What color is death?

 There was a zionite with no crew, no reputation, and no clue... and it was perfect.

There was a zionite with a dream, not a very complex shceme... and it was perfect.

There was Zionite with plan, it would lead to his end... and it was perfect.

 There was a Zionite who felt there was so much more than his chosen path.

He felt he could accomplish so much, but had no course of action.

A man lost within his feelings... feelings of pain, regret, and sorrow.

His name was Grace of Darkness, a name chosen for the nature of his mind.

A man trapped within his own darkness.

Too much feeling can be a dangerous thing if not kept in check.

Unfourtunatly for Grace, he kept it bottled up inside, silently.

Grace began doubting his awakening very early on.

Maybe he never should have ageed to take that pill.

He thought about this for a lond time, until HE showed up.

Out of nowhere he appears and takes the life of one of the greatest Zionites to ever live.

For now he would stay, but he needed to vent his feelings

This calmed him down for awhile, but sadly it seemed he would need to repeat this task over and over.

This did not satisfy him to say the least.

For now he would cope, but this inner peace would not last.

He continued to serve under the Zion order, eventually becoming leader of his own faction.

It was named the Tactical Nuetralization Squad, it's purpose to be one of the more extremist factions in Zion.

However it did not last, and he once again wondered the Matrix, lost.

It then became a never ending fight, for a dream that seemed would never come to a relization for Zion.

Wake all blue pills and then what?

Others it seemed began to doubt Zions leadership and felt they could do a much better job without the restriant of the Zion Council.

They were considered rougue operatives and were to be delt with like any other enemy.

Seemed they showed up because of a certain Magician that appeared in the City.

This however didn't really concern Grace.

He really just wanted to be left alone at the moment.

It was all just a jumbled mess.

 Sleep Walkers.

Liasons.

Cypherites.

Exiles.

Leaders.

Faith.

He didn't want to be here anymore, not like this.

He felt there was something missing.

Something from his past.

There was only one man who could help him with that, so he left the matrix to seek him out.

He feels it deep with in, that pain from 4 years ago. The bullet hole on his back still itches, as he looks upon what was to be his demise.

She looked just like her, he couldn't understand it. He had the nerve to help her, to believe it WAS her, he felt like such a naive fool.

Grace couldn't face the fact that she was dead, even though this woman appeared 6 months after the incident he refused to face the truth.

There is a voice in the wind calling to him as he serveys the area of his so called last moments of life. It's himself, his... other self. He wants out, again, but Grace refuses. He will not lose control again, he must not.

Darkness: Do you see it?

Darkness: Do you remember that night?

Darkness: I can stop that from happening ever again.

Darkness: Let go of your feelings, I'm not just a murmur that escapes your lips every now and then. I am real. I am you. Face the facts, you are weak and when you drop your guard for even the slightest moment I shall take control.

Grace: Shut up, I am not weak.

Darkness: Prove it.

Grace: I AM NOT WEAK!

Darkness: Then what are you?

Darkness: You can't fight, you fail at love, and you are just pathetic.

Grace: I'm not, I just.. I just don't know what to do anymore. I don't want this life, I want her back. This should have never happened, it's all my fault. if I hadn't awakened her she would still be alive. We would be together-

Darkness: Shut up!

Darkness: You are such a whiney little b*tch! Did I ask for your life story? I was there remember? She's gone and there's nothing you can or will do about it. Your a scared litle child, you always were. Voicing your little opinions like your some kind of diplomat. Put the tounge away and pull the fist out you puff. Do yourself a favor and just let me out.

Grace: No.

Darkness: What?

Grace: I said no.

Grace: I know who can help me.

Darkness: Your going to crawl back to him!!??

Grace: He is the only one that can make this pain go away.

Darkness: You know what, you right...

Grace: Huh?

Darkness: Your right, he is the only one. You defidently should go back to the Cypherites, join them this time even. Yes, yes a very good idea.

Grace: What are you playing at?

Darkness: Me? Nothing, I just think you finally made a good decision that will benifit you in the long run.

