At least the Lake ain't haunted.
I don't own Code Lyoko. I only own Cassidy.
-With the younger Lyoko Warriors about to go on the bus-
"You can take your hand luggage on the bus with you, and the rest of your stuff goes down here," Jim ordered as he took the luggage to the compartment on the bus.
Mrs. Hertz took role call. In the spirit of renaissance, everyone reverted to his or her former attire. Jim had his red tracksuit. Jeremie had his baby-sky blue turtleneck and brown pants. Aelita had her pink jumper and maroon-looking overalls. Odd regained his pants and switched out his hoodie with the long-sleeve shirt he wore. Ulrich wore his earth tones.
Speaking of Jeremie, he turned to Aelita. "What if XANA attacks while we're away?"
She smiled. "After a week of working day and night on the program, I think we deserve this weekend, don't you?" She tickled Jeremie's chin, who he then turned a shade of pink. "It'll be our first time we're going camping together, too."
Ulrich turned to them, cocking a brow. "What program are you talking about, huh?"
With Odd taking the lead, Jeremie said, "Aelita thought we should shore up the protection shields on the Skid. We haven't tested it, though."
Odd looked behind himself. "You two, plus Cassidy, are incredible, really. I mean, as if we hadn't have enough homework for school already." He had handed his blue and purple bag in to Jim.
"What about Kiwi?" Aelita asked, cocking a brow.
"Cassidy convinced him that it would be too much torment to bring Kiwi. She's taking care of him while staying at Kadic. She will do research on one of the Hawaiian Islands to make up points," Jeremie explained.
"How come she's staying again?" Ulrich asked.
"There were a lot of reasons, and heaven knows how much sense she can make," Odd looked to his roommate, sighing as Jim and Mrs. Hertz reprimanded Sissi for so many bags.
As soon as everyone was settled in his or her seats, Jeremie set his bag down and put his seatbelt on. Aelita strapped herself in, as did Odd and Ulrich. Odd took out four cookie boxes and passed three to Ulrich. "Here, good buddy. The other two are for Einstein and Princess."
He smiled and helped pass the other two boxes to Jeremie and Aelita. "Thanks, Odd."
"Don't thank me. Thank Cassidy. She wanted me to share," Odd smiled.
"Speaking of the ones that got away, Yumi got stuck with a test this weekend while Cassidy stays with her," Ulrich picked up his cell phone.
-With Yumi and Cassidy-
"Not one. I've got two tests today. You lucky dogs! I wish I were on that bus with you," Yumi smiled.
"Um…I wouldn't wish that if I were you, Yumi," Cassidy said uneasily. "I think XANA would be in joy if all of us were there."
In addition to the nightmare that was always the same, Cassidy was also plagued with the thought—no—the fear of William's evil flirting. She tried to build defenses against it, but he was smarter.
-With the four-
"I'd love to sneak you girls on," Ulrich smiled, and then whispered as an add-on, "Mostly you, Yumi."
-With Yumi and Cassidy-
"Well, the torture session's about to start. Speak to you later," Yumi said. "Thanks, Ulrich. Love you." She placed her phone in her pocket.
Cassidy then had a spark-flash. "Oh, Yumi…! You should know that one of the test answers is the factor of minus X. I think it'll work."
"Okay," Yumi nodded. She creased a brow. Usually, Cassidy would flip at the sound of hearing her say she loved Ulrich, or if Aelita would say that to Jeremie, or vice versa on either variable. Today, she didn't react the way she would've. "Are you okay, Cassidy?"
"Tired of having nightmares that are always the same and having William flirting with me," Cassidy sighed. "It's exhausting and frightening at the same time."
"He makes your defenses look like worms."
"Defenses?! Yumi, I'm trying to defend myself. I stayed up all night once with my laptop trying to think of a schematic to avoid him. I guess XANA saw it and ruined it! I'm wondering when he will let up. With XANA, William's screwing everything up!" Cassidy vented. "It's no help with my nightmares! I swore off everything I could. I wish I am in front of a steering wheel right this instant so my head can honk the horn!"
Yumi didn't know what to say. They walked in, Cassidy suddenly breathing as though it was easy now.
-With the younger members-
Hervé was sleeping, dreaming about the day that Sissi would go out with him. Sissi, next to him, however, checked herself in a compact mirror and then flipped the mirror so slightly so Ulrich was in the mirror.
"Elisabeth! Put that strap higher up!" Jim reprimanded. "Seatbelts weren't meant for puppy dogs."
Odd gave a convincing woof and laughed.
Jim looked at him. "Well, well, someone thought it would be funny to bark."
"Yeah, but hey, it was funny. I don't have a dog on the bus," Odd smiled.
"That's good, Della Robbia. But the dog thing was a little much."
"Sorry, Jim. It won't happen again," Odd promised.
"Okay, I'll let you go this once with a warning. You got it, Odd," Jim asked.
"Sir, yes, sir!"
-With Yumi and Cassidy-
Mrs. Meyer handed out the tests. "Quiet, please! For this exam, all you need is a sharpened pencil and your logic and concentration."
Yumi looked to Clone William. "You're lucky. As a computer program, this math test should be a real piece of cake."
