Chapter XXXVI

"And now on to national news." The anchorwoman straightened the stack of papers in front of her. "Shots rang out at a metro station in Cambridge, Massachusetts during this evening's commute, near the Harvard University campus. The incident killed at least one and injured dozens more. Three transit officers and two off-duty police officers assisted in the capture and arrest of the suspect, thirty-seven-year-old Eric Grayson. Transit authorities were made aware of the situation on a platform with a subway train headed into Boston, when a high school student shouted for help. So far, the man is not cooperating with police, but the FBI has stepped in to assist with the investigation."

The newscast cut to a reporter in Cambridge. "That's right," he said. "I'm standing outside the Harvard Square T station where the assault took place at around six o'clock this evening. The FBI has confirmed that the suspect was targeting that student who shouted for help; we will not be releasing their name to protect their identity as they are still a minor." He paused. "We're about to show some security footage of the incident — it's unclear if the victim was able to get away, due to the traffic coming out of the subway when it pulled up to the platform."

Grainy video with muffled sound played for a few seconds, showing the chaos just as the man started firing into the crowd. Then they refocused on the reporter again, widening to show a teenage girl next to him. "Now, you were there, Miss — can you describe the scene for us?"

She was blonde with brown eyes, and was visibly shaken; she wouldn't stop looking over her shoulder. "I was waiting to catch my train home — I live in the Central Square area — but then that guy noticed the man in the suit and was shouting for security, almost as if he knew he was in danger. Then the man pulled out a gun and started firing, and I just ran. I can't believe a kid my age would be targeted like that."

They cut back to the reporter. "This station will remain closed until further notice, and all Red Line trains are bypassing it while the investigation is underway. Cambridge Mayor Denise Simmons and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh had urged residents to seek shelter at the time of the incident while a manhunt took place, however the order has been lifted as the FBI and CIA were able to apprehend four additional accomplices over by MIT. Lockdown orders at Harvard, MIT, and BU have also been lifted." He paused a beat. "If you know anything regarding this incident, you are urged to contact Cambridge or Boston police. And, if you notice suspicious activity while commuting, please report it via the MBTA SeeSay app or find your nearest transit officer."

The World News anchorwoman reappeared on-screen. "There is believed to be no immediate threat to the D.C. area, however security in and around the White House, national monuments, and metro stations have been increased as a precaution." She paused as someone handed her another piece of paper. "We're just getting confirmation from the FBI that the suspect, Eric Grayson, is part of a terrorist organization who call themselves the Men in Black. Not much is known about this group, but we will keep you informed as the situation unfolds."

She went on to discuss a recent Women's March in California as Jim picked up the remote, muting the newscast. Jeremie had figured out how to set the television language and audio to French the night before.

Anthea straightened up in the armchair she'd been occupying. "Giana?"

The girl was sandwiched between Sissi and Yumi on the sectional sofa in the den, a cup of tea clutched in both hands.

A few minutes had passed before she whispered, "My brother."

Anthea frowned.

"He was looking for my brother," the girl continued. "That man was looking for Nico!" She stood, still clutching the cup of tea. "He killed a person!" She started pacing. "Someone died because he wanted to find my brother!"

Jeremie stood, cautiously approaching her. "It's going to be—"

"It's not!" She turned on him. "Nico somehow knew he was being followed and then that man took out a gun and shot at innocent people! Don't you dare try to tell me it's okay, Jeremie!" She stopped, setting her mug on the coffee table. "At least one person is dead tonight because of XANA! Because of — all this!" She stretched her arms, motioning to the group.

Franz jumped to his feet. "You don't know what it's like until you've truly lost someone to an attack!" he shouted, his face red. "It's horrible! They just stop existing after a return trip is initiated! They vanish without a trace and there are missing persons reports filed, the victim never to return home, and you have to live with the fact that you couldn't stop it — you couldn't save them!" He stomped up to her until she could smell the whiskey on his breath. "You're a foolish child who doesn't know what the hell she's—"

He was cut off by Yumi, telekinetically throwing him against the far wall, balling her hands into fists.

