USH'S MATRIX GAME 2006 SECOND ASSIGNMENT- 'The Monastery'

"Everything has a reason, San," says the Oracle. "But knowing it and understanding it are two very different things. And why I don't tell you everything you ask me is because it is more important for you to understand than it is to know, and me simply telling you things would not do that. I think you will understand why he is a King soon enough.

"And not wanting to get your goats on this one, but it's the same with rather a lot here, I am afraid. You need to understand why I cannot help you with the Door. That understanding is very important, and I would help you if I could. You need to understand the choice you have made about what to do with the Door. You need to understand... why a Monastery? And why a Fortress?

"Now, I know what you are all like. Itching to go and get to it, aren't you? Well, ok, you go and do that. But when you go, I want you to think think about a little question of mine. Again," she chuckles, "I know what you are lie,, and some of you are going to try and answer this at once. Just... think about it." She takes a drag on her cigarrette. "And actually... although only some of you have to worry about the door, I think all of you should think about this little puzzle.

-

"Is it better to do the right thing for the wrong reasons, or the wrong thing for the right reasons? And what's the difference between the two?"

-

"Oh dear," says the Oracle. "It's starting to rain. I suppose you should get going, but I'd like to have a few words with... well. Hephaestus has the key, so I should talk to him. Also Azrael... and Ares."

Melkor was hesitant to speak before, and kept enjoying the food that he couldn`t find in the "real world". It was unsetling that he could prefer the illusion to the food eaten in Zion.... Yet he wanted to speak with Oracle.

"Excuse me, but I am confused about all of this.... I mean, I thought that it is bit simpler, our fight- the enemy is opressive, merciless and calculating System to which human beings are nothing more than enslaved herd and numbers. But those Exiles..... All human beings desire freedom to achieve their dreams, even if they are blinded and don`t realize the truth, right?

And referring to your question, I believe wrong reasons for actions come from not having enough knowledge to make a proper choice. When we understand the consequences of our actions, and our motivations, I believe there is no diffrence between "right" reason and "right" thing we do.

But those Exiles, I understand that they have their desires and ambitions as well, and are allowed to make their own choices..... what is the diffrence between us and them then? Are we justified in thinking we are something better?

I pull up the collar from my trenchcoat as I take another cocktail weeny.

"There's always one who wants to answer right away," says the Oracle, smiling again. "Melkor, why you fight has nothing to do with who or what you are. That's just the context you find yourself in. Zion will give you its own reasons but they can't force anything on you. Why you took the red pill, why you decided to fight, why you joined this crew, these were all your own choices. If I asked each of you to say why you fight... I reckon I;d get a different answer from each of you, about good, or evil, slavery or freedom, man or machine, alive or not, with a soul or not... there are more anaswers than there will be raindrops in this storm.

"But I'm not going to ask you that, because it's not what you came here to find out, and it's certainly not what I came here to say. You keep thinking about it, like you always do. And keep thinking about my question too."

"So I believe intentions are more important than results, unless one doesn`t know what he wants. But first we need our reasons, effects of actions are secondary and derivative. If someone knows what he wants well, he is likely to achieve the desired result sooner or later. But when one is confused about his motivations and goals too much, there will be a mistake an a much basic level.

So this is my answer to your question- proper reasons are much more important."

Mirage remains silent, letting the Oracle' s words sink in, trying to realize their significance.

Cloud begins to answer the question, but then thinks about it and shuts up.

Berserker was sitting in his chair eating some cheese. He was chewing slowly because he was thinking very deeply about the question.

Why a Monastery? Why a Fortress?
Berserker wasn't stupid he has been in the Matrix long enough to know everything stands for something else even the food he was "eating" wasn't what it was supposed to be.

Seeing the Rain coming he decided to wait till they got there before trying to answer anything.

Pushing his glasses up to his eyes and putting the knie away he was waiting for everyone else.

Azrael, having said nothing throughout the conversation, waits patiently as Melkor tries to answer the question.

Hawk smirks at Melkor's stumbling. "You heard her, but you're not listening. She doesn't want an answer now, and none of us are qualified to give it. It's something to think about while we're up in the Mountains, meeting this King. Having the question in mind could be the seed to do what we need to up there."

He grabs another couple of brownies from a tray in front of him.

"Well, I was just thinking aloud, it is not like we can talk to Oracle every time...." -Melkor retreats to his seat as he responds to Hawk, appearing a bit embarassed and irritiated.

"This question was so general that I thought I can get some more explanation, I guess I am not used to it...."

"No problem Melkor, Hawk shouldn't have snapped at you"

"Got it in one, kid," says the Oracle, to Hawk.

"Trust me Melkor, buddy," says Dallas. "It's like that all the time."

---

We just need now to resolve thr Oracle talking to Azrael, Hephaestus, and Ares.

Azrael continues to wait patiently.

I'm not going to be around the next two days - university stuff. If I get a chance (and I'm not doing anything) I'll grab some time on the net - otherwise, apologies if I slow things down.

We'll flashback to it later, if necessary.

---

Azrael and Hephaestus-

"Well now. You two seem to have a knack for getting at the heart of things. Either one of you could have gotten that key. Both of you have run afoul of the... Hunter. Hephaestus, you know what nearly killed you in that situation, you know it all too well about yourself. You know there is going to come a time where you are going to have to see how far that impulsive nature of yours goes. Let me put it this way- there is some chaos that is not worth any amount of people saved. Think about that. Luckily for you, you are young and you have time, but when your time does come, you may well wish you had taken more of a chance to think about who you are and what you do. The door is a chance for you to test that. Last time, you chose to take Jerich's Path, and I don't think you were ready. That's why it ended with your fight agauinst the Xiao Emo, and if it were not for poor Medea, wou could never have saved anybody at all. Now it seems you are trying to walk the same sort of Path, the one of understanding. Do you think you are ready? oh, don;t answer that. Something to think about, again. You and I will speak again, when your time is coming, and we'll talk about what you do here. So be careful. You go on now, I'll speak to Azrael.

"Azrael... well. Aren't you a smart cookie? Walked down Jericho's Path like I asked, maybe even understood it a bit., Came face to face with yourself and but you seemed to have a good mind to see through what Melitus was doing. I won't hear a word said against Heph because that kid means well, but he failed there where you succeeded. I'm proud of you." She looks serious. "How dedicated are you to this war, Azrael?"

-

Ares-

"Don't panic there, kiddo. There's plenty of fun left in your life. But I worry. When we first met I talked about a choice you would have to make. it's the kind of choice that sounds pretty simple, but to my mind, it is one of the worst of all choices. You'll need to be prepared for that day. And if you want to be prepared... keep a very close eye on Dallas this time. Don't crowd him, that will just annoy him. Think about the man who let half his crew think the other half were dead, just to win advantage on a foe. Think about what he as to think about. Poor Dallas," she says, almost as an aside. "Zion would be in trouble without him."

Ares is almost left speechless.

"Are you saying I will need to make a choice regarding the life of Dallas?"

"That may or may not be. But it's not what I just said, if you think about it. You just keep that all i mind; it might be useful one day."

Ares takes a moment to think about what the Oracle has said.

"Okay, maybe what you're trying to say is that Dallas has to make decisions like this all the time...and if I want to be ready to make my choice, I will watch how he does it."

"Maybe I am."

"Maybe, maybe not. Always seems to swing that way, don't it?" Ares chuckles, then pauses. "How will I know when the choice comes?"