## Transmission Initiated... ##
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There's two ways to look at what you're proposing...

The first is: why make a show of force by harming the weakest persons? If you really want to impress the enemy, why not aim for something higher and harder? Otherwise, you come off looking more like a hyena attacking the aged and ailing members of the herd than a lion aiming for the lead animals in that herd.

The second is: remember that in destroying the Matrix, you are destroying the habitat of at least one, if not two sentient races. I speak primarily of the Exiles, but it can be argued that it is also that of billions of humans, many of whom are too old or too set in their ways to adapt to life outside the Matrix. I hope you have a grave big enough for all the people who will die of exposure in the tunnels under the power plants, and I hope New Zion has adequate medical facillities -- physical and mental -- for all of the survivors, many of whom will be traumatized to the point of utter mental instability, and none of whom will be strong enough to take care of their own physical needs for some time. Even if you only succeed in harming a handful of Bluepills, imagine the suffering and heartache their surviving families will feel, having to bury a loved one. As a member of my family says, "Keep the Bluepills out of Redpill politics".

As for the Exiles... Imagine yourself as a civilian in a landscape of total war involving two powers, one of whom is committing genocide against your kind, the other barely regards you as even *existing*, let alone regards your life as worthy of protecting. Imagine now that one of those powers has declared that in order to succeed in their goal, they're going to carpet bomb your country with nuclear warheads, making your country unliveable. And imagine, for the sake of arguement, that you have little means of escaping, and even then, it means you and your entire people are going to obliged to exist in extremely cramped conditions.

I admire your passion. However, I see you as completely misdirected and so monomaniac that you fail to grasp what's really at stake here.

## Transmission Terminated ##

Then you are a sad, sick man, For gods sake someone *care* about someone other than their own sad, sick ego.

why cangt we all just get along?

All right. The gloves are off. I wanted to keep this on the lowdown, but it seems I have to spell it out.

This life isn't working for me. I want to go back. Of course the Machines won't reinsert people, but I've found out there's a work-around of sorts. I won't say where or from whom I found this out, but I can't deal with any of this any more. Wait, don't start preaching at me: My mind is made up. Would you force someone to stay with a cruddy job that isn't working for them? Would you tell someone to stay in a horrible relationship with an abusive partner? Well then. I'm in a situation like that. So I'm doing the right thing: I'm going back to my family, my Bluepill family, back to where I belong, back to the last place where I felt at peace. So if you have anything left even vaguely resembling compassion, then please stop and reconsider what you're about to do. I don't want this "freedom" any more, since it's more like slavery.

Fen wrote:

Neoteny and Qui...  don't be a couple of retards.  Stop this idiocy before I shove those bombs straight up your asses, just like I did Morpheus.  I appreciate what you're trying to do, but the only folks you're hurting are the bluepills.

You wanna do some damage?  Go for some real targets.  Go for some power lines, or maybe even a sentinel manufacturing plant.  Hell, find out where these Merovingian cheese sniffers call home and blow the whine out of it.

But code bombs aren't the answer.  You're lucky I'm in no position to hit broadcast depth.

You want some nice, juicy targets?  Speak to me when I can get within a respectable range to send you some files.  I still have a nice, juicy archive from my days in Pace's skirt.

~Fen

Did it make Morpheus stop?

Do what you've got to do. We'll do the same, I believe (I hate speaking for more than just myself).

Granted, if I ever pass by a power line in the Real, I'm liable to fire at it with full force.

The Merovingian's lackeys, on the other hand, have proved they're not worth my time. Not that I ever thought they were worth it to begin with.

I don't even want to know what their deifnition of "harder targets" is supposed to be. Oligarchs? Please.

Almost got to that one.....

QuiDormit wrote:

MetaLogic wrote:

Almost got to that one.....

Well congratulations... almost.

Your time is running out.

QuiDormit wrote:

It is my understanding that the traitor of traitors, MetaLogic, thinks that he's found a way to stop us from bombing.

Meta, the next one's just for you.

*laughs*

My dear Qui, my pieces are just beginning to surround your Queen.

*pushes Rook towards Queen*

"When does one man's freedom fighter become a terrorist? When does that man turn so far off the path of protection that you feel they have lost control...." The Figure looked over the busy streets of Mara, looking over the world he was once so comfortable with. "My name is Ghostwhite, I am a self-aware... but things took a turn for the worse for me only a few hours ago. I was destroyed. The code-bomb blew up, almost in my face, it should have killed me, I know it should, but something happened, I awoke inside a pod, and all manner of things happened, lucky for me though, a crew found me, out of pure luck, but maybe there is no such thing as chance in this world... Maybe its just something that happens, fate perhaps or maybe something greater." Sighing slightly Ghostwhite kept his eyes on the street. "I vow, that even though this world scares me beyond believe, I will learn it, I will bring this man to justice... he has no right to do what he has done... everyone is here for a reason, mine is to take revenge... "

 

((Well hello folks! I'm rather new to MxO (Late I know but hey ho) and I thought I'd make myself known, and I couldn't think of a better way then by doing this, if anyone is interested please grab me in game, I've got a couple of days off work to work on this so it should be good fun ))

I have ordered Qui personally  to stop the bombs and specifically told him about international , and we have taught him  a little lesson along the way...That also goes for everyone else that aids this cause.You may stop the operation in a peaceful way or you will be made an example of."Do not cross our path or get in the way of our business"i have said time and time again and now is the time to stop as my employer so wishes and we will make it so.So again put your little bombs away,sit in your rat-holes and think about another way to get your goals met, without losing your unsignificant lives.Good luck

Neoteny wrote:

The bombs are still going off, and you're still not doing a thing to stop it.

((How does one go about stopping these from detonating??  OMGBACK2AREPEE! <3))

So it would seem, but are they having any effect?

Jahzel-Jah wrote:

I have ordered Qui personally  to stop the bombs and specifically told him about international , and we have taught him  a little lesson along the way...That also goes for everyone else that aids this cause.You may stop the operation in a peaceful way or you will be made an example of."Do not cross our path or get in the way of our business"i have said time and time again and now is the time to stop as my employer so wishes and we will make it so.So again put your little bombs away,sit in your rat-holes and think about another way to get your goals met, without losing your unsignificant lives.Good luck

Of course the whole point for them, JJ, is to preserve their own insignificant lives while trying to maim others, preferably the defenseless.

Jahzel-Jah wrote:

.What's in it for us you may ask?Well...its just the pleasure of reminding them the role they play in this war..they are nothing ..

Who are you trying to convince?

Don't tell me you're going to stop me.  Stop me.  If you can.

Jahzel-Jah wrote:

Oh no not convincing... just stating a fact.It was meant for Barloke as he missed on some minor details that will surely turn his whole view on this around.And yes you are being stopped.

What you're saying doesn't jive with reality.

Three more bombs will be detonated this evening.

I will be making a public address tomorrow at Debir Court at 5:30pm MCT. 

I'd recommend that you come.

QuiDormit wrote:

I will be making a public address tomorrow at Debir Court at 5:30pm MCT. 

 

I'd recommend that you come.

Perhaps you think you're not interested in what I have to say...

You should be.

There are some important things I must address with you.

