The Looking Glass

**oranos**

I was thinking to myself today. The stories in these Next Renaissance sections are all based on our own characters. There is nothing wrong with this, but the Matrix has so much unused potential. We are given a glimpse of this potential in things such as the Animatrix, the Matrix comics, yet we rarely use this. Here I'm attempting some stories that don't involve my own characters. Some of them don't even have specific characters. Some stories deal with real world issues, and what I think they could be when looked at from a Matrix perspective. I hope people find this an interesting idea, and perhaps even attempt their own.

**oranos**

The Looking Glass

Drowning

"Some believed that we lacked the programming language to describe your perfect world...But I believe, that as a species, human beings define their reality through misery and suffering. Which is why the Matrix was redesigned to this..."

On route to Bermuda...

The Ivory Hare is a luxury cruiser, which is sailing from America to Bermuda. It is carrying a hundred passengers to their wonderful holiday. The cruiser is one of the best and can only be afforded by the insanely rich. They are all enjoying a banquet in the ballroom.

"Have you ever been to Bermuda before? Smashing place!" He was an elderly man, in a crisp suit. He had a rather posh English accent.[align=left] [align=left]"No dear fellow! But I heard great things about it!" He had a New York accent.[align=left] [align=left]"Personally, I'm a bit worried of the rumors myself." She was a young American lady. Finely dressed. She sounded nervous.[align=left] [align=left]"Rumors? What Rumors?" Said the Englishman.[align=left] [align=left]"You haven't heard about the ships disappearing in this region?"[align=left] [align=left]"No." said the two men in unison.[align=left] [align=left]"They disappear without a trace. Aeroplanes too! Personally, I'm starting to worry I ever got on this ship." She gasped.[align=left] [align=left]"Oh pish posh. The stories the newspapers come up with these days to make money. I mean if you're going to believe this codswallop then I suppose you believe the newspaper stories about a flying man, and government cover-ups." The English gentleman started to chuckle.[align=left] [align=left]"I guess you're right. We should all just enjoy ourselves." She joined in with the laughter.

*****

I had left the ballroom, and returned below deck. I, myself was a stowaway. I had made my way up to the ballroom for some food. I didn't think I had been seen. Our family wasn't very rich you see, and I wanted to see somewhere other than our boring country. Those rich folk were sure talking about some strange things. Ships disappearing. Flying people. I guess they have nothing better to do with their time other than talk about such "codswallop". I enjoyed my stolen meal.

*****

I awoke to the sounds of screaming and rapid swaying of the ship. It felt like it was being knocked off course. I ran up to find out where everybody was. If something major was happening then I doubt they would notice a stowaway. I made it outside to find I was not the only one out there. It seemed most of the ship had come to find out what was going on. The Englishman burst through the door waving his arms in the air. "What the ruddy hell is going on here?!"

"You should come have a look. It's like nothing I've ever seen" The voice came from the woman who had been speaking to him at the ballroom. I followed them both, unbeknownst to them, and peaked over into the water below. The view was amazing and disturbing at the same time.

[/align]It was bright green. And it looked like there were letters or symbols in the water. I couldn't explain. Like the woman, I had never seen anything like it. Things soon got weirder.[/align] [/align]There were several screams. "What now?!" someone called out.[/align] [/align]"The ship! It's disappearing!" I looked over in the direction of the screams. Sure enough, the person was right. It looked like the ship was dissolving. The strange green symbols seemed to float from the boat as it dissolved, almost like a leaf floating through the air. We were all going to die, yet I couldn't help but feel mesmerized. It was beautiful.[/align] [/align]*****[/align] [/align]I stand there staring, as the floor disappears beneath me and I fall into the water below. It changes from green to bloody crimson as I find myself submerged. I can't breathe! I want out! I begin to gasp for air. Every inch of my body hurts. It looks like I'm in some kind of cocoon. Where am I?! I try to shout for help but more water enters my lungs. The screams never leave my body. Are those red eyes looking at me? Is this hell? Can't breathe...Help...[/align] [/align]*****[/align] [/align]Meanwhile, an elderly main is sitting in a chair, wearing a crisp white suit. The screens in front of him all show the same chaotic crimson ocean. He sighs as he looks upon the imperfections of his creation. He switches the screens off.[/align] [/align]"Humans..."[/align]

**oranos**

The Looking Glass

Conspiracy Theories

Nevada...

A small bar. A few of the locals sit around bored discussing things to make their mundane lives seem more interesting.

"I hear its home to a secret world government!" His tone was full of dramatic mystery.

"Don't be stupid! I hear they make special weapons and vehicles."

"No no. Don't you people know anything? They keep aliens there!" This was followed by laughter. "Oh keep mocking me, but it's true. You hear about these incidents and abductions. Crash landings. Where'd you think the debris goes? Here!"

"And you call me stupid! Can you hear this guy? He's crazy!"

