Chapter 1

The sound of the passive sensor display, and the hum of other electrical equipment on the bridge of the hovercraft Blue Distortion, broke the silence of the midnight watch. Although the bridge was probably the most organized part of the ship, it looked a bit messy. Some tools scattered here and there, an empty cup belonging to the Captain, and the occasional spare wire on the floor, used in a hurry and left in a busy moment as one problem was solved and the next undertaken. A blue light blinked on the communication station, showing that only one secure line was active, monitoring the Emergency Band, indicating the Captain's and the ship's readiness to respond to a call to the defense of New Zion at a moments notice.The hovercraft, nearing the end of her time in the maintenance dock, was finally in a reasonable state and almost ready for a return to duty as yet another year of war drew to a close.  At the moment, Baby Blue was occupied by two people; the ship's captain, and his female operator. It was an odd situation for a hovercraft to be manned by a skeleton crew in dry dock, but then again, considering that the war had been going on for at least six hundred years with no end in sight, perhaps it was no surprise that from time to time both the crew and the machines that bore them into battle would need time to refit and recharge before returning to the fray. This time the Captain himself, TRX, had needed the break, to rest and mentally recover as he reflected on events in Matrix as well as in the flesh. Most of the crew had been reassigned to other ships, just prior to the refit. Two had elected to stay with the ship as she made her way to dry dock in Zion that fateful June day. The loyal ship's operator, Lyrics, honoring the pact the two warriors had made when TRX ascended to a captaincy and chose Lyrics from among seven eager applicants for the job had elected to stay aboard. The Blue Distortion's chief engineer, Othala, had also committed to stay with her man, despite the recent evolution of their relationship when TRX's blue pill wife, Sandy, who had been discovered to be awaken Zion operative in the SM Network flotilla.
Little did the trio know that they would soon be immersed in the desperate evacuation of Zion to a newly established secret base. Few operatives at the time were aware of the preparations that had been made to create the New Zion base of operations in a strategic and tactically safer location. Commodore Ps10n, commander of the fleet The Brethren to which the Baby Blue belonged, was the exception. Perhaps Ps10n's enigmatic smile as he approved TRX's request for leave and ship refit should have warned TRX that something unusual was in the wind.  Would be just like the Commodore to see threads of destiny converging in order to provide additional transport capability to humanities' last free city at a time of great need, eliciting that enigmatic smile.
Though tired and worn, Blue Distortion and crew would go on to serve with distinction over the next month and a half during the evacuation of Zion. She was among the first of Zion's hovercraft to engage Sentinels since the end of the Truce, and even emerged victorious against Cypherite crewed hovercraft that attempted to impose their will over a free humanity.   During this period TRX and Othala resolved their relationship as they came to grips with the revelation that Sandy had awaken and with Othala finding new love in the form of the free born engineer named T-Fork who worked tirelessly with Othala to keep Baby Blue up and running during the evacuation. With the evacuation complete, Rex and Othala parted as friends and Othala went on to marry T-Fork. Rex was honored to give the bride away at the wedding.
 
Rex and Lyrics were allowed to remain aboard Baby Blue as she refit. Despite the secure defenses of New Zion, newly appointed High Commander Roland, remembering the lesson of the Mjolnir, wasn't about to take any chances and insured that the refitting hovercraft would be a strategic reserve asset and that she had enough mobility and the crew to deliver a EMP pulse if, when and where required. Othala was granted an extended leave to honeymoon with her husband and explore New Zion.
 
And so the months past, perhaps not the most restful R&R for Rex and Lyrics and certainly not the most efficient refit of a hovercraft in the history the of Zion yard dogs, but the work proved therapeutic for the pair and the knowledge that even in dry dock they provided an important defensive contingency for New Zion was a great honor. 
 
