IC: How Deep the Rabbit Hole goes...(Matrix thread)

[Mephistophelily]

Necro sucked in a breath as she found herself in the construction site, looking around in awe. She had been here for years, thinking it was life... but now it seemed so- different.

"Uhn?" She glanced over, seeing Mayu and Echo starting of towards the other two and immediately going to catch up. Her hands stayed in the pockets of her black longcoat, keeping an eye out for anything odd. Since she was more the odd one out from this meeting, she figured she'd stay on watch.

 

[Mister J]

Knives looked up to see the crew from the Oberon headed over. It was only himself and River, the captain was also their operator so he stayed behind. They had lost the rest of their crew either in the Matrix or in the real world to various causes.

He jumped to his feet, tip-toing around River to offer his hand to Echo.

"It's been a long time."

Knives slipped a small disc to Echo, within it contained several names and addresses of Potentials. Any of which could be the One. This information could eventually bring about the end of this war and as such was highly valuable. Knives had more than just Agents after him over it.

"Your ship is bigger, with more crew. You've got a better chance to get this information back to Xion and to Morpheus."

 

[Kuuroinochou]

Necro sucked in a breath as she found herself in the construction site, looking around in awe. She had been here for years, thinking it was life... but now it seemed so- different.

"Uhn?" She glanced over, seeing Mayu and Echo starting of towards the other two and immediately going to catch up. Her hands stayed in the pockets of her black longcoat, keeping an eye out for anything odd. Since she was more the odd one out from this meeting, she figured she'd stay on watch.

404 Came up from behind patting Necro on the head as he winked down on her. "Don't sweat it kid, I got your back." He said, he liked to hang back during meetings anyway, watching for any rogue programs or agents miling about.

"You nervous?" he asked Necro, more for small talk and to keep her at ease.


----

River hung back watching out for any potential threats, her eyes returning to her brother but moved slightly to not Echo. She gave him a curt nod from behind her brother eyeing the rest of their ships crew.

 

[gagonthis]

B-SOD stood within the shadows, his image blending into the darkness around him. His static attacks came with greater frequency as the number of people clustered around in meeting grew. He frowned as he gazed at one, standing apart with another. He downloaded information from the flow of the Matrix. 404.. an anamoly. Why was his image coded different from the others? Something was wrong with that one, something B-SOD would have to investigate. First though he planned to determine the reason for their meeting...

 

[FenixZero]

Knives looked up to see the crew from the Oberon headed over. It was only himself and River, the captain was also their operator so he stayed behind. They had lost the rest of their crew either in the Matrix or in the real world to various causes.

He jumped to his feet, tip-toing around River to offer his hand to Echo.

"It's been a long time."

Knives slipped a small disc to Echo, within it contained several names and addresses of Potentials. Any of which could be the One. This information could eventually bring about the end of this war and as such was highly valuable. Knives had more than just Agents after him over it.

"Your ship is bigger, with more crew. You've got a better chance to get this information back to Xion and to Morpheus."

Echo aknowledged Knives with a smile and a nod as he returned the handshake and accepted the disk. His eyes hidden behind the golden lensed shades, Echo held his breath for only a moment at Knives' words.

"Xion" he replied back.

It had been almost a year since he'd seen the city. 8 and 1/2 months since he'd seen real people other then his crew, or eaten food besides processed protein. He missed home.

"Is this by order of the council? Or is a request by Captain Morpheus?" Echo asked. He didn't want to take Mayu's role, but she didn't know Morpheus or any of his crew on the Nebuchadnezzar. Morpheus tended to go over the council's head at times in order to get what he wanted in his relentless pursuit of The One.

 

[Mephistophelily]

Necro scowled at 404's pat, glaring up at him. "I'm not a kid." Not much of a retort, but...
She glanced back to Echo and the other guy at the mention of Xion. She had only heard stories of the city, but had yet to make it there herself. Part of her was actually afraid of the city. She had never been around that many... real.. people.
"Does that mean we're going to Xion?," She asked softly, looking to 404. "Wait, the meeting's over? We're not leaving already, are we? Damn, I was really hoping to-" She paused, biting her lip. She had promised to be quiet. She wasn't doing that good at that right now. That probably wasn't adding much to 404's 'kid' comment, either.