I'll be attempting to address the public again on Thursday, October 30 again at 5:30MCT.

MatrixRefugee wrote:

(( I would have attended, but I had a Real Life engagement last night that got out later than I expected.))

((I figured that was the case for most people, so I am trying to give a little more notice.  Getting into the weekend always gets hairy for me, so if it doesn't work this time, I'll come up with something else.  No worries.))

Due to unavoidable issues in the real, I myself was unable to attend last time at the given time.

My final attempt at a public address will be Sunday, at 5:30MCT at the Mjolnir Monument in Magog.

((Work stole me away from the last one, but this is the last shot.  If this doesn't come together, I'll come up with another way to broadcast it.))

"You will be demoted to rank Private. Your charge is to tend to those awakened by your bombings. I will be keeping a close eye on you. I am ordering your transfer to the Titan effective immediately."
"And what of the Neptune?"
"Davis will assume the role of Acting Captain, and he'll take her back to New Zion."
"...Understood."

QuiDormit stared at the bulkhead of the Neptune's crew quarters unable to sleep. He kept replaying the scene above him over and over in his mind. He'd gotten off light, he knew that. He had so many unanswered questions: could they trust him again? would they always be watching him, questioning his judgment, questioning his motives..?

He rubbed his hand on the back of his head absentmindedly while his thoughts carried him away. The Titan would reach them soon, and the transfer would take place. His crew understood his need to be alone. He swung his legs over the side of the bunk into a sitting position. He turned his hands palm-up and stared at them for some time before looking around the quarters. The room looked completely foreign to him. What once held great comfort now seemed to be a place unknown to him. The walls were alien.

He felt a great remorse for the actions he had taken. Once in a while, a wave of uncertainty washed over him.

Was stopping the right thing to do?
Of course it was. Could you live with yourself if you kept going?
It was working. There were results.
But at what cost? A cost that you cannot pay.
You have promises to keep. You have duties to fulfill. You've made commitments, and you do not back out of commitments you've made. You're an honorable person.
How could I have let it get this far?
Why did I let it get this far?
Will they ever accept me again?
Am I ready for this?

He felt awful for the things he'd done, however, his will took no damage. He was still as committed as ever to ending the war... He kept reminding himself of that.

He now had to make himself accessible to those he forced awake. He also had to make himself available to The Trust; he needed to have their faith in him once more. He knew that he would pay a great price to regain their trust, and whatever the cost, he would regain their trust. He took a deep breath, exhaled very slowly and buried his head in his hands. He had a lot to atone for. What of the dead? How will I make it up to them- their families? That thought hadn't occurred to him until now. One thing at a time, he reminded himself. He sighed deeply as he stood up and began to gather his things. The Neptune had been his home for the last seven months. He chuckled grimly to himself and mused, At least I'm not going back to a hoverbarge...

Just then, the ship's intercom system crackled.
"Kiddo," Davis affectionately quipped, "it's time."
QuiDormit sighed again as he picked up his duffel from his bunk and slung it over his shoulder. He looked around the quarters one last time, stood very tall with his chest out and his head held high, and he slowly walked to the cargo bay ramp. He paused at the ramp and looked back at his crew, smiled, and said, "I'll see you guys in New Zion, mm?" He then turned and descended the ramp, headed for the behemoth shining star of Zion's fleet, the Hovercraft Titan.

-----===-----

A hollow metallic *clunk* rang out underneath QuiDormit's boots as he traversed over to the Titan in the dark maintenance shaft. The only light in the tunnels came from the electric blue glow of the hoverpads of the three nearby craft. QuiDormit saw that the Devildog was in the air nearby, ready to fend off any potential attackers. It was barely fifty yards to his new home, but it felt like miles. From the distance, he could see RedBindi standing at the ramp to the Titan, arms crossed and eyes focused on him. As he neared his Commander, he took a deep breath and shook his head to clear the cobwebs. In the pit of his stomach, a ball of anxiety formed and grew until it spread over him out to his fingertips.

"Hello, QuiDormit."
QuiDormit dropped his bag and snapped to salute RedBindi, and she responded in kind.
"Hello, RedBindi."
"Welcome your new home, the Titan." QuiDormit bent down to pick up his bag and smiled weakly at RedBindi.

RedBindi escorted QuiDormit through the ship, telling its tales as they slowly walked through. She showed him around to the different areas of the craft. She spoke with a deep affection. This wasn't just a ship, it was her home, her livelihood. He understood how she felt about the ship and his mind briefly drifted off to the Neptune. They came to the crew quarters, and RedBindi pointed out QuiDormit's bunk. He unceremoniously dumped his duffel onto the bunk, and turned to face her. His face showed a calm and accepting demeanor, but inside, he was extremely nervous. He knew what came next... He only hoped he was ready.

As they weaved through the ship, they came to a familiar room; a large circular room adorned with many ecto-chairs and the operator chair where Wheeler was seated, focusing intently on the screens before him. QuiDormit could swear that Wheeler was purposefully avoiding his gaze. He figured he'd be getting that treatment a lot. He exhaled sharply and walked over to Wheeler to formally introduce himself.

"Hey, it's good to meet you in person." QuiDormit reached out his hand toward Wheeler. Wheeler looked up, nodded in greeting, and said, "Kinda busy..." QuiDormit nodded, withdrew his hand, and produced two disks from his pocket. "Here... some things I wanted to keep with me." QuiDormit awkwardly handed Wheeler the disks. "Nothing major, just some code I've been playing around with... personal effects, you know. Do you mind loading these up for me?"
"Sure thing." Wheeler locked eyes with RedBindi, and they exchanged a glance that QuiDormit couldn't quite read, and then Wheeler turned back to his keyboard and began to type furiously.

QuiDormit turned to RedBindi who was watching the interaction intently, and she continued on the tour of the ship. Next, they came to the galley where most of the crew was gathered. QuiDormit looked into the room, and every eye was focused on him. He lowered his head slightly, reached back and rubbed his neck with his right hand awkwardly. The air in the room seemed so thick, he was sure that if he didn't suffocate, he would at least faint. He took a deep breath and took a step toward the crew. Every eye was looking at him, each pair loaded with questions, doubts, and scrutiny. He pushed past that and spoke softly.

"I... I don't really have much to say that hasn't already been said. There's nothing I can do to change my actions, but I am going to own up to them. Please... just give me time to prove..." He sighed deeply. "I'm just asking for another chance. If that's too much to ask, I understand." Some of the heads in the room nodded, and others remained motionless, focused on him. RedBindi spoke softly, and broke everyone from their silent thoughts. "Come on, there's one more thing you've got to see."

QuiDormit swallowed hard and followed her to the med bay. He was prepared for everything else, but he still had no idea how he would handle this.

A wave of nausea passed over QuiDormit. His stomach was tight, and he began to perspire. He wasn't ready to face the ramifications of his actions, but he didn't have a choice. He was surprised, because he's never felt this anxious about anything before. He never in a million years thought that facing the music would be this disconcerting. His mind was jumping from thought to thought as they walked down the corridor. He felt like they were moving very quickly. If RedBindi had turned to look at him at that moment, face pale, beads of sweat forming on his brow... she would have probably thought he was ill.

