New and Improved
Chapter 7: The Attack Begins
Odd exited the scanner first, and he quickly headed over to Sissi's scanner. He offered her his hand. Sissi took it and Odd helped her out of the scanner. They both wheeled around to the sound of a monster. There, a Creeper had just exited the remaining scanner, though it did not destroy it. Odd winked at Sissi and they both lunged at the Creeper, both of them giving it a hard kick to its abdomen. The Creeper groaned and staggered back, before exploding into a puddle of goo. "Ew! Gross," exclaimed Sissi disgustedly.
"I know," said Odd. "You'll get used to it. Let's go." The two of them stepped up to the elevator and Sissi pressed the button to summon it. The doors didn't open, and Sissi mashed the button angrily. "Why isn't this stupid thing working?"
"A monster must have taken it up already. Don't worry; it'll be back down in a minute." Sure enough the doors finally opened and the couple stepped inside. Just then, a tower opened and several Hornets came flying out. Sissi screeched and frantically pressed the button to close the elevator doors as the Hornets flew toward her. Thankfully the door closed just in time and there was the sound of a few thuds against the door, caused by the Hornets ramming into it. Phew, that was a close one, thought Sissi.
The elevator doors opened and Odd and Sissi rushed out into the computer room. Strangely enough, there weren't any monsters in sight. All they found was Jeremie cowering in a far corner of the room. "Jeremie," said Odd with a concerned look on his face, "you OK?"
Jeremie sighed. "Yeah, I'm fine I guess. That was weird though."
"What was weird, Einstein?" asked Sissi. Jeremie hesitated, as it was the first time she'd called him that.
"Well, it seemed as if they didn't even know I was here, or they weren't interested in me."
"That is strange," said Odd.
"Yeah, when I heard the door open, I panicked and ran over here, but none of them came into the room. They just closed the door and continued onward."
"Makes you wonder what XANA's is up to. He always goes for us and the school," said Odd.
"You're right, but we mustn't delay, we've gotta get to the college," said Sissi.
"Sissi's right," said Jeremie. "It isn't safe to be taking the elevator right now. Take the ladder over there, it leads up top."
"Gotcha," said Odd. He grabbed Sissi by the hand and they rushed over to the ladder. Odd let Sissi go first, and they both made their way up and then outside. There were still no monsters around.
----
"Jeremie," called Aelita, "you there? Jeremie! Oh no, the monsters must have gotten to him."
"It's all right, Aelita," came Jeremie's voice. Aelita's emerald eyes flashed in delight.
"Jeremie! I'm so glad you're OK."
"Likewise, Aelita. XANA's up to something strange, none of the monsters came after to me."
"That's weird," said Yumi.
"You said it," said Ulrich.
"Huh?" said Jim, scratching his head.
"I'll explain later, there's no time. Hurry up and get to the tower, it's—" Jeremie stopped and stared at the screen.
"Jeremie?" said Aelita, concerned.
"This can't be right. The scanner program must not be working properly. It shows that the tower is now in the Mountain sector."
"WHAT?" cried the four Lyokians simultaneously.
"I'm running a diagnostic on the scanner program, just sit tight for a moment, and be on the lookout for monsters. I cannot help you with that while I run the program."
"No problem, Jeremie," said Ulrich. "We can handle anything XANA throws our way."
"Yeah," said Yumi, smiling. "XANA's monsters are no match for—AAH!" Ulrich wheeled around, his eyes wide in fear.
"YUMI!"
----
Sissi and Odd made their way through the forest, not running into any monsters along the way. "This is really strange," said Odd, puzzled. "Why aren't they coming after us?
"Beats me, scrawny," said Sissi. Odd smirked.
"Well, frog face, then we'd better find out then, huh?" Sissi giggled.
"Oh, stop it, this is serious."
"Then why did you call me scrawny, huh?"
"Oh, never mind."
The two of them reached the school. Oddly enough it was peaceful; nobody seemed to be worried about anything. Life was going on as normal. This is just too weird, though Odd to himself. Suddenly, there was a bloodcurdling scream in the distance.
"What was that," said Odd.
"That didn't come from the school, that's for sure," said Sissi.
Several yells and screams could be heard off in the distance, and they seemed to be happening more and more often. Sissi noticed her father run out into the courtyard. "Everyone inside," he cried. "Hurry!" Odd noticed that he looked very afraid. All the students hurried into the dorms, wondering what was going on.
Once everyone was inside, Principal Delmas shut the down and locked it. "Now, nobody panic. There are some strange monsters rampaging throughout the city, I just it on TV." Everyone gasped and started whispering. "Everyone, quiet please! There isn't anything to worry about; it seems that they are on the far side of town, wreaking havoc around the Eiffel Tower and other monuments. Please make your way to your rooms. As long as these mechanical creatures continue their current pattern, we should be safe here. Go along now." Odd and Sissi looked at each other, realizing XANA's attack. Sissi hugged odd tightly. "Oh, Odd," she said shakily, "I'm scared."
"Don't worry, Sissi," said Odd warmly, stroking her hair. "I won't let anything harm you." Sissi put her head on Odd's shoulder and they headed towards her room.
----
Meanwhile, in the principal's office, Mr. Delmas and the rest of the faculty had their eyes glued to the television set, watching the as the brave television crew did their best to cover the attack at hand.
