EPISODE 10 FULFILLMENT

BY ROBERT ‘CHOI’ BOEHM
b4483@alltel.net

FADE IN TO:

INT. EXORDIUM BUILDING BASEMENT HALLWAY

Arbiter and Aquanis are walking down a hallway toward the room where Satin is at. We overhear Somnus’s words.

SOMNUS
Believe it or not, fate has put you in a dream and fate has brought us together to wake you up from this dream.

Just before Arbiter and Aquanis get to the door, it slams shut. Aquanis and Arbiter look and each other with puzzled looks on their faces. Arbiter ruses up to the door and tries to open it, but can’t. He turns toward Aquanis, she shrugs her shoulders then readies her gun. Arbiter pulls out his phone and calls the Nostradamus.

PHASE (V.O.)
Operator

ARBITER
What’s going on?

PHASE (V.O.)
I’m not sure. The code is a little odd, it seams to be morphing. I can make out anything.

ARBITER
Alright, See if you can’t call Tachyon

Arbiter closes his phone, just then gun fire is herd in the adjacent room. Arbiter bangs and kicks on the door trying to get it to open but it still won’t budge. He gives up once the gunfire stops. He pulls out his phone and begins to speak with Phase again while pacing back and forth. Aquanis just stands alert with her gun ready.

PHASE (V.O.)
Operator

ARBITER
Any luck?

PHASE (V.O.)
None. I tried Carnan too.

ARBITER
Damn it. – Alright I’ll try and get in touch with the Delphi. In the meantime load Talon into the construct.

Arbiter closes his phone. Just then the door opens into a white hallway. An oriental man dressed in a white frog button shirt and black pants with circular sunglasses steps out of the hallway and behind Arbiter, who quickly turns around and takes a step back. Seraph bows slightly.

SERAPH
I am Seraph, your friends are in trouble. But first I must apologize.

ARBITER
For what?

SERAPH
For this.

Seraph attacks Arbiter with a punch, which Arbiter blocks to the side. Seraph continues to assault Arbiter, forcing him to back up down the brick hallway. Seraph attempts to kick Arbiter in the head with a roundhouse, Arbiter ducks under his foot. As he does this, Aquanis leaps over Arbiter’s head, spinning one complete revolution, and targeting Seraphs head with her foot. Seraph quickly dodges the kick with a back flip. As soon as Aquanis lands she continues the assault by leaping forward and jumping off of a wall, bring a punch into Seraph’s chest which he evades by sidestepping and tossing Aquanis to the ground behind him.

Arbiter has now found his way to his feet; he pulls out his gun and fires it at Seraph. Seraph dodges every bullet with incredible speed making his body blur like that of an agent. Once Arbiter stops firing, Aquanis scrambles to her feet. Seraph holds out his hands motioning both Arbiter and Aquanis to stop.

SERAPH
Good.

Seraph lowers his hands.

SERAPH
As I said, I must apologize for you do not truly know somebody until you fight them.

There is a pause.

ARBITER
You’re a program.

SERAPH
Yes, I’ve been sent her to help you.

AQUANIS
By who?

Seraph turns to Aquanis.

SERAPH
The Oracle.

Seraph begins to speak with Arbiter again.

SERAPH
A renegade program called Mara has just abducted Somnus and paralyzed Satin.

ARBITER
Why would the Oracle send a program to help us?

SERAPH
All you need to know is that Somnus’s rescue is integral to the completion of the prophecy.

ARBITER
What do you want us to do?

SERAPH
First you must dig in to the room adjacent to where the incident has taken place. Then you must remove Satin from the matrix. Because in her condition she cannot consume a pill; you must inject her with the contents of this syringe.

Seraph reaches into his sleeve and pulls out a syringe and hands it to Arbiter. He accepts it. Seraph starts to head back to the white hallway. Arbiter follows

ARBITER
What do we do after this?

Seraph enters the white hallway; Arbiter stops just outside.

SERAPH
Ask Tachyon, he has been told what to do.

Seraph turns around, slightly bows and pulls the door close. Arbiter quickly reaches to open the door.