When they rounded the final bend to the med bay, QuiDormit could see the patients for the first time. A man of indeterminable age was sitting Indian style, hunched over the floor. He was wrapped in a heavy blanket, and was tracing his finger along the floor. There was no distinct pattern that QuiDormit could see, but the man stared intently at the invisible formations he was creating. Luminarium was also in the med bay, watching him closely and trying to see if she could glean anything out of the repetition. QuiDormit watched Luminarium bemusedly. He could tell that she was deep in thought, and was very focused on examining her patient. She suddenly realized others were in the room, and she looked up. She locked eyes with him for a moment then immediately turned away. "Er, hi," she squeaked out.
"Nice to meet you again." QuiDormit could see that his mere presence made her very uncomfortable.
"Yeah." Luminarium fidgeted uncomfortably.

Luminarium turned back to her clipboard and began to scribble away. QuiDormit looked around the room and noted that there were three others. Two appeared to be sleeping, though far from soundly, and the third was curled up in the fetal position on the makeshift bed. QuiDormit's heart sank into his stomach and his arms felt impossibly heavy. He swallowed forcefully and looked back to RedBindi.
"Who's your cheif medical officer, Red?"
"You're lookin' at her." She grinned slightly as she said it. QuiDormit was going to apologize for the burden he's obviously caused her, but he thought better of it. He turned his attention back to the man and watched for a moment longer.

RedBindi crossed her arms and stared at QuiDormit. He looked over his shoulder and caught her gaze. She looked at him with amusement, almost playfully. He expected her to be angry, but she seemed more like a lioness watching one of her cubs play with its food; she was fascinated. She cocked her head at him in a motion he took to mean, well, what the hell are you waiting for?

QuiDormit stepped into the room and crouched down in front of the man without the slightest clue how to proceed.

-----===-----

QuiDormit opened his mouth to speak, but he was interrupted by the man.
"Who are you?"
"Um, I'm... QuiDormit. I am going to be helping you out." The man's hand ceased to move, but he did not look up to meet QuiDormit's gaze.
"You think you can help me?"
"I'd like to try..."
"It's not like it's your fault. What do you care?" The man raised his head and locked eyes with QuiDormit. They stared at eachother for a moment before QuiDormit spoke.
"What's your name?" The man looked down and resumed tracing the floor.
"John."
"Nice to meet you, John. I'll see you soon." John sat and continued his patterning on the floor without acknowledging QuiDormit.

QuiDormit stood and RedBindi started walking out of the med bay. QuiDormit followed. Once they got out of earshot, she stopped walking, turned toward QuiDormit and said, "You know... That's the most he's said since we told him the Truth. You may be able to get some results out of him. I'm interested to see where this is going to go." QuiDormit was puzzled and raised an eyebrow as they continued silently down the corridor.
"Bindi?"
"Yeah?"
"Mind if I try to get some sleep? I didn't sleep at all last night..."
"Sure, go ahead. You're dismissed."

QuiDormit headed for the crew quarters in an effort to get a bit of shut-eye. He laid down on his bunk, stretched out, and quickly fell asleep.

// Transmission incoming...
// Source: ... Identifying ...  Trace Incomplete
// Playback Starting...

I imagine word has spread quickly and it's now known that I am no longer participating in the bombing efforts.  Truth be told, I didn't have it in me.  I know you're wondering what my punishment is.  Although it's none of your business, know that it was carried out, and that I have a lot to make up for.

Those of you who wish to remain at war with me are more than welcome;  I'm prepared for that.

Understand that I'm only stopping because I found out that I don't have it in me to keep killing the blues to achieve my goals.  This will not stop me, however, from achieving them.  I still will give my life to do anything I can to end this war.  I will no longer use others as my leverage, however.

You know how to reach me if you wish.

Those of you who are holding a grudge...  I'm waiting for you.

- QuiDormit

// Transmission Ends...

ZippyTheSquirrel wrote:

MatrixRefugee wrote:

Apology accepted.

Wuss.

Eye for an eye. Kill him.

As for you, Qui: You ought to be ashamed of yourself. You can't go killing a bunch of blues, then turn around and say you're sorry. Do you believe Jesus, or Neo himself, would instantly absolve you of your acts? You better hope I don't convince Sieges to change her mind about this.

Maybe I'll go to Morraeon...

I didn't stop for you.

I didn't stop for Sieges.

I didn't stop for The Trust.

I stopped for the bluepills.

I am not asking for your personal forgiveness, I'm asking them for theirs.  I am simply stating facts.  I'm not pleading for you to understand, because truth be told, action needed to be taken.  I was unable to live up to the actions I chose to take. 

Action will still be taken.  Don't think that just because I've stopped killing blues that I'm any less of a threat. 

Underestimating me would be foolish.

Maeby wrote:

Shame most of them won't be around to give it.

Yeah.  It is.

ZippyTheSquirrel wrote:

QuiDormit wrote:

Underestimating me would be foolish.

Oh, psshhhhhfffff. If anything, I overestimated you. "Stopped for the bluepills." What, you randomly decided "Oh, wait, this is wrong, I should stop!" No. You're a wuss. Someone got close and spooked you, and now you're afraid to continue for fear of actually being caught, like a little child, who would cry when he's discovered to have pulled his sister's hair, like that will fix anything. I don't pity you. Stop crying.

Come close and say that, Squirrel.

Wind rustled his hair and caused his trench coat to billow as he soared near-weightless from rooftop to rooftop. Each time he landed with a heavy *THUD* on one rooftop and immediately sprang off to the next letting his thoughts run around aimlessly in his head. Weeks had passed, and things seemed to be getting a little easier. The Titan's crew was generally more at ease around him, and things seemed to be going well with his patients. QuiDormit spent his days taking care of his charges, performing his general duties on the ship, exercising, studying the vast navigational charts the Titan has amassed over the years, and he spent his evenings continuing his training within the simulation.

Now, he was just taking some free time to blow off some steam downtown, admiring the beauty of the simulation as he bounded over the buildings. He reviled in the time he had alone. He knew that his operator Wheeler was watching him closely, but that came with the punishment for what he'd done. Wheeler avoided QuiDormit at all costs; it seemed like everyone avoided him for that matter.

Wheeler watched closely as QuiDormit made his aimless rounds. "Just what is he up to, anyway? Wheeler quietly asked himself. "He's trying to relieve his greif." Wheeler jumped at RedBindi's intrusion on his thoughts, and she smiled slightly as she continued. "The Titan is headed back to New Zion. We've got to recharge and restock, we need to drop off the newpills, and the Council has called to talk to Qui."
"Oh yeah?" Wheeler raised both of his eyebrows at this news.
"Yes."
"They going to give him the works?"
"Does he know yet?"
"No, I'm going to jack in now to let him know."
"Good luck with that."

RedBindi opened her eyes slowly after materializing out of the hardline. "I'm in," she said into the receiver, and then hung it up in its cradle. She pulled out her cell phone, punched in a few numbers, and put it to her ear. The phone rang several times before the line connected and she heard QuiDormit's voice.
"Hey, Bindi."
"Hello, Qui. Do you have a minute?"
"Yeah." QuiDormit paused for a moment. "Where to?"
"Meet me at Peg's."
"Alright, see you there." RedBindi hung up her phone and headed to the rendezvous point.