The pair normally worked sixteen to eighteen hour days, including a twelve hour watch on the bridge to meet the defensive responsibilities assigned to Blue Distortion, however, the New Zion defenses proved as formidable in reality as they were on paper and Baby Blue was not even called to go light on her pads throughout the long refit. The Captain would stand the day watch while the yard engineers where aboard so that he could coordinate and inspect the work. In the evening, when the yard workers had left Lyrics would take the bridge station. During her watch, Lyrics would often see the Captain on the ship's internal cameras walking around with wrenches, materials, wires or other equipment to do repairs or adjustments that the day's yard work had revealed. Lyrics knew from first hand knowledge that Rex literally knew every nut, bolt, wire and integrated circuit aboard Baby Blue. That level of technical competence had enabled to pair to devise a remote interface that allowed the watch stander to move about the ship instead of being riveted to the bridge. They only used it when the Defensive Condition set by Zion Command was Normal or lower so as not to impact the readiness of Baby Blue to respond. As a result the change of watch usually occurred in the ship's mess rather then the bridge itself so that the two warriors could exchange notes and plans for the day.
 
Things had been going well for many months, but in the last week the Captain had become remote. They hadn't spoken to each other very much in the past week. Her captain had been avoiding conversations except if or when absolutely necessary.
Not a word more.
He would say "Good morning" at breakfast, go about his daily work, and finally "Good night" when he went to sleep.
Occasionally he would issue an order or ask a question, but that had become the exception rather then the rule.
Normally Lyrics wasn't a person that would get cranky easily, but on the other hand, she needed a good atmosphere around her. Given the two normally had a very good working relationship, and could really discuss matters with each other with all due respect, made the situation that much harder to bear.
 
After three days she started to get a little cranky and resentful. Finally the dam broke after a week, and an argument ensued at watch change that evening. She had lost it and crossed the line, by badmouthing him in a heated discussion, in a way that made it personal. Not at all displaying the respect an operator should show her Captain.
 
TRX would have been entirely within his rights to have given her the consequences for her insubordination but instead realizing his remoteness in the past week and the grueling nature of their schedule simply sadly responded.
 
"Thank you for your disrespectfulness, Lyrics...  I am going to pretend you didn't just say that to me.  I'm going to my cabin to get some sleep. I hope for your sake, that when I see you in the morning, you will have lost this nasty attitude you just pulled on me."
 
That night the midnight watch was especially long. Lyrics sat at her bridge station, trying to distract herself by playing through a complicated chess problem with pieces and board she had made herself, while monitoring the Emergency Band. The exercise was of no avail, she continued to replay the argument in her mind wishing she could retract those words.
 
Finally the long watch drew to a close.  Quickly she typed some commands on her keyboard, and removed some rubbish around her workstation picking up the remote headset and headed to the mess for the change of watch. The exact timing of the watch change was flexible as their schedules would overlap in the mess by anywhere between half an hour and two hours depending on what was going to happen during the day. The only requirement that the Captain set would be that the change occurred before the yard dogs arrived for the day and then again after they left.
 
Lyrics walked through the narrow corridors to the mess, arriving before her Captain. Opening a cabinet, she removed a tin can, and poured herself a little bit of liquid fire made famous by Dozer the venerated pilot of the Nebuchadnezzar.
 
"Cheers", she whispered to herself before she took a shot of the strong substance, making a face as if she had just taken a bite out of a lemon. She couldn't resist letting out a "phfoohh" after she slammed it.
 
Next, as was her custom, she made some coffee, on a weird jury-rigged coffee machine that made a sound as if it were protesting against the fact that the universe existed at all. Just in time as things turned out because she could hear some grumpy mumblings and her Captain's footsteps in the corridor.

"Good Morning, Lyrics.... How did the watch go" said TRX in a neutral tone, as he stepped through the doorway and seeing that she had made him the traditional cup of black goop that passed for coffee in the Real.
 
"Good Morning Cap.... It was absolutely the worst watch I have ever stood.... I'm sorry T... I shouldn't have snapped at you like that, and I....."

TRX gently interrupted her: "Listen Lyrics, I appreciate the fact you are sorry for the things you said to me. You should be considering that you were way out of line there. But, I do understand why. I haven't been Mr. Sunshine this past week and I didn't give you the attention you deserve. Actually, I'm a little glad that you did stand up to me, because if you don't do that, whom else is going to do it?"
 
Lyrics smiled while giving TRX a cup of 'coffee'.

"Thanks T, you always make me feel better at the right moments. By the way, what was reason you were keeping your distance? You aren't usually an introvert"
 
TRX hesitated a moment, and then started explaining.

