Hey, so, I made a big mess up on the last chapter, forgetting to switch POVs. It's fixed now, so things should make more sense.

Also, to AlwaysRoshuki, worry not, while it may appear I have neglected the matter you brought up with me, be assured that I have not forgotten, but have merely been waiting for a more appropriate point to bring it up. On with the show!

Gem's POV

My phone rang, vying for my attention. I just let it ring.

I didn't want to leave my room. How could this have happened?

I knew it was my fault. If I had left Ana, she would've been fine on her own, and I could have helped Jace. Now, now it was too late, and I didn't want to talk to anyone. So I just sat, alone, in my bed, facing the wall, trying not to look at her empty bed.

Why did everything that was ever good have to leave me? Yesterday, my life was perfect, now, my closet friend is… gone.

Tears spilled out of my eyes, as my phone rang again.

I checked the caller ID. It was Ertugrul.

I didn't want to talk to him. I didn't want to talk to anyone.

There was a knock at my door.

"One sec!" I called, quickly drying my face.

The door opened, and Ana poked her head in. "Gem, come on! Ertugrul wants to see us!"

Even her normally perky voice sounded really down. I know she blames herself, but it wasn't her fault. She thinks if she hadn't been injured, then she could have gone to Lyoko. But it's not like she got hurt purposefully.

"I don't want to see him," I said, quietly, trying not to let the tears in my voice show.

"Too bad, he won't show us unless you're here."

She grabbed my arm, and after a moment's weak struggling, I followed.

Once in Ertugrul's room, he showed us something on his computer.

I just stared for about a minute, before looking at the others, wide eyed.

Ana's face was all lit up, Hutch seemed relieved.

Lilly frowned. "You didn't program this to make us feel better, did you?"

"No!" He said, shaking his head vehemently. "Absolutely not! I swear!"

I bit my lip. It seemed almost too good to be true. "How, though?" I asked. "I thought you said she was devirtualized."

"She was!" Lilly said. "She ran around a corner to face three tarantulas! I ran around when I heard rapid laser fire, and saw her virtual form flicker out, like she had been divirtualized!"

I stared at the screen, at the little message that signified that my closest friend my still be alive.

"Don't worry, Jace. We'll find you."

Tyleana's POV

I left Ertugrul's room feeling considerably happier.

I even gave a friendly wave to Rose and Lucas as I passed them by.

They gave me sinister smiles. "Hey, Kitty cat! Where's your little friends?" Rose called.

"In Ertugrul's room, why? Hunting around for Hutch?"

Rose's eyes narrowed, and she exchanged a glance with Lucas, who seemed about to burst at the seams. His smile screamed 'I know something that you don't!'

Like I cared?

I walked past them, and up to my room.

Time to catch some ZZZs before tomorrow.

.

The next morning, my alarm clock didn't even bother to wake me with music. Nope, instead it was boring news, informing me of all the horrible accidents that had managed to happen this morning before most of the world was awake.

Slapping the alarm clock, I got dressed and grumbled down to breakfast.

Lilly and Hutch were bickering over something, which, upon further inspection, turned out to be a backpack.

"Wassup?" I asked, sitting down next to Gem.

She rolled her eyes. "Lilly found the backpack on the ground. They're both sure it's Rose's, but, while Lilly wants to hold the stuff in it for ransom, to get Rose away from us, Hutch wants to hang on to it."

"Why not just give it back?" I asked, swallowing a mouthful of pancakes.

Gem sighed. "Lilly and Hutch? Not gonna happen."

"Well, they'd better decide soon, Ertugrul's coming over, and if he sees the commotion, he's gonna give it straight back to Rose."

Gem's eyes shot to one far end of the cafeteria, where Ertugrul was coming over.

Then they glanced at the other end, where Eva and Joanna were heading over.

"Things are gonna get ugly fast," Gem stated.

They did.

Ertugrul arrived at the table.

"Whose backpack is that?"

Then Joanna and Eva hit.

"What are you doing with Ro's backpack?" Eva asked.

"Nothing, we were gonna give it back," Lilly said, quickly.

"I'll take it," Joanna said, eyes narrowing.

"Nah, we're good, we'll give it back when we see her," Hutch replied, airily.

Well, all of the sudden, the atmosphere around the table became very tense.

Hutch's refusal to hand it over to Joanna and Eva suggests that he wouldn't be willing to hand it over at all.

Joanna's smile tightened. "Well, she's gonna head straight to history. You don't have history with her, so it's kinda important that we give her that. Now."

