5-19-10 (a/n): Well this is going to mark the official return of my attention to RMP. I published four years ago, and wow has my writing come a long way. So I'm going to go through RMP and revise and edit its chapters. I'm already an eigth of the way done!
Chapter 10:
Back on Earth
Stella, emerging from the tower only after many persuasive speeches from Riley and Sakura, let Dante materialize to earth, so he could prepare to materialize her which ultimately meant examining her profile.
Her card was a mess. The audio receivers and broadcasters were on the flux. She could only communicate with Riley or Sakura through direct contact with them or their weapons.
Dante hypothesized that she could communicate freely with him because he was XANA's successor, XANA 2.0. His rebellion against his dad brought him fighting his father side by side with the second generation of Lyoko Warriors. He still had all powers and keys bestowed upon him by his dad: energy wielding, immunity to monsters, and Code Lyoko (something his father had drained from Aelita). He was fluent with machines and could get his way with them (his computer system—like he needed one or a calculator—never crashed or received nasty viruses. Neither did the ones he set up). He always knew when a tower was active (his eyes turned blood red. They also changed color when he was angry). Dante knew exactly what monsters were on Lyoko and where, and the same applied for the tower. He was the best qualified person to look at Stella's malfunctioning, tricked out profile courtesy of XANA.
"This had my dad's handiwork all over it." He spoke to the family on Lyoko via the microphone. Stella was sitting next to Riley barely touching his boot and holding Sakura's whip.
"I'm going to attempt to materialize her via a tower. Oh, and if you come back to Lyoko, Stella, don't lose all your life points. You'll die. All thanks to the virus you have."
"She's not coming back." Riley said firmly.
"Absolutely not. I say we pretend this never happened. She is not coming back." Sakura vocalized in complete agreement with her brother.
"Why not?" Stella asked.
Sakura started to turn to make a sharp retort, but her eyes softened when she saw Stella's inquisitive gaze.
"It's too dangerous. We don't want you involved."
"I'm already involved," Stella argued. "This grey thing chased me out of my room to the woods where it and some buddies of its tried to catch me, or kill me." Stella added almost as if it was an after thought.
"The tower is ready for the return," Dante's voice broke through the sudden silence. Stella stood and dropped the whip, effectively breaking off contact with Riley and Sakura.
"So . . . what do I do?"
"Enter the tower and walk to the center of the platform. I'll do the rest from here."
Phasing through the tower Stella walked toward the center of the platform. With each progressive step the rings lit up as she stepped on them. After stopping in the very center surprise overtook Stella as a gentle tugging lifted her into the air, and then the walls came alive. Leaving their spots the boxes on the walls started rapidly circling her until she left.
Four anxious faces peered at the middle scanner. Three actually; Dante had his usual calm expression in place.
The scanner hummed to life, and two breathes drew together in unison. Sakura, standing between her brother and Drew, grabbed both of their hands and proceeded to squeeze the life out of their appendages. Worry eloquently etched across her face she bit her lip and waited.
The scanner slid open, and gas wafted out. As the gas dispersed Stella was revealed curled in upon herself with one arm covering her eyes.
Dante moved first crouching down beside her and felt her neck for a pulse. Reaching into his back pocket, Dante pulled out his sunglasses, moved Stella's arm, and slid them in place over her eyes. Standing he walked toward the elevator.
"She's fine. When she comes to bring her to the control room. We need to explain to her exactly what she was dragged into." The elevator closed.
XoX XoX
It was over. Her restored senses assaulted Stella with sensations. The sound of hissing gas released from the cylindrical tube she was in; footsteps grew louder and drew closer. They stopped, and Stella felt a slight pressure pressured against her neck against her pulse point. A rustling sound followed, and the same mysterious someone moved the arm shrouding her eyes and slid something onto her face. A voice, a closing snick, and multiple voices dragged her out of her rest and closer to consciousness.
"We're going to tell her?" shrieked a frantic female voice. Sakura.
"We don't have a choice. If what she said is true, then they attacked her." Riley, the voice of reason.
"We don't even know what happened. We don't have the full story." Sakura again.
Stella cautiously cracked open an eye and winced. Color was back. She thanked whoever gave her their sunglasses. Rising on wobbly legs she crossed over to the bickering siblings.
Wobbling Stella's legs threatened to collapse, but she reached the wall first. For a moment she observed the room. Three gold cylinders (scanners cued in a brainwave) with wires attaching to the ceiling stood in the room dominating the landscape. Beside her was an elevator and beside that metal rungs. Curiosity tantalizing her mind, Stella gave into temptation started climbing the metal rungs to see where they led.
No one noticed her departure.