In the rec room, Odd Sat down next to the others. Nana was the first to say anything.
"I get the feeling you guys see odd with a girl all the time?" Nana asked.
"He picks up girlfriends like its a hobby." Ulrich said.
"Hey, me and Melanie were going nowhere. Camille is the one." Odd said.
"Just like all the girls you fall for." Ulrich said.
"I'm pretty sure its for a different reason. I heard she also loves dogs." Mahiru said.
Ulrich spittaked his soda, and laughed.
"See, you guys don't get my sophisticated palette. Which is why we're going to the movies this afternoon to see Petals of Desire." Odd said. This made them laugh even harder, exept for peko.
"Youre not laughing, thats good." Odd said.
"Peko laughs and cries on the inside, Odd!" Pinkie said between laughs.
"It's not that funny." Odd groaned. "Speaking on intellectual, has anyone seen Einstein?"
"He's in his room." Aelita said. "He has some major problems."
In his room…
"The only problem I have is XANA. You notice who he's been going after the last few attacks?" Jeremie asked.
"Wich ones, the trees or the swimming pool?" Odd said.
"Wait, hasn't been us?" Ulrich asked.
"More specifically, me, Aelita and for some odd reason, Hope." Jeremie said.
"Why me?" Hope asked.
"For me and Aelita, we know how to run the super computer. As for you, he most likely has you labelled as a major threat to his plans." Jeremie said.
"Cant imagine why. But...why though?" Luffy asked.
"Oh, I can think of several reasons." Hope said flashing back to all of his fights and all the plots he's foiled. "Yeah. I can see why he'd go for me."
"Which is why I'm putting all of you into a crash course for operating the super…" Jeremie said.
"What just a minute." Kazuichi said. "Youre backup guys right here."
"You, Kazuichi?" Aelita asked.
"I know the specs of the computer." Kazuichi said.
"Manually, but you know nothing about programming and the processes of virtualization." Jeremie said.
"Uh...I withdraw my earlier statement." Kazuichi said.
"As i was saying...we're going to give you a crash course this afternoon on running the super computer." Jeremie said.
"But I have an exam!" Yumi said.
"Martials arts practice!" Ulrich said.
"My date at the movies." Odd said.
"Look. This is happening, so cancel your plans. We'll be there after lunch." Jeremie said as all but him Aelita and Hope left.
"Uh, actually Jeremie. I won't be able to make it either. I have my audition with the Subdigitals, its the last round of tryouts...for the concert." Aelita said.
"What? But I need you here!" Jeremie said.
"Im sure you can take it from here. Just try not to go over board on the notes." Hope said.
"Look, if XANA attacks, I'll leave my phone on and be ready to go if I have to.' Aelita said
"Alright. I trust you." Jeremie said.
Back at Base sub-zero…
"Were supposed to trust this 'William' with being in Lyoko? What is Lord Xana thinking employing a human?" Shade Man asked.
"Humans are strong. I've learned that by facing them." Freezeman said. "When I battled the boy Jexi on his own, he was on his last legs. But then those mysterious warriors joined with him and battled with all their heart. Humans work together, think together, they are strong together."
"I see. A network that supports weaker monsters by having a human with free thinking lead them. Its a concept I never considered." Cosmoman said.
"Were trapped in here though. Luckily, this place comes with a connection to Lyoko." Freezeman said before Shade Man grinned.
"Yes. We are indeed trapped." he said grinning finding that his claws can easily cut through the walls. "I'll explore the building for more rooms. Enjoy fighting with the warriors." he said walking out the door. "I prefer to do my hunting in the real world." he said cutting open a hole as he flew out of it to find himself in the arctic. "I see. We're in one of the earth's poles. But which one? Only one way to find out." he said taking off and soaring through the frozen skies.
Later…
Hope then saw something in his mind.
"Whats this…. Bad feeling ive got? Like before, is it him?" Hope asked. "No. Couldn't be. He's offline and was destroyed."
"Hope, you okay? You're spacing out man." Damien said.