"What's a math test and a piece of cake?"
Cassidy tried all she could to keep from laughing. The math test required silence and although she was a guest, there was a high chance of her getting kicked out of class. Luckily, she was able to compose herself.
Yumi, however, was taken aback. Jeremie was right. The clone was a sore thumb. The girl sitting in a chair near the teacher's desk would say he was unintelligent.
-With the others-
The bus stopped at the location. Jim walked out and then told the other students to disembark. Everyone looked at the island. Mrs. Hertz spread her arms apart. "Here we are. This will be our home and our laboratory for the weekend. An unspoiled haven for all lovers of flora. A field trip to a true Garden of Eden. In short, an ecosystem unequaled in their region. And you are looking right at it."
In the middle of her spiel, the other students looked to each other confused. Sissi was the first to say, "What?! That microscopic island is where we're going to camp?!"
"If you think that's small, wait until you see the rubber dinghies."
Later on, they were paddling to the isle. Odd and Ulrich took turns paddling while Jeremie typed away on his laptop. "I was afraid of this. I can't get a signal here. I won't be able to access the supercomputer."
Aelita clicked on her phone. "Don't worry. In the meantime, I can still call out. I'll tell Yumi and Cassidy."
-Back with Yumi and Cassidy-
Yumi looked in her math book after she took her math test. "Wow, you were right. The factor of minus X was the right answer. You definitely saved my grades, Cassidy."
"It was nothing, Yumi. Aelita's going to call," Cassidy blinked, a spark-flash hitting her instantaneously.
Sure enough, Yumi's phone rang. She picked it up. "Not in inferno here, everything okay in Paradise?"
-With Aelita-
"Not really. Jeremie can't seem to get online. You two are going to have to check regularly to see what's happening on Lyoko," Aelita informed.
-With Yumi and Cassidy-
"You've gotta be kidding me. I've got a huge French test in five minutes and—Hello? Hello?!"
"Don't worry, Yumi. The isle they're at has no signal. That's the reason why. We can get to the factory," Cassidy sat beside Yumi.
Yumi shook her phone a little, as if she didn't hear what her friend had said.
-With Aelita-
"That's it. I've been cut off, but I think she got my meaning," Aelita reported.
Jeremie looked at her. "Are you sure?"
They kept paddling to the island after that.
-With Yumi and Cassidy-
"Hurry up, Yumi, Cassidy," a girl told them.
"Be right there," Yumi assured. "We've gotta—um—go to the bathroom." They raced off, Cassidy smiling. Sweet freedom was great on Lyoko, Cassidy never questioned it.
-With the others-
The others were standing in a clearing when Jim said, "Remember to pitch your tents very carefully, because if you don't, the smallest gust of wind and—Poof! Down it'll come. Actually that reminds me of when I was living in a teepee in the desert near New Mexico…"
Mrs. Hertz cut in. "Jim…this might not be the right time."
"You don't know what you're missing, Suzanne." He tapped a tent post to his chin. "Anyway, I want you all to read the instructions for the setting up of your tents before you start if you don't want to find yourselves up the creek without a paddle." He chuckled. "Now get going."
Everyone grabbed a bundle of tent supplies. Ulrich unzipped his tent and looked behind him to Odd. "Do you know to set this up?"
"Yeah, sure no, problem." Odd kept walking. "Follow the instructions and just holler if you need any help."
"But—" Ulrich stammered. He couldn't believe that Odd left him hanging. "Thanks a lot."
A chilling voice over his shoulder made him look to the side. "Ulrich, honey, I thought that maybe we could pitch our tents side-by-side so we can talk to each other tonight."
He didn't need to look. "Sorry, Sissi, but I didn't go camping just to gossip or talk about clothes." He took his tent bundle and walked off, leaving her with an open mouth. "I'd rather sleep."
Hervé came in. "Hey, Sissi, well—I would be really glad to set up my tent next to yours for tonight."
"Sure, Hervé," the tone Sissi used was icy with just a perfect hint of sarcasm.
The acne-faced boy smiled. "Really? Oh, that's fabulous! Fantastic! I, uh—uh… By the way, where's your tent?"
She dropped the bundle at his feet. "Right there. Let me know when you set it up." Sissi walked away.
Jeremie typed at his computer. "There's nothing we can do. Without a connection, it's totally useless. Let's hope XANA doesn't take advantage of it."
Aelita pounded in the last tent post and looked to Jeremie with a smile. "Relax, Jeremie. Yumi and Cassidy are watching the store at home."
-At the Factory-
The door to the lab opened up and Cassidy and Yumi came out. A gray flash of fur nearly tackled the former girl to the ground. She giggled. "I'm glad to see you, Kiwi."
Nice to see you again.
"Thanks. But there isn't much time. Yumi has a test in a few minutes," Cassidy nodded.
Yumi's mouth slammed to the floor. "You can read Kiwi's mind?"
"Yes, it happened on the first day back to Kadic's classes, it scared me at first, but now I've grown used to it."
"I guess I was not paying any attention when we had to defend the Core of Lyoko for the first time," Yumi shook her head.