"We'll pass by her class on the way to math," Lilly retorted, grip tightening on the straps.

Ertugrul frowned. "Come on, just give them the stupid backpack."

Lilly's eyes met his, and she shook her head. "Thing is, we're fairly certain Rose took something from Gem. Something important. So we're just gonna get it back."

Eva's eyes got all big. "Ro wouldn't take something important from Gianna! That would be mean!"

"Tell me about it," Hutch mumbled.

Gem's eyes flicked up to Lilly's, questioningly. I got the impression she was unaware that something of hers was missing.

Joanna grabbed a strap of the backpack, eyes narrowing. "Hand it over, Lillith."

"Make me," she said, pulling it back.

Ertugrul tried to step between them, an impossible feat with the backpack taking up that space. "Look, Lilly, just give them it back!"

I wasn't sure whose side to take. A part of me felt like we should give it back. I mean, yeah, they've done this to us, but does it make us any better that we could do it back? Besides, it would simplify things.

The other part of me wanted nothing more than to keep the backpack, as a sorta payback, and make Rose sorry she toyed with us. I mean, it's not like giving her it back would make her any better.

Joanna finally let go. "I'm going to get Ro," she announced, turning and storming off.

Eva watcher go, frowning. Then she turned back, shrugging, a somewhat vacant expression on her face.

"You really should give it back," she commented, dippily.

Lilly smirked. "Not gonna happen," she muttered.

Eva sighed, and glanced over at Hutch, who had turned to Lilly, and the two continued their argument.

Lost in thought, or more likely, just turning off, her expression turned blank as she waited for Joanna to come back with Rose.

I turned to Gem. "Any news from Ertugrul about Jace?"

She shook her head. "He doesn't even know where to begin searching! If she got hit by the tarantula, she should have been devirtualized, it's as simple as that! But, he ran numerous tests on his computer, even going to the factory to run more calculations on the supercomputer. He's confirmed that the letter was indeed sent by Jace, it contains her digital code, and that, apparently, can't be replicated."

I nodded, frowning. "Maaaaaaaaan, I wish I could've been there. If I had just ducked with the rest of you guys, then both me and you would've been on Lyoko! This would never have happened! Now X.A.N.A.'s got an advantage over us."

Then Joanna and Rose came over.

"Hey," Rose snapped at Eva, "did they go through my stuff?"

"Huh?" Eva blinked, as if she had just been woken up. "Hmm, um, I'm not…"

"Never mind." Rose turned to us. "Jay Jay says you guys aren't gonna hand over my stuff until I come, so here I am, hand it over." She spoke very sharply.

Lilly grinned, sensing that Rose was very serious about her backpack's contents. "Hmm, now, we have an interesting predicament. You want this." She held up the backpack. "We have it. I'm sure we can work out something."

A flash of desperation flickered across Rose's face. "What do you want?"

Lilly was about to answer, when the bag was wrenched from her hands. By Ertugrul.

"Archie! What are you doing?" She asked.

He frowned. "This is stupid. If she wants her backpack, just give it to her."

Hutch grabbed at it, and the two fought, until it began to tear.

"That's enough."

The two boys looked at Gem, somewhat startled by the cool authority in her voice. She closed her blue eyes. "Just give it back to her. It's a backpack. Don't we have more important things to take care of?"

Lilly blushed. I could tell she was slightly embarrassed, quarreling over something stupid when one of her friends was in danger.

Hutch relinquished it, and handed it to Rose, who snatched it back, glaring.

Without a word, she turned on her heel, and marched back.

Joanna left with her. After a second, Eva got the message that they were leaving, and quickly followed.

Lilly's POV

I watched as they left, fingering something in my hand. "Hey, uh, sorry Gem." Apologies were not my strong point, but she was right.

Gem looked up, but before she could say anything, the bell rang.

"No problem," she said, as we made our separate ways. Hutch, Ana, and I had History, Archie, Gem had English.

As we walked, I handed the small thing to Hutch.

He cocked an eyebrow, fingering the small computer chip.

"Rose's bag," I whispered to him. If it was so important to her, we would work something out that involved her leaving us alone. If it wasn't so important, she wouldn't miss it.

Rose's POV

What jerks! They were sooooooooo going to pay.

"What was so important in the bag, anyway?" Eva asked.

Jay Jay and Eva, along with TJ, knew that Lucas and I were working on something very important, something that would help all of us. But I hadn't filled them in. Hell, if I hadn't walked in on Lucas when he first started, I wouldn't be involved.

