USH'S MATRIX GAME: SECOND ASSIGNMENT: 'Ghost Hunt'

Excellent- your brother can be sent by Marduk to help you out, San. And what do you know, I guessed your loadout already! Yay!

-

The Oracle smiles.

"I hope that goes well for you," she says. "Like I told you when we first met, you are bound for a difficult time one day. You still need to learn a lot to make sure you get that right. Well... maybe all this is a good time to learn some things. And talking of this... " She fakes a sigh, of false depression, "somehow I doubt you've come to see me just to talk... I know you people, you ALWAYS want something from me..." She smiles. She never minds. You think she loves it, on some level.

"So then. Here we are. I can't find my apples, that's my problem. I understand you have problems too. Well, we're both here, I've talked about mine... why don't you tell me about yours?"

(Burn, I think we need a bigger car...)

(Hummer perhaps? All of us aren't going to fit in a Fastback...)

"Yeah, we do have a bit of a problem. You are right about that."

"I'm sure you are aware that one of our ships, the Bounty, was destroyed six months ago. Belonged to Captain Jericho. That is a problem in itself, but there's more to it..."

"During our run at the train station when we tried to get the device that carried an important code from the Machines, we found that there was another group going after the same thing. We discovered that the group belonged to Captain Jericho, but they are supposed to be dead!"

"Specifically we spotted their gunner, Loomis, and another, Medea..."

(it was an airport, btw; just the airport had a Light Railway system)

"Yes, I know," says the Oracle. "I remember all those people too. Especially Jericho; I always knew he would go far. A very clever man, Jericho.

"And you think I can help you sort things out, is that it?"

Originally posted by Captain REX
(Burn, I think we need a bigger car...)

(Hummer perhaps? All of us aren't going to fit in a Fastback...)

you THINK that car might be too small, if we fit 4 ppl and our equipment in that thing, it'll crack
we CERTAINLY need a bigger car, if we need a car

"Yes, that is what the Council was hoping. Especially Captain Dallas and Captain Marduk, since the crew messed up our mission. We nearly lost Celsius to gunfire and Mors fought an Agent..." Heph says.

"But it is strange, that the crew is dead but they are showing up in the Matrix. I am very curious myself..."

"Well, it is good that you are curious, Hephaestus. This is something worth being curious about. Of course, if you look at the amoint of reasons why it is you here and not another crew... well..." she smiles again.

(You guys may want to think on that)

"Well, I shall help you all I can, of course. Ask away. What do you want to know?"

Mors sighs. He had really been hoping to see the Oracle again. He sits down, resting his head in his hands.

(Any of those spoon-benders around? 😄 )

Heph nods as she talks.

"Well, how about this question? How come they are in the Matrix, but they are supposedly dead?"

Don't worry, Mors- your Path will have its moments too.

"Ah," says the Oracle. "I could answer that straight out but it wouldn't be helpful. 'Supposedly' is such a difficult term. I am sure you have thought of many reasons that it could be so. So what you are asking me really is... what happened to Jericho and his crew? And his ship? Am I right?"

"What's up, Mors?" San asked. "Hoping that this won't turn out like our last mission?"

(lol...yeah, are any of those spoon-benders around? hee!)

Heh- nah, sorry. As I said, it is very bare out there.

"Indeed. The Bounty was blown up and completely shattered. The Mjolnir checked it out."

(oh well, too bad...)

The Oracle smiles.

"Well now, Heph," she says. "That one is easily dealt with. Ah! Look what I found!" she says. She reaches into a bag and pulls out an apple. She then throws it to you.

"What have I found there, Heph?"

"Um...apples?" Heph says, confused.

She still has that friendly smile.

"But have I, Heph? Have I really? Or do I just think I have? Truth is, I've never seen an apple in my entire life. At least, I have never seen what you would call an apple, grown on a tree or, where you come from, in hydroponics bays. I call this an apple because that is what I am used to calling it. But it's just a programme. To me, it's not really any different from this table. Still," she says, pulling out another and taking a bite. "I DO like the taste..."

"That looks like an apple but it isn't. That's deception, it's all around us. And deception is at the heart of all this. See, I can only tell you one of two things. Either the Bounty was destroyed and Jericho is dead, just as you heard. In which case, those people you saw at the airport are a deception. Either that, or Jericho and his crew didn't die. In which case, something you thought you knew about the situation is a deception. And that could be anything. Even the destruction of the Bounty. One way or another, you have to accept that something you thought was so, is not.

"So, you want to know what part was lie, and which part was truth, yes? And so then there would be no more 'supposed' about it, I suppose..."

nice touch

"I fell for it again..." Heph chuckles. "Yes, I do seem to have trouble remembering that this isn't real..."

"But yes, parting the lies from the truth would help."

She nods.

"You have a friend who needs to bear that in mind very much," she says. "But you don't need to worry. You just need to watch your temper!

"And as for lies and truth..." she pauses to light a cigarette. "I'm sorry, Hephaestus, I have been playing a game with you. I'm not going to tell you what happened to Jericho and the Bounty." She takes a drag. "And I am sure that will invite more questions..."