"Hey, it's okay. It happens." Suddenly, she closed her eyes as a sharp snap of pain hit her head. "AGH!"
"You okay, Cassidy?"
Cassidy? Kiwi tilted his head to the side.
She opened her eyes. It was as if snow was making the brown irises and black pupils go white. "Yumi, Aelita's going to get attacked by the Schyphozoa one last time someday." Suddenly, the ground started to tremble. Just then, Cassidy blinked and winced in pain. "Ow!"
Had to do it, Cassidy, Kiwi whimpered a little.
The shaking had stopped. "Thank you, Kiwi," Yumi sighed. Then she raced over to the chair and sat down in it. "Okay, let's see." She tapped on a key and the computer turned on. A dark blue loading bar popped up and filled in light blue.
-With Mrs. Hertz's class-
Mrs. Hertz gave a lecture about a flower. Soon, she asked a question, "So, in your opinion, what would happen if the lake dried up?"
Nicholas had his answer. "Uh…we would be able to walk home?"
The science teacher sighed. Sometimes Nicholas was really dense.
-In the Ice Sector-
A tower turned into a blood-red color.
-In an unknown area of Lyoko-
A tower pulsated bright red.
-Back at the Lab-
All of a sudden, an unimaginable pain hit Cassidy hard. She shrieked so loud that Yumi stopped looking at the screen and Kiwi jolted awake.
"Cassidy?! What's wrong? Where does it hurt?"
"My—back!" Cassidy collapsed on the lab floor. "On the—rock scar!"
Yumi carefully removed Cassidy's pink shirt and looked at the scar. It seemed to spark as if it had been wired with electricity in such a short time. She warily touched it, though Cassidy whimpered as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Yumi flinched back. Even the lightest of touches on that general area would intensify the pain. She could only watch.
"Hang in there, Cassidy, please!" Yumi pleaded. She couldn't afford to lose her friend and Savior.
-Back to Location Unknown-
The tower stopped pulsing.
-Lab-
Pain lifted, Cassidy was reduced to a panting and tearful girl.
"Are you okay?" Yumi asked, worried.
"I—I think so," Cassidy screwed up her eyes in an attempt to recover.
Yumi carefully pressed a finger to her friend's scar again. Cassidy didn't flinch, nor did she whimper. It was as if she was without pain, now.
"Strange," she murmured quietly.
"May I have my shirt back, please? I'm starting to feel cold," the other girl seemed to feel full of energy again, despite the fact that a few seconds ago, she was in a world of pain.
Soon things seemed to calm down again. Yumi slid back to her position in front of the screen.
-To the electrical lines-
Sparks flew from the electrical lines, down the telephone pole in a spiral. It hit the ground and jumped over the rubber dinghy rack into the water. A few seconds later, a black mass took form.
-With Yumi and Cassidy-
"Well, everything seems okay—No open window, no activated tower—I may even get higher than an F on my French test," Yumi muttered.
"Don't speak too soon," Cassidy blinked again. This time her eyes were a slightly lighter shade.
Just as she spoke, the Supercomputer started to beep. Yumi looked back at it just when she was about to move. A window popped up to show one activated tower.
"No. Ah…I guess that's that," Yumi whipped out her phone.
"The signal's still cut between us and the others," Cassidy's eye color turned back to her regular brown.
"Are they on a desert island or what?"
-Back to the gang-
Mrs. Hertz kept going on about the flower and then pointed the group she was teaching elsewhere else. "…of a rare species of butterfly, as we will soon see here in the woods."
Everyone walked off. Nicholas was still on about something. "I didn't see what was so funny. I mean, what's the use of a boat if there isn't any more water?"
The black form came closer. Nicholas and Heidi looked. "Hey, there's a lot of pollution in this lake," he said dumbly as she gasped. He took a stick and poked at the black oily substance. Electricity sprang from it and hit him.
That scene made Heidi scream. "Help! Hurry up! Come quickly, Jim! Mrs. Hertz!" She turned and raced off.
-In Sector 5-
The Schyphozoa made its way up the Celestial Dome and into the North Pole. There it lowered into the room.
-Back to the Lake-
Mrs. Hertz took Nicholas's pulse. "He's in a state of shock, but he's breathing."
"There was this thing in the lake. It was black. It shot a lightning bolt at Nicholas, and it was gone," Heidi explained quickly.
"It must've been an electric eel. I've seen them before," Jim remembered. "When I was a forest ranger in Quebec…"
In the middle of Jim's speech, Ulrich and Jeremie looked to each other in worry. Could this be a XANA attack?
"Jim, enough chatter. Make yourself useful and go get the first aid kit," Mrs. Hertz ordered.
"Right away, Suzanne." Jim ran off.
Heidi was still in shock. "It wasn't an eel. It was much bigger. It was huge!"
It was there that Jeremie decided to speak up. "Ma'am, I—I really think that we're in great danger here."
The elderly science teacher smiled in reassurance. "Now, now, don't worry, Jeremie. These things happen. Everything's going to be just fine."
Suddenly, the black blob in the lake returned, shooting lightning at the shore. Everyone panicked, even those back in the clearing where it was safe.