 

[Mister J]

"A favor...from one friend to another."

He knew Echo's feelings about Morpheus and the prophecy. However, Knives knew that the disc had a better chance with Echo and the crew of the Oberon. He wouldnt let him down, not ever. It just wasnt in him to give up or quit.

"We're going to stay, I've got other matters to at---"

Knives' eyes went wide as he saw the familiar suit and tie of an agent coming up behind Echo and his crew. He glanced to the left and to the right, two more on either side.

"AGENTS!"

Knives backstepped on the girder, taking River by the hand and tugging her away from the group. He dove off of the ledge and took hold of a rope that was suspended from a crank just above.

He slid down the rope, hitting the ground and looking back up to see flashes from gunshots. He couldnt have stayed...River came first. They could fend for themselves...they'd be fine. He kept thinking that as his feet carried him and his sister away from the site and towards their exit.

 

[gagonthis]

B-SOD saw the disk change hands. He wanted to know what was on it. Information could be encoded, even from him and the image of the disk was heavy with encoding he couldn't crack just by reading the code contained on the disk. He'd have to have physical contact with it. He exploded in static as he felt the Agents materialize around him. That would make things a bit more difficult. He concentrated, appearing directly in the middle of the group in yet another burst of static. He surveyed the situation, one of the agents pulling up short as he appeared. He drew his sword, diverting the first three gunshots the first Agent fired at the ones called Necro and Echo, deflecting them backwards, punching holes through the Agent. As quickly as lightning he stuck his hand out, making contact with the disk, instantly breaking the encryption and downloading the information into his database.

He saw the two other Agents spread out, one pursuing the two who were there first as they had taken off running, the uninjured one pouncing towards the group as the injured staggered upright and drew a bead on the others, who were now scattering in all directions.

 

[Kuuroinochou]

404 sighed he didn't mean anything by the 'kid' comment it just came natural for people younger then him. At the mention of Zion he blanched it'd been a while for him as well. "I think we'll be heading back to the city... it looks that way." He spoke to Necro. "And I didn't mean anything negative about calling you..."

At the mention of an agent he ducked just in time to dodge a bullet, the others being deflected by a strange figure. "The fuck?!" he yelled helping Necro to another beam as he brandished his sword.


----

River had a mere moment to act before her brother took her by the arm and jumped off the beams to safety. "Should we not help?" she asked holding on to him still as she looked up at the sound of gun fire above them. It was then two agents made their decent on them, "We must go!" she said still held tightly in her brother arms.

 

[Mister J]

"I know!"

The agents were catching up, so Knives whirled around, spinning on his heel as he grabbed River and slung her over his shoulder. He then reached back and pulled out one of his pistols, training it on the Agents and popping off a few shots. They dodged like he knew the would...but he had to try anyway.

With a huff, he spun back around and took off down an alleyway, his eyes going wide as they ran into a dead end.

Shit...

Another second caught Knives soaring through the air, River still over his shoulder as he caught the ledge of the fire stairs, and pushed off, rising to catch the lower ledge of the building on their left. He jumped across the gap, looking down to see the Agents climbing the walls after him.

He landed on the roof of the right side building and let his feet keep running. He couldnt take an Agent...much less two of them. He had to slow them down though...they were going to catch them...

 

[Kuuroinochou]

River huffed in slight pain over her brother's shoulder. She knew not to argue with him when it came to agents but she didn't often like being carried away like a child. Still it was effective. Knives was much faster on foot carrying her then they'd both be running side by side.

Pulling her Desert Eagles out she aimed over her brother's back hoping to give him and edge and get them further away. Each shot fired was with perfect aim but as usual the agents managed to doge, the shots only buying them a mere millisecond of time to get away. "Faster brother!" she shouted over the roar of the wind around them. Still firing off shots she hoistered her guns shaving the rest of her bullets for critical situations but still they needed an edge.

 

[FenixZero]

Echo spun around as the word Agent was spoken, his hands already moving to his pistols. It wouldn't do any good at all against the superpowered programs but instincts were instincts.

In a flash and a blur of black and white he saw a strange looking man effortlessly deflect the rounds fired by the Agent's powerful .50 calibur pistols.

Echo didn't waste any time questioning it, dropping to a knee he fired off a full clip at one of the Agents while Knives did the same. The Agents dodged every shot effortlessly, but it did give them a second.

