink. She gave him a disgusted look and walked away. 

   “Touchy,” and he reached for her drink. “So Switch, some meat market, huh?”

   “Shut up Cypher.”

   “What’s with you guys? Hey Apoc, get her out on the dance floor. That will loosen her up a bit ‘cause these drinks aren’t working.”

   “Shut up Cypher,” echoed Apoc.

   The waitress returned with his second drink. He grabbed and downed half of it. He smiled. “Suit yourself.”

   Trinity came back several minutes later. There was a different look on her face. A little softer, a tiny, bemused smile on the corner of her lips. Cypher wasn’t sure why but it irritated him.

   “I’ve got him thinking. Let’s go.” They got up and Cypher threw a handful of bills on the table. Outside they climbed into a large dark car and pulled away from the loud music of the club. The night swallowed them.
 
 

   “Gotcha. We’ll keep our eye out for him.” Cypher clicked his phone shut. He turned to Apoc; “The phone is being delivered right now. Morpheus is making the call so our boy should be up here in a few moments. You got that freight elevator door stuck open still?”

   Apoc looked down the stairwell and nodded. “The agents?”

   “Right on time. At least those guys are predictable.”

   “It bothers me being on the roof knowing there are agents roaming around a few floors below us.”

   “Ah, don’t sweat it. They’ve got bigger fish to fry right now.”

   Cypher walked over near the edge of the roof and looked down at the scaffold several floors below. Once Neo came up they would rush him down the elevator to the loading dock, down the alley to Trinity’s waiting motorcycle. A quick ride to the old hotel and he would be out. Simple.

   They waited mostly in silence except for occasional remarks by Cypher about how the wind was mussing up his hair. Apoc didn’t find any amusement in the attempted comic relief.

   Cypher ventured another look down at the scaffold. He didn’t see anyone. His phone rang.

   “Yeah?”

   It was Morpheus. “He...he didn’t cooperate. The agents took him.” There was a disappointment in his voice that Cypher could easily pick up.

   “That’s great! Now what?”

   “You and Apoc head back. Use the packing plant on Vernon. We’ll discuss our options when everyone gets back.” The connection clicked off.

   Apoc looked at Cypher and shrugged.

   “He bailed. It’s back to camp for us, smiley.” They walked down the stairwell to the elevator. “It was so nice talking at you, Apoc.”

   “Don’t you ever just shut up, Cypher?”

   “Only when spoken to,” laughed Cypher.
 

   “Tank keep close tabs on Neo. I want to know exactly where he is at all times,” said Morpheus.

   “They have him at their office building to interrogate him,” he remarked.

   Morpheus turned to the others. “We have to get him out. We can not afford to have him lost.”

   “But now that they have him they will probably just kill him,” suggested Cypher.

   “I am betting they don’t know what they have. They are still focusing on me as their target. I think they will try to get to me through him since they know I am interested in him,” explained Morpheus.

   Or, thought Cypher, they do know what they have...an empty dream. He stifled a knowing grin. And they know what they want.

   Twelve hours later Neo was back in his apartment. They prepared to jack in. “Mouse, you need to stay behind and help Tank and Dozer.” Mouse looked dejected. “Next time you’ll be there with us but Neo is bugged and this whole mission could go sour if the agents are monitoring him closely.” He sat in the chair to get jacked in. The others followed. Soon they were all in place standing around a ringing phone. Morpheus picked it up and let Tank know they were in safely.

   He opened his phone and made a call to Neo’s apartment. The others waited.

   The call went through and Morpheus spoke quietly into the phone. “This line is tapped, so I must be brief. They got to you first, but they've underestimated how important you are. If they knew what I know, you'd probably be dead.”

   Cypher found himself listening to Morpheus talking to Neo. What if he didn’t want to come down here? Was Morpheus so sure, so intent that he would force him?

   “You are the One, Neo. You see, you may have spent the last few years looking for me, but I've spent my entire life looking for you. Now do you still want to meet?”

   Cypher raised his eyebrows as he heard this. Morpheus was telling Neo he was the One even before he was out, before he even knew what was going on! This was an entirely new approach.

   “Then go to the Adams Street Bridge.” He closed the phone. “Pick him up but be careful. Trinity, make sure you pull that bug before he gets here. Since their trace didn’t have time to complete they will be hoping to use his bug to find me. Cypher, you stay with me.”

   Trinity gave a short nod and her, Switch, and Apoc left for the car to rendezvous with Neo.

   After they left Morpheus went to the bathroom and filled a glass with water. Cypher was looking at him when he came back in. “What is it, Cypher?”

   “Why did you tell Neo he was the One already? I mean you never tell them.”

   “I am sure he is the One. Besides, he doesn’t know what I mean.”

   “But you are going to tell him?”

   “I will.”

   “Even after...”

   “Cypher, shouldn’t you be on watch? That is why you are here, isn’t it?”

   Cypher turned and walked into the other room. I was packed with all the now familiar extraction equipment. He switched on the individual devices and then walked over to what looked like high-tech goggles attached to a large machine. He pulled them to his eyes. With them he could monitor the area in code. It was transmitted back to him from the Nebuchadnezzar and Tank’s station. Since he was the most familiar with code he usually got the job. If an agent came anywhere near the building he would know it. This gave Tank the opportunity to focus more on watching the others that went after Neo. The area was clear...but he already knew that before he looked. Everything was going along perfectly. He grinned to himself. Perfectly. 

