Chapter 3

Fight or Flight

"Transfer Aelita. Transfer Yumi. Scanner Aelita, Scanner Yumi. Virtualization!" Jeremie said as Yumi and Aelita were being sent to Lyoko.

The girls landed on the forest ground, next to Odd and Ulrich, as Jeremie said, "I have a little present for you. And I've also been able to find and fix the scanning program. The activated tower is 45 degrease south by southeast."

"Thanks Einstein," Odd said as he jumped onto his newly virtualized overboard and sped off in the direction with Ulrich on his overbike and Yumi and Aelita on the overwing right behind.

Jeremie surveyed the screens in front of him, trying to keep an eye out when he noticed five red triangles heading for his friends. "Look out guys," Jeremie said as he looked up at the screen above his head to pull up the cards belonging to the enemies. "Five Blocks are coming your way."

"Got it, Jeremie," Ulrich said. He looked over to his right to see farther down the path they were on and the five Blocks heading for them.

Ulrich sped up to Odd and said, "Odd, you're with me." He glanced behind him and saw Yumi and Aelita and added, "Yumi, protect Aelita while we make a path for you."

Yumi nodded her head as she slowed down her overwing to put distance between Aelita and the monsters.

"Let's get rid of these pain in the blocks," Odd said as he shot forward on his overboard.

"You need new jokes," Ulrich said as he followed close behind.

Odd shrugged as he lifted his paw up and aimed at one of them as he was rounding the bend. "LASER ARROW!" Odd cried as he shot one in the eye of Xana.

Jeremie looked at his screens and said, "Yumi, three Krabes are coming from behind you."

Aelita and Yumi turned around and saw them walking to them. "I see them Jeremie," Yumi said. She turned to Aelita and said, "Fly to somewhere so the monster can't get to you."

Yumi jumped off of the overwing and saw Aelita fly away before turning around and pulling out her two tessen fans. She jumped out of the way as a Krabe shot at her feet.

The three Krabes started to fire at her all at once, causing her to have to use both of her fans as shields.

"It's not a fair fight if I can't fire back!" Yumi called to the Krabes as she had to start backing up.

"YUMI!" Odd's voice was heard as Yumi realized she had backed up too far, the heel of her foot no longer feeling solid ground below it.

Yumi looked down, only to get shot in the thigh and loose her balance. She dropped her fans and started to fall backwards, towards the digital void below. She felt someone grab her waist and saw that she was getting lifted upward and over the Krabes that were shooting at her and her rescuer. She found the overboard below her feet and prayed Odd wouldn't let go of her.

"LASER ARROW!" Odd's voice called from behind Yumi as arrows shot at the Krabes, hitting them both on his mark and killing them.

"Thanks Odd," Yumi said.

"What can I say, you'd be lost without me," Odd said, smiling as he went down to the ground to drop her off.

"Guys!" Jeremie's voice called, sounding panicky. "The Scyphozoa's going after Aelita!"

Yumi looked around, but saw only Ulrich killing two Blocks at a time with Triplication.

"Where is she?" Yumi asked.

"Over there!" Odd said, pointing over the digital void to where Aelita and the Scyphozoa were, with Yumi's overwing. Odd turned his overboard around and headed over to the two, shooting at the Scyphozoa trying to get it to drop Aelita.

Odd hit the Scyphozoa in the tentacles and it dropped Aelita, her body missing the overwing as she fell to the digital void.

"AELITA!" Jeremie cried as he watched, helplessly as she fell to her destruction. His thoughts ran quick as ideas flashed through his mind. He started to type and ordered, "Odd! Shoot her!"

"What!?" Odd asked, still flying downward, trying to catch up with her to catch her.

"Just do it!" Jeremie said as he went to hit the enter button.

"I hope you know what you're doing Einstein," Odd said as he stopped flying downward. Taking careful aim, he shot his remaining three arrows at the girl's falling body. In the back of his mind he knew Aelita would have to go to a tower to return to earth. The arrows made their mark, bringing Aelita to her wireframe state as he took away her life points. Odd watched as she disappeared, her last pixel only centimeters away from the digital sea.

Jeremie pulled off his mike, letting it drop to the end of its cord as he jumped from the chair and ran to the elevator. He pushed the button and went down only to find the scanner room empty.

Jeremie stood in the middle of the room, next to the hatch, stunned. To his left, air was released as the scanner's door opened. Jeremie ran over to it and caught Aelita as she fell out of it. Her eyes closed as Jeremie lowered her to the ground, worry written on his face.

AN: As far as I can remember, they don't really explain what happened to prove Aelita could be devirtualized like anyone else. So my thought behind why they were worried this in this chapter was them just learning. That would put this story closer to the beginning of season 3, right after everyone came back to school from break.