"Leave <strong>the</strong> rest of <strong>the</strong>m alone," not-Tim said into <strong>the</strong> communicator, where h<strong>is</strong> voice was picked up from<strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r side and transmitted back to Kenselton Hotel through <strong>the</strong> speakers for everyone to hear. "Let<strong>the</strong>m have <strong>the</strong>ir lunch. They have nothing to do with th<strong>is</strong>.""Of course <strong>the</strong>y do. Hunger <strong>is</strong> a great motivator. You probably can't keep <strong>the</strong>m out for long. They'llrescue <strong>the</strong> hostage, send him back to us, and everyone can be happy again.""<strong>Not</strong> if we shoot <strong>the</strong> hostage first," not-Tim pointed out."Then we'll just leave you all to starve in <strong>the</strong>re.""But <strong>the</strong> hostage would be dead," not-Tim reminded <strong>the</strong>m."And so will you. You have one life in your hands; we have thousands. Think about that, Mr. – who amI talking to?""...Jack Traven," not-Tim said.An incredulous yell erupted from outside <strong>the</strong> corridor. <strong>Not</strong>-Tim glanced nervously at <strong>the</strong> door andwondered if it might be a better idea to lock it.Neo was regarding him with a new fear. He slowly edged away, and <strong>the</strong>n left h<strong>is</strong> side for <strong>the</strong> bathroom."You can't starve us to death," not-Tim continued. "We've found a way out. I don't think you want astampede in L.A.""Yeah, right. There's no way out of <strong>the</strong>re." But <strong>the</strong> voice didn't sound all too certain, for its owner wasbusy wondering if perhaps h<strong>is</strong> affair with <strong>the</strong> architect's wife had been a bad idea after all. "You're in an<strong>is</strong>olated bubble of hyperspace, Jack."People were shouting outside in <strong>the</strong> corridor, snatches of words audible through <strong>the</strong> closed door:"YOU SHUT UP!""Jack, put <strong>the</strong> gun away. He's not worth it-""Are you going to shoot me, Officer Traven?""No. No he's not, no- Jack. Jack, l<strong>is</strong>te- NO!"The thump of bodies hitting carpet, and <strong>the</strong>n everybody heard <strong>the</strong> gun go off.Things froze for a while.Then it was with a growing panic that not-Tim sprang out of h<strong>is</strong> chair and hurtled out <strong>the</strong> door to seeAlex Wyler lying motionless on <strong>the</strong> carpet, and Jack, trembling and wide-eyed with shock, stumbling toh<strong>is</strong> feet, dropping <strong>the</strong> weapon and backing against <strong>the</strong> wall-"WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED?" hollered <strong>the</strong>ir correspondent at Kenselton Facility, but no onewas l<strong>is</strong>tening to him."NO!" not-Tim shouted, dropping to <strong>the</strong> side of <strong>the</strong> fallen. "No... No! Alex...!" He grabbed a wr<strong>is</strong>t, felt fora pulse – nothing. "Alex. No!""It was an accident," Jack said, h<strong>is</strong> voice cracking. "I didn't... he jumped on me. He was trying to..."Jack looked at Griffin, down on <strong>the</strong> carpet staring ashen-faced at Alex and knowing that that could havebeen him.And not-Tim wondered why he cried for those whom days ago he'd never known ex<strong>is</strong>ted.Perry came over, placed a comforting hand on h<strong>is</strong> shoulder, as around <strong>the</strong>m continued <strong>the</strong> sounds ofthose trying to break down <strong>the</strong> doors, and <strong>the</strong> screaming that came through <strong>the</strong> speakers declaring that<strong>the</strong> hostage had better still be alive or else.In <strong>the</strong> temporary solace of <strong>the</strong> blocked-off corridor, blood seeped into <strong>the</strong> carpet. Alex's blood. Keanu'sblood. Their blood.Then <strong>the</strong> doors finally burst open, and <strong>the</strong>y were upon <strong>the</strong>m.
