Chapter Text
While I was resting, Niobe left me alone in the white Construct, which I appreciated because I was shaking from the adrenaline and needed to compose myself before repeating the process. I had been so close to completing the challenge, but Niobe had been correct in her observation. I hadn't meant to, but I had been actively looking for Smith, even though it was a training program I was in and not the Matrix. This was not my Smith, and there was no way I would get him to remember me.
I had noticed that the ache I had felt the last time I was out of the Matrix had returned. It made me wonder if it was a side effect of being extracted. I decided not to mention it to the crew but to keep an eye on it. It wasn't causing too much of a distraction; it reminded me of the beginnings of an encroaching headache.
Thankfully, Nova had loaded a park bench for me to sit on, and I instinctively retrieved the note in my coat pocket that Smith had written for me. I found his words comforting, and as I read them, a realization dawned on me. I knew what I had to do. My cell phone rang, and I answered to hear Nova on the other end.
“Are you ready to run the training program again, Tegan?”
“I’m ready.” I said, resolve in my tone. The white Construct was replaced with the warehouse once again.
“Okay, Tegan. Same as last time, your exit is the subway station. You can take any route you wish, and I will guide you. No levitating allowed.”
This time, I stuck to the back streets and alleys, keeping low and out of sight. I vaulted over garbage cans and dodged through narrow spaces, the echo of my footsteps bounced off the brick walls.
“You're doing great Tegan, keep up the pace,” Nova said in my ear. “You’ve got two Agents on your trail—quick, take a left!” she yelled when a suited figure stepped into view ahead of me.
I dived down another alley, and a chain-link fence loomed ahead. I climbed quickly and grabbed the top, hoisting myself up and over, landing in a cracked asphalt parking lot. Perhaps I could make my getaway in one of the parked vehicles.
That’s when I heard it—the low growl of an engine, a predator waiting to pounce. My head snapped toward the sound. A vintage Mustang, all muscle and menace, revved its engine, headlights cutting through the dim.
“Uh, Nova? There’s a car—”
“Run!”
I ran, but I didn’t run away. Something in me clicked, the Cheat Codes sparking to life within me. I sprinted straight toward the black car as it surged forward, tires screeching against the asphalt. At the last second, I leapt, my boots planting on the hood before I pushed off, flipping over the roof. Time seemed to slow as I soared, my heart hammering in my chest. I landed on the other side in a crouch, momentum carrying me back into a full sprint.
“Holy—Tegan, that was insane!” Nova’s laugh crackled through the phone.
“Hold your applause,” I said, grinning despite myself. “I'm not out yet.”
I didn’t stop, weaving through alleyways and cutting across a deserted park. The subway station was just ahead, its dull yellow lights flickering. No sounds of gunfire behind me- yet. I was going to make it!
I burst through the entrance, boots pounding against the tiled stairs as I descended. This time, I didn’t hesitate. The phone was ringing on the platform, the sound sharp and insistent. The Agents weren’t far behind—I could feel it, like the charge in the air before a storm.
As I reached the bottom of the stairs, movement ahead caught my eye. Smith. He stepped onto the platform ahead of me. My breath hitched, but I kept moving, feet carrying me toward the phone.
“Not this time,” I muttered through gritted teeth.
Smith raised his gun, the muzzle glinting in the dim subway's light. Three shots fired in quick succession, the sound deafening in the enclosed space.
But I didn’t flinch. I knew what to do, and I raised my hand.
'Remember, you can stop bullets....'
I watched as the speeding bullets slowed, as if travelling through thick syrup before they stopped mid-air, hanging for a split second before clattering harmlessly to the ground at my feet.
My attention flickered to see that Smith’s smirk faltered, just for a moment. I turned back to the phone, heart was still racing, and snatched the receiver off the hook. The world blurred and disappeared, replaced with white.
“I've been waiting for you to show me your bullet stopping abilities. I was starting to think it was a fabrication.” Niobe said, joining me in the Construct. “I have to say, I was very impressed.”
I tried not to grin and maintain my composure, but I was excited that I had completed the training successfully. “I wasn't sure if my abilities would work the same in your program as they would in the Matrix. I was caught off guard the first time.”
“I wanted you to push your abilities and test the Cheat Codes, but not rely on your flying ability. Now, what would really be of an advantage to us is if your powers of foresight worked. However, I do believe you are ready.”
‘Fuck, really?’ I thought as I was unconvinced.
"I'm not going to sugarcoat this for you. We want to expedite the process of extracting Agent Smith. However, before we attempt to do so, we feel that we need to deal with Byte first. It will be his birthday in two days, and the longer he stays in the Matrix, the harder it will be for his mind to let go, making it easier for Agents to use him, thereby putting you all in danger. We plan to extracting him ”
I blanched at this. When I first met Niobe, she had said her ultimate goal was to free Byte. We had delayed his extraction before, but all of his training with myself and the Oracle had been in preparation for his release. His progress had been amazing; he was hardly recognizable from the traumatized child whom Niobe had rescued from the orphanage. However, I was still concerned that he was not ready to be awakened, especially as we had yet to tell him the truth about Smith.
“Speaking of Smith extraction. I have some concerns that I want to run by you.”
Niobe inclined her head. “Such as?”
I absently scratched my neck. “When we extract Smith, the Architect is going to know. He will see it as an act of war and that's the truce over.”
