TOG - The Older Gamers

Fox · 9th March 2005, 11:40 PM

An ordinary day for a blue pill - but for me - a red pill, my day had just started ...

I jack in and my world turns green with data streams. I materialise inside the matrix. I look about, get my bearings. I'm in a sector called Maggog. It's benign but borders more hostile and restricted area's. I work for the machines on clandestine missions but they don't permit me into restricted area's.

My phone rings. I flip it open.

"Fox here."

I hear a voice I'm not familiar with.

"Fox. You don't know me. My name is Shuogo. I've seen you in the Matrix. I've seen your work. Do you belong to a faction?"

I get approached by a lot of peddlers, weirdo's and trouble-makers. It happens to everyone. I reply with caution.

"No. Not yet. Why?"

"Are you interested in furthering the secret war? Are you interested in joining the side that makes the rules?"

This guy had my interest. I would normally flippantly ignore approaches like this.

"I'd need to know more." I replied.

"Are you near a hardline? Meet me at the Shugo night club."

Before I can reply, the line is dead.

I pocket the phone and look for the fastest way to travel around the Matrix. A phone booth. I find one and lift the receiver.

"Operator."

My world turns green once more as the streams of Matrix code engulfs me. Reality fades and disappears and reappears again as I re-materialise somewhere else in the matrix. I look around. There is a sign above a door. Shugo. I open the door and go inside.

The darkened lighting and flouro tubes flood the senses as the heavy bass music beats against your chest and penetrates your ears. There's a flight of stairs going down. I head that way. At the bottom of the stairs are two men. They both wear bowler hats, mirrored sunglasses, long dark trousers and full-length trench coats. I move to walk past them into the bar and dance area.

"Fox" the tall guy says to me.

I stop and eye these two more closely.

"I am Shuogo. This is Relic. Follow me and we'll sit somewhere quiet."

He walks confidently into a private room. There are three chairs. Shuogo sits. Relic stands by the door. Motionless. I can't see his eyes but he's watching everything but watching nothing - at the same time. I take a seat opposite Shuogo.

"Relic and I work for the machines. Our faction is called Skynet. We have 3 hovercraft and are trying to crew a 4th. Our observers have noticed you so I invited you here."

"We can offer you assistance with your missions. We can equip you with items you've never heard of. We can upload programs to you that the exiles will marvel at. We will offer you any assistence you need. You will have a direct comms channel to myself and Relic will help where possible."

This sounded like a good deal. There had to be a catch. Relic still hadn't moved.

"What's the catch?" I say. It sounded too good to be true.

"We need you to work for us. We need you to continue working for the machines. The Zionists are too numerous and the truce is threatened. You have worked exclusively against the exiles. We need you to change your focus. We need your help."

Just then a commotion started outside the room, near the base of the stairs. A man, early twenties ran down the stairs, past our room and into the bar area screaming for help. Behind him, close behind, were two thugs in hot pursuit and they weren't happy.

The thugs enter our room to look for their quarry. Relic and Shuogo spring into action, each leaping towards the intruders. Their reflexes were surprising, even for a red-pill aware of the power of the matrix. Relic, standing by the door engaged the first thug and made short work of him using karate chops and round-house kicks. Vaguely aware that Shuogo was entertaining the 2nd thug, I marvelled at the speed Relic neautralised the 1st thug. The grace of his moves and the complete concentration results in total discipline. It was almost a dance as he blocks, parries and counter-kicks at the thug.

I turn to Shuogo just in time to see him perform a back-flip in slow-mo bullet time, connecting his boot with the chin of the 2nd thug in matrix style precision. The thug's head snaps back with the force and goes down for the count.

Relic calmly returns to his post by the door. Shuogo looks down at the bodies as he ties and straightens his trench coat. It is only now, after all the action, that I realise I'm still seated in my chair!!!

Shuogo turns to me. I stand, feeling a little awed and inadequate in the shadow of such prowess. In a calm and confident voice he says simply

"Do we have a deal?"

I'm thinking fast. A lot has happened. I have devoted my time working for the machines, but to work against Zion?

Relic is staring at me through his reflective glasses. He's waiting. Shuogo's waiting. I need to decide. I need to make a choice ... now ...