Alita’s POV:

The gang came to the factory after dinner. Jeremy & I had skipped dinner to work on making travel plans.

“So what’s up?” Od asked as they came over. “XANA active again?”

“We think so.” Jeremy said as he moved away from the computer. “Check out this article.”

“A stolen necklace?” Yumi said. “How is that related to XANA?”

“It’s because it happened during a power outage in Las Vegas.” I said. “This happened a week ago, & Jeremy & I managed to hack into the system. This hotel & casino has 2 back up power sorces. How come they didn’t turn on?”

“So, for those of us who haven’t fought XANA for long, what exactly are you saying?” Flora asked. “XANA’s got a lady friend who likes jewelry?”

“Isn’t this kinda like what he tried here?” Ulrick asked. “He kept stealing power from the school, & then tried to send it to the nuclear power plant?”

“Yes, which is why we don’t want some thing like that to happen. We don’t know where the energy is, but there have been black outs all this week, each lasting about 10 minutes.” I said. “So some of us are off to Vegas!”

“Only some?” Flora asked.

“If all of us are absent from school a lot, people will start asking questions that none of us want to answer.” Jeremy explained. “So, in this cup are 20 slips of paper. 10 have a check, & 10 have an X. If you pull a check mark out, you get to go.”

We passed the cup around & picked out a slip of paper. I was sad that I didn’t get to go, but I had just finished my make up work a few weeks ago from my Tokyo trip. It would be nice to not have to be lost in class for a while.

“Hey, I want a do over!” Od said, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“Why?” Jeremy asked.

“This has an X on it!”

“Sorry, Od.”

“WHAT?”

“Any way, Yumi, Ulrick, Flora, you leave the day after tomorrow. We’ll come up with a reason for your absences…”

“Hey, why didn’t you pick Jeremy?” Flora asked. “Won’t people think it’s strange if you’re always left behind?”

“She has a point, Jeremy.” I said. Besides, maybe things would work out some time & Jeremy & I would go some where, just the 2 of us!

“Fine.” He pulled out his slip of paper. “Ok, well, Yumi, Ulrick, Flora & I will leave the day after tomorrow. I guess we better pack…”