Chapter 32: Learning the Basics
It looks like the hiatus is going to have to come early. After this chapter, there won't be a new one for a long time. Sorry about that.
"Where the hell is Odd?" Ulrich asked. He, Yumi and Aelita were near the rec room, waiting for Odd to come. "We were supposed to play foosball."
"I'm guessing it has something to do with Carter," Yumi joked. "Either that or he's too afraid to show up," Ulrich said. Aelita looked over to the right and saw the real reason. "No, Yumi's right." Odd and Carter were by the bench, talking about something. Carter suddenly threw her head back and laughed.
"Carter, laughing at Odd's jokes?" Ulrich gasped. "Something's definitely up." Carter and Odd walked to where the gang was. "What's going on?" Yumi asked both of them. Before Odd could answer, Carter said, "I was laughing at one of Odd's feeble attempt at a joke." "Oh, very funny! You know you love them." Odd countered, wagging his finger in her face.
"Don't you have a game of foosball to lose?"
We were now in the rec room, with Ulrich and Odd sweating over foosball and Aelita getting us drinks. Yumi and I were silent on the couches, but she eventually broke the silence. "I don't get it," she said softly.
"What don't you get about Ulrich being better at foosball?"
That didn't get me anything besides an annoyed look. "No, about you not standing up to your old bullies." I sighed; this was going to be painful. "I'm not strong like you, Yumi, at least not mentally. It's not easy for someone like me to just suddenly stand up to Alex and her cronies after all that abuse," I explained as patiently as I could. Yumi could comprehend a lot of things, but I guess something like this just wasn't feasible to her.
Yumi's expression softened, just a little. "I guess it would be hard. But eventually you have to stand up to them." "I know. Just not in December," I said, looking over at Aelita. She was walking back from the soda machine, arms full of carbonated goodness.
"You know you eventually have to tell the rest of us," Yumi said suddenly. I looked at her. "Or you could tell them for me," I said, an evil smile spreading over my face. Before Yumi could reply, Aelita plunked down the soda and we all waited for the guys to finish. I could feel Yumi glaring at me when she thought I wasn't looking.
The guys soon finished, with Ulrich beating Odd at every foosball match. "So, what's the plan for this afternoon?" Ulrich asked me, popping open a soda. "What, did Odd tell you something?" I asked cautiously. "I just said we're going to the movies," Odd defended, giving Ulrich a look. "To see what, Wheelchair Zombie 4 or Snorkeling Combat 2?" Ulrich asked him. "Wheelchair Zombie," I confirmed. What? Zombies were awesome.
"Hey, has anyone seen Jeremy and Devlin?" Aelita suddenly asked, breaking the conversation. "Knowing them, they're fixing up a bunch of problems with the Skid or something," Yumi said.
"Our only problem is XANA and the scientists," Jeremy said. We were all in his room, with Jeremy in his chair and Aelita and Devlin leaning against the wall. Ulrich, Yumi, and Odd were sitting on his bed, with me on the floor.
"We've already concluded that Stacey is the one feeding any Lyoko information she knows to the scientists," Devlin continued. "We don't know how she's contacting them, but there's an extremely good chance she'll go back to them if they'll let her."
"What do you mean, 'if they'll let her'?" Yumi asked.
"Unlike Carter and me, Stacey was just there to test if the program worked on children. They only kept her around because they needed mindless test subjects. But Stacey has proven time and again that she's too destructive; they figured that they don't need her anymore and will probably just scrap her."
"Kill her, you mean," I said softly. Devlin nodded. Well, that was sobering.
"And there's always the chance that the white coats can send other attacks like the blobs our way," Jeremy continued. "And since Devlin, Aelita, and I can't always be there to send you to Lyoko, I thought it would be a good idea to teach you guys how to work the supercomputer."
"But we do know how it works," Ulrich protested. "At least, we know how to use the virtualization program." "Yes, but only by following our instructions on the phone," Jeremy argued. "If you guys can't get onto Lyoko, XANA and the white coats win hands-down."
I sighed and turned to Odd. "Looks like we'll have to postpone Wheelchair Zombie 4." Odd didn't look happy about that.
"But I have a test to study for!" Yumi complained. "Yeah, and I have Pencak Silat practice this afternoon!" Ulrich added. "Fine, you guys can go if you think you have better things to do. I won't force you to come. But don't expect us to gain any ground on XANA or the white coats." Jeremy turned to his teammates, waiting for their answers.
"You're right," Yumi said slowly. "But you know, sometimes it isn't easy being heroes." "Okay," compromised Jeremy, "we'll meet up in the computer lab after lunch and if you pick it up quickly, it'll be over quickly."
