One and Two and Three

It's been a little while since my last update, this i know. and, sorry to say, no smut here either. i'm sure some of you are shaking your fists in anger, but it'll happen, i've got it all set up...kinda.

As far as this chapter goes. i feel Keyes is a little Mary Sue-ish. if you REVIEW *coughwinkcough* with feedback on that, i'd be happy to fix her up right proper with some tongs and a kitten.

Continued Disclaimer- no. no no no nononono. i own a guitar and Keyes and that's pretty much it.

Mazon was back by Keyes again, this time she held her friend's cold hand and closed her eyes, she let the code cover her eye lids until it was all she saw, then began molding it to the city, a lay out she'd memorized very early in life. Allowing the code to shift slightly, lights on, people moving, general city life continued and unfolded behind Mazon's closed eyes. Then Mazon began spelling out Keyes' code holding it foremost, narrowing her search. Human, Female, nineteen, freed. The search closed in on a body, doing a repetitious motion near the ground, a bit more observation and.
"Linc, Keyes is downtown, top floor of City Apartments…" but there was no answer, Mazon sighed and watched the coding a second more. "and she's alone" she grinned and concentrated for a second, felt her body dissolve and pull through, landing on…

… on the couch under which Keyes was currently doing her sit-ups.
"Keyes!"
"Mazon?" they were both on their feet, Mazon pulling Keyes towards the door.
"Come on! They could be back any second!" Keyes stumbled along behind her friend attempting to get a hold on the carpet or a wall, so far with out luck.
"Mazon! Mazon stop!" but her friend wasn't listening. She stopped at the door, grabbed hold of the handle and after a few second of shaking, pulled out a gun. "Mazon the door is no good! Why don't you zap us out of here?"
"Two reasons. I can't leave with out you and you can't leave" she said over her shoulder, putting the barrel of the gun up to the lock.
"Wait what?"
"You're connected, I can't pull you out when you're connected. Besides" and she grinned over her shoulder at Keyes "nobody knows I'm here." and she pulled the trigger.
Now, what was supposed to happen is pretty simple. Mazon pulls the trigger, there's a bang that breaks the lock, she swings it open and her and Keyes find a phone. Here's what really happened:
Mazon pulled the trigger and there was a terrific bang, followed by another one, an another. Both girls began to back away from the door as the banging continued, rhythmically, echoing.
"Mazon… what did you do…?"
"I'm not sure…. But I don't think it was good…" shadows began to fall from behind them, from the direction of the great windows. Metal slabs fell from above and clicked into place with cold, metallic bangs, when all the windows were covered the banging stopped, leaving the echo ringing around the apartment.
"Great… just perfect… Mazon what-… Mazon?" Mazon's eyes were closed, the lids twitching a little. She opened them and looked at Keyes.
"Your men are back" and both looked towards the door just in time to see the Twins materialize through. They look a look at the windows and the girls, frozen in place and One grinned.
"Well, glad to see you decorated for your guest" they nodded at Mazon and walked to sit down as if nothing was out of the ordinary, each sitting across from each other in the two loveseats. Keyes and Mazon shared a look and took seats on the couch. They all sat there in silence for a moment when Mazon spoke up.
"What do you want with Keyes?" the Twins grinned at each other then at Mazon.
"It isn't important" Two said
"Oh I disagree, I think it's pretty damn important, considering you went through all the trouble to heal her and everything." One grinned now and spoke.
"Well then we suppose it just isn't important for you to know"
"Bull shit!" Mazon said, standing, the Twins just grinned again. Mazon was just like Trinity, easy to annoy quick to anger; they were on top here. That is, until Keyes started talking.
"Sit down Mazon. Why they want me isn't important, only that they do." Mazon glared at each Twin then sat, silently fuming. The grins had begun to fade off the Twins faces. Sure One had pissed her off, but that was using Mazon as a catalyst, with Mazon in the room they had significantly less leverage. Her face was thoughtful and detached, the same face she’d been wearing at the restaurant. They knew Mazon's buttons, but Keyes…. This was unfamiliar territory.
"What's really important gentlemen" Keyes continued, she was leaning back, legs crossed, talking first at one, then the other. "What really matters, is whether or not you're willing to work for me. Switch sides, as it were." The Twins looked at each other for a moment and Mazon leaned in to Keyes' ear.
"Don't you remember how this ended last time?"
"Oh please, if things get weird, you get out of here, they won't hurt me. Merovingian wants me… doesn't he?" Two nodded with out breaking his and One's look. "That's what I thought" Mazon sighed and leaned back, bothering to notice for the first time that Keyes wore what looked like an extra dress shirt from the Twins' wardrobe and a pair of white boxers, not to mentions her friend's new hair style. Still, she sat there, seemingly inspecting her nails, hair mysteriously shorter, looking like Queen of them all.
"Why should we leave a very stable, pleasurable job to work for some human?" One finally said, breaking the silence, Keyes finished a nail and looked up at him with a tiny smile.
"Why not? The both of you saved my life; I'm in debt to the two of you. So think of this as my chance to…make it up to you by reopening an offer that will save you lives."
"So you want us to 'switch sides' as you put it, from what, bad guy to good ones?"
"No, simply to higher paying guys." Keyes countered. "I mean please, Merovingian's cronies? Could life get any more… lame?" Mazon turned her head, looking around the apartment, checking out for anymore security devices when she frowned and pulled Keyes to her.
"Keyes the device we triggered is irreversible. When those slats fell they molded. Their each about three feet thick, we can't get out of here." Keyes looked at her for a second then at the Twins accusingly.
"No, they planned it this way… how perfect to keep someone like me captive. You and they can both just… leave. Abandon your physical grounding and get out. I can't, and they know that…" One shrugged and Two just grinned
"What better way?" Two said smugly. Keyes glared at the two of them a moment more then sighed shrugging.
"Fine then, deals off. I won't go see the Merovingian without Mazon and you obviously don't want her along." she stood moving over to stare at where the windows had been, hands clasped lightly behind her back. "Of course, you could just grab hold of me and dematerialize, but then, so could Mazon. So we're at a bit of a standstill aren’t we?" she asked over a shoulder, bluffing and hoping the Twins didn’t know she was plugged in. Her bluff worked.
"We'll leave without her," Two said icily, making it really obvious that they really didn't want Mazon along.
"True, although, I suppose if you did, she'd find the restaurant, we have been there before. So you see. Where I go, Mazon goes." She finished turning around just in time so see One nod glumly and grinned. "Good. Of course, I will need clothes first."