"404! Grab Necro and split up. Meet at the exits as soon as possible!" He called over his shoulder as he turned to the Captain. "We need to get out of here Ma'am"

 

[Kuuroinochou]

"On it!" 404 chirped snagging Necro under her knee and craddling her in arms he gave her a comforting wink and made a free fall off the beams. "Hang on sweetie, this is going to be a rough ride." He informed bouncing off one beam to the other.

He looked up noting the Agents were going after the captain and Echo. "Get your butts in gear up there..." he said. Easily he was the fastest but that didn't mean he'd leave his crew behind but he was given an order to get Necro to safety.

Stopping at one beam he set Necro down pulling is sword ot the ready only to have a shot barely miss his head. "Oh hell naw you didn't just shoot that shit at me..." he growled but knew he couldn't take on the agents, rehoistering his sword he turned to his charge. "Necro, hold on tight." he called out hugging her close to him he back flipped off the beam falling head long toward the ground. "You trust me right?" He asked hopefully but didn't have time to wait for an answer. Letting Necro freefall alone he pushed himself to fall faster, landing safely though with the pavent crushed to bits. He looked up in time to catch Necro, the faint sound of a phone in the distance. "Shit where is it?"

Even still where were the others? And who the heck was that guy?

 

[Dynosius]

Steel's eyes widend in shock at the change in the Matrix code. Agents! He knew it. His fingers flew to work, creating an exit near their position. A phone booth just a street away from the construction yard. He called out towards 404. "To your left, 100 metres, blue phone booth! Hurry and get the girl out first." He knew 404 could hold the Agents up a little, but Necro couldn't. She was by far not ready yet.

His concerns a bit out of the way now for 404 and Necro, he turned his attentions to the captain and Echo. They were battling the Agents and Steel knew they wouldn't last long. No one did. "Captain! Echo! Get the hell out of there! I'm preparing an alternative exit for you two. Two blocks away in a grocery store. Move!"

His fingers once again flew over the keys, editting the code in a way to allow for an exit. He was done, the phones were ringing.

 

[Kuuroinochou]

"Right..." he followed the instructions taking Necro by the hand and running as fast as they could to the location. He knew the captain and Echo could hold their own but hoped they'd get out too.

Just around the corner he skidded to a halt a small smile of relief on his face. "You go first kid... I mean; Necro." He smiled to her with a wink watching out for any stray agents.

 

[gagonthis]

B-SOD blinked into being two feet in front of the phone booth as the girl ran in to pick up the ringing phone, undoubtably their exit back out of the Matrix. He strode up to stand ten feet away from the being known as 404. He looked squarely into his eyes, his body shuttering with another of his static attacks. "You are different." He said simply, his program functions feeding visual information to his corrupt center core. "You cannot leave here. You were meant for a different purpose." He drew his sword slowly, staring at the one standing before him. "You will become part of it." He said vaguely, advancing forward, katana held out to the side, prepared for him to make the first move.

 

[Kuuroinochou]

404 glared holding up his own katana keeping Necro protected until she could leave. "Go now!" he screamed at her to pick up the phone, as he stood before the strange program. "I don't know what you're yappin about but you're not taking me without a fight."

 

[gagonthis]

He glanced over his shoulder at the one called Necro. She was of no importantance to him. He turned back, staring vacantly at the one called 404 as he shouted his empty threats. B-SOD was capable to killing Agents, when the capricious urge to do so took him. This young man was foolish to think he could fight him. But the human will to survive always surprised him. Even faced with nearly impossible situations humans would persevere.. sometimes coming out on top. Not this time though. B-SOD charged forward, Katana coming across in a low rising slash, aiming for his abdomen.

 

[Mephistophelily]

Necro grabbed the phone, but stared at 404 as the fuzzy guy raised his sword. "Blue! Watch out!," she shrieked, the phone against her ear.

Seconds later, she sat up from the chair, slamming her fists against the armrest as she gave a look to Steel. "404! He's... he's got the phone, right?" She got up from the chair, rushing over behind the operator and staring at the screen... even if she didnt' quite understand it yet. "Where is he? What's fuzzy doing to him?! Get him back here, Steel! Or- or let me back in to help him.. I can do.. something..."

