| Part Twenty-Two: The Brains, the Brawn, and...What Are You? Author’s Note: Very big thanks to Earelen for beta reading. Gemini tugged Smith aside. “I don’t need or want guests right now.” “They are not guests.” “What are they? Falafels?” Before Smith could comment with more than his customary sour look, the taller of the two new Agents approached. “Agent Smith,” he said. His voice was a rich baritone. Smith didn’t disguise his irritation. “Why are you here?” The tall Agent might have blinked in surprise behind his sunglasses. “Resistant activity is temporarily at a minimum.” “So, you’re bored Agents,” Gemini said. She enjoyed the tall Agent’s expression. A bit like a large puppy trying to look stern. He was ruggedly handsome, with the same reddish hair and arrogant poise that Smith had demonstrated when he first came to her door. She’d soon cured Smith of that. Mostly. Circuit peered from behind the sofa and sniffed the air. Could she smell the new people? Gemini had been surprised at Smith’s scent and she wondered if all Agents smelled the same. She hoped the wonderful scent of silk, skin, and leather was unique to Smith. The shorter Agent noticed the cat. He stared back at Circuit. Unperturbed, the cat approached the new Agent with a small meow. The confusion on the AI’s face when Circuit rubbed against his leg was priceless. “What is it doing?” he asked. His voice was higher than the others’ and quite musical. Still slightly angry at Smith for allowing these creatures to invade her home, Gemini let the question distract her from resurfaced thoughts of trying to strangle Agent Smith with his own earpiece. “She likes you,” she informed the pretty Agent. “Her name’s Circuit. Smith named her.” Two surprised faces turned toward their superior. Smith gave the room his sourest look. “That was unnecessary, Gemini.” The tall Agent smirked. The other Agent gave no indication of his opinion and was still interested in the cat. He crouched down to let Circuit sniff his hand. Gemini watched with growing interest. Maybe Agents were naturally good with cats. Or maybe Circuit sensed something worthy in the new Agent. Damn, he was cute... She wanted to hate these two. Resistance propaganda had seeped into the consciousness of even the staunchest Watcher. Gemini couldn’t help thinking of Smith’s colleagues as potentially dangerous. Zion considered them the ultimate enemies and even the Watchers respected Agents and their power. The Watchers existed under the condition that they didn’t fight for the Resistance. Any Watcher who changed allegiance became another target. It was an uncertain existence. Probably less secure than actually being unplugged. At least when you were unplugged you knew who and what you were, and you didn’t have to go back into the Matrix if you didn’t want to. She couldn’t hate the Agents. Disloyalty to her own species or not, she just couldn’t think of them as ruthless killers. They were simply following their code. A human’s DNA determined his or her hair or eye color, which wasn’t so different from following artificial intelligence programming. If humans and machines would just realize that simple common thing, the Watchers’ major dream would be a large step closer to completion. When humans understood, they might not be able to hate the machines anymore. She cleared her throat, “Do I get introductions?” The taller one was Jones and the cute one was Brown. Gemini would have guessed the opposite. Well, given a fifty-fifty chance, she’d have to get it wrong. Were all Agents programmed so handsome? Gemini did her best to stifle her hormones. She was a one-Agent woman, and Smith was more than enough for her. Then again, polyandry suddenly looked very appealing. “You are the female with which Agent Smith has been ordered to cohabitate,” Jones said. “And you are a falafel,” Gemini said. This time she didn’t imagine it. Jones did blink. Ha, she thought, that caught the Agent off guard. She could almost hear Smith smirk behind her. If she couldn’t do anything about these Agents invading her home, she could at least have some fun with it. Wildly she began thinking of possible Agent-abusing techniques. Agent Brown was petting Circuit. Gemini heard purring from across the room. “She’ll never leave you alone now,” she told Brown. Brown watched as Circuit ran her cheek over his knee, scent-marking her new acquaintance. “Perhaps that is not a bad thing,” the Agent said. His expression could only be described