Thanks to:
leeloo_dalas_multipass84, are the pics ok? Did you manage to regester? Thanks for reviewing again. If you need my help for anything, just email.
EmyLyii, hmm, interesting theory. Very close indeed. But not quite spot on. It will be revealed in the next chapter. (Tip, who do you think is Sapphire's dad?)
Kal Torak, thanks for the complements! I'm glad you like Thrice so much too! They have both been equally enjoyable to write. Thanks so much for the complements, I'm honoured you think that of me!
richard the pedantic, don't worry about looking foolish or anything. You weren't the one to be repeatedly asked to sing 'Grease' in front of my class for the last two days (and then being told I'm good by everyone, including my form tutor. *grins*). If you are going to be digging up my garden, would you mind doing the weeds, they're getting kinda getting out of hand now… :) thanks for reviewing.
Ok, note to all reviewers, especially those threatening to dig up my garden and cough a lot, I have just now started my half term. That means I have a whole week free from school. As much as I want to spend all that time writing fanfiction, my GCSE's are in just about a couple of months, so I need to spend the time revising, full time. That means I wont be updating so frequently as the time goes on. I will however, try to write a few chapters this half term, so I can post them at regular intervals to keep you guys interested. I'm sorry about this, but I really do need to do the revision. Look on the bright side, I will still be updating, I'm not going on hold.
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Morpheus was welcoming Niobe and her crew back onboard his ship when Zee suddenly burst into the core, disturbing them. Her face was glowing bright red from her run, and she tried to talk, but was hindered by the need for air. Link came over to her and held her up so she could get her breath, all the while asking what she had just found. She in return gave him a look that just screamed "what do you think I'm trying to do here? I would if I could."
Morpheus was as interested as Link was, and had reluctantly excused himself from Niobe's company to see what had got her so excited. She would never have interrupted him and made such a scene like that if it wasn't something important.
"I was- Was ri- I…I was right!" she managed to say, still panting hardly.
"Right about what?"
"The test I did!" she said excitedly.
"Zee, if I remember correctly, you were going to perform several tests." Morpheus said, a little frustrated, but willing not to saying anything about that. He knew very well it had been himself like that over 18 years ago.
"What was it you found out?" Link interjected, every bit as curious as Morpheus.
"That man," she said, stretching her arm and pointing at Ghost's back, "is an uncle! I've ran it several times. I'm sure."
Morpheus stared at her for a moment, as did Link, before he rushed off to Niobe and asked to see her and her crew in the mess hall straight away.
"I'll be there in a few minutes, I just need to sort something out first." And then he was off, dashing to the ladder before practically throwing himself down it. Niobe and Ghost exchanged glances as they heard a thud, which was then succeeded by a small "ow".
~*~
The door opened a crack, and a eye was pressed up against it to see if anyone was inside. The room was seen to be completely empty, and a slender figure slid inside. Sapphire took a quick look at the small mess hall, and walked in further, surveying the food dispensers. It was very small and cramped, but she didn't mind. She had been fed intravenously all her life, and for the last couple of days, and she really wanted something solid in her stomach. Or, rather, something that wasn't completely liquid fed into her veins. She opened various draws, eventually finding a bowl and a spork, and poured herself out some the goop from the nearest dispenser . She sat herself down at the end of the lonely table and started to eat her first meal, muttering silently to herself about some of the things her parents had told her about the food.
"Tasty Wheat? This doesn't taste anything like Tasty Wheat. I think the 'runny eggs' describes this best. Or 'snot' is a good one…"
She shoved another spoonful into her mouth and looked around the room carefully for the first time. It was cold and depressing, but oddly held the sort of feeling of history, and past activity.
As she lifted yet another spoonful to her mouth, her eyes came upon a plaque that was fixed just to the side of the door, which she hadn't seen when she first came in. Her hand froze, the food hovering just an inch in front of her mouth. She just sat there transfixed on the plaque, her eyes flowing over the letters again and again. She finally lowered the spoon back to the bowl, and just stayed there like that, staring at it.
'In Memory Of Trinity And Neo. Our Saviours And Good Friends. May You Remain Together, Wherever You Are. You May Not Be With Us Anymore, But You Will Remain In Our Hearts, Always.'
Beside it was a triangular symbol, similar to the one that Sapphire had been brought up with, but it was different. Inside the triangle was a large number 1, with 'Neo' under it. It looked to be the symbol that the freed people used.
It brought up so many emotions within Sapphire. She could hardly process them all, and just stayed there, blankly looking at it. She was interrupted from her thoughts by the door opening, some ten minutes later.
~*~
Niobe entered the mess, expecting it to be empty, but was proven wrong. She gasped.
Sapphire was there, solemnly eating some food. Sapphire, the very same girl that had joined in the fight when they ran into trouble freeing Rabbit.
"Hello, Captain Niobe." The girl said politely, but very eerily. She had not been told the captain's name by anyone. She didn't even know the Logos was going to visit the Neb.
"Hello…" Niobe replied, curious yet confidently. Ghost, Sparks and Saoirse slowly filed into the room after Niobe, eyes on the girl in front of them. They stood there absolutely silent, too intrigued and possibly shocked to say anything or even whisper amongst themselves.
"How's Rabbit doing?" Sapphire asked.
"I'm okay, doing pretty well, actually, thank you." the normally shy boy said cheerfully, emerging into the room behind the grownups.
Morpheus then came in behind him, totally confused. "What's the-? Sapphire? How did you…?"
"I was feeling a bit restless, wanted to stretch my legs."
"But-? Its only been two days…? How come you're even fully conscious?"
"I don't know, but I'm mostly all done and healed. Some of the plugs are still a little raw, but they're fine." She said, whilst pulling up the lose sleeve and showing him her arm. There were some fresh dressings over her plugs where they had been manipulated by Zee.
All the while, Niobe, Ghost and Saoirse had looks of utmost confusion and curiosity at the little conversation between the girl they clearly recognised and the captain. Niobe decided to break up the conversation.
"Morpheus, this is the girl you unplugged?"
The man in question broke off his fast becoming one-sided conversation with Sapphire, and looked over curiously at his lover. "Yeah, why…?"
"Morpheus," Niobe said quietly, yet clearly, "She's a Matrix Angel!"
Morpheus turned to stare at the girl, and for once in his life, was completely blown for words.
*~*~*