RedBindi arrived first and found a seat in the back of the dingy greasy-spoon diner. She looked up as QuiDormit slowly strode through the front door, his head down slightly so that the brim of his fedora covered most of his face. She'd seen him walk around like this a lot lately. She could tell that he carried a great burden. She wondered how his guilt would affect him as an operative. She watched him with great interest behind her glasses. He took off his coat and hat, but left his mirrored glasses on and he slid into the booth across from RedBindi. He sighed deeply and they looked at each other for a moment.

A waitress in her mid to late 50's came over to take their order. She smelled of stale cigarettes and hairspray. Her face was drawn, and RedBindi could swear she muttered "not these freaks again." She looked to the waitress and ordered a coffee and then looked at QuiDormit. Still looking at RedBindi, he said, "Yeah, the same." He crossed his arms and leaned on the table.
"So what's up, Commander?"
"The Titan will be returning to New Zion within the next two weeks." She paused when she noticed the look of shock and concern on QuiDormit's face, then continued. "It's for a refuel stop, and we're going to drop off some of the newpills." QuiDormit nodded slightly and RedBindi went on.
"You've done a great job with them, you know." QuiDormit nodded again, but said nothing.

QuiDormit noticed that RedBindi's attention moved from him to the door, and her face lightened up. He didn't even have to turn around to know what the sudden change was. "Hey you," Fenshire's voice rang out as he slid in the booth next to RedBindi. She smiled and replied, "Hey yourself." He put his hand on her cheek and leaned in and kissed her softly before turning his attention to QuiDormit. "Qui." QuiDormit nodded in greeting and said, "Hey, Fen."

Fenshire smiled and sat back in the booth and said, "So what are we talkin' about?"
"I was just telling QuiDormit that I thought he was doing a good job with the newpills."
"Oh yeah, Qui. Things seem to be going as well as can be."
QuiDormit bowed his head slightly. "I'm worried about John. He's getting worse every day."
"Qui," RedBindi said softly, "you can't expect them all to survive. What they've been through... Most people can't handle the Truth when given a choice, let alone when they're thrust into it." QuiDormit couldn't lift his head to face them, he still felt awful for the path he had taken. He was conflicted, though. He knew that on some level, it was the right thing to do. He did it to incite a riot within Zion. To make people move. To give them purpose. To end this war. In that regard, it worked well. The path he had chosen, however, bore down on him. He didn't realize how hard relentlessly taking lives would be.

"Qui?" Fenshire asked as he observed QuiDormit sitting slumped forward in the booth, his mind obviously racing. "You OK big guy?"
QuiDormit looked up at Fenshire, "Yeah. Yeah, I'm OK."
"Look, Qui, you're one of the best operatives I've seen in my time. You've got heart. You're committed, and you know how to get the job done. Just don't ever pull any **** like that again."
RedBindi nodded in agreement and QuiDormit squeaked out a quiet apology. RedBindi sighed and said, "We know, Qui. Now, back to the reason I called you here. When you get back to New Zion, the Council wants to speak to you."
QuiDormit leaned forward in astonishment. He knew that he'd have to face his actions, but he'd never even seen the council before, let alone have to stand before them. "The Council?"
Fenshire nodded and RedBindi continued.
"Yes. I can tell you that they are satisfied with letting me handle your punishment, however, they will want an account from you directly." QuiDormit sighed heavily and said, "Yeah."

Just then QuiDormit jumped in his seat as his phone vibrated in his pocket, yanking him from his internal revirie. He looked at the display and saw that it was Wheeler. He instantly knew something must be wrong for his operator to call him directly instead of the craft's captain.. "Wheeler? What's up?"
"Qui, you'd better get back here. Something's going on with John... He's freaking out."

QuiDormit quickly let his company know what Wheeler had said and he immediately bolted for the nearest hardline. He got there, and quickly called Wheeler and was pulled from the system. As he slowly opened his eyes in his chair, he heard moaning and screaming coming from somewhere aboard the ship. As Wheeler extracted the spike from the back of his head, he sat upright and quickly ran to the galley where the newpills were. When he got there, he saw John huddled in a corner moaning and holding his head. QuiDormit could see that John was obviously pushing his hands into his temples with an extreme amount of force. His face was blood red, and his eyes were wide with terror. John looked absolutely frantic.

"Put me back, you *******! Put me back! I want to go home! I want to see my wife!" He was screaming, his voice scratchy and shaking. John knew the Truth, and he also knew that his wife was killed by the same bomb that brought him to the Real. Still, he screamed to see her again. He pounded his fists against the ship's thick steel walls, bloodying his knuckles. Luminarium stood by the door, watching in horror at the scene before her.
"Lum, we've got to sedate him now!" She hesitated at the doorway and John fell to the floor and began to seizure. "Lum!" She snapped out of her daze, ran over to one of the cabinets and grabbed a syringe and a small vial of clear pinkish liquid. She turned the vial upside down, inserted the syringe and began to prep it when John began to foam at the mouth. RedBindi came into the room and calmly asked, "What's going on?"

QuiDormit spun around at the sound of RedBindi's voice, and a wave of relief washed over him. He ran to her and said, "Bindi, John's gone into a seizure..." He rubbed his hands together anxiously. "I don't know what to do!"

"Just make sure he doesn't hit anything, but don't restrain him too much. Lumi, I'll need my med kit." Calmly she moved over to the seizing man to wait for the seizure to end. "He'll need oxygen and I'll need to quickly get an IV established in one of his ports in case he seizes again. However, if this continues much longer... I'll have to try the IV access while he's seizing."

QuiDormit rushed back over to John, and attempted to clear the direct area as much as possible. He moved a gurney and a table with medical supplies out of immediate reach of the shaking man. He did his best to help and stay out of the way of RedBindi and Luminarium as they worked to help John.

As the seizure ends RedBindi quickly inserts an IV into his left forearm port and begins administering normal saline. As the NS is run in she draws up five milligrams of a substance similiar to Valium while Luminarium and QuiDormit quickly place the man on oxygen. Carefully pinching off the IV tubing to prevent any more NS going in she administers the Valium, then unpinches the line to allow the NS to flush it into his system. "Hopefully that works..."

Luminarium headed off to tend to the other newpills as per RedBindi's orders. QuiDormit sighed again, relieved that John's tremors had finally subsided. He looked to RedBindi who was calm and collected. He wondered how often she'd dealt with this situation. He couldn't help but feel guilty, and he bowed his head slightly as his anxiety began to build.

RedBindi nodded to QuiDormit. "It happens, lets get him to the medbay for some supportive care. For now I think I'll keep him sedated."

"Should I just... lift him?"

She points to the gurney. "Lift him onto that, we'll wheel him the rest of the way."

QuiDormit quickly lifted the limp man up and set him down on the gurney. He was surprised at how differently seeing this in the real affected him. Seeing things like this in the simulation were a cake walk in comparison. His thoughts continued, and suddenly RedBindi snapped him out of his trance.

