A/N: Sorry for not updating at all last week. Yes, I have a good reason. There called finals and they really blow. So this weekend now that I'm out on Christmas break I decided to do some more writing. The ending in near folks! Thanks for all of your wonderful reviews and comments.

Janika: It's from Dan's POV, all of it. I love writing in first person. It makes for the best cliffies and misunderstandings! Thanks for your editing advice and review.

J(at)lyoko: I'm sure I wouldn't like you when you're angry. Yes, these questions will be answered in the next chapter.

thesuperdot: Your question is answered in this chapter. Thanks for your input.

purplegirl13: Hey, Dan is not an idiot. Remember that for the past 4 years he's been searching for this girl and has finally found her. On top of that she denies her fault in the event. Believe me; you'd want to kill that person. Don't worry about Jim. Finals made me not update last week. Sorry but thanks for letting me know that people still care for this story!

the-green-rose: The POV/scene changing usually occurs when I have a horizontal line break but in first Lyoko battle I have a formatting error that I haven't gotten around to fixing. I will though. Another note, when I said so Yumi wouldn't worry I meant that in reference to J&A's conversation. They were talking about how a virus could lead to death and all and they still didn't know what X.A.N.A.'s attack was. Anyway, thanks for the constructive criticisms. You get something special.

dark16angel: Okay, Dan does. Your second question is a little vague so I'll try to answer it. Ulrich didn't ask about Sissy because (I didn't write this) Dan told him about her death earlier that day. It was also understood that the police needed information about her last known whereabouts and such so Dan went and did his thing. I didn't feel like there wasn't anything else to say. Let's not forget that Ulrich isn't a person who asks about personal things. Thanks for reviewing.

stargirl: It's hard for me to portray Odd as he should be. I know that he's the class clown and I try to do my best to make him humorous but sometimes it does come out wrong. Thanks for your observation I might re-write some things when I get done with the story.

Disclaimer: I did a whole bunch of Christmas shopping this weekend but one thing I couldn't get was the rights to the show. However, I did get Dan's and Jessica's rights. Hehehe…

This chapter is dedicated to:

the-green-rose

Outside the gym---

When I saw Dan exit the gym with Rachael, I knew he had found who he was looking for. It was a little scary seeing this play out though. He told us that all he would do is ask her why she killed their friends four years ago but I had my doubts. After seeing his gun-arm the other day I don't think he's letting us in on the entire story.

As the mismatched couple went out the door, I yelled over to Ulrich, Yumi and Odd. They followed the sound of my voice dodging love-struck couples until we were at the double doors that led outside. I jammed my foot in the pathway so it would be ajar.

To make sure that things went okay, just in case, I brought the device that would shut his arm down in my pocket. I didn't expect a X.A.N.A. attack but if things got out of hand, I wanted to be ready. As much as I desired to help him, I didn't trust him completely.

Emily, my dance partner, was getting annoyed. She didn't understand what we were doing. I looked over my shoulder and she gave me a cold stare. I began to sweat and stammer trying to quickly give her a censored summary of the relationship between the two people we were keeping tabs on outside. Her anger didn't subside completely but it was enough to satisfy her for the time being.

It was mostly a clam chat although I wished I knew what they were saying to be sure. He paced back and forth obviously trying to relax while I assumed he explained his ordeal. Then he unveiled his arm.

That arm is like a thorn in his body. Like the thorns in everyday life they protect plants from being trampled on and if they are then the trespasser is paralyzed with pain. It's not a bad defense until you consider the cost.

Who would what to be planted next to thorn bushel? Granted, plants don't have a choice but if they did who would want to? By being near one, that would tell others that you don't want to be picked or have your scent inhaled which is the reason why you were planted in the first place. So why go against nature?

To answer my own question there are many possibilities. As for Dan's case, he wasn't planted near a torn bushel but rather a thorn bushel was planted near him. It sprang on him four years ago and now he's going to confront its planter.

The tormented innocent understood that to remove or reveal the thorn would mean exile from his peers but at this point I honestly don't think he had anything left to loose.

By gathering at the door we unknowingly attracted Jim's attention. The band-aid bearing teacher confronted us and I again explained what was going on. His interference distracted us from the situation at a vital moment. After he scorned us for eavesdropping, Jim rushed outside to investigate.

"Hey! What do you think you're—Dan?" Jim voiced.

"Stay out of this Jimbo. This isn't your fight," an enraged male voice replied then added something incoherent (probably in English). Rachael began to protest in the same language but a gurgling shriek broke through the stunned night as Dan curled his metallic hand around Rachael's throat.