Grace was about to respond when a smell waivered to his nostrils. A salty, sour smell he hadn't noticed before. He looked down and saw a faint red stain on the ground, his blood. He remember when he was laying there waiting for he dying breath, until his operator finally rewired his EJP and pulled him out.

He knew he had to find a way to cope, and that maybe the Cypherite organization would be his salvation. They had help him in the past, providing much need intel on the Sleep Walkers and to the imposter posing as Tara Daniels. Grace though back to that night he finally cornered her and placed a bullet between her eyes.  She pleaded and pleaded, crying about how she didn't know and she was given th shell by an exile. He broke her left leg, demanding that she give him a name and location. Stupidly she refused, Grace never understood why they chose to suffer more but he didn't care at that point. This was someone screwing with his life, with his past and he was going to find out who. All the while Darkness sat in wait as Grace grew angrier and more lost within his emotions. He knew it wouldn't be long until he was able to take control.

Darkness could remember when he first was able to get a taste of his full power. He went on a rampage in the international district, killing exiles left and right from Kowloon all the was to Furihata. Unfourtunalty he was stopped, somehow Grace regained control though not before Darkness gave him a little make over. Next time it will not happen, next time he will stay free.

Grace made up his mind, he knew the answer to the choice that lied ahead. He will join the Cypherite cause to ease his suffering, and all shall be balanced in his life again. Cryptos is a great man who deserves his loyalty, and maybe in the process he will find Taras' killer.

Darkness made up his mind, He knew the answer to the choice that lied ahead. He will join the Cypherite cause to allow Graces' anger to boil, and he shall be free again. Veil is a great woman who deserves to train someone with killing intent, and maybe in the process he will finally take control.

No crew, no reputation, no clue...

No crew, no reputation, no clue...

No crew, no reputation, no clue...

Who am I, I am no one that is who I am. I am just here, awakened without a purpose, or was I? Is my only reason here to fight, fight for what? I am here to fight and save humanity, but from what exactly. I really haven't a clue as to what your cause, this cause, OUR cause really is. Can you tell me, elighten me, maybe give me a push in the right direction?

I don't even want to be here anymore, what's life without her? She was my... everything, and I messed it up so bad. Why does it seem that everything I love falls to ash? I should have awakened her, maybe then she would have had a chance, she would have had an EJP. Dammit, why was I such a fool back then?!?! That guy, he came out of nowhere, what was it he shouted? "Death to all of Zion and it's children, you are a plaugue on this world and the next. Your species shall fall like it should have so long ago, die you pathetic sack of blood!" Then just like that she was gone. I wanted to stop him, I really tried, but that bastard was so strong. He threw me from the building and I fell so far, far from her, far from hope. I wanted to die, I truly did. I could see the ground closing in on me fast, and I thought about her once more.

She was, intoxicating, just her movement was poetic. She was a beauty like no other and she was all mine. I walked up to her apartment complex that one fateful day, the day I was to be awakened. She smiled when she saw me, kiss seemed to last forever after she leaped into my arms. I hugged her closely as if it was the last time I would ever see her again. I closed the door behind me and we made our way to the kitchen, she offered me a cold beverage but I refused, for some reason I wasn't thirsty at the moment. She asked if there was anything else she could get me, I politely replied no to the question. I sat down on the couch feeling a bit exauhsted, she wondered if anything was the matter. I call out her name, Tara, such a beautiful name. I ask if she ever felt as if the world around her was not as it was supposed to be, if a normal day ever felt like you were still dreaming. She gave me a puzzled stare and shook her head, I told that this day felt like one of those days. She leaned down and kissed me on the forehead calling me silly, she reassured me that this was no dream. I wasn't so sure, but I brushed it off and decided to enjoy the moment.

