Author's Note: Before you begin to read this chapter, a quick warning. This chapter is rated T for it involves dark violence and fatalities. Please read with an open mind.

-FakeACU83 (Author)


Chapter 54: Brandon's Backstory

Abandoned Factory-Computer Lab

The gang could not believe that Brandon was with them. The old warriors were shocked as well, but not so much compared to their younger allies. Brandon felt uneasy, as the gangs shocked faces turned into death glares.

Natalie: What on Earth are you doing here? And how did you know we were here?

Brandon: Well, Gary and Jonah sure made it obvious after they hightailed it out of the gym.

Suddenly, all eyes were glued to Gary and Jonah who held their hands up in defense.

Gary: Hey now, cut us some slack here man.

Jonah: We didn't even know that we were being followed.

Brandon: They're not the ones to blame. I figured it all out.

The gang and the warriors looked at him confused.

Alexis: What do you mean you figured it all out.

Brandon: Maybe I should elaborate a little bit. Now you guys might not believe me at first, but just here me out.

So everyone listened.

Brandon: Since November, I've been having these sort of memory flashbacks about events that happened before, that I thought never happened at all. One of them was a giant chemical monster that attacked and melted down Kadic. Another was the time when Kadic was under siege by weird monsters with a strange eye on them before Christmas Break. And another was Matthew's attack on Kadic after he got possessed by a jellyfish type monster. But the flashback that started it all was the time when the zoo animals were possessed and they attacked Kadic. Matthew led myself, Carrie and Casey to this very spot. Then the next thing I knew, I was back at Kadic again. That's when I started having those memory flashbacks and only after today's attack on Kadic did I fully realize what's going on and how you guys are involved in it. Matthew mentioned this to me when the animals attacked. He said something along the lines of, "You see, those animals are being possessed by a computer virus called XANA and its up to us to go to the old factory and stop him." At first, I thought he was mental but after what happened at the gym, I finally put it all together. I know who XANA is and I know you guys are fighting against him.

The warriors eyes were as wide as dinner plates and their jaws practically dropped to the floor. Somehow, someway, Brandon has discovered their secret. But before they could say anything else, he spoke again.

Brandon: I also heard that you guys are in need of help of trying to stop XANA and Matthew. Well, I figured why can't I help?

Natalie: YOU?! AFTER ALL THE THINGS YOU'VE DONE?! YOU TRIED TO BREAK ME AND MATT UP FOR AS LONG AS I AND EVERYONE ELSE CAN REMEMBER! YOU'VE ALSO FORCED ME TO BE YOUR GIRLFRIEND AFTER I REFUSED AND TRIED TO HURT ME! YOU'VE BEEN NOTHING BUT A SELFISH, LOWLIFE BULLY WHO DOES NOTHING FOR HIMSELF OR IN CLASS AND ALWAYS GETS AWAY WITH IT!

That was the last straw for Brandon.

Brandon: YOU'RE WRONG NATALIE! YOU'RE ALL WRONG! THERE'S MORE TO MY LIFE THAN YOU THINK! THERE'S A REASON I'M THIS WAY AND ONE THAT I DON'T LIKE TO DWELL ON!

Gary: Yeah right Brandon. Like there's a reason that you're...

Hopper: THAT IS ENOUGH!

Everyone went quiet as Hopper gathered his emotions.

Hopper: I realize that you young ones may not trust this boy for the things that he has done. But we are in need of another warrior and here's a potential candidate right here. If he says he has a reason why he's this way, then why must it be so disrespectful for him not to say it?

Natalie: But Mr. Hopper you don't understand, he can't be trusted at all. He might just end up turning his back on us or...

Hopper: Sometimes Natalie your biggest rivals can become the greatest of allies.

Natalie: But...but...

Natalie was trying to think of anymore excuses to not let Brandon join their group, but unfortunately she couldn't think of any and stayed silent.

Hopper: Young Brandon, you have the floor.

Brandon: Thank you sir. I have never spoken about this to anyone in my entire lifetime. It's not something I like to remember. But if it'll get you all to trust me and allow me to help you all fight Matthew and stop XANA, then I'm willing to tell you all.

