Welcome to the first part of the Avengers' story arc. All parts that happen in the episode will not be included in this chapter, but there will be focus on some parts where the story is going to progress. I hope you guys enjoy the chapter, and I do not own anything,
Danny leans up against his locker and sighs in relief glad that his history class was over. Scott leans up against the locker and asks, "What, did Mr. Oldham rant on about the importance of the Civil War again?"
Danny turns his head to Scott and shakes his head. "Worse, he caught us off guard with a pop-quiz."
"Ah, that is worse." Scott gets off the locker and asks, "How'd you do?"
Danny gives Scott a blank look and asks, "How do you think I did?"
"That bad, huh?"
"Let's just say that I'm glad Aelita had me learn how to study smarter." He holds up his paper showing a B+ getting Scott to smile.
"Congrats man. Guess that means you don't have to worry about Aelita or Jean getting on your case for not studying this time." Scott jokes.
Danny gives a dry chuckle and turns around to his locker. "I can't argue with you there." He opens his locker and puts the paper along with his textbook in the locker.
"Anyway, did the pop-quiz drain you, or is it something else?"
Danny shuts his locker and gives Scott a serious look. "Something else…but it's something we can't talk about here. There are too many people who can listen in on us." The two teens glance around noticing the hallway filled with students getting Scott to sigh in agreement. "Anyway," Danny starts as he walks to the school's front doors with Scott, "you never asked us how our trip went."
"Didn't have to. Kurt told us that you and Rogue reconnected as did he and Dawn. I don't need all the details to know how you guys were able to save your relationships." Scott counters getting a small smile from Danny. "Besides, you and Rogue got something special that the rest of us wish we had."
Danny rolls his eyes and mutters, "It could be the same for you if you and Jean got together."
Scott sighs getting Danny to smirk. "Please don't start that up again."
"Then just admit that you like her, and this will mostly blow over our heads." Danny counters getting Scott to sigh in defeat.
"Fine, you win. I like Jean, but you guys already knew that."
"True, but there is still one person who doesn't know yet."
Scott gives Danny an annoyed look and puts his hands in his pockets. "Look man, I appreciate that you're trying to get us together, but I don't want to rush it especially after her last power boost…"
"That was a few months ago." Danny reminds Scott knowing that he was trying to avoid the awkwardness that could happen for the confession. "I get that it isn't easy, but you need to make a move before Duncan makes his move and takes her."
Scott winces and notices Jean and Duncan walking out the front doors of the school. "I see your point."
The two mutants walk out the front door a few seconds later and see Jean get in Duncan's car. "Well…this is weird to look at." Danny mutters as they watch Duncan pull out of the parking lot.
Scott sighs and walk to his car saying, "I'll see you back at the Institute."
Danny gives Scott a worried look and mutters, "Yeah…" He walks away and heads to his truck to see Evan, Matt, and Kitty talking to each other next to his truck. He rolls his eyes and shakes his head knowing that his friends love getting a ride in his truck. He walks up to them and asks, "Mind telling me why you guys are already here?"
"Our last class ended a little early today." Evan says as he, Kitty, and Matt turn their attention to Danny.
Danny gives Kitty a side glance who smiles nervously. "Kitty… what really happened?"
Kitty takes a couple steps back getting the guys to sigh in defeat. "Fine, the computer lab's electricity short-circuited, and class got canceled." Matt explains getting Kitty to give Matt a hard glare. "Don't look at me. It was either we tell him or see you become a sweating mess, and I rather get back to the Institute to finish my computer homework before you destroy any more circuitry."
"Kitty…" Danny says giving the girl a stern look.
Kitty looks back at Danny with a panicked look and says, "Look Danny, I know that I lost control, but you have to understand that it isn't easy to keep my solid form when I can easily phase through things."
Danny crosses his arms getting Kitty to take a step back. "Kitty, your powers couldn't have gotten near the circuitry or make the power go out in the computer lab unless you were actually there. Now, why did you do it?"
Kitty looks down in defeat and mutters, "I fell through the floor and couldn't go back up without getting caught. I didn't want to cause trouble, but I must have gone through a specific circuit board without realizing it."
Danny sighs and puts his hand on Kitty's head getting her to look up at him with a sad look. "Accidents happen, and luckily, our computer teacher can get a little crazy when it comes to our assignments." He jokes getting the three to chuckle. "This only means that you have more training to do."
"Oh no…" Kitty's eyes widen in horror at those words. "Danny, please don't make me do it. I don't need to do that." She begs giving Danny a pleading look.
Danny walks away from the group and asks, "Kitty, what do you think you need to do? If you keep losing control, you might destroy their equipment, and it could lead to Professor Xavier paying for all those machines you keep destroying."
"He's got a point." Matt remarks as Evan jumps onto the back of Danny's truck. "I rather have some computers to work with at school."