Theo and another girl said simultaneously, "What's going on, Jim? We're scared!"
Jim popped out of his tent with a case in his hand. "Stay where you are. Let me go check it out" He raced back to the shore. "Ah. An ambulance." He froze at the sight.
Ulrich was holding an unconscious Sissi behind a tree. Jeremie was trying to take Heidi's pulse. Mrs. Hertz was draped over Nicholas. And Hervé was lying on the ground, alone and unconscious.
"Huh? Suzanne?" Jim dropped the first-aid kit. "Whoa…what is happening here…"
-With the Schyphozoa-
The Schyphozoa glided to and placed its tentacles onto the Skidbladnir. Red energy went up into its bruised and scarred membrane.
-With Yumi and Cassidy-
Yumi and Cassidy looked at the screen. "This is just what I was dreaming about one day." After gaining a strange look from the geisha, the cat-girl defended calmly, "Before I had the nightmares, of course."
"XANA's attacking the Skid!" Yumi tried to type on the Supercomputer. "I don't know what to do." She rang up Jeremie's number. "Jeremie, answer, please!"
"Still no service until either A, a connection is possible…"
"And B?"
"…or B, Aelita finds a way to make an antenna using tent posts."
-Back to the gang-
Ulrich, Jeremie, Aelita, and Odd congregated around a spot to talk in private. "We absolutely have to find a way to get back to the factory."
"One step off the island means electrocution for sure," Ulrich told his leader.
"If we could create a diversion, maybe one of us could get away," Odd suggested.
"Okay, you and Ulrich do that. I'll retry to get in touch with Yumi and Cassidy. If only we had an antenna," Jeremie whispered.
Aelita looked over at the tents. "Okay, how big an antenna?"
-With Jim-
Children were screaming and pleading Jim to let them leave. Paul had his arms around Jim's middle. "Calm down now. I don't know what that thing in the lake is, but I can tell you that it'd better watch it, because he's going to have to deal with me, and sparks will start flying… That is, well, there already are sparks." He put his arms around the frightened children. "Well, you know what I mean. Now, to begin with…" he knelt beside Mrs. Hertz, "…we've got to help Mrs. Hertz."
He started shaking her gently. "Suzanne. Suzanne! Say something, Suzanne." When he had no response, he set her down, reeled his hand back, and several students cringed as his hand went across her face.
-On Lyoko-
A familiar figure appeared in the Ice Sector. His face was showing a stone look of anger. Three Krabes took to surrounding him in triangular formation.
-Back with Yumi and Cassidy-
Another window popped up revealing four dots. "Oh, no! That's all we need."
"Don't say it!" Cassidy shivered. "Don't even think it!" She knew it was him. She hated him.
"Okay, for you, I won't say it," Yumi had to concede. She knew the mere mention of William's name would make her friend panic.
Suddenly, Jeremie's face popped up in front of the view window. "Jeremie. About time."
-With Jeremie and Aelita-
"Hey, listen. We're here playing survivor with an aquatic monster that likes to electrocute anybody who comes too close to the shore. Anything on your side?" Jeremie asked, standing close to the makeshift antenna that Aelita made.
-With Yumi and Cassidy-
"We're totally helpless. The activated tower is really well-protected, and the Skid is in the process of losing its energy," Yumi informed.
"Not to mention Mr. Hated just came up," Cassidy shivered.
"Does the Skid have many life points left?" Jeremie asked.
"At the rate things are going with the ship, it's going to be over in no time." The two girls watched the screen.
-With Jeremie and Aelita-
Jeremie covered the mouth piece with his hand and looked to his sweetheart. "Listen. There's no other choice. Ready or not, we have to test the program." He uncovered the piece. "Yumi, Cassidy, do any of you have anything to write with? I'll dictate what you two have to do."
-With Yumi and Cassidy-
Yumi rummaged through her bag. "I oughtta have a pen, since I've got a French test right now!" She pulled out a pen and a pad. "Go on, then, shoot."
-With Jim-
"That's the first time I slugged someone without getting a reaction." Jim looked at his hand.
"You have to give her mouth-to-mouth," a student suggested.
"Yeah, mouth-to-mouth! Of course." Jim leaned in when…
"Jim! You come even a hair closer, and it's the last thing you'll ever do on this earth! Understand?" Mrs. Hertz woke up and gave him a stern look.
He couldn't contain his pride. "Hey! I cured her!" All the surrounding awake students were smiling after that.
-With Yumi and Cassidy-
After a simple suggestion, Cassidy was typing at the Supercomputer. She admitted that she wasn't as fast as Aelita or Jeremie, but could try her best. "Now, shift the energy on the lateral shields on the side of the attack." Cassidy had to pause for a second to refer to her visions. Near the front of the Skidbladnir. "To the right?" she asked as she resumed typing. A window with a red exclamation point in a circle flashed in front of her. "Other right…" The psychic girl consulted the communicator in her ear. "Jeremie, what are these commands? I'm afraid that we need Aelita. No tenemos buena suerte."
-Back to Aelita and Jeremie-
"They'll never make it on their own, Aelita," Jeremie looked to her.