As I left the apartment I tripped on the welcome mat. I felt like such a fool for doing so, but I guess it happened for a reason because the moment I fell the man behind me hit the ground, hard. I looked over to him and noticed his eye were glazed over, his mouth slighting parted open. I felt something warm surround my hand, I looked down and saw a puddle of red liquid. As I followed the trail I saw it led back to the man on the ground. I looked at his chest and saw a hole about the size of a silver dollar, still smoking from the bullet. I turned my head and gazed down the street and saw two men dressed in business suits running full sped toward me. I was in a panick not knowing what to do, there was a dead body next to me and what looked like two feds running to arrest me, only problem was one had a giant hand cannon pointed in my direction. "Get up!" I woke up out of my trance, "Get the hell up, now!" I rose my feet as quickly as possible, as two loud noises echoed  off the surrounding buildings. "Run!" I sprinted as fast as I could, never looking back. Whos' ever voice that was just save me, and you can believe I was grateful.

I darted around a corner and into an alley way, was I safe? Who was that person, and that noise, did he shoot at those guys? I had too many things going on in my head to sort out at the moment. I took off again down the alley and onto the adjacent street. For some reason a cop movie popped into my head and I suddenly got the idea that I needed to changed my appearance. I ran into a clothing store and picked and outfit I would never wear in my life, I then headed to a hair salon and proceed to dye my hair a turquoise-ish blue color. 'D*mn', I can't go home I thought to myself. Well maybe I should wait a few hours then sneak in the back way, I can't go to Tara's place because that would involve her. Wait, wait, wait, I haven't done anything, why the hell am I running from the police. I should just head down to the station and demand to know what's going on. I mean, I have rights for Godsake I demand so justice for this injustice that has just occured! Okay, now that the crazy talk is out of the way, I need to find a place to laylow for a while until those guys give up on chasing me. I turned to the left out of the store just in time to bumb into the same guys that shot at me before. 'Sh*t' I thought, only I'm this lucky. They turned to face me, the guy on the left sneered and told me to move along. I didn't hesitate I turned around and headed in the opposite direction and turned the nearest corner. I couldn't believe that actually worked, they didn't recognize me at all, how lucky is that. I suddenly heard shoes hitting the ground very hard and very fast behind me. I looked over my shoulder to see the same two guys running toward me again. 'Jigs up!' I started running like a mad man down the street, I don't understand it why the hell would they give me a head start if they knew it was me the entire time? Is this some kind of sick game they are playing? Dammit i'm running out of breath, I gotta ditch these guys fast. I leap over afence making my way though someones back yard, I hop over a few more hoping that these guys suck at free running. I hear a loud thud in front of me, then something hits me in the chest with a powerful force behind it. I smack the ground in pain, I never wanted to get up again. I looked up to see one of the feds standing infront of me. I look down at his feet and notice a pothole in the grass around him. I didn't understand why the ground was so messed up, everything else in the area was fine. As he took a step foward, I notice his footprint was embossed in the pothole, did he do that? "Mr. Bazley", I looked up at the feds face, "Your coming with us". That was the last thing I heard before his fist connected with my face and I fell into a deep sleep.

A dream, not a complex scheme

A dream, not a complex scheme

A dream, not a complex scheme

Runtime// 23-64
-CMND ALPHA
.2.6.3.02

Tracking...

Standby...

"Sir, we have his location.", The Agent scanned the monitor as he viewed the target.He began entering a system of numbers and equations into the console, rapidly pressing the keys. "He's currently in the vacinety of the Midian Neighborhood.", The Agent rose from the console and faced the second Agent in the room. "Affirmative, Agent Norris, it is time to proceed.", The second agent replied as he cocked his FM-1500. As if the room it self had began to shift, the two Agents dissapeared leaving a trail of code behind them, if drifted momentarily in the air then vanished. The room itself appeared no different than it was before, except for the eerie silence.

Lightly jogging down the street a man in his 50s stomps down the sidewalk. He is on his 3rd mile, great accomplishment in his 3 week of a new excercise program he just started. As he came upon the intersection, he began to feel a bit nauseous. He leaned against the signal pole to catch his breath, as he felt he should probably call it a day. Sudenly the mans han began to itch, he looked down and saw nothing. He thought maybe he had brushed against a plant while running but he couldn't recall and such thing happening. His hand went from itching to burning, until it was an unbearable pain. That was the least of his problems and he fel his insides begin to boil as if something had reached inside of him and began rearranging organs. Green code began seeping from his pores, the man could understand what was going on and in the next instant, blacked out.