   Almost a half-hour later Switch and Apoc came in and took their positions. “I take it Neo showed up?”

   “Yes,” said Switch.

   “And?”

   “What?”

   “Any trouble? Did he perform any miracles on your little trip? Turn Apoc into a witty 
conversationalist?”

   “Bite me, Cypher,” said Apoc.

   Cypher mocked great surprise. “Holy crap! That’s all the proof I need!”

   He thought he saw a small smile appear for a moment on Switch’s lips but he could have been mistaken. “Switch, what do you think? Is this the One?”

   “Morpheus seems to really think so,” she answered.

   “But what do you think, is the question.”

   Trinity walked in and started hooking up some monitoring pads. Switch looked at Trinity. “She might be the better judge of that.”

   “Of what?” asked Trinity, her mind half on her work and half somewhere else.

   “Cypher wants to know if we think Neo could finally be the One?”

   Trinity looked at all of them in turn. “And? What do you think?” Cypher began to open his mouth but Trinity shot him a stern look. “Not you, Cypher. I know what you think.”

   Switch looked at Apoc then back to Trinity. “I’m not sure. So many things have happened. But I trust Morpheus and he is very sure about Neo.”

   “What if he turns him down again? Takes the blue pill, Trinity?” asked Apoc.

   “I can only guess, but I think it would crush Morpheus.”

   “But what do YOU think, Trin?” asked Cypher. “You have a little more insight than us.”

   She glared at Cypher. “How can you...”

   Morpheus entered with Neo in tow. “Apoc, are we online?”

   “Almost.”

   Morpheus motioned to Neo. “Time is always against us. Please, take a seat there.”

   Neo looked at Trinity who began to attach the monitors to him. “You did all this?”

   “Uh-huh.”

   “The pill you took is part of a trace program,” explained Morpheus. “It's designed to disrupt your input/output carrier signals so we can pinpoint your location.”

   “What does that mean?” asked Neo.

   “It means buckle your seat belt, Dorothy, 'cause Kansas is going bye-bye,” grinned Cypher. He thought that would soften Trinity a bit but instead it seemed Switch was amused by it. He watched as Neo began to get the disrupted I/O hallucinations. Morpheus was talking to him as Apoc worked to get the lock on his location. It was the same thing he had seen so many times before. They had actually lost some one once when the lock never took hold. Cypher tried not to think about that. It wasn’t pretty. He felt a sudden sadness. Another poor schmuck was going to get the rug pulled out from underneath him. This was just too cruel. He knew the speeches Morpheus made. He never once would tell them what they were really going to do by taking the red pill. And Cypher knew why...because no one ever would!

   “He's going into arrest!” called Trinity. There was obvious concern in her voice.

   Cypher looked at Apoc’s display to see how he was coming. It was going to be real close.

   Finally Apoc confirmed his position. “Lock, I got him.”

   “Now, Tank. Now!” yelled Morpheus into his phone.

   And Neo’s form faded from their view as his essence, his mind, returned to his actual body.

   “Good work,” said Morpheus with relief. “Let’s get back to the ship.” He lifted his phone and spoke. “Tank, bring us home.”

   The phone began to ring.
 

   Once back on the Nebuchadnezzar they brought Neo aboard. Dozer immediately carted him of to the Infirmary to begin regenerating his atrophied muscles and to remove some of the jacks from his body. Cypher was always a bit amazed at Dozer’s abilities. For such a large man he was capable of some very delicate procedures.

   During his recovery period they busied themselves on PMs for the ships systems and some long overdue overhauls. No one went into the matrix to keep profiles low. Cypher continued to pull the late night watches. He continued with his plans.

   The agent he had been communicating with requested a meeting. Cypher had already started working on an automated load and retrieval program for the Core. It would load him in and then call back after a preset time. It would be tricky. But now his main concern was how to cover his tracks. If someone found the program running while he was in would be hard to explain. He continued to work on his program and his alibi.

   Then one afternoon as they were working Morpheus informed them he would be bringing Neo up to meet everyone. Cypher, Trinity, Tank, and Dozer were already working on the main deck. Switch, Apoc, and Mouse soon joined them. Trinity kept welding a replacement grating over a crawl space under the deck. Cypher thought she must be nervous and was working to keep her mind off seeing Neo again. She had been acting strange ever since he came on board. He busied himself cleaning spare insertion jacks for Tank.

   Morpheus came up the ladder from the crew deck where all their quarters and the Galley were. Neo was behind him. He still looked frail.

   “This is my ship, the Nebuchadnezzar,” he was pointing out. “It's a hovercraft. This is the main deck. This is the core where we broadcast our pirate signal and hack into the Matrix. Most of my crew you already know. This is Apoc, Switch, and Cypher.”

   “Hi,’ said Cypher.

   Morpheus continued the introductions. “The ones you don't know, Tank and his big brother, Dozer. The little one behind you is Mouse. You wanted to know what the Matrix is, Neo?” He led Neo over to one of the chairs. 

   “Trinity...” Neo sat in the chair as Trinity strapped him in. “Try to relax. This will feel a little weird,” Morpheus said trying to calm him. 

   They loaded him in to the Construct and Morpheus took the chair next to him.