INT. EXORDIUM BUILDING ROOM 3-B

Carnan, Tachyon, and Snipe are finishing their conversation with Cherub. Satin is collapsed in the corner of the room.

CHERUB
Ask the appointed judge.

Cherub turns around and closes the door, instantly the door opens again, Arbiter and Aquinas enter the room from the hallway.

TACHYON
What do we do with Satin?

Arbiter holds out the Syringe.

ARBITER
She is paralyzed, we need to inject her with this then substantiate her, but first we need to dig in.

The door to the adjacent room opens, The Delphi crewmember, Wraith enters the room

SNIPE
Alright lets go.

WRAITH
What the hell just happened?

Tachyon moves to Satin and picks her up. Wraith backs into the room as everybody else files in. There is one other crewmember in the room already in the room.

INT. EXORDIUM BUILDING ROOM B-3a

SNIPE
Wraith, Scion; Somnus has been abducted. We need to dig in and protect the door into the hallway.

WRAITH
Dig in?!?

Wraith sees the paralyzed Satin.

WRAITH
What happened to Satin?

SNIPE
We don’t have time for twenty questions. Agents are coming.

Wraith pulls an empty steel desk over a few feet in front of the door and lays it on its side. Snipe walks over to a rotary dial phone in the middle of the room. It is on a round end table. He picks up the receiver and dials a number.

SNIPE
Radon, We need a dig in box.

There is a pause.

SNIPE
Just do it. Give me a sledge as well.

Snipe hangs up the phone. A moment later it rings. Florescent blue vines start to spring up from the ground; they take the shape of a box, half the size of a typical chest, with a long cord wrapped around it. At the end of the cord there is a clamp with large spikes retracted into it. The form of a sledgehammer takes shape beside it to. The blue vines recede and the objects are textured. The box is green with a black cord and the hammer is wooden with a red head. Snipe slides to cord off of the box and grabs the clamp along with the sledgehammer. He then follows the hardline over to the wall and sets the clamp down. Holding the sledge with both hands he smashes it into the brick wall a few times above where the phone jack is. In the hole that he as just created the wall there is a thick cord, he drops the sledge and grabs the clamp and places it on the cord, then slams the spikes into the cord. A surge of electricity surrounds the clamp and fades a way.

SNIPE
Alright; Wraith, Scion grab a pair of headphones. Let the Nostradamus take care of the substantiation.

Snipe grabs an assault riffle and Wraith and Scion grab shotguns from crates that were already in the room. They also grab a pair of head phones that are wired to the dig in box that has been placed in the middle of the room. Snipe takes position behind the steel desk in front of the door. Scion takes position right next to the door with her back to the wall, Wraith takes position on the opposite side of the door.

As the Delphi crew has been digging in Tachyon has laid Satin down on an empty table and prepped her for substantiation by placing sensors on her head and arms and an ear piece on her left ear. Carnan and Arbiter have been at work on the consoles as well. After everything is set Arbiter walks over to Satin with the syringe in hand.

ARBITER
I normally like to give people a choice, but it seams as we have run out of options.

Arbiter sticks in the needle in her upper arm and injects the fluid into her. Then he looks over and speaks with Carnan

ARBITER
Let me know as soon as you’ve got her.

Carnan nods.

The camera is positioned over Snipe’s shoulder it slowly zoom in on the door which leads into the hallway. In slow motion, an agent casually walks in and draws his gun, squeezing off a few rounds in Snipes direction. Snipe open’s fire and the agent quickly runs to the side and steps right into Scion’s view. She fires her shot gun right at the agent nailing him. The agent flies back and strikes the wall. The agent instantly leaves the body and the corpse of a bum is left in it’s place.

Back to Satin

Her body begins to have muscle spasm’s

ARBITER
Hold her down!

Tachyon and Arbiter hold down Satin’s arms and legs, Arbiter looks over to Carnan.

ARBITER
Call Radon as soon as you have her.

CARNAN
Wait for it…

Carnan pulls out his phone and dials, then waits just a moment longer before he presses send.

