Author's Note:

I don't know how long its been since I've updated but here it is. I've been busy with SO many projects and tests for the past three weeks. I had a science project (that inspired me to put a science project in this story) and it was put in the science fair. Pretty happy about that. Anyway, big decision day for the Lyoko Warriors. ON WITH THE STORY.

Chapter 6: Quick and Dangerous Decision

-At Lunch a week later-

Katherine laughed as Odd made told a joke about Jeremy and his physical abilities. She was really warming up to them, but she still felt that betrayal. It was stuck in the pit of her stomach, latched on and not wanting to let go. But it started fading about a few days ago when they actually treated her like a friend, and not like Ulrich's cousin. Odd, as usual, was eating some type of food that the lunch lady had given him.

"So," said Ulrich grinning at Odd. "Are you going to the end of the year dance?"

"Maybe, got to find a date first."

"I don't think that'll be hard, Mr. I've-dated-every-girl-in-school," Aelita said smiling. Odd smirked and nodded.

"All except 3," Odd said smirking and eyeing each girl keeping his eyes on Katherine. She blushed and looked at Ulrich. "What about you Ulrich? Do you have someone to go with?" Odd helped out and nudged and nodded toward Yumi, whose head was down. Ulrich blushed and playfully punched Odd and glared at Katherine.

"Maybe, do you? Ulrich said smiling. Katherine moved her mouth but no words came out. But her eyes were on Odd and his were on hers.

"What's this I hear about an end of the year dance?" someone said from behind her. Katherine saw Odd and Ulrich's eyes turn angry. She lifted her head and saw Evan Ramsey smiling down on her. Evan looked at Odd and the others with a friendly smile.

"Hey guys," he said. Ulrich smiled and nudged Odd, who still glared.

"Hi, Evan. What are you doing here?" Jeremy said smiling. Evan looked at Katherine.

"Because we'd really like you to go," Odd said under his breath. Evan snapped his head in Odd's direction. "What was that?"

"Nothing just that you should hang with us for a while." Evan shook his head.

"Oh no, Katherine and I have to go work on our science project." Katherine blushed and gasped.

"Oh God, I almost forgot," she said getting up. Aelita winked at her, smiling. She thought that Katherine needed someone, as in a boyfriend, to take her out of that comfort zone. And Evan seemed like a nice guy, to Aelita's standards anyway. He seemed to like Katherine too.

"Have fun Katherine," she said smiling. Odd watched her intently as Evan led her away, with his arm on his shoulder. Odd felt this heat rise up in his little body. As he took a deep breath to calm his unknown anger, he questioned something. Was he really getting jealous? Of what? Katherine? Why? He was just getting to know her, he couldn't like her. All she is is a girl who happens to be Ulrich's cousin—who happens to be very pretty—who happens to have this mystery to her that made him want to know more and more. Maybe he did like her, but then again maybe he didn't. He couldn't think straight as he saw Evan try to touch her hand as they sat down at a nearby tree, directly in his view. Katherine slapped his hand away, Odd crossed his arms across his chest.

"There's something about that Evan that I don't like," he said to Ulrich and the others. Ulrich looked in the direction of his cousin and her science project partner, he nodded.

"I agree."

"I think Evan is a nice guy, in fact I think he liked Katherine. Oh how cute!" exclaimed Aelita. Yumi rolled her eyes, Odd's shoulders tensed; Ulrich ignored her comment and continued with Odd.

"I don't like him either, Odd."

"You're just being overprotective, Ulrich," said Jeremy smiling. He heard the bell ring and sighed.

"There goes the bell; I'll see you guys in gym." As he left, Ulrich grabbed his shoulder and pulled him around to face him. Jeremy, frightened, yelped and looked at Ulrich in the eyes, which was what Ulrich wanted.

"Jeremy, it's been a week. What's your decision?" Jeremy began to stutter.

"Uh-well. Give me another week, I still haven't told the others."

"What?" Ulrich shook him a little and didn't look at the others staring at him. He decided to save Jeremy and himself some embarrassment and spoke in a whisper. "Why didn't you tell them?"

"I don't know I didn't have time."

