Alita's POV:

"What is XANA up to?" I asked as I ducked behind the rock that we were taking shelter behind. XANA kept sending Kankrelats to replace the ones we were able to destroy…to defend a single active tower in the Desert. We were hiding out to try & figure out a new strategy.

"This just doesn't make any sense." Yumi said. "All these monsters for just one tower? It seems like a trap…"

"There doesn't seem to be anything on the news that's possibly XANA related ether." Jeremy said.

"Maybe that means something else is the target, like the school or the factory." Ulrick said, watching the Kankrelats to make sure they didn't figure out where we were hiding.

"Who cares? They're Kankrelats." Od said. "They're not exactly the smartest monsters XANA has. We can take 'em!"

"Yeh, but let's try to not get sent home in the process." Ulrick said right before a laser hit him directly in the chest.

"Ow!" he yelled. We looked up & saw a Manta flying over us, which explains how it got a lucky shot at Ulrick.

"Looks like getting you to the tower is our only option." Yumi said to me. "Before any more of XANA's monsters decide to show up…"

"I was hoping you'd say that!" Od said.

"Be careful, guys." Ulrick said as he sat back up. "That last shot hurt…"

We jumped out from behind the rock & started clearing a path to the tower. Eventually, I was able to make my way to the tower. I was almost there when I heard the Manta cry out & felt a laser hit my ankle.

Ulrick was right. It did hurt more than usual…not that it mattered since I was already in the tower.

"Well guys…Whatever XANA was planning, we didn't him the chance to try." Jeremy said after I entered the code. "I'll bring you guys in right…Huh? Hold on, why is it…?

"Jeremy, is everything all right?" I asked, looking around. "Why are you launching a return trip?"

"I'm not!"


Jeremy's POV:

I jolted awake when I heard my alarm clock go off. Darn, I had only meant to rest for a few minutes after we got back from the return trip, not the rest of the night…Looks like I'll be "in the infirmary" for part of the day…

I had just turned my computer on when my phone rang. I glanced at the caller ID. "Hey, Od." I answered. "Why are you up this early?"

"Is Ulrick with you?" Od asked.

"No. Why?"

"I'm not sure he came back with us last night." Od said. "He's not here!"

"All right, Od. I'll look into it, see if I can find the problem." I said. "But isn't possible he just got up a little bit early?"

"C'mon, Jeremy! This is Ulrick we're talking about!"

"Oh. Right…"


I've always had an interest in history, but hated how it was taught in school…I mean, there has to be a better way to learn history then just reading about it & filling out a gazillion charts about it, right?

Let's find out…

Please review!