Alita's POV:

I was just going to have to do it.

Last night, Yumi dug out an old watch, & set an alarm to go off at sunset. I would have to let go of any romantic notions & just kiss him, the sooner the better.

I was just going to walk right up to Jeremy, & kiss him first thing in the morning. With any luck, he'd kiss me back, & that would satisfy the bargain I made with XANA. It was the perfect plan…if I hadn't overslept that morning.

I liked sleep. I probably would have slept all day if Yumi hadn't shaken me a little to wake me up…

The morning classes came & went. Now, as we ate lunch, I knew this was my opportunity. We gathered up our trash as we finished eating, & headed out to the courtyard to enjoy our break before our afternoon classes. The others were walking slightly ahead of us, so I gathered my courage...I reached out to take Jeremy's hand.

"Everything ok, Alita?" Jeremy asked. I smiled. I leaned in close…

"Jeremy, STOP!" I froze. That was my voice…but I hadn't spoken. I turned to my right to see myself, standing there in front of us.

Yumi, Ulrick, & Od seemed just as stunned as Jeremy & I were.

"What…" Jeremy trailed off, but we were all thinking the same thing. He dropped my hand.

"Jeremy, listen. I'm the real Alita. She's an imposter. She's XANA!" the other Alita said. I shook my head no & tapped my chest. I am the real Alita.

"XANA held me captive." Fake Alita said. "He used our materialization program to send a clone to Earth, to make you think she was me!" She took his hand, & I saw a change come over Jeremy. "I used the same program to get out. I'm here on Earth with you, at long last."

"Hold on a minute." Yumi said. "Why should we believe you?"

"Because she's Alita!" Jeremy said. I shook my head no. I am Alita! She's lying!

"Because XANA tried to materlize strings of data instead of an actual person, he made one vital mistake. He couldn't give his creation my voice."

I felt my blood run cold. Yumi had been right from the start. This had been one of XANA's tricks all along…

I tried to reach out, take Jeremy's hand…but he pulled it away. "I believe you." he said, to the other Alita. I looked to my friends. They seemed unsure. Even Yumi looked like she had doubts.

"What I believe is that two Alitas in one courtyard is about to attract some unwanted attention." Od said. "The last thing we need right now is for Jim to see this."

"He's right." Ulrick said. "Let's take them both to the Factory. We can sort it out there."


When we got to the Factory, Ulrick & Od led me over to part of the factory floor, while Yumi & Jeremy took the other Alita down to the lab. I sat down, trying to make myself look as innocent as possible. They stood a little ways away, talking softly, looking my way every so often. I wanted them to trust me.

I needed them to trust me.

Sunlight streamed through a window, high overhead. It was like it was mocking me, as if it knew I only had until sunset to complete my end of the bargain…

"Alita?" I startled at the sound of my name. I hadn't realized Yumi had come back upstairs. I stood as she walked over, Ulrick & Od not far behind her, & gave me my note book. "I need to ask you something."

I nodded my understanding.

"What's my brother's name?"

I thought for a moment, & scribbled my answer. Hiroki.

"That's right." Yumi said, smiling.

"You have a brother?" Od asked.

"He's not old enough for Kadic yet. He'll start next year."

"How does Alita know about him but we don't?" Ulrick asked.

"You guys remember that time XANA captured me on Lyoko? It freaked me out more than I let on. I couldn't sleep, & I didn't want to wake any of you up, so I snuck over to the Factory to talk to Alita." Yumi admitted. "I just asked the same question to the other Alita downstairs. She said I didn't have a brother…which means this is the real Alita."

I smiled. Yumi believed me!

"Jeremy seems pretty convinced the other Alita is the real one." Ulrick pointed out. I snapped my fingers to get their attention, & pointed to my eyes.

"You're right. It's almost like he's in a trance. He started acting weird almost the second the other one showed up."

"Well, if XANA's not gonna play by the rules, neither will we." Od declared. "Ulrick & I will distract Jeremy & the Other Alita. Think you can figure out how to get your voice back?"

I wasn't completely sure I could do it, but it's not like I had any other ideas…

I nodded my head.

Let's do this.


Next time, Alita's final moments before her deal with XANA expires! Will she be able to get her kiss in the nick of time? Or will she have to face the consequences?

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