A New Time

Chapter 1

A machine carefully grabbed the unconscious Neo with its grapple placing him on the platform on which he had died just a few hours ago.
It watched him, how his chest moved up and down as he breathed. It had a hard time to undestand. It was a human. What was a human? What made someone human? It came to the conclusion a human was a vulnerable creature made of flesh and blood. It had thoughts and feelings in a way no other creature could get.
The machine experienced something as it watched this man. Some kind of connection. The machine had decided to help him. He helped them, the right thing was to help back.

Neo was lying completely still. His body hurt, everywhere. He felt like dying slowly, it hurt that much. He could not feel anything but pain.
Suddenly, though, a thought hit him. Trinity. She was still inside the ship, wounded. Neo had no perception of time. She could be dead, he thought. Most likely she wad dead. But Neo felt the hope growing inside him. Trinity was strong. The thought of Trinity gave Neo strength. Maybe she was alive?
He opened up his eyes. He could not believe it when he actually saw the blackened sky above him. Smith had burned his eyes, how was it possible? His eyes hurt and the sight was not perfect, but still he could see.
Slowly he sat up, tears burned his eyes. Finally he managed to stand up on weak legs. He did not know how damaged he was. He looked at the right arm and saw a thick metal wire that had been used to sew the deep wound. Who had done it? Neo felt pretty much like his intestines were floating around loose in his body. That thought made hin almost grin, but he did not when he felt the pain in his face it caused.
He began to walk back to the crashed ship. Each step felt like someone cutting him in half. He cried. The pain was insufferable.
For a moment, he was absolutely sure Trinity was alive. He fought the pain and hurried hus steps. He could both see and feel how the machines watched him. But they did not care. They had no reason to care anymore.

"Trin?" Neo entered the pretty much destroyed ship. He saw her lying on the floor. Her face had a pale color and he could see that she was not breathing.
He sat down on his knees beside her. He grabbed her head carefully and placed it on his chest. It hurt, but he did not care.
Her body was covered with blood. She looked cold. Neo let a hand touch her cheek gently, and she really was cold. He shut his eyes in sorrow. "Trinity..."
Deep inside he knew she was dead, but he did not want to lose hope. Or, he could not believe it, or accept the fact that sge was dead and he never would see her again. He began to cry. "No" he whispered hugging Trinity's dead body. "No!" He then screamed. He coukd not live without her. Inside, Neo felt how something made his heart beat slower. He felt paralyzed by the loss.
Screaming one last time he took one of the spears out if her body and directed it to his own chest. Then he noticed the sewn wound on his arm again.
He could not remember anything after the fight against Smith. He thought he died. He felt like dying. He knew what it felt like, he had felt it before.
Slowly he put down the spear, realizing it was the machines. The machines had saved his life. But, why? Were they not cold? Did they not hate humans?
Neo ignored the pain and lifted up Trinity's body and walked back to the platform.
"Hello!" he yelled out as he got there, but nothing happened. He screamed again, and eventually the enormous most powerful machine of them all, Deus Ex Machina, showed up in front of him. Smaller machines took place and together gave the machine a face.
"Neo." Neo could not believe the machine called him his name. Was it a joke? The machines had humor?
"I have a question."
"Present it, please."
"Was it you that brought me back and healed my eyes?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"You helped us. It not it right to do something in return?"
"Yes, but... well... It might be indelicate of meto ask you this, when you already have hepled me. But, is it possible you can bring Trinity back?" Neo looked up at Deus Ex Machina. The machine mumbled to itself. Is was trying to make a decision.
Suddenly the words Rama-Kandra had said to him hit Neo. When he had told him about love. Was it possible machines could have feelings?
"Please. All I want is to get her back. I love her."
"You really love her?"
"Yes, with all my heart."
"We will try to help you, Neo."
"Oh, thank you so much."
Another kind of machine cam floating through the air landing in front of Neo and the lifeless Trinity. Deus Ex Machina disappeared. The machine was equipped with a monitor on its side. Neo could read what it was telling.