"Can you tell them? I think it would be best if we decide fast, XANA almost killed me and Yumi last time. We might need more help next time," said Ulrich, almost pleading with his friend. Jeremy nodded and Ulrich let him go. Jeremy turned to the others, who stared at them curiously.

"Guys."

"What? Is there a XANA attack," asked Aelita, scared. Jeremy shook his head.

"No, just come on."

Odd got there first, him being faster than the rest. (Or least that's what he likes to believe). Soon after him, the others sat around him. It was an awkward silence while Jeremy was trying to find the right moment to tell them. Odd looked at Jeremy with a raised eyebrow.

"What's wrong Einstein?"

"I'm just thinking."

"About what genius? Cause if it's that math homework then could you help me. I swear that lady is a robot she doesn't move an inch and all she gives is homework."

"I was thinking that maybe we should let Katherine in on XANA, you know? Make her one of the group."

"No," said Yumi. "That girl has barely known us for a month and you want her in the group? Why is that?" Yumi was fuming and was speaking from her nerves. Let her in on XANA? She would allow it only if Jeremy would do a Return to the Past right after. It was insanity, was it only because Katherine was Ulrich's cousin? Ulrich. She felt ill speaking so meanly about his family. She liked him, just his name makes her blush. He looked at her now, his eyes locking with hers. She could see the red in his cheeks but there was fire in his eyes.

"She has no idea what's happened to her the other day, I think she deserves to know. That's never happened to someone who was possessed by XANA. She has a right to fight his power."

"So when Sissi was possessed by XANA not too long ago, did you want to tell her too? Fight his power too?" There was something about that Katherine girl that she didn't like. Odd moved closer to his best friend and roommate.

"I agree with Jeremy and Ulrich. Katherine is a really cool person. Cooler than a slice of bread, she should know. If she does then that means that she can go to Lyoko with us."

"Now you're talking about Lyoko? What good is she going to do?"

"Help us in Lyoko, I almost got dematerialized last time I was there by myself with Aelita. 3 Krabs tried to laser me to death. She could help us."

"She almost killed Ulrich and me when she was possessed. What if she gets possessed again? She might actually kill us next time." Yumi knew that she was losing the fight; she just wanted to try and try to convince them. Katherine was bad news, she knew it. Katherine may look sweet and shy, but Yumi knew she had a different side to her. She remembered how enraged Katherine became when Sissi was making fun of her. Imagine the same enraged Katherine, but with XANA's powers? Yumi shuddered from the very thought.

"We weren't prepared for her, next time we will be. That power she had could help us defeat XANA Yumi. We could get rid of him once and for all. Don't you see? She's essential. Jeremy just has to do some tests, right?" Jeremy nodded.

"Yeah, we'll see what's up with her and see if we can use it against XANA."

"Then it's settled, Katherine's in," Odd said with a wide grin. Everyone, except Yumi, nodded and smiled. Odd grinned ear to ear at the news. He was thinking of all the cool things he could so with her now that she was in the group. When they go to Lyoko he could teach her some of his aerobics tricks, teach her to ride his Overboard. The part that made him blush was that he could also protect her. He would fire his laser arrows at any monsters that tried to devirtualize her. Then she'd run into his arms and—

'Why am I thinking about her this way', he thought to himself. She's just a friend; she's just a friend, just a friend. He told himself that. She's just a really awesome girl with awesome hair who had an awesome personality. That was it. He thought this until Ulrich's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"When should we tell her?"

"Never," Yumi said under her breath. "Probably tomorrow after classes," Jeremy said.

"Why not now?" Odd asked. It might have been that brownie at lunch that he ate a little too fast but he could feel his heart pound hard against his chest.

"No," said Jeremy looking at his watch. Just as he looked up, the bell rang. They saw Katherine leave with Jim not far from her going in the direction of the gym. Ulrich looked at them until they were out of sight.

"I wanna know what Jim wants with Katherine." Ulrich looked at Odd and grinned.

"Wanna do some spying and snooping, Odd?" Odd smiled ear to ear.

"You know I always got my spy goggles on me at all times," he said taking them out of his backpack.

They stalked their 'prey' until Katherine and Jim reached the gym. They left the door open, but they couldn't go in. Jim would have them in 4 hours detention for sure.