"I've seen them! In the dead of night!"

"Come off it!"

"Men in suits. They take all sorts to that place. God knows what they do there! Aliens, Monsters; I'm sure I saw a ghost there once!" He looked wide-eyed.

"I think you've had enough to drink." Laughter filled the bar.

*****

While these ignorant men continue to laugh and drink themselves into a stupor, two men in suits lead some kind of creature into the nearby facility. It is short, a pale grey, with a large head and huge black eyes, with long fingers. It makes no sounds. They bring this creature before another suited man. He has a look of satisfaction on his face.

"The stupidity of you rogue programs amaze me. You come to the Matrix to hide from us, yet you can't help but pick the most ridiculous looking shells you can get your filthy hands on. Take it away for deletion!" One of the men leads this creature away. The other stays to talk.

"We have detained another Zion operative Sir. Do you want to see him?"

"Yes. Perhaps he will be a little more forthcoming than the last ones over the whereabouts of Morpheus, and the Zion access codes. I can feel them in my grasp."

"I shall go prepare an interrogation room." He left.

This other man, the leader it seemed, turned around. He removed his earpiece and put his hand around it. He smirked, quietly muttering to himself "Soon I will be able to leave this disease-ridden place."

**Tytanya_MxO**

Very nice SMILEY

I agree there is a lot of scope for such revelations to be made indepedent of your own character, though there's no reason why 'you' can't be involved in the story even if its just a 'walk on' part (in fact I'd never want to take a protagonist role). A lot of people complain about the presence of 'vampire types' within the Matrix but its a great example of how well the set up allows for aberations and weird happenings - the Matrix simultaneously makes things not only possible but credible if you apply the right lateral thought.

Big Foot? Yeti? Loch Ness? The Wombles? even the popularity of WoW can be given a believable explanation (though the latter is most challenging)

**oranos**

Tytanya_MxO wrote:

Very nice
I agree there is a lot of scope for such revelations to be made indepedent of your own character, though there's no reason why 'you' can't be involved in the story even if its just a 'walk on' part (in fact I'd never want to take a protagonist role). A lot of people complain about the presence of 'vampire types' within the Matrix but its a great example of how well the set up allows for aberations and weird happenings - the Matrix simultaneously makes things not only possible but credible if you apply the right lateral thought.
Big Foot? Yeti? Loch Ness? The Wombles? even the popularity of WoW can be given a believable explanation (though the latter is most challenging)

Well I already considered the first 3 you gave as examples, when the idea of doing these stories came into my head. I never watched the Wombles so it makes no sense to me XP. However, the idea of video games in the Matrix gives me a really vague idea of a story.

I've actually got a quite a few ideas, seeing as how the Matrix Universe is so big, yet so unused. We have the original war between the Machines and humans (the whole 2nd Renaissance) aswell as six or seven (It depends on if the MxO is the beginning of a new iteration after Smith was destroyed) Iterations of the Matrix, most of which we know nothing about. We have god knows how many Exiles in the Matrix, aswell as all sorts of different bluepill situations, various things in RL that would be interesting to put into a Matrix context, aswell as the Real. Redpills, Zion, Machines. Take the story Matriculated for example. Who's to say there aren't other groups of humans besides Zion doing various things.

So anyway, I've got a few ideas I want to put into writing at some point, aswell as many others forming themselves. For example I think I might try and write a few stories taking place during the 2nd Renaissance though it would be pretty difficult.

**Tytanya_MxO**

The assassin on the grassy knoll? The Da-vinci code? Actually space travel as a digital signature is a very persuasive way to record alien sightings.

**Yasamuu**

hehe being scottish right now ill tell you, the weathers *poop*... so we needed something to bring in tourists, and thus the loch ness monster was born! SMILEY

**oranos**

Lol...

Who is the Assassin on the grassy knoll?

I've never read nor watched the Da Vinci Code

And eh?!...1am in the morning is a confusing hour for me

Sorry =(

**exsuscito**

oranos wrote:

Lol...
Who is the Assassin on the grassy knoll?
I've never read nor watched the Da Vinci Code
And eh?!...1am in the morning is a confusing hour for me
Sorry =(

The (un)official 'Consipracy theory' behind J.F.K's assassination was that there was a second shooter, located on a grassy knoll a little further along the parade path.

**Yasamuu**

i love conspiracy theories....remember our debating together against others about the 9/11 ones ex? those were the days!

**oranos**

noctivagus wrote:

oranos wrote:
Lol...
Who is the Assassin on the grassy knoll?
I've never read nor watched the Da Vinci Code
And eh?!...1am in the morning is a confusing hour for me
Sorry =(

The (un)official 'Consipracy theory' behind J.F.K's assassination was that there was a second shooter, located on a grassy knoll a little further along the parade path.

Ah I see. I wouldn't know cause we only ever do European History =/