“ Surprised to see me?
”― Smith to Neo[src]
The Burly Brawl[1] was an infamous fight between Neo and Smith, now a virus in the Matrix, during the near-end of the Machine War. Neo used the powers of The One to fight off Smith and his army of assimilated copies. At the end of the epic battle, Neo was surrounded and outnumbered by Smiths and fled from the park.
History[]
Prelude[]
The Oracle tells Neo about Exiles and The Keymaker
Neo: Are you saying I have to choose whether Trinity lives or dies?
The Oracle: No, you've already made the choice. Now you have to understand it.― The Oracle on Neo's choice[src]
After passing Seraph's test, Neo is led through a "backdoor" to the playground where The Oracle awaits them. During their conversation, The Oracle then tells Neo about his would-be journey to the Source and how the only way to reach it is for Neo to first find the Exile known as The Keymaker. The Oracle also shares with Neo how The Keymaker is currently held captive by a most dangerous Exile called The Merovingian.[2]
Smith's Appearance[]
“ We're here because of you Mr. Anderson. We're here to take from you what you tried to take from us; purpose.
”― Smith to Neo[src]
The Oracle wishes Neo good luck before leaving the playground with Seraph through the same backdoor. As soon as they leave, Neo turns to see a murder of crows hanging about the park hurriedly flee from Smith as he casually approaches to talk to Neo, revealing that he had been tracking the operative since the Crisis Meeting. Meanwhile, the Nebuchadnezzar crew observe Smith from Link's monitors and he notes how Smith was no longer "reading" like an Agent.
Neo: Yeah.
Smith: Well, good.
Neo: ...
Smith: Surprised to see me?
Neo: No.
Smith then starts describing to Neo the palpable bond that has formed between them from the moment Neo destroyed him though only able to theorize how it actually works. Regardless, Smith is now apparently "compelled to disobey" his programming, not wanting to return to the Source. He further thanks Neo for "unplugging" him, sharing his opinion how everyone needs to exist with purpose and begins talking lengthily about his new found freedom and purpose.
Suddenly, a number of other Smiths start walk in from behind doors and other entrances to the park, each one speaking in turn as they continue their monologue and surround Neo as he continually looks at each new Smith that appears. Then finally, after declaring how they are there to take away Neo's purpose, the first Smith strikes at Neo and pierces a few fingers into his chest. Neo, failing to deflect the blow, holds into Smith's arm as infection starts to spread from the enemy's finger tips. Neo concentrates on stopping the change that was overcoming him and then forces it all back into Smith before yanking himself free. Immediately, two other Smiths attempt to grab Neo so he strikes at them and at every Smith that comes near.[2]
The Fight[]
Smith confronting Agent Thompson
Smith: Yes, me. Me, me, me...
Smith-infected Thompson: Me, too.― Smith assimilating Agent Thompson[src]
During the brawl, Neo begins to fend off many Smiths simultaneously, initially being too great a fighter for even a dozen or so Smiths to stop. Meanwhile, a Bluepill walks into the area and witnesses the battle, tipping off the system about the anomalous event. That person is immediately possessed by Agent Thompson who is soon stopped by another Smith who thrusts his fingers into the Agent's midsection, infecting the body and fully assimilating it into another Smith copy. The two Smiths then join the fight to subdue Neo.
Neo, using a tetherball pole, fights against Smith and his clones
Neo realizes the growing number of Smiths joining in on the fight as they start beginning to land attacks on Neo with one attack eventually sending him crashing into a wall. Taking the opportunity to grab hold of a nearby tether-ball pole and breaking it off from the cemented ground, Neo launches himself back into the middle of the fray and starts swinging the pole around as a weapon. Neo sends many of the Smiths flying away with each swing and strike of his pole but the endless stream of Smiths coordinate to disarm him. Eventually, the horde resort to just using their numbers and decide to pile on top of Neo as they try to stop his movements. Buried within all the Smith bodies, he is made to realize the inevitable loss he will suffer and so Neo gives it his all to forcefully throw everyone upwards and away from him.
Looking around one last time, Neo sees that the Smiths have already begun running back towards him. Neo then instantly jumps up and flies away. The Smiths, for a while, stoically watch the sky. And as soon as Neo's figure disappears from it, each Smith very calmly files out of the park.[2]
Aftermath[]
Smith and his clones
Upon reentering the Real World, Neo tells the Nebuchadnezzar crew of how the Smith infection felt like he "was back in that hallway" and that "it felt like dying", recalling the moment he was shot in front of Room 303 in the Heart O' The City hotel. Neo also shares The Oracle's information on a means to possibly end the Machine War via the Source, how they need The Keymaker to get to it, and how he is held captive by The Merovingian.
Later, after having rescued The Keymaker, Morpheus and Neo are led by the Exile to the backdoor hallways leading to the Source. Here they are ambushed by Smith and his copies with the operatives barely escaping death after being helped by The Keymaker and at the expense of his own life.[2]
Appearances[]
References[]
- ↑ As referred to by the soundtrack of The Matrix Reloaded
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 The Matrix Reloaded