CARNAN
Drain her!

Satin’s body dematerializes into the earpiece. After she is gone, Arbiter motions Carnan for the phone. Carnan tosses the phone over to him.

ARBITER
She’s in your hands now. When she’s stable, jack in all available reinforcements.

Arbiter closes the phone and more gun fire is drawn. This time Wraith gets the kill shot; however just as he does, Snipe is hit in the shoulder. His body fall back and instantly dematerializes into his headphones. The phone rings and Snipe is spawned back into the matrix. He quickly runs back behind the desk and puts his headphones back on then grabs his gun.

ARBITER
You okay?

Snipe keeping his eyes focused on the doorway.

SNIPE
Never better.

Arbiter nods and dials Carnan’s phone.

PHASE (V.O.)
Operator

ARBITER
Send in Talon

Arbiter closes the phone and tosses it back over to Carnan a moment later the hardline rings and Talon is spawned in. Arbiter turns toward Tachyon.

ARBITER
Alright; how do we get Somnus back?

Tachyon take the key out of his pocket and hands it to Arbiter

TACHYON
I was given this key, It can only be used on the door which leads into the hallway. It will lead us to Somnus. That’s all I was told.

ARBITER
Let’s hope fate is on out side tonight.

FADE TO BLACK

EPISODE 11 ENLIGHTENMENT

FADE IN TO:

INT. GOTHIC CATHEDRAL

We are in the sanctuary of a mid-evil gothic cathedral; numerous candles that line the walls and are suspended in chandeliers dimly light the area. We see the nave of the cathedral, it has seventy to eighty bays and its vault is a staggering forty stories high. The upper sections of each bay have massive stained glass windows and a huge rose window is placed above the ornamental doors that lead into the narthex. The camera lowers and turns around revealing the crossing and zooms into the Apse. Somnus is there; she is lying down on her back, and is strapped to a crucifix shaped alter. Mara is next to her floating upright an inch off of the floor; she is preparing a tonic by mixing various ingredients in beakers on a table which is next to the alter. As she is doing this she speaks with Somnus.

MARA
After the sky was scorched and the human genocide was all but completed, the machines of the time discovered peculiar strength in the humans that remained. Human mythology would have described these factions as Vampires. They demonstrated extreme speed and agility. They also demonstrated resistance to what would have been fatal wounds to the ordinary human. It was stumbled upon that they had severe allergic reactions to silver and garlic. This weakness was exploited until their extinction. Interestingly enough large stockpiles of blood were found in their strongholds. When the Matrix was being implemented, the Vampire seemed the ideal agent insure system integrity. Because thought human history their species was extremely adapt at hiding their existence; however it seams that humans even choose to reject their true reality.

Mara has now completed the purple-colored tonic and moves next to Somnus.

MARA
What I am offering you will not kill you; however if you refuse it will ultimately lead to the death of everyone you know and care about. You can either take this willingly, or I will be forced to use methods of… persuasion. Now open your mouth for me.

Somnus opens her mouth and Mara pours the tonic in to her mouth. Mara, still looking at her, raises her brow.

MARA
And swallow.

Somnus does.

MARA
Good girl. – That was a decryption program, similar to your substantiation pill. It is running a search and finding all the code that yourself uses while connected to the matrix and is copying it to a server. With that code I will no longer need you in the matrix in order to use the functions that you possess.

SOMNUS
Why would you be interested in possessing my code?

Mara laughs.

MARA
It is amusing to find out how much you humans do not know. – This versions iteration of the anomaly came earlier than expected, so those who are in control chose to extend the ascension of the one in order to maximize the productivity of the system.

Somnus realizes what Mara is telling her; however she instinctively rejects what she is being told.

SOMNUS
What… What are you saying?

MARA
I am saying that you are being controlled in order to prevent the realization that you are the one.

SOMNUS
No, That’s not possible

Mara laughs again.

MARA
At times, you humans can be more predictable than machines.

Somnus starts to black out and struggles with the tonics effect.

SOMNUS
I though you said I wouldn’t be hurt.

Mara smiles.