"Ha ha." Kitty says sarcastically putting her hands on her hips looking away from Matt. "Laugh it up you guys. I might not have perfect control like Danny, but at least, I don't make other people angry at me in Geometry by showing off."
Matt rolls his eyes at her counter. "You keep bringing up that one incident." He tosses his backpack into the back of the truck and grabs the side of the truck. "If you're going to make an argument, you need to make a good argument." He jumps and pulls himself onto the back of Danny's truck. "Besides, my incident only happened, because no one was truly learning anything about the class."
"They still don't get the class." Kitty reminds him.
Matt turns his head to Evan to see if she was right, and Evan looks away whistling innocently. Matt lowers his eyelids giving Evan a dead gaze and shakes his head. "Alright, you won that one."
"Knock it off you guys." Danny says before the argument could continue. "It doesn't change the situation. Kitty is getting extra training, and there is no changing it." He opens the door on the driver's side and puts his bag on the backseat while Kitty groans in disappointment.
Matt leans back on the side of the truck and activates his eye deciding to see what was going on beyond the school. "What do you see?" Evan asks knowing the laid-back look Matt makes when he uses his power.
"Let's see. Spiderman just stopped an armed robbery, Thor is talking to some woman on the police force…"
"That's a new one." Kitty says raising an eyebrow at the idea of Thor talking to a normal person.
"Everyone has to have some kind of friend." Evan says not noticing Matt's worried look.
Matt gets his back off the truck and brings his gaze on the smoke going into the sky. He brings the gaze in and asks, "Danny, do you know any kind of aircraft that has four giant fans?"
Danny removes his head from being inside the truck and raises an eyebrow. "Is the top of it mostly flat?"
"Yes, and it is falling into the ocean with black smoke coming off of it." Matt explains getting Kitty and Evan to look at Danny who was looking at the view with a serious look.
Danny's eyes widen in surprise when Matt tells him that. He turns his head to Evan and tosses the truck keys to Evan. "Make sure you give those to Rogue. I'm allowing her to drive you guys back, and Matt..." Danny sighs not going to like what he is about to say. "You're coming with me."
"Danny, what is going on?" Kitty asks getting an uneasy feeling in her stomach.
Danny turns his back to everyone as Matt gives Danny a confused look and a frown. "I don't know, but whatever it is, it's not good."
"Are you sure it's a good idea to bring me along?" Matt asks feeling a little uneasy about the idea. "I don't think it's a good idea."
"I'm with Matt on this one Danny." Evan says pointing his thumb at Matt who gave Evan an appreciative nod.
"That's not why I'm bringing him." Danny says turning back to Matt. "I'm going to need your eye, Matt, and having you this far away will make me go in blind. Right now, we don't know what is happening, and I'm going to need someone who can keep an eye on the situation and on the surrounding people. Innocent lives are at stake, and you're the only person I know who can help without revealing our kind."
Matt balls his hands up and looks down connecting the points Danny was making. Evan and Kitty look at Matt with concern. "Dude, you don't have to do this." Evan says feeling a little worried about his friend being on the battle field.
"I'm with Evan on this one. You don't have to go with Danny." Kitty turns her head to Danny giving him a sharp glare. "He doesn't make those decisions, and he knows that Professor Xavier would not approve of it."
Danny winces and turns his back to the three. "It was just a suggestion, but you're right." Danny puts his hands in his pockets and sighs, "It could get ugly. Sorry for even suggesting it."
Evan and Kitty watch as Danny turns invisible and sigh in relief believing that Danny was going to leave Matt out of harm's way. Matt jumps off the truck and lands on the ground behind where Danny was standing. "If I do this, you'll start my advance training." Matt says knowing that Danny did not leave.
Danny makes himself visible and mutters, "I can't make any promises, but we'll see."
Evan and Kitty watch in surprise as Danny grabs Matt's shoulder before he disappears from their view again. "This is bad." Evan mutters.
"Professor Xavier is not going to like this." Kitty remarks worried about what Danny and Matt were going to do.
"Ah, it is such a nice day for a teen to relax and snack on all the candy and soda he wants." Odd says as he and William walk down the hallway to meet with Ulrich and Yumi.
"I would agree with you, but your eating habits are not what any of us want to see." William remarks.
Odd scoffs, "Oh please, you guys are just…Ah!" Odd and William feel someone grab their shirts and pull them into a random classroom with the door shutting behind them. The two teens see Ulrich and watch as he releases their shirts.
"What was that for Ulrich?" William asks narrowing his eyebrows at the brown-haired teen.
"Yeah, what could have been so important that you had to yank us into an empty classroom?" Odd asks his best while crossing his arms over his chest.
Ulrich turns around and says, "You guys are going to need to see this."
"See what?" Odd asks raising an eyebrow.
"That." Ulrich points at the television on the wall that Yumi was watching with a stern look.