The Merovingian was pacing again. It was taking the Twins too long with the girl. It shouldn't be a huge ordeal to grab a human and come straight back. He'd even cleared the restaurant for this. He glared at the piece of special cake the concierge brought. There had been a rather voluptuous African woman, wearing earth tones, musical voice, lovely. He'd wanted so terribly to give her the piece. But then all this. He was deep in these thoughts when Persephone walked in.
"Hm, what's wrong my love? No one to share your desert with tonight?" Merovingian stopped his pacing and looked up.
"Persephone, what is it? Who else of mine have you caused the loss of?" she smiled coyly and stepped up onto the dais.
"It is true husband, what you say, I have caused many losses as of late, but that is not why I'm here."
"For what then woman? Can you not see that I'm busy?"
"I know, that you are expecting…guests, but we must speak." The Merovingian sighed and sat in his usual spot.
"Persephone I have no time for this."
"Ah but my love, you do, as you say, for how can we every have time, if we never make time?" he grinned up at her.
"Well spoken my love, well spoken indeed. But I can not make time right now. We will talk later." Persephone sighed and acted demure.
"Very well my love, I will adjourn back to the house." She picked up the cake, giving Merovingian a meaningful look and turned, walking out of the restaurant taking it with her under the Merovingian's wide-eyed gaze.
~Oh yes Persephone, I will join you later…~ he thought evilly, leaning back, entertaining thoughts of what THAT slice would bring. Its effect was a little different for everyone. Weak willed girls could be sent directly into orgasm, stronger willed ones were usually extremely… aroused and even stronger willed ones… well, he did not have many women like that in his restaurant, they were no fun to watch. Though he had to admit, seeing Trinity submit to the program would have been so much fun. As things were, he found he looked forward to joining Persephone in the house, just as soon as those damned Twins arrived!

As things were, those damned Twins, Mazon and a now expensively clothed Keyes were just stepping off the elevator as Persephone was stepping on. The Twins tilted their heads slightly and she merely looked at them while nodding at Mazon and Keyes who saw the cake in her hands and grinned politely.
"Have a nice evening ma'am" Keyes said as the elevator doors slid shut. She and Mazon grinned at each other and the four of them entered the restaurant. The Twins headed directly for their table in the back corner, making themselves comfortable and lighting the hookah. The Merovingian completely ignored the Twins, focussing instead on the girls who moved forward and sat down. Keyes took Morpheus' spot in the middle, Mazon off to the side in Trinity's.
Keyes now wore black pants tucked into 'punk boots' black leather with silver buckles and about four inch soles. She had gun holsters strapped to her thighs, each holding two slide actions. Over it was a black tunic like what she had before, this one though had long sleeves and slits on the shoulders. The front and back only went to about her knees. Black goggles sat up on her head and her purplish red hair was spiked behind her. They both sat and looked at the Merovingian and he at them for a good while until Keyes finally spoke up.
"Well?" the Merovingian snapped out of his scrutinizing glare.
"Oh yes, I wished to speak with you girl"
"It's Keyes, and I gathered that much." He nodded and leaned back, glancing over at the Twins who watched from their reclined positions, apparently uncaring no matter what the outcome.
"So, Keyes," it felt like Merovingian was tasting her name, filing it away for some later program. "Tell me, how have my dear henchmen have treated you, as it seems that the three of you have spent quite a lot of time together." He leaned back and was absentmindedly tapping buttons on his laptop. Keyes smiled pleasantly and folded her hands on crossed legs.
"I can't really say Merovingian, I was unconscious for just about all of it."
"Really? Interesting" the Merovingian, said, taking a sip of wine, and stifling a yawn. "But really, let us dispense with these pleasantries. Tell me, exactly what do you want with me?"
"Me? I think it makes much more sense for you to answer that question rather then I.”
"Ah, well put." He smiled and closed the laptop "very well. Though my own reasoning is based entirely on you." Keyes' expression didn't change so he fluidly continued on "I have two reasons for this little meeting. First, I wish to extract my revenge for attempting to buy off not only my best, but last remaining body guards not once, but twice." The sound of guns cocking reverberated through the barren restaurant and Keyes looked up to see One and Two on their feet, guns aimed directly at Keyes' head. "The second has to do more with your connection to the so-called One, Neo. You see, aside from trafficking information, I greatly enjoy causing trouble for you, useless anomalies." The guns swung from Keyes' head, to Mazon's. Keyes' eyes darted towards her friend then back to the Merovingian, who stood, smugly, arms crossed. "And now, as I have matters to attend to, I bid you Good Riddance." And he walked from behind the table, off the dais and out of the restaurant. Keyes lowered her chin slightly, closing her eyes tight. It shouldn't have happened this way. It shouldn't have been this difficult. It should've…

