This chapter came after a prayer and seeing what came of it, I'm more than pleased, and I thank God for the result. I hope you all are safe and warm as I know it's mainly cold the northern hemisphere over. I hope you're all warm and I'll see you next chapter. Read, Review and Enjoy.

Pagliacci-11.

Chapter 81

It was early morning, as Ulrich faded from sleep into the waking world, hearing a knock at his door. He got up, and he answered and saw Jeremy, Aelita, and to his surprise, Odd standing before him in the hallway of his mother's house.

Aelita said, "Are you alright? We're going to test our theory this morning. Are you ready?"

Ulrich groaned, "It's so early. Alright, give me a sec to get dressed."

He disappeared behind the door, and Odd leaned against the hallway wall, "I hope we can make the most of this. I only have today off for in-service."

Aelita nodded, "The good news is we have a lot of this down so we can make the most of our time away. We've clocked Jim and even calculated Alfonse's bits of suspicion, so we should be good."

Odd grunted in affirmation, for it was admittedly still early, and to get a ride from where he was at Aulamerta was already challenging, "Question though. How do you know our clones won't be the same as our near disaster with Dopplehander?"

Jeremy looked at him, "I've learned to calibrate a few elements of our specters once we got a good look at the code. It will work, and it can work well, but the drawback is it's a short window. We'd have to be done with our mission as a general thing within half an hour from the second we fire our clones up. The trade-off is, we can have it longer, but we'd be risking them becoming really dumb."

"Ah, so optimum efficiency short as hell window. Gotcha. Is there a way we can have it closer to the ideal?"

"Well, until we genuinely take time with the clones proper and test them, we only know of how long they'll be around. Optimum condition it will be half an hour; however, with rain, we can boost that, but we'd be standing out in the rain, or one of us would be. So, we can have a truly stellar clone; unfortunately, it requires one of us to be off mission detail."

Odd groaned, "Can't win for losing, I guess."

Soon Ulrich came out, fully dressed, and he said, "Alright, let's go."

The group headed out the front door after bidding good day to Ulrich's mother. Once outside, they headed towards the Hermitage.

"So, what's going on then? How's this gonna' work?" Ulrich asked.

Jeremy smiled, "I think it best if we just show you."

They headed along to the Hermitage, but Ulrich and Odd saw from a distance that the Hermitage's roof was a great deal still in working order, but it seemed more challenging, more robust. They headed inside, and where the living room had been in disarray, it was now straightened. Additionally, what looked like photo booths were set up, two on either side of the room.

Odd was surprised, "So, your version of a scanner is a photo booth?"

"Kinda. See, the photo booth and the scanners were very much in the same way in terms of function." Jeremy explained, "The only real issue was getting the key component data for the actual scanning element, which thanks to a bit more digging we were able to complete."

Ulrich nodded, "Wow, you guys did your homework on this one, huh?"

"It wasn't easy, not by a long-shot." Aelita replied, "Sylvia overhauled a lot of the old access points. We were lucky to get what we have here. The thing is, these scanners work. They aren't the prettiest, but they work. I've gone through my own test run.

Ulrich asked, "How did you come back to us without being devirtualized."

"I worked it into the coding that each one of us has an Evacuation function that works without hostile engagement. It's a one-time use per operation so, you'd have to use it wisely. Because once you use it, you can't go into Lyoko for a full forty-eight hours. It's convenient, sure, but has a bit of a major payoff."

Odd nodded, "So, if we use this, we won't be able to act for forty-eight hours. Yeesh, that is one lockdown I don't want a part of. But wait, do these evacs store up?"

"I tried working on them to make sure they could store and reduce your window, but that's proven impossible so far. Every time I've tried, the Evac component breaks, and my discovery gauge goes down."

"Discovery gauge?" Ulrich asked, "what's that?"

