03-06-2016, 11:03 AM
In an instant the falling sensation stopped, and he was back. Matrix would never have believed that he would find comfort in the Nexus, but the endless and eerie white expanse was a welcome bit of familiarity after the ordeal in the Graveyardverse. While his senses strained to adjust to another abrupt change in his surroundings, Matrix was already reaching to his hip. His right hand wrapped around his trusted firearm, which was now comfortably back in its holster on his side. That strange knife he’d been forced to battle that monster with was gone, but he didn’t exactly miss it, either.
Only after confirming that his gun was intact did he move on to inspect his own body. He could breathe normally once more, and all of his energy seemed to be back. Matrix looked down at himself and saw no wounds or mutilations. For all intents and purposes, he was in the same shape he’d arrived in the Graveyardverse in. It was like it had all been one twisted dream. Or a game. At least some things were consistent with his home world.
Mostly for his own amusement, he then brought up his hand and felt the scar around his robotic eye. He would miss his cybernetic eye if he’d lost it, but he also wouldn’t help but be amused and a little bit annoyed at Omni’s selective healing. It was just a reminder that he had very little control over his situation.
Satisfied with his state of being, Matrix began to walk. He didn’t want to linger in the open Nexus for too long. There were simply too many types of people passing through that would want a fight, and no environment to use to his advantage should one break out. Luck was not on his side in that regard, because it didn’t take long for him to come upon a small group that was gathering at the fountain. What perplexed him the most was the sight of Smith, Colonel, and Ryner amongst them. They spotted him just as quickly.
“Mister Matrix,” Smith greeted his former companion. Like before, he gave a little extra emphasis to the sprite’s name, as if there were some small amusement in it for him. “I was beginning to think we missed you.”
“I died,” Matrix slowly said, looking at some of the newcomers he didn’t recognize. “I left all of you behind in that place. How did you get here?”
“Clearly, there are mysteries we do not understand about this realm,” Smith explained briefly, but dismissed such a trivial detail in favor of his own goal. “Regardless, we all died. Though we lost you, among others, to that abomination, another emerged in the aftermath to claim my own life.”
“Yea?” Matrix let the agent continue. He kept his hands by his side, ready to snatch his gun and fight if need be. Now that they weren’t trapped in the Graveyardverse, anything could happen.
“Betrayal, Mister Matrix,” Smith continued, silently noting the positioning of Matrix’s hands. “Those that joined us turned on me at the appropriate moment. We are all here to seek retribution when the traitors emerge from Teucer’s world.”
Matrix looked amongst the crew that was assembled. He didn’t recognize any of them, but his first instinct was that he didn’t trust or like them. That wasn’t exactly out of the ordinary for him, however, and he was at least self-aware enough to realize that about himself.
“So you’re going to kill this man as soon as you see him?” Matrix snapped, getting himself some curious looks from the others. Obviously there was some backstory between the others gathered here and those he’d briefly fought alongside. None of that changed his feelings about Smith, however. “Why should I believe you’re the innocent one, Virus?”
“You are a man of honor, and evil repulses you. You made that much clear when we met in the temple. It was admirable, if not completely unnecessary,” Smith replied. Matrix decided to let that offhanded remark go without comment. “Let the betrayer emerge, and make your decisions from there. Though, I would be remiss if I did not inform you that Colonel, the man you praised as ‘guardian’ was complicit in my death, as well. But that is in the past.”
Matrix blinked in confusion as he glanced over to Colonel. Regardless, Smith once again made a good argument. So, the sprite took a step backwards to signify his non-allegiance for the moment, and waited to hear and learn more about what was going to unfold.
Only after confirming that his gun was intact did he move on to inspect his own body. He could breathe normally once more, and all of his energy seemed to be back. Matrix looked down at himself and saw no wounds or mutilations. For all intents and purposes, he was in the same shape he’d arrived in the Graveyardverse in. It was like it had all been one twisted dream. Or a game. At least some things were consistent with his home world.
Mostly for his own amusement, he then brought up his hand and felt the scar around his robotic eye. He would miss his cybernetic eye if he’d lost it, but he also wouldn’t help but be amused and a little bit annoyed at Omni’s selective healing. It was just a reminder that he had very little control over his situation.
Satisfied with his state of being, Matrix began to walk. He didn’t want to linger in the open Nexus for too long. There were simply too many types of people passing through that would want a fight, and no environment to use to his advantage should one break out. Luck was not on his side in that regard, because it didn’t take long for him to come upon a small group that was gathering at the fountain. What perplexed him the most was the sight of Smith, Colonel, and Ryner amongst them. They spotted him just as quickly.
“Mister Matrix,” Smith greeted his former companion. Like before, he gave a little extra emphasis to the sprite’s name, as if there were some small amusement in it for him. “I was beginning to think we missed you.”
“I died,” Matrix slowly said, looking at some of the newcomers he didn’t recognize. “I left all of you behind in that place. How did you get here?”
“Clearly, there are mysteries we do not understand about this realm,” Smith explained briefly, but dismissed such a trivial detail in favor of his own goal. “Regardless, we all died. Though we lost you, among others, to that abomination, another emerged in the aftermath to claim my own life.”
“Yea?” Matrix let the agent continue. He kept his hands by his side, ready to snatch his gun and fight if need be. Now that they weren’t trapped in the Graveyardverse, anything could happen.
“Betrayal, Mister Matrix,” Smith continued, silently noting the positioning of Matrix’s hands. “Those that joined us turned on me at the appropriate moment. We are all here to seek retribution when the traitors emerge from Teucer’s world.”
Matrix looked amongst the crew that was assembled. He didn’t recognize any of them, but his first instinct was that he didn’t trust or like them. That wasn’t exactly out of the ordinary for him, however, and he was at least self-aware enough to realize that about himself.
“So you’re going to kill this man as soon as you see him?” Matrix snapped, getting himself some curious looks from the others. Obviously there was some backstory between the others gathered here and those he’d briefly fought alongside. None of that changed his feelings about Smith, however. “Why should I believe you’re the innocent one, Virus?”
“You are a man of honor, and evil repulses you. You made that much clear when we met in the temple. It was admirable, if not completely unnecessary,” Smith replied. Matrix decided to let that offhanded remark go without comment. “Let the betrayer emerge, and make your decisions from there. Though, I would be remiss if I did not inform you that Colonel, the man you praised as ‘guardian’ was complicit in my death, as well. But that is in the past.”
Matrix blinked in confusion as he glanced over to Colonel. Regardless, Smith once again made a good argument. So, the sprite took a step backwards to signify his non-allegiance for the moment, and waited to hear and learn more about what was going to unfold.