Disclaimer: I do not own Code Lyoko, but I claim rights to Xenon and the plot of this story. The ideas for the past couple chapters are taken from season four of Code Lyoko.


Dedication: To Cartoon Network for showing a sneak peak at season four of Code Lyoko early.

-()-

"I feel like shit." Aelita said. Jeremie had his arms around Aelita and rested his head on one of Aelita's shoulder. Jeremie and Aelita were sitting on the bed in Jeremie's room.

"What?" Jeremie asked.

"Never mind." Aelita sighed. "I think it's just that I keep thinking about Xenon. I mean Odd's going back to America next week and has enough on his plate especially with his new daughter.. So, even if Xenon does come back, she'll be here without Odd. Xenon's probably gone forever though." Jeremie didn't say anything. But he wrapped his arms tighter around Aelita's waist. "Jeremie, what if she disappeared like my father did?" Jeremie murmured something inaudible. "I mean, if she never," Aelita took a deep gulp of air, "comes back. I can't handle this and neither can Odd." Aelita sniffed as she didn't try to stop the tears from streaming down her face. "I've lost everyone. My mother, my father, and now my sister. I've lost everyone." Aelita broke down, unable to control herself anymore.

"Aelita..." Jeremie said softly. He honestly didn't know what to do but he knew what to say. "Aelita, I'll always be here for you." He said tenderly as he hugged Aelita tightly.

"But you're not my family. I've lost them all. I'll never see them again. Ever." Aelita trembled, which was an understatement. Aelita shook uncontrollably as she faced with this cruel information. "Jeremie, I can't deal with this. I can't." Aelita got up suddenly off of the bed.

"Where are you going?" Jeremie asked as he got up too and grabbed Aelita's right forearm.

"I need time alone." Aelita stated as she jerked her arms away and ran out of the room.

-()-

"Odd."

"Hmm?" Odd responded, not looking up from his physics book. Ulrich, annoyed, grabbed the book out from under from Odd. "Hey!" Odd yelled.

"Odd, this has gone far enough." Ulrich in a short tempered mood. "This," he said holding up the physics book, "isn't like you." Ulrich stared straight into Odd's eyes. "You study too much, you never have any fun anymore, nor do you tell your bad jokes anymore. More importantly, when was the last time that you had seconds at any meal, or finish everything on your first helping to begin with?"

"W-what does that have to do with anything?" Odd asked.

"Odd, think about it." Ulrich said putting the book out of Odd's reach. "You haven't been normal since the disappearance even less since yesterday." Odd eyes' narrowed.

"So? Only natural since she left and I have to leave." Odd said, as his gut twisted. I don't want to talk about this. I'll cry and I can't cry in front of Ulrich. Odd thought.

"Odd--" Ulrich started, but was interrupted by a knock on the door. Ulrich turned toward the door, wondering who it was. He cautiously opened the door.

"Ha-have you've sss-seen Aelita?" Jeremie puffed, as he stood in the doorway.

"No." Ulrich said, looking worried. "She's gone?"

"She just went off in a huff. I—I don't know where she went." Jeremie said. "The only place I haven't checked is the factory and the Hermitage."

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Ulrich asked. "Let's find her." Jeremie gave a small smile and nodded. Ulrich turned to Odd, grabbed his arm and dragged him out of their room before he could protest.

-()-

Aelita hit the enter key on the keyboard and the virtualization process started up. I have to go alone and see if I can find her. Aelita thought as she walked toward the elevator. I need to look carefully where the contamination was in the ice sector. Maybe I'll find a clue. Aelita exited the elevator, entered a scanner, and felt the all-too-familiar feeling of being scanned, transferred, and virtualized to Lyoko.

Aelita dropped to the icy ground. She scanned the horizon for any welcoming committee, but saw none. She looked around and then realized that there was no vehicle beside her. She sighed and then ran toward the contamination site.

-()-

Jeremie, Ulrich, and Odd rode on their skateboard or scooter through the sewers. Aelita hadn't been at the hermitage and there was only one other logical place where she would be, the factory. They soon reached the rusty, metal ladder that led to the bridge in front of the factory. The three ran into the factory, got into the elevator, and rode it down to the supercomputer. Jeremie half thought he would see Aelita in front of the supercomputer looking for Xenon, but was disappointed.

Jeremie got into the chair and searched Lyoko for Aelita. The supercomputer was quick and found her standing in the ice sector. Jeremie recognized where she was and felt uncomfortable with Aelita being in that spot alone.

"Get to the scanners. Go protect Aelita and don't let her do anything stupid." Jeremie ordered quickly. Ulrich and Odd complied. Jeremie cursed under his breath as he started up the virtualization process. "Aelita?" Jeremie said into the microphone. Jeremie received no answer.

-()-

Aelita looked around. The tower was a neutral blue and there was nothing besides it, glaciers, and the digital sea. As if possessed, Aelita walked to the edge. Her green eyes looked down to the sea of awaiting nothingness. Aelita looked at it. It shimmered, calling to her. Aelita's mouth opened slightly as she moved her head side to side as continued to stare down at the sea.

"Aelita!" Ulrich shouted behind her as he tried to go faster on the overbike, even though he was at full speed already. Odd woke to the seriousness of the situation. Aelita was on the edge, almost losing balance and falling in. Odd sped up on the overboard, gaining speed and passing Ulrich.

Aelita smiled and extended her arms. She leaned forward and tumbled over the edge. She transformed this into a perfect dive. Odd raced to the edge and got laser arrows ready.

Aelita can't fall in. Odd thought. Jeremie might not be able to retrieve her. Odd fired all the laser arrows he could at Aelita. Aelita twisted and turned, dodging each one.

"Aelita!" Odd shouted. Aelita plunged into the digital sea. Where she had fallen, a geyser spurted up.

"No…" Odd and Jeremie whispered at the same time. Aelita was gone.

-()-

A/N: Review!