Odd and William walk up next to Yumi and widen their eyes when they see the slightly destroyed Helicarrier slowly falling from the sky to the ocean below. "What's going on?" William asks turning his gaze to Ulrich who sighs.
"We don't know." Yumi answers crossing her arms over her chest and lowering her head. "The news came up a few minutes ago, and nothing has been reported other than the Helicarrier falling do to something destroying it from inside."
"Which worries us." Ulrich admits putting his hands in his pockets. "I tried calling Aelita, but she isn't answering the communicator."
"Aelita not answering the communicator she created?" Odd asks deciding to keep the joke opportunity inside of him. "Now you know it's serious."
"What do you think we should do then?" William asks getting everyone to look at him. "We might be able to help them, but we don't know anything, and staying here isn't going to be good for any of us."
The others know that William was referring to their 'hero' duties, but none of them knows how to answer the question. Odd puts his right hand on his chin in thought and asks, "Wait, where did Tyrone and those other villains go when we captured them?"
"They were sent to prison Odd." Yumi says not sure why Odd would ask a simple and easy question.
"Yeah, but where would they be sent?" Odd asks again getting Yumi and William to give him confused looks while Ulrich cups his chin in thought to Odd's question. "I doubt they would send an agent of Hydra to a normal holding cell, and we cannot forget that Technus and Dr. Animo duo we took care of either."
"Is there even a place that could watch people like those guys?" William asks crossing his arms over his chest.
"I don't know, but I'm not going to stay here and wait on the news." Ulrich says getting the others to look at him.
"If you are planning on going to the Helicarrier, then you can count me in." Odd says giving Ulrich his signature smirk. "Best friends have to stick together, right?"
Ulrich chuckles, "Can't argue with you there."
"Guess that means I have to come along to make sure you guys got a way out incase things go south." William remarks getting Odd to roll his eyes and Ulrich to smirk.
"You just want in on some of the action." Yumi says getting William to shrug in response not denying her words. "Either way, someone has to make sure you guys stay in line."
"Then it's settled. We head straight to the Helicarrier and find out what is really going on." Ulrich says pulling his Lyoko chip out of his pocket. "Let's go."
Xavier Institute
Rachel and David watch the television as the news continues recording what was going on with the Helicarrier. "This is looking bad." David says turning his head to Rachel. "Are we going to do anything?"
Rachel sighs and turns the television off. "No, we're staying here." She says getting David to stare at her before sighing in defeat.
"Ok, what are we going to do here?" He asks knowing that Rachel did not answer the whole question.
"I don't know." Rachel hears the garage open and mentally sighs in relief that she could do something else that did not involve her explaining to David that they would get in trouble for doing another stunt like they did a couple days ago.
Flashback
"Why did you do it?" Xavier asks Scott, Rachel, and David as he, Logan, Ororo, and Max stare at the teens who were trying not to fall under the pressure of their stares.
Scott clears his throat and says, "They told me it was an important mission that would involve finding out if Hydra left anything behind about Aelita's project."
"Nice try Scott, but that's not what we're talking about." Max says turning his gaze to Rachel. "Why did you take the Blackbird without asking?"
Rachel closes her eyes and sighs, "Maurice and I knew you guys would say 'no,' and Scott is the only person that's a teen who knows how to fly a plane."
"So, you went behind our back to do something for Shield. That sounds pretty stupid if you ask me." Logan remarks crossing his arms over his chest.
"We didn't mean…"
"It doesn't matter what you meant Rachel. You need to be a proper leader, and that role includes you making the right choice." Max says giving a stern look. "Was the trip worth it?"
"No, it was almost pointless for us to go." David says getting the adults to glance at him. "While Scott and I were left in the dark about specific things, we met some people, but our trip was only to confirm that there was nothing salvageable for Shield to use."
"The explosion destroyed everything. Aelita is the only person who owns what her project currently is." Rachel concludes deciding that they should know about the aftermath of the fight.
Logan sighs, "I highly doubt that." This gets the teens to look at Logan. Logan looks away and shakes his head. "You children have so much to learn, but your trip has earned you one thing." Logan looks Rachel straight in the eye and says, "If something like this is pulled off again by any of you, there will be punishment for making us worry without telling us anything."
"Does this also apply to Danny and Aelita?" Scott asks raising an eyebrow at Logan.
"Yes, but the last situation was something none of us saw coming, and…Aelita was able to reconnect with her mother after so many years." Charles explains wishing that he should have punished them for doing something like that, but he knows that Aelita's family problems are something most of the other students do not have to deal with. "That was the reason why no one was punished, and this act will not go unpunished. You three will be going through some more harsh training sessions for the next week and seeing that nothing has actually happened to you guys, Max will oversee it."
"Aw man…" Scott mutters not liking the idea of Max overseeing their training.
