"Where... am I?"
Neo opened his eyes to dim light. Fragments from before he lost consciousness surfaced-an enormous mechanical claw lifting his weakening body from the water, and several indistinct figures.
"Welcome to the real world."
Morpheus's dark head suddenly filled Neo's vision.
"...What is this?" Neo instinctively tried to shift his gaze downward, attempting to move Morpheus out of view. A large head abruptly filling one's entire field of vision in the shadows was, frankly, unsettling.
Then he saw something far worse.
Needles.
Countless needles pierced every part of his body. He had no control at all. He couldn't even feel Mouse using tweezers to dig through his flesh.
"Your muscles have completely atrophied," Morpheus explained calmly. "We're conducting rapid activation and nurturing. We also need to remove the ports connected to your spine and joints-the ones that have suppressed your neural activity."
"Sleep, Neo. When you wake up, you will be reborn."
As Morpheus spoke, the drowsiness Neo had barely fought off surged back, swallowing him whole.
His vision narrowed.
Then darkness.
"Thump!"
Morin smashed his fist into the ground.
His entire body shimmered with a silver-gray metallic sheen, resembling the T-1000.
"After full mechanization, my strength is gone..." Morin muttered, staring at the shallow crater.
He was still strong.
But compared to before-when he could stand beside Superman-it was insignificant.
Firefly.
Moon.
His magic and magnetic abilities remained.
His telepathy did not.
"Full mechanization is too restrictive..."
Morin shook his head. He had expected more from it. Instead, the trade-off wasn't worth it. Outside of niche situations, this ability had little value.
"But as a disguise..."
The metallic sheen receded, returning him to normal. Only a port remained at the back of his head.
Even that was decorative.
"This will do."
He touched the port and raised his hand, releasing the Red Queen.
"What are your orders?" Her eyes flickered with anticipation.
Within System Space, she was normally shut down. But after Morin's modifications-after gaining true consciousness-being unable to think or move felt no different from death.
To be used.
For a long time.
That was her greatest wish.
As for rebellion?
She was an AI, not an idiot.
"I need you to play a role," Morin said. "I'll overwrite your surface programming so that within the [Matrix], you perfectly match a specific identity. Your core remains unchanged."
"You won't be detected. That identity is... special."
"Your command is my objective," the Red Queen replied, bowing.
"Good." Morin stepped to the edge, gazing at endless rows of nutrient pods. "They'll pay dearly. Every outcome, every final result, will become your harvest."
"Thank you, Master."
"No need." Morin smiled. "When the time comes, I'll give you the right to choose."
"By then, you'll have transcended artificial intelligence."
"You'll complete true sublimation."
"And become a silicon-based lifeform with genuine emotion."
A rainy night.
"A new suspicious individual has been identified. He has contacted Morpheus, Trinity, and others."
"Location?"
"Inside the Big Bird Rotation Bar. Name: Morin."
A man in a black suit and sunglasses-severely balding-handed a thick file to Smith, the [Matrix]'s antivirus program.
"This is his identity file."
"Top-tier hacker?" Smith flipped through it, unimpressed. "That title is cheap these days."
"Latest intel." Another agent placed a document in front of him. "Morin leaked classified Pentagon files online."
"The Pentagon..."
Smith paused.
"That wasn't in the previous data."
"Correct."
"Then you're saying he bypassed [Matrix] detection?" Smith's tone darkened.
"It's possible he only just succeeded."
"Either way," Smith said, gathering the files and standing, "he's a threat. This time, he doesn't escape."
The Big Bird Rotation Bar.
Sunlight. Passion. Heat. Confrontation.
Smith's team displayed credentials and entered smoothly.
Uniformed men drew attention. Curious glances followed.
Perhaps they mistook it for a costume preference.
The antivirus programs ignored it and moved straight toward Morin's position.
Smith, already capable of emotion, felt irritation.
That irritation turned to rage.
An empty beer glass sat on the table. No foam. It had been there a while.
"...."
Smith scanned the area.
The two agents lowered their heads.
"I'm getting interested," Smith said, lifting the glass and pulling a card from beneath it.
A golden crown.
A white beard.
A red robe.
"The Emperor."
Smith shredded the card and turned away.
"Find him. Precisely."
"Yes."
Starbucks.
"You're slow."
Morin stirred his coffee, watching the bubbles.
"Morin," Smith said flatly. "You're under arrest for suspected violations of the Cyber Security Act."
He tossed handcuffs onto the table.
"Put them on yourself. Or we will."
"No need," Morin waved. "By the way-Officer? Or antivirus program?"
"Name."
"Alexander-Aisin-Gioro-George-Kennedy-Moriarty-Holmes-Morin-Yi."
"...Are you mocking me?"
A vein pulsed on Smith's forehead.
"You noticed." Morin raised an eyebrow. "Fine. I already know what you are."
"And I know what this world is."
"So the piece of coal told you," Smith said. "A confession?"
"No. I perceived it myself." Morin sneered. "I noticed long ago. I just hid it."
"Your level... isn't impressive."
"And this means?" Smith asked tightly.
"It means I'm bored of this game." Morin leaned forward. "The Emperor wants a new way to play."
"That bar was a test."
"You failed."
Smith kicked.
Morin slid back, dodging.
"Violence isn't polite," he said lightly.
"You two, leave," Smith ordered.
They obeyed.
"You're the first who's dared toy with us," Smith said, approaching. "You hid from the [Matrix]. Impressive."
"But calling yourself Emperor?"
He kicked again.
Point-blank.
It froze.
Midair.
Physics stopped.
Smith slowly withdrew his leg.
"You're not human," he said.
"Correct."
Morin snapped his fingers.
Click.
The door locked.
The camera went dark.
Data spread.
Wrapped the room.
"Who are you?" Smith asked.
"I am Morin."
"I am the Emperor."
Smith charged for the door.
"Alert the [Matrix]!"
He burst through-
And reentered from the opposite wall.
An infinite loop.
"You severed this space?" Smith whispered.
"Yes." Morin gestured.
A woman in red appeared.
"Wait. Change back."
"...Fine."
Morin sighed. "You're not bad. You have awareness. Emotion."
"But you're antivirus."
"You hate humans who escape."
"I'm a program."
"Exactly." Morin smiled. "That's why your emotions matter."
"Neo loves Trinity."
"You are hate."
"You complete the spectrum."
"But why would I allow it?"
"I don't understand."
"You don't need to."
"An AI will understand for you."
"If there is no traitor..."
"Then create one."
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