Niobe shifted her weight slightly. “The Architect will have his attention somewhere else and not directed at us. Do not worry, Tegan. We have it all worked out. All we need is for you to perform a miracle and to get him on our side.”
Although she told me not to worry, it had the opposite effect. I couldn't help but feel that she was keeping something from me and it was my turn to be suspicious.
“Before you go, Tegan. Contrast wanted to talk with you about redesigning Smith's shell.”
I felt my heart quicken at the prospect of changing the look of Smith's shell and make him look as I remembered him. “Oh, okay.” I said, as nonchalantly as I could.
Seconds later, Contrast joined us. Niobe made her excuses and left us to it.
“I know you are disappointed with the body we already made for Smith, and we don't want him to be overly disoriented when he is extracted. So, with that in mind, I need your help.” A laptop materialised in front of him, on the screen was the alien green code on a black background that fell like verdant rain. The code of the Matrix.
“From here, we can reprogram what we have in code for his body. You need to tell me what you want to change and I can do the rest.”
“I can do you one better, I can show you.”
Contrast looked at me with bewilderment and I explained that I could project my thoughts into his mind, with his permission, of course.
“Okay, Seer, let's see what you've got.” He said with a sceptical smirk. I explained how I needed to touch his forehead with my own, to relax and to close his eyes. He followed my directions and then I pictured Smith, my Smith, in my mind. Although I hadn't seen him in 6 months, his face came to the forefront of my mind, Unbidden and in full focus. His blue eyes, sharp and unwavering. I pictured him wearing the dark black suit that I knew so well, the suit that made him stand out from the other Agents I went on to encounter. I also couldn't help but briefly envision what he looked like without the suit on as well
“Okay!” exclaimed Contrast, jerking his head away from mine at that image. “I think that is more than enough detail to go on with. Let's get coding!”
I watched as Contrast's fingers moved faster than my eyes could follow, so they appeared as a blur. It was freaky yet fascinating to behold and was another reminder that freed humans seemed superhuman once the truth was revealed to them.
It wasn't long before Contrast stopped his frantic typing and looked at me. “It's done. Shall we see the results?”
I tried to curb my enthusiasm; I really did, but I couldn't disguise the excitement in my voice. “Yes, please!”
Contrast smirked yet again and pressed the ‘Enter’ key on the laptop keyboard. In front of us, Smith materialized, and it was my Smith. I could barely restrain myself from running to his statuesque form and hug him. Thankfully, Contrast encouraged me to examine him closely to see if we had missed anything. “Take off his sunglasses. Let’s see if we were able to capture his ‘azure stare’,” he teased, but he didn’t need to tell me twice, and I hastily removed the dark shades from Smith’s face. I was met with a pair of blue eyes and even though they were devoid of life, they were Smith's eyes. I turned to look at Contrast. “Thank you, Contrast. This is just how I remembered him.”
The tall man came to stand by my side, to admire his coding. “Yeah, well you were pretty detailed on this particular…characteristic. All we can do now is pray that Smith's code doesn't reject this shell once we extract him from the Matrix.”
My eyes widened at this information. “Can that happen?”
“We don't know, this is uncharted territory we are entering here. However, with your input, I believe that there is a chance that the Agent will be more willing to accept this shell than the one we had originally.”
“Gods, I hope this works.” I murmured, replacing the shades back on Smith's face.
“You and I both. I can't get the images you sent me out of my head. I don't want this enterprise to be for nothing if I have to know what one of them-” He pointed at the still form of Smith. “Looks like naked.” he shuddered, and I turned scarlet with embarrassment.
The next two days, I was a nervous wreck worrying about Byte. The boy was turning fifteen and was about to have his whole world turned upside down yet again with his extraction into the real world. I was unsure that he was mentally prepared for what the real world actually meant. A few times it had been mentioned to him by the Oracle, but I don't think he really understood what waking up would entail, and I couldn't share my experience with him as it wouldn't compare. I never woke up from a pod. I shuddered as the memory of when Smith showed me the towers of sleeping humans resurfaced. To think that Byte was in one of them right now made me feel queasy.
On Byte’s birthday, we threw a party for him. Wrestling theme, of course. He was so happy with his gifts and the delight in his eyes when the Oracle brought out his birthday cake made me realize that this kid probably never had a proper birthday like this, and it filled me with sadness.
He was loud and happy in that way only children can be, blowing out his birthday candles and making a wish—just like at any kid's birthday party.
I lingered at the edges of the room, watching him, counting breaths I didn’t need to take. Every laugh felt like borrowed time.
The Oracle moved to my side, quiet as she always was when it mattered. She didn’t look at me when she spoke.
“Enjoy this,” she said softly. “It won’t last long.”
My fingers curled into the fabric of my robe. “Is today really the day?”
She nodded once. “They’re close,” she added.
As if summoned by the words, there was a knock at the door — firm and deliberate. I felt my stomach twist with anxiety.
Byte barely noticed. He was too busy smearing frosting across his face, laughing as the Oracle scolded him half-heartedly.
“I’ll get it,” I murmured, already moving towards the hallway.
When I opened the door, Niobe stood on the threshold, in her usual rebel attire. Ghost and Contrast stood behind her and I tried to push my anxiety away.
“It's time.” The stoic captain said.
There was no use arguing; his extraction had already been delayed, this moment was inevitable. "I'll get Byte."