Ulrich and Odd rushed into the area. "Jeremie, we're all set, but we need Aelita," the former told the genius.
"Yumi, Cassidy, the others are trying to get to the factory. Until then, you two better get things prepared for going to Lyoko," Jeremie gave a nod to Aelita, who followed the two bodyguards.
-Back to the two girls-
"Okay," The two girls simultaneously said.
-With the victims-
Heidi, Hervé, Sissi, and Nicholas opened their eyes. "Feeling better?" Jim asked them. "Yeah, obviously. Well, you've all been through a nasty shock."
All of a sudden, a shrill voice made him turn his head. "JIM!"
"Alright, what's the matter, now?"
"Help me, Jim! It's the boats!" Odd raced in and got on his knees.
Jim gave him a look of "Mm-hm". He followed the student to the shore. "Only you can help me retrieve all the defenseless boats out there, Jim!"
"Okay, I heard you. Don't overdo it, now, Della Robbia."
"Look over there!" He pointed out almost all the dinghies in the water.
"Holy moly! How did the boats get into a mess like that?"
"I was searching for my cookie box in one of the canoes, and, well, a wind came up and blew them away. Oh, Jim, help me retrieve them!" Odd pleaded.
"Okay, but you stay right here, you understand," Jim went out on the dinghy left and started in his job.
Meanwhile, another stray dinghy appeared behind a willow tree. Ulrich was paddling the boat. He looked to Odd, who smiled. Jim was going one way and didn't pay attention to the now AWOL boat.
-With Yumi and Cassidy-
The girls stood in their scanners. "Are you sure you are ready for this, Cassidy?"
She blinked hard. "As I'll ever be."
"You don't have to come if you don't want to, right?"
"I know, but I want to save the world as usual. I've already saved your life thousands of times." She nodded to Yumi.
The scanners closed before Yumi could say anything else. Soon they were off to Lyoko in a flash. When they landed, there was no chance for them to talk. They got up and raced across the virtual snow.
-With Jim-
Jim paddled to the first boat. "Okay, here's the first one." He made a grab for it and carried it to the shore.
Then he steeled himself for the next boat, but then the boat was carried by a current. He looked over to where it was going and saw… "Why that's, that's that sneaky Ulrich Stern."
Ulrich kept paddling. He was halfway to shore.
"Come back immediately, will ya?! Stern, I'm responsible for—gah!" Jim asked, standing up and putting a foot in the other dinghy. It wasn't his best idea, for he fell into the water.
-With Yumi and Cassidy-
They stopped near the vicinity. Cassidy turned one tube into a gun and got her wings ready. "I'm ready to fight, Yumi." Though the marked absence of William was a relief, she still feared him. She tried to throw a cold, wet towel on the flames of fear in her mind. This was no time for cowardice.
"Three on two," Yumi had her own worries. With a metallic shing, her fans were flicked out.
"We've had worse chances before," Cassidy became airborne.
The monsters fired. Cassidy had to loop to avoid getting hit. "Okay, Yumi. We need to take out as many as we can, here. Just, be careful."
"Okay, just hold your own, too. Remember…"
"Don't say it!" Cassidy growled before zipping off. She knew what Yumi would say next. "…that William is on the loose, too."
"Is she on her time of month or what?" Yumi muttered quietly.
She soared to a Krabe. "Come little Krabby, I'll take thee away, into the land of Red Lobster… Come little Krabby, the time has come to be slain, here in my games of death…" she sang, laughing.
The other two Krabes kept shooting at Yumi. She cart-wheeled out of harms' way and threw her fans. They ducked and she caught her fans. "Tough guys…"
She jumped off the small embankment and raced to one of the Krabes.
Meanwhile, Cassidy kept shooting at her monster. It kept firing back. Suddenly she was clipped in the shoulder. Fearing the wings disappearing, she fired one last bullet before spiraling into the activated tower, unknowingly disintegrating her enemy. She landed on the platform. Safe and sound. I may have lost forty life points, but I'm still kicking.
Meanwhile, Yumi jumped on one of the Krabes backs and withdrew her fan. The other Krabe fired. Her fan blocked the shot as she threw the other one. It sliced it on the eye symbol. It froze, paralyzed, and then combusted. The force of it threw her off. Luckily, she landed on her feet. The Krabe left charged up to fire. Yumi, with some luck on her side, cart-wheeled out of the way.
The monster started to follow her.
-With Jim-
A dinghy bumped into Jim. He managed to get on it as the water started to bubble.
Ulrich, conversely, noticed it and tried to paddle faster. He must get to the other side to complete their plan. It was the only way.
"STERN, Come back here!" Jim ordered.
The boat's journey to him was interrupted as the black mass started to come up again. Ulrich noticed with a screaming gasp. His strokes became more desperate. The black mass surrounded the dinghy. A lightning bolt jumped up from it and onto him, jolting him into unconsciousness. The boat made it to shore, though he was worse for wear.
