It was early the next morning at the crack of dawn.

"Well...this officially is surprising." Hope said. "How'd I end up rooming with you?" he asked with Jack as he looked over a few knives.

"Easy. I just told the boarding place we were brothers and they put us together." Jack said.

"It's not that I don't mind but...well…" Hope said.

"Don't trust the thief huh? Even if he's family. Real cold of ya." Jack said.

"No no no! I'm sorry. Look. You can Uh...have my dessert for the next week?" Hope said.

"Perfect, thanks." Jack said heading out happily.

"Why do I feel like I just got played?" Hope said. "But either way… you're right about one thing. We are brothers. But sometimes I feel like we don't act like it. Ace, Spade and Simon are always together. The two of us? We have our own paths."

"Don't let it get to you, Hope." A voice said as Simon was seen leaning against the doorway.

"Speak of the Umbral Magician." Hope said. "And I meant what I said. I suppose if you, Ace and Spade are on the same team as brothers… I'm more than a little jealous."

"Well believe it or not. Ace sees you, Jexi and David as brothers even if you're not related by blood. It's the thought that counts." Simon said.

"I guess so." Hope said. "Wait...why are you here? I would have thought you'd join your brothers in guarding the factory."

"Well I decided to enroll here thanks to Jeremie's help. I haven't been able to go to school for obvious reasons." Simon said. "Come on, let's go get some breakfast in the cafeteria."

"Yeah, I'm starving." Hope said.

Jack was already on his way there before a hand grabbed him as he saw Dan there. "What?"

"Look...we need you to do something for Jeremie and the others." Dan said. "It's something only a thief can pull off."

"A thief eh? Fine. What do you want?" Jack asked.

"A set of files on someone named Franz Hopper. From the Kadic archives. Think you can do it?" Dan asked.

"Please...I'll get those before Breakfast is even out." Jack said heading out.

"Hey, Dan? We may have a problem." Anna said over a comm.

"Problem?" Dan asked.

"The others saw Aelita run past them into the factory, they said she looked upset about something. Let Jeremie and the others know what I told you." Anna said.

"Upset. Let's see...what happened to...Ah crap!" Dan said running out.

At the factory, Aelita was at the Supercomputer as she typed in the settings for an automatic virtualization before heading down to the scanners as Harpuia, Sectonia, and Rose gave chase.

"Damn. She's already doing it. She's running away." Rose said.

"Let's go after her, she's defenseless right now." Harpuia said.

"Harpuia, can you handle the virtualization process?" Sectonia asked.

"If it's anything like Cyberspace, I'll manage." Harpuia said.

"It's a virtual world, so you won't have to worry about much. Let's go, Rose." Sectonia said.

"There's only two unoccupied scanners. Sectonia, you and Harpuia should go. I have a feeling something's about to go on right now." Rose said.

"Alright. Join us when you can." Harpuia said as he and Sectonia headed to the scanners.

"Okay, I got this." Rose said virtualizing the two. "Now...as for the other business…" She said going up the elevator and entering the main floor to see several red birds in the area. "So...this is what I was sensing."

"You have impeccable senses...for a human." A voice said as a large red bird stood at the top. "I am Talonflame! Leader of this brigade and one of Avia's 10 Flying Aces!"

"So you're practically the top brass of Avia." Rose said.

"Along with General Grovyle, and of course our glorious king, Rufflet, we 10 Aces serve as Avia's shield. And you are in our way of conquering this world, Dimensional Hero." Talonflame said.

"Need a hand, Rose?" A voice said as two ice dragons intercepted Talonflame as Leviathan floated down next to Rose.

"Leviathan, great timing! This guy's a Fire and Flying type, so the two of us can take him down." Rose said.

"Ha! I have a full army! You can't defeat all of us!" Talonflame said. "Attack!" He said before water shurikens were being tossed in as a figure was running around tossing them. "This attack...could this be?" He said before it landed between Leviathan and Rose.

"Who are you?" Rose demanded.

"I am but a simple ninja. But do not worry." They said stepping out of the shadows to reveal Greninja. "I am an ally to you this day!"

"Alright, good timing. Let's show these feather brains what we're made of." Leviathan said as she twirled her halberd and pointed it at Talonflame.

"It's true...the deserter...he is on this world!" Talonflame said. "Meaning...I shall gain glory by eliminating all three!" He thought as he took to the sky. "Flame Charge!" he said charging at the three while lit on fire.

"Not a chance!" Leviathan said as she spun her halberd and launched an Ice Dragon at him. "You're up, Rose!"

"I got it!" Rose said charging. "Double Demon Fang!" Rose said slashing twice. "Your turn, Greninja!"

"Talonflame. This is a waring attack...you should have never...made enemies of this group!" Greninja said forming two water blades as he slashed through Talonflame as he fell to the ground defeated.

"Retreat!" A Fletchinder called as the flock of Fletchinder and Fletchling flew out of the factory.

"One down, 9 to go." Rose said. "But Greninja, they called you a Deserter. Does that mean you're a former general?"

"In a way yes. I did serve a kingdom but events that occured during a battle have forced me to abandon my position." Greninja said.

"Ah. Anyway, thank you for your help. What will you do now?" Leviathan asked.

"I am only here to keep an eye on an old friend. A former general of Ignis, Blaziken." Greninja said. "For now...I must go." He said before vanishing in a stream of water.