"Well, it works like this. Jeremy and I have been able to tap into and rewrite key elements of Sylvia's warrior protocol. It gave us access to a few of her tools for her troops, including the discovery gauge meaning you can move unseen, even undetected, so long as you don't go into the immediate peripheral vision of an enemy. So, we've tested this, and it works, and due to the dye-markers as we call them, we can see just what an enemy sees provided we don't blow our cover."

Ulrich nodded, "Very cool, okay, so you went in first; what have you seen?"

"It differs from place to place. Sometimes it's a slum; sometimes, it's a massive sprawl. Sylvia apparently can change the location on a whim, which is observed the more you approach the core."

"Wait, wait!" Odd said, "You were nearly at the core, and you weren't found out?!"

Aelita smiled, "It's a benefit of knowing what to look out for. That said, I didn't see any of our traditional monsters or anything like that. I didn't see any vanguard units or protectors, which is weird. But that's what this mission is for. If Sylvia doesn't detect us, we can do a whole lot of fieldwork and surveillance as a group and get out of there when we need to."

"Okay," Ulrich said, "And how are we staying in contact with Einstein? Won't Sylvia's systems realize us talking?"

Aelita nodded, "You're right, they would. Anything above a whisper is definitely out. However, there is an obvious way to do this." She reached into her pocket, "We've gotten the system so we can take one mission tool with us." She opened her hand, a small brass shape, "Do you recognize this?"

The boys shook their heads, and she nodded, "This is going to be our tool for communication. One-click means friend, and that's all we need. Two clicks will mean enemy. So, from this point on, we're operating under one simple code-phrase, 'Operation Overlord.'"

The boys nodded, "So, with these suits," Odd replied, "How are they going to work?"

"You two will disrobe down to the bare skin." Jeremy explained, "you will put on these." He pointed to two folded pairs of silver clothing, "And you will enter the scanner. We will scan you, and when you come back from the field, your clone should be ready, and we'll proceed from there."

Odd and Ulrich nodded and headed upstairs to change while Aelita looked at Jeremy, "And Yumi?" she asked, "We can't keep her out of this forever, you know?"

"I'm aware, believe me. However, such as it is, we can't trust what we see. Doubly more so now than before. So, we'll get Yumi, and we'll bring her into the specter element, and we'll make sure she's a genius at manipulating her specter from afar. That way, she'll run interference at Kadic should the need ever arise."

"Alright, so when we go in, what will the boys' loadout be like, as Odd would say?"

"That's the thing. Since we've deviated from Sylvia's template, it's going to be not as random but random enough to where we'd have to anticipate it, like being on Lyoko for the first time. However, this isn't such a bad thing, namely because the group will have firearms and what they are like we'll have to see. You turned out alright with your rail shotgun; hopefully, Odd and Ulrich will as well."

"What will we do as well?" Odd asked as he came in with his silver swimming trunks on, followed by Ulrich soon after.

"Oh, uh, well, here's how it is." Jeremy replied, albeit nervously, "Since we're deviating from Sylvia's templates, it's going to be hard to see what your weapons kit will be, and the thing is you'll only be able to look at your weapons kit, not use it. But, as your weapons are based on Sylvia's mindset for Lyoko, you'll have firearms; I'm just not sure what type."

Ulrich shrugged, "Hey, it beats feudal weapons; that's all I can say. Besides, firearms aren't so bad. It just takes time to master them."

"True, but I'll miss my laser arrows." Odd replied, "Eh, we'll see why the Wheel of Madness has for us, huh?"

He entered one of the booths, "Beam me up, Scotty!"

Jeremy looked at Ulrich, "Are you ready?"

"I don't have much choice. If Sylvia goes off the rails, might as well get started now." He entered the cell next to Odd, and Aelita entered the booth next to Ulrich, and she nodded.

Jeremy began typing, "Scanner, Odd; Scanner, Ulrich; Scanner, Aelita." He finished the code, "Virtualization."