"About a week and a half ago I received a transmission from Niobe's second mate, Merrit, aboard the hovercraft Logos II.  I personally took the call, as you were freshening up before dinner at the time. She updated me on the tactical situation in the Matrix and how she needed all the help she could assemble. We need to get back in the saddle, Lyrics and soon. She said that I would have about a week to get Blue Distortion ready for action. At that point I was to rendezvous with Captain Niobe in a downtown office building near the South Vauxton Central hardline for further orders. Merrit also informed me that Othala was being recalled to duty and will be assigned to us within the same time frame."
 
"As you know with the end of the Truce, extraction operations have become much more dangerous. Merrit informed me that we should be prepared to recruit a bluepill from somewhere near the Kedemoth Central hardline where an extraction point is being set up."
 
"So for the last week I have worked very hard on tweaking the ship to bring us up to 110% readiness. That isn't exactly my favorite pastime and I will certainly be happy to see Othala back at her post to handle the task in future.... She really is a genius at troubleshooting and maintenance"

"I decided to work hard at it, and let you know we were going to be on active duty again the day I finished the job."

"Yesterday I finished, I am scheduled to jack in tomorrow at 19:00 hrs."

"That means you need to tweak the operation station today after you get some shuteye. Get a good six hours sleep, that way the yard dogs and I can help you before they go off shift. After that I will cook dinner for us and then we can make our way to the provisioning dock to get supplied for our mission tomorrow."

The work outlined by the Captain was completed as planned. Everything that could cause a possible conflict while jacked in was checked and double checked. System improvements were implemented and updates performed.
 
After dinner the pair of warriors made their way to the bridge, the Captain settling into the helm seat while Lyrics took the communication station. The excitement and fire was evident in their eyes as they ran through the checklist that would bring Blue Distortion light on her pads and set them on a course to harms way to fight the good fight.
 
"Ok .. Lyrics, All buckled up?"

Lyrics responded with a strong and precise "Affirmative" followed by a "Let's stick it to them" as her Captain pulled up on the collective and Man and Machine leapt into the air eager for the game.

Chapter 2


The flight to the provisioning dock was only a short hop. After receiving clearance from the harbor master, TRX maneuvered Blue Distortion with a practiced and skillful hand smoothly into position next to the flagship of Commander Vesuveus also waiting for replenishment.

Lyrics, carrying a few bags de-barked the hovercraft, as TRX completed the post-flight shutdown checklist before making his way to his own cabin to collect his belongings. Judging from the queue at the dock it looked like they would have a several hours to kill.

As TRX descended the hovercraft's main access ramp he saw Lyrics talking with Hern21, an operative from the craft next to theirs. I second later Hern21 noticed the debonair Captain descending and forgetting his conversation with Lyrics practically shouted out with excitement:

"T.. oh my God man... how good to see you!  How are ya bro?"

They shook hands while their left hands slapped each other on the upper arm.

"Hern buddy. Been too long since the last time we met!  I'm good man thanks, how about yourself dude?  I see you didn't stop working out man, you look good!"

Hern21's appearance was indeed impressive. About the same height as TRX, but twice as wide, with arms as strong as a bear, almost white blond hair, and very bright albino-like blue eyes. He had recruited TRX about 3 years back, and played a big part in his awakening. He had also been instrumental in arranging a position in the top crew of the RSITemplars, TRX's first faction.

They had been good friends ever since, even when that faction disbanded after a year. The faction leader, WaterDragon, taught TRX everything there is to know about the Matrix, and also provided excellent training on how to be a good captain. After only four months with the faction TRX was promoted to captain of the hovercraft, RSIGuardian.

Because of Hern's many different duties outside the matrix, the two friends sometimes didn't see each other very much, but when they did meet in the Matrix, they had very good times working together.

"So, TRX. Where the hell have you been man? I missed ya." said Hern as he continued pounded him on his shoulder.

TRX's grin broadened, as he replied:  "Well you know me man. Once in a while I just take a long vacation"

At that moment a young man walked up to the trio and interrupted  their conversation: "I'm sorry to interrupt Sir, your commander Ps10n sent me to tell you he is at the Communication Centre next to Headquarters, and would like you to meet with him. Sir, he also told me to say: Welcome back".