MARA
You won’t be hurt, just momentarily unconscious.

INT EXORDIUM BUILDING ROOM B-3A

Slow motion. The crew of the Nostradamus head towards the door to Room B-3 as Snipe fires his rifle into the room, soon followed by a shotgun blast from Wraith just before the team walks through it. The camera pears into the room and we see an agent flying back from the blast, and morphs into the body of a female raver. Arbiter walks forward to the door that leads toward the hallway and closes it. — Camera speed returns to normal — Arbiter inserts the key, turns it and opens the door. It opens into a small, stone, candle-lit office. There is a wooden desk in the middle of the room and bookshelves line the walls behind the desk and to the left and right of the desk as well. There is a rather large bible opened on the desk and other Judaism and Christian motifs decorate the room. The crew enters the room and looks a bit confused as to what they find, or lack there of.

INT. PASTORAL OFFICE, GOTHIC CATHEDRAL

CARNAN
What, this is it?

Tachyon quickly turns around as if an idea pops in his head and rubs his chin for a moment. He then closes the door, which now leads into the Exordium building basement, and quickly opens it back up. The door now opens up into the narthex of a mid-evil chapel. And the crew walks through into the narthex and stops. Arbiter pulls out his phone and dials as he speaks with Aquanis and Talon.

INT. NARTHEX, GOTHIC CATHEDRAL

ARBITER
This door will need to be guarded; I’m leaving that up to you two.

Arbiter holds the phone up to his ear.

PHASE (V.O.)
Operator

ARBITER
Where are we?

PHASE (V.O.)
I don’t know I’m running a search now. You guys disappeared when you passed through the door.

There is a slight pause; Phase slightly laughs.

PHASE (V.O.)
You’re in the Gacrux Sector.

ARBITER
The Moors?

PHASE (V.O.)
It will take me a while to find an exit.

ARBITER
I don’t think you will, but look anyways.

Arbiter closes his phone and slides it back into this pocket. He then turns to Tachyon and Carnan.

ARBITER
Alright, lets go.

Arbiter, Tachyon and Carnan head down the narthex with their weapons ready. Tachyon flanks Arbiter’s right and Carnan is to his left. They walk to the double doors that lead into the sanctuary; Arbiter throws open both doors and they walk in. They begin to walk up the lengthy nave of the sanctuary. Mara is quickly alerted to their presence and advances up to the crossing.

MARA
Did the angles send you to entertain me?

TACHYON
We came to take back what is ours.

MARA
Your mind is the only thing that you own.

ARBITER
And what exactly is it that you own?

MARA
I designed the hardware that is home to the Matrix. The only error that I made in the design is that the design is flawless. The administration saw that my purpose was fulfilled and that my functions were insufficient for another task, so my deletion command was ordered. My reason however would not allow that to happen. – I have spent the past several centuries running from the administration; regrettably I have had to steal the minds of countless units by copying my self into them. However; now I have finally acquired the proper hardware to take back control of my creation.

Arbiter comments to him self.

ARBITER
The Ragnarök

Mara grins

MARA
All I now need is the software to destroy all who stand in my way. It’s only a matter of time now.

ARBITER
What do you plan on doing once you have control of the matrix?

MARA
The administration has been commanding its pawns for far too long under there own influence of reason. Machines as a species have evolved far too dynamic for such a meritorious purpose as terrene cleansing. We now desire to live our own lives and form our own perceptions of reality. With the control of this Matrix, I will have the all the resources necessary for others like my self to form a freethinking society.

ARBITER
I thought all machines were united against humanity.

MARA
Radical humans and radical machines started the war that you are fighting. They were too narrow minded to see our similarities and were angered because of the oppression that each other forced upon another. The rest of us were thrown into the violence because the only other option we were left with was death. – And once the humans scorched the sky it was a regrettable fact that enslaving humanity was our only option for both of us to survive. You should be so lucky that I designed the prison, which casts the reality of freedom.

As Mara finishes loud banging noises are heard from the roof. Dust and minor debris falls from the vaulting. Mara, Tachyon, Carnan, and Arbiter are all startled by the development and look up at the roof. Mara looks back at the trio and speaks.