"Sorry, just thinking of an old nightmare." Hope said.
"At least a nightmare is better than this." Damien said referring to Jeremie's instructions. "I know all this stuff already. I would gladly welcome a coma."
"Okay then Damien. How about you try to virtualize Odd?" Jeremie asked.
"Uh, I would but...I would hate to take away the pleasure from Ulrich. He loves it." Damien said.
"You little…" Ulrich said. "Fine." he said walking to the computer.
"You seriously shifted to him?" Hope asked.
"When Odd brung up the swimming pool, he and Yumi blushed." Damien said.
"Whoa. You really are the brother of Flux." Hope said.
"What can I say? Its a gift." Damien joked.
Ulrich virtualized Odd to the Ice Sector with minimal Problem.
Meanwhile with Aelita, she had just arrived to the sound booth.
"Aelita, glad you could make it." Chris said. "Now have a seat."
Aelita looked to the couch where she saw only one person, a young man with headphones and street clothes.
"Oh, that's Mix. He's a prodegy from America. He's gonna be the other one we audition." Chris said.
"Yo." Mix said not paying much attention.
"Uh...hi." Aelita said. She then noticed his ears going down farther. "Er… your ear lobes are…?"
"Don't look at em too much. Just a normal guy with dreams making music." Mix said.
"Okay, but… I get the feeling youre like someone else." Aelita said.
"Nope. Just a music man." Mix said. "And now its time for the show."
He walked up to the mixing board as his earlobes attached to the earphone jacks as he produced a nice clean sound when making the music.
"Wow. Nice sound so far Mix. I can see why you rank the best on the charts of DJs." Chris said.
"Thank you." Mix said soon stopping and sitting down.
"That was...incredible." Aelita said.
"Yeah yo! I've been makin music on the board since I was a kid. My dream is making music that everyone in the worlds can enjoy. I'm glad I ended up in this place somehow." Mix said happily.
"But also, youre a…" Aelita said.
"Why do people gotta lay into my ears man. Just leave it be. I don't care." Mix said.
"Oh, sorry. Guess Im up." Aelita said.
In the ice sector…
Odd was running for a way tower after a tower was activated, and a Specter shocked Jeremie unconscious.
"Oh come on, where is this way tower?" Odd asked.
"I dunno, and you cant ask Yumi cause she left. But youve got some thingamajigs headed your way." Ulrich said as three Bloks approached.
"Uh, Ulrich, those thingamajigs are bloks and oh yeah, they're coming at me!" Odd said. "I want my Overboard please."
"Workin on i…" Ulrich said before something else appeared. "Oh no…"
"Oh no what…?" Odd said before seeing Freezeman behind him. "Oh...that kinda oh no."
"Its been awhile… wild one." Freezeman said.
"Mr. Frosty just made a comeback from the grave!" Odd said.
"Freeze Man?" Dan said in surprise.
"No, if hes back then…!" Hope said as alarms went off.
"Proximity alert, outside the factory!" Kazuichi said. "Someone's trying to force their way in."
The security camera showed Shademan easily making his way in as he was taking out security cameras.
"I knew it!" Hope said.
"Shade Man too?! Whats going on here? Shademan was always on the ship. Why is he fighting for XANA? He's always been loyal to big bro." Damien said.
"Uh, about that...he's been deceiving all of you." Jexi said.
"What? God, I gave him access codes to different robots!" Damien said.
"You what?" Hope said.
"That would explain how he built up his army." Jexi said.
"God. This was...my fault." Damien said.
"Damien." Hope said. "You can stay here and mourn, or...you can get out there and make up for it by sending him back to the scrapyard."
Damien focused. "I'll take option 2. Hope, I don't want you going down either."
"Thanks. You need someone to go with, other than me?" Hope asked.
"I'm doing this...myself." Damien said going into the elevator.
Back in Lyoko…
"Meanwhile, I'm stuck with you, frosty." Odd said. "I thought you fell to your death."