   Cypher looked at Trinity, “Well, lets see how he takes it.”

   “He’ll be fine,” said Trinity softly.

   They waited quietly. They had all been through something like this. They had all reacted differently. There was never any way to predict how some one would react. There was nothing in life that could compare to this. Nothing.
Dozer was watching Neo’s readouts. “He’s getting pretty agitated.” The lines were starting to peak. “Shit! He’s starting to snap!”

   “Pull him out!” cried Trinity.

   Immediately Neo was back and fighting in his chair.

   “Easy, Neo. Easy.” Trinity struggled to get his restraints off.

   “Take this thing off me. Take this thing...” He burst from his chair.

   Switch unplugged Morpheus and he tried to approach Neo. “Listen to me...”

   Neo backed away. “Don't touch me. Stay away from me. I don't want it. I don't believe it.” He started to falter and stumble. “I don't believe it!”

   “He's gonna pop,” said Cypher. He was not handling it well at all, he thought.

   “Breathe, Neo. Just breathe,’ called Morpheus. But it was too late. Neo fell to the ground, vomited, and passed out. Morpheus, Trinity, and Dozer rushed to his prone form.

   “That went pretty well,” commented Cypher. 

   “Have I mentioned that I think the new guy should have mess duty?” asked Cypher.

   Trinity shook her head, “Twice today. Besides, he is still training.”

   “He is still training?” asked Switch as she finished her dinner.

   “Yes,” answered Trinity who was mostly just pushing her food around in her bowl.

   “That has to be more than nine straight hours. I remember when we could only do an hour or two max.”

   “Well the training is a lot better than when we had to do it,” observed Cypher.

   “True,” agreed Switch. “It is a lot quicker now. And Mouse has really helped. How long do you think before he will spar with anyone?”

   Cypher put down the bowl he was cleaning. “Probably be ready to spar with Mouse in a day or two,” he laughed.

   The hatch burst open and Mouse stuck his head in. “Morpheus is fighting Neo!” They all scrambled for the hatch. 

   They gathered around the Tank and watched the Construct Image Translators. They could see Morpheus and Neo fighting vigorously in the dojo setting.

   Mouse nervously bit at his fingernail. “Jesus Christ, he's fast. Take a look at his neural kinetics, they're way above normal.” The fight continued and Neo moved faster and faster. Finally he managed to get past all of Morpheus’ moves and blocks. His fist stopped a fraction of an inch from Morpheus’ face. “I don't believe it.”

   Tank loaded in the jump program.

   Mouse stared at the screen. “So what if he makes it?”

   “No one's ever made the first jump” pointed out Tank.

   “I know, I know. But what if he does?”

   “He won't,” confirmed Apoc.

   “Come on.”

   Cypher could feel the tension growing in the room. Each of them begging for a sign. Morpheus had managed to do it again. Got them all to believe in the fairy tale once again. From behind him he heard Trinity whisper “Come on.” He didn’t like that. If she started to believe then that meant...

   Neo fell.

   Mouse looked up surprised. “Wha...what does that mean?”

   Switch, ever the skeptic said, “It doesn't mean anything.”

   “Everybody falls the first time. Right, Trin?” Cypher turned to study her reaction but she was already gone. She had wanted Neo to succeed a little too much, he thought.
 

   Cypher was too restless to sleep. The whole thing about Trinity kept bouncing around in his head. A jealousy pushed around in him but he wouldn’t recognize it. He had watch in a little while so he just got up anyway and headed for the Core. He saw Trinity ahead of him with a tray of food. He hung back and watched her open the hatch to Neo’s quarters. He walked up to the open hatch and listened. There wasn’t any sound and then she came out and closed the door. She didn’t jump when she saw him rather she looked annoyed. 

   “I don't remember you bringing me dinner,” he said remembering all the long days and nights he had trained when he still believed. And when he thought Trinity had cared. She ignored his comment. Now she was all wrapped up in Neo. He looked at the hatch of Neo’s room. “There is something about him, isn't there?”

   “Don't tell me you're a believer now?”

   “I just keep wondering, if Morpheus is so sure, why doesn't he take him to see the Oracle?”

   “Morpheus will take him when he's ready,” she said and started to walk away. He was casting doubts and she didn’t like it. He walked after her.

   “I’m not trying...” he started.

   She turned. “What is it, Cypher?” There was confusion on her face. He could see she was grappling with emotions she didn’t want to deal with. For a second he was back in the Infirmary looking down at her fresh from the matrix. Vulnerable, innocent.

   “I...I just want...” he stumbled on his words.

   Her face started to lose the confusion. It began to harden again. “Spit it out, Cypher. You don’t like Neo. You feel threatened by him. You want the attention.”

   Now it was his turn to feel uncomfortable. “No. That’s not it at all. Do you still buy into this myth? Do you really think there is a chosen one?”

   “Why do you have to fight everything?”

   “Trinity, don’t you see? You are setting yourself up for another fall. Remember Joshua and the others.” He hesitated not knowing how far he should open himself up. “Remember...me.” There, he said it.

   For a fleeting second he had her. For a tiny moment she was back. And for just an instant he reconsidered his plan. Then she angered.

