Connection

Cat had no illusions about her strange new assignment. It was more than
likely a convenient - and polite - way to get rid of her.

She was more of
a liability than anything else in the Matrix, always a little slower than the
others. They blamed it on her baggy clothing; Trinity was forever badgering her
about the comfort and utility of catsuits. What she couldn't bring herself to
tell them was that she would be self-conscious to the point of paralysis in
anything so revealing. How she managed to stay chubby on a steady diet of single
cell...

When Neo had approached her about the mission, she smelt a rat
immediately. After all, Neo could clobber Smith - or even Smiths. There was no
reason why anyone had to be sent to find out his new limitations and
capabilities. It had to be a matter of curiosity, if it was even that. It was
more likely an excuse to get her out of the way during the crew's forays into
the Matrix dressed up as a mission of such import that she was lucky that it had
drifted her way.

Sometimes, it was so damn easy to get tired of Neo. Cat
thought that he wore on even Trinity, who at first glance was devoted beyond
belief. The captain would never ask for help, but sometime Neo's insecurities
grated on her already-fraying nerves, and Cat's silent understanding came as
needed support. Cat admired her toughness, the steel core that saw her through
Neo's many near-death experiences and her own harrowing escapes from the digital
prison. It was much easier to envy her, though, with her perfect figure in its
little black catsuit, perfect boyfriend, easy confidence.

It was
impossible to run any shorter handed than the Neb had before its little
accident. Morpheus was all but useless in the grips of his crisis of faith, and
though Link never complained, his wavering commitment to endless months onboard
anyone's ship was obvious. Cat's skills, moderate as they were, were absolutely
necessary to Neo and Trinity if they planned to navigate their way back into the
Matrix. No one else was crazy enough to take them on board, which is why they
settled for Link's patch job on her run-down ship and a promise to keep her on
if only Trinity could take over at the captain's chair.

In two short
weeks, her weaknesses were written all over the missions. Trinity had barely
avoided the upgraded agents last time, taking a shot in the lower calf as she
ran back to extricate the slower Cat from a well- timed ambush. It was clear
that she was no fit sidekick for the One and his mate.

Neo'd asked her to
do this thing the next day. She'd pretended, just for a moment, that the
flirtatious look in those famous eyes was genuine, that he saw her as just as
beautiful as his latex-clad Trinity. At least the fat was good for something
this time; she'd have to stay plugged in until the ship came back for her,
although it might take as long as a month if it ran into trouble. Trinity, she
thought with some satisfaction, would starve to death.

Trinity looked a
little sad as she dropped Cat off beside the ruined Neb, which Link had somehow
managed to patch together into a safe connection for one person. It was a rare
moment when she felt a perfect affinity for the woman; her ship, her Sekhmet,
was her life. The devastation that flicked across Trinity's features was for
more than a hunk of metal.

Cat barely caught Trinity's "good luck" as the
older woman turned away, unable to watch this stranger enter what remained of
her ship. "Thanks," she whispered back, rattling at the old keyboard before she
began the unpleasant process of tube insertion necessary for a stay of any
length in the Matrix. Assimilating into the Matrix with no operator, especially
for a length of time, was a dangerous feat; even Neo had never tried to pull it
off. It was necessary, he'd said, to keep Smith from getting suspicious. After
all, the traitor could hardly make her offer with the One watching.

She
would never have considered doing something this crazy before, she thought as
she slid a hydration IV into her left arm. This mission was more than
half-suicidal, but she was willing to do anything to get away from Neo and
Trinity. It was strange to think that she'd voluntarily leave her ship, but now
it was so different, so empty. The contrast between the old crew and the new one
couldn't have been stronger.

Stop delaying the inevitable, she told
herself. You're half-sulking, half-terrified and the longer you stay here the
worse it'll get.

Cat closed her eyes as the metal spike slid into its
place. She barely had time to blink before the arm slammed around her
throat.