"Maybe you forgot," she started in a low voice, "but they said at the CIA that my powers are off the charts. So, shut up."

Aelita joined her, the duo flanking the brunette. "We've been fighting this war for over three years while you were in hiding!" she cried. "And, what's more, you used the return trip function to relive the same day for seven years! Losing someone to an attack is completely different compared to losing them to a terrorist! You're a foolish man who doesn't know what the hell he's talking about — you might've built Lyoko, but we're in charge now!"

Anthea approached her daughter. "Aelita—"

The girl turned, pushing her mother's hand away. "Don't you dare! You were gone, too, Mom — you were held hostage and you broke free and then you hid! You didn't even bother to look for me! You were both in Switzerland for I don't know how long—"

"We were trying to protect you!" Franz bellowed. "We couldn't just go back to France, Aelita! It would've put everything at risk!"

"Well we're in the United States now and we're still at risk! The Men in Black are after us no matter where we are — they want XANA's code to use him as a weapon, remember? The government is only after it to try and advance their militaries, just like the Director and Agent Collins said! You got it all wrong!" A lump formed in her throat. "And it wouldn't be the first time, either."

She turned away, heading out of the room through the kitchen. Yumi and Jeremie followed swiftly after.

Everyone failed to notice the two figures standing in the archway from the foyer.

"Is this a bad time?" Agent Conway inquired, frowning.

"De Luca," Jim started, surprised, "I didn't know you were a twin."

"I'm not, I—" Giana stopped herself, taking the time to focus, vaguely noticing the person standing next to the agent. "Nico!" She ran to her brother, catching him in an embrace. "I thought— The news, they said that guy killed someone!"

"That bastard," he spat. "I got out just in time. And, I saved Tori — she must've gone to Rachel's or something after fencing, because she was about to get off the Red Line just as he'd started shooting. We went to the Weber's and Agent Conway was able to get me to the airport." He relaxed his shoulders, setting down his bag and skateboard. "Here I am."

"What about Mom and Dad? And Sonya?"

"A grab team intercepted your parents on their way to the Weber's and took them somewhere safe," Jillian explained. "Mrs. Day was escorted to her home by a CIA agent who's been working closely with me to monitor the activity in your area." She paused. "I'm Agent Jillian Conway, by the way. From the FBI. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Nico bent down, reaching into his bag. "I got this." He extended Tori's épée to his sister.

"My épée? You just left the house with it?" She paused. "You found it in the back of my closet?" Furrowing her brow, she squinted to examine the weapon at a closer angle. "V.A.R." She held it at arms' length. "This is Tori's! We had our initials engraved into the bell guards last year so we wouldn't get them mixed up."

"Yeah, uh…" He rubbed the back of his neck. "I owe her a new one. I sort of took it from her before leaving Ross's."

Sissi inched closer to the trio, peering at the boy's hooded sweatshirt. She arched an eyebrow. "Wicked Smaht?"

"The Men in Black agents know what I look like, and we weren't sure if there were more of them out there," he explained. "So, I got a new hoodie, and put on a pair of glasses and a terrible Yankees hat to give the allusion a tourist." He paused, producing an FBI-issued fake ID from his pant pocket, handing it to his sister. "If anyone asked, I was Nick Ventura from Manhattan."

Giana scrutinized the card, turning to the agent. "People from the CIA and DGSE said they wouldn't go after our families."

"We were wrong," Jillian replied flatly. She finally entered the room, leaning against the wall next to Franz, who was still in a heap on the floor. "We've surmised that they're targeting anyone directly involved with Lyoko and XANA. And, as you've disclosed to the agents in France, Nico was let in on the secret and scanned — thus, he was made a target."

The boy took in the forlorn expression on his sister's face. "It's okay," he said. "I'm fine. We're all good."

"Odd and I made sauce last night," she said, trying to change the subject and make light of the situation. "I used Nonna's recipe."

"Mine's better," Odd grumbled.

"They're both equally good," William supplied.

Nico laughed. "Well, I'm biased, but also starving." He went into the kitchen, his sister and the other kids right behind him. "Anyone make meatballs?"