RedBindi could see the shock of the experience in the young operatives eyes, he was beginning to realize just how different things were here. It was a thought she couldn't quite let him dwell on yet, though in a few hours after the crisis was over she hoped he'd follow the path that thought opened up to him. "Qui. Forward movement would be a plus right about now."

QuiDormit reached up behind his head and rubbed his neck quickly, then pushed the gurney gingerly following closely behind RedBindi.

Once they reach the medical bay she directs QuiDormit to move John over to the central bed. "Over there will do just fine, Qui."

He pushed the unconscious patient over to where RedBindi indicated. He looked down at John for a moment before turning to face his Commander. "What else can I do?"

"Do you know how to set up any of this equipment?" She nodded towards the variety of cables, cords, monitors, etc around the bed.

QuiDormit scrunched his face awkwardly. He had no idea what to do with any of it. "Uh, no, not really."

She nods. "Then you're about to learn." She walks over to a set of four differently colored cords hooked into a monitor and picked up four little round pads and attached them to the end of the cords. "This is what we call a four lead ECG, it will give me the rhythm of his heart. She hands the leads to QuiDormit. They go in a simple sequence I tend to remember as salt, pepper, ketchup, lettace. Starting from the right arm area place the white lead, salt."

"Then move to the left arm and place the black lead, pepper, then move straight down the left side and where the bottom of the ribs are place the red lead, ketchup, and finally move over to the bottom of the ribs on the right side and place the green lead, lettace.

QuiDormit slowly and gently attached the leads, following RedBindi's directions. Once he finished attaching the final lead, he looked at her questioningly for further orders. Just as RedBindi was about to speak, John once again began to shake violently.

"****..." She quickly moved over to her medicine cabinet, again drawing up the Valium like substance and moved to the IV port, quickly adminstering it."

"****, what the hell?"

"I don't know yet. That should take effect quickly, but we need to get the rest of this equipment set up. Moving with the speed of practice she quickly hooked John up to the rest of the equipment.

QuiDormit put both hands on his head and sighed exasperatedly. He'd never witnessed anyone seize before, and it was not an easy sight to behold. He watched RedBindi move with extreme precision. He began to wish that he was better able to assist Bindi without needing to ask what the next step was.

As his seizing stopped she quickly looked over the various monitors, quickly assessing what they told her and moved to hook John up to further medications to take care of his racing, arrhythmic heart beat.

"Whatever is causing these seizures is affecting his heartbeat. I've got to get that under control before I can do much of anything else. His breathing is good, so far... Qui, keep an eye on that number in this monitor." She points to a percentage number on the second monitor. "I need to know if that drops below 95%, also keep an eye on his breathing, depth, rate, anything that looks different then his breathing right now I need to know about it."

QuiDormit watched RedBindi for a moment as she raced around the room gathering more equipment. He turned back to John, and watched him closely. QuiDormit bowed his head as he watched the man. He appeared to be sleeping peacefully, but QuiDormit knew better. The man's body was fighting to survive, and QuiDormit wasn't sure if he'd succeed or not. What the hell have I done? he thought to himself. This is all my fault. He didn't have long to dwell on it, however, because RedBindi called to him once more.

"How's he looking, Qui?"

"Uhh, he's... Well, he's looking stable, I guess."

"Stable's good for now. Go ahead and throw that blanket over him so he doesn't get cold. I've set him up and given him everything I can for now. He's going to be heavily sedated until I can figure out what's causing the seizures."

"OK." QuiDormit turns around and grabs a blanket from a nearby table and lays it over John. He gently put his hand on the unconscious man's forehead and whispered, "Hang in there, John..."

"I'll need to run some scans on him, after that... we'll just have to see what happens and get him to Zion medical ASAP."

"So we just wait and see?" QuiDormit realized that his shaking voice sounded a little more accusatory than he intended.

"Until I get the results from the scans and blood work, all I can do is treat the symptoms he's currently having. That's all anyone can do."

He nodded at RedBindi unable to find any words to say.

Suddenly the pair's attention was pulled back toward John. His heartrate was falling hard and fast, and the machine began to beep loudly.

"Dammit..." RedBindi quickly moved to a cart beside the bed and pulled out two hand sized patches, placing one on his upper right torso and the other on his lower left side. Grabbing in the draw again she pulled out a prefilled syringe and injected its contents into the IV line. "Hopefully that will stop that... if not I'll have to pace him."

As RedBindi worked, more alarms began to sound. "His breathing is slowing!" QuiDormit shouted. He rang his hands, waiting for the next order from the skilled medic.

She reached into the drawer again, bringing out an odd looking bag with a face mask attached to one end. "Place that mask over his mouth, narrow side on the nose. Make sure you form a good seal and once every eight seconds I want you to squeeze that bag, do it rather gently over about a second."

QuiDormit scrambled and placed the mask over John's mouth. He gently squeezed the bag for a second and then counted off to the next round. He was coated in sweat, though it wasn't particularly warm in the medical bay. In between counts, he would wipe the sweat from his brow as John's vitals fell lower and lower.

RedBindi worked frantically trying to stop the dropping vitals, giving him a fluid bolus to stop the decreasing blood pressure, medications to help his flagging heart rate and finally using a small shock sent through the pads to stabilize his heart rate, the pacing she was talking about earlier.

"Bindi...?" QuiDormit asked, unable to finish the question as to whether or not the man would make it through this ordeal.

She looked up at him, seeing the question on his face and unable to answer it. "I don't know, Qui... we need to get him to Zion medical, they'll be able to do a lot more then I can here."

"But we're so far out..." He sighed defeatedly and looked to John once again as he squeezed the bag to control his breathing. He whispered fiercely, "Come on John!"

"I'm going to have to intubate him and put him on a ventilator. Just keep breathing for him while I set all that up." She moved about the medbay, bringing over yet another machine and quickly setting its controls before grabbing the tube, handle and blade. I need you to give him several quick breaths right now." She says as she moves to the head of the bed and positions his head the way she needs it.

QuiDormit squeezes the bag quickly and in rapid succession. He watches closely as RedBindi prepares to intubate John.

As QuiDormit lift the bag away she inserts the blade into his mouth, using it to lift the bottom jaw up enough to see his vocal cords. With those in view she quickly slips the tube down his throat, watching it slip through the cords. With the tube in place she removed the blade, while keeping a firm hold on the tube, a procedure that lasts only a few seconds. "Take the mask off that bag and place the bag on the tube. Then I want you to hold onto the tube tightly while giving him breaths, I need to check the positioning of the tube."

QuiDormit pulls the apparatus apart, and hesitates for a moment, looking at John. He then gently connects the bag to the tube and holds it steadily in place while RedBindi checks the positioning. He once again resumes squeezing and counting. He sighed loudly once again.

Taking a stethoscope she quickly verifies the breath sounds in John's lungs. "Alright, I have good placement, lets get a tube holder on that tube and move him over to the vent." Reaching down she grabs the tube holder already set out and places it around the tube, the strap going around John's head and secures it in place. With that done she places him on the vent and watches as the machine takes over breathing for him.

QuiDormit takes a half step away and looks down at the scene in front of him. He looks at RedBindi who is still calm and composed. He, on the other hand, feels like a mess of nerves.

"We've done all we can, Qui. I'll have Vapes set a course for New Zion. Meanwhile you need to get out of here and work off some of that anexity."

