Crossed Circuits
By Flying Star
Disclaimer: My chances of owning Code Lyoko, are about as good as Odd acting normal. In other words, I don't own Code Lyoko.
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Reviewer Replies:
Aelita Lyoko the Second/Virtual Freak: Whoa! Glad you've been enjoying it. Can't say whether Aelita makes it or not, you'll just have to read to find out. Oh yeah, do you have a profile or an e-mail address? I'd like to contact you. Thanks for reading and here's the final chapter.
Amber Skye: Yep, not good for Jeremie, you'll see what happens here.
AngelBolt: Thanks for the nice review. I'll try to write back when I get a chance. Thanks again, and hey sometimes cliffhangers are justified. Here's the long overdue final part.
CBIzumi: Yes, very evil. Sorry it took so long to get the final part up.
Dantheman7777: Sorry, but I tried writing bloopers, and well, while I had ideas, I just didn't have the time to write them down. However, in between other fic writing, I've been writing small pieces to some of the bloopers. Read below to find out how you can read them, and here's the final chapter.
Doggiegal: Glad you enjoyed it. Here's the final part.
D. Wolf Falls: I really try for believable emotion, makes the story seem more real, I guess. You can stop wondering now, for here's the last part.
Femaleodd: Thanks, and now it's finished, for here's the last part.
Lyoko-Lover: Thanks, so sorry for the long wait. Here's the last part.
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As I look back on this story, I realize one thing. It was a great run, though a long-over due wait. With other stories and just personal life getting in the way, a chapter that was originally going to be complete back in the beginning of the year, took me six months to finish. I'm sorry it took so long to complete. So now, for people who actually remember this story, here's the conclusion of "Crossed Circuits".
" " : Means talking
' ' : Means thinking/thoughts
1 : Section breaks.
Italics: Emphasis
Italics with bold: Big emphasis.
" Jeremie" : Means Jeremie in Aelita's body.
" Aelita" : Means Aelita in Jeremie's body.
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Chapter six: In a Heartbeat
" Jeremie" heard Yumi's horrified exclaimation as he began rising to his feet, brow furrowing as he stared back at the Crab. He wasn't afraid of dying, but he was definitely afraid of losing "Aelita".
With that thought in mind, he finished rising, now glaring at the obstacle in his path. His eyes narrowed in determination, hands clenching into fists as he took a step in it's direction...
...And then ran...
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XANA almost seemed to laugh. The programmer was rushing to his death, what foolishness. So eager to reach his end, to be with his precious Aelita.
Again the pseudo-smirk appeared as it monitored it's influence on Lyoko and Earth. It's presence was washing over both worlds at a steady pace, a spreading virus that was doing more than melting metal and scaring the carbon based life forms. But also taking over all forms of electrical machinery, planes, cars, subway trains, even home appliances. Their own technology would be their downfall.
And once the pests were eliminated, it would emerge in full control, deleting all life on the planet with it's new army, replacing the chaos with it's form of order.
The 'sneer' vanished as it watched the figure continue it's path towards deletion. Come meet your demise, you pitiful creature.
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Blow in air, push on chest, blow in air, push on chest. The lone command rang through Yumi's mind as she continued performing CPR on "Aelita". She wasn't even aware of Ulrich as he stood behind her, watching in worried silence, ready to help at a moment's notice.
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" No, Jeremie! What are you doing!" Odd yelled as he watched the Aelita card match up with the Crab. " You can't battle it!"
" Jeremie" doesn't answer, charging the Crab like a man possessed, his only thoughts on reaching the tower. Close enough now, he leapt, hurdling over the creature in a single leap.
There were definite advantages to being virtual.
Victory though, was the last thing from his mind as another Crab came into view, blocking his path once again.
" Jeremie" frowned, but continued his stride, his mind already formulating a plan as he jumped onto the newest arrival, then lunged forward, clamping his hands over it's 'eyes'.
Suddenly blind, the Crab started bucking wildly, trying to dislodge it's unwelcome passenger.
But "Jeremie" held tight, straddling the creature as he glanced up at the other sentinel. A wry smile appeared on his face as he watched it power up it's laser.
" Tag, you're it!" He removed his hands just as the laser fired, jumping up and rolling away as the blast shattered the still reeling beast.
He allowed a moment to compose himself before answering Odd. " Who said anything about fighting?" Turning, he entered the tower.
Still getting over "Jeremie's" sudden rush into danger, not to mention his offhand joke, Odd scolded his surprisingly daring friend. " Just don't ever do that again!" To himself though, he cheered quietly, wondering if some of his energy had rubbed off on his friend. A moment later he sobered as he heard Yumi's panicked gasps, muttering softly. " I just hope you're not too late."