as pleasantly astounded. “Well, anyone who’s good with cats is good with me,” Gemini told him. Agent Brown looked at her. Gemini stared back. Once again she was glad of all her former experience tolerating things staring at her. Smith had said that his team wasn’t as smart as he was. Gemini wasn’t so sure. Even through his dark grey sunglasses, Brown’s eyes showed the unmistakable look of intelligence. Maybe their programming wasn’t as complete or as adaptable as Smith’s, but Brown and Jones were by no measure fools. “Describe current status of your assignment,” Brown said to Smith. “The Mainframe will determine whether that information is relevant for other Agents.” Brown looked as surprised as a being who was supposed to be impassive could look. He tried again, “Team is not functioning at optimal efficiency level.” His musical voice made the words sound like a poem. “Estimate end date of cohabitation with the human female. Upload data gathered.” Smith regarded his inferior. “Team efficiency should not be affected by my absence.” He paused. “Perhaps a recompile is in order, Agent Brown.” Brown obviously didn’t like that suggestion. He glanced at Agent Jones. The tall Agent touched his earpiece. Gemini didn’t like the idea of them communicating without her or Smith. She wondered if they did that often, wondered if Smith considered it insubordination. He certainly looked as though he might be forming a new ulcer. Finally, Jones spoke to Smith, “This assignment was not permanent.” Smith didn’t respond. At first, Gemini had been concerned mainly with finding enough courage to follow through with the assignment. Since falling in love, things were different. Love made her more brave, but also more foolish. Her intellect knew Smith would have to leave, but her heart broke at the idea. Her sojourn with Smith would end. Stupid Agents for bringing up the subject. Gemini scooped up Circuit so Brown couldn’t enjoy her anymore and retreated to the kitchen. She would not have an emotional breakdown in front of three artificial intelligences. In front of Smith it was acceptable, but not these strangers. She blinked hard and bit her tongue to fight her tears. Smith was hers. She was his. The Mainframe couldn’t take that away. For a moment Gemini hated her species for creating artificial intelligence so many years ago. Humanity had no place in the real world now, thanks to its own arrogance. Brown found the human and the cat in the kitchen. Gemini squeezed Circuit for the feeling of security. The cat’s ears flattened against her skull but not from being held too tightly. “Why did you accept this assignment?” Brown asked. He really needed to learn about small talk. “I don’t know,” she said. “I was manipulated by my boss.” “What is the assignment’s significance?” He lacked the same sibilant s of his superior. “I don’t know its purpose, other than to torture Smith...” She smiled at her feeble joke. Brown didn’t get it. He stood between her and the doorway. Gemini felt the cat in her arms start to vibrate ever so slightly, and not from purrs or fearful trembling. “The Mainframe should not allow the Watchers to exist.” “Thanks for your opinion. I’m sure the Mainframe took it into consideration when this assignment was being planned.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm, though she doubted Brown would pick up on it. “You are...nervous,” the Agent said. “I’m not nervous. You’re in my personal space.” Brown took a step closer. Circuit growled a low warning. The Agent glanced at the cat but took no serious stance against its hostility. Gemini held Circuit firmly, as though ten pounds of feline could protect her from six feet of AI. “Describe the impact this assignment has had upon you.” “I don’t have to tell you that!” “You must report it to your superiors. It is what you were ordered to do.” “You’re not my superior!” Agent Brown visibly disagreed. “Human...you will explain how your copulation with Agent Smith has affected you.” He leaned closer, no longer benign or even very cute. How dare he. Circuit hissed and the fur stood up along her spine. Gemini threw the angry cat at Brown. He caught the bundle of hissing fur and sidestepped, giving Gemini a chance to escape the kitchen. She slammed into Smith. How long had he been standing in the doorway? He steadied her while she tried to restore her breathing to normal. Behind her, Brown disengaged himself from the cat. Circuit jumped to the table, still hissing