"Okay," Odd said kind of sadly as the Lyoko warriors sans the geniuses walked out of Jeremy's room.
We were now all in the computer lab; well, everyone except Aelita. I think she had an audition to go to. Despite being roommates, she hadn't told me everything except that she was working on something for the Subdigitals. I knew she had entered some sort of contest before I came to Kadic, so I figured this was the final round.
"Okay, we're going to start with theory," Jeremy began. He handed each of us a giant list of basic functions while Devlin sat in the cushy chair. "Wouldn't it be easier if we just went straight to the practical side?" Odd reasoned. "He's got a point there, J-man," Devlin remarked casually, folding his arms behind his head and leaning back in the chair.
"Working the supercomputer isn't like fooling around with a game console," Jeremy snapped. "Before I can trust you with the controls, I want you to know this thing inside out." I looked again at the large pile of notes and groaned; this was going to take a long time. I wasn't the only one who felt that way.
Jeremy smiled. "Relax, guys, the theoretical stuff is actually a lot of fun."
"Right," Ulrich replied sarcastically. "It's going to be a million laughs."
I was desperately trying to stay awake while Jeremy droned on and on about… theoretical stuff. Odd had already conked out and was snoring silently next to me. Ulrich was staring into space, completely lost, and Yumi just stared at the list, trying to make sense of everything. Devlin looked at us with pity, while Jeremy kept going on, oblivious.
"…Any questions?" Jeremy finally stopped. "How do you expect us to remember all of this?" Ulrich asked, holding up the notes. "If you guys were a little more attentive, you'd been able to understand," Jeremy said sourly. "And how are they supposed to do that? You're not very good at explaining things to people with less intelligence than you," Devlin said for our benefit. He got out of the chair and sat with the rest of us.
"Then how am I supposed to teach this?"
"You could start with practical stuff, like the materialization program on Lyoko," Yumi suggested. "…I guess that makes sense," Jeremy said grudgingly. That was when Odd decided to wake up. "Are we there yet?" was the first thing that came out of his mouth.
It was decided that Odd and I would be the guinea pigs. "I never knew you sucked at rock, paper, scissors," Odd snickered as the elevator doors revealed the scanner room.
"I just don't understand how a flimsy sheet of paper can beat a rock!" I protested as I chose the first scanner. Odd stayed outside, waiting for his turn.
"T-transfer Carter," said Ulrich nervous voice. Then he said, in a stronger voice, "Transfer, Carter." The doors closed; so far, so good. "Scanner, Carter. And, uh, virtualization!"
I arrived in the ice sector with all of my limbs attached in the right places. "Good job on your first try, Ulrich," I congratulated him. I could just imagine him sighing with relief. I waited as Yumi did her turn, virtualizing Odd. While he did come all in one piece, he had to be a jerk and scare Yumi.
"AHH! You turned me into a garden gnome!"
"Oh, God!" was Yumi's freaked response. "Relax, I was just kidding," Odd smirked, examining his claws. I just rolled my eyes at him.
And then we heard Jeremy's voice ring through Lyoko. "Activated tower in the mountain sector," he announced. We then heard him gasp. "XANA attack," I stated. A terribly long minute passed, then Odd said, "Hey guys, remember us?"
Ulrich was the one who answered. "We're in a big jam. XANA created some sort of polymorphic specter and just electrocuted Jeremy. Devlin was able to get rid of it, but not without taking a few volts himself. They're both unconscious."
"Good thing they showed us how to work the supercomputer," I said, not really worried. Well, I was about Jeremy, but Devlin had survived worse. And knowing XANA, he only electrocuted them enough to make sure they stayed asleep for a while.
"I tried calling Aelita," said Yumi. "She's not answering. I'll just send her a text."
"Okay then, we'll improvise. Carter and I will head to the mountain sector and see if we can deactivate the tower," Odd suggested. "Don't you think we should try to get you two back to Earth while we try to get in contact with Aelita?" Ulrich asked. I could hear the rustling of papers as Ulrich looked through the notes.
"Do you know how to rematerialize us?" I asked.
"Uh, no."
"Well, at least bring up my Overboard," Odd said. "We can try finding the tower in the air." We could hear the rustling of papers again with the added sounds of Ulrich's frustrations. "Jeremy's notes are all over the place!" he cried.
And then I thought of something. "Why did the specter disappear?"