The group dropped onto Lyoko, and the first this Odd did was check his weapon, "Oh, heck yes." He said, just audibly clutching the smooth barrels of what his dad called "Steel Shredders," the M134 Mini-Gun. To his amazement, the weapon was immensely lightweight made of a unique form of silver with the barrel the likes of which he'd never seen before. He had a pistol for close range, a 1911 Colt made of the same material.

"Oh, this is a definite upgrade." Odd said as he admired his guns, barely able to contain himself, "What about you, Ulrich?"

Ulrich was checking out his weaponry, and he was by no means disappointed. A machine gun seemed to be with him in addition to a combat knife and group of grenades, "I can't complain." Far more tactical than I've thought possible, way more versatile." he said with a smile.

Aelita, however, was transfixed; the blonde from her dream a few days prior was still within her brain, and the presentation Odd sported was an eerie presentation of the ghost of her dream shook her for a second. She shook herself out of it, "Come on, we have work to do. Jeremy, we're going to advance to the mid-point of the sector. Where are we?"

"You're in what used to be the Ice Sector. I'll see what you guys see through the neural link that is in your suits. So, silence will be more achievable. Whenever you're ready, guys."

Aelita lead segment by segment, keeping in mind the time they had. As they progressed through the ice sector, all were amazed at what had been done with the sector. It was as they could see turned into a thriving cityscape in the setting of winter. Aelita was smart, Ulrich saw as she largely stuck to rooftops to avoid detection by the civilian bots below. It was more complicated than she'd dare admit because Aelita could see the dyed markers of the bots' sights. But all in all, they were meeting their objectives, slowly mapping out the former ice-sector.

Then the group aw them, one of their old enemies, the Kankrelets. Aelita gestured to their wrists where there were two buttons, one blue, one red, and she indicated the blue and aimed it at one of the tiny creatures. The other two did as well, and to their amazement, the Kankrelets had been given a massive upgrade. The monster had been made more of a natural element attacker relying less on the laser than in the past but acidic spray and acidic projectiles.

But to Odd, his fear was the data he saw on his screen, "Lethality to Agent: 10/10. 1 hit to devirtualize agent due to lingering acidic effect." Ulrich saw a five out of ten in terms of lethality, while Aelita saw three out of ten.

The group pressed on past the Kranks, and in time they made it a quarter way through the sector. Sylvia had beefed these places up to not only be longer but to focus on a variety of things. As Odd was using the blue-button which he chalked up to an informational scanner, the arctic sector was, by all evidence, the genuine penal colony of Sylvia's operation. Everything in the ice-sector was designated to raw production immense factory smokestacks were everywhere while as they passed key information points, Odd was scanning primary buildings for reference.

Of the major buildings, he saw a customs' house for shipping a biome-enclosed plantation that specialized in all manner of foods, the biome itself taking up the space of an entire small city. There was a research hub geared towards the civilian sector and all manner of work therein to advance civilian progression, such as energy output from rivers to fuel the city's power grid.

Much of what the group was seeing was amazing, and yet it was strange that the Kranks were the only monsters they'd seen up to this point. They'd run out of the higher buildings to hide upon, so they came to lower building too, which they were more cautious having to frequent the side-streets and alleyways. Finally, upon approaching the first quarter's gate, they saw another one of their old enemies, the tarantulas. However, to everyone's surprise, they, like the Kranks, had been reevaluated. They were no longer the spindly creatures under XANA, but as the scans revealed the following, they knew they were in for a fight.

"North-Gate Civil Police Sentinel. Cybernetic Organism. Specialty: Non-Lethal target apprehension and suppression. Lethal force is possible when in the proximity of Overseer Units' "Military Arming" protocol. Primary weapon: Electro-Shock Twin-Barrel Repeating Rifle/Ballistic Twin-Barrel Rifle. Durability 8-9/10. Mobility 5/10. Range 9-10/10. Notes."

Aelita thought, "She's making this place a living arsenal." Spotting a ladder, Aelita motioned for Ulrich and Odd to follow her, and as they advanced over the quadrant, Aelita stopped them mid-step and pointed down; they had just barely missed setting off a static alarm. She and the others move gently around the glowing rhombus and over the wall.