The gang looked at each other then looked at their elders, who gave a nod in approval. The gang reluctantly agreed to let Brandon explain himself. So Brandon took a deep breath and explained his past.


8 Years Ago

Versailles, France

Brandon: It all started about 8 years ago, back when my parents and I lived in Versailles. We lived in the wealthy part of the suburbs. My dad worked as a successful lawyer while my mother was a Stay-at-home mom. Although I didn't go to school there and I didn't get a chance to make very many friends. Instead I was home-schooled by my mother while my dad worked. I didn't get to see him that often because he worked so much, but whenever I did see him, he and my mom would always spend a lot of time with me. Whether it would be playing outside, or simply just sitting down to watch a movie. Life was great for us back then...until one night around late November. It was a cold night that night. A little snow was falling if I remember correctly and I remember sleeping soundly in my room with my parent's room just down the hall from mine. It was around 1 AM I think when everything in my life would change forever.

Outside Brandon's house, two men dressed in black came snooping up the front yard. Brandon didn't know it at first, but these men were about to rob their house and rob everything Brandon ever knew and loved. The burglars put on their black masks as one of them pricked the lock on the front door. The house didn't have any security system installed either, so it was easy for the men to break in. Once they were in, they began ravaging through the home, stealing every single precious valuable they had. They stole fine and expensive jewelry. They stole priceless paintings and photographs. They stole some kitchen appliances as well as CD's and gold watches among other things. The men were about to go after the giant flat-screen TV next, for they had a big enough bag with them already. As they were moving the TV out of place, one of the men accidentally knocked over several of Brandon's family photos. The photos crashed to the ground with glass shattering everywhere.

Brandon: I heard the sound of glass breaking from the living room. I didn't think much of it at first, because I was too tired to even think at that point. But then, I heard the sound of my dad coming out of his bed and rushing down the hall. I also heard my mother following him a moment later. That's when I started to get a little nervous. I climbed out of my bed and pressed my ear against my door to see if I can hear what was happening. I wish I hadn't now though.

The men knew that they're cover would be blown if Brandon's father heard the glass shattering, and they were soon to be proven right. From around the corner, Brandon's father saw the men and the mess they made to their living room. Anger grew up inside him.

Father: HEY YOU TWO! PUT ALL THAT BACK AND GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!

The men didn't do what they were told. Instead, they kept about their business trying to get the TV out. Brandon's father snapped and he charged in at the burglars. He bodyslammed into one of them knocking the TV out of his hands. The tussle began between the two and soon, the second robber got involved and tried to pry Brandon's father off of his partner. At this point, his wife came rushing down when she heard the sound of fighting going on. She saw the quarrel going on before her eyes but she didn't do anything. She was scared out of her wits and just stood their like a statue. The father fought hard against the burglars, but he was starting to get overrun. He sucker-punched one of them square in the face, but then the robbers ganged up on him and knocked him to the ground. The wife saw this and immediately rushed in to help. She tried her best to pry one of the crooks off her husband, but their strength was too much compared to her. Then...it happened.

*BANG BANG BANG BANG*

Brandon: ...All of the sudden...I heard 4 gunshots go off. Then afterwards, I heard footsteps running out of the house...and then there was silence. I slowly opened my door and made my way to the living room. But when I got there...

Brandon paused for a moment. He was trying to fight back his tears that were starting to flood his eyes.

Brandon: ...I saw 2 bodies laying on the floor. I couldn't really see who they were at that time, so I turned on the lamp that was next to me. And when I did...I saw that the bodies...were my parents.

The gang and the warriors gasped in horror at what he just said.

Brandon: My dad was on the floor with my mother lying on top of him...blood puddling around them. I was petrified...I didn't know what to think. When I finally got my sense back, I quickly dialed 911 and within a few minutes, the paramedics were there. But by then...it was too late. I saw them placing them in large white body bags and putting them in the ambulance. That's when the chief paramedic came up to me and broke the news to me.

Chief Paramedic: I'm sorry Brandon...but your parents didn't make it. They both took gunshots to the chest and they were killed instantly.

