Freelance.

In order to keep my hit rate up, I've decided to do two things. History Lesson's and Freelancing.

All the organisations here belive that the best way to learn about history here is to do it. So they've set up ways to make runs, revolving around the big events of last few years. It's a great way to find out how we got to where we are.

However, it's freelancing that's taking up my time at the moment. All through the Matrix, there are programs or contacts that need something done. Something only a red pill can do. They don't seem to be fussy about the fact that I'm from Zion but they pay well, which is always handly.



However, they do have their down side. Although I've never had to take on a fellow Zion operative, I do find I have to work with some people I don't want to. For example, I hate the ASP Gang. I was stuck running from them, fighting them and they were generally a pain in my backside for longer than any other gang I've delt with.

Nowadays, they stay respectfully away. I've taken enough of them down for them to realise it's not worth their time to try. Still doesnt't make me like them. But Now I'm running a few missions for Amber. She effectivly runs the ASPs and any work that I do for her, means I work for them. Talk about forget the morals and think of the money.

Still, it makes you think. What did those programs do for the machines before they ran into the matrix. I must admit the thought of being deleted once you've been superceeded does seem very hash. It would be the equivelent of a son killing off his father to get his job. No wonder they run. Still, that's the machines for you.

One thing I've always wondered, if you delete a program here, do they return to the source anyway? And what is this 'source'? In order for the Matrix to be reloaded, 'the one' was supposed to return to the source. The code placed inside the one, will have been extracted and the applied to the system. What happened to the Human part of him. Is there a contrust somewhere holding the other 'ones'? Or even, could these wireframe men, be the other 'one's?

Speculating, It's a great way to pass the time until you get another call from Tyndell.

Paying Respects

Gracey Heights is not one of my favorite places but you have to visit here once in a while just to remember. I still haven't broken out of my melancholy yet. A week of moping around does nothing to improve you're outlook. But here, hidden underneath a broken, run down bar, you get a sense of what it's all about.

A body is suspended, two metres above the ground. It's not fully formed, as if it was stuck half way between jacking in and the real. Gently glowing green, brings a measure of calm to this dingy basement. This is the remains of Thomas Anderson, or as everybody else knows him - NEO.



Every RedPill has been here and seen this. There's debate to whether or not it's what the machines claim it is but to be honest, that debate is not important. The fact that there is somewhere to remember him is important. It's a pity it's being forgotten.

With the War restarting, it feels that his sacrifice was in vain. All we got was a pause and we all lost the chance to discover what the other side was all about. I keep on hearing the words of another departed soul. The Oracle always said that only man and machine working together would allow us to move forward.

What was she hoping, to heal the surface of the earth so we can all live there again? Explore outside the confines of this planet? It seems all so remote now.

I was ready to do my part earlier this week. A call had gone out for volunteers to help Ghost. It was all to do with Biological Interface program again. But, it was not to be, like I said, when I'm needed in the real, I have to leave. No matter how much you want to stay.

I'm woken from my pondering by my cell phone. This small sleek phone being my only link to the real. Tyndrell is calling for her weekly chat. I say chat, there's not even a how do you do, just can you do this thing for me. And Off I go, like a good little soldier. Sometimes, just obeying orders is what you need to take you're mind off things.

Signing Off...

PhoenixDfire

Thinking out loud.

So Here I am, Standing on the roof of City Hall in Chelsea, looking south over the intersection. I can see the suspension bridge leading to Richland through the mist. I'm feeling in a melancholy mood so I thought I'd jot down a few notes of what it's like being a Red Pill for the last three years.

I'm a Hacker, a Coder and a even Miner when I want to be. I'm nowhere near my full potential but I know enough to be a pain in the arse to certain parties.
At the moment, I'm a miner. My visor is down and I can see the leaks everywhere. Ever since the new Mining construct has been discovered, nobody mines out in the neighbourhoods anymore. It's great because normally that means there are plenty of leaks to take advantage of.

It also give you time to think, thinking mostly about recent history. Everybody knows what happened to Neo, even all the blue pills know on a subconscious level. However, do they know about what's happened since? No chance.

We've lost so many, Morpheus, the Oracle, many of my friends and factions. The Goodfella's, the negotiators; all gone. Good crews either KIA or just faded back into the real. Even the radio is becoming more and more quiet.

I'm with the Black Code now. A better bunch of people you couldn't wish for. However, the same cannot be said for me. I'm only part time, I have a wife and two children in the real and they're needs are a higher priority to this virtual life but for the few hours when I am a red pill, I reel released. Ironic that I return to the simulation of a prison to feel free.

Most of the other Blue Pills I know, have the same amount of free time but they use it to watch sports. I find it ironic that they laugh at people they consider freaks, but they all dress up like their heroes in they're football strips and coloured scarfs.

Anyway, I'm letting my thoughts meander again and I do have to focus on the present. To be honest, I've kind of found myself directionless, since the Oracle died, the visions I used to look forward to seeing have stopped. Is this connected to the Oracle's death? Perhaps without her future sight, we can't see what's happening anymore. I'm now reduced to reading the newspapers and listening to rumours over the web.

The General is now part of the Merv's organisation, as is the remainder of any Anomie's Unlimits. Anomie is dead and good riddance to him. But the Merv now has this mythical Biological Interface. The Frenchman is always busy it seems and now he's holding all the cards.

It always makes me smile, perhaps we should just give this Machine-Human Interface to Ghost and Agent Pace and tell them to 'get a room'.

Ah Yes, The agents. Always fun to play tag with an Agent. The truce is gone, I didn't want it to be but there it is. The machines see New Zion as a lack of Trust and an Act of War.

At least you don't die now. It still hurts when the bullets hit, you still feel every punch but it's not as deadly as the last war. Mind you, it's not the same for the exiled programs and the blue pills, you die here, there's no coming back. The only way to die in the matrix is to be targeted by specially made kill code bullets. But the Agents don't use them that often and I do wonder if all this War is some kind of Act. It feels like they're pulling their punches.

But it wasn't the Machines who took the Oracle away from us. The Intruders, Halborn and Carlyne, the wire frame men from Oligarchs; they did that. They look so basic and crude yet they're able to defeat even the best of us. Where do they come from and why is the Biological Interface so important to them?

Oligarchs, an elite few secretly ruling millions/billions? Even the Machines don't want them back in here, are they a threat to even them?

So many questions, and do when have the time to answer them? Maybe, maybe not. Tyndrell talks to me about once a week to 'make a run for her'. They can be a challenge, and I know I wouldn't be good enough without my team mates. Still, all this corporate shenanigans is an agreeable diversion.

Anyway, it's time to mine and earn some money, Living whilst plugged in isn't cheep. Typical, the better you get, the more bills you have to pay.

Signing Off

PhoenixDfire