   “When will you forget the past, Cypher. You want to hurt everyone by dredging it up. You talk so highly of disservice, of disrespecting their memories. You continue to twist that in Morpheus’ gut every chance you get. What has Morpheus done to you? I think YOU disrespect their memory by not continuing to fight for what they all died for. And have you ever thought about it, Cypher? Why is it of all of them you are the only one that is still alive? The disservice, Cypher, is that you count yourself among them!”

   She stormed off in the direction of her quarters. He stood stunned at her eruption. The questions she asked, the points she made stirred around inside him touching memories, triggering guilt. But in the end he only felt anger and betrayal. She had finally turned against him. She was the final thing he cared about.

   And now she was gone.

   He walked up to the Core and relieved Tank. He shuffled off to bed and he was alone. Alone to think...and work.
Finally he finished his auto-load/retrieval program. He did a quick test to see if it would work. Setting the program for a duration of three minutes he sat in the chair. It was a little difficult to get the plug into the jack in the back of his head but he finally managed. A few seconds later the delay clicked off and the program engaged. He found himself in the matrix at the old Hotel Lafayette. He picked up the ringing phone and spoke a voice command into the receiver. There was a tone that the program had recognized the code and would now wait three minutes to call back. He looked around the room. It didn’t seem that long ago that they were here preparing to pull Neo out of the matrix. He sat in one of the large red chairs and out his feet up on the table. The realization of his accomplishment made him smile. He laughed aloud. “Morpheus, your student has graduated.”

   The phone rang. He picked it up and felt himself pull back to reality. Opening his eyes he saw the overhead of the Nebuchadnezzar above him. He felt back behind his head and managed to pull the plug from its jack.

   Cypher went back to the operator’s chair and opened a line to the matrix. He called the agent. 

   “Agent Smith.”

   “It’s Cy...Reagan. I’m ready to meet.”

   “Now?”

   “No. Tomorrow night at the Signature Room. And expect to pick up the check.”

   “What time, Mr. Reagan?” asked the agent.

   “When I get there. Just make sure you are waiting.”

   “I will see you then.”

   Cypher disconnected and began to hide all of his tracks. Tank was getting nosey and Cypher could not afford anyone to find it now.

   He smiled as he buried the program and wiped out the phone call traces. This was becoming child’s play.
 

   The next day Cypher’s boredom was interrupted by a Sentinel attack. Cypher hated Sentinel attacks worst of all the things he had to put up with on the ship. He had had several nightmares of them coming into his quarters at night while he was sleeping. Only to awake staring into their lifeless, red eyes as they tore at his flesh with their mechanical claws and tiny pincers. They were truly the stuff of nightmares.

   Dozer had gotten warning from the Sovereign as Morpheus and Neo were in the construct training. Tank alerted them and they unplugged in a hurry. Neo, Morpheus, and Trinity ran up to the bridge while the others gathered with Tank at the Core. Most of them knew to bring a blanket, as it grew cold rapidly in the ship once the power was shut off.

   “Don’t touch my ass, Cypher,” warned Switch.

   “Or mine,” added Mouse.

   Tank chuckled at this. “Oh, that’s so funny, Mouse. Be grateful someone grabs your ass besides your make-believe lady friend,” said Cypher.

   “She’s less of a make-believe friend than you are,” responded Mouse.

   “Power offline. EMP armed and ready,” said Tank into his com mike.

   The group grew quiet as they imagined the Sentinels roaming about outside in the darkness. Cypher shivered...and it was not from the cold.

   Tense minutes passed. Finally Dozer announced the all clear and Tank energized the systems again. The ship began to warm.

   Cypher motioned to Mouse. “C’mere, Mouse. I have a make-believe boot for your ass.” Mouse smiled and ran off. “Punk kid,” mumbled Cypher.
 

   Cypher was on his watch and the ship had grown quiet again. He was growing a bit nervous about the meeting tonight. He was setting up the program parameters when he caught a movement in his peripheral vision. It was Neo.

   “Whoa, Neo. You scared the bejeezus out of me!” Cypher quickly switched off the program in case Neo started asking questions.

   “Sorry,” said Neo.

   “It's okay.”

   Neo looked at the green characters streaming down the main screens. “Is that...”

   “The Matrix? Yeah.”

   “Do you always look at it encoded?”

   “Well you have to. The image translators work for the construct program. But there's way too much information to decode the Matrix. You get used to it. I...I don't even see the code. All I see is blonde, brunette, red-head.” Cypher couldn’t afford playing twenty questions with Neo right now. “Hey, you uh... want a drink?” offered Cypher. Maybe if he got a little looped he’d head off to bed like the others.

   “Sure,” answered Neo.

   Cypher poured a little homemade brew into a cup and handed it to Neo. “You know, I know what you're thinking, because right now I'm thinking the same thing. Actually, I've been thinking it ever since I got here. Why, oh why didn't I take the blue pill?” Neo took a sip and coughed. It was far from smooth. Cypher always figured he now knew what sterno tasted like. “Good shit, huh? Dozer makes it. It's good for two things, degreasing engines and killing brain cells.” 

   Cypher looked at Neo. In a way he reminded Cypher of Joshua, kind of like he was out of place. He had been wondering how much Morpheus had revealed to Neo so he asked. “So, can I ask you something? Did he tell you why he did it? Why you're here.” Neo gave a hesitant nod. “Jee-zus. What a mind job. So you're here to save the world. What do you say to something like that?” Cypher recalled his own reaction when he had overheard the same news about himself. He felt the same sudden kinship he usually felt for the potentials Morpheus yanked from the matrix. “A little piece of advice. You see an agent, you do what we do. Run. You run your ass off.”