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Sweat fell from her forhead in small rivlets as she stayed focused on her task. Seconds felt like minutes, truly how long had it been since she'd started?
Almost hyperventilating from giving "Aelita" the life sustaining oxygen needed to keep her alive, Yumi nearly jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. The next thing she knew, Ulrich had gently nudged her aside, and was now administering CPR in her place.
His assistance was much appreciated.
Ulrich hunched over, readying another breath...
Without warning, " Aelita's" eyes suddenly flew open, her head almost knocking into Ulrich's as she sat up, gasping harshly. Chest heaving she looked at the two, her eyes strangely unfocused as she tried to speak...
And just as suddenly collapsed again, her body shaking on the floor as she opened her mouth to scream. The effort only produced a bloody gurgle.
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XANA snarled in anger. The programmer was more persistant than it gave him credit for, the annoyance having actually entered the tower.
Grumbling lowly, it's main mass started heading for the tower, it's 'eyes' already scanning through the structure, reading the human's code as it neared.
The readings it got back, pacified it a little as it continued nearer. According to it's scanners, the substitute code residing within the programmer's body was too degraded to work.
But still it continued closer, watching...
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" Jeremie" heard the renewed gasps of horror as he walked to the center platform, subconsciously willing it to transport him to the next level faster. His pace quickened as he ascended to the target level of the structure, the identification screen appearing as he neared.
Without hesitation he placed his hand on the screen, silently praying it would work. The cursor continued flashing.
Processing...
Reading...
" Please." He whispered, his eyes tight with fear, wanting, hoping, praying for it to accept. Unbeknowest to him, his free hand clenched over his heart.
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PAIN!
Tearing at her insides, like bullets ripping through flesh.
"Aelita" had felt pain before in the real world, but never like this. It clawed at her, shredding her self control like a hot knife through butter. The sheer agony reducing her to a curled, writhing ball of anguish. Hot tears fell down her cheeks as she shuddered, crying silently.
Yumi didn't stay idle, cradling the tortured 'girl's' head, saying soothing words of encouragement as "Aelita" continued sobbing. She may as well have been talking to thin air, her words not reaching through the blinding pain that assaulted "Aelita's" body, wave after wave of excruciating agony.
Small whimpers of pain still escaped clenched teeth as "Aelita" thrashed against the virus's wrath. Every breath an exercise in futility, lungs already drowning in blood. Her heart, now fully engulfed by the virus, beat erratically as it tried to keep the blood flowing, to no avail.
This was it, her end.
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...Aelita...
" Jeremie" breathed a sigh of relief.
CODE
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NO! It had miscalculated again! The programmer's code had been accepted! How could it be possible! It shouldn't be possible!
The shifting darkness now charged the tower, enraged at itself for being too, what was the word?
Overconfident.
As it neared the tower it could sense the impeding flow of energy as the time reversal program began to start up. Slamming through the outer wall, it found it's prey.
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" Aelita's" head flopped back as her lungs finally gave out, the 'girl' clutching at her chest, scrabbling for a breath that wouldn't come. The others in the room screaming her name...
The eyewear on 'her' face flew off, the circles of glass shattering as they hit the ground.
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LYOKO
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" Jeremie" crossed his fingers as the screens surrounding him descended, the familar, almost heavenly, white light ascending toward him.
And as the light engulfed him, he felt something ram into his back, knocking him off the platform. XANA's inhuman howl of anger echoing behind him as his body flew into the time stream.
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The dusty beams of light reflected off the various girders and structures supporting the room. The quiet hum of the supercalculator echoing throughout as the only two occupants, one in the chair, the other onscreen, remained silent, their gazes averted.
Hours earlier the seated youth had awoken in his room from the time reversal to discover two things. One, he was no longer wearing a virtual skin, and two, he had yet to hear from her.
The computer sprite had not answered his calls, the window to her world filled with static, purposeful interference on her part. Had something more happened to her?
His friends had informed him that XANA was asleep again, its presence once again sealed into Lyoko's depths.
But that didn't explain why he couldn't contact her.
Again, his friends had reassured him that she was well, but for reasons she didn't disclose, needed some time to herself. Odd had then took it upon himself to remind him that he had a test to take. The boy had hesitated, feeling like he shouldn't leave his room, lest she call. But in the end he left with his companions.
The test was but a mere afterthought, his mind already knowing the answers as he filled in the blanks. He was unaware of the stares from his classmates, and the look of surprise on his teacher's face as he handed in his paper mere minutes into the exam, pausing only briefly to give his friends reassuring nods before exiting the room.
Entering his room, he'd immediately noticed the short sentence flashing on his computer screen.
Meet me at the factory.