"I did," Anthea called. "In a bowl in the fridge, on the left-hand side of the middle shelf."

Jim looked to Agent Conway as Franz finally picked himself up and returned to the chair next to his wife. "So, um… What are we doing, exactly? Waiting? The people at the CIA said something about the kids accessing a Replika to do a recon mission."

She nodded. "Yes. I have to get back to Boston — Janine and Salvatore don't know it, but they're moving into their new house tomorrow. Someone will be by in the morning with more information."

"So, we're killing time."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Moralés." She sighed. "Unfortunately, these things take time. Plans have to be made."

"Oh, I know," he replied a bit too quickly. "I was a member of the Secret Service once."

"I'm aware." She smiled. "I've read your file."

"I wonder what Hervé and Nicholas think," Sissi said glumly, staring down into her cereal the next morning. "I wonder if my father told them anything."

"As far as the school's concerned, they think we're on a cultural exchange trip," Jim replied. "Whether or not Pichon and Poliakoff believe him is a completely different story."

"Nicholas will, without a doubt," she said. "Hervé is harder to convince."

"I'm supposed to have an AP Physics exam today," Nico muttered.

Jeremie coughed as he tried to take a sip of coffee. "Physics? Y-you're good with science?"

"Science, yes. But I don't have the skillset to run the supercomputer." He shrugged. "I mean, I can write programs and I worked on some projects at my dad's company this past summer. But I know next to nothing about quantum computing."

"You may still be useful," Franz offered. "The more who can take a look at that data, the better. Keep it in the back of your mind, at least."

Nico nodded, bringing his attention back to the food in front of him. Jeremie, however, was nonplussed: Between William's newfound technological capabilities and Franz's more informed style, he was starting to feel useless.

"I know what you're thinking," Aelita said, turning to her boyfriend. "We need you, Jeremie. You know more about the supercomputer than anyone I know — regardless of my father. The CIA wouldn't have asked you to help them if they didn't think you could do it."

"Why didn't they ask me?" William pointed out.

Aelita shrugged. "They probably don't know about your abilities."

"Alright, let's go."

The group followed Agent Collins underground, into the depths of the CIA headquarters. They ended up in a lab similar to the one in France, though far more advanced in terms of technology. Holographic images and maps floated on lit interfaces around the room, with various technicians typing rapidly at their terminals. A large, cylindrical machine stood in the center, with a closed hatch at one end to cover its on/off switch. Aelita eyed the XANA symbol warily as they passed it, a chill running down her spine.

"The scanners are through here," Agent Collins continued. He led them into another elevator with only an up and down button. After their quick descent, the doors opened into a large, circular room with nine scanners around the perimeter. "You'll be transferred all at once and materialize in the arena of Sector Five." He paused, eyeing Giana with her black Labrador. "Your dog—"

"Yeah, I know." She extended her left arm with the leash in-hand, and he took it as she did a one-eighty and walked into an open scanner about ten feet behind her.

"Our technicians will be monitoring your progress," Sebastian continued, "as will Mr. Schaeffer. The devirtualization coordinates are set to this lab, so should you lose your lifepoints, you will materialize back here in this room."

"Hey, Nico," Jeremie called, standing inside his scanner.

"Yeah?" the boy responded, looking out at the blonde on the other side of the room.

"Good luck."

Before he could utter a response, each scanner door closed, cutting their occupants off from the outside world. A female voice surrounded them, rattling off the transfer, scanner, virtualization commands as Sebastian left the room with Vega. The white halo of light enveloped each of them as they made their way into the virtual world.

They landed in a circle, staring out at the walls of the arena as the entrance to the core zone spun around them. Nico let out an audible gasp as he took in his surroundings and his new form, a dark suit reminiscent of a knight's armor, complete with a helmet, the headpiece open to show his face. A long sword was sheathed on his back. He brandished the weapon, looking around at the others.

"You're a knight!" Giana laughed. "Showing that school pride, huh?"

"And you're basically a ninja," he replied, smirking. "Also, for the record, the mascot could be worse."

