Mibli - Deja-Vu...

Mibli listened in from the corridor to the incoming transmission near the operators table. He had been out walking around the ship, contemplating jacking into the Matrix or staying out for a few more weeks. He'd been partially afraid to enter the simulation for fear of many things, but mainly because of Soul. He had already recieved word of his former apprentice's return to the Matrix and it was the reason his wife pushed him to come back now. At the time he was confident in what he had to do, but now having to face it directly he was not so sure. Even though his mind was racked with doubt, fear, and confusion Mibli continued to listen in on the transmission.

"Got it. We'll give you our answer as soon as we speak with Captain Denolus." Mirage hung up the phone and looked over to Apoc, "What do you think?"

"I mean, it's Mibli! I don't think it's right. Then again...there was that one time with the Cypherites..." Apoc answered.

"What? Cypherites?" Mirage said moving to pick up the phone once more.

Apoc quickly placed his hand to stop the call, "Don't worry about it. It was a misunderstanding. Like I'm sure this is."

"This has to be the worst case of Deja-Vu ever then huh?" Mirage asked.

"Well, as long as he doesn't---nah forget it. I'm heading to bed." Apoc turned and left the operators station.

Mibli remained hidden in the corridors until after everyone, including Denolus had been jacked out of the Matrix and left for their respective rooms. Mibli took that opportunity to make his way to the operators station to use the phone. Dialing quickly yet softly he hoped he could reach the man he needed to help him out.

"Operator..." a young woman said yawning over the receiver.

"Tina? It's me Mibli." Mibli said whispering into the phone.

"Who...?" Tian asked.

"Damnit, I said Mibli. Where's Switchy?" Mibli said raising his voice softly but lowered it quickly looking around the ship. He hoped to not alert Deno in anyway while he made his call.

"Oh! Mibli! How've you been. We got word you were heading back to the Matrix. You on a mission for the council or something? Everyone's been buzzing about it. What with what happened last time and all and you being out for a year and suddenly coming back it just seemed rather weird but I told everyone, "It's Mibli come on he can do whatever he damn well pleases!"But we got like these new recruits who don't know nothin' from nothin' I tell ya!" Tian had finally stopped her rant and a silence roamed free on the phone.

Mibli blinked for a moment once Tian finally stopped talking, "Uh..thanks..I think. But, I don't have much time I need to speak with Zavroy."

"He's in the Matrix at the moment. Want me to call him?" Tian asked.

"No. How about I tell him that it's a Code Black and he'll know what to do." Mibli answered.

"Code Black!? Ooooo what's that mean?" Tian asked.

"Can't tell you, just delivered the message A-S-A-P, got it? It's veru important that you do." Mibli said sternly.

"Alright alright. I'll get it to him now." Tian said.

"Thanks. I'm out." Mibli hung up the phone and then moved over to a computer and loaded it up. He sat there all night typing up various codes and formulas, blinking and rubbing his eyes through it all. He was tired, but his determination out weighed his sleepness in this one.

Morning came around and the crew was up and ready to begin a days work inside the Matrix. Mirage came to sit down at the operators station and realized some things were out of place.

"Wait..this is not how I left it. Denolus, you can like move furniture around the ship can you?" Mirage asked aloud.

"No. Why?" Denolus asked

"Well, nothing on my station is as I left it last night. I think someone tampered with it."Mirage answered loading up the systems.

"Just run a check for previous activity." Denolus responded. He listened in as Mirage typed away for a moment.

"Well, there was a call made last night, but the log of it has been deleted and the deleted files have been broken and encrypted making them no use to us. As well as someone was constructing some sort of program I believe..." Mirage looked closer into the screen to see if what was on it was correct.

"Where's Mibli?" Denolus asked having a "gut" feeling.

"Well, it's a good thing it was his own idea to put a survellince camera in his room or I wouldn't be able to check." Mirage said typing away again

"Why did he offer to do that again?" Denolus asked.

"Something about making it easier for everyone to learn to trust him if they could see what he was doing." Mirage answered.

The screen came up and there was Mibli, alseep in his bed, covers hanging off him slightly.

"Well, there he is. Sound asleep." Mirage pointed to the screen with a sigh of relief, "Wait...one of the cargo doors is opening."

"What?" Apoc said sitting up from his seat all prepped to jack into the Matrix.

"Show us who's down there." Denolus order.

Mirage typed quickly and the screen popped up. It showed Mibli taking a small speeder of sorts out of the Cargo hold and down to the earth below. Deno's voice left the station and was making it's way to the cargo hold while relaying orders to Mirage.

"Trusting him my ass!" Mirage said typing away on the keyboard, "That camera was only here so he'd know what we were doing when he needed to get something done!" Mirage continued to type trying to close the doors.

Apoc opened the door to Mibli's room and found nothing was left in it. He turned and ran towards the direction of the cargo hold.

"He's blocked my access to the doors!" Mirage yelled out.

"He did the same to me, but I can override it faster than your fingers can type." Denolus said at the cargo's main door.

Mibli was already out into the underground tunnel revving up the speeder when the doors flew open and Apoc rushed in calling after Mibli. Denolus called out as well and Mibli turned to them after mounting the speeder.

"I'm sorry guys, but I can't have you associated with what is about to go down now. The Syndicate does not need to fall for me." Mibli turned and rode off into the darkened tunnel.

"What do we do?" Mirage's voice came over on the intercomm.

"We go after him." Denolus said.

"What if I told you he already cut power to four of our back pads?" Mirage said.

"...." Denolus was speechless, "How long till we can bring it back?"

"About four hours." Mirage answered.

"Get started." Denolus said leaving the cargo hold.

Apoc stood looking out into the distance and then at the trail Mibli left on, "Now this is the worst case of Deja-Vu..."