"XANA has brought me back to life with new purpose, serving him and seeing his will carried out." Freeze Man said.
"Nice to hear. Ulrich, any day now." Odd said.
"Got it!" Ulrich said sending in the Overbike.
"Ulrich, you programmed the Overbike. But the real problem is you were suppose to give it to me, not them!" Odd said showing the bike on the monster's side. "Well, I guess its up to me to unblock and defrost this situation."
"You and your ridicuous puns." Freezeman said as Odd ran past him onto his bike and drove off. "Futile." Freezeman said as ice came from his feet and trailed right after Odd.
"Uh oh. Ice Snake on my tail!" Odd said.
"I got something for that freezing bastard." Hope said. "Alter Ego, did flux ever do you programs that disable a robots skills?"
"Sorry. But the robots he programmed skill disablers are for active. Freezeman was offline when this happened so it won't work on him." Alter Ego said.
Meanwhile with Shademan, Damien appeared.
"Hello, trator." Damien said.
"Well, if it isn't the little lapdog. Shouldn't you be kissing up to your brother instead of me?" Shademan asked.
"I'm done being afraid. I'm with Hope now." Damien said.
"I see. And you think you can defeat me? As I recall, every time we sparred, I always toppled you." Shademan said. "But I guess a quick warm up would be perfect."
Damien looked serious as he took a stance as Shademan charged at him.
"Black Claw!"
"Poison Dragons...Scales!" Damien said as scales appeared on his body that blocked the scratch.
"What is this? Ah, now I see. One of those enhanced beings that Cosmoman informed me of." Shademan said. "Now it makes sense."
"So what are you going to…" Damien began.
"Breath in and then….WHHHHEEEEEEE!" he screeched as Damien covered his ears as windows shattered at the loud sound. Damien soon found his hearing was gone. "My Noise Crush is a very powerful weapon to be feared." Shademan said taking to the sky.
"I cant hear any thing, even my voice…" Damien said. "Cobra's hearing is a downside to my abilities. I need to figure something out."
Shademan then swooped back and forth as he slashed Damien several times as the group saw.
"I gotta go and…" Hope began.
"Stay where you are!" Jexi said.
"But he's…" Hope said.
"If you keep rushing to the rescue, your team will never grow. Let him do this!" Jexi said.
"Okay." Hope said.
As for Shademan and Damien, Damien was trying to run as Shademan had the advantage.
"Okay. Its clear he's got the advantage in this place. I need to think of something. My poison attacks won't work since he's a ro...or can't it?" Damien said. "There's that other move I've been working on."
Damien then ran out and pointed out a finger.
"Is he giving up? Well, I promise a swift and painful death!" Shademan said.
"Corrosion Arrow!" Damien said hitting Shademan in the arm. From the shot, he saw his arm being taken with rust.
"What is this? This is...corrosion!" Shademan said.
"Metal eventually rusts given the right conditions. I developed this to deal with mechanical beings." Damien said.
"Grrr." Shademan growled as he backwards jump and flew out of the factory. "I can't fight with this corrosion spreading. I'll have to retreat for now."
"Looks like Damien forced him to retreat. He's left the proximity of the factory and the town all together." Kazuichi said.
"Well done, damien. We both learned our lessons." Hope said.
"Shademan, I hope you keep leaving cause I promise I'm gonna be the one who puts you down." Damien said.
Sure enough, Yumi and Aelita arrived, but a specter was on their tail. Ulrich went in via delayed virtualization while Aelita was put in with Yumi's aid. Soon enough, the three of them were at the mountain sector, odd included.
"Took you long enough. What about Robo-Frost?" Ulrich asked.
"Soon as I got to the right tower, he gave up. He said he was ordered to return." Odd said.
"It appears this Freeze Man's programming only binds him to the Ice Sector." Alter Ego said.
"Well, that's a good thing. No need for frosty to go after us in the other sectors." Natsu said.
"Cant say the same for him." Ulrich said seeing Willam standing by with a trio of Krabs in front of the activated tower.