occasionally at this grey-suited invader. Gemini had had enough. “Smith, you tell your goons that our sex life is nobody else’s business.” “We have a ‘sex life’?” he asked with an arched eyebrow. Gemini stared. How could he dismiss their intimacy like that? He knew precisely what she meant, and his words hurt. Why was he being such a bastard? Then she saw his eyes. Smith’s words had been cold, but his eyes shone otherwise. So, he was trying to conceal their connection. Maybe he was worried about losing his reputation in front of his colleagues. What might happen if others found out? Gemini couldn’t fathom what the cult like god called the Mainframe would do if it learned of its Agent’s evolution. She could not apply human psychology to an AI. Whatever was going through Smith’s mind was unfathomable. It was even more alien because of its almost-familiarity. When Smith’s mind had touched hers, part of her creeped away from it. He was filled with numbers and codes and algorithms that she would never comprehend. The almost-familiar part was what he’d developed beyond the numbers. He did have feelings, and he didn’t know what to do about them. He was certainly afraid of his own emotions, of what he’d become. Gemini wondered what Smith had seen when his mind touched hers. Smith had been in Gemini’s house for nine days. In that time she’d slept with the machine, gotten shot and almost died, and fallen in love. She’d seen inside Smith’s deepest, darkest self. Her physical intimacy with Smith led to a new incredible, almost psychic closeness. Their connection was something Jones and Brown couldn’t understand. If she could show them just a small example of this connection, it might help them all to evolve. Curiosity killed the cat; inquiries infected the Agent. Smith’s snide comment would not go unaddressed. He wasn’t getting away with it. If Jones and Brown were so damn curious, she’d give them a show. Corrupting Agents was a worthy cause for public displays of affection. Gemini met Smith’s eyes with a gleam in her own. “We do have a sex life,” she said loudly enough for the others to hear. “Maybe I need to remind you...” Slowly Gemini slid a hand up Smith’s chest. She could feel the warmth of his skin even through his suit. Her arm curled around his neck and she leaned into him. The solid length of his body accepted her softness. She smiled and saw his eyes almost smirking in return. They were communicating without words; they’d reached the point in their relationship where they understood each other. Words and gestures had become a kind of private code to them. Gemini stood on her toes to reach Smith’s mouth. He didn’t move or respond. Still trying to hold onto that AI pride, perhaps. No matter. She had ways to deal with nonchalance. Her tongue sneaked across Smith’s lower lip. He almost jerked in response. She stroked her hands down the dark grey silk covering his back before subtly squeezing his ribs. She felt him exhale. Almost ticklish. Good. Smith kissed her. Holding her firmly, he pressed her against the doorjamb. His tongue and teeth worked at her mouth. Was he trying to show his team just how good he was at this? Brown and Jones were certainly getting a good show. Gemini all but climbed up Smith’s body to kiss him back. She had difficulty remembering why they were kissing in the first place. She just wanted him. She liked his power, and this intensity of his was simply sublime. Smith changed the angle of the kiss. He nipped at her lips, just enough to make her gasp and allow his tongue access to the guarded wetness of her mouth. She whimpered. He rumbled. This was reckless, foolhardy. If Smith decided to undress her and take her now against the wall, she might not have the power to refuse him. Smith ended the kiss and they stood staring at each other. What a delightful bastard. “Voyeur,” she murmured. “Virus.” The corners of his mouth were smirking. Once again came that nonverbal understanding. “Virus” had become a term of affection, though of course Smith would deny he meant it that way. She liked how he teased her. Sure, they had their arguments, but even their conflicts held a kind of intimacy. Gemini loved Smith for his ability to tease. Among other abilities. He didn’t correct her use of the term voyeur. Technically, Smith would be an exhibitionist, but the Grammar Agent didn’t mention it. As for this emotional roller coaster she was now apparently strapped into...hadn’t she once told herself to enjoy