Rachel glances at Scott then at Logan who smirks at her getting her to gulp. 'I'm screwed.' She thinks deciding to make sure that she does not try to pull another event like this ever again.
End Flashback
Rachel and David walk out of the living room to see Kitty, Evan, Kurt, Dawn, and Rogue enter the lobby. Rachel looks between the five noticing that a specific driver and passenger were missing and asks, "Where are Danny and Matt?"
Rogue walks past Rachel and mutters, "Taking care of the threat."
Rachel's eyes widen, and she turns to Rogue as the teen walks up the stairs. "Rogue…"
Rogue stops and balls her right hand up. "Don't say anything."
Rachel watches Rogue walk away and sighs in defeat. 'He's a dead man.'
Aelita Schaeffer gazes through the file of her father as she sits behind the monitors to the supercomputer. She shuts the folder and sighs tossing the folder onto the table behind her. "Might as well see what is going on. I need a break from Shield." She mutters. She starts typing on the keyboard getting the news to come up and a satellite view of the city. She watches as the news changes to the Helicarrier sinking into the ocean with big parts of the jail known as the Big House sticking out of it in multiple areas. "What's going on?"
Aelita moves the view of the satellite and zooms in on the ocean stopping above a water prison called the Raft. She brings up one of her holo-screens and pulls the security cameras up of the Raft and the Big House. She watches as villains from both prisons leave or attack Shield agents getting her to wince. 'Wish there was someway for me to help.' She looks back at the supercomputer and widens her eyes in realization. She brings up the specific program on the supercomputer and stops when her eyes see the program ready to be launched.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Someone says behind her getting Aelita to gasp in surprise and jump out of her seat getting into a battle pose while looking around the room.
Aelita looks around the room carefully and mutters, "Who could have said that?"
"Yes, who could have said that?" Aelita quickly turns around to find a black-haired middle-aged man walking up to the monitors to the supercomputer.
Aelita narrows her eyebrows and asks, "Who are you?"
"I am many things Miss Aelita Schaeffer, but one could simply call me what anyone would do when they can travel through time." The man says watching as Aelita's eyes widen realizing that he was a time traveler. "As for why I'm here…" He looks at the program brought up on the screen and turns his head to her with a serious look. "I'm going to need you not to run the 'Return to the Past' program."
Aelita's shock gets replaced with confusion, and she narrows her eyes giving the man an accusing stare. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't run the program. People are dying, and this program can help us be able to save them."
The man sighs, "Kind of hard to argue with you there." The man pulls out a pocket watch and opens it up to look at the time.
"Then why should I not use it?" Aelita asks giving the man a hard stare.
"Truthfully, doing it wouldn't make a difference." Aelita blinks at the man's simple answer. "The reason for that is simple. If you do use the program nothing would change except for specific people getting in trouble for trying to leave school despite having detention."
"Odd…"
"Yes, which could ruin the likelihood of your friends being able to save anybody from the incoming dangers."
Aelita balls her hands up and mutters, "Why should I trust you?"
"You don't." Aelita stares at the man who takes a seat on the chair. "Truthfully, I'm one of the fewest people amongst the galaxy people trust. I might be even top five now that I think about it."
"Then why tell me this?"
"To prevent the worst that could happen. Young Daniel is bringing your fellow student Matt with him, and if I'm honest he would do more work with his mutant power in here with those satellites than he would out there on the street."
"What are you talking about? Danny wouldn't do anything that would put the other students in danger." Aelita narrows her eyebrows again getting the man to sigh.
"Could you do anything besides glare at me?" The man asks giving her a knowing look getting her to look away.
"You try being in my shoes then." Aelita counters walking away from the man to look at anything but him. "You randomly show up in a place that seven people and I know where it is, and you start having the audacity to tell me what to do because you claim to be a time traveler."
The man sighs in defeat knowing that the girl was not going to be swayed easily. "Fine, I can't really prove anything without showing you, and we really do not have the time to argue or to waste." He gives the girl a stern look. "I'll just give you one warning. One must make the hardest choices in life to get the best result."
Aelita blinks and realizes that the man was gone from the room entirely. She looks around the room and mutters, "What just happened?" She shakes her head and looks at the satellite view of the Helicarrier as it sinks into the ocean. She glances at the static of the cameras that were destroyed and sighs in defeat.
"…He would do more work with his mutant power in here with those satellites than he would out there on the street."
Aelita balls her hands up and moves to the supercomputer's monitors. She starts typing in the commands for one of the satellites and watches as it brings up an image of Danny and Matt landing on a roof of a building not far from her location. 'I'm going to regret this, but…'
"One must make the hardest choices in life to get the better result."
"Whoever that guy was, I might need to keep an eye out for him." Aelita makes a holo-phone and puts it up to here ear connecting it with the communicator that Danny was holding.
