Paladin
THE DEATH OF TANK
(The conclusion of M1. Neo has finally emerged from the Matrix as The One, and has kissed Trinity for the first time. Heavily damaged but still functional, the Nebuchanezzar limps slowly back to base. While Neo and Trinity continue to make out on the main deck, Morpheus and Tank remain in the pilot's seats.)
M: That was really close there, with that last EMP blast. Those squiddies were right on top of us.
T: Sir, do you think maybe we should have waited an extra few seconds before firing the EMP? I mean, I know Neo got out okay, but to fire it right when he's coming out...it could have caused some damage.
M: He's fine. He is The One. Nothing can harm him now.
T: Permission to speak frankly, sir.
M: Go ahead.
T: What did you mean back there?
M: When?
T: When I asked "What is he doing?" and you said "He's beginning to believe."
M: Right, when Neo decided to fight Smith in the subway.
T: What if he'd run away?
M: Huh?
T: I mean, sir, what if Neo had just run away instead? Then the agents would have killed him much sooner.
M: But--
T: Then he would have either remained dead, or become The One that much sooner. Either way, we could have left this spot 10 minutes ago, and prevented damage to the ship.
M: Are you saying you love this ship more than I do?
T: No sir, I'm just saying that you sometimes go too far with that religious mumbo jumbo.
M: What?
T: You fill up Neo's head with all of that nonsense, and he starts thinking that maybe he really can take on agents after all!
M: He became The One, didn't he?
T: What about the rest of us? You fill up our heads with that stuff all the time, too, and it almost kills us on every mission!
M: Now see here, Tank--
T: I'm just saying, so we found The One now! So can you zip the lip on that stuff?
M: What?!?
T: You know, shut the trap, put a sock in it! We all just a lil' tired of it!
M: What you be tripping on now, fool?
T: Every day, you be rapping on about Oracle this and Oracle that, and how The Oracle told me to tell you this an' sh**. How The Oracle done loves us all, how she done gives her life fo' all of us, and if we just accept The Oracle into our hearts then she goin' to gives us The One and open up a can o' whoop-a** and end the Matrix once and for all! Praise Neo! Hallelujiah! Pass the warm snot!
M: Tank, I think you better take some shore leave--
T: And that's another thing you ain't taken into consideration, Captain! That's the fact that I gots to tell Zee what happened to Dozer when I gets back to Zion! You think I been all up wi' the attitude on you? Sh**, you ain't seen nothin' yet! Zee is gonna tear me a new one over our brother Dozer, but that ain't yo problem! What the **** am I supposed to tell her? Dozer done got killed because Morpheus was dumb enough to get hisself captured inna Matrix? Or did you do that on purpose, Captain? Was zat somethin' else The Oracle told you to scam on Neo?
M: Uh...
T: Well? Was it? Oh, I finally let you speak, and you ain't got nothing to say for a change? Well ain't this some sh**. You let Cypher kill my brother because some old Aunt Jemima of a program done told you to let him die. I can't believe I been serving under you so many years, you ain't never told me nothing 'bout what The Oracle told you. I don't trust you no mo, Captain. You ain't sh**. Does Niobe know this? Yeah, she does, that's why she done left you, right?
M: Uh...
T: Yeah that's what I thought you was gonna say. What you think Niobe would say to you now, if she were here? Mebbe I should have a lil' chat with her and Lock when we get back to Zion, hey? Oh, you don't like it when I bring up Lock, huh? Commander Lock the great leader of our military forces, and how he done stole your biatch right out from under you! Ha ha ha ha ha! Yeah, I think Lock especially would love to hear 'bout how you don't take no orders from nobody but The Oracle! An' she a program and all! Whoo-ee, I think that would pretty much take care o' yo career, wouldn't it Captain? Oh I'm sorry, maybe you won't outrank me tomorrow! Ha ha ha ha!
M: Tank, look, I think we should just keep this a secret--
T: Oh, you going to bribe me now? The great Morpheus acting just like a criminal? No, I think you finally showing me yo true colors, Captain! Man, Cypher was right all along! We should have left yo a** to fry in the Matrix! No wonder you done gave me all that sh** about "learning to trust the captain of your ship" when I started working here! You and that Oracle! Y'all ain't got no respect for no authority but yoself! I bet if Lock issued a general order to have all ships return to Zion, you'd tell him to stick it! In fact, I bet you'd even be gettin' the other ship captains to disobey him just like you would! Wait--
(Morpheus shoots Tank with the electrical gun. After making sure Tank is dead, and checking to make sure Neo and Trinity didn't notice anything, Morpheus sits down at his computer and begins to type.)
Captain's log, stardate BH90210. We have discovered The One. Now heading back to base for repairs. First Operator Tank succumbed to the wounds inflicted on him by Cypher and finally passed away. He was a gallant officer and we shall miss him very much. All hail Discordia.
