I am just as anxious for an update as you guys, so here you go! I really wanted to just do something now, ya know? My cousins have invaded, so I'm not sure how I'm going to even get started yet.
JadeNoRyuu! You are certainly appreciated. You were the first a while ago to get me raring to go.
And yes, I do realize how OOC Ratchet was. I hate myself for that. I'll go back and change it….eventually…
One hour. ONE HOUR! I give you guys a single hour, and I get three reviews!
I love you guys so much!
ANywho, enough with the mushy stuff. On to the next chapter!
Oh, and…
PEOPLE! Time. Will. Tell.
Please, I beg you, stop asking.
(WE AIN'T GIVIN' NO SPOILERS!)
*Would you be disappointed if he wasn't sent to Lyoko…?*
Aside from that…enjoy.
Chapter 13: Toxic
Perhaps I should station myself on the planet's moon for now, Aphelion suggests, speaking in French. She insists I practice. She tilts at a slightly sharper angle to give me better ease of access. Apparently, her wiring had gotten crossed when we had gone back in time. Fixing it now would be better than later. I meant to do it "last week", after Clank and I explored that factory, but I got so caught up in trying to find the place. Clank still hasn't seen it. I'm beginning to wonder if maybe Aelita and her friends were right. I seem to have forgotten how to get there, either way.
"I think I'd feel better if you were closer, Aphelion…" I say. "I'd rather have to repair you than not have you here immediately when I need you.
Very well. Though I must say that time travel is quite disorienting. I smile. She's certainly right on that one. I remember getting dizzy every time I traveled through the time portals scattered in Polaris. They always made my ears pop and my skin crawl. It was still neat to travel back in time, though. Don't you have classes, Ratchet? It's almost weird hearing her say my name. Almost. I suppose I'm getting used to being called "Rixon" every day. Even Clank calls me that, just to be safe.
"Mrs. Hertz is busy grading papers, so we kinda got a free period. I told her I needed to work on an essay for Language; I couldn't exactly tell her, 'hey, I need to go repair my ultra-advanced spaceship.'" I close her panel and sigh, setting one arm on her hood and rubbing my temple with the other hand.
Are you feeling alright, Ratchet? She sounds concerned. Have you been getting enough sleep? Answer me truthfully.
My ears angle upwards, indicating that I knew my lie to be caught before it even left my mouth. "No," I concede. See! I have been hanging around Clank too much! "All this time zone crap and the time travel. Trying to find that damn factory. It's beginning to take its toll…"
Perhaps you need a rest?
"I guess." I close my eyes a moment. "And those kids. They act really weird…"
"Rixon?" The sound of a familiar voice startles me. I turn my head in the direction of the voice and see him just rounding a tree. Cursing strongly in Omniversal, I jump over Aphelion, bolting out of sight as she activates her cloaking device. I'm almost certain she takes off as soon as she can.
~Code Lyoko: Ulrich~
A walk was just what I needed. It kind of helps me clear my head, especially after dealing with the other students (i.e. Sissi). She never gives up. I half expect her to follow me through college as well. Won't that be fun? I stop momentarily in my walk as I see a familiar place: the Hermitage, Aelita's home from when she first lived on Earth. A lot of things have happened here.
The sudden ringing of my cell phone pulls me away from any impending memories of past X.A.N.A. attacks. I quickly take it out of my pocket and answer. "Hello? Jeremy?"
"Can you come to the factory?" He asks.
"I'm not really doing anything, so I guess," I reply. "Why?"
"I figure we should take a look at a few things, and Aelita and I need one of you guys on hand in case X.A.N.A. launches an attack."
"Do you really think he'll attack again so soon?" His last was barely a week ago. "What are Odd and Yumi doing?"
"Yumi's busy in the library, and Odd said he was busy. Something about Jim, I think he said."
Mentally, I groan. I suppose it can't be helped though. "I'll be right there." Without waiting for his answer, I hang up, ready to put my phone back in its place.
"All this time zone crap and the time travel. Trying to find that damn factory. It's beginning to take its toll…" The sudden voice has me looking around. Funny…it sounds kinda like…Rixon? Why would he be out here?
Perhaps you need a rest?
The other voice sounds weird, unnatural, almost like some sort of automated GPS voice or something. Wait. Did the first mention time travel?!
"I guess," the voice like Rixon's says. It sounds tired, and maybe a bit annoyed. "And those kids. They act really weird…"
"Rixon?" I don't exactly know why I speak up as I round a particularly large tree. I am greeted with a strange sight. It looks like some sort of ship from one of Odd's video games. Leaning on the front of it is…something… It stares at me like a deer in headlights before saying something and jumping over the ship, out of sight before I can say much of anything. The ship disappears as well.
I stand there for a while, mouth agape. What the hell did I just see…? I glance down at the phone in my hand; I had pressed the camera button earlier. I wonder if I managed to get a picture.
