Flora’s POV:

“Flora, watch out!”

I quickly slammed on the brakes. I was getting better at driving the Skid, but my mind just wasn’t there today. Ever since we got back from Florida, all I cold think about was what Jeremy had said. Well, more like what I thought he said.

There was no way I cold have a crush on Od. He was one of my best friends, but nothing more. Right?

“Sorry guys.” I said as I moved the Skid slowly.

“It’s all right.” Alita said from my Nav Skid. “We should head back any way. Turn us around & we’ll head to Dry Dock.”

“Ok.” I said as I pushed a few buttons. We suddenly zoomed forward.

“That…would…be…the…turbo…” Alita said. We were getting pushed into our chars by the pressure.

“Sorry.”

*^*^*^*^*^

“That was awesome!” Od said as we got out of the scanners.

“Od, she nearly got us killed.” Ulrick said.

“Not on purpose.” I said.

“But the ride was so cool! It was almost like a roller coaster! Totally wicked!” Od said.

“Um…thank you?” I wasn’t sure whether that was good or not.

Flora’s POV:

We pulled slips of paper to see who would get to go on the mission. I was a little upset that I didn’t get a check mark, but it was probably for the best. Willem had been asking me all types of questions lately.

“So, what are we facing this time?” Ulrick asked.

“More importantly, where do we get to go?” Od asked. “Hawaii? California? New York?”

“Cairo.” Jeremy said. When Od gave him a blank look, he said “In Egypt.”

“Oh.”

“As for what you’ll be up against, take a look at this news broadcast from earlier this afternoon.” Jeremy said as he hit a few buttons on the computer.

“...Thank you, Sally. We’ll check back soon. We now go to Egypt where a man is claming to be a descendant of Ra, Egypt’s ancient sun god. Over to you, Linda.” The camera shifted to anther reporter standing outside of the Great Sphinx of Giza.

“Thank you Jim. It was right here, just a few hors ago, that Seth Powers declared to the press that he was Ra’s son. We were lucky enough to be on the scene for this young man’s speech & demonstration of his godly powers.” The footage of the speech began to play. Basically, the guy went on & on about his life story. It wasn’t until he sent lightning out of his hands that Jeremy paused it.

“That looks exactly like the lightning that people XANA’s gotten to looks like!” I said.

“Need more proof?” Jeremy asked as he zoomed in on the frame. XANA’s symbol was in Seth’s eyes.

“Woh…” Od said.

“The bad news is, we’re not the only people who have noticed this.” Alita said as she pulled a tabloid out of her bag.

“Alien Freak Clams to be Ra’s Little Boy.” Yumi red aloud. “I don’t get it. XANA works in secret. He would never be this obvious…”

“Unless it’s a trap.” Ulrick finished.

“Or a way to distract us.” Alita said. “In a way, it’s kinda a good thing that only a few of us are gong. Yumi, Ulrick, Od, when Jeremy & I have flight info for you, we’ll let you know.”

*^*^*^*^*^

“Flora!” Willem called to me as I entered the dorm building. Alita had stayed with Jeremy to finish the details of the trip.

“Hey, Willem, what’s up?” I said, trying to play it cool.

“Nothing much. Did you see this?” He handed me the exact same tabloid Alita had, with XANA on the cover.

I managed a small laugh. “Come on, Willem, everything written in these things is garbage. Why are you giving this to me?”

“Because I know you took my place, & I intend to get it back.”

Yumi’s POV:

“Why do you think this place is called the Bent Pyramid?” Od asked. We had flown in late last night. We got up early this morning, & grabbed anther cab after breakfast.

I can honestly say that there is no shortage of cabs in Cairo.

“The builders changed the angle during building.” While we hadn’t really been talking to him, it was comforting to know that we would be able to talk to people with out having to learn Egyptian.

“Why?” I asked.

“They thought that if they kept the original angle, the pyramid would fall. It’s also the only pyramid with a second entrance.”

“Really? Where?” Ulrick asked.

“Right under the bend.”

“Good to know.” Od whispered. I knew we were all thinking the same thing. If we cold get to that entrance, we might be able to get into the press conference with out any body knowing…

Especially XANA.

*^*^*^*^*^

We had “borrowed” some equipment from school before we left, since we knew that this was a desert, & any thing cold happen when XANA got involved. I guess, for once, it was a good thing that Od grabbed the grappling hook…

Ulrick & I stood guard at the bottom as Od climbed up & watched the entire thing from the other entrance.

“It’s really hot today, isn’t it?” Ulrick asked after a while.

“It’s a desert, Ulrick. It’s kinda supposed to be…” We made more small talk until Od came back down.

“Any thing?” I asked.

“No. He just told his life story again. He did say though that he wanted people to just accept him, & that’s why he’s telling people now…”

“Yeh, right.” Ulrick said. “I wouldn’t bet on it. Any ideas as to what XANA’s really up to?”

“Nope. Guess we just keep following him?”

“Got a better idea?” I asked.