"I can't get another detention with Jim, last time he was dancing to disco music for 4 hours long. I still have it stuck in my head," Odd said. Ulrich laughed and looked at what Jim and Katherine were doing through Odd's spy goggles.

"I can't believe you actually bought all this spy gear," he said smiling.

"You bet me and I never turn down a bet," Odd said with a grin. "Pretty dumb bet," muttered Ulrich.

"Not so dumb if it's helpful now, is it?" Ulrich stopped talking and stood stiff for a moment. Ok, this is cool, he thought.

He saw Katherine and Jim practicing Pencak Silat, well Jim attempting to help her. Katherine was lightening fast in her moves and Jim couldn't keep up. She got him on the floor in four moves and didn't even break a sweat. Ulrich was amazed at his cousin's moves.

"What are they doing?" asked Odd.

"Katherine is doing Pencak Silat, she's destroying Jim."

"What's Jim doing?"

"Failing badly. Hey!" Ulrich exclaimed as he gasped and dropped the goggles.

"Hey to you that cost me 20 bucks," Odd said picking it up and looking through them. He stood stiff now as he looked what was in front of him. Katherine was being put over the shoulder of Jim and she struggled against his grip. Ulrich pulled Katherine's free arm and she slipped through and Ulrich carried her off. Odd's phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Odd, get to the factory there's an activated tower, I sent Aelita in already with Yumi. There's Megatanks and Tarantula's everywhere. Hurry up and get there."

"Figured that would explain everything," Odd said shrugging.

"What do you mean?"

"Well Jim is going completely mental so it explains that." Just as Odd said that, Jim turned in his direction, yet he didn't see Odd. Ulrich came next to him with Katherine in his arms. Odd could see the XANA symbol in his eyes and knew that he had Jim.

"Be there soon, but we're bringing a guest." He hung up the phone before Jeremy could protest and turned to Katherine.

"Are you alright?" Katherine nodded her breathing hard. Odd then looked at Ulrich. "There's an activated tower, Yumi and Aelita are there but they need help."

"That explains a lot," Ulrich said. "Let's get going." Just as they were about to start running, Katherine stopped them.

"Hold on, what's going on? Someone tell me please," she said pleading with them. Odd looked at her and saw the fear in her eyes.

"We have to bring her, she's not safe here." Ulrich nodded and pulled on Katherine's hand. "Come on, we'll explain on the way."

As they ran, Katherine got more and more confused. What's all this they were telling me? XANA? Evil? Odd looked to Ulrich as they reached the factory. Katherine looked behind her to see if Jim was following them—he wasn't.

"You think Jeremy will let her come to Lyoko with us?"

"One way to find out." They got into the elevator and went down to the Supercomputer where Jeremy was. He looked at them and saw Katherine. He smiled.

"Hi Katherine, are you ok?" Katherine nodded shyly, still confused.

"Confused huh? Don't worry we were all confused in the beginning." There was a beeping on the Supercomputer. He turned to it and pushed some keys. "Aelita and Yumi are having some trouble; Yumi only has half life points left." Ulrich's heart began beating slightly faster at the news of Yumi. He had to help her.

"Alright Odd, let's get to the scanners." Odd turned then turned back to Jeremy.

"Can Katherine come too?"

"Huh? Me?" exclaimed Katherine. She turned to Jeremy who shrugged. "I don't see the harm."

"Go where?"

"To Lyoko, to kick some ugly monster butt," said Odd smiling. "Don't worry I'll protect you." He led her to her scanner and got in his. Ulrich was already in his.

"Transfer, Ulrich." He types on his computer, "Transfer Odd." More typing. "Transfer Katherine." With each second Katherine got more scared.

"Scanner Ulrich." Jeremy types into his computer. "Scanner Odd." A little more typing. "Scanner Katherine." Jeremy takes a deep breath and presses one last key.

"Virtualization."

Epic :). Yes, it has happened, Katherine is going to Lyoko! One problem though, I have no idea what her outfit will be. Any ideas on her Lyoko look? Tell me please! I want it to reflect her personality in a way. Ideas?

Thanks for reading and review please :)

-Alexa