 

[Dynosius]

Steel was in a sort of trance, his eyes scanning the code with a feverish speed. He was silent at first towards Necro's question and request. He silenced her with a gesture. First he had to understand himself what happened. This kind of coding he had never seen before.

"No... 404 is still in. And you are staying out." He typed fast, searching for an exit near 404's position. The nearest was blocks away, he was on his own for now...

 

[Kuuroinochou]

404 sucked in a breath parrying the attack, that was a surprise but he had not other options. The phone was off the hook he wouldn't have time to replace it and answer it.

Very well he'd move on, and that's when he heard another phone in the distance. "Fuck yeah... you're a god, Steel." he breathed.

With a swift kick and a sweep of his fet to off balance the fuzzy man he jumped up at top speeds. Using his trademark speed he rushed forward heading for his new location, hoping to hell that he'd get there in time.

 

[gagonthis]

B-SOD stumbled for a millisecond as his programming jumbled. He burst into static as the man turned, sprinting for the exit B-SOD could tell had just appeared in the distance. "Stop running. Face your destiny." He had all sorts of weird sayings programmed into his database, back in this days training Agents, and now his virus infected mind tended to pull them up whenever they seemed appropiate. He stepped into the matrix, reappearing directly behind 404, swinging his sword at him. The human dodged to the side at the last moment, catching a hard slice to his shoulder that was meant to decapitate. B-SOD burst into static, annoyed at the stubborness of this fleshy image. The phone appeared ahead 404 running headlong for it. B-SOD was constantly teleporting himself near the human, only to have him nimbly dodge his attacks. "You cannot succeed..." BZZZZT! Another burst of static hit him.

 

[Kuuroinochou]

404 snorted, "I dont' have to succeed just answer that phone." he said as he stretched his legs forward. He wasn't going to be taken, not now not ever. As the phone came in his line of sight he smiled in triumph, he'd make it. Damn straight he would; he was the fastest runner they had. There was just no way he'd miss this.

As he got closer he dove for the phone noting the fuzzy program's distance. Perfect. Picking up the phone he flipped the bird at the program just as he placed the phone to his ear.

[Note: Setting up for something do not respond to 404 just yet.]

 

[gagonthis]

B-SOD drew up short as the human called 404 grabbed the phone. "So close..." He said aloud and 404 shoved his finger towards him in what B-SOD could only assume was a gesture of defiance. B-SOD's hand shot forward and in the blink of an eye the phone burst into a storm of static and the ringing and voice on the other end went dead, the exit denied by a small thrown dart sticking through the middle of it.
Back aboard the ship Steel saw the code he was watching with apprehension as 404 lifted the phone disappear blur out before a burst of static hit the screen, being replaced by a blue screen with gray letters on it. The exit was gone and all that remained was that screen.

WARNING!​

A fatal exception 1F has occurred at 003:FG3:11S4 in LF46:432B The current application will be terminated.​

Press any key to terminate application​

"You cannot run from me." B-SOD said as he stepped forward, Katana coming upwards with vicious thrust that caught 404 in the stomach, tearing upwards through his chest cavity. As he hit him the sword exploded in a shower of blue, the virus that infected B-SOD replicating itself and flowing from his sword into 404's image.

Back aboard the hovercraft 404's vitals dropped as his human body died on the table, still strapped into the Matrix.

B-SOD removed the katana from the wound and looked at 404. "Now you are one of us." He said as 404 exploded in a static storm. He wiped his blade off and turned to walk away.

 

[Mephistophelily]

Necro paced the floor behind Steel, cursing herself out for not helping. The least she could have done was drawn a gun, taken a shot or two- done something ot help out... Instead, she froze like some idiot kid.

She glanced towards the screen above Steel, coming to a dead halt as it flickered over to something she definitely understood- the blue screen. She grabbed onto Steel's chair, pointing at it. "That- That's not supposed to happen. How can the Matrix- That's not supposed to-"

She spun around on her heels as 404's screen began the monotone beep, going over to him quickly. "Error?! Steel, get him out, something's wrong... 404, please- Error, come back..." She glared at the monitor as she saw the running green line, still screaming out its flat tone. "Shut up! He's not dead!," she yelled at it, slamming her palm against the side of it.