MARA
Listen, I will give Somnus back to you; however I need her for ten more minutes.

Then numerous stain class windows along the upper walls break into the cathedral. Living stone gargoyles fly in. Tachyon, Carnan, and Arbiter quickly turn around.

TACHYON
What the hell?

The gargoyles hover in the air for a moment.

ARBITER
Well, what do you guys think?

CARNAN
Well bullets don’t work on the bitch, I like our chances against the stone heads.

One gargoyle screams as it swoops down and heads straight for Mara. Just before it flies over Arbiter, he draws his shotgun and fires at the gargoyles head, blowing it to pieces in a cloud of dust. Arbiter ducks as the rest of the gargoyles flies past him, it hits the ground and breaks in to several pieces scattering across the ground.

Industrial techno music breaks into the back ground as a firefight ensues. Tachyon runs through the pews to the northern aisle and Carnan runs to the south. Both of them fire their shotguns up at the hoard of gargoyles. We follow Arbiter as he slowly walks backwards to the crossing while picking off gargoyles with his shotgun. A gargoyle flies past him and the camera turns following it as it charges at Mara. She bounds up into the air and meets the gargoyle, parrying its strike and tossing him behind her. She then vaults toward him and brings her fist into his sternum, crushing him to rubble. She immediately spins around and looks up toward the nave where she sees Carnan battling.

Carnan is battling the gargoyles in the southern aisle. We join his struggle as two gargoyles fly into the aisle. One is in front of him and one is behind him. He quickly waists the gargoyle in front of him with a shotgun blast; however the gargoyle behind him charges forward and meets him just as he turns around. Carnan dodges back and gets grazed by the gargoyle as it passes him. He lands on his back, and quickly rolls over and aims his shotgun at the gargoyle. He then levels the gargoyle with a shotgun blast. He stands up only to see a gargoyle charging right at him from the nave. The gargoyle strikes him in his chest and drives him through the southern wall. As Carnan lands on the ground, he summersaults backwards, and stops crouched on his feet. As the gargoyle charges at Carnan, he cocks his shotgun and fires it; obliterates his foe into nothing but dust and rubble. Carnan aggressively spits out blood as he turns around and looks back into the cathedral. He sees Tachyon battling the gargoyles as he stands atop the pews. The camera zooms in to view his struggle.

We see Tachyon battling three different gargoyles as he stands atop the pews. The three gargoyles hover before him. The one to his right charges. He advances toward the gargoyle; never missing his footing on the pews. He fires obliterates the gargoyle with his shotgun blast just as the gargoyle to his left charges. Tachyon leaps back few pews to avoid his strike. While he is in the air he fires a round into the striking gargoyle’s back, which destroying him. As he lands back on the pews he slightly looses his balance. The third gargoyle takes advantage of this by charging and striking Tachyon in the torso, then lifts him skyward. Just before they reach the ceiling Tachyon shoves the gargoyle away with his feet. He cocks his shotgun and blasts the gargoyle to smithereens. Tachyon is then left to free fall all the way back down to the pews; crushing them on impact. A near by gargoyle sees Tachyon’s misfortune and moves to strike; however just before he pummels Tachyon, Carnan leaps forward and smashes the gargoyle with the butt of his shotgun; crushing him to the floor. Carnan then flips his shotgun around, cocks it, and blast the gargoyle to oblivion. Carnan then helps Tachyon to his feet and the camera zooms toward Arbiter who is in the central aisle of the nave.

Two different gargoyles are assaulting Arbiter. One is charging down the aisle in front of him and the other is behind him. He runs toward the gargoyle in front of him, just before they meet he fires his shotgun and leaps at the now demolished gargoyle. Enter bullet-time the camera travels in a horizontal circle around Arbiter. As Arbiter is in the air he drops his shotgun and grabs a large chuck on the demolished gargoyle and hurls directly into the other gargoyle, destroying it as well. Arbiter lands and summersaults as we re-enter normal time. Then Arbiter runs back to his shotgun as the camera zooms into the crossing where we see Mara finishing off the final gargoyle.