Danny and Matt hear the communicator ring in Danny's pocket getting Matt to blink in surprise. "Who would be calling you during this kind of crisis?" Matt asks referring to what he saw going on with the Helicarrier.
Danny pulls the communicator out and says, "I have one good guess." He presses the answer button and puts the communicator up to his ear. "Must be serious if you want me to answer it like a normal phone."
"Funny, but also true." Aelita remarks getting Danny to chuckle. "Anyway, be straight with me, but why did you bring Matt with you when you know how Professor Xavier is when you do stuff like this?"
Danny glances at Matt then out at the ocean. "Truthfully, I don't really know why." He hardens his look when he sees the Helicarrier sinking into the ocean. "But, we don't really have much time."
"You're right. What were you planning for Matt to do at that location? We know the roof is a bad spot for him, and you better not get me started with the streets."
Danny turns his head to Matt and asks, "Where do you think would be the best place to be then?" Matt raises an eyebrow at the question.
Aelita stays silent for a moment trying to come up with the best solution with their situation. 'The best place…Any building could collapse, and Matt's range has increase majorly, but he might be able to get more range with…' Her thoughts come to a stop when she realizes that she was thinking of bringing Matt to the room she was currently occupying. 'He was right. I guess he knows a lot more than he lets on, but why would a time traveler come to me and tell me this.'
"You still there Aelita?" Danny asks getting Aelita to shake her head leaving the idea of time travel for another day.
"Sorry, got lost in thought, but I have an answer neither of us are going to like."
"Why do I get the feeling that you are going to be making a risky decision?" Danny mutters.
"Don't you guys always make risky decisions?" Matt asks getting Danny to give him a blank look. "I'm just saying."
"It is risky, but we got no other choice." Aelita sighs in defeat knowing that telling another person about Lyoko was going to leave a huge impact on everyone. "You need to bring Matt to the supercomputer."
Danny blinks and mutters, "What did you just say?"
"You need to bring Matt here to the supercomputer."
Danny runs his right hand through his hair and mutters, "Do you have better place? I know Stark's building is not an ideal choice…"
"We're not having this discussion Danny." Aelita interrupts getting Danny to groan at the situation she was putting them in. "I know you're worried about this, but it's my decision, and I'm making this choice."
Danny sighs, "Fine." He hangs up before Aelita could saying anything and gives Matt a serious look.
"What did she say?" Matt asks crossing his arms over chest.
Danny puts the communicator in his pocket and says, "Congrats Matt, you're the sixth person at the Institute to learn about Aelita's secret project."
Maurice watches the television from the café he was in and takes a sip from his glass of water. He hears the bell ring from the door opening and turns his head to see a black-haired girl with dark skin walking into the café. He takes notice of the pink top and blue jeans and mutters, "She still hasn't changed her wardrobe after not seeing each other for a few months."
The teen turns her head and smiles when she sees Maurice sitting at a table by himself. She walks up to the table and gives him a flirtatious smile. "Hello Maurice, I haven't seen you for almost a year. Have you been too busy to see me?" She asks curiously.
Maurice smirks missing the idea of teasing an old friend. "Maybe I have been. You never know." He teases getting her to giggle. "It's good to see you again Cree."
"I can say the same." Cree sits down on the chair across from Maurice and puts her elbows on the table. "I did try to come sooner, but my team needed to make sure that those blasted kids would not bother us here."
Maurice shakes his head. "Ah Cree, I'm glad you haven't changed, but do you plan on talking about the Kids Next Door, or are we going to catch up?" He asks getting Cree to lightly blush in embarrassment.
"Sorry, but you know how agitated I am with those kids. They have to believe that I am always up to something." Cree mutters deciding to look away from Maurice missing the smirk on his face.
"True, but can you blame them? Your sister is the Supreme Leader now while you lead the Teen Ninjas." Maurice points out getting the girl to sigh in defeat.
"Alright, you got me there, but we're not always planning against those kids." Cree remarks getting Maurice to shrug in response.
"Doesn't make them any less cautious." Cree waves off his words getting him to chuckle at her response. "Either way, I didn't call you here for a casual conversation."
Cree looks back at Maurice and raises an eyebrow. "Wait, really? You barely have anything to do with us for nearly a year, and now you contact me and tell me that this isn't going to be a casual conversation. What's your game Maurice?" She asks narrowing her eyebrows at him.
Maurice puts his hands up and smiles, "You can relax Cree. It's true that I've barely had time for the team, but there are some good reasons why I've been busy."
Cree crosses her arms over her chest and stares at him not believing a word he just said. "Uh huh…"
"Ok fine, everyone knows that you sister and her team split up over a month ago, but no one could figure out why they did…"
"Until we found out that Number 1 disappeared by unknown circumstances. Father doesn't even know where he went."