I glanced at Eva. "Tell you soon enough." I meant it, too. They were loyal friends, and would most certainly want what we were working for.

After History, I headed up to Lucas's room. Inside was TJ, who had skipped class in favor of making sure things went okay.

"Anything happen?" I asked him.

"Hell no. What the hell am I supposed to be doing, anyway? I'm just watching a damn boring computer!"

"Well, that damn boring computer is what's gonna change all of our lives, yours included if you don't pop a blood vein in your impatience."

I set to work on the computer. I wasn't as good as Lucas. He had the brains to run this thing, but he lacked creativity in his approach. That's what I was good at.

"What the hell is up, anyways, Ro. You seem to think that this dumb project you and Lucas are working on is gonna, like, do something amazing!"

"It is, TJ, have patience," I snapped. "Hand me my bag."

He did so, grudgingly.

Soon, TJ, soon, I thought. As soon as the next stage in the plan was underway, we would present our side to the others. Then they would have the opportunity to join us, or be crushed. But they were good friends, and I had no qualms that they would see the light and join us.

I reached into the side pocket of my bag, to pull out the chip that I had been entrusted with. It was essential to our success.

I rummaged around in my bag for a second, before pulling it onto my lap to search it.

"What's up, Ro?" TJ asked, seeing my frantic expression.

"No, no, this can't be happening! No, no, no, no!"

But it did happen.

The chip was gone.

Hutch's POV

I looked at the chip Lilly slipped me. Honestly, I had no idea what it was, except that it probably had something to do with computers. What I did know, was that someone like Rose was not the type who totes around computer stuff. I was already formatting a plan as to how to approach Ertugrul with the question of what it was, without explaining how I got it. Or that it was Rose's.

My mind slipped through class, and I only snapped to attention when some geek in the back got busted for texting.

Lilly and I couldn't hold back snorts of laughter, as the unfortunate nerd made his way to the front of the class to hand over his phone.

Ana gave us slightly reprimanding, tired smiles, before tossing a sympathetic glance at the kid.

After class, I ran up to Ertugrul's room. We both had a break period, before meeting up in Phys-Ed.

"Uh, hey Archie," I said, nonchalantly sidling into his room.

He caught my eye, an eyebrow raised. "Hey, Hutch."

"So, uh, see. I found this chip on the ground around the school. Lilly says it might be hers, but she can't get it to work, she thinks it might be scratched or something."

I handed it to him, casually, like it was the most natural thing.

He plugged it into the machine, working to gain access. "Hmm, don't see why it wouldn't work, it's not scratched," he mumbled to himself. "Ah, well, that would explain it, Lilly doesn't have a computer that powerful." He typed a little more, until a load bar popped up, before turning to me, a confused frown on his face.

"I doubt that's Lilly's. It's encrypted, it'll take a few moments to unscramble. Did Lilly code it?"

Sensing that he might stop the loading if he thought it wasn't Lilly's, I played along. "Yeah, she might have. I dunno."

He turned back to the computer. "What power is her computer, anyway?" He was quiet for a second. "Wait," he turned back to me, "Lilly doesn't have a computer!"

Just then the computer on his screen indicated that the loading was done, and the screen filled with computer stuff.

Ertugrul turned back around. "What? This-this can't be right!" He turned to me. "Where did you get this?" He asked, his voice full of worry.

Ertugrul's POV

I told Hutch to call the others. I should have guessed that he and Lilly weren't gonna let the backpack thing drop, but I'm glad they didn't.

I have no idea what this was doing in her backpack. A program this powerful could drastically increase X.A.N.A.'s power, to the point where he could activate several towers at once. Already down one Lyoko Warrior, that would be devastating. Also one the chip, was a tracking program, attached to five virtual codes, none of which were familiar. Potentially, I could use this to find Jace, but one thing at a time.

Just then the others arrived, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"So Archie! Hutch says you got something big to say? About X.A.N.A.?" Ana chirped.

Gem nodded. "Hutch said you found something that could help us find Jace."

I cut a glance at him. "I told you not to tell them yet!"

He shrugged. "Well, I was gonna tell Lilly, she got the chip."

Sighing, I turned to her. She put up her hands. "Whoa, one: I couldn't get Gem to come, she's still moping about Jace. Two: Ana kept bugging at me, so I told her a little. What's the big deal?"

I sighed. "The big deal is that it was in Rose's backpack."