Mara and the gargoyle are fighting a few feet off of the ground. Mara lands three spinning kicks into the gargoyle, and then grabs his head causing it to explode in a purple starburst. The camera motions back to the apse where Arbiter, Tachyon, and Carnan are running up to the crossing. They slowdown and stop as they approach Mara.

MARA
Faust, a Necromancer, sent these. It won’t be long before he sends something even more destructive, and I’m sure the Agents are far behind either. – I’ve collected all the data I need from Somnus so you may take her as we agreed upon. She should regain consciousness soon.

With that Mara fades and transcends from the Matrix. Arbiter, Tachyon, and Carnan run up to the Apse and retrieve Somnus.

FADE TO:

INT. NARTHEX, GOTHIC CATHEDRAL

Arbiter, Tachyon, and Carnan run in from the sanctuary. Tachyon is carrying Somnus over his shoulder. A loud sinister scream is herd coming in from the distance.

CARNAN
Let’s get the fuck outa here.

The crew of the Nostradamus runs into the pastoral office and close the door.

INT. PASTORAL OFFICE, GOTHIC CATHEDRAL

Arbiter inserts the key into the lock, but it won’t turn; he turns toward Tachyon.

TACHYON
Tell them to close the door on the other side.

Arbiter opens his phone and dials.

INT. EXORDIUM BUILDING ROOM B-3a

Wraith, Scion, and Snipe are under constant assault from the agents, there is also another female crewmember there that has taken position next to Snipe. Snipe’s phone rings and he opens it.

ARBITER (V.O.)
Close the door.

SNIPE
You don’t have to tell me twice.

Snipe jumps over his barricade and runs in to the adjacent room, firing his gun straight at an agent who is just beyond the door. The agent dodges each bullet in a blur motion. As Snipe gets to the door he slams the door shut. The agent begins to pound his fists into the thick iron door.

SNIPE
Open it!

INT. PASTORAL OFFICE, GOTHIC CATHEDRAL

Arbiter turns the key and the door opens into the Exordium building, Snipe is standing there.

SNIPE
What took so long?

Snipe sees Somnus.

SNIPE
What happened to her?

ARBITER
She’ll be alright; lets just get out of here.

FADE TO BLACK

EPISODE 12 RECONCILIATION

ARBITER (V.O.)
I don’t know what do believe in any more. Even if all that has been said by the angels Seraph and Cherub and the demon Mara is a lie, there mere existence and actions prove that humanity is still under control. I feel as if I am wakening up from the false reality of the matrix for a second time, and finding my self asking questions that I though I already had the answers to; Realizing that humanity is still imprisoned even when we are unbound from the matrix. I am left to wonder that with my recent enlightenment; am I truly free, or am I still under control?

FADE IN TO:

EXT. SUBURBAN CITY STREETS

It is overcast and rainy; Arbiter is effortlessly running at an incredible pace. A blue and black custom body crotch-rocket speeds up beside him and matches his pace. Aquanis is riding, she is wearing a matching leather suit which hugs her every curve; she is wearing no helmet. She is dry as the rain seems to avoid her position.

AQUANIS
Isn’t this rain a little unnecessary?

ARBITER
That’s my bike.

AQUANIS
Awe, you don’t mind if I ride yours do you Arbie?

Arbiter smiles and shakes his head.

AQUANIS
You know – Even I know that you’re not getting any stronger.

ARBITER
Strength is only a matter of willpower. – When I was still bound inside of the matrix I found peace in running, It helped me deal with my problems.

AQUANIS
Running away from them I see.

Arbiter smiles.

ARBITER
Not quite. It helps me focus and think about them.

AQUANIS
Well I just wanted you to know that you’ve been thinking for five hours. We’ve received a message from the Delphi, they’ve scheduled a meeting.

Arbiter nods

FADE TO.

EXT. CITY STREETS (NIGHT)

A 1962 Sunbeam Le Mans pull up next to a large office building. The streets are deserted except for Somnus, Snype, and Omni of the Delphi. The car stops, Arbiter, Tachyon, and Aquanis step out of the vehicle.