QuiDormit slowly ran a hand through his hair, and nodded at his Commander. "Alright. I guess I'll go... do something." He turned to leave the medical bay, but stopped at the door. He turned around once more and looked at John. "I'm sorry, John." He then headed to the galley to exercise away his tension.

Credit:  RedBindi & QuiDormit

QuiDormit did his standard exercise routine on the ship, but still felt no better. He headed over to the operator's station and nodded in greeting to Wheeler. "Hey, man. What's up?"
Wheeler glanced up from his station and said, "Hey." QuiDormit still felt tense around Wheeler, but he hoped time would ease some of the awkwardness. He moved over to his ecto-chair and prepped himself to jack in.
Wheeler looked over, "What's on schedule for tonight?"
"Eh, just blowing off some steam after what happened with John."
"Gotcha."

QuiDormit finished tweaking his controls on the screen, and he laid back in the chair. Wheeler came over and before he inserted the neural jack into QuiDormit's port, he stated, "Neoteny is jacked in right now." QuiDormit raised an eyebrow an lightly shrugged his shoulders. Wheeler gripped the spike, inserted it in the back of QuiDormit's head and quickly hit the "Load" button on the terminal. He then quickly headed over to his station, inserted a disk, and started recording QuiDormit's actions in the codestream.

A short time later, QuiDormit called wheeler and told him he was jacking out. When QuiDormit's mind was once again returned to his body, he slowly opened his eyes. He gave the operator a look that he couldn't quite read. QuiDormit headed off to his bunk, and Wheeler quickly ran back to the operator's station. He pulled the disk and rushed over to the medbay where he knew he'd find RedBindi.

"Bindi, you should see this... Qui met up with Neoteny just a bit ago."
"He met him in the open while he knew you were watching?"
"Yeah."
"Then he must have wanted us to see this..."

RedBindi headed to a terminal and loaded up the disk. She watched intently to see just what QuiDormit was up to.

The feed was fuzzy for a moment, then snapped into focus. Not even a moment after QuiDormit had materialized from the hardline in Kaede, his phone rang. "Qui, I've got some time if you'd like to have that chat."
"Ok. Meet me at the Wutai sculpture." QuiDormit hung up his phone and headed to the rendezvous point.

QuiDormit was leaning on the Wutai Sculpture when Neoteny arrived. They bowed formally to eachother.

"Hey, Neoteny... I figured I owed you at least an explanation."
"Fair enough."
QuiDormit hesitated uncomfortably for a moment, and then continued. "I couldn't keep it up... I met some of the bluepills. It brought back some things from the past... I just don't have it in me to go to that extreme."
"Then you never should have."
"Yeah, I shouldn't have... I found myself searching historical files to find targets that would affect enemies personally. I was losing myself... losing the cause."
"It's not personal to me, Qui. That's part of what makes it possible."
"I know, that's why I had to cut out."
"But if you've decided to back out... I don't believ you ever really had the conviction necessary."
"Maybe, maybe not."
"That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I would rather you not been involved if it went against your beliefs."
"I know."

QuiDormit shifts his stance uncomfortably.
"I thought that the cause was greater than my beliefs. I still do... but I also can't live with myself if I continue."
"No cause is greater than a belief."
"You're right."
Neoteny watched QuiDormit with great interest as QuiDormit continued on.
"I don't know what the others are planning to stop you. I'm staying out of it. I've got enough to deal with right now as it is."
"They probably wouldn't let you have any hand in it anyhow."
"No, I suppose not."
"No offense, and pardon the irony... But you're probably not within the circle of trust right now. In either case, I don't really care what they're planning. I won't let them stop me."
"I've been demoted, stripped of my ship, and now I'm charged with the rehabilitation of the four Bindi found. It's the path I've chosen, however."
"As long as you have chosen it, and it feels correct."
"I'm actually sleeping now... That's as good a sign as any."
Neoteny shrugs as he says, "Maybe I've just gotten too used to insomnia."

QuiDormit looks down for a moment and lifts his gaze up to meet Neoteny's once again.
"I've destroyed all copies of the bombs and all materials I had... Figured I'd keep that from getting into anyone else's hands."
"I don't think you'd be around anyone looking to get their hands on them, but I appreciate the measure all the same."
"Well, the Neptune has been returned to New Zion. Didn't want to take

that chance."
"Well, I suppose that's true."
"Anyway, that's all I really had to say. I truly respect your will to get this done. It's just not for me."
"I respect that as well."
"Hopefully Bindi's plans pan out... if not, then I don't know what's next for me. I'm not giving up the fight."
"I only hope that the experience helped temper your beliefs..."
QuiDormit solemnly nods at Neoteny.

"We can all pray the plans to assault installations will pan out, but short of attacking the Machine city directly, I doubt they'll do little more than hinder them temporarily... Especially with the relatively low number of ships we're using."
"Many say the same about the bombs... Though I was there when Southern Richland destabilized."
Neoteny nods.

"As for the number of ships... I was hoping to get more people in Zion ralleyed for attack runs, but even the top operatives seem to be fine with the status quo. It's... a difficult time."
"I fear I will be dead by the time it would take to down the entire Matrix... Which is why I hope the Machines manage to pull their mechanical heads out of the ground and give up the war."
"I can't believe that even to this day, the cake-eaters are the most out against the bombings. It's as if the Machines truly don't care."
"To an extent. It's part of what I'm trying to show to the

Machinists... Though I've come to realize that I've been all too correct in stating that they've become blind followers without wills and without beliefs."
"It's quite true. And they call us the blind ones... Funny how that works."
Neoteny nods.

"I suppose that's how that train runs...I can't say I'm all too surprised."
"Yeah, well... maybe we can derail it soon enough."

There's a slight disruption in the feed, some kind of interference caused the audio and video to glitch out.

QuiDormit rubs the back of his head. "Though I also can't picture a truce..."
"Oddly enough, I have a hard time remembering it myself. Though it's only been a year..." Neoteny sighed and continued. "I look over some transcripts of things I've said years ago. Even just months prior to the war. I don't know if I can identify with that person anymore."

QuiDormit nods knowingly. "I was freed shortly after the war started back up. I spent a lot of time in New Zion before I was assigned to a hoverbarge.."
"I'd say you drew the short straw, but really, you just got the truth without the sugar coating we got for two lousy years."
"Yeah. I got the truth and I got worked like a mule while New Zion was getting its finishing touches. However, I wouldn't have traded it for anything."
"I'm sure it was a valuable experience. Must've been strange so soon after pod life, though."
"I just went where they needed me..."
"Zion should be glad that they awakened you."
"Not right now they're not. But that will pass."
"Believe me, you're in far shallower water than I am. The problem with me lies in that I've manage to accrue a spotlight, to an extent. Zion has played me up at key points. And now they've got to play me down. I'm sure it's difficult."
"Yeah, but that's all they ever do. Talk things up and talk them down."
"Essentially. It's what they did to Morpheus, and I expected no less."
"They haven't even said a word to me. No communications, no orders, nothing. Though the Council wants to see me next time we make a trip back to New Zion."
"I'm sure Bindi's radioed to them that she has you now, though... And given her record, I'm willing to bet they'll let her handle disciplinary action."
"Yeah, I guess."
"If they get their hands on me... If I set foot in New Zion... I'm almost bound to be jailed for life or sentenced to death..."

