Chapter 39 - The Merovingian

                                    

                                          
The elevator doors opened slowly revealing a lobby. A waiter was standing  in the lobby. "Puis-je vous aider?" The Waitor spoke on a fancy french accent. "Yes, we are here to speak with the Merovingian." " Of course, he has been expecting you. Follow me." The waiter walked to the main restaurant and Jinx, Neo and Morpheus followed
                          
The Waiter led them to the Merovingian table. "Aha, here he is at last. Neo, the One himself, right? And the legendary Morpheus. And you must be Jinx. Si belle qu'elle me fait souffrir." The Merovingian paused and moved his gaze away from Jinx, who had no clue on what he said. "Please, sit, join us. This is my wife, Persephone." The three sat down on the three chairs that were in front of them. "Something to eat? Drink? Hmm... of course, such things are contrivances like so much here. For the sake of appearances." The Merovingian offered. Jinx noticed a piece of cake being carried to a woman in a table and for a moment wanted a piece but knowing they were on a mission she decided to stay quiet. 
                          
"No, thank you." Neo answered politely. "Yes, of course, who has time? Who has time? But then if we do not ever take time, how can we ever have time? Château Haut-Brion 1959, magnificent wine, I love French wine, like I love the French language. I have sampled every language, French is my favourite – fantastic language, especially to curse with. Nom de Dieu de putain de bordel de merde de saloperies de connards d'enculés de ta mère. You see, it's like wiping your arse with silk, I love it." "You know why we are here." Morpheus said. "Hmph... I am a trafficker of information, I know everything I can. The question is, do you know why you are here?" The Merovingian asked looking at each of them one by one. "We are looking for the Keymaker." Morpheus stated. " Oh yes, it is true. The Keymaker, of course. But this is not a reason, this is not a 'why.' The Keymaker himself, his very nature, is means, it is not an end, and so, to look for him is to be looking for a means to do... what?"
                          
"You know the answer to that question." Neo stated. His voice held no emotion. "But do you? You think you do but you do not. You are here because you were sent here, you were told to come here and you obeyed." The Merovingian chuckled lightly before continuing. "It is, of course, the way of all things. You see, there is only one constant, one universal, it is the only real truth: causality. Action. Reaction. Cause and effect." "Everything begins with choice." Morpheus stated. "Wrong. Choice is an illusion, created between those with power, and those without. Look there, at that woman. My God, just look at her. Affecting everyone around her, so obvious, so bourgeois, so boring. But wait... Watch – you see, I have sent her dessert, a very special dessert." Jinx noticed that it was exactly the cake she had looked at before.
                          
"I wrote it myself. It starts so simply, each line of the program creating a new effect, just like poetry. First, a rush... heat... her heart flutters. You can see it, Neo, yes?" Neo had as well turned to look at the woman. "She does not understand why – is it the wine? No. What is it then, what is the reason? And soon it does not matter, soon the why and the reason are gone, and all that matters is the feeling itself. This is the nature of the universe. We struggle against it, we fight to deny it, but it is of course pretense, it is a lie. Beneath our poised appearance, the truth is we are completely out of control." The woman wiped her mouth and left to go to the bathroom. "Causality. There is no escape from it, we are forever slaves to it. Our only hope, our only peace is to understand it, to understand the 'why.' 'Why' is what separates us from them, you from me. 'Why' is the only real social power, without it you are powerless. And this is how you come to me, without 'why,' without power. Another link in the chain. But fear not, since I have seen how good you are at following orders, I will tell you what to do next. Run back, and give the fortune teller this message: Her time is almost up. Now I have some real business to do, I will say adieu and goodbye." Jinx looked at him confused. 
                          
"This isn't over yet." Neo said. " Oh yes, it is. The Keymaker is mine and I see no reason why I should give him up. No reason at all." Some of his henchmen lead Neo, Morpheus and Jinx away. The Merovingian stood up. "Where are you going?" Persephone asked, finally opening her mouth. "Please, ma chérie, I've told you, we are all victims of causality. I drink too much wine, I must take a piss. Cause and effect. Au revoir." The Merovingian said before walking to the bathroom. 
                          
"They sure are taking their time." Loki sighed. "Patience Loki. They will inform us when we are needed." Timothee said. Seyu stayed quiet. She could only imagine those stunning red eyes. She wondered who they belonged to. Who had she pumped into?
                          
" If you want the Keymaker, follow me." Persephone had opened the elevator, that Neo, Morpheus and Jinx had been forced into. Persephone led them to the men's bathroom. "Get out!" She said to a man who had just finished using the bathroom. She walked in front of a mirror and started fixing her lip stick. "I'm so sick of his bullshit. On and on, pompous prick. A long time ago, when we first came here, it was so different. He was so different. He was like you." Persephone looked at Neo threw the mirror. "I'll give you what you want. But you have to give me something." Persephone informed turning to face them. "What?" Neo asked. "A kiss."