The sludgy mass made its way to Jim, next. "Come here, you slime ball. You don't scare me. I've got rubber insole NASA-issued astronaut Space Shoes!" He raised his paddle when the lightning hit him. He flopped around a little before landing over the edge in the dinghy. "'Smarted just a little…"
-With the Skidbladnir-
The Schyphozoa was still stealing the vehicle's energy as it had been.
-Back at Ulrich's dinghy-
A figure emerged from the rubber blanket. It was Aelita. She was super lucky the electricity didn't affect her. Though her facial expression changed when she saw Ulrich, she then smiled when she saw Sissi's bike.
"Let's see how fast I can pedal," Aelita said to herself.
-Back on Lyoko-
Yumi kept cart-wheeling away from the Krabe's blast until she gained ample ground. The Krabe fired again when Yumi cart-wheeled again. She tossed her fan at it. It dodged and shot at her again just as Cassidy was about to emerge. This time it got lucky and hit her, she was thrown into Cassidy and the two were thrown into the activated tower again.
"Cassidy, are you okay?" Yumi asked.
"Still not used to getting a body thrown into me, but yes, I'm alright. We both have sixty life points."
Meanwhile, the fan flew in a slight arc into the Krabe's shell. It found its way into the tower, which Yumi caught. "There we go! The place needed a clean-up."
"Did the Krabe I battled with die?" Cassidy blinked.
"Yes."
"Good."
They were about to exit when Cassidy froze with a whimper. "Yumi?"
"Yes, Cassidy?"
"Is there two of us in the tower? Or is there three?"
"Do you sense someone else?"
She nodded. "I think Mr. Hated is right behind us." A virtual chill went down her spine.
Yumi was about to turn and look when… "Please don't look!"
William Dunbar was indeed there.
-Back to the isle and the lake-
The sludge made its way up to the island. Jeremie typed on his laptop when Odd walked up. "I've got good news and bad news. The good news is that Aelita got through."
"My good news is that I finally managed to get connected to the Supercomputer." The genius smiled, as did the wildcard.
"The bad news is that our black, muddy sludge monster is on the prowl."
-Back to Lyoko-
Yumi and Cassidy were kicked out of the tower. Their stomachs were sparking with electricity. That was some kick.
Red ripples formed and the same stone-faced figure walked out. The XANA sign on both his chest and forehead were keen signs for Cassidy to be afraid. He formed his sword from a black smoke.
Yumi unsheathed her fan and threw it at him. He put up his sword to deflect. It hit only the metal of the zabanto. It was his turn. He charged at them and tried to slash/smash them.
Cassidy jumped up and, like Yumi, flipped backward. She blinked in surprise. How did she learn to do that? She wasn't this brave. She always was afraid to do gymnastics. Holding back was her specialty. Her body wanted to, but her heart held back. But this time it was as if her heart was numb to the moves. Was it her fear of William?
William then tried again, but this time, Yumi twirled and, using one of her fans as an extension of her arm, locked it with William's forehead. "You can never beat us, XANA, ya hear?" She flicked it open in front of his eyes.
William lifted his leg and kicked her in the stomach, and did the same to Cassidy. The two were sent sliding back a few feet. William tried to smash-slash at them again, but Yumi and Cassidy jumped back again. The former girl unsheathed her fan and threw it at him again. He deflected again.
The fan flew over in a slight spiral, in an arch, and cut across Yumi's hand. She shook it to relieve the pain. The girls looked up in time to see William jump up in the air again. The two wheeled to the right and avoided his sword. Cassidy again blinked in surprise. Never before had she shown this much dodge in her life.
William tried to smash/slice them again when they jumped to the left. Yumi got on her hands and jumped, giving him a well-timed kick to the back. He dropped his zabanto. Now it was their turn. Yumi launched her only fan left while Cassidy fired a bullet.
He dropped into the ground as black smoke and slithered under the two girls. He jumped back up. If William ever came too close to Cassidy, she would feel a shiver down her spine. This time, the shiver came with a shriek.
Yumi looked behind her, but felt a boot connect with her stomach. It sent her down to the ground. Soon she was joined by Cassidy, who was also in the same position.
Then William gathered his zabanto. This was it. He raced over to the girls, both of whom were rising, put a boot to their chests, and raised his sword.
Virtual hearts in sync with their panic, Yumi and Cassidy gasped and chorused, as if they had time to rehearse it for years, "NO, WILLIAM! YOU'RE A LYOKO WARRIOR! YOU SWORE TO IT!"
William stopped in his tracks, eyes widening. Suddenly he flashed back.
-William's flashback-
William was in front of the center scanner.
"'You swear not to give away the secret?" Yumi asked.
"Even at the cost of your life, William Dunbar?" Cassidy nodded in agreement.
"I swear," William said formally.
"Good answer, William," said Jeremie approvingly.
-Back to the present-
William dropped his zabanto with a clang. He grabbed at his hair, feeling pain in his head, and then he fell to his knees, away from Yumi and Cassidy.
The two girls looked on with shock, standing up slowly and backing away.
-With Aelita-
Sissi's bike in her control, Aelita started pedaling down the road. This was of grave importance. Internally, she was glad that she had retained the skills needed to propel the vehicle. Though it was nothing like the OverBike, she was glad nonetheless.