Maurice nods and glances at the television just in time to see a long black-haired man come out of the water wearing a blue jumpsuit with white gloves and boots. "What in the…?"
Cree turns her head to the television and widens her eyes as they watch the man float up into the sky. "Ok, that's definitely something you do not see someone do every day, but we got other things to worry about." She turns her head back to Maurice and sees the serious look in his eyes. "Maurice…are you okay?" She asks feeling a little worried with his serious mood.
Maurice sighs and leans back on his chair. 'Almost forgot that Cree was here.' He thinks before turning his attention back to the teen. "Sorry Cree, but things have been crazy around here."
"How crazy has it been?" She asks sincerely with worry shown on her face.
Maurice runs his right hand through his hair and mutters, "I'll explain everything, but this conversation will be better in a more private place." He puts the money on the table and leaves the café with Cree following him unsure of what Maurice was going to tell her about Number 1's disappearance.
Danny phases into the supercomputer room with Matt by his side and lands on the ground not noticing the supercomputer a few feet in front of him. "Alright, we're…" Danny stops talking when he looks up at the supercomputer. "Ok, wrong room."
Matt looks at the supercomputer with wide eyes and mutters, "Wait, what's that computer supposed to power up?"
"You're about to find out." Danny phases them down into the room below it to see Aelita sitting at the monitors who did not notice their entrance. "We're here."
Aelita looks past the monitors to see Matt looking around in wonder and amazement while Danny walks over to her. "Glad to see you made it." She says.
Matt turns his head to Aelita and widens his eyes at the monitor setup that she was sitting at. 'I know Motherboard's setup was huge, but that was in Cyberspace. To see something like this in the real world is actually cool.' "Aelita, this place…"
"You can save the praise for later." Aelita interrupts getting Matt to close his mouth. "Right now, we got a situation where one of the prisoners is coming out of the Raft."
Matt raises an eyebrow and scratches his head. "Why would a prisoner be on a raft?"
Aelita frowns, "It's actually a prison called The Raft. I just found out about it not too long ago, and there were multiple prisoners."
Matt blinks a couple times then smiles nervously, "Uh, how many prisoners are we talking here?"
"You don't need to know." Aelita answers getting Matt to sweat a bit at the idea of multiple villains running free.
"Relax Matt. Barely anyone knows of this place, and those who do know don't know the location." Danny says missing the point of Matt's nervousness.
'Are they seriously not scared of the idea of multiple people who could kill people be set free across the world?' Matt thinks.
Aelita sighs when Matt's nervousness does not drop from Danny's attempt of assuring Matt. "You're worried about the people who were set free, huh?" Aelita asks.
Matt balls his hands up and asks, "Why aren't you guys scared?" Danny bites the inside of his mouth and looks away while Aelita closes her eyes as her mind flashes back to the events of losing Jeremy. "How can you guys stay so calm while all of this is happening? Multiple villains have escaped from imprisonment, and you guys are here trying to tell me some big secret while they…"
"The plan wasn't us going to tell you about the supercomputer." Aelita interrupts before Matt could finish his sentence. "The plan was for you to be somewhere safe while helping friends of mine save lives from the danger that is about to happen."
Matt slightly relaxes at those words. "Ok, I get that, but why would Danny think it was a good idea to bring me along in the first place?"
"You could have said 'no.'" Danny points out.
"What would that prove? The others talked you out of bringing me along, and I came along because I'm desperate for advance training! I barely get any training that doesn't involve my eye's movement to see things happening around the world. I bet you guys brought me here to use this thing, right?" Matt asks pointing at his right eyeball.
"You knew that we were going to use it the moment we left the school." Danny remarks getting Matt to lower his hand and sigh.
"Yeah, alright, you got me there." Matt runs his left hand through his hair and looks away from them. "I just don't get how you guys are so calm."
Danny and Aelita look at each in the eye and stare for a few seconds before nodding their heads in a silent agreement. "It's because we've already fought some dangerous people." Aelita answers. "Matt," Mett turns his head to look at Aelita, "Danny and I have met some strong people, and none of it was easy for us to get through."
"Unless you want to count the part where she hacked Skulker's armor and I phased him out of his armor before she could embarrass him." Danny remarks getting Aelita to glare at Danny. Danny puts his hands up and smiles nervously, "Uh…"
"Don't even try to redeem yourself." Danny deflates at those words while Aelita turns her attention back to Matt. "Everyone we've faced have made us realize that we have a lot on our shoulders. If we show people that we're afraid, what do you think it will do to those who see us?"
Matt's mind flashes back to the events against an arch enemy who has been trying to destroy the leader of Cyberspace and realizes what Aelita is talking about. 'When Jackie, Inez, and I fight Hacker, we tend to get into the moment to stop his evil schemes. I never considered how much of an influence I would be for the people I save. I might have lived in the moment, but I never thought about it.' Matt closes his eyes and sighs knowing that Aelita was right. "All right, what do you need me to do?" He asks crossing his arms over his chest with a determined look in his eyes.