Once over, they hid behind a North-Gate propaganda poster to catch their breath. The extent and attention to detail were beyond excellent for the city. In many ways, Aelita knew why it was so layered that one slight hiccup in an enemy's operation would bring the entire sector down on them.

As they rested, the warriors heard a deep and pulsating hum from nearby, and it was growing closer. Odd gestured, saying he'd look, and as he looked, Ulrich and Aelita rested. Suddenly, Ulrich's arm was tapped silently by Odd, who motioned him to look out from the other side of the poster. They both look at each other, their faces transfixed in sheer terror. Aelita looked at the two, not at all comforted by what they portrayed. Aelita took Odd's place, and soon her terror-stricken expression matched her comrades'.

She pressed the blue button and, after a scan, gently clicked the red button for the two boys on their wrists before clicking her own.

Jeremy saw the booths open, and when the warriors stepped out in stunned silence. Jeremy spoke in stunted sentences due to what he'd seen, "I saw. This isn't playtime anymore. I—I couldn't believe it. I still—" he was at a loss for words looking at the image on his screen. He read the data over and over, and the more he read, the more his legs grew weak, and his bowels turned to water. Jeremy bolted outside behind a far-off bush.

Ulrich looked at Aelita, "Does this ever happen?"

"Only when he's scared shitless," Aelita replied and looked at the image he had looked at. "Can you blame him?"

She turned the laptop Jeremy had been using around and showed them.

Odd shook his head, truly unnerved, "No need."

"No!" Aelita said, her eyes burning with anger, "You need to because you need to comprehend what my monster of a sister has done! Look at it! Read it out loud!"

Odd swallowed hard and read the following, "Icarus. Class: Hybrid. Strength 10/10 Lethality to Agent 15/10 (Do Not Engage!) Strengths: Resilience; Hovering ability; Command over Mobile Tactical Spheres; Summoner (Can call in Reinforcements) Target Definition (Increase accuracy over long ranges and can stack with the additional active Mobile Spheres; Primary Weapon: Amplified Laser and Sonic projectile Cannons. Secondary Weapon: N.A. Weaknesses: N.A. Secondary Function: N.A."

Ulrich looked at Jeremy, who was seemingly very sick, and he said, "Considering what this is, I'd shit my pants too."

The screen showed a blue holographic breakdown of Icarus, a massive spherical body reminiscent of the Megatank only much larger. It floated in mid-air, the tendrils akin to the Scyphozoa emanated like a lesser form of a stringy kilt, and it was from these tendrils that the humming sound was heard. At the mid-point of the spere were rotating white orbs, but Aelita knew them well, the energy-based launchers of the Krabs.

But atop the great black ball of death was another sight more horrifying than all of this: Herve Pinchon. He was mechanical from the waist up; his arms were machines but elegant and of whitish translucent steel and gold. But his head was augmented so that his eyes needed no spectacles, and his hair was classic Herve, ordered and neat. But what was worse still was the expression of Herve's face, that of a bizarre and twisted joy.

Odd looked at this, and he looked at Aelita, "You may have your right of point of view with your sister, but you need to consider that from the look on the Pimple Prince's face, he doesn't seem to be suffering. So, as much as you give her the third degree, how do you know Herve didn't choose this fate?"

"What kind of nut job would choose this?!" Aelita retorted, "Look at—look at him! A smile doesn't always mean what you think it does!"

"It may not, but equally in the field, he seemed far from discontent. So, take that as you will." Odd replied, "Additionally, Sylvia doesn't work with your weaknesses; she works with your strengths. So, with that in mind, is it genuinely surprising to see Herve The Terrible? Not to me."

"Oh, so what now, Odd?" Aelita asked, "What, you're excusing her behavior, turning a relatively harmless egghead into a Frankensteinian abomination from Hell?"