When I saw the flaming creases of malice embedded in Dan's face I knew that he had broken his promise to us. He told us just before the dance that all he wanted to do was ask her why. Ulrich even made sure of that. Now that he was trying to kill her, it was apparent that he did have other intentions or that something had happened during the course of the conversation. I gave him the benefit of the doubt because we couldn't understand a word they said.

Regardless of the reason, the facts still remained: a fellow student with another questionable past was close to being killed. I pulled out the electronic gadget that I had completed the day before and used it. As I anticipated, Dan fell to the ground unconscious.

With his metal fingers untwined from the brown haired girls' throat she gasped for air. The ever suspicious Phys Ed teacher pulled her to an upright position and looked at us, accusingly, "You guys knew this would happen didn't you? I—I knew it!"

We all shook our heads "Not at all, Jim. He told us that he just wanted to talk with her. We had no idea it would turn out like this," I answered on behalf of the group.

Jim looked down at the breathless girl, "Rachael, are you feeling okay? Do you think you could walk to the infirmary with me?"

She nodded moving her hands around the red marks of her neck and replied hoarsely, "I need to make a phone call before he wakes up."

In a building somewhere in Paris---

I woke up to the playing of soft piano music. It was calm and repetitive. My body didn't feel like moving so I didn't force it to. As I opened my eyes I found myself laying on the floor in a white room with a table and two chairs on each side in the middle.

My head scanned the walls of my new environment. Everything was white with the exception of a one-sided mirror adjacent from me. The floor and ceiling also shared the same trait. I then decided that it was time to do something. But what?

I didn't know the answer. All I could think of was doing things one step at a time. I stood up and regained my composure. When I did my back cracked. It felt like I had been laying there for several hours. The only thing of interest was the table in center so I stumbled over there.

As I walked over to the chair closest to me I felt lighter. It's like something had physically been taken off my body. Quickly, I examined myself and found that was without a right limb. Not that I ever had a real one but the fake one I had wasn't present.

I sat down in the chair and awaited the next order of instruction to come to me. None did so I just sat there probing my last known memory. Since the past will dictate the future I figured that it was a good place to start.

A few minutes later my thinking was interrupted by the sound of a latch drawing back. The handle turned downward and the door flung open. In walked a person I did not want to see.

The fact that he was here meant that he had something to do with what happened at the dance. If he had a hand in that then he also must have had a hand in what happened four years ago.

Professor Helen sat down across from me in a white lab coat and brown slacks. He also carried a bulging folder with documents sticking out the sides and set it down on the table surface.

"So to what tragedy do I owe this honor?" I asked sarcastically.

"Well, it's nice to see you too, Dan," he replied. "So, how are you feeling?"

To be honest, I felt refreshed. The sleep I had gotten over the past hours made me alert and was well needed. I think I slept for about an hour the night before.

My eyes rolled across the room searching for an appropriate response. "Murderous," I replied sarcastically looking back at the door. Quite frankly, I was full of conflicting emotions. What I said was really a half-truth. I did feel like ripping Jeremie's head off for what he did but at the same time I didn't want to start World War Three with him either. There must have been a reason why he shocked me.

In response Dr. Helen crossed his arms and sighed. "You pulled a fast one on us this time. I honestly didn't think you'd do this." He scooted his chair closer to the table.

"Let's cut to the chase." I inquired while looking at him into his eyes, "You had something to do with what happened four years ago didn't you?"

"Yes, we did," he admitted. His pupils didn't widen or contract so he was telling me the truth which, made my blood boil. In the past I had always wondered why she seemed to be a step ahead of me in my quest to find her. It always seemed like she knew where I was and where I was going. No wonder it took me so long to find her. This corporate weasel was aiding her!

By moving his chair closer to me it made what I was about to do a lot easier. I planted the laces of my right shoe beneath the metal bar that acted as a support for Dr. Helen's chair. Then I quietly placed the other on the rim of the seat itself. In one quick motion I pulled with my right leg and pushed with my left making his chair fall backwards.

After I heard a CLANK I my pulled my feet back and with my left arm I leaped over the counter-top and onto the thirty-five-year-old's chest, my right foot on the nook of his neck.

"Give me one reason why I should let you live." I demanded applying a small amount of pressure.

"Because I can tell you why she did it," he said trying to remove my foot with his hands, "That's why I'm here."

In light of this recent development, I released my leg and stood up beside him. "You better have a good reason," I said. Then I went and sat down in my chair.

A/N: I will update this story in two days. Purplegirl13, hold me to my word!