Morpheus

Niobe: "Neo..."

Morpheus: "He fights for us."

The peace began slowly; Zion was still afraid. They were all afraid the machines wouldn't keep their word, and remain peaceful. After all, hadn't they self-determinated in the beginning? Couldn't they do the same thing again?

Who would stop them this time?

Neo and Trinity were gone. No one knew what happened to them, but the attack had stopped abruptly, sentinels hanging in the air like apparitions. Unmoving for agonizing minutes, until silently filing out of Zion's dock. Back to their world.

The Kid had cried out "It's over! The war is over!"

Morpheus believed, as always, that Neo had fulfilled the prophecy. He saved Zion, somehow brokering peace with the machines and saving the entire human race. But, Morpheus remained a man tormented.

The uncertainty of Neo and Trinity's fate kept him imprisoned, never fully feeling free. Neo, his friend, his brother, his son. Trinity, his closest comrade, his right hand, his daughter. So much had been gained by their sacrifice, yet so much lost. How could he enjoy the peace he had paid so dearly for, when he had no way of knowing if they were alive or dead?

Niobe opened the door to the apartment slowly. She knew Morpheus was there; he was always there when he wanted to be alone. It is where he mourned. Six months had come and gone since the war ended. The dock had been rebuilt; the wasted parts of blasted squids had been melted down and used in the new construction.

Honors had been bestowed and the dead were buried. Every day, new minds were being freed from the Matrix, and the machines remained peaceful. Life was moving on.

But, Morpheus was standing still. The uncertainty of Neo and Trinity plagued him. Every trip into the Matrix was laced with the desperate hope that he would find them there. Always returning empty-handed, he came to his mourning spot. The apartment was their home in Zion.

The other citizens of Zion did disturb Neo and Trinity's home, nor did they question Morpheus' right to enter at will. He alone had a right to be there. He had brought Neo to Zion. He, before anyone else, had believed.

"Morpheus."

"Where is he, Niobe? Why can I not find him? Why can I not find Trinity?"

"Morpheus, you can't . . . "

"Niobe, as sure as I can feel your hand in mine, I would feel their death. I would know. They are simply lost. And I must find them."

"Then we'll keep looking, Morpheus."

She knew he could be right. He alone had believed in the prophecy. He had believed in Neo from the beginning. And, he believed they were still alive. Logically, she could not argue.

Their death before reaching the surface would have brought no peace. Simply killing them could not have caused any great change, either. The machines would have continued their attacks and annihilated Zion.

So, what had happened? What had Neo done to save Zion? And, if he was alive, where the hell was he?

Finally got it all uploaded! I hope you enjoyed it, and yes...this is the end...Take it an run with the story if you like - I'd love to see someone write another peace where Morpheus perhaps finds our heroes...

Much love! Firefly

MWAH!