   Neo finished what was left in his cup and handed it to Cypher. “Thanks for the drink.” He walked off.
“Sweet dreams,” called Cypher after him. He switched the program back on. “Sweet dreams.”
 

   Cypher walked into the John Hancock Center and headed for the elevators. It was late and the offices were all closed. Luckily the restaurant was still open. He pressed the button for the 95th floor. He wiped his hands on his pant legs. He was nervous. He had lucked out in that there was a hardline very close to the Center. At the last minute he had put in an emergency plan. He adapted the program to respond to an incoming call to activate the extraction program. If things got dicey he could snap open his phone speed dial a number and the program would call the payphone at the end of the block. Of course he had not the opportunity to try that.

   The doors opened and he walked into the restaurant. The Hostess stood quietly nearby. He glanced up as Cypher approached. “Yes, sir?” 

   “I believe there is someone waiting for me,” explained Cypher.

   “Your name, sir?”

   “Reagan. Archie Reagan.” God how he hated that name. Made him glad he never used it anymore.

   The Hostess looked down for a moment then motioned to him. “This way, Mr. Reagan.”

   As he neared the table he saw the agent sitting quietly looking out the window at the lights of Chicago. He looked somehow melancholy. But the impression was lost on Cypher as he felt his blood run suddenly cold at the sight of one of the relentless killing machines he had faced too often before. He had an impulse to run. To run his ass off.

   The agent turned to see his approach. “Mr. Reagan.”

   “Agent...Mr...Smith.” Cypher extended a hand but the agent simply looked at blankly. Cypher withdrew his hand, wiped it on his jacket and then sat down.

   A waiter came over and showed Cypher a menu and explained the various specials the restaurant was serving.

   Cypher simply ordered a very expensive wine, a large steak, baked potato, and salad. The waiter then looked at the agent for his order. He simply shook his head to decline. The waiter left to place the order.

   Cypher looked across the table at the agent. He was making Cypher very nervous. There was something very cold about him. “Mr. Reagan we have kept our distance as you requested. We did not interfere with the removal of Thomas Anderson.”

   “Well, you did bug him. And you almost killed a friend of mine with that friggin’ garbage truck!”

   “We were not sure of your intent.”

   “Where is the trust?” Cypher spread his hands trying to get himself to relax. “Like I said in my e-mail, I want you to put me back in, wipe my memory clear so I can’t remember it’s all a simulation. Go back to living the lie.” He forced a smile. “Then I can help you.”

   “Understood,” said the Agent Smith in his usual emotionless monotone.

   “But do me a favor first,” asked Cypher. The agent raised an eyebrow. “Leave me alone while I eat. No one knows I am in here and if they happen upon me I want them to think I snuck in here for a great meal. That ain’t gonna work if they see an agent siting across from me. Agent Smith got up and walked to the bar. He sat at a stool and ordered a drink. He never took a sip, just sat quietly looking out the window.

   Cypher relished his meal and the wine. He asked the waiter to bring him a fine cigar instead of any dessert. The steak was exquisite. The slop on the Nebuchadnezzar was a distant memory. He could get very used to this. He smiled. This is what Morpheus and the others were fighting against?! He felt a sudden lightheadedness. A strange feeling of confusion and loss. He attested it to the wine. Had he drank that much? It was so odd. Then it left him.

   He was just finishing the steak when the agent returned to his table. “Do we have a deal, Mr. Reagan?”

   “You know, I know this steak doesn't exist. I know that when I put it in my mouth, the Matrix is telling my brain that it is juicy and delicious. After nine years, you know what I realize? Ignorance is bliss.”

   “Then we have a deal?” repeated the agent.

   “I don't want to remember nothing. Nothing,” insisted Cypher taking another drink of the wine. “You understand? And I want to be rich. You know, someone important.” He thought for a moment. “Like an actor.”

   “Whatever you want, Mr. Reagan.”

   “Okay.” Cypher picked up the cigar and lit it taking in the thick smoke, the aroma. “I get my body back into a power plant, re-insert me into the Matrix, I'll get you what you want.”

   “Access codes to the Zion mainframe.”

   Cypher shook his head in annoyance. “No, I told you, I don't know them. I can get you the man who does.”

   “Morpheus,” said the agent, the first hint of emotion in his voice...anticipation.

   Cypher felt guilt turn in the pit of his stomach. Morpheus turned over to these...machines. And at his hand. He blocked it out with his feelings of betrayal and anger. But as he remembered the faces of those that had died they faded almost before he could remember them. The room began to swim again and he pushed the wine glass away.

   “Shit.”

   Then it passed again and he looked at the agent who was sitting just as composed as usual. “Mr. Reagan, we must have you deliver Morpheus to us before we put you back into the matrix.”

   Cypher dabbed at his forehead with his napkin. “Right. What was I thinking. I’ll get you Morpheus. But it has to look like I wasn’t involved.”

   “A trap?”

   “Yes,” agreed Cypher. “A trap. I know Morpheus. He will be taking Neo in to the matrix soon. I will give you that location and you can get us there. I will break away and get back to the ship so I can get to you for re-insertion.”
“How will we know where you are?”