Brandon: That was it. Everything I known and loved...was taken from me. I didn't know what to think. I didn't know what to do. All I did was fall to my knees and cried till morning.


End Flashback

The warriors stood their mouths agape, silent, and still as ice.

Mariah: So...what happened after that?

Brandon: After that, I was put into a Foster home in Paris, that was actually about 30 miles from Kadic. My foster parent enrolled me into a public Elementary School and later Middle School. But for some reason, she looked down on me as a worthless excuse for a child. She blow up at me whenever I wasn't passing my classes. She would beat me down when I disobeyed her orders. She would hate me and the world and was never afraid to speak her mind about it. Something in me changed that day. I rapidly lost my control and went into a deep depression. The same hate that she out on me, I ended up spreading it around. That's why you guys see me the way I am now. It's because of the way that I was treated by my Foster mother after my parent's death. I try to control my anger, but I always end up failing. Sometimes, I would look out into the sky and stare at it, wondering if my parents would still even care about me if they knew what I've done.

The warriors were silent. The gang looked ashamed. They had no idea that Brandon had gone through such a tragedy so young in his life.

Brandon: Natalie, I'm sorry for tricking Stephanie into breaking you and Matt up. And Stephanie said that she is also sorry for being a part of it. We both know now that you're in love with him dearly, and that we were too stupid enough not to realize it sooner. And I'm also sorry to you guys for trying to butt into your business when it wasn't my place to be and for being a big jerk overall. I understand if you guys don't want to forgive me that easily, but I hope that I cleared myself up for you guys.

Brandon turned around and was about to climb back up the ladder when...

Natalie: Wait...

He turned back around and faced the gang.

Natalie: We look at you now and we don't see the "Bad Boy Brandon" that we all once knew. We don't see a boy, who always kept himself to himself, never focused on his studies, and harassing other students and getting away with it. We don't see that anymore. What we see now, is a young man who's life changed through a very traumatic experience that happened long ago. We see a boy who's in need of guidance and friendship. We realize that we were all wrong in judging you the way we did. We forgive you Brandon, we all do. Right guys?

Gang: RIGHT!

Brandon smiled slightly.

Brandon: You...you mean it?

Alexis: Wholeheartedly. And to make it up to you, we've come to a conclusion.

Jonah: Mr. Hopper does have a point. We can't handle Matthew by ourselves.

Gary: We're in need of another Lyoko Warrior to help us fight against Matthew and stop XANA.

Natalie: We've given it a lot of thought just now. So we want to ask you, would you want to join The Young Lyoko Warriors?

Brandon's smile grew even wider.

Brandon: I would be honored! Thank you guys for giving me a chance. I promise I won't disappoint you.

Brandon moved in closer and the gang accepted him in with a large group hug. A round of applause came from the old warriors and Franz Hopper.

Hopper: (to himself) Sometimes your biggest rivals can become the greatest of allies.

As soon as the gang released their grip on Brandon, Franz Hopper spoke up.

Hopper: Now Brandon, we need you to go down to the scanner room. We are going to virtualize you onto Lyoko and quickly get you trained for the fight against XANA. But the question is, are you up for it?

Brandon: Yes sir, I am!

Hopper: Then off to the scanner room young one. Chop Chop! Time's a wasting!

Brandon did what he was told as he stepped into the elevator and descended down to the scanner room to begin a new journey. A journey as a Lyoko Warrior.


Now things are surely going to get interesting. Brandon is going to become a Lyoko Warrior. I bet you guys didn't see that one coming. Now the gang know the true story behind Brandon...but unfortunately Matthew doesn't. How is he going to handle seeing his biggest rival on Lyoko? Can Brandon stand up to the challenge? Or will Matthew prove to be too much for him also? These questions and more will soon be answered within the coming chapters of New Youth. For now, thank you guys so much for reading this latest chapter. If you liked it, be sure to leave me a review telling me and be sure to follow and favorite the story if you haven't already. Keep the love and support coming and stayed tuned for Chapter #55!

Until then, as always, FakeACU83 OUT!