The next morning, everyone went off to class. People were still talking about last night's game and Kadic's perfect season. Calvin and Dennis, however, were still preoccupied with the first game of the playoffs, which was in only three days. They didn't even notice that their history teacher, Mr. Xavier, was gone.
"Hey, guys?" Sam asked "Has anyone seen Mr. Xavier?"
"Not me." Calvin said "Maybe he's sick or on vacation."
What they didn't know was that Mr. Xavier, now possessed by XANA, was busy formulating his next strategy. On the floor of the abandoned factory, XANA, along with Thomas, Alain, and Jean-Claude (A/N: From Chapter 7), were discussing what to do next.
"This has gone too far." XANA, in Mr. Xavier's body, said. "They've found out about Carthage. Who knows how long it will take before they find out about our master plan. We need to find some way to get them out of our way."
"Why not just kill them." The XANA-fied Alain asked "It worked well with Peter Duncan."
"Murder by me personally is not a main function in my programming, Alain." XANA said "However, if it becomes necessary, I have no alternative."
"That explains your methods of attack, I suppose." The XANA-fied Jean-Claude spoke.
"If you want to succeed in exterminating your enemies, you have to first weaken them mentally, emotionally." XANA said "Fortunately, I know a way to take down three of our enemies with just one victim."
"Please tell us, Lord XANA." XANA-fied Thomas said
"All in due time."
During lunch, Calvin and Rumiko were talking about something that had been bothering Rumiko.
"You know, it's funny, Calvin." Rumiko said "I keep having this same dream."
"What is it about?" Calvin asked
"Well, you and your friends are in this factory." She said "And you're underground in this secret laboratory, and you were like these superheroes trying to fight off some weird computer monster or something."
"Oh, uh…" Calvin said "I don't know what to tell you."
"The weirdest part is, it all seems so real, even though I know it isn't. Imagine, you and Sam as some kind of heroes."
"Um, yea." Calvin said "Well, I better be…"
"Hey, Calvin!" He heard Dennis shout. "Come over here, would ya?"
Calvin then walked over to Dennis's table. The entire team was there playing some kind of card game.
"Want to join our blackjack game?" Dennis asked him.
"Blackjack?" Calvin asked "Are you guys gambling?"
"No, were browsing through magazines." Dennis said sarcastically "Do you want to join us or not?"
"Blackjack? Please." Calvin said "That's such a child's game. All you have to do is track the ratios of the high and low cards and keep an eye on the deck as its shuffled."
"On second thought." Dennis said "Why don't you stand behind me and tell me everything you know."
Dennis was dealt his first hand as Calvin was doing all the counting for him. After his tenth hand, Dennis had won over 500 euros. However, the commotion had attracted the attention of one Jim Morales.
"Ahem!" Jim said to Dennis
"Yeah Yeah Yeah. Line's over there." Dennis said, not seeing who it was. Jim just tapped on his shoulder this time.
"I thought I said…!" Dennis said but stopped when he saw who it was.
"Dunbar, Stern." Jim said "Come with me."
(At the Principal's Office.)
"I don't believe this!" Mr. Delmas said "My best students violating the ethical values of this establishment! I expected this kind of thing from you, Mr. Dunbar, but you, Calvin, I'm surprised."
"But, sir." Dennis said
"Did you know that it's illegal to gamble on school grounds and that you could get in a lot of trouble for it." Mr. Delmas continued. "I could send you both to jail for this. However, I'm in a good mood today, so I think I'll be nice and put you both in detention for the rest of the afternoon."
"What?" Dennis said "Ok, look, here's 500 euros. That's all I made, I swear."
"Hmmm." Mr. Delmas said "This is quite a generous gift, Mr. Dunbar. I'll be sure to put it in the school fund."
"So I take it we're out of detention?" Dennis asked
"No." Mr. Delmas said
"What?" Dennis said "Then give me back my 500 euros!"
"What 500 euros?" Mr. Delmas asked "Jim, escort these two to the library. Oh, and give Dennis an extra hour for bribery."
"Yes sir." Jim said as he led the two to the library.
At the library, Calvin and Dennis had already served one hour of their detention when Dennis stood up and talked to Jim.
"Excuse me, sir." Dennis said "I'm not feeling well, can I go to the infirmary?"
"Ha! What do you take me for, Dunbar, some kind of idiot?" Jim asked "Now sit down and keep your mouth shut."
"Do you really want an honest answer for that?"
"Dunbar!" Jim said
"Alright, Alright." Dennis said as he sat back down
"Now listen, you better not pull any wise ones." Jim said "Because I'm not leaving this room until your detention is over."
Back at the principal's office, Mr. Delmas was doing paperwork when he heard a knock on the door.
"Come in." He said
Mr. Xavier then walked in
"Ah, Julien, good to see you." Mr. Delmas said "How may I help you?"
Mr. Xavier didn't say anything, he just stood there.
"Julien?" Mr. Delmas asked. Still no response
"Julien, are you there?" Mr. Delmas asked reaching towards him. Mr. Xavier then shot an arm out and grabbed his wrist.
"Mr. Xavier, just what are you doing?" Mr. Delmas asked "Let go of me right now!"
Mr. Xavier didn't respond, he grabbed Mr. Delmas and threw him towards the wall. Mr. Xavier then shot lightning from his hand towards the door and locked it; XANA was in control.
"Mr…Mr… Xavier?" Mr. Delmas asked "What are you…?"
XANA grabbed the phone off his desk and went towards him.
"Don't worry, sir." XANA said "It'll be over soon enough."
XANA then took the phone and slammed it on his head multiple times until his head was bleeding. Mr. Delmas then fell to the ground, bleeding. XANA had claimed his first victim. (A/N: I know it was lame, but what can I say? I enjoyed "Image Problem.").
Wow, real fast update. I must have been real bored. Anyways, Mr. Delmas is dead, who knows who will be next? Please review and tell me how it's going so far. I don't know if you don't say anything.