"I'm worried guys. With all this going on, i dunno who else Avia has captured besides Skyler." Ruby said.
"Oh, that's right… weren't you one of their prisoners too?" Natsu asked.
"Don't remind me. They were harsh jailers. I only got out cause the jailers were distracted and I slipped out." Ruby said.
"Are we missing anyone besides Skyler since we arrived?" Lilliana asked.
"I've taken a headcount. There doesn't appear to be anyone else missing." Niles said.
"So if it's not Ruby and Aladdin this time, I wonder who will be in their prison with Skyler?"
"Don't know. We can make assumptions, but that would be assuming they were caught in this redux too."
"Who?" Lin asked.
"Well, since the Heroes Coalition was disbanded, all personnel there were scattered to parts unknown. Wait… Ruby, didn't you say you had friends among them?" Sectonia asked.
"Well yeah… Jaune, Ren and Nora were still in Remnant after Vytal, and they weren't doing anything, so they were taken in." Ruby said.
"And then there were the rumors that they rebuilt Penny." Weiss said.
"You don't think that...Pandora made them Avia's prisoners instead, do you?" Elize asked.
"Let's hope not." Aluche said.
"Even if Pandora grabbed them, they're really strong. They won't go down without a fight." Ruby said. "I know cause before I rejoined after the Rift Crisis, we were formed into a team of our own for a bit...before rejoining with you guys, of course."
"But it makes you wonder. Aladdin was also with you. If Pandora wants to make this interesting, she'll find a replacement for him too." Ty said.
"Oh come on. That's a bit of a stretch isn't it?" Tsuyu said.
"Hmm. Maybe, maybe not. We don't know a thing about Pandora. Who knows what she could have done." Jexi said.
"It's hard to say. By the way we're exploring Sector 5 today aren't we?" Simon asked.
"Tomorrow...its still night." Jexi said.
The next day…
"Well...tonight is the night." Rainbow said.
"Exploration of Sector 5...it's a perfect night for it." Natsu said.
"Perfect night for what?" Kendo asked.
"Exploring Sector 5. We got the call. Its going down tonight. We're only at the gate cause we like to wait for Yumi." Natsu said.
"There she is. But who's she with?" Kendo asked.
"Think it's her parents." Natsu said. "That's never a good sign when parents are around."
"I would think they're suspicious of what Yumi's been doing every night." Kendo said.
"Come on. All she does is sneak out at night, get into mischief on Lyoko and...okay hearing myself, it does sound pretty bad." Ryuji said.
"That's the thing with Japanese families. They're very disciplined." Harumi said.
"And sometimes strict, if I may add." Mayumi said.
"Here she comes." Lin said as Yumi approached them. "Everything okay?"
"Does it look like it?" Yumi asked.
"We were just worried, that's all." Lilliana said.
"Yeah...and because of my sneaking out...my parents are insistent on taking me to and from school. And that's not enough...that Blaziken guy...whoever he is...snuck into my room and left this." Yumi said holding a fan with a stone in its base.
"Looks like a Mega Stone embedded in the fan." Mari said.
"That's actually a Keystone. I bet Blaziken has his Mega Stone already." Kendo said. "It was explained in one of Crecatious's files that the holdings of these stones can come in different forms."
"Yes. From what Tails said, it'll take some time before the researchers and him get the rest decoded." Lacy said.
"And we may get some new information out of it and see how it's connected to Cretacious." Lin said.
"For now...we head out in the dead of night." Natsu said.
Later that night…
"We have to stay sharp here. An attack could happen at any time." Kendo said as they ran through the forest.
"Right." Lin said as she had her pistol out and kept watch till the manhole was opened.
"We can't rely on Yumi for this one. We can't risk her getting into even more trouble with her parents." Francisca said.
"Don't worry, we got your backs like glue." Rainbow said.
"Alright. Let's go." Zan said.
"You three are next." Jeremie said sending in Rainbow, Francisca and Zan after sending in Aelita, Odd and Ulrich.
A few minutes later after arriving in Sector 5…
"Okay...so maybe we don't got this." Rainbow said as she, Francisca and Zan were running about Sector 5. "I can't believe we already got Odd and Ulrich devirtualized and lost Aelita!"
"Jeremie, can you direct us to her?" Zan asked as they kept running.
"Yes...but there is something you should know. We can't send a lot of backup. The Sunny is under attack by owls." Jeremie said.
"Owls?!" Rainbow asked.
Back at the Sunny…
"This is SO not our night." Mina said as dozens of Hoothoot were flying around.
"Hang in there, Mina." Arnice said as she flew through the flocks of Hoothoot and threw small fireballs at a few of them.
"They pick the dead of night to strike? Something's up." Blake said.
"Hoo! Seems we have you cornered." A voice said as a large owl flew above. "I, Noctowl of the Flying Aces, shall take glory of this night. You people can see well during the day...but we rule the night."
"Don't get so cocky, fool." A voice said as Phantom was right in front of him and knocked him back before landing.
"Because you see…" Maki said as she came out. "The night is an assassin's friend, too."
"Sorry to say but you're outta luck." Aya said as she threw a couple of throwing knives at them.
"No...how could this be? Humans...they shouldn't be able to see us this late in the night." Noctowl thought. "No worries. While they may sense us...we can still see them perfectly." Noctowl said seeing them clearly as if it were day. "Screech!" Noctowl said letting loose a loud screech. "This is perfect...I'll just let them fall and...huh?" Noctowl wondered before seeing something over him. "A cloud?"
