Chapter 3: The Discovery…

Saturday morning found the three sitting at breakfast, though no one was eating.

"We need to go to the factory…now." Jeremy hissed. "With the attempted attack on Mr. Minamino, we can't wait for another." He grabbed his tray and stood, hoping it would get them to see how serious he thought the situation was.

"Have you been alerted to any activated towers?" Ulrich asked.

"No, but something's wrong. I can feel it." Jeremy answered.

"Okay Einstein…let's go then." Odd said, getting up with his tray and heading for the exit.

The other two followed, not paying any attention to the person behind a newspaper, listening. When they left the building, Kurama put down the paper and took his tray to the counter before following the three out the door.

Kurama heard one of them on a cell phone, but was keeping his distance, so he couldn't hear the conversation. He assumed they were contacting Yumi.

He followed them to the same woods as before and continued so until not much further from where they had been attacked by the snakes the night before. They stopped at what appeared to be a man-hole cover.

Yumi joined the group a few minutes later. "I was already heading here when you called." She said.

"I tracked Aelita's signal last night, she's moving all over the place and I still can't establish contact." Jeremy said while Odd removed the cover.

"We'll find her." Yumi said, starting to follow Odd, then Jeremy, with Ulrich following last.

a)a)a)a

"You guys know what to do." Jeremy told them. "Her last signal came from the ice region, we'll start there." He took his seat as the super computer started up.

"Let's do this." Odd said. The three had not even stepped out of the elevator and the doors closed to take them down to the basement where the pods were.

"Transfer…scanner…virtualization…."

a)a)a)a

With three on skateboards and one on a scooter, Kurama still managed to follow the group through a sewer system to another ladder. This in turn led to another man-hole cover which opened onto a bridge outside an abandon warehouse. He waited near a broken window, catching his breath and taking in his surroundings as he watched the four take a rope swing down to the floor in front of a freight elevator.

When the door closed, Kurama made his way in and used his 'rose whip' to swing down. He again counted to ten before pushing the button.

Jeremy heard the door and turned to look, not knowing who in the world it could be. His eyes went wide as he saw Mr. Minamino standing there taking in the view.

"Sir…um…what are you doing here?" Jeremy asked, trying to keep the look of shock off his face.

"I followed you of course. You should be more careful." Kurama said, stepping in and coming over to the computer. "So, is this XANA?" He asked.

"You've been spying on us…" Jeremy gasped. "The wood, the snakes…why?" He asked.

"Let's just say I have a knack for action and getting myself into things." Kurama said. "Care to explain."

"Why should I trust you?" Jeremy asked, though something inside him told him he could.

"I was able to not be possessed, if that is what this thing was trying to do to me last night." Kurama said, still studying the computer.

"How were you able to do that? Only the five of us can resist that I know of." Jeremy wondered.

"I will trust you with a secret, one that may explain. I am a spirit fox, one living here in the human world as the person you see now. I do not think we have time for me to tell you the whole story, your friends look like they are in trouble." Kurama said, he had been looking at the blimps on the screen as he explained and wondering why he said what he said. He never just shared information like that with anyone. 'Well, there was Yusuke.' He thought.

"Jeremy…we have company." They heard Odd say.

"You could have warned us." Ulrich's voice was heard with a little irritation in it.

"Sorry, I have company as well." Jeremy replied, looking at the red head. He wanted to believe the story he'd just heard and could not explain to himself the feeling if trust coming off this person beside him.

"Is it the snakes again?" Yumi asked.

"No…it's Mr. Minamino, he followed us here."

Nothing more was heard, except for the sounds of blasting and other noises of fighting.

"Guys, there are three blocks on your right, coming fast." Jeremy said, turning his attention to the computer. "Yumi…that was 10 life points."

"Can you send me?" Kurama asked.

"Why?" Jeremy asked, looking stunned.

"Because I can help."

"We have been doing this since the beginning of the year. They can handle themselves." Jeremy said. "Besides, you don't even know the whole story or what we are doing."

"I learn fast…trust me." Kurama replied.

"We are fighting XANA who lives in this virtual world called Lyoko. He's trying to take over the human world. Our friend Aelita went Thursday morning on a secret mission to get some information and has not come back." Jeremy stated.

"And you sent her alone." Kurama said with a raised eyebrow.

"It was not my idea, you see, she use to live in Lyoko and we brought her here to live in the human world not to long ago." Jeremy said and couldn't control the fear and sadness from creeping into his voice as he continued. "She knows the territory better than all of us right now and knew where to go."

"You also didn't want to arouse suspension by sending someone else." Kurama said. He'd been pondering all of this, wanting to know more, but felt like he 'needed' to go to this world. "Send me." He said again.

"Okay." Jeremy said, finally agreeing, but still didn't know why he was. "Though I don't know why I trust you…take the elevator down to the basement and get into the first pod on your right. I don't know what you'll look like. Your image will be based on your abilities and how you view yourself." He instructed.

"Then I know exactly how I will look." Kurama said, turning and heading to the elevator door.

"Wait…Mr. Minamino…I should tell you…." Jeremy yelled as the door closed.

"Call me Kurama." He heard and with that, the doors closed.

The doors opened to reveal three pod type devices, apparently these were what transported the group to the virtual world.

Kurama stepped into the pod and the door closed. He stood there waiting for something to happen and finally heard a hum followed by Jeremy's voice.

"Transfer…um…Kurama…scanner…virtualization."

Kurama closed his eyes as a rush of wind blew upwards, blowing his hair straight up.

End Chapter 3