Disclaimer: I do not own W.I.T.C.H. This is a work of fan fiction.

Season Three Episode Seven: "They Call Me MISTER Tubbs!" Chapter One

Earth. Deep in the Heatherfield sewer system. "Ooh. This is very nice Blunky-boo." Mama said. "What did you make these walls out of?"

"It's called cardboard Mama. Like wood but it weighs less. So, Blunk convince Mama to move in with Blunk? No monsters on earth, much safer."

"No Blunky-boo. Mama's home on Meridian. But Mama will stay to help Blunky-boo decorate. Which way to the trash-dump?" Excited, Blunk eagerly led the way…

Sheffield Institute. Irma was on her way to start the morning radio show. She didn't look forward to having to deal with Uriah, but at least Martin would be where she could keep an eye on his safety. Not that he was in any danger as long as she could keep her life as a Guardian hidden from him. "I might as well go ahead and admit it." she thought to herself. "I'm worried because I really like him."

As she worked through these thoughts, Martin came up from behind and joined her. "Good morning sweet pie!"

"Oh! Morning Martin. How's everything going? And Do NOT mention that stupid movie you've imagined me being in."

"I won't bring it up. Though I know I didn't imagine it. Wish I could figure out where that tape disappeared too. Anyway, that's not what I wanted to ask you about. You're going to the Radio Broadcaster's Convention this weekend, right?"

"Yeah." Irma answered, "I'm sorry you've got to miss it. I kinda think it'll be more oriented towards the technical side of things you do than my on-air job."

Martin said, "That's the good news Honey Doodle! Well, good news for me anyway, I feel bad for those innocent people. But dad can't leave town after all, so I'll be able to go, and I wondered if you'd like to go together? Not a date or anything, just as friends."

"I'd like that." Irma said. Then a thought occurred to her. "Martin, what came up that your dad had to cancel the trip? What innocent people do you 'feel bad' for?"

He handed her his MP3 player, set to fm radio reception. "Listen."

Irma listened to the radio news report. "Repeating our breaking story from this morning, a passenger train carrying two hundred people crashed and derailed just outside Heatherfield approximately three hours ago. The extent of the damage is still unknown, though early reports say that while most of the passengers were injured, some severely, the death toll was very light. National Transportation Safety Board Investigator Gerald Tubbs is on site, but refused to comment as of yet. There are some unconfirmed reports that the train's engineer may have been intoxicated at the time of the accident. This is based on a transmission from the engineer just prior to the crash, in which he reportedly claimed to be under attack by 'giant maggots and a huge spider-creature'. In other news…"

Irma handed the player back to Martin. "Isn't that sad?" he asked, "Can you believe an engineer with people's lives in his hands would get drunk and hallucinate monsters?"

Irma's eyes narrowed. "Yeah… unbelievable…." she murmured.

Meridian. The Infinite City. Flanked by Vathic and a team of guards, Queen Elyon approached the cell her brother was incarcerated in. He looked up as she approached. "Ah, my little sister finally sees fit to visit me. To what do I owe the honor?"

"Cut the attitude Phobos." Elyon said. "I need information you have, and you're going to give it to me."

"I am? Or what? You can't really threaten me sister. I know you're soft, you won't torture me or kill me to get your way." He looked at the empty cell across from his. "Why, you've not even managed to recapture someone as minor as dear little Miranda."

"Miranda has been dealt with." Elyon said, trying to be cryptic.

"Really? I doubt that." Phobos turned and walked away from the front of his cell. As far as he was concerned, this conversation was over. He didn't think there was anything Elyon could say or do to inspire his cooperation. He was wrong.

Elyon whispered a single word: "Neera."

Phobos froze in place. "What did you say?"

"You heard me. Neera. Queen Neera. I know you've had dealing with her in the past. I want the details of those dealings."

"Where did you get that information? No, never mind it doesn't matter. She's back isn't she? She's back, after you or your precious Guardians, and you want knowledge in the hopes it will help you fight her."

Elyon saw no reason to lie, he'd know anyway. "Yes. And regardless of our feelings towards each other you should be willing to help. You know the old expression, it's the same on earth and Meridian: 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend.'"

"I never really believed that." Phobos said. "The enemy of my enemy is just another enemy. Still it is true there's no love lost between myself and the Dark Queen. Alright, I'll give you one small piece of information. What I was trying to obtain through a treaty with Neera was her transit crystals. Small triangular crystals able to open folds and portals. Her people can mass-produce them."

"And what did you have to offer her in return?"

"Kandrakar of course. She can't go there. Her soldiers either. It's one of the rules she has to follow. She wanted me to take her scanning technology to Kandrakar and bring her back detailed scans of the Guardian's Aura Mirrors."

Elyon was alarmed. "Why did she want that? What could she have done with it?"

"I have no idea. And at any rate, she chose to betray me first. But now this interview is over." Phobos turned away and would say no more.

Later that day, after school, the Guardians and their allies gathered together. Now that Susan knew the truth, they had taken to meeting in Will's apartment. They didn't have to worry about Hay Lin's parents overhearing them that way, and the furnished home was nicer than the basement.

"She was after knowledge about the Aura Mirrors?" Taranee asked. "That's bad any way you slice it."

Matt agreed. "If she had gotten that info, she might have found some weakness to exploit."

"I agree it's bad news." Irma said, "But let's focus on the here and now. Neera's men caused that train wreck to keep Martin from leaving town. Whatever they've got planned it must be coming soon."

"Then we need to keep a close guard over him." Miranda said. "At least one of us, preferably two, should have him in sight at all times."

Caleb agreed. "Yeah, but how do we do it without him knowing?"

"The convention is this weekend." Irma said. "I'll have an excuse to be with him most all day on Saturday and Sunday. The rest of you could blend into the crowds."

Cornelia said, "Irma, don't you think you should try to draw him away from that place? Even I know the odds are good that's where they'll strike."

Will laughed. "Keep the school's biggest techno-geek away from a radio convention? That'll happen when pigs fly. We'll just have to play this one as it lays and hope for the best…"