"Sylvia's not turning him into shit, Aelita! He chose this path on some level! Sylvia works with what is not what she wants from you! That comes later! So, despite you seeing nothing but psychopathy, your judgment can't be trusted if your sister were brought into a court of law. Put it this way, do you even know why you hate her? Oh, sure, she's nuts. You're a broken record on that point. Why is she crazy? Ever think about that? Can you answer such a question without anger?"

"You just haven't seen what I have; that's all I can say about that. However, this is not the time to discuss that. The simple fact is we must wait forty-eight hours before we go back and face Franken-Clank and his army of monsters. But the sad truth that's just one sector. Who knows what else remains in the grand scheme of this kind of thing."

"Aelita, I think I might know just what we have coming to face us," Odd said. "When I spoke to Sylvia, she said that there was a plan in place for every conceivable biome North-Gate would likely face. However, there's one major problem. Lyoko has all manner of local biome, and from that, I think we have all forms of what not to face when it comes to new creatures.

I only know of one that I'm in charge of; well, I formerly oversaw. When I knew it, the unit was called The Dreadnaught. It's derived from the desert and forest region hybrid and the production out of those regions. It's a primary fighting ship for Sylvia in the Digital Sea. When I was there, it was one of four distinct units for the sea; one unit for each trusted commander which had legions of lesser creations of the same design."

Ulrich nodded, "We saw Sylvia has reorganized what was a former raw machine into a natural biological construct element with just the Kranks. So, if that is just one example, and we've seen what she's done with Herve, there's all kind of nightmarish whatnot she could throw at us. On some level, we're going to be underprepared until she shows what she's fully capable of."

"Additionally, she knows how to resurrect fallen units." Odd replied, "We saw that. Also, she knows how to keep them fighting. If we face Sylvia, it'd have to be as a coordinated strike, and unlike last time, she'd play for keeps, not a spar."

"So, what do you recommend we do, Odd?" Aelita asked, "She's kept us on raw defense and sit and wait for a while, and this is as good an approach as we have right now. My plan is simple, categorize what we know the creatures are and train how best to take them down through a program that Jeremy and I are making."

"Yeah, and that's good; I don't knock the idea. But there are many X-factors that people like Herve have that could destroy us, and until we engage them in combat, we won't know just what those abilities are. So, sadly, we'll have to face him and the other lieutenants soon. However, you're right. We should take it slow. Right now, we can't afford any fuck-ups. So, I agree. Let's go with your approach because I think we'd be running in circles trying to find a better plan."

"Thank you. But, Odd, I know Sylvia's not wrong in what she sees as wrong; I'd be stupid not to see it. But do you genuinely believe some of her ideas would last in the long term?"

Odd thought a moment and replied, "It's not that they wouldn't work or last. But they are an alternative to systems that already exist right now. To her, humanity is a bunch of children at best, dogs or brute beasts at worst. Children like new and shiny things just because they're new. In many ways, the way she has things is very clearly worded. It's what you see and hear is what you get.

If she sees you like a beast, you will either be a beast that is put to burden in the fields until your rebellion is exhausted through hot and hard work, or you are shown care, pending how resistant you are to her. Or, at worst, you're sent to the coliseum for the amusement of the people. Now I know what you'll say. You'll say, like a normal person, the coliseum is a filthy and bloody affair.

But to Sylvia, her view is, 'So what if it is? People fought the idea of Social Insurance and the like when they first introduced. Sometimes you have to go backward to go forwards is all I'm saying.'

She told me to ask you this, Aelita. 'What do you call incarceration for natural life, two life terms, or whatever miscellaneous bullshit the so-called champions of justice and law throw your way to meet a quota? Having to share a fucking toilet with another man or woman, you call that justice and punishment for the rest of your days? If that's your vision of justice, I should kill your judges, lawyers, and lawmakers and rewrite your sad redefined excuse for slavery just as it is, The human alternative to the slave ship! Landlocked storage houses of the nation for our true slave labor that is the epitome of free.'"

