He Who Calls
Chapter 39
Bella
Data Entry # 577
King was dismissed as a Xanadore and incinerated after failure to comply with my commands as Xanadore General. The street children Red, Sniper, and Snap have become Xanadores to guard 3-6Bases. Lord Xana is disappointed with me for losing 1Base and 2Base. He says if I lose 3Base I die along with William and King.
The next day, the 3Base team was ready. Yumi had to go, and Ulrich and Milo were going with her. They were already in the Mini-Scans and Jeremy was pressing the buttons to drop them through the Rabbit Hole.
"Virtualization," he said.
"Hey, 3Base is black," said Milo.
"Just my color," said Yumi as she pulled out a fan. "Bella and King are due to arrive any second." Four figures dropped from the Rabbit Hole.
"More Portugal Street Kids," said Milo. "Red, Sniper, and Snap." Red was entirely red, face included. She had a Morningstar in both hands. Sniper carried a pistol in his hand and a rifle strapped to his back. Snap had his fingers ready to snap, but no visible weapon. Each had the Eye of Xana on both kneecaps.
"They're just drones now," said Bella. "Not even really Xanadores. Just part of a hive mind."
"That's sick," said Milo. Then Sniper shot him in the face and he vanished.
"Milo!" said Ulrich. Then they mowed him down too. Red plunged a Morningstar into him. Yumi backed up against a wall.
"3Base is safe for another day," said Bella as she raised her whip. That was when the Overwing appeared under Yumi and Aelita showed up with an energy field in each hand. She quickly took out Bella and Sniper before Red and Snap got her. Snap snapped his fingers and a huge explosion knocked Aelita back onto Earth. By then, Yumi was flying down the gauntlet on her Overwing. The vehicle was destroyed as Yumi landed right on the door. It flew open and she crashed into the wall. It closed slowly. Yumi was unconscious.
"Yumi? Do you read me?" asked Jeremy. "Yumi! Answer me!"
"I'll go," said Odd. He stepped into the Mini-Scan. When he arrived, the room was empty. He ran into the room. The Scyphozoa was holding Yumi. "Yumi!" he screamed. She looked at him, pulled out her fan, dropped it into the Fragment, and passed out. The Fragment turned black as everything flaked away.
"Odd," Yumi muttered as the Scyphozoa flew out of the Rabbit Hole right before it chipped away, Odd hot on its heels. "Tell Ulrich…" They flew up and out. Odd returned to the real world. Yumi was a prisoner.
"The Fragment is gone," said Odd bitterly as he explained what had happened to everyone. "And Yumi is probably a Xanadore or dead or a prisoner."
"There's only one thing to do," said Franz. Ulrich was crying and Milo and Aelita were looking down sadly. "If we can eliminate the rest of the Fragments then all the Xanadores should revert to their original state. If Yumi is a prisoner, we can find her after Xana is dead."