-Back at the island-
Everyone was panicking. Odd helped an unconscious-for-the-second-time Mrs. Hertz to walk. Lightning hit a tree and Odd had to jump. "Watch out!" He hollered to Sissi. Luckily all three were unharmed.
A girl was crying.
"Now if Aelita would just get there in time, we can launch the program," Jeremie muttered.
-With Aelita-
Aelita pedaled across the bridge and grabbed the rope to swing to the elevator.
-With William-
More flashbacks ensued. William closed his eyes, shaking.
-William's flashback, part 2-
"Hey, you can still change your mind," Yumi told William.
"Are you kidding?" He stepped into the Scanner and turned around. The doors closed.
-Back with William-
He couldn't take it as he spread his arms apart.
-William's flashback, part 3-
The scanner opened to reveal the newest Lyoko Warrior. Odd was concerned. "Well tell us. How do you feel now?"
"Ready to take on XANA and his monsters!" William smiled.
-Back with William-
He screamed as he put his hands to his head.
Yumi was backing away further. She didn't know what was going on with William, but to her, it seemed dangerous.
Then Cassidy cried, "Please, William, remember. We used to go out with each other. Remember, please?!"
-William's flashback, part 4-
William and Cassidy were walking home with ice cream cones in their hands, laughing. "That was a great joke, William."
"Could you tell me why you had to postpone the date until today?" he wondered calmly.
"Oh, Aelita and I ended up in an accident at the pool. Nothing major. Never again will I have a headache that nearly drowns me," she tittered in love.
"Ah," William nodded. "Bed rest, huh?"
"Doctor's orders."
He smiled. He had found the girl of his dreams at last.
-Back to the island-
Lightning hit the antenna. The current went down to the ground and hit Jeremie's computer, which made him scream a little when he realized something. "Why, of course." The answer was right in front of him. The smile he wore after that grew.
-With Aelita-
Aelita raced to the chair as soon as the elevator opened. "The program's almost complete." She read off a message from Jeremie. "'Is the Skid beyond hope?' No, not yet." Aelita began typing on the program.
-With William-
William started to feel something he hadn't felt in a long time, freedom, but at the same time, it was painful. Soon he opened his eyes.
Yumi and Cassidy gasped in surprise. The former girl walked closer and knelt beside him. "William." She received a grunt in response. "William, listen, it's me, Yumi."
The latter knelt beside him, too. "And me, Cassidy."
William was still in a battle. Yumi and Cassidy looked away when he lifted his head with a cough.
"Oh, William," Yumi gently took his hands and pulled him slowly to his feet.
"Cassidy?" William looked not to the person who helped him to his feet.
"William, you're back," Cassidy felt like rejoicing.
"Cassidy, no! You—you shouldn't be here! XANA…he wants to use you!"
"That doesn't matter, William."
"No! Get devirtualized! Go to Illinois!"
"I can't, William! YOU tore up my only chance home. My parents can't afford to get me back," Cassidy shook her head.
"Get out of here and go home."
"Alright! But before I do, William, why did you kiss me in Sector 5?" she asked.
William looked around the Ice Sector. "Because I—GAH!"
"WILLIAM!" Cassidy's eyes flashed in fearfulness.
"Cassidy, get out of here," William's voice was interchanging with voices that sounded of the Legion and his regular tone.
"William, answer me! Why did you kiss me? Do it quickly!" She really wanted the answer so much her tail was shaking.
"RUN!"
"No," she squeaked. She nearly had his answer. She was so dang close.
Suddenly he went silent. Yumi tried to touch him when he grabbed her hand, doing the same with Cassidy's, evil in his eyes. Yumi flinched. William kicked them again.
Cassidy knew that she would be in danger. She took her choice and raced away.
"Super Smoke!" she heard William say. Suddenly she slammed into him.
A shiver went down her spine again. He was going to flirt with her again, and no amount of trying to play his game was going to save her. Suddenly, a darkish red flash slammed into him, saving her by mere microns.
"Th-Thank you, Yumi," Cassidy looked to her, trying to recover.
William finally managed to gather his zabanto. He looked to Yumi with a look of malice.
-With Aelita-
A window with four towers popped up within Aelita's view. "Okay, it's launched!"
-On all four surrounding sectors of Lyoko-
A tower turned a dark emerald-like green in all four sectors.
-With the Schyphozoa-
With the sudden increase in power, the Schyphozoa was blasted apart.
-Back to Aelita-
Aelita stretched in the 'cushy chair'. "Well, we should feel proud of ourselves. Our program is operational." Then she directed her attention to the action in the Ice Sector, typing on the keys. "Yumi, Cassidy, how are we doing?"
-With the two girls-
"Aelita, at last!" Yumi rejoiced, flipping behind an ice floe. William found his way to her and almost hit her when she ducked out of the way. The ice cracked with his sword. She made it a few yards, then stopped, kicking up virtual snow.
Cassidy also kept time with Yumi. William was after her, too.
"We can't hold on much longer," Yumi informed. "And if I'm out of the picture, Mr. Hated might get the chance to use flirting as a weapon on Cassidy again."
The cat-girl whimpered at that chance.
