He Who Calls
Chapter 41
"This is for 4Base," said Milo. They were ready for an expedition. Aelita had to blow up the Fragment. Everyone was going. Ulrich had to wait for the second ride, though.
A few confused minutes of scanning later, Ulrich, Milo, Aelita, and Odd stood facing Bella, Sniper, Red, Snap, and two Blocks in the entirely pink 4Base.
"I have a deal for you," said Bella slowly. "4Base is the last Outpost Base. In 5Base and 6Base the gauntlets are longer and the monsters are stronger. We'll give you 4Base and Yumi. But then you have to leave for good."
"That is such a stupid offer," said Milo. "The Man in Grey would just kill us. Do you think we're really so stupid as to EVERYONE ATTACK NOW!" There was a rain of hats and energy fields and various other weapons as the Lyoko Warriors quickly eliminated the Xanadores. Bella ran down the hall and took her place in front of the door to the Fragment Room. She knew that if she couldn't stop Aelita entering the room, she was dead.
When the Lyoko Warriors got up from the battle, Ulrich had been devirtualized.
"Me first," said Odd as he ran down the hall with Aelita behind him, blocking shots. Milo was taking up the rear. As they arrived at the Fragment Room, Bella lashed out at Odd and he was sent back to Earth. Milo quickly grabbed her and they wrestled in the hallways as security lasers shot them down. Aelita stepped into the room. The yellow Eye of Xana sat on the pedestal as usual. Aelita charged an energy field and the pink energy surrounded the symbol. It took on the color of the walls and everything chapped away.
"Aelita," said Bella as she vanished. Milo stood next to her. "Milo, forgive me." She vanished away, but not in a matrix of lines. She seemed to catch fire, and the fire consumed her as Aelita and Milo went back.
"I think Bella is dead because of what we did," said Milo as he stepped out of the scanner. "She's joined William and King in the grave, but the difference is she and King were incompetent, whereas William actively tried to betray Xana."
"Were they incompetent?" asked Aelita. "I think Bella tried to ask you to forgive her right before she died. Does that mean she was going to betray Xana?"
"I think, for all her bragging, she was part of Xana's hive mind too," said Milo. "Maybe he released her as she died. Maybe she isn't dead. Don't ask me to fathom the depths of Xana's tricks. I say we keep on going. Two thirds done, after all. All that remains is my shut down, and then… 6Base."
"And then 6Base," Jeremy concurred. "I just hope we survive."
Yumi Ishiyama
Data Entry # 2
Bella showed up today. Apparently Xana decided that only his hive mind minions are trustworthy. I'm learning a lot from the people in this dungeon. I just wish that Bella had been able to do something a little more worthwhile while she was free. If Milo and Aelita could have gotten a hold on her they could have got her back to Earth. But now she's half insane, and when she showed up she was on fire. Xana must have done something really awful to her before he captured her. She's currently incapable of speech, but William and King are trying to heal her. I am too, but I don't think anything will save her except rest and a bit of luck. After all, King isn't going stir crazy, mainly because he sleeps too much. It's funny. He's sort of reminiscent of Milo.