~Code Lyoko – Ratchet~
'That was too close,' Ratchet thinks as he reactivates his holo-guise and steps back onto definite school grounds. Adrenaline still coursing through his veins, his heart beats franticly. He would not be doing that again soon, he resolves. He makes his way up to his dorm room. By the time he is there, he has decided not to mention the incident to Clank. He would certainly overreact. He opens the door to a seemingly inconspicuous room, undecorated. Closing the door, he knocks three times on the closet door, pulling a bag from the desk chair.
The door of the closet opens, revealing his robot friend. "Hey, Clank."
"Hello, Rixon." Beneath his holo-guise, the Lombax's ears fall back. He was starting to hate that name a little.
"Aphelion insists I eat before we head out," Ratchet mumbles. He sets the bag on the floor and picks Clank up, setting him inside. Perfect fit. Clank concedes to the idea, agreeing that his companion had not been eating enough in the six days since they had arrived on the planet. According to the planet, of course, they had been there for approximately ten days. Ratchet couldn't care less about timing, though.
Fastening the latch that would hide Clank from view and sliding the bag on his back, Ratchet headed back down the stairs and towards the cafeteria. He stops halfway across the courtyard, glancing up at the quickly darkening sky. "Weather changed sudden-" He inhales sharply, doubling over without warning.
"Ratchet?" Clank sounds concerned and alarmed. The Lombax gasps for breath, blinded by green and black spots. His body feels numb. He can't tell if he's still standing or not. "Ratchet?!"
Ratchet takes a breath and stands straight again after a few minutes. "I'm fine…I'm fine…" He inhales and exhales deeply a few more times before jogging the rest of the way to the cafeteria. He really doesn't feel like getting caught in the rain, not after that…whatever it was…
The door to the cafeteria closes behind him just as the rain comes pouring down. "Lovely weather we're having, don't you think?" Yumi asks dryly, her and Odd walking up next to him. Ratchet smiles with a short chuckle.
"I suppose so." He turns and looks back outside. "It's not all bad, though. Seemed like we needed some rain."
"You got that right. Hey, whaddya say we get some grub? I'm starving!" Odd's claim has the other two smiling again. Knowing Clank will have something to say about it later if he refuses, he follows them through the line, graciously thanking Rosa as he passes. They sit down at the usual table and dig in.
"So where's the rest of the fantastic five?" Ratchet asks after they're done. None of them were in a hurry to go out in the heavy rain, so they simply sat at the table.
"Uh…well, er…they're uh…"
"In the dorms," Yumi finishes for Odd's stuttering. "Jeremy and Aelita went to work on something for science."
"A-and Ulrich had to take a nap!"
Ratchet blinks. "…okay, then." 'Why are they so jumpy about it? Are they hiding something from me?'
A sudden flash of lightening just outside and a deafening boom of thunder makes Ratchet jump so hard that he falls out of his seat. Odd laughs, somewhat teasingly. "Scared of a little thunder, are we?" he chuckles.
"Shut up," Ratchet growls. If they knew exactly why, they wouldn't be laughing. Odd puts out his hands defensively as green eyes flash dangerously.
"Geez, take it easy, I was only joking!"
Heads turn at the sound of the door opening. "It's raining cats and dogs out there," Jim says, ambling over to their table. Rain follows him in a trail; his clothes are dark, soaked throughout. "Haven't seen this much rain since 'Nam. Started raining, and it didn't quit for four months. Little bitty stinging rain and big old fat rain. Rain that flew in sideways. And sometimes rain even seemed to come straight up from underneath. Shoot, it even rained at night."
"You were in Nam?" Yumi asks curiously.
"I'd…rather not talk about it," Jim replies with a shuffle of his feet. He takes the towel offered to him to dry himself off as another crash of thunder sounds like a herald. Voices lower to mutters and whispers beneath the flickering lights of the cafeteria.
"Whoa…it's really coming down out there," Millie marvels.
"Maybe we should go out and do a rain dance!" Tamia suggests enthusiastically.
With just as much enthusiasm, Millie agrees. "I'm sure Miss Barns would give us a really good grade for that!"
"Come on, let's go!" The two hurriedly grab their conveniently-placed raincoats and boots, shoving arms and feet in respectively, fumbling with buttons. They rush eagerly to the door only to be stopped by a rather large gym teacher.
"And just where do you think you two are going?" he inquires. His strong arms are crossed over his chest.
"Uh…outside?" Millie asks.
"Oh no, you don't," he claims. "You're staying right here until the storm is over."
"But!"
"No whining," Jim demands. "Go sit back down until the rain passes." Frowning, the two return to their seats, whispering conspiratorially.
Ratchet sets his tray aside and rests his head over his arms on the table. 'Guess we'll have to wait out this storm, buddy.' He glances down at his bag, seeing the faint, comforting glow of Clank's antenna. He closes his eyes, just listening to the sounds of the other people around him and the rain pattering on the roof. The thunder has moved a ways away for now, it seems, leaving a surreal peace. His eyes blink open before slipping shut again. An instant of deep sleep envelopes him.
I think we have a problem.
Ratchet jolts up at a sudden flare of lightning and a crash of thunder. The higher humidity makes him sweat and pant just a little. He tugs at the long sleeve of his jacket, contemplating removing it. 'Nah…too risky.' He tugs the zipper down partially before setting his hands on the table, wringing them together.