Without hesitation he left, sprinting through the halls and pushing open the double doors leading to the outside world.
Jim looked up from his practice run, watching the boy with suspicious eye, but didn't follow. There was something in the kid's face, in his eyes. An urgency to be somewhere at that very moment.
Arriving at the factory, the boy slid into the command chair, keying up her world's communication line, adjusting the headset on hs head as he watched her face appear onscreen.
No smile graced her face, eyes downcast as she looked at her hands. She had yet to speak.
He too, found himself without words, but not without thoughts. He can't blame her for being silent, reserved. After all, she had nearly died, experiencing intense sensations, real sensations of pain that most humans never feel in a lifetime. To someone whose existence consisted mainly of living in a world where pain doesn't exist, isn't felt...
He found it quite hard to imagine how it must have felt for her.
After a few more moments of silence, the blond-haired boy looked up. " Aelita." His voice was no longer feminine, no longer hers.
The pink-haired sprite's gaze turned to him, her eyes not belaying any hint of emotion. " Yes, Jeremie?" She looked distracted, timid in her speech.
Jeremie didn't smile. " Are you okay?"
Aelita blinked in confusion before answering. " Systems are functioning at a normal rate, no damage physically." She finished quietly.
" And mentally?" Jeremie let the question hang, leaving it open for her to interpret.
She caught his meaning. " I will be within normal memory functions eventually." She couldn't look him in the eye now, feeling shameful for how she'd acted. Though he need not know that.
But Jeremie had already figured it out. " Aelita, after everything that's happened. I feel I understand at least somewhat how it must be for you."
Aelita's eyes strayed to his, curiousity getting the best of her.
" You want to cry, but you can't, for your virtual body won't let you. You want to forget, but you can't, for your mind won't let you. Even though you can no longer feel it, the pain, the fear is still there, deep down."
Aelita says nothing, though her expression told Jeremie everything he needed to know.
" It's a very human feeling, Aelita." He observed her expression carefully as she took in the meaning of his words. And though she doesn't say anthing, Jeremie can see a change in her eyes, a look of guarded optimism. Yet, she still remains silent.
He won't pry for an answer, feeling that when she's ready, she'll tell him her thoughts. But for now, perhaps it's time for a change of subject.
" So, " he began casually, reclining into the command chair as he spoke, hoping that his outer calm would rub off on her. " How did it feel to be well, me?"
Aelita smiled lightly from the supercalculator's screen, feeling a little at ease for the first time since the reversal, and glad to have something else to discuss. " Very strange. I never realized how different the human genders are. Some parts are missing in one, yet present in the other."
They were still waiting for the others to arrive from the school. Though, considering the circumstances, it was likely both Ulrich and Odd were nearing completion of their exams. Yumi was to meet them, before arriving at the factory.
Jeremie smiled, blushing. " Ahem, ah yes, there are significant differences." He removed his glasses, cleaning them on his shirt as a way to avoid her gaze. But as he placed them back on his face a bit of movement caught his eye.
Something was flashing on the tower scan, a screen asking for compliance to download. Jeremie read the accompanying data, virus scanning before downloading the material, his smile growing wider as he realized what he had before him.
" Jeremie?" Aelita asked politely, wondering about his sudden silence.
" You're not going to believe this." Jeremie was looking at the screen as if the data was going to vanish. " Look at this, Aelita. It's the solution we've been looking for."
Aelita scanned the lines of code, staring in pure amazement. Could it possibly be true? " But how, Jeremie?"
Neither heard the lift doors open.
" What's going on?" Odd was now behind him, looking over his shoulder.
Jeremie didn't seem to hear him. " It must've happened when I put in your code. I-I didn't think it was possible, but the numbers don't lie." Jeremie jerked back in surprise as his chair suddenly swiveled around, bringing him face to face with a rather amused looking Odd. Yumi and Ulrich stood behind him.
" Okay, out with it, Einstein. What is it that's making you so giddy?" Odd tapped his foot impatiently.
It was Jeremie's turn to look amused. " Ahem, aren't we forgetting something?" He asked coyly.
Odd's bright smile drooped as he looked at the floor. " Well, considering everything we just went through, it kind of..."
" Not again, Odd." Jeremie interupted, more disappointed than angry. " I thought you studied for the test?"
" GOTCHA!" Odd's head raised so quickly that Jeremie was amazed he didn't break his neck. A moment later the grinning youth produced a paper from behind his back. " I asked the teacher to grade this right away. Read it and weep."
Jeremie read the paper, his disappointed look becoming a genuine smile. " Well, well Odd, ninety five percent. I must say, I am impressed." He handed the paper back. " See what happens when you just apply yourself?"
" Give him a plate a food, and he'll apply his eating skills." Ulrich grinned.