"Easy, Odd." Ulrich said and gently stepped forward, "What our brave revolutionary thinks are abuse, it's rooted in its abuse, that much is clear and likely from what she's seen. However, she forgets that crime and punishment have their place in our civilized world. However, to give her credit, I can see where the corrections institution can be easily abused. Heck, my great-uncle was one of the major elements that contributed to our hometown police having such a disdained view as far as the public is concerned. That said, as dark as her method can be termed through being misconstrued, even I agree with Sylvia on that one stance. It's better to have an expedient element than have someone rot for years in a living hell."

"I'd advise this is what we do." Jeremy said, having recovered and returned to the group looking like grim death, "We have to source North-Gate's shell operations. Herve went to one of the more prestigious universities and a few others from Kadic now that I think about it. So—what if Kadic is Sylvia's proving ground?"

"You'd think that were the case, but no," Odd replied. "Kadic was simply the last operations base for Franz Hopper on the run from Carthage, and so, Sylvia's mindset was to stake out the place until Lyoko showed evidence of activity. Besides, if your mother, Anthea, is on the side of what used to be Carthage, and Sylvia attacked Mercier, why would she blow up her own building? Kadic is tied to Aulamerta, Mercier, and I think one other place. Apart from that, again, why would she attack herself? It doesn't make any sense."

"If that were the case, Odd, and she was staking out Kadic to find Lyoko, why not act and take us out?" Aelita asked, "Seems someone like her would swoop in and blitz XANA and Lyoko in one fell swoop. We'd be collateral damage by her logic."

"Yeah, until you consider what North-Gate is." Ulrich replied, "Remember, it was a contingency plan to beat XANA into a standstill as it dissected him. With us wiping the floor with discount HAL, it makes perfect sense for Sylvia to hang back in the shadows and keep watching us. Besides, we don't exactly know who her inside people are, and there are things that you may know about her, Aelita, but she probably knows a lot more about you."

"Odd, you're still in Sylvia's good graces, right?" Jeremy asked, "Did you get any idea as to just how Sylvia's true structure works?"

"Not as much as I'd have liked. She plays her cards very close to her chest. The only ones I know of on her greater staff are those under codenames. Silent Sanford, Mengele, and Minsk."

"Wait, did you say Mengele?" Jeremy asked.

"Yeah, it's the name of Sylvia's physician, and I always have to talk to her first before talking to Sylvia. It's a long process, and Mengele really pisses me off. I thought Sylvia was full of herself; this chick's on a whole other level."

"Mengele?" Ulrich asked, pondering, "The Nazi?"

"It wouldn't surprise me if that codename came from him," Aelita replied.

"Wait, who's Mengele?" Odd asked.

"A lunatic doctor from the second world war." Jeremy replied, "A genuine monster as close to Dr. Shreg as you'd ever want to be. But you said it's a woman you deal with. Any particular accent or anything like that?"

Odd shook his head, "She sounds normal—no distinctive anything. Fluid French speaker, I wouldn't be surprised if it was her second language. But, yeah, I have to go through her to even talk to Sylvia."

Aelita nodded, thinking, "I really am unique then. She makes Odd go through this entire mess of routine check-ins, and I can talk to her largely whenever. Or could, more accurately."

Soon, Ulrich's watch beeped, and he checked it, "Hour's up, gotta' head back. I'm going with my mom to one of her main social things in Marseilles, so I'll be gone most of the evening and even tomorrow."

"What's your mom up to these days?" Odd asked, "Since the separation, I mean."

"She's a good deal more relieved; more herself. She's into fashion more than she was, and honestly, Odd, she's not bad. I think your mom and her would get along quite well as far as that's concerned, you know?"

"They might. Mom's kinda particular about her fashion vision. A lot like grandpa Daniel that way. He never made duplicates of his paintings but simply made one painting out of the hundreds he made. Mom follows in that mindset, especially when showing off her stuff in Moscow."

"Your mom has a real love of Moscow, Odd," Jeremy said.

