Espionage

Jeremy manages to develop a program that will allow the gang to hack Tyron's surveillance system and spy on him, both using video and sound, and potentially speak to Anthea. When the gang go to the Cortex to implement it, all but Aelita are devirtualized by Ninjas when they tip off an unforeseen security system. Aelita opts to stay in the Cortex's core to wait for her mother to appear, asking for a clone to replace her at the school while she's gone, which causes enough problems of its own.
In the end, Aelita is able to speak to her mother, convincing her that she is alive before she, too, is devirtualized by Ninjas. The experience initially leaves her feeling very sad, but after Jeremy assures her that Anthea got the message, her spirits are rekindled.