QuiDormit rubs his chin, apparently thinking, and speaks again. "One thing I can't get past... Before anyone, and I mean anyone started to move, started to stand up and talk about ending this war... was that you and I had to go to the lengths we did."
"No one on the streets bothers to stop, analyze, and react to the situation unless there's an explosion to force them. A simple mugging won't do."
"Well in that case, then my part in the bombings was successful. If for no other reason than it got people to pay attention."
"...I have told one other person..."

The feed cuts out once more, but only for a moment this time.

QuiDormit cocks his head sideways and then nods slowly.
"It's working."
"I believe it will take more than just that, unfortunately."
"Well yeah, but you have to start somewhere."

Neoteny nods. "That is why I must continue."

"I can't take part in that any more, but I can work on them from the inside... I can keep stirring the pot, as it were. I can help to unite us to stand up against these god **** machines."
"I do not believe I will have achieved the goal until everyone realizes their true beliefs... After all, there are quite obviously a few Merovingian operatives who need to realize that they are Cypherites."

Neoteny bows his head slightly to QuiDormit. "Your assistance is appreciated, so long as it is offered freely and within your own beliefs and not for any cause which lies outside their bounds. I don't want to see regret in you again."
"I still want to end this war, and I will risk my life to do so... I just can't do it using others anymore."
"That's fair. Both views are fair."

QuiDormit extends his hand out, and Neoteny grasps the soldiers shake hands.
"I have to go, but, Neoteny... Take care of yourself out there, man."

The feed cuts out and abruptly ends. RedBindi leans back in her chair and puts both of her arms up behind her head.

Credit:  Neoteny & QuiDormit

QuiDormit stood over the gurney and looked at John. He couldn't believe that after all that they had done, he didn't make it. Apparently, it happened while he was jacked in. He and everyone else were jacked in at the Shadrack's offices in the Matrix when he got the call from Wheeler. John had succumbed to his ailments while they were meeting with Vaala when evidence had turned up that she was a Machinist spy. As if that wasn't enough, he found out that Maeby was being transfered to the Titan and they were on their way to get her now. He knows where Maeby stands on his bombings, and she is still furious at him. More furious than everyone else it would seem. He slowly headed to the galley where the other newpills were located.

QuiDormit did his best to settle the others after the death of John. He was worried that he was doing more harm than good. Shaye, a girl in her late teens, seemed to still be disconnected with reality. Another had the same disconnection... her name seemed to be Iota. She was about five or six years old. Then there was Patricia. Patricia preferred to go by the name Braie. There was something odd about her. She had an evenness that made QuiDormit very uncomfortable. She reminded him of someone who's constantly planning her next move. He didn't mention his discomfort with her to anyone else, but he kept a watchful eye on her. Otherwise, things were pretty much the same.

Currently, he was bandaging the left arm of Shaye. She had recently begun scratching herself in her sleep. QuiDormit was concerned, especially after the recent death of John. While he was working on Shaye and trying his best to comfort her, he often felt like he was talking to a statue.

Suddenly, QuiDormit felt a severe pain in his side. A bright white flash covered his eyes. He felt as if his insides were twisting. He dropped to one knee and looked up to see Braie leaning over him. He looked at her pleadingly; pain was written all over his face. Suddenly, it dawned on him what had happened as Braie began screaming.
"You ******* bastard!"

QuiDormit grabbed her hand that was still holding on to the intruding object embedded in his side. He stood up with all of the strength he could muster, and spun her around with the same hand behind her back. He moved quickly and with such force, that he felt her wrist snap in his hand. She began to scream even louder. Just then, the crewmen of the Titan flooded into the hallway outside of the medbay to see what the commotion was. QuiDormit once again fell to the floor on one knee holding his side in pain. RedBindi immediately tended to Braie while Wheeler did his best to help QuiDormit move in to the med bay. Wheeler helped the large man get seated on a gurney. QuiDormit's vision became fuzzy, and everything slowly faded out as his eyes closed despite his best effort to keep them open.

The young doctor's hands were quick and precise. She was nothing more than a silhouette with a mask on next to the bright light she had on her patient but her small frame was familiar enough to anyone who knew her. She wove the sterilized needle in through the skin and out again, keeping the would closed and in place with another cold metallic tool. She glanced over at him. "You shouldn't be awake yet…" Her tone was matter-a-fact as she continued with her work.

QuiDormit looked up squinting, though the lights directly above his face were not terribly intense. He felt like he'd been hit by a truck. He took a slow breath and winced in pain when his diaphragm pushed against the wound. He quietly wheezed, "I guess I have a habit of breaking the rules."

Even behind the mask, a frown could be seen on her face as she held a hand to his side. "The less you move, the less it'll hurt."

"Yeah yeah." QuiDormit rested his head back down on the gurney and closed his eyes. He remained quiet for a few moments as the skilled doctor continued to patch him up. He felt bad for Patricia. He felt responsible moreso and wondered if he could reach out to her before it's too late. He sighed softly as his mind raced. Could he keep her from becoming an enemy to everyone else around him? Was it already too late? He asked a question in the hopes that it would slow his thoughts and give him something specific to focus on. "How bad is it, anyway?"

Maeby gave a small shrug. A rather difficult thing to accomplish without letting it affect her hands, but she had learned the grace of it by now. "Damage was minimal." She finished the the last stitch and wove a knot to keep it in place. She continued as she reached behind her for scissors to cut away the remaining thread. "The knife nicked your rib and cut into your small intestine. You have ten internal stitches and six external. You'll need lots of rest. I'd advise you of a nearly all liquid diet but..."

QuiDormit lifted his head again slightly and raised an eyebrow questioningly at Maeby. "But what?"

Maeby looked over at him gesturing with her hand before dropping her tools in a tray at her side, "What else are you going to eat apart from goop?"

He laughed lightly and instantly grunted as the pain shot through his side. "Ungh... This is going to feel like forever. Thanks, Maeby. So how long am I supposed to be stuck in my bunk?"

"Forty-eight hours of bedrest. Two weeks of taking it easy." Maeby indicated for him to sit up but didn't offer him any help as she sat there with her gloved hands out awkwardly trying not to make contact with anything. "You might be able to jack in after the first week but we'll see about that when we get to it."

QuiDormit sighed heavily. He sat up, and though it hurt him a great deal, he did his best not to show it. Maeby wasn't fooled. He looked at her, unsure of what to say. Finally, he shrugged his shoulders and said, "Guess you came at the right time. Where is everyone?"

She grabbed some gauze off of the tray next to her and leaned in a little bit to hold it in place over the wound. "Bindi's looking into that disc that Vaala handed over. The rest are either jacked in or keeping the coppertops busy in the dining commons." Maeby started taping the edges of the bandage in place before looking up at him curiously. "Who's the kid?" It struck her odd that someone that young survived such a rude awakening. She couldn't have weighed more than fifty pounds.