TRX tapped the man on the shoulder. "Tell him I'll meet him in exactly one hour at the mess hall for a drink and a sit-down"

Instead of leaving immediately, the young fellow hesitated shyly, like he wanted to ask something. TRX noticed and asked if there was anything else.

Clearly nervous, the young man gathered his courage and after a second finally found some words: "Sir? I wanted to ask you if you would have a position for me, on your crew. I'm good at decrypting codes and messages. I know your operator is one of the best, so I would like to learn the profession on your ship with Lyrics' guidance."

TRX and Lyrics made eye contact and seeing her little smile matched it with one of his own.

Returning his attention to the messenger, TRX and said: "If Lyrics wants to teach you, I have no objection. By the way, what's your name and how old are you?"

"My name is Linotype, Sir. I am 19 years old." said the now very excited and hopeful young man.

TRX turned his head to Lyrics and asked her what she thought.

Lyrics, a professional look on her face, carefully examined Linotype from head to toe.  She saw a young man with  messy hair, brown eyes,  and though of slender of build and slight of stature he stood straight, and seemed relaxed even though a bit nervous.

Lyrics stepped forward in his direction, tilted her head a little and said: "Why don't you come over to the mess hall too in an hour, so we can talk about it and learn a little more about you.  Sound good?"

The Linotype's expression clearly began to shine.

Hern21 choose this moment to enter the conversation. With a serious look on his face, he asked:  "Are you sure kid? These people are nuts."

When he saw the startled Linotype look at TRX and Lyrics with both eyebrows up, he couldn't help laughing and said: "Nah man. I'm just playing with ya".

Lino smiled, glad that he at least had a chance to get on Blue Distortion.

TRX laughed, clapping Hern on the shoulder, and told him: "Some things never change Hern, you still are a good icebreaker."

"Well Linotype", TRX said, "We will see you in an hour, and I think it's clear that it would be best if you are there on time."

Goodday Operatives, Captains, and Leaders in mxo

Im Glad to say, i finished the storylines on my book after chapter 5 up to chapter 11.

Up to 5 you can read them here at Mxo based book thread, and more chapters thread in this same section Next rennaisance.

The last chapter will be written soon, but needs to be to current situation, wich we do not know yet, in current events.

But getting there of course.

Our good friend of The Brethren Faction, Conrac, is editing the last chapters, of the book, and will react probably under this announce ment when all is finished.

Keep an eye out for his answer.

Ill be putting all these chapters, from cover to thank you notes, in one .Rar file. Containing a folder with all. With that an .Iso dvd, with extra's, like all (commercial) MxO videos i made on youtube, some music that belongs with it, and nice matrix gadgets.

I dont know how or what yet, but i want upload it somewhere, so everybody can download it for free.

Also let you know here, in this thread, any news on that also.

For now..

Be as good as you can, follow the white rabbit, and remember..

There..

is...

no..

Spoon..

Hiyall,

Excuse me for the endless delays on posting more chapters of my mxo-book. Sorry for that, it has been tough for me as well.  In the meantime more chapters are finished and edited by conrac.

Chapters 4 and 5 are available below. If you have not read the previous chapters, and would be interested to read these, you can find them under mxo based book by quark75 aka TRX in game.

Chapter 4.

TRX woke after exactly six hours of refreshing sleep. Within seconds of leaving his bed, his door buzzer sounded. Making his way to the door, he opened it to find Lyrics wearing fresh clothing and carrying an overstuffed duffle bag with a shirt end peaking out of one end.

Taking in TRX's messed up hair she smiled, and simply asked, "You ready T?"

Aware of his appearance, the direction of her graze and the fact that he was being teased, TRX mustered up as much dignity as he could manage, saying:

"Do I look like I am ready?", before breaking down and joining his operator in a hearty laugh.

"Ok Lyrics, you go on ahead and meet up with Rage. Assign him to cabin 4 and let him get settled in there. In the meantime I'll pick up that operator student of yours. He seemed like he was hanging on every word you said from what little I saw in the mess hall. Are his parents filled in?"

"Yes, Last night before I showed Lino around Baby Blue we went to meet them. They are of course concerned for his safety as any parent would be in time of war, but very proud he has made the choice to actively defend New Zion. Very nice folks, they offered to make the crew dinner the next time we are in New Zion"

"Oh that is nice of them, where can I find him?"