"Zeus Breeze Tempo!" Nami shouted before lightning struck Noctowl and the Hoothoot before they fell.
"Whoa! Since when could you do that, Nami?" Kaito asked.
"Well I did have help." Nami said as Zeus floated down beside her. "My servant here makes sure of that."
"No surprise there." Maki said.
"Still, that line you pulled was amazing, Maki Roll." Kaito said.
"W-well, it's the truth." Maki said blushing.
"Not to mention it was cool as hell." Denki said.
"Look out!" Aya said as she blocked an incoming attack and countered with a throwing knife.
"Who's there? Show yourselves!" Maki said.
"Who's there? A remaining Avia soldier? We already defeated your commander so come out!" Denki shouted.
"Well, if you insist…" A voice said as a figure was stepping out of the darkness.
Meanwhile in Sector 5…
"Okay...I think we lost those creepers. Wait...I hear something." Rainbow said before they saw Aelita in the tentacles of another Jellyfish monster but approached by three robots.
"Who..who are you?" Aelita asked.
"We...are Gospel." said the robot of ice and icicles.
"Or what's left of it thanks to your no good friends." the magnet robot said.
"But we are the three elites out of it. I am CutMan!" the scissor robot said.
"I'm MagnetMan!" the magnet robot said.
"And I am FreezeMan...its leader. And you...you were our target." he said as the creature started draining from Aelita. "With her memories, our deal with XANA shall be fulfilled."
"Oh no you don't. Zan, get the key!" Francisca said as she swung her axe at the tentacles.
"No ya don't. Rolling Cutter!" CutMan said throwing it as Francisca jumped back. "So...you were watching us huh? Then we gotta...cut you out!"
"Cutting puns? Really?" Francisca asked.
"Shut up! They're cool!" CutMan said.
"They really aren't." MagnetMan said.
"Who's side are you on?!" CutMan said before dodging an attack. "Whoa! You actually got my guard down."
"Don't be so cocky. I've seen records of you all...and you didn't make the cut." Francisca said as she got her axe ready.
"There, see? That's actually better." MagnetMan said.
"Enough! She is a plague to this world of organics. But she will be cleansed when XANA is complete." FreezeMan said.
"I think it's a little too late for that." Francisca said as the room began to reconfigure itself and Aelita was freed.
"Damn it. That girl was a distraction!" MagnetMan said. "One of them tripped the key!"
"No...go and find them! We cannot afford the pink haired human to slip away. She is the key for all of this!" FreezeMan said as the two ran out.
"Everyone okay? Let's get out of here!" Francisca said.
"Right. Jeremie, how are things outside?" Zan asked.
"I heard a lightning strike but after that hit the troops, all went dark. Just get the code to bring Ulrich and Odd back and then get back here." Jeremie said.
"Roger that." Francisca said as they got on an elevator lift, picking up Aelita as they passed by her.
"Okay Jeremie, I'm at the Interface." Aelita said going to work. "I...I don't believe it. Sector 5...this is...where XANA lives."
"And we've got company." Francisca said as several manta like creatures appeared.
"Give me a sec, I'll get the vehicles ready." Jeremie said.
"No need for me and Franny. You're still able to fly right?" Zan asked.
"Of course." Francisca said.
"Alright, me and Franny will take care of the manta rays. Rainbow, can you protect Aelita till she finishes?" Zan asked.
"Who do you think I am?" Rainbow asked gunslinging her Rainbow Blade.
"I'm afraid to answer." Francisca said as they flew off as Rainbow fended where she stood.
The Sisters then flew into the air and combated the Manta Rays.
"Voltaic Roar!" Zan yelled as she launched a widespread wave of lightning onto one of them.
"Frigid Storm!" Francisca called as crystals rained down on a few more mantas.
"Hurry up Aelita!" Rainbow said doing her best on her own.
"Okay….I have it!" Aelita said.
"Okay. I have the code." Jeremie said. "I'm already bringing Ulrich and Odd back and sent the sphere for you four. Get in it quickly."
"You heard Einstein, Zan and Franny! It's time to blow this code pile!" Rainbow said.
"Understood. Let's go Franny." Zan said as the two flew back to Aelita and Rainbow as they all entered the sphere.
It didn't take long before all of them were brought back as Rainbow, Zan and Francisca ran for the Sunny. "Okay! Backup is here! Where are ya guys?" Rainbow said. "Hello?" She asked seeing the deck empty before seeing a light in the dining hall.
"We're in here guys." Ryu said standing in the doorway.
"What happened? We heard from Jeremie that after you beat the attack, another intruder seemed to have approached." Rainbow said.
"Come in and see for yourself." Ryu said.
They looked at each other before stepping inside.
"Alright. So where's the intruder?" Rainbow asked.
"Right over here." A voice said as they turned to the end of the table.
"Who are you?" Zan asked confused.
"Who am I, you ask?" The person said as the shape was revealed to be a woman with light blue hair in soldier gear.
"Sinon?" Rainbow asked.
"You know her?" Francisca asked.
"She was a recruit in the Coalition same time I went and joined with them." Rainbow said.
"I see. An old friend. Well then welcome, Sinon." Zan said. "But...why are you here?"
"Honestly...I thought that would be something you people could tell me." She said.