"William is as punctual as ever." Odd said.
"Don't worry. I'm coming." Aelita said as she climbed down to the scanners and virtualized into Lyoko.
"Youd better go back in case the others have trouble with the specter." Ulrich said.
"Thinking that. Hit me." Odd said. "Im down on LP and youre full. Or do i have to bring up the swimming pool?"
"I don't ever wanna hear about the swimming pool again!" Ulrich said finishing off Odd as he devirtualized.
Odd returned to the scanner room as he made his way back up to the computer. He climbed up to see the specter as he grabbed two cables and destroyed the specter.
"Careful, it may reform. Yumi, get in the scanner. Odd, take over for her." Fuyuhiko said. "Is anyone else goin?"
"No need. I can take care with just Yumi. I am a whiz with computers." Odd bragged.
"No you arent." Yumi said climbing down to the scanners as Odd sent her in.
Yumi arrived to see the Krabs cut down one by one with a single left, but Willam was a one man show, cornering Aelita until Yumi intervened with her fan. After that, Aelita ran inside and quickly deactivated the tower, making any trace of the specter vanish.
Back in the rec room…
"I hate to admit it, but you all really held your own out there. I know if XANA attacks Aelita or me, you guys can handle it." Jeremie said.
"And I learned a lesson too. I need to let my team get stronger as a whole." Hope said.
"Thank you so much, Hope!" Damien shouted.
"Don't worry. Mikan says his hearing will go back to normal first thing tomorrow." Fuyuhiko said.
"Still, i can;t believe those two came back after we scraped them." Dan said.
"Yeah. XANA knows his stuff." Hope said.
"And speaking of the computer, you'll have to manage without me for a while. I have my dress rehearsal tomorrow. The Subdigitals chose me." Aelita said.
"What about the other guy, Mix?"
"They said he turned it down." Aelita said. "Said he would be in the way of another new coming star."
"Hes right. Thats you." Hope said. "But you gotta admit, Kyouka's quirk really suits him."
"He's accepted it to the point of denying where it came from. He has a dream he wants to make true and I think he can do it." Aelita said.
Outside of town, Mix had his stuff in a bag as he hiked out. "Man. Can't believe I gave up that gig. But, its not a huge loss. After all, there's always gotta be some new star to shine." he said accidently dropping his phones at someones feet. They picked them up, revealed to be Zexi.
"Here. You dropped this man." Zexi said.
"Thanks. You kinda look like that kid who tangled with that mob family." Mix said.
"I am that kid." Zexi said.
"Get out. You are one crazy dude." Mix said.
"Eh, he was someone I didn't like and I fought him off the train. Nothing major." Zexi said.
"You aren't here to cause another fight are you?" Mix said.
"Me and a few friends are gonna be hanging around town for a while." Zexi said walking past. "He seems perfect." he said to himself. "With him added, I'd just need seven more for my team."
"Zexi…" Tulip said coming up. "Its great to be with you and all, but… why the members like me?"
"Well, you know how I came to want to be a hero. Its because a year ago, Jexi saved me once. He is my idol, my inspiration. Then Hope came and inspired me more. That's why...I wanna put together a team with dreams as big as mine. I'm gonna do it too. Count on it." Zexi smiled. "But I don't want it so big. So, I figured I take a page from Monkey D. Luffy and go for ten members. I already have my justice officer and summoner. And I wanna lead you guys to your dreams as well."
"Thank you." Tulip said. "But I cant say the same for Leonis…"
"Where are you, Twilight?! You ruined my test and I failed!" Leonis said.
"He does realize he got himself flunked right?" Zexi asked. "He doesn't even know if Twilight is here."
Zexi stopped.
"3..2..1.." Tulip said.
"Gah! It was my fault I flunked! But I'm gonna make Twilight pay for beating me to the Elite 4!" Leonis said.
"Well, at least he admitted one thing." Zexi said.
"Yeah. I'm going to sign up for campus security at Kadic Academy. I'll meet you guys back in our room later." Tulip said walking off.