Chapter 10

Relief passed through the circuits of Twonky as she stumbled up onto the conveyor belt. She could relax for the moment as the RoboRally continued.

Her control computer was getting better, and she gave the mechanical equivalent of a sigh as she moved calmly along the conveyor belt towards the third flag. She'd make it well ahead of the other robots and then-

Her thoughts were interrupted by Zoom Bot slamming into her, knocking her off the conveyor belt and into the depths of the pit behind her. Twonky let out a piteous squeal as she fell.

Odd groaned as Jeremy shoved Twonky into the pit on one end of the conveyor belt with a chuckle. Chris smirked, the expression partially hidden behind the cards in his hands. Yumi looked on, mouth open as her jaw went slack. Molly mirrored the expression, and Ulrich had his hand over his mouth, stifling his laughter.

Odd looked up with a frown and tossed a chit into the pile next to the board. "Great. Two lives left."

"And you just got dumped to last place, too. That's always a pain." Chris pointed at the second flag on the game board, and looked over at Odd.

Odd set the miniature figure on the second flag, and looked up at Ulrich expectantly. The RoboRally moved on, as it had the past couple afternoons. Chris had discovered the game near the bottom of one of his boxes, and he proceeded to teach everyone else to play it. It had pretty much served to kill a few hours between homework and dinner, and it was terribly fun to play.

Yumi stood. "I'm gonna have to bow out, guys. Mom and Dad want me home on time tonight."

"'Night, love." Chris murmured as he moved the TrundleBot mini around the board. Yumi hugged him and left as the other muttered their goodbyes.

Molly glanced up, and looked at the clock. "Yeah, I'd better get going, too...I've got a math test to study for."

"'Night, Molly." Ulrich said, giving her hand an affectionate squeeze. Chris exchanged glances with Odd and Jeremy. A quick game of 'Rock, Paper, Scissors' later, he stood as well.

"I'm gonna go get some air, guys. You can keep playing, I'll be back for the next race." Chris left the room silently, keeping his distance from either of the girls.

"Well, child? Are you going to actually try to accomplish what you were sent there to do?"

Molly grunted softly in response to Xana's prodding. "Doing what I can. Be patient."

"I have been patient. Either you do something, or I take control."

"And mess everything up. Just let me get within arm's reach of Yumi."

Yumi looked behind her. Something was definitely not right, but she couldn't figure out what it was. She turned to head back to keep heading home, and she picked up her pace.

At that point, someone grabbed her from behind. Yumi bit the hand placed over her mouth and twirled out of the other person's grip. She came out of her spin to find herself face-to-face with-

"Molly?"

Molly inclined her head slightly. "Sorry, Yumi. My master has a job he needs doing. And your friend Chris is the intended key to it."

"Is that right?"

Molly took her eyes off Yumi for a split second, coming around to face Chris. Yumi twirled again, bringing her leg up in a kick. Molly staggered slightly, grabbed Yumi's leg, and pulled the raven-haired girl off balance.

"Yumi!" Chris' shout brought an evil grin to Molly Argent's face.

"Don't try it, Chris, if you don't want her to get hurt."

"You miserable-!" Chris stood where he was, and Molly threw Yumi over her shoulder effortlessly.

"I'd tell you not to follow us, but you've probably got a pretty good idea of where I'm taking her." Molly turned and ran. Chris glowered at her retreating form, and then took off after her.

Molly tossed Yumi into the scanner capsule and sealed it before returning to the supercomputer chamber.

"Interesting technique. More subtle than I would've tried."

Molly snickered. "Humans call it 'blackmail'. I call it useful. At any rate, we've not much time. Chris will be here momentarily."

"And when he gets here?"

"Aelita's life for Yumi's. It's a trade he'll make."

"Are you certain?"

"His bag of tricks is small, my master. I- we- know them all." Molly ran the scanner program and got her own set up.

She clambered down the ladder, and entered another capsule with an evil smile.

"You're too late, Chris. Much, much too late."

Chris slammed into the capsule door, and promptly slammed his fist into it with a curse.

He stood there for one moment, two, three. His hand finally slipped into his pocket and came up with his cell phone.

"Jeremy? It's me. We have...we have a pretty big situation on our hands."

"Can't be."

Chris sighed. "Look, Ulrich, I'm telling the truth. Feel free to take a swing at me if you don't believe me, but it won't change the facts."

"Where's the proof?" Ulrich demanded, and Jeremy pointed to the screen.

"It's right here, Ulrich. Two transfers. To a Xana-activated tower."

Ulrich slouched against the wall as Chris' phone went off.

"Yes?"

"Guess who."

"Molly. What have you done with Yumi?"

"Nothing. Yet. If you want it to stay that way, you'll do what Lord Xana and I want."

Chris eyed Odd and Jeremy, moving his phone away from his ear, then jerking his head at it. Odd's eyes widened, and Ulrich spun and left the room.

"Ulrich's pretty upset with you, Molly Argent."

"I...Don't. Don't you dare change the subject."

"Name your price, and I'll let you know if we can negotiate." Chris glanced at Jeremy again, and mouthed the word 'Scanner'. Jeremy nodded and started tapping away at the keys.

"Aelita's life for your precious Yumi."

Chris shrugged non-commitedly to the other two boys in the supercomputer chamber. "Fine. But Ulrich's life is my insurance policy. Anything happens to Yumi, and Ulrich pays the price."

"No deal."

Chris smiled grimly at his friend's expressions of shock. "Only deal you get, Molly. Take it or leave it, but the clock is ticking, and I don't-"

"Deal. Deal! Just-just don't hurt Ulrich. Please."

"Well. That all depends on you, don't it?" Chris killed the connection and looked at Jeremy and Odd. "Jeremy, get Aelita. We're shutting down the tower. I'm taking Ulrich with me."

"I don't think so, not after-" Odd was cut off by a low laugh from Chris.

"Odd, Molly is one of Xana's creations, right? As such, isn't she a digital being herself?"

Odd stopped and looked at him, then Jeremy let out a startled laugh. "She doesn't have any understanding of the difference between de-virtualization and death."

Chris tapped his finger on his nose. "Got it in one. And kick on the prototype unit, too. Got a feeling we may need Odd later on."