"Hey." She looked down at her side, noticing the sheath for her staff had disappeared. "Where's—"

"On your back," Ulrich interrupted.

The girl reached behind, pulling out an épée. The blade emitted a blue-green glow, similar in color to the terminal in the celestial dome. The grip and bell guard were black, blending in with the accents of her avatar. A wide grin spread across her face.

"You've all been upgraded," Sebastian explained. "We've been working diligently to enhance your weapons and powers."

"Energy Field!" Aelita ordered. Immediately, a pink orb, larger than that of her typical Energy Fields, appeared to float above her hand. Bringing it closer with an identical one in her left, they formed a larger shield, about half as tall as she was.

"The door's about to open," Jeremie observed, clutching one of the four daggers and throwing knives affixed to his belt. "Let's go."

"The key should be on the other side of the labyrinth, near the elevator," the female tech explained. "I'm Astrid. I'll be helping you."

"Wait." Nico stopped short, causing Yumi and Sissi to bump into him. "I can feel something—" He turned to Aelita. "What was it you said about monsters?"

"There's nothing on our end," Astrid argued.

"It's vague, but…" He closed his eyes, focusing. "There are at least two of them."

Not a moment later did an array of lasers shoot at the group, causing them to fall back. Jeremie whirled on an encroaching Creeper, jumping out of the way and digging a knife into its hitpoint. It exploded upon impact, the blow knocking him back.

"Looks like XANA's upgraded, too," Yumi said sardonically, throwing one of her fans to only chip the side of a second Creeper. "Damn it!"

But then she caught the weapon in the air with her telekinesis, guiding it back to the monster at an incredible speed. It bounced off the target, but there'd been enough momentum to cause a critical hit. She let out a breath, smiling as it disintegrated.

"That was awesome!" Sissi commended, taking out her staff. "Hey!" She looked up, addressing Astrid. "Does this mean my healing power doesn't have a cooldown period anymore?"

"It does, but we were able to shorten the length to ten minutes," the woman replied. "Now, come on — time's running out! You have to get to the key before you're crushed."

They looked up instinctively, watching in horror as the ceiling came crashing down around them.

"Look out!" Ulrich shouted, using his Super Sprint to knock Aelita out of the path of a falling block. The act caused him to be hit instead, ending in an immediate devirtualization.

"That's gotta hurt," Nico commented. He turned, coming face-to-face with a third Creeper, recoiling at the up-close and personal view of the monster. Narrowing his eyes, he slashed his sword through one of its tentacles, causing it to fall to the floor as he dodged another block that would've surely flattened him.

"You have to hit the eye!" Giana instructed, embedding her épée in a fourth assailant. She watched as it exploded, the impact knocking her to the side and almost off the edge of the core zone, hanging delicately over the abyss. "On top of its head, right above the opening with the laser!" She tried to pull herself back up, but couldn't get the grip right. Her weapon lay where the monster had been. "Help!"

"Super Smoke!" William ordered, weaving in and out of the falling blocks as the rest of their group slowly made their way through the core zone. "I've got—" He had to dodge out of the way of another falling block, putting him back at least ten meters.

Though it wasn't really real, the exertion of holding herself up got to be too much. Giana was tired, and he was so far away, and there wasn't any possibility he'd make it in time.

"William!" she shouted. "I can't—"

And then she fell, knocked back by a laser from a surprise Creeper, falling into the void below.

"Giana!" William cried, racing to where she'd been seconds ago. He called up his sword, slashing it in a motion parallel to the floor, positioning himself in a firing stance. "I'm sorry," he whispered, casting a crescent of white light at her, watching as the terrified expression on her face disappeared in a silhouette of blue and white pixels.

If he weren't on Lyoko, he knew he would've been sick.

But he noticed she had left her épée, that it hadn't been devirtualized along with her. Willing his sword away, he picked up the weapon and fiddled a moment with the grip, the épée foreign in his grasp. Charging at the offending Creeper, he plunged the tip of the blade into its hitpoint, watching as it exploded. "Good riddance," he spat.

Her weapon disappeared. "I took the liberty of devirtualizing it," Astrid explained. "I hope that's alright."

