The main characters of this story are based on characters from the cartoon 'Code Lyoko.' I do not own, nor do I claim, any copyright to these characters.

Once the tower materialized, the interface panel disappeared. The Scyphozoa moved to one side to allow the team to pass. There was now a bridge between the platform where they stood and the entrance to the tower.

They approached the tower slowly, keeping an eye on the Scyphozoa the entire time. When they reached the tower, Aelita went inside, followed by the others. Jeremie was the last one through.

Before he entered, he said, "follow me, we might need your assistance." Jeremie then entered.

Once inside, he moved towards the center of the floor, making room for the Scyphozoa to enter.

"Be ready, we have guests coming," was the only warning he gave before the Scyphozoa entered. The others backed away from it as it approached.

Once it was through, the Scyphozoa went immediately to the edge of the platform. "Franz Hopper is located below." With that, it left the platform and lowered itself down.

"Let's go," Jeremie said, and stepped off the platform to follow their guide.

He fell at a slow pace. He didn't really know what to expect, since he had never actually been in one of Lyoko's towers before. He knew that jumping off some of the platforms in the towers took you to different places on Lyoko, but he had never experienced it for himself.

Quickly another platform appeared. The Scyphozoa was standing on it, waiting. Jeremie landed, then walked over to it. As he did, the others started arriving, Ulrich, then Yumi, then Aelita, then Sissi, and lastly Odd. Aelita stayed as far from the Scyphozoa as she physically could.

"Where is Franz Hopper," Jeremie asked the Scyphozoa.

It extended one of its tentacles to the wall of the tower, and pointed at a display panel floating there.

"Franz Hopper is there," it said.

"Can you remove it? Free him?" Aelita asked.

"Where would you like it?" replied the Scyphozoa.

"Here would be fine," Jeremie said.

"What container should be used?" the Scyphozoa said next.

"Container? What do you mean?" Jeremie asked.

"Container. Avatar. Like the one you are in," it replied, "is there a container to hold this data? Or will it be added to one of the containers already present? I scan that one has already been used for this purpose."

"No, do not add to one of the currently available containers," Jeremie quickly said, "tell me, where is the container that originally held this data?"

"The original container was deleted a long time ago, and cannot be recovered. However, a model of that container was created a short time ago, and is still available."

"All right, we'll use that. Transfer the data."

"Not possible. The data must be in close proximity to the container. Either the data must be transferred to where the container is located, or the container must be transferred here."

"Where is the container located," Jeremie asked, getting tired of the whole business.

"Scanning..."

After a moment, the Scyphozoa said, "the container is broken up into five data packets. These packets can only be joined by a polymorphic clone."

"Polymorphic clone? You mean like the one that replaced me?" Odd said.

"Yes," replied the Scyphozoa.

"Can you generate one?" Jeremie asked.

"No," was the reply, "but you can at the interface panel." When it said that, an interface panel appeared at the center of the platform.

"Jeremie, can you still hear me?" came Desmond Hopper's voice out of nowhere.

"Yes, sir, I can. What's up?"

"I just intercepted a cell phone call for Yumi. Her mother wants her home soon. I did the best I could, but I think she was alarmed that a stranger answered her phone and not her daughter."

"Can you activate the revirtualization program for Yumi? Transport her out now?"

"I will try. Hmm... Okay, dematerialize Yumi."

Yumi vanished from the group.

"Operation successful. The scanner reports reintegration completely successful. I will send her on her way now."

Jeremie turned is attention back to the interface. He searched for a moment, then found what he was looking for. He entered a few more commands, then a blob appeared just behind the interface.

As soon as it coalesced, the blob jumped at Jeremie, only to be snared by the Scyphozoa in one of its tentacles.

"This container is adequate. Transfer Franz Hopper into this container?" said the Scyphozoa.

"Yes," Jeremie replied.

The Scyphozoa reached a tentacle back to where Franz Hopper's memory was stored. Three other tentacles pointed at the blob being held. Then the tentacles started pulsing.

After a moment, the Scyphozoa stopped. "Transfer aborted. Memory region locked by active process 396443125."

"What is that?" Jeremie asked.

"Unknown," was the reply.

"Try again," Jeremie said.

After a moment, the Scyphozoa said, "Transfer aborted. Memory region locked by active process 500113698."

"That's another process," Aelita exclaimed, "how could that be?"

"Can you determine why the memory region was taken over by another process?" Jeremie asked.

"No, that is beyond my function," the Scyphozoa replied, "try again?"

"No, cancel transfer," Jeremie replied, "hmm, this is going to be a tough one. I'm going to have to think about this for a while. Can you keep track of, say, the last ten processes that lock Franz Hopper's memory location?"

"Yes."

"Can you report to me later on with that information?"

"Yes."

"Then we'll leave you to watch Franz Hopper. I'll contact you for an update soon."

"What about the polymorphic clone?"

"Can it retrieve the five data packets of the Franz Hopper template and incorporate them into itself?"

"Yes."

"Tell the clone to do that, then return to this tower."

"Done."

The blob leaped out of the Scyphozoa's grip and up to the level above them.

"I guess that's about all we can do for the moment. Mr. Hopper, dematerialize us."

"Right away, Jeremie," he replied.

As the others disappeared, the Scyphozoa said, "Jeremie, a word of warning. The routines that you are employing are the same ones that make up XANA. You run the risk of creating another being just like XANA, if you are not careful. Do not repeat and compound Franz Hopper's mistakes."

"I'll try not to," Jeremie replied as he disappeared.