"I guess it was done here," answered Ulrich. Yumi gasped. "Aelita! The specter must be going after her! I'll go and warn her!" We could hear her running to the elevator. "Wait, you're not going to leave me alone with this, are you?" Ulrich complained. I couldn't hear Yumi's answer, but it probably didn't change things.
After a few minutes, Ulrich materialized the Overbike. "Wrong vehicle!" Odd called out. "Sorry, but that's the only thing I can give you," Ulrich replied. Odd shrugged his shoulders. "Well, it's better that nothing." He immediately climbed on with me in the back, and we sped off to find the activated tower, or at least a way tower. A shame Jeremy didn't explain to us how to find those things.
We eventually spotted one, completely unguarded. Odd revved the bike and we shot to it, with me desperately clinging to his waist. "God damn it, Odd!" I bellowed in his ear. It could tell her was smirking at my torment.
Odd slowed down enough so we wouldn't crash through the tower. I closed my eyes when Odd directed the Overbike downwards.
When I opened my eyes, we were officially in the mountain sector. "Awesome!" I cried happily. And that was when Aelita finally took control. "The activated tower is just south from you guys. Yumi will virtualize me and Ulrich to the location."
"What are we waiting for? Let's kick XANA's ass!" I wrapped my arms tightly around Odd's waist as a 'go' signal. "Yeah!" he whooped as he revved the engine once more.
Aelita and Ulrich were hiding behind a giant boulder when Odd and I arrived. "Well, you sure took your sweet time," Ulrich remarked as we hopped off the Overbike. "No thanks to you," Odd snapped. "Yumi, we're going to need more vehicles," Aelita called out, interrupting the argument. No answer. "Polymorphic specter," I stated grimly.
"We need to deactivate the tower and fast!" Aelita turned to examine the seafood platter before her: three krabs and William. Ulrich took one look at his bike and said to her, "Saddle up, princess." She smiled. Odd and I looked at each other and we both shrugged. Running on Lyoko was never a bad thing, not really.
Ulrich and Aelita rode away with Odd and me trailing behind. As soon as the krabs started shooting, Aelita jumped off the bike and activated her wings. She flew up and away towards the tower. Odd and I went to work on the krabs.
Odd fired first and missed the nearest krab. I threw my dagger and it and it hit the weak spot. I turned to the next one as it exploded. I didn't need to worry though; Odd had gotten the other one by jumping on top of it and getting a clear shot. Aelita, who had been up in the air, shot a pink energy orb at the third krab, killing it.
Ulrich had William all to himself.
As they began to fight, Odd turned to me. "Devirtualize me, quick." "You sure?" I asked, snapping my fingers. The other dagger floated quickly back into my outstretched hand. Odd nodded. "Yumi needs help." He didn't have to say more. I stabbed him, once in the chest and once in the stomach. He was gone within seconds.
I turned back to the fight. Aelita was nearly in the tower, but somehow William was somehow able to send black smoke near her, destroying her life points little by little. It was as if Ulrich was just a nuisance.
That thought made me angry.
I ran towards William, daggers aimed at my sides. When William was distracted, I threw one of them at his arm. He screamed, and Ulrich had the upper hand. He plunged both of his katanas into his stomach, and William devirtualized back to Sector Five. Aelita was already in the tower, and it was turning white.
By the time the three of us returned, Devlin was already up, a huge grin on his face. Jeremy was still fighting unconsciousness. "Specter…tower….Aelita, did you deactivate the tower?" was the first thing he asked as he slowly got up.
"Me?" she said slyly. "I didn't do anything."
After explaining everything that happened, Jeremy was convinced of our talents. "I congratulate you all on a job well done. I'm glad at least half of you were able to work the materialization program." He looked at Odd and me. We stared back.
"But it just goes to show that XANA really wants to take out Aelita, Devlin, and me so you guys can't get onto Lyoko." Jeremy smiled. "At least I know you'll be able to take over without our help."
"So you trust them, at least a little," Devlin said, once again sitting casually in the supercomputer chair. Jeremy smiled at that, just a little.
"That's good, because the day after tomorrow I'll be gone all day," Aelita announced. "I have my first dress rehearsal. The Subdigitals chose me for their opening act at their next concert!"
"That's great!" I said, clapping her one on the back. Odd glanced at his phone. "Well, would you look at that. We have enough time to see that movie." He wiggled his eyebrows at me. I grinned. "Wheelchair Zombie, here we come! Race you!" I ran to the elevator with Odd right behind me.
"You guys are just so mature!" Devlin called out sarcastically. The elevators doors closed on everyone's laughter.
Code Lyoko: Super Soldier is officially on hiatus. Story will resume in late summer.