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”I know what you’re thinking, 'cause right now I’m thinking the same thing. Actually, I’ve been thinking it ever since I got here: Why oh why didn’t I take the blue pill?”
Zion—the last free city of mankind. A city protected by a small fleet of ill-equipped hovercraft, each manned by a team of battered soldiers. While prophecies skitter through the populace like juicy gossip, and the promise of messiahs and Oracles lingers in the hopes of the free, it is on the soldiers that the burden of reality has fallen.
Years ago, a pair of “sister” vessels were dispatched, two of many charged with this a heavy responsibility. Their mission was three fold: 1. Scout out new broadcast locations; 2. Monitor machine activity; 3. Carry out covert operations within the Matrix, including the freeing of minds. Over the years, the rosters of both ships have changed. Many have fallen—good soldiers lost in the line of duty.
First among the two ships is the Gilgamesh, a sturdy but small warship, captained by the seasoned Lobo, a strong, skeptical soldier with the heart of a seafarer. At his side, as first officer, is a younger man called Edge. Before being unplugged from the artificial world within the Matrix, Edge was a motocross champion, another adventurer seeking something beyond the limits of his own reality. Serving as operator onboard the Gilgamesh is Gnome, a charming yet naïve young woman with a brilliant understanding of Matrix code. Rounding out the crew is the enigmatic Cain, an older man, oldest on the Gilgamesh. His purpose seems a bit unclear, but the official word is that he was handed over by Zion’s Commander Lock himself, remanded to Lobo’s custody for purposes of navigational aide.
The other vessel is the Enkidu, larger and slower of the pair. Captain of this vessel is the kind-hearted Lydia, a war veteran in her mid 40’s. Her eternal patience and guarded optimism have seen her through the loss of several crew, old friends that should not have been lost. She presses on, overseeing the young people now stationed onboard her ship. Among these is Blaze, a brash young man assigned as her new first officer, with a flare for rebellion. Next on the roster is Wraith, a tech-minded kid, still in his teens, who occasionally takes on the role of gunner in tense situations. Balancing out the age curve on the Enkidu is Derelict, the 60-something operator who sternly monitors the actions of his youthful charges from behind a mask of near-silent condescension.
The Gilgamesh and Enkidu–a pair of ships charting a course beyond the safe coasts of Zion.
----------PART ONE: UNFIT FOR A KING-----------
Matrix: The Royal Theater
(ATTN: Roche, Ego, Katanga)
A symphony explodes into the latter half of its final number. Chattering cymbals and pounding timpani wake any of the elite audience that may have drifted off. The giant clamshell in red and gold trim, known formally as the Royal Theater, houses a gathering of gown-and-tuxedo-clad upper class. As high society continues to soak in the musical barrage, it was the unseen elements that were perhaps the most powerful.
“Lobo, you are near section G… should see the entrance to your right. Stay clear of the staff and you should be able to slip into one of the back rows. I am showing plenty of seats open near the back of the auditorium. From there, you should be able to spot our target.” The cheer in Gnome’s voice was too apparent.
Lobo tensed a bit, then relaxed as he passed between minglers in the lobby of the large concert hall. He looked to Cain with a nod, still a bit wary about bringing the old man along. He watched as Cain proceeded into the stairwell as planned.
“Alright, Cain…,” Gnome’s voice came across his earpiece, a slight black plug that wormed down into his pocket. “From the balcony level, you should have a better view of things, and can help us keep an eye on the fat boy.”
“And… Edge. Edge?”
From where he stood behind a large red curtain, Edge had tuned out the communication in his ear, lost in the music for a moment. “You can see him now, right? If he makes a move for any… nontraditional exits… it’s up to you to stop him. We have to take him in custody long enough so the Enkidu can locate his body.”
The Gilgamesh has been tasked with containing a pudgy, well-to-do businessman, known as the Monarch, seated in one of the front rows of the lavish auditorium. He is presumed to be attended by his own security, and expected to resist being taken out by force. Lobo is nearing the rear center of the auditorium at ground level. Cain is entering the balcony, and will be able to track Monarch even as the crowd stands. Edge is behind the curtain in the backstage area, mere inches from being seen by all of the audience.
Taking Monarch after the finale concludes will be difficult, but may be the only way to do so without causing too much of a scene.
Catacombs: Onboard the Enkidu
(ATTN: Unicorn, Blunt)
Lydia rests in her chair, as if her feet ache. Even if she was in pain, the crew would never hear her complain. Though only in her 40’s, she naturally seems to take a motherly perspective of her crew. She looks across the bridge of the Enkidu, monitoring both the ship systems, and her small crew.
Wraith is seated anxiously at the gunner panel, forcing his hands clear of the firing console and instead onto the scanner screen in front of him. He taps the blue lines until the device rights itself. No sign of machine activity.
Blaze looks out from the co-pilots seat, looking out at the motionless Gilgamesh tucked in its broadcast location only 100 meters out.
Derelict scratches an elbow, looking into a screen of cascading green letters, watching without speaking.
“Once they secure the Monarch, we have to be ready to jump,” Lydia addresses her men, “We have no idea where his real body is plugged in, and will have to move as quickly as we can. It will mean abandoning the Gilgamesh for a moment. We cannot be gone long…”
Wraith feels his eyelids getting heavy. He automatically dips forward, nearly collapsing on the console before he catches himself, and shakes himself fully awake. No sooner has he done so, than a slight blip registers in front of him. A red triangle… the Senitnel signal… it dipped into his sensor path for only an instant, before going black again.
“What was that?” Blaze inquired as he turned to face Wraith. Lydia and Derelict looked at each other as if confused.
Wraith stared carefully at his screen again. All looked clear again, for the moment…