the ride? Gemini turned in Smith’s arms to see the other Agents’ reactions. Both stood motionless in that characteristic pose of silent communication. After a while they turned simultaneously to stare at Smith and Gemini. Gemini knew disapproval when she saw it. Their placid curiosity had changed to something much more ominous. She frowned. What right did they have to judge an emotional attachment between two people? Gemini doubted either of them had much experience with human intimacy. Too bad. They wouldn’t find out from her. Show and tell was over. “What were you doing?” Brown asked. He probably already knew and didn’t care what they were doing, but asked out of some warped need to condemn them. Strangely, she wasn’t embarrassed. She was proud of her relationship with Smith. Her love for him gave her strength. Gemini wanted to shout at the Agents, Smith is my lover! Damn the ominous Mainframe to hell and live your own lives! She would surely be flushed from her pod for saying that, and with no real world ship to rescue her... Smith must have sensed something, because he surreptitiously held her tighter. Though his face was impassive to the untrained eye, she knew better. Smith was concerned for her. Gratefully she squeezed him back. “The Mainframe assigned you this duty,” Jones said, “but this is a human. It is inappropriate to...touch...in that manner. Humans are to be controlled.” Smith said, “You have not touched one in this manner.” Deliberately he ran a hand down her back and over the curve of her bottom. The sensation made her forget about being indignant. Yes. Show Jones what he was missing, what he wouldn’t get from her. She tucked her head against Smith’s shoulder and let him grope her. “It can be...pleasant,” Smith added. “Share these sensations.” Brown touched his earpiece. “They are not yours to experience.” “Comply,” Brown said. “The Mainframe has received incomplete data on the details of your mission.” “I will not comply, Agent Brown, and you don’t have the authority to demand it of me.” It was Brown’s turn to blink in surprise. “This is insubordination,” he said. “You may be defragmented.” “I will be defragmented. The Mainframe sent the order less than an hour ago.” Gemini couldn’t stop her gasp of shock. Her instinct was to hold him, tell him she was so sorry, but Smith’s obvious tension made her rethink the impulse. She’d seen his fragile side, knew he loathed himself for it. Smith had an ego. He was evolving emotions. If she tried to comfort him, he would grow defensive. She knew he would hate to appear human -- weak -- in the presence of his colleagues. She struggled with a silent maternal desire to embrace him. Carefully she began to rub his back as Smith had done for her in the past. He wasn’t looking at her, wasn’t looking at anything really. She wanted to hug him but was afraid to. If she did anything, he might shatter there in her arms. “Brown,” Gemini said, “you need a date. That way you won’t have to experience life vicariously through Smith.” Agent Brown removed his sunglasses and looked her in the eyes. She saw his burgeoning contempt for humanity and imagined this was the last of his patience she’d tested. As if it wasn’t actually happening, she watched Brown slowly reach into his jacket and withdraw his weapon. He leveled the Desert Eagle precisely at the side of her head. Gemini gaped at him. Did he actually think he was going to shoot her? A Watcher? Smith placed himself between Gemini and Brown’s gun. The two Agents stared at each other as the room seemed to grow colder. “She is not to be harmed,” Smith said. “Put your weapon away.” “She has corrupted your code. You will be defragmented.” Brown almost made sense. “Remove the source of malfunction, and the malfunction will correct itself.” Gemini struggled to understand. Brown believed she was the reason for Smith’s evolution into emotions, did he? The other Agents apparently believed the Mainframe’s warped conclusion that emotions were a malfunction. Even Smith’s colleagues believed he was corrupted. Maybe Smith was just fed up. After a time, a person grew tired of a job, even if they were good at it. Had Brown ever considered that? Smith blinked once, slowly. “I have ordered a recompile for you. Put your weapon away, Agent Brown.” Smith drew his own Desert Eagle. The two Agents stood barely four feet apart and stared at each other over the barrels of their guns. Gemini knew they could stay like that for hours. It was