   Cypher thought for a second. “I will call your number and leave my phone on. You can trace it to our location. Trap us there when we all get back. But remember, it has to look real.” Cypher snubbed out the cigar. He still wasn’t feeling right. “How will I know you will uphold your side of the deal once Morpheus is in your custody?”

   Agent Smith extended his hands. “Where is the trust, Mr. Reagan?”

   Cypher stood with a little difficulty. “I have to go.” And he made his way to the elevator. He got inside and pressed the button for the lobby. On the ride down he felt the elevator closing in on him. He fell to the floor and vomited. The elevator was spinning. He tried to stand but didn’t have the strength. Finally he braced himself against the handrail and pulled himself upright. His knees were weak and shook.

   The doors opened and he struggled toward the exit. The night air felt cold on his clammy skin. He took in several deep breaths and started walking down the street.

   Almost to the corner he started to lose consciousness. The night grew darker and darker. Then he saw the booth at the corner. He pulled his phone from his pocket. He dropped it. He fell to his knees trying to pick it up. He somehow managed to pick it up, stand and get to the booth. His hands shaking he tried to press the speed-dial button. For a second everything was black as his consciousness faded in and out. He pressed the button. A moment later the pay phone began to ring. Thank God it works, he thought. He reached for the receiver but came up short. “Whazafck izwong wime?” he mumbled, even his speech was slurred. Another moment and he would faint. He made a last attempt at the ringing phone. He got it. He pulled it to his ear and the world blew away.

   He opened his eyes on the Nebuchadnezzar. He felt fine. He pulled the jack from his head and sat up. The bridge was quiet except for some of the little beeps the Core made. He shook himself, rubbed his head and walked over to the operator’s chair. He began to erase the recent activities. Must have been some kind of food poisoning, he thought.

   He worked quickly erasing every associated file. The record of his bio readings popped up on a monitor as he was accessing and deleting. He pressed the screen to remove it from storage. He didn’t even really look at it. If he had he would have seen something disturbing. His alpha patterns were an ordered, symmetrical wave.
 

   Cypher was doing mess duty again. Despite having the late watch he still had to clean up after breakfast. He ate nothing. For some reason he was not hungry. He would get to sleep after they ate and he finished cleaning up. Mouse was trying to pimp his Lady in Red to Neo. While Cypher appreciated Mouse’s computer programming abilities he found him annoying as a person. He tried not to pay attention to the conversation. But suddenly Morpheus came in.

   “Dozer, when you're done, bring the ship up to broadcast depth. We're going in. I'm taking Neo to see her.”

Neo looked about as everyone grew silent. “See who?”

   “The Oracle,” said Tank. Trinity looked up at Cypher who caught her gaze. She wanted some kind of reassurance. He couldn’t give her any. He didn’t care.
 

   Cypher walked out to the car after beating Mouse out for driver. As he rounded the front of the car he snapped open his phone and hit the speed-dial for the agents number he had programmed the night before. He noticed a trash can and tossed it in. He opened the door and moved behind the wheel. The others got in and they were off.

   Neo looked around at the familiar, yet now strange, sights around him. The first time back in is always the strangest. Seeing the matrix for what it was.

   “Unbelievable, isn't it?” said Morpheus.

   Neo stared out the window at the stores and people streaming by. “God.”

   “What?” asked Trinity.

   “I used to eat there. Really good noodles. I have these memories from my life. None of them happened. What does that mean?”

   “That the Matrix cannot tell you who you are,” offered Trinity.

   “And an Oracle can?” 

   “That's different.”

   “Did you go to her?” he asked.

   “Yes,” answered Trinity.

   “What did she tell you?”

   Cypher turned his head slightly. Was she really going to say?

   “She told me...” she started.

   “What?” pressed Neo. She chose not to answer.

   Cypher pulled into the apartment building parking area.

   Morpheus looked back at Neo. “We're here. Neo, come with me.”

   They left and entered the building.

   Cypher and Trinity sat quietly for several minutes. Finally Cypher spoke. He didn’t turn to look back at Trinity. 

   “You were going to tell him.”

   “I didn’t.”

   “But you started to. You were going to tell him what she told you.”

   “I...I couldn’t.”

   Cypher turned to look at her. “Why?”

   “I...it wouldn’t have been right. It could lead him to assume...things.” She wouldn’t meet his gaze.

   “What do mean...things?”

   “It could change the way things work out. It’s not right for me to influence him.”

   “Do you want to influence him? Is that it? You still believe after all this time that what she told you is true?”

   “I’m not sure.”

   Cypher wasn’t sure how to feel about her. It seemed obvious to him she was falling for Neo. That she wanted him to feel the same towards her. Was that sad or pathetic? “You must still believe it if you would use it to influence Neo’s feelings toward you. Or do you not care? You just want him anyway you can get him?”

   She spun her head around. She was angry again. “You bastard. I’m not like you.”

   Morpheus and Neo came back and got in the car. She said nothing more. Cypher looked back at her in the rearview mirror. She was looking out the side window. The trip back was silent.

   Soon they were back at the Lafayette and heading up the stairs to leave. Cypher could feel his pulse racing.

   “Whoa, deja vu.” It was Neo. They all stopped.

   “What did you just say?” asked Trinity.

   “Nothing, I just had a little deja vu.”