Agent Norris removed his hand from the pole as he  grabbed onto his jacket right at the chest and held tightly as he cracked his neck. It was alway a bit stiff when entering a blue pills RSI, he would accomadate though. He search the area as onlookers stared in disbelief, confusion, and horror. A lady in her car, stomped on the gas crashing into another car in the intersection. Agent Norris ignored the disaster and proceeded to the last known waypoint, he would be updated with more information once on location. As he reach his destination his touched his ear piece contacting the second Agent. "Agent Brown, do you have him?", Agent Brown serveyed the area with no target insight. "Negative.", Agent Brown shifted he gaze toward an apartment complex located at the end of Midian, leading into the Camon Neighborhood. "Agent Norris, proceed west and rendevous at location 34 5 543 section Charlie.", Agent Brown then crouched low to the ground and took a giant leap into the air.

As the two Agents entered the Camon Neighborhood, they recived intel the target was approximately 82 Meters away. They rounded the first set of buildings just as the target began exiting building 3. "Target located, commence termination.", Both Agents reached into they're jackets and pulled out there FM-1500's, they aimed with such precision there was no chance for a miss. We the targets head in clear view they simultaneously squeezed the trigger, and both bullets burst out of the massive chambers. As the bullets closed in on their target, somethng went amiss, the target dissapeared.Two bodies hit the ground, the target and a non-hostile, probabilty ensued. "The target is still functional.", Agent Brown adjusted his system shades, "Not possible, he's a blue pill."

Agent Norris hesitated for a minute, "He could be like the others, the special breeds.", he tightened his grip on the gun. "Do not allow him to escape." Agent Brown nodded in agreement, "Affirmative." They sprinted down the street guns once again pointed at their target. Suddenly out of nowhere a red pill lands on the ground, he's fast as he shouts something to the blue pill and fires his gun at the charging Agents. Agent Norris moves quickly bending to the right to avoid the bullet. Agent Brown spun through the air twisting over the bullet, as he landed on the ground and looked up, noticed the target and the red pill were both gone.

The Agents scanned the area, not finding a trace of either one. "What now?" Agent Brown asked, a bit aggravated at the situation. Agent Norris, touched his earpiece as he recieved an incoming call. He looked to Agent Brown, and pointed him in the direction of Eshean. Agent Brown nodded and they both dissapearred, again leaving behind a trail of code.

As they arrived on the scene, there was no incoming update of the targets location or situation. Suddenly Agent Norris was bumbed in the back, he turned and found himslef face to face with a blue pill of unusual caliber. He was not the target so was really of no concern. "Move along." Agent Norris quickly touched his ear piece as a call came ringing in. He gritted his teeth, and he poiting in the direction of the teal haired bluepill, "that was the target!" Both Agents rounded the corner of the building they were certain the blue pill went around. They spotted him at the far end of the alleyway, he hadn't noticed them yet. Thier footsteps began to echo off the walls of the surrounding buildings, echoing throughout the alley way. The blue pill turned and spotted them, they began to run faster and the blue pill took off. The Blue pill turned into a nighborhood and began hoping over fences, Agent Norris had had enough of the chase. He dug his left foot into the ground and lifted off, flying through the air.

He landed just as the blue pill was jumping over the last fence, and hit his chest. The blue pill hit the ground with a thud,"Mr. Bazley", the blue pill looked up, "Your coming with us." Agent Norris pulled back his right arm and his hand clenched into a fist. His arm flew forward and his fist connected with the left side of the blue pills face. Agent Brown stood over the unconscious target "We are not terminating him?" Agent Norris look up at Agent Brown and nodded his head. "He will be interragated and reprocessed, call the cleaning crew for the targets removal from the area." Agent Brown gave a slight head nod as he proceeded to dial the number into his cell phone.

"Evening, Mr. Bazley", Joseph opened his eyes slowly, as he grabbed his aching jaw. His eye began to adjust and he noticed he was in a room with a giant mirror, an 8 foot table and two chairs. "Do you understand why you are here, Mr. Bazley?"

