"So he's really letting you go?" Tank asked with an unbelieving air. Theo gripped the arm of the construct chair where Tank sat. "Yes!" she exclaimed. Theo could barely contain herself. "He said that we can't unplug them. I guess I expected that. But at least I can see them again. I'm so happy, Tank!"

"I can see that!" he chuckled. "I'm happy for you. Are you worried about agents?"

"A little," she said. "But if Neo comes along, I won't be nearly as worried."

"Yeah, I wouldn't be either. Just take care of yourself, okay?"

Theo nodded. She was encouraged by his concern. "So Morpheus says that we can go tomorrow whenever you're ready."

"Well, I'm ready whenever you are."

"Super. How about this time tomorrow then?"

"Sounds good." he changed his note. "Say, I'm sorry if I discouraged you any last night. I didn't mean to." Theo waved him off. "No, no, it's okay. It was just you being sensible. There's nothing to apologize for."

Tank had been surprised at how quickly he and Theo had come to befriend each other. She had a fire about her, something that he had seen from day one. At the same time she was innocent, yet spirited and sure of herself. She definitely made a good addition to the Nebucanezzer's crew. Especially in such a perilous time.

"Well, I should go talk to Neo." she said. She smiled again and gave a little squeal. Tank was amused.

"I'll talk to you later then," he said and she turned to leave.

"Hey, Theo," he called after her. She turned around. "Hebrews 11:1, huh?"

Theo recalled what he was talking about and brightened. "Yeah!" she said. "Everything's going to work out!"

Tank nodded, and she disappeared around the corner.

Neo was to be found playing checkers with Dozer. It was Dozer's move when Neo saw her enter the room. "Hey there," he said.

"King me," said Dozer.

"Aw, pssh!" went Neo. "You cheated!"

Theo laughed. "Am I interrupting?"

"No, not at all," said Dozer, "I need a witness to Neo getting whipped."

"Just wait," said Neo. "What can I do for you, Theo?"

"Well, me and Morpheus were going to see the Oracle tomorrow--"

"Ah, yes, he just stopped by about that. I'd be glad to go with you guys."

"Oh, thanks so much."

"No problem. I have to get used to this hero thing anyhow."

"Thanks, Neo. I'll see you later."

"Oh, wait, wait," he said, looking down at the checker board. He thought for a few seconds, then proceeded to capture three of Dozer's checkers. "Now you king me."

"That's so wrong," said Dozer.

Theo laughed. "Sorry, Dozer, I'm a witness."

"Yeah, yeah..."

That night, Theo barely slept. She pictured what it would be like to see her people again. What would she say? How would she explain her missing and that she was apart of this plight for the freedom of mankind? They would probably think she was crazy. But nothing was going to stop her from going. She thought of holding her seven-year-old sister Stacey in her arms again, seeing the smile on eleven-year-old Courtney's face, the tears of joy running down her mother's cheeks...and Travis...she rolled over onto her back and sighed. Oh, Travis... they'd been together for over a year, since their senior year of high school. They'd celebrated their first anniversary two weeks before Theo had been unplugged. He must've be missing her terribly by now. She imagined holding him as close to her as humanly possible and again hearing her name enveloped in the sound of his voice. She bunched up her blanket and squeezed it to her chest, saturating it with her tears. I miss you all so much, she whispered to the empty room, as she had for nights before. But this time, she had something more to hold onto than her blanket. She knew it wouldn't be long now.