"Her name is Iota, I think... She's a timid one, scared of her own shadow." QuiDormit sat all the way up, testing his range of motion. "Maybe you'll have better luck than I have." He chuckled and continued, "She probably thinks I'm some kind of monster."

Maeby didn't say anything as she grabbed another roll of gauze and taped it to his side just over the other bandage. There was the sharp noise of medical tape being ripped as she secured it in place and wrapped it around Qui's torso once and then twice, just slightly tighter and harder than necessary.

QuiDormit realized his slip and gritted his teeth from the forcefulness of Maeby's work. The tension in the room weighed on his conscience, and his mind once again began to race at a breakneck pace. He took a slow deep breath and tried to break up the awkwardness once more. "She doesn't talk to anyone. She just keeps quiet and eats just enough to sustain herself." QuiDormit looked down at his bandages and twisted his torso slowly still working out how much movement he could get away with before the pain set in. He couldn't move much at all. He continued looking down, unsure of what to say.

Maeby brought the bandage around again, pulling it taut. There wasn't anything gentle about her small hands anymore. "You said there were four of 'em."

He winced as she dressed his wounds. Her actions spoke volumes about how she felt. "Yeah. John... John died not long ago. He went into a seizure..." QuiDormit's eyes became unfocused and he seemingly stared through the gurney. "Bindi did everything she could, but..." He trailed off and said nothing further.

"He seized." Maeby gave the gauze a small tear and taped it in place. "You don't go into a seizure. You seize." Maeby grabbed her tray of tools and turned to take it over to the counter. She snapped her gloves off and disposed of them before washing her hands, without a word.

"Uh, yeah. Right, I mean." QuiDormit wanted to crawl out of his skin. "As for the others, there's Shaye... She's recently begun scratching herself in her sleep... And, uh... Patricia. She likes to go by 'Braie,' though. She's why I'm here right now."

The doctor started cleaning things off and sterilizing them. "I'm aware. She's dead asleep in her room with a bandaged wrist." She gave a small smile that was difficult to read as she held a scalpel up and looked back over to him. "This is the culprit by the way. I think it might be smart to lock these up here on out."

"I thought they were locked up. There's something about her... She's... She's got something about her. Something sinister." QuiDormit hoped he didn't sound paranoid.

Maeby's shoulders dropped a little as took her mask off. She turned back to the tray in front of he, staring into the semi-reflective surface. She paused a while, preoccupied, before she gave a sigh and tapped the counter in front of her. "We'll see..." She walked back over to Qui and handed him a small dish with a few pills in them. "Get some rest Qui." She flipped off the light above him and made her way over to the door.

QuiDormit struggled to get down from the gurney. He was still in quite a lot of pain, but he managed to stand upright. "Maeby?" QuiDormit asked quietly as she reached the door.

She stopped in the door and glanced halfway over her shoulder without saying anything.

"I just, uh... I just wanted to say thanks."

The young girl's lips parted as if to respond. When words didn't form, she closed them again and rolled her eyes. Turning back away she stepped down out of the medbay and rounded the corner.

Credit:  Maeby & QuiDormit

Illyria22 wrote:

Killing the people to save the people.  Where is the difference?

What you want to do is to kill off the bulk of the human population for the benefit of the elite group you are part of.  And that's just wrong.

 

 

Illyria

Neoteny wrote:

In case you don't get it, it's not about the freedom of those attatched to the System. It's about the freedom of those who are without it. It's not about redpills. It's about freeborns.

It's about the children whose existences are already questionable.

Being a poddie, I must be quite the egomaniac to want to guarantee the freedom of our future generations who will be unable to use the Matrix, much less require it.

I am no longer participating in this... endeavor.  That being said, he's already addressed your concern, and I thought you should be made aware.

QuiDormit slept for nearly twenty hours that day, and when he woke, he felt like a new man, save for his wound. He took the opportunity to lie in bed since he wouldn't be able to perform any of his daily duties. He felt refreshed. He had slept more soundly than he could ever remember, save for maybe his first day of training. His mind languidly wandered to his first day of training, which marked six full months since he was first awakened. He thought back to how excited he was at the prospect of finally getting his chance to jack in to the Matrix. His early months were spent helping to build New Zion earning his right to join the ranks of Zion's elite in the field.

He recalled the hoverbarge that he was assigned to, and his mind drifted further the beautiful young pilot. His thoughts began to pick up speed, and with the increase came a small wave of anxiety that washed over him from head to toe and seemed to stop as soon as it started. He wondered how it was worked out that the pilot on his first hoverbarge happened to be assigned to pilot the Neptune while it was under his command. His mind bounced around from thought to thought until the familiar pang of hunger struck him. He had no idea what time it was or how long he'd been out. He guessed that he hadn't eaten in nearly a day.

QuiDormit took a deep breath, winced, and with great effort he pulled himself up to a sitting position. He sat on the gurney for a moment listening to the sounds of the mammoth ship as it gracefully slid through the underground network of tunnels on its way to New Zion. Once again he sighed heavily and struggled to his feed, occasionally grunting and groaning in pain. His bandages had a few small circles of blood here and there, and he assumed that they would need to be changed soon. He'd have to seek out Bindi or Maeby to give him a hand. He slowly shuffled out of the med bay and headed off on his hunt for goop.

It seemed that everyone else was most likely asleep, so he sluggishly made his way over to the galley. He grabbed a small metal tin and a spoon and headed over to a large apparatus that looked like it belonged on a farm. He reached up and took hold of the lever and quickly pulled it to the side. Searing pain filled his side, and he instantly clenched his teeth and squeezed his eyes shut as hard as he could. He felt a warm-ish substance on his hands which caused him to jump. He quickly realized that he was making an absolute mess and goop was pouring out of the dispenser. QuiDormit winced yet again as he clumsily managed to fill his tin this time and turn the apperatus off. I'll clean it later, he thought to himself.

As he was eating and enjoying is solitude, he heard the sound of someone clucking their tongue against their cheek. "Some mess you got there, Qui."
QuiDormit grunted but didn't look up from his food. "Yeah, I'm feeling a little clumsy after..." He trailed off and lifted the spoon to his mouth and quickly slurped down the thick substance and continued, "... well, you know. How is Braie anyway?"
Wheeler sighed, complacent about getting into a long discussion with the man before him. "She's alright."
QuiDormit was used to Wheeler's curtness by this point, and simply nodded in response. The operator went over to clean QuiDormit's mess, and he shook his head. He felt like the Trust was stuck cleaning up a lot of the guy's messes.
"You don't have to do that, Wheeler, I'll get it."
Wheeler chuckled and said, "You'll probably just make it worse."
QuiDormit wasn't sure if there was more behind what Wheeler had said, and replied, "Yeah." He paused for a moment. "Thanks."
Wheeler simply nodded and went about cleaning the goop from the floor.

Awkwardness filled the room. QuiDormit was so used to the tension at this point that he didn't even think twice about it. He finished his food and struggled to his feet as Wheeler finished with the mess. QuiDormit grabbed a towel and wiped out the inside of the tin and then the spoon, and he put them back on the counter where he'd originally got them from. "I'm heading back to bed." Wheeler nodded and said, "See ya."

QuiDormit slowly made his way to his bunk where he planned to hibernate for another day to sleep away his pain.