Agent Norris crossed the room standing opposite of the table. Joseph stared over to the agent "Not exactly", He wanted to say more but his mouth was in far too much pain. "Resisting arrest, you fled from and Agent." Agent Norris adjusted his tie and he bent down to grab a file off the table.

"Arrest for what, I didn't do anything." Josephs' heart began to race. "Mr. Bazley understand that we have been tracking your movements." He spoke gentle but with a very firm tone. "You frequent a certain online group called, The Seekers. Do you deny this information?", Joseph started to feel panic ensue, he had to get outta there.

"Perhaps you would respond better to your alias, would that make you a believer?" Joseph shot Agent Norris a look of anger. "Will you cooperate then, Grace of Darkness?" Agent Norris opened the file and began to scan through it. "Your handle is a meaning of poectic evil. Gracefully using decietful tactics to gain rise over situations." He closed the file and set it back down on the table.

 "Not a very graceful escape today, though no one ever escapes us." A grin came across Josephs face, "I say your lying", Agent Norris arched an eyebrow in curiosty. "I know of 3 that have escaped from you." Agent Norris adjusted his stance, "If you know of such information, then you will enlighten me on this claim." Joseph sat back in his chair resting his forearms on his thighs.

"As I was saying, there were two red pills and a blue pill. The first was Seraph, After that Trinity." Joseph began looking around the room, "Who is the third, Mr. Bazley?" Joseph jump to his feet, "Me!", he yelled as he flipped over the table. He jump on the edge of the table and took a diving leap off. He raised his foot up and it connected with the glass mirror. He rolled as he hit the floor, and rose to his feet as quickly as possible.

Agent Norris came barreling though what used to be a glass wall. He raised a finger toward Joseph. "It is Inevitable, Mr Bazley, there is no escape." Joseph turn to face the Agent, " You know what's funny, they told me this would haoppen exactly as it is now." Agent Norris slowly began lowering his hand, " Who are they, Mr Baz-", before he could finish the wall exploded.

"This is my exit!" Joseph yelled at the Agent through all the noise of shatter glass and flying debris.

Joseph stood at the opening in the side of the building, he took a deep breath and leapt.

A plan, it would lead to his end

A plan, it would lead to his end

A plan, it would lead to his end

"Wake up!" Grace woke out of his trance, the stun effect had worn off, he was back in Camon hieghts battling Machine operatives. He looked to his left and noticed a mech coding the air toward him. He quickly threw a knife at him, rooting him to the ground. He ran backwards till he was just out of range of the dangerous attack. Lowering himself to the ground he activated his cloak and crept toward the rooting enemy. As he closed in, he pulled out his shield jamming device and proceeded to hack the mechs evasion code.With success, he quickly put the device away and lept forward toward the mech before the shield became active once more. He wrap his arms around the mech and lifted off the ground, launching him in the air. He held on tight as he came crashing to the crash, the mechs head smashed into the pavement. Grace jumped up and faced the mech that was staggering around after bieng suplexed. He threw another knife, rendring him powerless. He continued his onslaught until the mechs RSI couldn't take anymore, and fell to the ground. "Your a p*ssy, fight light a man next time!", Grace looked down at the mech and laughed, "My mistake, all I heard was blah blah blah I'm just failed." He pulled a blade out of it's shealth and pointed it at the mech, "You might wanna activate that EJP before I finish the job, b*tch." The operatives eyes grew wide with fear, "Pull me out now!", he screamed at his operator.

Grace flew up in the air and landed on top of a building, and fell to his knees. His hands hit the ground as he started breathing heavy. He heaved foward and coughed up blood, which hit the ground in a disgusting splatter. He dropped to his side and curled up in a ball, as he closed his eyes. Graces mind raced a thousand thoughts a miute. Flashes and random images over took the darkness of the back of his eyelids.

A thump? Another... Another.. A heartbeat? Yes, that's what he heard, a heartbeat. "You...", he heard a faint voice, "Me... You... I" , he heard it once more, louder this time...closer. "I am you and you are me", He looked around and couldn't find anyone. " I am you and you am I", Grace began backing up, then he walked foward, turned left, then right. The voice was all around him, he couldn't understand what was happening to him. He could have been hit with something during the battle. No, not possible, he was watching his back making sure no one snuck up on him. He stopped, the voice had stopped, there was just silence. "Release me." Grace saw a light, "Release me!", the light became brighter, "RELEASE ME!" The light flashed and Grace opened his eyes.

