Chapter Six: Welcome to Lyoko

The next morning, Kira found a piece of paper in front of her closed door. She bent down and picked it up, smiling as she recognized her sister's usual scrawl and opened the paper, reading the note.

Today's a day off for the students. We're gonna go to Lyoko today. Meet us in the courtyard before breakfast.

Talk to you later Kiwi,

Maia.

Kira grimaced as she read her sister's nickname but folded the paper up again and went to get dressed. She put on a pair of blue jeans and a tight brown shirt, the neckline cut low, and her sleeves were slightly frilled. She wove a brow and gold belt through the belt loops on her jeans and cinched it tight around her hips. She sat on her bed and pulled on her brown sneakers, lacing them up tightly.

Kira turned to her desk, flipping open her laptop and checked the display. The little battery display blinked that it was full. Satisfied, she closed the laptop and unplugged it from the charger and threw it into its case. Well, she didn't actually throw the laptop into the case, but, yeah. She hitched the strap over her shoulder and went down to the courtyard, smiling as she felt the sun hit her face.

"Hey! Kira. Over here!" Jeremy called, waving. Kira smiled and waved back, hurrying over to the group. Odd was yawning and rubbing his eyes as Kira slowed to a walk and adjusted her laptop. She smiled.

"Has my sister affected you that much Odd, or are you always this bad in the morning?" Odd just looked at her.

"Well before Maia came here. Odd's always been bad in the morning before his first five servings of breakfast." Maia said laughing.

Kira goggled at her sister, and then moved her gaze to Odd. "Jebus Odd. FIVE?"

He shrugged and the rest of the group laughed. "Yeah, but the thing is, we probably will only eat once."

Ulrich laughed and lightly punched Odd. "Yeah, you'll only get one. We only eat one."

Kira smiled. "I don't know about you guys, if we're gonna do this, then I at least need some food."

The group smiled and went inside. Odd managed to eat two servings of breakfast and seemed more of what he was like the day before.

"Technically, we aren't allowed off of campus. But we'll use the excuse that we're all going over to Yumi's house to study for a test in our Science class." Jeremy explained as they all headed out of the front gates of the Academy. Kira nodded.

"Sounds like fun. Where exactly is this factory any ways, and how are we going to get there?"

"We use a special manhole cover in the park to the sewers." Maia said as they crossed the road. "We have scooters and boards near the end of the ladder, and we use then to get to another access near the factory.

"Practically at its front door you mean." Odd said, a smart alecky grin on his face. Ulrich punched him in the arm, a grin on his own face.

"The sewers?" Kira asked, wrinkling her nose. Maia snorted.

"It's actually not that bad. I had that same reaction and discovered different. Although," The group stopped and looked down on a rusty metal circle. "I have no idea as to how you're going to get there. We only have three scooters and three skateboards."

Kira shrugged. "I've gotten better at running and my stamina is much better than it was last year when you left girlie. I'll be able to keep up."

"What about you laptop Kira?" Jeremy asked. "How will you run with it on you back?"

"I can carry it."

Kira smiled at Aelita. "Sure, I'll follow you." She handed her laptop to the elfin looking girl and they sped off, Kira keeping pace with Jeremy.

"So Kira, do you want to go to Lyoko or check out the computer stuff?" Jeremy asked.

Kira managed to shrug as she ran. "I'd like to look at the computers and stuff. I'd like to help out with Aelita's virus and the super scanner if it's alright with you."

Jeremy grinned. "Sure! You can help me work on your persona in Lyoko too. Can't send you in there naked."

Maia laughed. "I heard that! Jeremy, you're talkin' to the WRONG girl if you think that will embarrass her!"

"Maia! Shut up will you?" Kira said, making a face. The group laughed. 'Note to self;' Kira thought as they rounded a corner. 'Make sure to slap Maia REALLY hard when we get to the factory.'

Finally they stopped at another ladder. Kira smiled as she took her laptop back from Aelita and climbed up the ladder behind Yumi.

Ulrich had gone first to lift the manhole cover. Maia, Jeremy, and Aelita followed behind her.

Kira pulled herself out of the sewer and looked at the factory. "God, it's huge!"

"What did you expect Kira?" Maia commented. "It is a factory after all." Maia came to stand next to her sister and Kira quickly bopped her on the back of the head.

"Hey! What was that for?" Maia asked, rubbing the back of her head. Kira grinned.

"That was for your little smart ass comment down there." Maia just grinned back at her and Kira pulled a face at her; both of them knowing that Kira wasn't embarrased in the least.

"C'mon you slowpokes!" Odd called, already halfway across the bridge with Yumi and Ulrich. "Lyoko wasn't built in a day!"

Jeremy and the girls groaned and rolled their eyes before hurrying to catch up.