He nodded, turning to smoke and taking off to find the others.

"What the hell did you do to her?" Nico demanded, once the group had finally reconvened. Odd activated the key, stopping the obstacles from falling, and they jumped as the elevator passed by.

"She was falling," Yumi said curtly, defending the boy. "He had no other choice than to devirtualize her; she would've been gone forever if he didn't."

They made their way out into the celestial dome, the interface appearing at the edge of the platform. "Mantas at two o'clock!" Odd said, positioning his arm to shoot as soon as the nests hatched.

"What am I looking for?" Aelita asked, swiping past access prompts and digging deeper into the inner-workings of Sector Five and XANA's code.

"It's a key, of sorts," Astrid explained. "You'll know it when you see it. It's sort of like a kill switch."

Anthea had reappeared with Giana, the brunette sliding down the wall next to Ulrich. The boy let out a pained groan, burying his face in his hands. The recovery process from his devirtualization hadn't been as quick as he'd anticipated.

"Don't get crushed," he mumbled.

"Don't get hit by William's sword," she shot back.

"Been there, done that. It sucks."

"They're here, by the way," Astrid continued. "Exhausted, but here. They came back to us safely."

"Can we have our vehicles?" Odd called out. "It's easier to fight the Mantas if we're in the air with them."

"Yes, of course," Astrid replied. "Just give me a moment…"

All three vehicles materialized at the edge of the platform.

"Okay." Yumi turned to address the group. "Aelita, Jeremie, William — you stay here and protect the terminal. Sissi and I—"

"No," William interrupted, calling up his sword. "I can make long-range shots with my weapon. Nico can protect the terminal."

"I want to fight!" the boy protested.

"You will."

William jumped on to the Overbike, kicking it into high gear as he soared through the air, casting a beam of light at a Manta. The monster dodged, firing a laser at his vehicle instead. He started to fall, noticing Odd jump from his Overboard and dig his claws into the back of another Manta, the monster trying in vain to buck him off. William felt himself turn to smoke, his power guiding him back up along the side of the sphere, landing on the platform near the opening from the core zone. "We're having too many close calls!" he shouted, slashing a Creeper in half. "What's the status on that data?"

"I think I've almost got it," Aelita replied. "Just hold on a few more—"

"We don't have time!" Sissi protested, casting a burst of her healing power at Nico, who'd suffered two severe shots to the back from a Tarantula.

"I thought it wasn't supposed to hurt!" he called, reaching behind him to touch the spot where he'd been hit.

"XANA's upped his game!" Aelita said, narrowing her eyes. "If only—"

She was cut off, two Mantas firing their lasers at her in succession, causing her to devirtualize.

"AELITA!" Jeremie bellowed, racing to the spot where his girlfriend once stood. He jumped off the edge of the platform, landing on Odd's abandoned vehicle, stepping on the back half to speed up, knife drawn, heading right at one of the Mantas. Closing his eyes, he threw his weapon, only opening them to see the monster explode. The knife returned to his hand and he sheathed it, turning back around, evading lasers from the Manta that still had Odd on its back. "Odd! Jump!"

"I got this, Einstein!" he said, getting into a standing position so he was effectively surfing on the monster's back. Staring down at his feet, he readied his aim to fire, catching the enemy right in the center of its giant target. After it devirtualized, he landed in a sitting position on the Overboard, watching with amazement as Jeremie effortlessly piloted them back to the terminal. He let out a breath as they landed. "Good job."

The boy turned to Nico, who'd deployed a shield to deflect blows from another Tarantula and two more Creepers, protecting William as he worked at the terminal to complete Aelita's mission.

"I think I found it!" he exclaimed, initiating a transfer. "I'm sending it now!"

With the Mantas mostly taken care of, Yumi threw both of her fans at the Creepers, catching them both with a critical hit that wiped them out.

"Way to show them who's boss, Yumi!" Odd cheered.

"We got it!" Astrid announced. "I'm opening the northwest tunnel for you; you should come out in the Forest Sector and we'll materialize you from there." She smiled. "Great job, everyone. We're one step closer."