(The conclusion of M1. Neo has finally emerged from the Matrix as The One, and has kissed Trinity for the first time. Heavily damaged but still functional, the Nebuchanezzar limps slowly back to base. While Neo and Trinity continue to make out on the main deck, Morpheus and Tank remain in the pilot's seats.)
M: That was really close there, with that last EMP blast. Those squiddies were right on top of us.
T: Sir, do you think maybe we should have waited an extra few seconds before firing the EMP? I mean, I know Neo got out okay, but to fire it right when he's coming out...it could have caused some damage.
M: He's fine. He is The One. Nothing can harm him now.
T: Permission to speak frankly, sir.
M: Go ahead.
T: What did you mean back there?
M: When?
T: When I asked "What is he doing?" and you said "He's beginning to believe."
M: Right, when Neo decided to fight Smith in the subway.
T: What if he'd run away?
M: Huh?
T: I mean, sir, what if Neo had just run away instead? Then the agents would have killed him much sooner.
M: But--
T: Then he would have either remained dead, or become The One that much sooner. Either way, we could have left this spot 10 minutes ago, and prevented damage to the ship.
M: Are you saying you love this ship more than I do?
T: No sir, I'm just saying that you sometimes go too far with that religious mumbo jumbo.
M: What?
T: You fill up Neo's head with all of that nonsense, and he starts thinking that maybe he really can take on agents after all!
M: He became The One, didn't he?
T: What about the rest of us? You fill up our heads with that stuff all the time, too, and it almost kills us on every mission!
M: Now see here, Tank--
T: I'm just saying, so we found The One now! So can you zip the lip on that stuff?
M: What?!?
T: You know, shut the trap, put a sock in it! We all just a lil' tired of it!
M: What you be tripping on now, fool?
T: Every day, you be rapping on about Oracle this and Oracle that, and how The Oracle told me to tell you this an' sh**. How The Oracle done loves us all, how she done gives her life fo' all of us, and if we just accept The Oracle into our hearts then she goin' to gives us The One and open up a can o' whoop-a** and end the Matrix once and for all! Praise Neo! Hallelujiah! Pass the warm snot!
M: Tank, I think you better take some shore leave--
T: And that's another thing you ain't taken into consideration, Captain! That's the fact that I gots to tell Zee what happened to Dozer when I gets back to Zion! You think I been all up wi' the attitude on you? Sh**, you ain't seen nothin' yet! Zee is gonna tear me a new one over our brother Dozer, but that ain't yo problem! What the **** am I supposed to tell her? Dozer done got killed because Morpheus was dumb enough to get hisself captured inna Matrix? Or did you do that on purpose, Captain? Was zat somethin' else The Oracle told you to scam on Neo?
M: Uh...
T: Well? Was it? Oh, I finally let you speak, and you ain't got nothing to say for a change? Well ain't this some sh**. You let Cypher kill my brother because some old Aunt Jemima of a program done told you to let him die. I can't believe I been serving under you so many years, you ain't never told me nothing 'bout what The Oracle told you. I don't trust you no mo, Captain. You ain't sh**. Does Niobe know this? Yeah, she does, that's why she done left you, right?
M: Uh...
T: Yeah that's what I thought you was gonna say. What you think Niobe would say to you now, if she were here? Mebbe I should have a lil' chat with her and Lock when we get back to Zion, hey? Oh, you don't like it when I bring up Lock, huh? Commander Lock the great leader of our military forces, and how he done stole your biatch right out from under you! Ha ha ha ha ha! Yeah, I think Lock especially would love to hear 'bout how you don't take no orders from nobody but The Oracle! An' she a program and all! Whoo-ee, I think that would pretty much take care o' yo career, wouldn't it Captain? Oh I'm sorry, maybe you won't outrank me tomorrow! Ha ha ha ha!
M: Tank, look, I think we should just keep this a secret--
T: Oh, you going to bribe me now? The great Morpheus acting just like a criminal? No, I think you finally showing me yo true colors, Captain! Man, Cypher was right all along! We should have left yo a** to fry in the Matrix! No wonder you done gave me all that sh** about "learning to trust the captain of your ship" when I started working here! You and that Oracle! Y'all ain't got no respect for no authority but yoself! I bet if Lock issued a general order to have all ships return to Zion, you'd tell him to stick it! In fact, I bet you'd even be gettin' the other ship captains to disobey him just like you would! Wait--
(Morpheus shoots Tank with the electrical gun. After making sure Tank is dead, and checking to make sure Neo and Trinity didn't notice anything, Morpheus sits down at his computer and begins to type.)
Captain's log, stardate BH90210. We have discovered The One. Now heading back to base for repairs. First Operator Tank succumbed to the wounds inflicted on him by Cypher and finally passed away. He was a gallant officer and we shall miss him very much. All hail Discordia.