Slight problem here . . . Agents don't have real bodies at all, not even machine ones. They're *programs* in the Matrix, not machines. So they simply live *inside* the Matrix-which is more like a network than a specific machine. Making this large of a change in canon makes the story ring false for me, most definitely.

A great story. Very good.

That was a great and very practical tale of an agent "unplugged". Someone used this as exmaple of such a stoy should be on the reviews for "The real world" so I checked it out. It would be cool if he fell for Djinni a bit. As far as made-up character go these were very comfortable to read because of the strongly-showing personalities. When you first mentioned 'the agent who never even gets a name' I honestly thought why not call him Agent Black? Then I saw you already used that name earlier in the story. You know what they say great minds think alike. Neo seemed more powerful then usual. Usually Trinity kicks ass so hard you think she's way too good for Neo. She my fav alond with Smith.

Dear vvoltaire:

I saw the original "Matrix" a few years ago and greatly enjoyed it, but never bothered with the sequels after reading some of the reviews. I still, however, feel sort of obligated to check up on the Matrix subcategory from time to time, even though I generally can't make head or tail of the storylines.

I mention this so you will understand just how astoundingly gratified I was to discover a Matrix story that was not only comprehensible to someone who'd only seen the first film, but actually captured the flavor that I had so enjoyed in the first film. I'm not sure what it is, but you seem to actually respect the story in a way that other writers don't. Whatever it is, it's a delight to read.

And that extends to Djinni, by the way. I have no idea why you feel the need to apologize for this character; she melds so seamlessly into the Matrix world that I might have thought she was a minor canon character whose name I'd managed to miss, if you hadn't alerted me ahead of time that she was your own creation. You should be trumpeting this achievement from the rooftops, not shamefacedly muttering, "well, I had to flesh out the cast a bit after all the massacring that the movies did."

Sincerely,

Qoheleth

The only matrix story I have ever really liked! It was very believable and cool. I love Mouse, I think you got him spot on. Great writing!

I first read this a couple of years ago and it's stayed with me 'in my head' as a classic of it's kind. I was dismayed to discover today that I'd never passed on a review/thanks for the story. It's a great premise, and one that has greater believability since Reloaded and Smith's 'upload' to Zion. Very well written and deserves to be one of a fanfic classic.

A good written fic, but you have a plot hole so big that it ruins the whole story!

Agent Brown is a program in the Matrix, he is a simulation. He would not exist outside it. The real world is real, therefore no computer program could live there.

Because of this hole I can't continue to read this story, it's just to big a hole!

That was beautiful! I loved the last sentence, I can almost see him smiling. Does Djinni really have a 'little' 'fixation' for Brown...lol! Beautiful work.

No offense, but I don't really see it happening. The story is interesting, but Neo doesn't seem to be progressing as he should as the One. He's too concerned with Agent Brown to really go anywhere or affect the future of the Matrix. And surprisingly, he and Trinity are vacant, empty characters in this piece. They're flat characters, and Agent Brown, Mouse and Djinni steal the show. You said it wasn't going to be an author's avatar piece when it ended up being exactly that: the important characters (Trinity, Neo, Morpheus) are left out in the cold, and the minor characters become your own creation. Kind of disappointing. Sorry.

Wow... the first Matrix fanfic I could actually see happening... good job :-) Interesting stuff...

Great stuff you got here, voltaire. You may perhaps remember my e-mail, but you probably didn't open it at all... anyway, I'd like to know who your avatar is. Now. Or later, whichever is most convinient.

I love that story, I would write an interesting, full length review, but all I can say is I love your story.

That was really good! I read your column also, which is great! Keep up the good work.

have u ever thought about making a sequel?

This will probably become known as one of those classic fanfics that will be archived in several sites, and for good reasons. I read this for the first time several months ago and have read it a few times since, and with each new reading it adds insights that I'd never thought of before. It is beautifully written, daringly creative, and it effectively explores what it is to be human-but without any easy answers. There's always a "but" though, and my but has to do with Trinity. I believe that she represents some valid concerns in this story. Trinity, throughout most fanfics, is one of the most important central characters, but in "Deus" she falls to the background. In essence, she is true to character, but becomes less of a major character than Djinni-or Mouse for that matter. Her opinions are taken lightly, and her concerns are shrugged off. Her last scene depicts her walking away from Mouse, but we never see her again. Granted, her issue is a tough one, but I was dismayed that she was so easily cast off in the end. She was dismissed, and I found this unsatisfying as a reader (not to mention a little sexist, but we won't go there). There needs to be more closure to this issue. I'd love to see another story concerning a similar theme, or a possible sequel. All in all though, a truly groundbreaking fic.