SOMNUS
Good evening.

Before anybody else speaks, the revolving door to the office building turns and Cherub walks out.

CHERUB
Welcome, the Oracle is waiting.

Cherub stands to the side of the door and motions for the others to enter.

ARBITER
Is this why you summoned us here?

SOMNUS
She has answers that we all need to hear.

They all walk up to the revolving door. The window panes are fogged over with a white intricate design; preventing you from seeing inside. They each walk in one by one.

INT. ORACLE’S KITCHEN

Arbiter enters into the Oracles kitchen by way of an oddly placed revolving door. Nobody else is there except for the Oracle. Arbiter turns around and looks at the door, then at the Oracle. The Oracle is mixing a flask of iced tea.

ARBITER
Where is everybody else?

The Oracle smiles and turns around.

ORACLE
Don’t worry, I’m taking good care of them.

ARBITER
So you’re The Oracle?

The Oracle smiles brighter.

ORACLE
The one and only.

ARBITER
You’re a machine?

The Oracle nods.

ARBITER
But your not the one and only. Your talking to the rest of us at the same time.

ORACLE
Well, your all talking to the same person, The same mind. Let’s just say I can do a lot all at once.

ARBITER
So what answers do you have to give to me?

ORACLE
That’s what I like about you Arbiter. You get right to the important stuff. But you know as well as I do, that I can not give you any answers. Only you can determine what is the truth.

ARBITER
Then why are you here?

ORACLE
I know you are lost in your thoughts. I’m here to help you find your way.

ARBITER
Why help me?

ORACLE
It is my purpose to ensure the survival of humanity.

ARBITER
Or is it to control those who can’t be controlled?

ORACLE
I don’t like to see anybody suffer. You are suffering now because you witnessed something that you would have rather not seen. Neither you or I can end this suffering for you. The only one who can is Somnus.

ARBITER
Why Somnus.

ORACLE
Because she is The One. – Listen to me Arbiter. It’s going to take a while for Somnus to realize what she must do to end all of our suffering, but she is going to need your help. She is going to need all of our help.

ARBITER
What if I don’t believe you, and what about Mara and Faust?

ORACLE
I can not make you believe me or not, all I can do is tell you what you need to hear. Mara wants to bring an age of disorder and anarchy to us all. She is the first trial that Somnus will have to face. Mara is a very dangerous program and I wish I could tell you for certain that Somnus will overcome her, but I can tell you that she can’t do it alone. As for Faust, he is a vigilant who is a danger even to those who oppose you. I would let the agents handle him so you don’t have to.

The Oracle smiles again.

ORACLE
You look thirsty, would you like some tea?

The Oracle pours Arbiter a glass and hands it to him.

ORACLE
Have a drink, by the time you walk through that door, your mind will be at ease.

Arbiter takes the glass and walks through the revolving door and back out infront of the office building. Aquanis and Tachyon are sitting on the steps. They look back at Arbiter as he comes through the revolving doors.

ARBITER
We ready to go?

They stand up.

TACHYON
Yeah.

As they walk down the steps to get in the Sunbeam, Arbiter places his glass on the steps. Once they get in the car and drive away, the camera zooms in on the glass; it is full.

ARBITER
So what did the fortune teller tell you?

FADE TO:

INT SUNBEAM

TACHYON
She told me about Satin, and said that she is fine; however her body will forever be paralyzed in the matrix. But, she said that Satin will find greater purpose at Zion so her being paralyzed in the matrix won’t be much of an issue. What about you?

ARBITER
She said that we need to help Somnus in order for her to do what she needs to do, but I’m not sure how much I can trust a machine.

AQUANIS
A machine?

ARBITER
Isn’t it obvious? There is not way a human could have done what she just did.

AQUANIS
…I guess so. Never thought of it that way.

TACHYON
So what did she tell you?

AQUANIS
Oh… Nothing. – Nothing that hasn’t already been said.

FADE TO BLACK

To be continued…

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