Mr. Hated swung his zabanto at them. Yumi flipped backward while Cassidy hopped in the same direction. Their shoes met an edge. The latter mentioned girl looked at the Digital Sea, feeling chills down her spine. "He's going to throw us over, Aelita!"
"Give me a moment to set up a delayed virtualization program, and I'm there," Aelita tried to comfort.
-With the others-
Lightning was hitting on all sides. Other students were running in terror. Paul ran past Jeremie, who stood up to give an order. "Okay, everybody! Hurry it up! Run to the antenna over there! It'll be our lightning rod!"
Sissi emerged from behind a tent, as did Heidi. Hervé was ducked and covered halfway in the tent beside them. Nicholas and Magali popped their heads out on the other side.
-Down in the Scanner room-
The doors to Aelita's scanner closed. Soon she was virtualized into Lyoko.
-Back on Lyoko-
Yumi and Cassidy feared the worst. William raised his sword when a pink energy field hit him instead. It shot him into the drink.
"Just in time," Aelita said.
Cassidy and Yumi looked over the edge with the released feeling of sadness.
Aelita approached with caution. "Is something wrong, Yumi, Cassidy?"
Yumi sighed, but looked to her friend. "For a few seconds, there, the real William came back, Aelita."
Cassidy nodded as if mute. She was so close to finding an answer but now it was almost a lost call.
Aelita smiled in sympathy. "That means we'll bring him home someday."
-Back to the isle-
"The electrical discharges are getting more intense. Given the enormous rate of ionization, against the dispersion factor on the ground, they're going to reach a highly critical mass in—let's see, just about seven minutes," Jeremie calculated.
Odd looked to him as if he was crazy. This was no time for science. This was a matter of life or death—literally. "Meaning?"
"In seven minutes, everything on this whole island is going to turn into one big barbecue."
Odd's eyes widened as he let out a shout of panic.
-On Lyoko-
With an energy field, Yumi Ishiyama disappeared off the face of Lyoko. Cassidy took the time to sit on the ground and try to meditate while the pink-haired girl ran into the tower.
-In the scanner room-
Yumi came out of the scanner clutching her side. Gathering her strength quickly, she raced for the elevator.
-Back at the isle-
Everyone was huddled under the antenna now. The lightning was getting worse and the sky was darkening.
-With Aelita-
Aelita raced for the tower and entered it. As soon as she stepped on the center dot, she began to levitate to the second platform, doing a small flip in between.
-Back at the island-
The lightning was getting stronger. Everyone was bracing for impact.
-Back with Aelita-
Aelita's name scrolled on the screen. Then the word Code popped up on screen.
LYOKO
"Tower deactivated."
-Back to the isle-
The sky and water cleared. There was peace throughout the land. Everyone looked up. Jeremie and Odd were the only ones that rose to their feet. "Hey, Benjamin Franklin, do you think Aelita will remember to program a return to the past?"
-Let's see, Odd-
"Go on, Yumi," Aelita ordered softly.
Yumi typed on the keys. "Return to the past, now!"
The white bubble covered all of Earth. With it was a chance to restart anew…
-In the Bus-
"So, I regenerated the shield by activating several towers for a few seconds at a time. That's what saved the Skid," Aelita explained.
Ulrich looked to her. "So, that's what you've been doing while we were gone? What a fun weekend," he finished dryly.
"Anyway, it's effective, isn't it?" Jeremie asked. "Obviously it requires too much energy to be able to use it all at a time."
Odd took his turn. "Hey, how come you are so cool all of a sudden, Einstein? XANA attacks don't scare you anymore?"
Jeremie looked to Aelita. "They're still scary, but since he never makes the same mistake a second time, and since Aelita, Cassidy, and I have been working non-stop for all of this week, we'd like a little, um…" he smiled as he looked to Ulrich and Odd.
Cassidy changed her mind earlier and packed to go camping. She smiled. "We'd like a small vacation, is all."
"That's it," Jeremie looked behind him.
"So why did you decide to stay the first time?" Ulrich asked her.
"For one thing, I thought I was too old to camp. Another thing was that I wanted to get an answer from Mr. Hated."
Ulrich put his hands up. "Okay, we get the picture."
"I never did get it, though. XANA regained control before he could say why." She looked out the window, having gained her double seat for her own, in forlorn. A black and red bag sat in the seat beside her.
Jeremie blushed.
"Is Kiwi staying at the factory?" Odd asked, hoping to change the subject for his friend and ex.
"Yes. I made sure he had plenty of food, newspapers, secretly duplicate copies of Milly and Tamiya's articles, his toys, and everything else," Cassidy kept looking out the window. "I made sure to tell Yumi to check the Supercomputer regularly since our signals will get shot."
Aelita tried to look behind her. "You might get your answer someday, Cassidy."
"I know, it's just disappointing, is all."
Ulrich came up with an idea. "Do you want to play 90 Second Alphabet? It always takes your mind off things."
"Sure," Cassidy looked to him.
And so…they played, gradually bringing in the whole bus with it. The Lyoko Warriors held their secret in when that happened, though Cassidy admitted, she was feeling better and better throughout the game.