"Yeah, can't blame her; she was born there. She grew up there and only came to Norway when Dad was on tour. That's why my sisters are kinda' different. They love Russian literature and art more than Norwegian because I think Mom spoiled them a bit. So those pompous eggheads things they know more than I do just because they've read a few more books."

"Intelligence isn't everything in your family, surely, Odd," Aelita asked. For the first time, she'd come to understand just what Odd had for family life.

"It is to them," Odd replied. "Hey Ulrich, come on, I'll head home with you."

Ulrich nodded, and as the two headed off, Jeremy and Aelita watched them head towards the main street before disappearing.

Ulrich and Odd walked, and Odd said, "Ulrich, what your parents are going through isn't easy for anyone, especially for you; it'll get difficult, you know?"

"I know. But let me ask you something. Why do you still defend Sylvia even though you know she's a bit nutty?"

Odd stopped on the sidewalk, and he said, "If you tell anyone this on the team, I swear I'll kill you."

Ulrich stopped and listened. He knew Odd. Odd didn't throw in his hat with anyone, especially someone like Sylvia. At first, Ulrich thought Sylvia was manipulating Odd by her dredging up Brynja, but Ulrich realized it was more than that. Ulrich was usually over most girls; Brynja was no exception. However, Odd, he knew had gone to Sylvia, had talked to her a bit more recently. Odd still believed in her view, and that didn't happen traditionally at all.

"What is it, Odd?" Ulrich asked.

Odd, however, was frozen in thought, his eyes showing he was genuinely debating telling Ulrich the truth. There were two ways Ulrich could take this, only one of them good. If it was the truth, though, Ulrich knew he had to keep his mouth shut until he could talk to Jeremy and Aelita.

Finally, Odd's expression changed, Ulrich knew Odd had decided to trust him, and he spoke, "Sylvia's been more of a caring and nurturing sister than those harpies could ever be. She's shown me compassion, care; she's listened to me. I don't think you can understand, but it's like this: When you're in a house of people, supposedly your family, it's incredible how lonely it feels at times.

With Sylvia, it's different. The best way I can say it is, she spends time with you, and you feel like you're standing in the sunshine, and it's beautiful and calming. Sylvia's made me and many others feel wanted, and it's one of her greater strengths. Ulrich, where she's from, it's different, for sure. It's something that Aelita would probably despise, but it's so different. The air of this city is so pungent and foul to her homeland. You can drink from the river, and I've tasted the water from her land, oh, Ulrich! Such a delight and so sweet a taste in water, I've never had before! You'd swear it was squeezed out of a glacier.

There are things she's shown me that are so beautiful, and they can be attained, despite Aelita's saying contrary. I know because I've not only seen, but tasted, smelt, and felt the difference!"

Odd sighed, "Tell you what. If I can share with you just a taste of what she's shown me, will you please just listen to her if just for a moment?"

Ulrich had never seen Odd this way. Odd had what Ulrich had seen in Jeremy, desperation, almost pleading desperation for a dream to come true for the first time. If Odd felt this way, felt so passionate, what was making him feel this way? But if Odd felt this way, why did he come back to Lyoko? Why, if he felt so passionately about Sylvia, would he turn back to them?"

Ulrich, however, decided for his friend's dignity to give it a shot, "Sure, give me a taste of what is offered, and we'll see what comes of it."

"Great! I'll see if I can arrange a time when you're back home, and you'll get a chance to see what I have."

"Alright, Odd, because it's you, I'll let you have a chance." But inside, he thought, "I know how much you love us and care for us. If Sylvia's made this big an impact, it's important I know why."

Down the street, Magali watched them from a slight distance and, after coding in, said, "Notify High-Command. We have a prospect for a room with a view on his way soon. Greenlight Arrow and let him have access to Hitchens's."

A moment later came the response, "Confirmed. Is Arrow bringing in one of the originals?"

"Affirmative. Wakazashi."

"Confirmed. We'll prep Hitchens's. Report back to base for persona integration and training with Pepino."

"Understood. Will be there in six minutes."