He was back on the roof in Camon, he looked to his right and saw the blood he had coughed up. "Operator, exit." Grace stood up and walked to the edge of the building. He looked down toward the ground and spotted the plaza where the battle took place. He noticed the hardline, "Nevermind." He put his phone away and jumped down. He picked up the reciever and jacked out.

"The Last Serenade"

Welcome to the real world Mr. Bazley, do not be startled. It is a lot to take in at first, I know. In tim you will get use to it and understand your surroundings. Please have a seat while I explain things, this is for your benefit. Right now your mind is jacked into a training simulation while we work on your body. Here you will learn the basic motor skills to function within the matrix, are you ready to begin…

“Don’t let her escape!”  , Shouted a Zion soldier as he leapt over the edge of a building and on to a platform. He pointed toward the red headed female operative that was making her way toward a tattered building. “She went inside, fan out a cover all exits.”  The soldiers moved into position, making sure that no escape was possible. Two began making their way toward the elevator, they hit the button for the  4^th floor.  “Her code signature ends there, be careful guys she doesn’t seem like the others.”   , The operator ended the call and the men paced themselves toward the first door. A loud cracking noise could be heard inside, they moved back as it became louder. One of the soldiers became daring and put the side of his head against the door to see if he recognized the sound. It was the last thing he would ever do as a shot rand through the air and the soldiers brain matter ended up and the far wall. “Holy sh*t!  , One of the soldiers screamed in fear, as they began retreating back toward the elevator. “W- we can’t show any fear men, we have to take her out... , screw it I’m calling in for back up!”  Moments later the building was filled with Zion soldiers. Half of them made their way to the fourth floor while the other half surrounded the building. “You stupid ignorant fools, die!”  , The soldiers barged into the room only to find it empty. As they searched the area they found the source of the cracking noises, wired explosives embedded in the walls, ceiling, and floor. There was no time to react as the building detonated in a fiery explosion.

“Joe, wait up, I’m not that fast!” Joe turned around as he saw Tara struggling to keep up. “Oh, I’m sorry, I forgot your still asleep.” He ran back to help her up, “Well I won’t be for long right, your going to find my pod and awaken me and then we can be free together.”  Joe stopped and stared out over the ledge, “Of course, we’ll be together forever my love…”

“You did very well Joseph, are you ready to see the Matrix?” Niobe nodded to Joe as he tried to catch his breath. “Yes, I am.” He stood up and clench his fist. “Very well then, load it.” Joe’s eyes glazed over with code as he exited the simulation. As his body began to reappear, he felt a crunchy feeling underneath his feet. He looked around as his eye adjusted and noticed giant crates, a hard line, and a semi. ‘Where the hell is this place?’, he thought. “You’re in Uriah, shouldn’t be too much trouble for you to find your way around, stand on your guard though.” His operator signed off after relaying the information.

“What in the hell happened??!!??!” The lead soldier screamed into his headset. “Someone answer me!” Soldiers and debris were everywhere.  Code static, still flying through the air as the men picked themselves up. “T-target lost, sir,” The soldier weakly rose to his feet, “Casualties, numerous.”

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Tara looked out over the ledge, “Have you ever just stared at it before?” Joe looked over to her, taking her hand in his. “Every day, I don’t ever want to leave it.” He sighed as he thought for a moment, Tara squeezed his hand tighter. “What with you tell the others though?” Joe grit his teeth. “D*mn, the others I’m not here for them, only for you.” Tara hand became limp, and she began falling to the ground. “Tara?”, Joe looked over to her, she had a gaping hole in her back, “Tara??!?”.  Joe let go of her hand as he grabbed the side of his head, he then screamed in anguish, “TARA!” He looked over to his left as saw the smoking barrel in the hand of one of his own. “You will never leave us now.” The masked man began laughing meniachaly as Joe charged toward him in rage.