"Are you alright, Rixon?" Yumi watches him, appearing concerned.
He stands up abruptly without thought. "Yeah…yeah, I'm fine." He knows this to be a lie. He feels trapped…like a wild animal. He struggles not to pace or hyperventilate. This is not the time for a panic attack. "Just a bit restless is all," he dismisses with a wave of his hand. Glancing up at the flickering lights, he allows himself to walk around a bit among the other students. They have moved by this time, coming closer together in irrational fear of a thunder storm. But what a storm it is indeed! He finds himself wondering how the lights are still-
A flash of lightning scratches the sky; the lights flicker and finally go out. Students shriek in alarm to which Jim jumps to restore order with little success. It takes a long time – probably really only about five or ten minutes – but eventually, the students calm. "We're all right," he consoles strictly. "Just a power outage is all. Nobody panic, and we'll all be fine. Darkstar, take a look around; see if you can find any flashlights or something."
"Yes, sir." Using the occasional flash from outside to give him light, he looks around. "I'm not seeing any," he calls. "Maybe there are some behind the counter?"
"I've already looked," Jim says before he can jump over. "Seems we'll just have to…bide our time. Wait it out." The adult settles in a chair among the students. Ratchet stays where he is, leaning back against the railing for the trays. The clouds had made the world outside pitch black, save for the streaks of violet-tinted lightning marring the clouds.
Millie and Tamia pressed their hands and noses against the glass. "I think there's someone out there," Millie says. She squints, trying to make out the figure standing in the middle of the courtyard. "He'll catch a death of cold if he stays out!" She rushes to the door and flings it open. "Hey!" she calls. "Get inside!" Various students are staring at her, but return to their previous actions (i.e. mostly cowering) once seeing the target of her voice.
The sudden opening of the door had startles Ratchet. He jumps, turning his head, hidden ears, straining upwards. He grimaces at the notice of Millie, but his focus is pulled away from the girl for an odd reason. He takes a deep breath through his nose. 'That can't be right…' He takes another sharp breath through his nose. The scent is impossible to mistake.
"Didn't you hear me?" she calls out again. "Get inside!" The dark figure walks away, moving towards the woodlands. "Huh…weirdo…" She gives more attention to the reason for shouting at the person. The rain is still pouring, but it has somewhat lessened for the time being. She slowly reaches her hand forward to stick it in the falling water.
"Millie, no!" Ratchet sprints forward, catching himself on the edge of the doorway as he grabs for her wrist. Two things happen at once. Millie sticks her hand in the rain and shrieks suddenly while Ratchet manages to grab her wrist, pulling her away from the door and set her in a chair, crouching in front of her.
Millie continues to cry out, her hand convulsing in Ratchet's firm grip. "Someone get me some water!" he orders sharply. Students swarm, Jim trying to get them to back off. One student hands him a bottle almost completely full of water. 'Good. No chance of pollution.' He uses his teeth to rip off the cap – no time can be made to unscrew the cap – and pours a gentle stream over the blistering skin. He continues until the water in the bottle is completely gone; someone hands him another, and he continues his ministration as Millie's voice dies down to a whimper.
Tamia rushes over to her best friend, taking her other hand urgently. "What was that?!"
"Acid," Ratchet remarks blandly, not taking his eyes from his work. "Normally, acid rain doesn't bother a person's skin, but…I don't get why it's so potent. It's like straight-up nitric and sulfuric acid dumped from a bucket down onto the earth." He sighs in frustration. "The roof will certainly leak soon enough if it hasn't started already." He stops pouring water on the wound, taking a clean towel offered to set the hand on and giving Millie the rest of the bottle to drink from. His thoughts fly to Aphelion. Did she get out of the rain before it turned acidic? "Going outside is not an option." No one thinks to ask about the figure in the rain.
"Rixon…you're burned, too," Tamia points out, looking at the older boy's wrist with concern. The outside of his right hand sports a nasty looking mark.
He pulls his sleeve down self-consciously. "It's fine," he insists. "I've dealt with worse." Though he makes himself appear to be fine, Ratchet struggles not to mess with the wound. He waits, knowing that the nano in his bloodstream will swarm to it soon enough. He allows himself to gently blow on it, though, hoping to dull the stinging bite of the acid. The nano finally, finally calibrate and flock towards the wound, mending it with ease. Ratchet releases a breath of relief. He really hopes he won't have to pull that one again.
I was listening to Broadway Karkat's "Ave Maryam" while writing this…dumb idea, I tell ya. Really dumb. I really gotta stop with the Homestuck…I keep thinking about it! Already got a crossover idea…gr… Someone please just shoot me, eh? I need it. Desperately. Seriously.
ANYwho! A huge thanks to Soni-san for support and Clockwerk for a whole bunch of notes that gave me a better idea on what the flip I was doing here.
We actually had a huge lightning storm over here some time ago. The eleventh. Really cool. My great grandmother mentioned tornado weather.
Hope you all enjoyed it; I'm going to rp and then go to BED! Laters!
~Foenix Nightshade~
EDIT: Fixed it! Thanks a bunch, Jade~!