He Who Calls

Chapter 30

Journal of Milo Salian

Worst Day of My Life

My second family is dead. Xana ruins everything. The Man in Grey is setting a course for America, which probably means Odd is next. But they can warn his parents. They can't bring back mine. I'm really lucky I have no tendencies toward suicide. If I had killed myself as many times as I've had a reason to I'd be a super-ghost. I also have no tendencies towards emo. When things get too hard for me I just… withdraw from reality.

"Why? On what grounds? What are we going to do now?" asked Jeremy frantically.

"In that order, for our own protection, emergency powers, and keep on programming," said Juanita.

"I'm scared now," said Aelita. "There's a real assassin after us, we can't get to Lyoko, Milo's depressed, and all your families are getting hunted down."

"I'm not so depressed," said Milo as he walked into the room. "And I can finish these Mini-Scans up, so that takes care of another problem." He stepped up, put in two more wires, pulled up a screen, and the Mini-Scans popped open.

"Milo!" said Aelita excitedly. And suddenly Milo was in the center of a huge group hug.

"The Man in Grey is arriving in California," said Juanita. "We have to get you to Lyoko quickly if we want to save Odd's parents."

"Right. Aelita, Milo, Yumi. You guys go. Ulrich, stay here and fight off Man in Grey if he comes," said Jeremy. Aelita, Milo, and Yumi stepped into the Mini-Scans. "Mini-Transfer: Aelita, Yumi, Milo. Mini-Scan: Aelita, Yumi, Milo. Virtualization."

The three dropped onto the Mountain Sector.

"So where's the tower?" asked Milo.

"I… Can't find it," said Jeremy. "It must be cloaked. Only visible on Lyoko. You'll have to find it on your own."

"Or with my help," said a voice.

"Bella?" asked Milo.

"Could be," she said. And she jumped down from the ledge. She wore a skintight suit like most on Lyoko did, with a whip tied at her side. Her long black her was now down to her waist. "Xana needed a new assistant after all."

"You're a Xanadore," said Milo. "Just a Xanadore. No free will at all. This isn't what I saved you for."

"This is the same Bella?" asked Yumi. "The one you saved years ago?"

"That's me," said Bella. "I'm William's replacement. And I've been instructed not to let Aelita pass. Only Milo and Yumi." She pulled out her whip and lashed it at Aelita. Yumi jumped in the way.

"Stop the Man in Grey!" Yumi said as she faded.

"Bella," said Milo softly. "What happened to you? You didn't let Xana conquer you when he was disguised as William. But when he reveals himself you bow down?"

"It isn't bowing down. It's joining the winning team," said Bella.

"That's the same thing as HAT GET HER AELITA GET THE TOWER!" Milo's hat flew off his head toward Bella. It stuck in her stomach and she oozed back into the Digital Sea. Aelita ran into the tower. She pressed a hand to the panel and the data rushed to the ground.

"Tower deactivated," she muttered. "Jeremy? Did we make it?"

"Not quite," said Jeremy sadly. "Odd's parents are dead."