"I have two reasons for this little meeting. First, I wish to extract my revenge for attempting to buy off not only my best, but last remaining body guards not once, but twice." The sound of guns cocking reverberated through the barren restaurant and Keyes looked up to see One and Two on their feet, guns aimed directly at Keyes' head. "The second has to do more with your connection to the so-called One, Neo. You see, aside from trafficking information, I greatly enjoy causing trouble for you, useless anomalies." The guns swung from Keyes' head, to Mazon's. Keyes' eyes darted towards her friend then back to the Merovingian, who leaned back, smugly, arms crossed. "And now, as I have matters to attend to, I bid you Good Riddance." He made to stand up, but felt a hand on his shoulder. Looking up, he saw One standing over him, a tiny feral grin on his face. Two had changed positions slightly and was aiming at the Merovingian's head now.
"What? What are you doing? Are you daft or just ignorant?" he accused, hearing a chuckle from across the table. Looking over, Mazon and Keyes were both smiling.
"Aw, poor baby, can't put One and Two together." Mazon said.
"You see, Merovingian, you made a horrible mistake, you trusted mercenaries. Because, granted, bought loyalty is the most reliable, sold loyalty is far better." Keyes stood and the girls moved to head out, Mazon calling over her shoulder,
"Have fun boys" and they were gone….
It should've been so simple, an outrageous amount of money and bam, two new members. But no. it was the Merovingian who had left the restaurant, and it was she who would die, not him. Keyes blinked open her eyes, feeling something kick her and looked around. She was sitting in the restaurant next to Mazon and the Merovingian had just left, leaving her and her friend at point blank range of the Twins' guns. She looked from them to Mazon who was frozen in place, caught between pulling out of the Matrix and staying with Keyes. She recalled for a second the scenario in her mind and stood, slowly, surreally. Everything seemed to run into bullet time. Mazon looked up at her and she shook her head in confusion. Didn't she just leave? No, no that was Mazon… but she was right there. Keyes stumbled down the dais raising one hand to her head, still shaking it. Everything began to blur together. She pointed up at the Twins and took a deep breath. Letting it out in a soundless word she took another step back.
"Who… are you working for?" One's gun had followed Keyes; Two's staying trained on Mazon's head. They glanced at each other before One spoke up.
"Our employer" Keyes nodded once, then again
"Of course…" her words began to slur together. " How stupid of me to assume otherwise." Normally, these words coming from Keyes would've sounded sarcastic and biting, but in her sudden condition they seemed genuine and confused.
"Keyes…" Mazon had twisted in her seat, eyes going from the Twins' guns to her friend who kept her hand up but fell into a sitting position. "Keyes what's wrong with you?" she shook her head again, as if trying to clear a fog.
"Mazon? I… I'm sitting down now aren’t I? I don't think I should be here. You know? It's like… I don't feel so well… I think that…" she trailed off and looked like she was about to continue but instead her eyes rolled up in her head and she fell backwards, unconscious. There was a stunned silence when Two finally spoke up.
"Hm, guess four days wasn't long enough." The Twins put their guns away and walked down the dais, Two motioning for Mazon to follow and One kneeling down and scooping up Keyes. The Twins were walking out of the restaurant when Mazon stopped hands on hips.
"Wait a goddamn second." They turned and looked at her, "What ever happened to deleting us and causing trouble for us useless anomalies?" sharing a look Two turned back to her.
"Why should we?" Mazon stared for a second then sighed shaking her head and following.
~This is one fucked up rabbit hole~


So, there. kinda long, lot of plot. i feel it's a little awkward, so it may be revised in the future. And if you're all just dying for smut, i've got another fic going on for Harry Potter called 'SmuttyMcLuciusSnapeSmutterson' or something like that. there're only 4 fics in the LuciusSeverus section, so it's pretty easy to find.