"While I chatted with his parents, Lino packed up his kit. We dropped the bags at the hovercraft last night. He said that he would be in the chill room on the 12th floor of this housing complex today saying goodbye to some friends. I guess he is there now."

"Ok thanks, I'll correct my hair and collect him right away. I also dropped my gear off last night before I went to sleep. Uhmm, one more thing though, Linotype will be your responsibility. I advise you to not let him do any work this evening, let him settle, explain some stuff and let him watch. Also explain the rules and watch schedule we keep aboard ship and so forth. Ok? Oh and while you're at it, contact the Logos II and tell Niobe I'm on my way."

Lyrics responded with a crisp, "Yes sir!" and went about her tasks.

About ten minutes later TRX boarded his vessel with Linotype. He first assigned him a cabin, and asked him if he had something to eat this morning  and if he hadn't suggested it would be a good idea to stop in the mess before reporting to Lyrics at the broadcast station. With that said TRX shook Lino's hand with a smile and officially welcomed the operator trainee aboard The Blue Distortion and then departed for the bridge.

As his Captain departed, Linotype glanced around his new home deciding how to arrange his belongings. He was excited about the adventure that had just begun and proud that he was found worthy and selected for training, but admittedly a bit nervous as well. After he put his things where he wanted them he took one last look before making his way to the mess hall for a quick bite before they got underway.

On the bridge TRX was chatting with Rage, in the manner pilots for a thousand years have about the little flaws of the machine they were about fly and what one could expect behavior-wise across the vessel's performance envelope. Rage had already settled in his cabin, and was clearly motivated to pilot the vessel.

"Sir, it's an honor to work on your ship after our long friendship in the matrix."

"No Rage, the honor is mine" said TRX with a wink and smile.

As the scheduled time of departure approached everybody settled into their stations, TRX and Rage on the bridge and Lyrics with Linotype on the broadcast deck. Rage requested permission to leave through his headset and got clearance to leave through Gate 5. Rage brought the hovercraft light on her pads and with a smooth pull on the controls slowly lifted off and headed in direction of the gate.

At the broadcast station Lyrics began teaching Lino the do's and don'ts of the operator's position drawing on both what was laid down in "The Book" but heavily interlaced with practical experience that she had learned on the job.

They departed New Zion without any problems, and the silent running to broadcast depth was fortunately uneventful. With the end of the truce, sentinels were once again actively hunting Zion's fleet.

Upon reaching broadcast depth, Rage began searching for a sheltered nook in which to hide Baby Blue from any sentinel patrols that might overfly the area. Soon finding a place near a mechanical line he gently and skillfully set the hovercraft down under cover.

Once the hovercraft was securely undercover, TRX made his way down to the broadcast theater and took his place in his large interface chair. Lyrics assisted her Captain, while Linotype watched with interest. She double checked all the status displays, as she removed the interface cable from the chair's storage compartment and seeing all indicators were reading green inserted the pin into the back of TRX's head with practiced ease.

As TRX had not jacked in for some time, the insertion of the interface pin was a bit uncomfortable. Lyrics, having preprogrammed the interface, initiated the sequence that would send the Captain to the South Vauxton Central hard-line, a phone booth in the relatively dangerous Downtown section of the Megacity.

.

As TRX's mind adjusted to the data feed, his avatar slowly morphed into his residual self image near the phone booth in South Vauxton. As an experienced operative he did an automatic scan of the immediate area looking for any glitches or something out of the ordinary that would indicate lurking danger. With everything looking clear, he took an equipment inventory at which point he took his cell phone and called Lyrics, "Uhmm Hun? Why didn't you load the PDA I normally have in my coat? Now I can't open my map display. You will have to direct me to the building where I need to meet Niobe."

"Ok, thanks"

The moment TRX terminated the call; Lyrics saw activity in the code indicating there was an agent nearby. She immediately tried calling TRX back, but only got a busy tone. "*CENSORED* we are being jammed!" she exclaimed to Linotype as both operators watched the drama unfolding and willed their Captain to notice the approaching danger.