   “What did you see?”

   “What happened?” asked Cypher. Great, he thought, here we go.

   Neo pointed back behind him at the bottom of the staircase. “A black cat went past us, and then another that looked just like it.”

   “How much like it, was it the same cat?”

   “Might have been, I'm not sure.”

   Morpheus wasn’t about to take any chances. “Switch, Apoc.” They both pulled their guns and took positions at the front and end of the group.

   “What is it?” asked Neo.

   “Deja vu is usually a glitch in the Matrix,” explained Trinity. “It happens when they change something.”

   They started up the stairs cautiously.

   As they rounded a banister they suddenly heard the sound of gunfire above. A loud crash drew their attention down to see police flooding in below them. Morpheus led them down a hallway to another room. Behind the dusty, heavy curtains they discover the window is bricked in.

   “That's what they changed!” exclaimed Cypher. “We're trapped. There's no way out.” He wanted them to all just give up. Just give up. But he knew better.

   “Be calm,” said Morpheus. He looked at Cypher. “Give me your phone.”

   Cypher panicked. His phone was still in the garbage can outside. He made a show of searching his pockets as he tried to come up with an excuse. Trinity handed Morpheus hers. “They'll be able to track it.”

   “We have no choice,” explained Morpheus. He flipped open the phone, got Tank on the line. “Tank. Find a structural drawing of this building. Find it fast.” He waited as Tank must have been racing through databases looking.

   “I need the main wet wall.” Morpheus began to respond to Tank’s directions and they all followed him in a tight knot; Switch and Apoc sweeping each area.

   Finally they entered a bathroom. “Good,” said Morpheus and he closed the phone. He began to hammer at the old tile on the wall. The others quickly moved in to help. Soon there was a ragged hole in the wall that opened up into a crawl space where the main plumbing ran. They took turns crawling in and easing them selves down the narrow confines toward the basement.

   The going was very slow. Cypher was increasingly worried that they might actually get away. Suddenly they all came to a stop as they heard a slight noise on the other side of the wall. Some dust flew down into Cypher’s face and he involuntarily coughed. The motion in the room grew silent. Someone was listening. Cypher saw the chance and he took it, he sneezed. “They're in the walls. They're in the walls!” came a cry from the room. It was closely followed by machine gun fire. Neo began to fire blindly at the wall hoping to hit, or at least scare, some one.

   It grew strangely quiet and they almost started to descend again when two arms came through the wall and grabbed Neo.

   “It's an agent!” yelled Cypher. The whole thing was getting out of hand. He was fearing for his life!

   Morpheus yelled and threw himself through the wall onto the agent causing Neo to be released.

   “Morpheus!” Trinity cried out.

   “You must get Neo out! He's all that matters,” ordered Morpheus.

   Neo tried to scramble after Morpheus. “No. No, Morpheus! Don't!”

   “Trinity, go!” shouted Morpheus.

   “Go!” repeated Trinity. Switch and Apoc dropped down the space between the walls.

   Neo fought to stay behind. “We can't leave him!”

   Trinity grabbed him, pushed. “You have to!” They all slid down the opening using their feet against the walls to slow their decent. They all dropped into the basement. Switch and Apoc were already filling the room with gunfire.

   Smoke and teargas flooded the basement along with the deafening roar of weapons fire. There was a grating that led to the sewers. They piled into that. Cypher saw another opportunity to break from them. He knew they would get away now and he had to get back before them. Trinity called out to him. “Cypher! Come on!”

   He moved toward her then stumbled. She didn’t hesitate and left him behind.

   Police surrounded him and he raised his hands. They cuffed him and escorted him up to the street. He frantically looked for an agent. They loaded him into a vehicle. “I have to see Agent Smith!” he demanded.

   “You don’t have to do nothing,” said a police officer.

   Cypher knew he was screwed. If he didn’t get back before them he would have a much harder time taking the ship. Plus they would unplug Morpheus as soon as he started to break. He kneed the cop in the vehicle and started for the door. An agent was suddenly there pushing him back. “Hey! Get Smith! I have to talk to Smith.”

   The agent undid his cuffs. “You are free to go.”

   Cypher smiled. He started for the street. Then a thought occurred to him. He motioned to the agent. “I have to get back on the ship.”

   “You are free to go. Go.”

   “No, if I’m not there they will kill Morpheus and you’ll get nothing.” There was a strange flash and a cop near them morphed into Agent Smith. “I hate it when you guys do that.” Cypher walked to Agent Smith. “I have to get back on the ship. But I need your help.”

   “What do you need, Mr. Reagan?” asked Agent Smith.
 

   The phone rang and he heard Tank’s voice “Operator.”

   “Yeah, I need an exit fast,” said Cypher.

   “Cypher?”

   “Yeah, there was an accident. Goddamn car accident. All of a sudden, boom. Somebody up there still likes me,” lied Cypher. The agents staged an accident so when Tank checked the area Cypher was calling from he would see the car accident in the code. It would make Tank much less suspicious should the others have called.

   “Gotcha.”

   Cypher grinned, he bought it. “Get me out of here fast.”

   “Intersection of Franklin and Erie, an old TV repair shop.”

   “Right.” Cypher hung up the phone and ran down the street toward Erie. He was home free.

   Moments later he was kicking in the boarded door of the shop. It was dark and dusty but he could see the dim light on the phone blinking.