Lilly shrugged. "So?"

I sighed. "You don't get it? What the hell is Rose doing with a potentially Earth-dooming chip?"

She got it. They all did.

Gem nodded. "I see. Is it possible she's possessed?"

I shook my head. "No tower activated."

"Then maybe she doesn't know what it is, only that it's important," Ana offered.

Lilly snorted. "Oh, that would be like her."

"That still doesn't make sense," I said. "How did she get it? Who gave it to her? Why is she so protective over it?"

Hutch cocked his head. "I can see if I can figure out," he said, quietly.

I glanced at him. "Can you do that without giving anything away?"

He grinned. "Watch me."

Rose's POV

"What's so important about that damn chip anyway?"

"Shut up, TJ, and help me find it!"

This can't be happening! X.A.N.A. entrusted me with this, and I let it get lost!

"Keep searching," I snapped at TJ, storming out of room.

I nearly bowled over Lucas. "Hey, we've got a problem," I hissed to him, detailing what was wrong.

He blanched. "Ro, that's not good! You told me you would take control of it, you told me it wouldn't get out of your hands!"

"Well, it wouldn't have if those jerks hadn't stolen my backpack!"

"How did you lose your backpack, anyway?"

"I-" I was about to answer him, when I heard someone clear their throat.

Whipping around, I came face-to-face with Hutch.

He caught me off guard, I'll admit.

"Um, h-hi," I stammered.

"Hey," he said, casually swooshing his dark hair.

I blushed. How did our greatest enemies have the nerve to look that good?

"Oh, um, well, I just-"

"Lost something? Lilly told me she swiped something of yours." He shook his head in disgust. "I'm really sorry. To be honest, I hadn't expected things to get that out of hand, it was meant as a prank, I really never meant anything to be stolen."

His dark eyes were so apologetic. He obviously had no idea what the chip was capable of. I wish that we could win him over, let him see the true light, but…

"I was rooting around for it in her room, but I can't tell one chip from another. Maybe… I could plug it into her computer? You tell me what the program looks like, and I can't tell whether it's the one you're looking for."

"Really? Well, see, it's encrypted. It's unlikely that Lillith managed to decode it, but just in case…"

Quickly, I turned to Lucas. "Write down the first couple of codes, so that he can see what they look like," I hissed.

He frowned. "Are you crazy, Ro? We can't let him have that!"

"We don't have a choice."

Grumbling, he wrote it down.

I handed it over to Hutch, who examined it.

"What's it do?"

"Uh," Lucas stuttered. "It'-it's just a random program. N-Nothing, you know, special."

A frowned flickered across his face, before he smiled. "Cool. Don't worry, Ro, I'll get you your chip back."

He sauntered off.

Lucas frowned. "Jerk."

I turned on him. "What's your problem? He's trying to help."

"He's an enemy!"

I sighed. "I know. Really, if I thought there was any other way, I'd never trust him."

Thinking back, I wondered, what had made me trust him? Then I remembered the sincerity in his eyes.

Sighing, I headed off to find Jay Jay and Eva. We were almost ready to proceed, and this was their chance to join us.

Hutch's POV

Score for me! Heading back to Ertugrul's room, I couldn't help but feel excited. I mean, come on! I had just used my charms for the one good thing they can do, get information out of girls.

Rose obviously knew more than the chip was 'important' and Lucas clearly knew what the chip would do.

Which left me to the conclusion that they must be working for X.A.N.A.

"You're kidding," Ertugrul said, hearing what had happened, and my thoughts on it.

"Well, if the boot fits…"

"No way," he responded.

Lilly shrugged. "I don't know, Archie, I see what Hutch is getting at. I mean, they don't really have a winning case. One: Rose is obsessed about getting this chip back, to the point where she doesn't even notice Hutch coming down the hall. Two: She and Lucas obviously know what it does, otherwise, Lucas wouldn't have been so adamant to not tell you what was on it. Three: They're evil creeps, I can see them working for X.A.N.A."

"To take over the world?"

"Well," Gem said, "think about this. Did anyone see the eye-of-X.A.N.A. in Lucas's eyes? Back when he was 'possessed'?"

Silence.

"Good point," I said. "If Lucas wasn't possessed then, then it's pretty obvious who the culprit is."

Ertugrul sighed. "I'll run a scan, see if he was possessed or not. You guys, head to class. I'll skip."

Think I'll end it here. Not a very good spot, but whatevs. Review please!