The mob surged through both doors on both ends of <strong>the</strong> corridor; <strong>the</strong>y were forced towards <strong>the</strong> centre tomake <strong>the</strong>ir last stand; some ran into rooms and locked <strong>the</strong>mselves in; at <strong>the</strong> fringes <strong>the</strong>y were pulledforcefully away from <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs and gang-beaten and yelled at. Neo ran out of h<strong>is</strong> room and muchincreased <strong>the</strong>ir overall defence capabilities, but outnumbered and outside <strong>the</strong> Matrix, h<strong>is</strong> powers werelimited.Tommy noted how <strong>the</strong>y were largely ignoring Alex and promptly fell over and played dead. Johnfingered h<strong>is</strong> lightsaber, but in such close quarters <strong>the</strong>re was too much r<strong>is</strong>k of team kills.Some woman had Nelson in a half-nelson because she thought it would be funny."Hi," Jesse said, as he turned h<strong>is</strong> head in h<strong>is</strong> hiding spot under a bed to find <strong>the</strong> cornflakes guytrembling next to him. The cornflakes guy didn't like all <strong>the</strong> no<strong>is</strong>e.<strong>Not</strong>-Tim fought alongside Neo, when <strong>the</strong> latter felt a tap on h<strong>is</strong> shoulder."Found you."Neo ducked a f<strong>is</strong>t, connected h<strong>is</strong> foot with a stomach, and turned, unable to believe h<strong>is</strong> eyes. "Trinity?"Trinity kung-fu-ed a rabid six-year-old Dakota Fanning character who was about to ram Neo with aninnocent chair, and gave a small smile. "You think I'd m<strong>is</strong>s <strong>the</strong> fun?" She kicked ano<strong>the</strong>r guy in <strong>the</strong>crotch. He doubled over, yelling in pain and sudden impotence.Kevin leant against <strong>the</strong> closed door of <strong>the</strong> broom cupboard, shaking slightly as h<strong>is</strong> imagination putpictures to <strong>the</strong> no<strong>is</strong>es he heard outside. He wanted an aspirin.Some blond kid pushed h<strong>is</strong> way through, yelling for Ted, whom he finally d<strong>is</strong>covered unsuccessfullyducking blows as he tried to convince <strong>the</strong> dude with h<strong>is</strong> hand around <strong>the</strong> teen's neck why <strong>the</strong>y shouldtotally stop all th<strong>is</strong> heinous fighting and just be friends.Bill S. Preston Esquire grabbed a piece of broken tabletop and broke it over <strong>the</strong> strangling-dude's head."Leave Ted alone, you evil fictional dickweed!" he yelled.The evil fictional dickweed released Ted and stumbled back in pain as Ted broke into a delighted grin at<strong>the</strong> sight of h<strong>is</strong> best friend. "Bill!"Bill grabbed h<strong>is</strong> arm. "Let's bail, dude.""I can't just leave <strong>the</strong>m-""I believe that <strong>the</strong>y will be able to handle- Hey, how's it hangin', Neo?""WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?" Neo screamed, dodging an uppercut and delivering one of h<strong>is</strong> own."Right. Catcha later, dude. C'mon, Ted."And now it was becoming clear that not all who came through <strong>the</strong> doors had hurtful intent; an increasingnumber turned out to be family or friends who really did not appreciate being attacked when all <strong>the</strong>ywere trying to do was locate husbands, sons, boyfriends, bro<strong>the</strong>rs, or friends and get <strong>the</strong>m out of <strong>the</strong>madness and to safety. Shouted names filled <strong>the</strong> air.<strong>Not</strong>-Tim felt all alone. No one was calling for him. Then again, it was hard to think about things like thatwhen pieces of furniture were flying about, and also taking into consideration that most of <strong>the</strong> attackers
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"Your behaviour these past few mont
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Neo sank down on the sofa.He looked
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Next morning62nd Floor. Arrival Lob
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It is in fact at the cafeteria that
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'There is no exit here', read the h
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Back from his breakfast, Griffin sa
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Griffin glanced back at the three p
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Alex looked up."...That's Paul, tha
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The face that looked up at him held
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First Combined MeetingThomas Ludlow
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- Reeves clears throat.- Utah shuts
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Griffin isn't the only one in the r
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He realised that he was not standin
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Ludlow smirked. "Thank you. Now I k
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Seventeen suspicious-looking, mostl
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Scott emerged from the alley he had
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Julian finished the stitches, close
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Stuck in House: Chris Townsend, Mat
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Loose in Kenselton Holding Facility
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Paul and the kids stared back at hi
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"Arctor, Robert," Dem said. "Get on
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With measured reluctance he tries t
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0704270/006/GRA"There are two kinds