Danny and Aelita smile at Matt's determined look. "This is what you need to do…"
Max Tennyson with his arms crossed stares at the television screen in Xavier's study. "Something about the incident got your attention Max?" Logan asks as he walks into the room closing the door behind him.
"You could say that." Max answers getting Logan to raise an eyebrow. "I overheard Kitty and Evan talking about Danny leaving with Matt to be near this incident."
Logan looks at the screen then back at Max. "Max, we both know Phantom wouldn't take one of the students near this, but it does explain why I can't smell his scent."
"Your nose is a very dangerous tool, Logan."
"You don't have to remind me."
Max chuckles, "I know, but if Danny did take Matt, where could they go? Matt isn't properly trained to protect himself."
"Phantom will think of something." Logan responses without a second thought. "He always does."
The two adults hear a phone go off inside of Max's pocket getting them to look down at the pocket. Max reaches and pulls his phone out to see that it was his grandson Ben Tennyson calling him. "Sorry Logan, but I have to take this."
Logan shrugs and walks away saying, "Have fun then." He exits the study and heads to the Danger Room to distract himself from the news.
"Ok, Aelita said that the weapon I use should feel like me, but I have no clue what that could be." Stacy Hirano says as she looks at all the weapons that are made of water laying out on the floor in the Danger Room. She glances over each weapon putting her hands on her hips as she looks over them carefully. 'I really wish I could tell Candace, so she could help me with this.' She looks over the different types of swords that she read and saw on the internet and mutters, "How can there be so many swords?"
The doors to the Danger Room open getting Stacy to look up to see Logan walk into the room with a bored look on his face. He stops walking when he sees Stacy standing there with multiple weapons lying out on the ground and tables around her. He whistles at the amount of water weapons laying around and asks, "What's the special occasion?"
Stacy gulps and puts her hands behind her back not sure if it would be a good idea to tell Logan about what she was doing. "Uh, there isn't one?"
"I wasn't born yesterday kid. Now, why do you have so may weapons around you made with your element?" Logan asks crossing his arms over his chest with a stern look in his eyes.
Stacy sighs, "I was trying to figure out what kind of weapon could suit me to protect myself with." She lowers her head not wanting to see the look on Logan's face.
Logan walks up to the teen and reaches down to grab the closest weapon on the table only for his hand to go through it. 'Hm, it seems that she an only grab these weapons. I'll have to keep it in mind for the future.' He turns to the control room noticing that no one was in the room. "Were you doing this all on your own?"
Stacy rubs her left arm nervously and continues to keep her gaze away from Logan. "Aelita was supposed to help me choose, but she still hasn't shown up." She admits knowing it would be wrong to lie at Logan.
"I won't lie kid. You're not supposed to be in the Danger Room without supervision since something bad could have happened to you." Stacy sighs knowing where Logan was taking this conversation. "Do you know what this means?"
"That I'm grounded."
Logan chuckles, "Not this time kid." Stacy looks up at Logan confused why he would say that. "Normally, something like this wouldn't be overlooked, but Aelita probably got held up helping Shield with their situation."
"What kind of situation?"
"You'll find out later." Logan answers deciding that Stacy did not need to know about the situation that the news was broadcasting. He looks at the weapons and nods as an idea was coming to his head. "Grab one of the weapons. We're going to have you try each weapon out on some test dummies."
Stacy blinks and takes a step back in shock as Logan walks away to enter the control room. "Wait, you're going to help me instead of punishing me?"
Logan turns his head and asks, "Do you want to be punished?"
Stacy puts her hands out and shakes her head. "No thanks!"
"Then grab one of the weapons and get ready to learn what weapons suit you."
Stacy watches Logan leave the room and mutters, "I don't know whether to believe that I'm screwed or blessed." She looks back at the tables and the floor at the weapons and sighs in defeat. "Might as well start classic." She grabs a normal sword and walks away from the weapons to get ready to swing it at the test dummy that Logan will bring out for her to use.
Logan enters the control room and looks down in the Danger Room to see Stacy ready to start her weapon training. 'It seems we might have another one getting ready to join the advance courses.' He thinks smirking in excitement. 'Danny has trained her control really well.'
"Maurice!" Maurice stops and turns around to see Cree walking up to him with a stern look. "What is so important that you need to go somewhere private for us to speak?"
Maurice turns back to where he was walking and notices that there was no one around them. "What I'm about to tell you is something that the rest of the Teen Ninjas can never know." Maurice answers as he realizes that they were in Central Park. 'Why is it so empty?'
Cree crosses her arms over her chest and asks, "What did you find out that I can never tell the Teen Ninjas?"