   He opened his eyes at the familiar overhead of cables and ducts. He immediately made his way to Tank. “Where are they?”

   “Making the call,” answered Tank.

   “Good.” Cypher went over and pulled up a blanket to reveal a large plasma rifle. It was one of the few actual weapons onboard. He purposely walked toward Tank. He had never really used the weapon but had been told by Switch how it worked. A small targeting screen was on the side. The weapon was cumbersome and heavy. He lined it up with Tank and fired. The bolt of plasma went wild and struck Tank and the chair knocking him off. The rifle kicked in his hand. “Shoot.” Tank came off the floor angry and made straight for Cypher. He tried to aim and steady it again. He fired across the room and Tank sailed back, the plasma burning him alive.

   “No!” screamed Dozer and he rushed Cypher.

   Cypher spun the large weapon around and was almost pointblank with Dozer when it fired. He couldn’t have missed. Dozer fell in a smoking heap. Cypher dropped the awkward gun. He went over and put on Tank’s headset. He dialed Trinity’s phone.

   “Hello, Trinity.”

   “Cypher? Where's Tank?” Cypher walked over to Trinity’s prone body. He brought his face close to take in the scent of her. To be close to her. He had not been this close to her in a very long time. If he kissed her would she know it on some level? “You know, for a long time, I thought I was in love with you. I used to dream about you. You're a beautiful woman, Trinity. Too bad things had to turn out this way.”

   “You killed them.” She came to that realization and it brought a sadness to her voice. 

   “I'm tired, Trinity. I’m tired of this war. I'm tired of fighting. I'm tired of this ship, being cold, eating the same goddamn goop everyday. But most of all, I'm tired of that jack-off and all his bullshit.” He jumped onto Morpheus still body. “Surprise, asshole! I bet you never saw this coming, didja? God, I wish I could be there, when they break you. I wish I could walk in just when it happens. So right then, you'd know it was me.

   “You gave them Morpheus.” The sadness was changing to grief.

   “He lied to us, Trinity. He tricked us. If you'da told us the truth, we woulda told you to shove that red pill right up your ass!”

   “That's not true, Cypher, he set us free.”

   She was still so blind. They all were. “Free? You call this free? All I do is what he tells me to do. If I had to choose between that and the matrix, I choose the matrix.”

   “The matrix isn't real!”

   “I disagree, Trinity. I think the matrix can be more real than this world.” He walked over to Apoc’s body. “All I do is pull the plug here. But there, you have to watch Apoc die.” He pulled the plug and Apoc’s body gave a tiny jerk as his life signs went flatline. “Welcome to the real world, huh, baby?”

   “But you're out, Cypher. You can't go back.”

   Cypher gloated. He was so much better than all of them. He was the only one that saw the real picture. The power over life and death was intoxicating.  His head was spinning with the rush. “Oh no. That's what you think. They're going to reinsert my body. I go back to sleep, and when I wake up, I won't remember a goddamn thing.” He strolled over to Switch. “By the way, if you have anything terribly important to say to Switch, I suggest you say it now.”

   “No, please don't,” begged Trinity. He didn’t care. The time for carrying was over.

   “Too late.” He pulled the jack free of her head.

   “Goddamn you, Cypher!” shouted Trinity. Her anger burned over the phone line.

   “Don't hate me, Trinity. I'm just the messenger, and right now I'm gonna prove it to you.” He walked to Neo’s quiet form and looked down at the One. What a joke. “If Morpheus was right, then there's no way I can pull this plug. I mean if Neo's The One, then there'd have to be some kind of a miracle to stop me. Right? I mean how can he be The One if he's dead? You never did answer me before if you bought into Morpheus' bullshit - come on - all I want is a little yes or no. Look into his eyes, those big pretty eyes. Tell me. Yes or no?”

   He waited. There was a pause. Finally, “Yes.” She loved him! The thought filled his head as he heard a metallic clink behind him. He turned to see Tank alive! And with the rifle!

   “No! I don't believe it.”

   Tank steadied himself and aimed the weapon at Cypher. “Believe it or not, you piece of shit, you're still gonna burn.” He fired and Cypher felt his muscles all grow tight as the charge threw him against the bulkhead. The pain roared in his ears and his body convulsed with the electricity. He felt some of his teeth break as his jaw continued to clench. There was the snapping of bone as muscle fought muscle. Finally the sound he had heard all of his life, the thumping of his heart, stopped. His body relaxed. Everything was still and quiet and dark.

   Little thoughts and memories floated listlessly around his fading mind. Then one memory fought to the surface and crashed resoundingly against his consciousness. Something he had buried along time ago. Something he didn’t want to face.

   It was Joshua. He was running towards Cypher. There was an agent behind him firing. Cypher was standing in a phone booth. The phone was ringing. Joshua was calling his name. A bullet shattered the glass next to Cypher’s head. He screamed. The agent was almost there. Joshua got to the booth. Cypher lifted the receiver. The agent was slamming another clip into his pistol. There was a pleading in Joshua’s eyes. Cypher had to make a choice. He pushed Joshua out of the booth. He put the receiver to his ear and listened for Tank to bring him home. He saw Joshua’s tear streamed eyes and heard him scream his name as the matrix faded away. 

   And then there was nothing left to remember...Cypher was dead.