Circuit who broke the stand off. The cat had apparently been stalking Agent Brown’s leg all the way from the kitchen where he’d left her. She crouched several feet from his polished shoe, her focus as unwavering as an Agent staring down a Resistant. Brown noticed the twitch of her tail and turned quizzical attention to the feline. He lowered his weapon. “Does that creature believe it can cause me harm?” Gemini almost made another snide comment but quickly thought better of it. Smith would eventually return to his regular Agent duties, and as much as she hated the prospect of Smith leaving her, she didn’t want to be the cause of tension among his team. Already Smith had shown his loyalty to her. If he went further the Mainframe might see a need to delete him entirely. That prospect she could not contemplate. Gemini stepped from behind Smith to face Brown in all his judgmental coldness. The Agent stood motionless except for his eyes, which he shifted to her face. Those eyes were also blue, but different from Smith in that they lacked something deep within them. She got the impression he was staring past her. “Agent Brown...I want to apologize for being so snide.” Brown blinked at her. Yeah, she thought. Agents were good at staring, just like cats. Circuit flicked her ears a few times, then decided a fierce grooming of her left paw was in order. Gemini collected her thoughts. Despite Smith practically radiating irritation behind her, she continued her little speech to Brown, “We, um, got off on the wrong foot. I’m sorry. But you need to know some virus etiquette.” She ignored Smith’s little growl of exasperation. “Whatever is between Smith and me is private. Access the human expression ‘don’t kiss and tell’ and you might understand.” Brown’s eyes glazed over. It was weird when they did that, accessing their databases. More than slightly creepy. Agent Brown looked doubtful, but at least he no longer looked so murderous. “Such behavioral guidelines might apply to humans, but the expression does not explain Agent Smith’s reluctance to comply.” He looked askance at his superior. Gemini bit her tongue. Sarcasm would not help the situation. Smith did not reply. His Desert Eagle remained fixed on Agent Brown. If only he would shoot the pretty thing...but that would leave an innocent coppertop dead, so maybe he shouldn’t. “Will we be defragmented as well for our knowledge of this assignment?” Jones asked, breaking his long silence. “Unknown,” Smith said. For a moment, Gemini feared some impending judgment from the Mainframe. Did it read the Agents’ minds? Surely three Agents thinking about defragmenting simultaneously would be cause for the omnipresent AI’s attention. With his team here in the room, Gemini had to face the reality of what Smith was. Just when she was comfortable, possibly even happy with the situation, things happened to remind her what was really at stake. Damn. “Could we talk about something else, please?” “Chocolate.” Gemini turned to gawk at Smith. “What?” “Agent Brown should investigate chocolate.” “Why?” “I instructed him to investigate the substance.” “Again, why?” “Your fascination with chocolate exhibits characteristics of addiction. If Brown can identify and isolate the element which causes such fascination, it could be utilized to control humanity.” “Gee, now who’s talking with increased syllables and scientific terminology?” Smith frowned, lowering his gun. If he was human, he’d be grumpy. Heck, he was an AI, and he was still grumpy. Jones smirked. Brown holstered his weapon and nudged the grooming Circuit away from leaning on his ankle. Disgruntled but no longer in battle mode, the cat stomped away to settle in Gemini’s recliner. “So, should I get the chocolate?” she asked. She knew Smith saw the evil in her eyes as her notion grew, but he couldn’t speak quickly enough to stop her. “There is an alternative...we could all play Twister.” Smith scowled. If he didn’t detest human mannerisms, he might have done something more, like rolled his eyes. Jones and Brown had such looks of incredulity on their faces, it was all Gemini could do not to burst out laughing. Even if one of them did try to shoot her again, this memory was worth the risk. “Are dialogues such as this commonplace with the human female?” Brown asked. Jones inclined his head to add his wish for an answer. Smirking, Gemini left the explaining to the Agents’ leader. Smith sighed. “Get the chocolate, Gemini.” She fed Brown first. |