TRX unaware of the unfolding situation, crossed the street when he reached the parking lot. His intention was to take the alley on the right side of the facing building in order to bypass it and arrive at the designated destination. As he walked into the alley, he was surprised to find an Agent within hand-to-hand range blocking his path. The Agent, straightened his cuff-links, and flexed his virtual muscles as he greeted TRX with "Hello, Mister Parker" before immediately attacking the surprised Zionist.

This particular agent was well known to the operatives of Zion, as Agent Brown, and while not the most formidable of the Agents arrayed against the forces of Zion he was more then able to take on and defeat the most skillful warriors Zion could field in one-to-one combat. TRX was a good fighter, but not yet in the top tier of Zion's elite, though each time he entered the Matrix he learned a little more about manipulating the code and intensifying his attack and defense capabilities. Just as in the time Neo, an operative's best tactic in such a one on one confrontation was to flee. The difference in the post-Neo era was the ability to "hyper-jump" that Neo had mastered and passed on was commonly in the repertoire of most operatives after only short time training within the Matrix. For some reason, most agents had not learned this capability so one or two successive hyper-jumps were sufficient to break a hot pursuit. The difficulty was an operative needed to gather him or herself for a short time before launching themselves into the ballistic trajectory that would quickly carry them to safety.

TRX, surprised, did not have the necessary time to launch himself to safety, but his combat instincts were still with him as he used the force of the Agents attack against him, causing Agent Brown to momentary become un-balanced giving TRX a slight temporary advantage. The Agent's off-balance follow up punch was easily blocked setting Brown up for a powerful right-handed uppercut, known as a guardbreaker move, seemingly delivered in slow motion as TRX's heighten combat senses kicked in. Against another operative with about the same combat ability such a solid strike would be enough to give a TRX an advantage for the rest of the fight, if not in some cases kill an opponent. Not so against this formidable adversary, but, the strike did knock Brown to the ground which was just the opening TRX needed to roll away, gather himself and leap to the roof of the building he had meant to bypass.

TRX's landing was picture perfect and by "the book", the force of the landing absorbed as he went down on one knee, one fist touching the rooftop as a slight seismic wave rippled the roof structure transferring the energy of the jump to the building. The Agent had recovered quickly from the knockdown and tried to bring down the fleeing operative with his semi-automatic pistol, but to no avail. TRX, gunshots echoing in his ears, heart pounding with the adrenaline rush, quickly got his bearing and sprinted for the edge of the roof so that he could leap the 20 meters or so to the destination building. Ducking behind a roof-top shed structure containing the roof access stairwell, TRX pulled out his cell phone and contacted Lyrics as he opened the shed door and raced down the stairs.

Lyrics had not been idle as Rex was fighting for his life. She had managed to readjust the signal strength and burn through the jamming she first encountered when trying to warn her Captain. When her Captain called she was ready with the information he needed as she answered: "T, run down the stairway until you reach a brown door on the third floor, enter it, close it and then wait!"

TRX found the door half way down the stairway, entered and immediately closed it behind him while still holding his cell to his ear. Lyrics staying with Rex, told him to have a little patience and to wait for one minute. After a minute she said "Ok Sir, you lost him, the Agent has left the immediate area. Move toward the end of the hallway behind you, take the elevator to the top floor."

TRX, racing heart slowing to a normal pulse rate, walked with a firm and steady cadence down the hallway and took the elevator.

Lyrics continued providing directions "Sir, as you get out of the elevator, there will be wide doors in the middle of the big hallway, that's where Niobe is waiting, in the office behind it."

"Thank you Operator, I'll call you back later", TRX closed his cell phone as he walked down the big hallway, decorated with suits of medieval armor, pushed the wide doors open, and entered the office.

As he entered the room he saw Niobe standing at the big picture windows with First Mate Ghost beside her, Liaison Officer Merrit was slightly to the left nearer the corner of the room.

Niobe said, "Just in time captain. Say, you're eyes look like you just walked out of the wilderness".

TRX chuckled and replied, "Greetings Captain Niobe." He tipped his hat to Ghost and Merrit while saying their names.

TRX continued, "I was hardly jacked in at the central hard line, when I ran into Agent Brown in the ally on my way here." Followed by a grin, "But I managed to let him eat my dust".

The corner of Niobe's mouth lifted a little, "Well TRX, at least you haven't lost your skills, after five months of sitting on your *CENSORED*!"