"We have no idea, where they creatures came from, and what their purpose is," said the young reporter. "What we do now is that they are extremely dangerous we advise everyone to stay in their homes, away from this madness.
"Bizarre. Just bizarre," said Mrs. Hertz. "Oh! I'd better get back to the science lab! I left out some dangerous chemicals."
"Be careful," said the principal as Mrs. Hertz hurried out of his office. He turned his attention back to the TV set."
"Uh oh," said the reporter. "This isn't good—AAH!" Mr. Delmas and the rest of the teachers grimaced at the picture turned to static.
----
Ulrich ran towards Yumi. She was floating, encased inside a Guardian, though she was still conscious. She pounded on it from the inside, but it was no use. Ulrich could tell she was saying his name, though he could not hear it. He took out his sword and began to slash at the bubble monster, but it was no use. His sword didn't even leave a scratch. He dropped to his knees. "Yumi," he said softly. He turned to Aelita and Jim. "Aelita," said Ulrich, "do you think you could create a false Yumi? It might confuse it like last time."
"Yes," said Aelita, remembering how this had worked last time. She knelt down and sang. Before she could finish, she herself was encased in a Guardian.
"Huh?" said Jim as Ulrich also became trapped inside one. Jim heard the sound of something whooshing towards him from above. He leapt to the left, rolling a few feet. The guardian that was meant for him missed terribly and exploded. Jim gritted his teeth. I can't let myself get caught. I've gotta find a way to save my friends. Jim heard another whooshing sound, this time it was coming from behind. Jim wheeled around, charging his staff. He fired at the Guardian, but it split into two. What! Jim ducked, and the two Guardians missed, slamming into a couple of trees and exploding, just like the first one that attacked him. Jeremie came back online.
"OK, guys, I've—huh?"
"Good to have you back, Jeremie," said Jim bluntly.
"What—what happened here?"
"These three orange bubble things have Yumi, Aelita and Ulrich trapped inside and a few have come after me as well." Jim rolled on the ground again, dodging yet another Guardian.
"Guardians?"
"So that's what they're called. Got any idea how I can free our friends?"
"Have you tried using your staff?"
"Yeah, it caused it to split into two." Jim grunted, dodging another Guardian.
"Ouch."
"You're telling me. I have figured out that if they smash into something rather hard, they explode."
"Huh, interesting." Jeremie thought for a moment. "I've got it! Jim, if you can manage to cause them to crash into the ones holding Yumi, Aelita and Ulrich prisoner, it just might free them."
"Good thinking, Jeremie. If I were in the same place as you right now, I'd ruffle your hair."
Jeremie shuddered. And mess up my hair? I don't think so. "Sounds great, Jim. Now get to work!"
"Aye, sir!"
----
Sissi heard a loud crash outside. That sounded close. Too close. Odd had heard it also, and had bolted for the door. "Odd!" cried Sissi. She ran to the door and looked out into the hall. Odd was nowhere to be seen. He must have gone outside, she thought. He cautiously made her way outside.
Odd was outside already. He heard another crash, but this time it was followed by a scream. "That sounded like Mrs. Hertz!" Odd bolted towards the science building. Then he saw it. A Tarantula? "Don't worry, Mrs. Hertz, I'm coming!" He charged towards the monster, and slid underneath it, finding Mrs. Hertz on the other side, cornered inside, along with a second Tarantula. "Odd?" said Mrs. Hertz, startled. Odd winked. Man, this'll be easy! "Stay back, ma'am! I'll handle this." He turned to face the Tarantula that was inside. Waving, he mocked the monster, daring it to fire at him. The Tarantula outside the room, behind Odd, fired first. Odd dodged and ran around the room as the monsters fired upon him, missing every time. Then Odd stopped, in between the two enemies. Smiling, he said, "What are you waiting for? Shoot me, you lame excuses for arachnids!" The two Tarantulas snarled and fired. Smirking, Odd leapt out of the way and Mrs. Hertz laughed as the two monsters destroyed one another.
"Odd, that was amazing!" she said, still laughing. "How can I ever repay you?"
Odd thought for a moment, then it came to him. "Well… you could give me an 'A' in class."
Mrs. Hertz's eyes widened in surprise. "What!"
Odd smiled. "Take it or leave it."
Mrs. Hertz hesitated. He'll never forgive me if I don't. She sighed. "Oh, alright." She laughed as Odd danced around happily, yet terribly. "Odd, stop that, or I might reconsider."
----
Jim laughed as he dodged the last attacking Guardian, which smashed into the Guardian holding Aelita, essentially freeing her. "Who would have thought that these guys would be so dumb," said Jim. Everyone laughed.
"OK, guys," interrupted Jeremie. The diagnostic finished, and it found no bugs. I even ran it again just to make sure."
"So that means," said Aelita.
"Yes, the activated tower is indeed now in the Mountain sector.
"Then we'd better get going," said Yumi.
"Right," said Ulrich. "Jeremie, how about some vehicles this time?"
"You got it, Ulrich," said Jeremie. He made a few keystrokes and materialized Ulrich's Overbike, Yumi's Overwing, and Jim's Undertank.
"Wow, is this mine?" asked Jim.
"Yup, it's all yours. I figured you'd like it. Now, the Way Tower is due north. Use that to get to the Mountain sector."
Aelita climbed on to Yumi's vehicle, and the four of them headed off.
