Although Aelita was a genius, she was not the hacker that her husband was. Her progress was slow and difficult. Her work paid off though, she was able to decode some of the information and by the next day, a target was found. The Lyoko Warriors prepared themselves for another mission. In the data they recovered, there was a list of Project Carthage members still alive and their addresses. One former member, Doctor Lucien Ellison, lived in a Parisian neighborhood not far from the Seine. From the records, he was a fairly unremarkable man with dark hair, glasses and about average height. The Lyoko Warriors had decided that, for now, he was the best lead for now to learn more about the project, and to get one step closer to saving Jeremy.
They arrived at what was listed to be his home. An unassuming home for an unassuming man. Strangely, they found the house boarded up. Upon further examination, it was clear that it was a recent development. Undeterred, the Lyoko Warriors decided to ask around and see what was up. They split into two groups. Aelita and Yumi decided to check out the neighbors and Ulrich, William, and Odd would ask around the local shops if they knew anything about him.
Aelita and Yumi walked over to the next-door neighbor's house. Aelita knocked on the door. No answer. She knocked again. This time, an elderly woman came to the door, an irritated look on her face.
"Yes?" The old woman asked impatiently.
Aelita nervously scratched the back of her head. "Hello, sorry to disturb you ma'am, but could you tell me who lives in the house next door?" She gestured to Lucien Ellison's supposed residence.
The old woman blinked blankly. "There's no one who lives in that house next door."
Yumi cut in. "Are you sure? We were under the impression that there was a Doctor Ellison who lived next door and has for several years."
Folding her arms, the old woman became irritated. "Look, I've lived here for thirty years, and there's never been a "Doctor" anybody who lived next door. Look at the house? See those boards? Does it look like anybody lives there?"
"Could you tell us about when the house was boarded up? It looks fairly recent." Aelita inquired.
The old woman shook her head. "I don't have time for this, go bother someone else." She ended the conversation with a slam of her door, leaving Aelita and Yumi stunned.
"What was that all about?" Yumi asked.
"That was so weird." Aelita shook her head. "Let's try the neighbors on the other side."
They didn't have much luck with the neighbors on the other end either. Much of the same; nobody had heard of Doctor Ellison; didn't answer when the house got boarded up. Later, Odd, William and Ulrich returned empty handed as well. Discouraged, the Lyoko Warriors slowly made their way back to the vehicles.
"I just don't understand, according to the files, he should be here." Aelita groaned.
"Even if he moved away, somebody should recognize him." William commented.
Odd scoffed. "Yeah, what gives? How come nobody even heard of the guy, he apparently lived here for fifteen years."
"I was just really hoping we'd learn something from all this. This was a total waste." Aelita sighed.
When they reached their vehicles, they found a woman in tactical gear resting on the hood of Ulrich's car, her face was obscured by a balaclava. On her shoulder, she bore the insignia of L'albatros.
"Disappointed, Mrs. Belpois?" She asked Aelita.
"What? What do you know about me?" Aelita demanded.
"Plenty." The L'albatros agent responded.
"Who the hell are you? Get off my hood!" Demanded Ulrich, his first tightening.
The masked woman's blue eyes rolled. She jumped off the car and dusted herself off.
"You got a name?" William asked.
"I'm Agent 712. You can call me by my callsign: "Goodluck."
"That's a terrible name. How 'bout 'Lucky'?" Odd suggested. She responded by rolling her eyes again.
"Right then, Lucky. What is it that you want?" Yumi demanded.
"You came here looking for someone, someone you were certain was here, but apparently isn't? Strange, isn't it? How nobody's heard of a guy who's lived here that long?" Lucky laughed. "You're right. He did live here up until a few days ago."
"Then why doesn't anyone remember him?" Demanded Ulrich.
"The successor to Project Carthage is an AI program called DIDO. It was designed to monitor and modify communications."
"Another AI? And it can modify someone's memories?" Aelita asked.
"It can broadcast a signal that can attack specific memories if needed, but only as a last resort. There are far more efficient and safe ways to keep a story suppressed, but if you need to, you can make it so for all intents and purposes, someone never existed." Lucky explained.
Odd had an epiphany. "Wait, so is this explains that weird news report yesterday! The AI probably brainwashed them too."
Lucky shook her head. "Probably not. All they had to do was provide just the right context to the witnesses and voila, the truth is changed the old fashion way. Never use a high-tech solution when a low tech one works."
"What's the point? Why would they destroy every trace of this one scientist? It's not like he was the project lead or anything."
"They're removing any leftovers that could reveal their identity to those pursuing them. As Charles Baudelaire said, 'the greatest trick the devil ever played was to convince the world he did not exist."
"Wait just a minute. Why should we believe anything you have to say? You're with L'albatros, you're a terrorist." William scoffed.
"Yes, a terrorist, as opposed to the group within the government that is running around deleting inconvenient memories and people, not to mention kidnapping, isn't the right, Mrs. Belpois?" Lucky's exposed eyes betrayed her hidden smirk. "And besides, siding with the government over the freedom fighters? That's rich coming from you, Dunbar."
Odd frowned, confused. "How exactly do you know so much about us? Our names, what we're supposedly like?"
"I'm very well informed. When it comes to this kind of information, I'm pretty hot." Lucky replied.
Odd rolled his eyes. "Oh yeah, that explains everything. Thanks."
"Alright, enough. So you know what's going on. What is it that you want?" Asked Yumi.
"I've been instructed to help you in your mission. We should pool resources and work together."
Ulrich crossed his arms and scowled. "And what makes you think we need your help?"
"The fact that you needed it two nights ago when you screwed up and tripped the alarm. Without us providing you with the needed cover to get away, you would have been captured or worse. Our leader is quite adamant about helping you complete your mission."
"Why? What does your leader care about us?" William asked.
Lucky shrugged. "Our standing orders are to destroy Project Carthage once and for all. Your goal will help us reach our goal."
Odd scratched his head. "I don't know…"
Aelita finally spoke up. "I think we should trust her, at least for now. This is obviously bigger than just us, and we could use all the help we could get."
"Great. Let's get started then." Lucky nodded.
The Lyoko Warriors and their new ally made their way outside the city limits to an old farmhouse; a safe house for L'albatros. Lucky's hacking skills were surprisingly well honed. Working in tandem with Aelita, she was able to find a promising lead in the hunt for Carthage: a factory in Trier. Their destination set, the Lyoko Warriors gathered what clothes and other supplies they would need for the foreseeable future. They were certain with powerful forces gunning for them, they would not be able to return home until this matter was settled.
EXCERPT FROM THE DIARY OF WILLIAM DUNBAR
DATED THREE YEARS AFTER THE DEATH OF FRANZ HOPPER
Well, Yumi is going back to Ulrich. I can't say I'm surprised. Much as I have never wanted to admit, she doesn't love me. She loves Ulrich.
I thought I'd gotten over her, that we were just friends, but a couple weeks ago, she needed me like never before. She had another one of her fights with Ulrich. She was angry and lost and I was there to make everything better.
She told me that she doesn't blame me, not that it makes it any easier. This whole experience has reaffirmed for her that Ulrich is the one she truly loves. I guess something good came out of the whole affair. I played the villain to be overcome in the pursuit of true love.
I suppose that's the bitter truth. I am forever cast as a villain, for that is what I truly excel at.