Maurice sighs and turns back to look at Cree with a sad look in his eyes. "A few months ago, I was confronted with the leader of a group called Shield." Cree raises an eyebrow at the name. "Yeah, I had the same reaction."
"Why would they call themselves Shield?"
"They're actually called the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division or S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Great, why would they try to get in contact with you?" Cree asks deciding to wait for him to explain before saying anything negative about his situation.
"They are a secret government agency, and they know about the Teen Ninjas." Maurice answers getting Cree to widen her eyes in surprise. "Yeah, I found it weird that they were talking to me instead of you or one of the other leaders, but it seems that my connection with you was what they needed for me to relay a message."
"Are you relaying it now?" Cree whispers getting Maurice to lower his head with a sigh.
"No, I was able to convince them to leave you guys alone."
Cree narrows her eyebrows and asks, "What did you do?"
Maurice crosses his arms over his chest with a stern look on his face. "I was able to convince them to leave the teens alone, but I had to join them to make sure they did leave you guys alone."
Cree takes a couple steps back as Maurice lowers his hands to his sides. "Did you contact me to tell me that?"
Maurice sighs, "Unfortunately, it is. The agency heard about some events that you guys recently did, and they asked me to bring one of the leaders to them for questioning."
Cree angrily balls her hands up when she heard that. "What are you going to do?" She asks fearing the answer he was going to give.
"My job." Maurice reaches into his green jacket and pulls his elemental pistols out getting Cree to gasp in surprise. "Cree, please don't make this harder than it needs to be."
Cree activates her armor allowing it to cover her body and glares at her childhood friend. "Sorry Maurice, but it looks like I have to make it hard." 'Maurice, don't make me fight you.' Cree thinks trying to keep the sadness from showing on her face. 'There has to be another way to keep the other teens from these people.'
'Darn it Cree. I'm doing this for your own good.' Maurice thinks feeling disappointed that Cree decided to put her armor on. "Cree, please don't make me fight you."
Cree puts her hands up in a battle stance and mutters, "I'm sorry Maurice, but someone has to put some sense back into you."
'Wish I could say the same.' Maurice thinks as he turns the dials on his pistols. 'Looks like I have no choice.' He points the right pistol at Cree and mutters, "Don't say I didn't warn yah."
Odd and the Lyoko Warriors travel through the sky towards the crash site. Odd rushes on ahead of the others and stops his Overboard when he sees a man in a blue jumpsuit with long black hair. The others stop next to Odd and widen their eyes in shock while Odd turns his attention at the big building being held up in the air. "What is that?" Odd mutters.
"It's one of the prisons that held some of the most powerful villains." Aelita says as she and Danny fly down next to the group.
William puts his foot on the outer part of the roof of the building he was standing on and asks, "When did you find out about it?"
"Not too long ago." Aelita mutters distastefully.
"You got any idea on what we are facing?" Ulrich asks glancing at Aelita.
"No, and it is safe to say that we should not make any sudden attacks until we know what we are dealing with."
"You don't think Fury would know anything about this guy?" Odd asks not taking his eyes off the giant dome of dirt and rock surrounding the prison.
"I wouldn't doubt it." Danny says cracking his knuckles.
Aelita puts her right hand on her com link and asks, "Matt, what are you seeing?"
"I'm seeing a man who is defying the laws of gravity."
"Anything else?"
Matt looks over the supercomputer readings and says, "The supercomputer is getting big energy readings off this guy. It's almost like this guy is controlling gravity, but that can't be possible."
"That's not good." Aelita mutters glancing at Danny who gives her a worried glance. "Thanks Matt, keep us posted."
"You got it."
"What's the plan?" Danny asks Aelita.
A man stares out at the scene in front of him while he stands on top of a random building. "Time is of the essence Miss Aelita. Your life is about to go through some major changes, and Phantom is about to grow into something that no one will understand." The man reaches into his coat pocket and pulls a pocket watch out of it. He opens the watch to look at the time and chuckles, "This event will mark the beginning of a new team. Now show the world what it means to be an Avenger."
Man, that took way longer than it should have. We have made it past the first part of this story, and we are about to read so much more about to happen the next chapter.
Maurice vs. Cree: I have been avoiding this confrontation for many reasons, and it's about time for me to bring it up now. There have been about five ways on how I want this battle to go, and I have the way it will end. No spoilers
Matt: He was not intentional when the chapter started, but his worth is about to be explored that some of you will read in the future.
Stacy: Her subplot is still being explored, and the weapons are going to be key vital points for her character's fighting style. If you guess what weapons, then I will applaud you for guessing correctly.
Danny and Rogue: Yeah, their relationship will probably end after the next chapter. I delayed this for too long, and it's about time for it to happen.
If you guess who it was that Aelita talked to, all I ask is that you don't spoil it for the other readers who do not know. I rather not have people get spoiled for solving a little mystery.
R&R