TRX moved closer to the Logos II crew, as he thought to himself, "Well, I guess I had that coming".

Niobe continued, clearly not satisfied with TRX's long 'vacation'

"What part of the rules that state the maximum leave is three months.. did you not understand Captain? And not to rub you're face in the dirt too much, but, this is second time you have done so."

When TRX took too long to answer, she punctuated her point by stepping into his space and piercing him with her gaze. The fact that she had to up at him, in no way minimized the power of her presence in such close proximity as she firmly promised, "If there is a third time, you can count on Zion command to take your vessel from you, as well as your captain status for a while. Is that understood, Rex?"

Just before answering her question TRX caught Merrit in the corner of his eyes, having a hard time not laughing at TRX, because of the expression on his face.

"Roger that Captain", he said while trying not to think of Merrit as she turned to face the window and cleared her throat. Ghost was looking at the toe of his shoe and coughed, also amused.

Niobe said with slight smile "Good! Welcome back then." as she straighten Rex's tie.

TRX now feeling a little more comfortable, responded, "Thank you Niobe. Uhmmm, I guess you didn't get me here just to bite me did you?", as he took a cigarette and lit up with a Zippo.

Niobe sighed, "Nah. I wish that was the case Rex. I admit, I enjoy scaring you a little, but unfortunately, now that I had the fun part, we have more important business to...."

Before she could finish she was interrupted by her cell phone,

"Yes Operator? What?! Ok, give me the location of the nearest exit."

Merrit and Ghost went on instant alert hearing the tone of their Captain's voice.

As she hung up, TRX asked Niobe what the emergency was.

"Sentinels!" she almost shouted. "Follow me! Quick!"

TRX immediatly dropped his sigarette on the floor, before he ran out the room behind the ZionElitecrew and towards the stairways to quickly get to the roof. Two quick hyper-jumps allowed them to leap from building to building and then down to the street. Dodging traffic as they crossed the street, they could see the phone booth in the distance, as they sprinted to cover the distance as quickly as possible.

As they ran past the lobby of an office building, two agents ran out and took pursuit. Only Niobe's timely warning and quick reactions had allowed them to just avoid the ambush.

However, they were not out of the woods yet. TRX, running at the end of the column saw that the agents needed to be delayed in order to allow the Logos II crew time to jack-out in order to defend their hovercraft from sentinel attack in the Real. As Baby Blue was not in imminent danger, the job would to fall to him. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw his chance, as the agents were running in line ahead formation. Urging his compatriots to hurry, Rex slowed slightly, allowing the agents to close the distance. Picking his moment, he planted his foot and used his forward momentum to pivot around in a 360 degree round house kick that connected with the lead agent's chest. A devastating blow to any enemy, except for an Agent. However the laws of physics were faithfully encoded into the code of the Matrix, and the momentum of that strike was transferred to the agent who was lifted off his feet and thrown into the path of the trailing agent. The pair of agents went down in a tumble as TRX tucked and rolled and started running in a different direction in the hopes of drawing the agents away. He had executed a flawless hit and run attack. As he turned a building corner he saw Ghost, the last of the trio, disappear into thin air, jacking-out. He had accomplished his mission, but now had two agents on his tail as he headed to another nearby hard line he half remembered.

Fortunately, his operator was on the case and surmised his destination. So when the cell phone beeped and Rex answered with a shout "Get me outta here!" He was treated to Lyrics, with a pumped up, but steady voice providing precise instructions to his destination.

"Ok, hard right; backdoor in front of you; left; right; now straight; take the front door out; across the street. Around the next building on your right; Hyper-jump 11 o'clock.....Now! You're going make it, make a left; hard line in front of you. Go! Go! Go! Don't look back and grab the phone."

Just before TRX felt his RSI transfer into code, he saw the agents stopping their sprint, raising their guns and emptying them as fast as they could pull the triggers.

The next thing he knew he opened his eyes, back in the Baby Blue's Broadcast Station to the sound and feeling of the pin being removed from his head.

"Phewwww... That was close" he said to Lyrics, seeing Linotype next to her with a very pale face and eyes opened wide in awe.

"Not to mention a perfect 'Trinity-escape' Cap" Lyrics whispered with a smile.