"Heh. Reminds me of Phantom in a way." Leviathan said as she laughed before seeing Jeremie arrive.

"Has Aelita already been here?" Jeremie asked.

"Yeah, but she went to Lyoko. Sectonia and Harpuia are going after her." Rose said.

"I'm on it." Jeremie said before they went to the computer. "This can't be right! The scanner can't find them in any of the sectors!"

"Are they still in Lyoko?" Leviathan asked.

"Their icons are still on the monitor but they aren't showing up in any of the four sectors." Jeremie said.

"Don't worry, Jeremie. We're fine. But I think this is some kind of new sector." Harpuia said.

"He's right. A strange sphere brought us to some strange cold sphere." Sectonia said.

"Incredible...a fifth sector?" Jeremie said before seeing it brought up. "It's...in the core of Lyoko itself!"

"The core? So this is basically the heart, right?" Harpuia asked.

"There has to be something about it in here." Jeremie said looking through the notes. "Project Carthage. Maybe this might have a keyword to help."

"Alright. We'll protect Aelita while you look for it. Send the others as soon as you can." Harpuia said.

"Hmm. Leviathan...Rose...You two are headed in." Jeremie said.

"Got it. Let's go Rose." Leviathan said as she and Rose headed to the scanners.

"Okay. Transfer Rose, Transfer Leviathan. Scanner Rose, Scanner Leviathan. Virtualization." Jeremie said sending them in.

"Wow. This sensation, It's like Cyberspace." Leviathan said as she looked like a mermaid reploid.

"Yes...in a way." Rose said looking around the Forest Sector.

"Find anything Jeremie?" Leviathan asked.

"I'm trying to find the code. Hmm. Let's see...who defeated Carthage? Ah! Scipio!" He said entering the code as a sphere rose from the digital sea.

"Guess that's our ride…" Rose said getting in. "Cmon, Leviathan."

"Right behind ya." Leviathan said as she entered the sphere as it flew them to a different area and they found themselves in an unknown area, a strange metallic place.

"Sector 5...a strange looking place. Jeremie...see her yet?" Rose asked.

"Yes. I've found her but she's in trouble." Jeremie said.

In another place, a strange jellyfish like creature had it's tentacles wrapped around Aelita as it was draining something from her.

"Hands off her, fiend!" Harpuia said as he sliced through the Jellyfish monster only for it to do nothing.

"Wait a second… If its tentacles are draining her, then maybe…" Sectonia said as she took out her sword and sliced its tentacles.

The jellyfish then let go of Aelita before it floated away as Harpuia caught her.

"Don't worry, Jeremie. Aelita's safe." Harpuia said.

"But now we should escape this place. The room will change any minute now." Sectonia said.

"Right. Come on!" Harpuia said as they immediately ran back as the room began closing behind them.

"Everyone this way!" Leviathan called out.

"What's with this place, it's like it has a mind of its own!" Rose said.

"Yes. Like a living thing." Sectonia said as they headed for the transport. They rushed in before it closed and brought them back to the forest sector.

"Alright Aelita, head into the tower." Harpuia said. "We're ready as well, Jeremie."

"Okay...bringing you all back." Jeremie said.

"Man...that sector was something. We should bring Yumi and the others tomorrow." Leviathan said.

"Or at some given point." Rose said.

"By the way, are you okay Aelita?" Harpuia said putting a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm fine. That thing, it felt like it was stealing my memory." Aelita said.

"I wonder if that was XANA's intention?" Rose asked.

"Hard to say, all we can do now is fend off that thing when it shows up again. Best to let the others know about it too." Leviathan said.

It was later on the Sunny that Jack came with two sets of files. "Here. Files on Franz Hopper. And another that may interest you." He said showing a set of files.

"The private files of...Crecatious Flux." Jexi said.

"Hmm...looks like most of it is encrypted. Mari, Vera, and I will decipher them and let you know what we find out." Camilla said.

"But...who is this guy anyway? Such a weird name." Mina said.

"He's the father of all the Flux Families. Even the father of Amadeus Flux himself." Jexi said.

"And he was also a travel companion of our fathers when they were our age." David said.

"All three of your fathers?" Ace asked.

"Yes. Though his motives as of now are a mystery as he's always travelling." Jexi said.

"Hmm. Mastemon did mention a strange figure stopping by Devaloka a few years ago for unknown reasons. Could've been him." Spade said.

"Maybe. Who can say for sure?" Sectonia asked.

"Guess we'll find out when our researchers decipher the files." Ace said.

"For now, we need to find out more about Franz Hopper and Sector 5." Hope said. "And plan our next moves for sieging Avia, and prepare for the next Flying Ace."

Back in Avia…

"Talonflame, defeated?" Grovyle asked.

"I saw it with my own eyes! I don't think anyone could defeat our commander, let alone one of the 10." Fletchinder said.

"Then our best advantage is to strike at night. Next attack...I'll have Noctowl go next." Grovyle said.

"An excellent strategy, General. No one can beat Noctowl when it comes to night assaults." Fletchinder said.

"Yes...Noctowl will do nicely." Grovyle said.

It was later that evening that Greninja watched from the trees to see Blaziken looking at Yumi's house. "My old friend...why must you go to these lengths...just for her?" Greninja pondered.