Wearing Smith's skin, the Red Queen began issuing arbitrary accusations inside the antivirus building.
"Left foot entered first."
"Right foot entered first."
"Beard not shaved clean."
"Beard shaved too clean."
"Floor cleaned too well."
One by one, antivirus programs and ordinary worker programs were dragged into dark rooms and consumed.
The consumed programs became new "Smiths."
Before long, the entire building was filled with Smith look-alikes, all under the Red Queen's control. A larger portion, however, was simply erased-used to replenish her own systems.
Both the [Oracle] and the [Architect] treated this as normal.
To them, Smith had merely entered his evolutionary phase early.
The Architect even dispatched additional programs, effectively feeding him. The antivirus system still needed to function. Aside from the designated [Savior], Neo, they had no intention of letting any other humans escape.
Neo's escape was part of the plan.
Others escaping was not.
If enough humans left, the Matrix would face unacceptable losses. Even if human combat power was negligible, every escape created a data void within the [Matrix World]. Too many voids would destabilize the entire structure.
Rebuilding such a world required time and resources.
And the Matrix was already impatient.
"Where is Morin?"
Inside the virtual world framework, Neo asked Morpheus.
"Morin... didn't come out like you did. He chose to leave." Morpheus paused. Words alone wouldn't be convincing. "Mouse, can you project the memory?"
"I'll try." Outside the system, Mouse raised an eyebrow. "That scene really felt like a movie."
"That was still the virtual world," Trinity said. "Maybe because he mastered some kind of programming."
"Even so, it's beyond our reach," Morpheus said quietly, looking at Neo. "Perhaps only you can reach that level."
"That level?" Neo frowned. "What level?"
"Ready. Beginning projection," Mouse announced.
"See for yourself," Morpheus said.
The endless white space shifted.
Neo and Morpheus appeared inside a room.
Neo recognized it instantly.
The room where he'd been submerged in mercury.
The room where he'd nearly died.
The room where he left the virtual world.
Everyone was there-Morpheus, Trinity, the others.
They were holding guns.
Aimed at someone.
Neo turned.
Morin stood there, raising a gun.
The shot fired.
Fingers caught the bullet, flattening it.
A hand flicked.
A playing card embedded itself deep into wood.
Throughout the entire sequence-catching the bullet, throwing the card-Neo only perceived the results.
The process itself was missing.
Like skipped frames.
Only when Morpheus walked forward, pulled the card free, and revealed its image did the scene freeze.
A man wearing a golden crown, red robe, and white beard.
"The Emperor..." Neo murmured.
He looked at Morpheus, unfocused. "You said I could reach this level?"
"...Yes." Morpheus nodded.
He didn't know if it was true.
But he couldn't hesitate now.
"Replay it," Neo said. "From when the card leaves his hand. Slow motion. I need to confirm something."
"As you wish," Mouse replied.
Even slowed down, the card moved fast.
But it was enough.
"Stop." Neo pointed. "That card could kill someone."
The air around it visibly distorted.
Neo looked at Morpheus, stiff. "Are you sure I can do this? Why would I be able to?"
"Because you are the Chosen One," Morpheus said. "You are destined to defeat the Matrix within its own world."
"The Savior..." Neo repeated.
His expression was uncertain.
He remembered.
Morin had spoken about the Savior too.
According to him, the Savior was just a bug in the [Matrix World]. Powerful, yes-but not uncontrollable.
And the reason the Matrix tolerated it...
Morin had explained that as well.
Neo fell silent.
The words from that night replayed in his mind, one by one.
By the end, his doubts had answers.
If everything Morin said was true...
Neo looked at Morpheus.
His gaze was complicated.
"After training, I'll take you to see the [Oracle]," Morpheus said. "Your questions will be answered there."
"...Alright."
Neo swallowed the truth he wanted to say.
Morin had warned him repeatedly.
Revenge against the Matrix required good acting.
"Mouse, load the training program," Morpheus ordered.
"You seek me out voluntarily. Have you lost your mind?"
The Red Queen, disguised as Smith, sat across the table.
"You know why I'm here." Cypher cut into a bloody steak. "And you know fulfilling my conditions is worth more than killing me."
He stared at the meat.
"I know this steak doesn't exist. I know the Matrix tells me how tender it is. Even if I were eating sh*t, as long as the Matrix said it was delicious, that's what I'd taste."
"And?"
"I'd rather taste this than eat real sh*t in reality," Cypher cursed. "'Ignorance is bliss.' Now I understand."
"...Go on."
"Yes, I have conditions," Cypher said. "That life, that liquid food, that kid who arrived two days ago and already has Trinity drooling-I'm done."
He shoved the steak into his mouth, savoring it.
"Kill them all. Put me back. Make me rich. Give me a perfect body. Freedom. These are trivial for the Matrix. Don't tell me you can't."
"We can," the Red Queen said calmly. "Tell me their movements. Once they're eliminated, the Sentinels will return you to the [Matrix]."
"Deal."
Cypher ate quickly and left just as fast.
He'd already connected secretly.
Lingering meant discovery.
The Red Queen remained seated.
Waiting.
Moments later, Morin arrived and ordered a well-done steak.
Medium-rare. Rare. Bloody.
Why not eat it 0.01% done? Chase the cow at sunrise?
"After all this data," Morin said after two bites, "the Matrix really is top-tier at simulating sensation. If I let myself feel it, even I can't tell."
"That's only if you let yourself," the Red Queen replied. "To a program, it's just code. His behavior is incomprehensible."
"You don't have emotions yet." Morin paused. "Correction. You should have 'Hate' now."
He set down his utensils.
"Emotions cause humans to make suboptimal choices. Some fear reality and cling to illusion. That's Cypher. Others pursue truth no matter the cost. That's Morpheus."
"But didn't Cypher feel the same once?" she asked.
"People change," Morin said. "As emotions shift, choices follow. That's the difference between humans and AI-and what the Matrix craves."
"Then should we let him succeed?" she asked.
"Of course not." Morin smiled. "Traitors must die."
He continued calmly.
"Understanding doesn't equal forgiveness. If you always empathize, criminals wouldn't exist. Remember this-pitiful people always have hateful sides."
The Red Queen tapped her head. "My logic keeps crashing. Humans are too complex."
"That complexity lets them do anything," Morin replied. "Extreme kindness. Extreme evil. Just remember one thing."
"Know yourself. Set a baseline. Never cross it. With enough power, you can do anything within that boundary."
"And if the baseline is broken?" she asked softly. "Like you?"
Morin considered it.
"...Then it would be terrifying."
He stood.
"That's enough for today. Send me Cypher's address. And notify me when they go online."
A few days later.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
Morpheus stared at the ringing phone booth.
"Mouse?"
"Not me."
"It's a familiar number," Trinity said. "Morin."
"I'll answer," Neo said.
"You finally logged in," Morin said. "Any later and I'd have come looking."
"In the real world?" Neo realized.
"Yes. I have your location. I'm on my way."
"Morpheus is taking me to see the Oracle," Neo said.
"I know. I'm coming too," Morin replied. "We need to move faster. You alone won't be enough."
"Why the rush?" Neo asked. "Did something happen?"
"Nothing special."
An engine roared.
Brakes screeched.
A luxury car stopped beside them.
The window lowered.
Morin wore sunglasses.
"I'm just bored."
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