" Yeah, yeah." Odd sulked, though the playful smirk that creased his face showed he wasn't serious. He looked to Jeremie. " Okay, since I so graciously gave you my test results, I believe it's only fitting that you tell me why you're practically floating."
" What, oh yes." Jeremie smiled. " Take a look at this." He moved aside just enough for the room's occupants to see the screen he was indicating.
Odd stared in confusion. " Uh, yeah. All I see is a bunch of ones and zeros. Just what am I supposed to be seeing?" Ulrich and Yumi nodded in agreement.
Jeremie shook his head, slightly exasperated that the others couldn't see the obvious." It's the anti-virus, we have it!"
The others gasped. " How did it happen?" Yumi asked.
" I'm not one hundred percent sure, but I think when I entered Aelita's code, because of the disintegration, my code must have filled in and altered the empty spaces. That formula, which I have before me, was recorded by the tower's systems and stored in the supercalculator for future use. And amazingly stayed even through the time reversal."
" In French, please?" Odd asked, still looking completely confused.
" My code became the anti-virus to Aelita's virus."
The other three were speechless for moment, before Odd gave a reply that summed up the moment. "Wow."
" Just like that?" Yumi asked.
Jeremie shook his head. " It was far from a simple feat. A million to one shot. Why the calculations and equations, not to mention the precision with which the codes had to merge without corruption..."
" We'll take your word for it." Odd interupted.
Jeremie shook off his euphoria. There was still one more thing to do. " Odd, Ulrich, Yumi. I need all of you to get to Lyoko now. The quicker we get Aelita to the tower, the faster I can remove the virus and bring her here before XANA wakes up."
The three were already heading to the elevator.
Jeremie turned back to Aelita. " Okay, head to the nearest tower. It should be about one point five miles west of your position."
Aelita acknowledged him, her picture disappearing from the window, to be replaced with the map with her icon.
A transfer later, and the three Lyoko warriors stood outside the tower, scanning their surroundings for any of XANA's monsters.
Aelita faced the tower. ' This is it.' She thought as she slid through the tower wall, striding to the center of the room, and letting the current carry her up. Landing lightly and walking to the middle, she watched the identification screen pop up, and froze, her hand hovering over the screen.
A sudden sense of panic filled her. What if XANA had another surprise up it's sleeve, what if the moment she entered her code...
" Aelita, what's wrong?" Jeremie's voice filtered down, shaking her out of her thoughts.
" It's nothing." She answered, before placing her hand on the designated area. Her name flashed onscreen. " I'm ready to proceed."
" Okay. I've already typed in the main string of commands, all I need from you is to type in code, JA-001."
Aelita did as he asked, and felt her body rise up. " Jeremie?" A note of fear entering her voice.
" It's okay, Aelita. The virus is about to be cleansed from your systems. Just remain calm."
Aelita nodded, relaxing as bands of blue light began swirling around her. Every so often, a black piece of code would surface before shattering away. ' The virus.' She thought distantly.
Jeremie watched silently from the other end, feeling more and more at ease as the level of virus corruption slowly lowered.
40 percent...
50 percent...
60 percent...
His friends, having been retrieved from Lyoko, stood behind him, watching in tense silence as the anti-virus bar continued it's steady climb.
80 percent...
90 percent...
100 percent...
Beep!
" What was that?" Odd asked.
Jeremie smiled as he read the information. " It's okay, that's just the confirmation tone telling me the process is complete, and fully successful." He pressed a few keys before speaking. " You're all clean, Aelita. It's time to bring you here for good."
On the other side, Aelita folded her arms, smiling as she sensed the current change, the air flowing around her in the familar pattern of transport. A moment later Jeremie's voiced intoned.
" Code Earth."
Within seconds her world grew dark as the transfer took place, her body being pulled away from Lyoko for the very last time.
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Aelita blinked, uncurling from the scanner's floor as she let her eyes adjust to the light reaching her.
" Hey Aelita."
She looked up, smiling at the bespeckled genius as he reached out, grabbing her hand and pulling her into a tight embrace.
" We did it, we finally did it! You're free, you're free!" Jeremie doesn't even bother brushing away the tears of joy falling down his cheeks as he held her.
From behind, Aelita can see her other friends grinning, Odd actually pumping a fist in victory.
After a few seconds, Jeremie pulled back, gazing into her eyes. " So Aelita, how does it feel?"
She merely smiled wider, allowing a moment for his words to sink in, before replying simply. " Jeremie, I'm home."
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There was still one last task to complete, which they wasted no time in doing.
"Aelita, would you do the honors?" Jeremie asked his newly freed friend as the core of Lyoko stood exposed.
Soon to be XANA's final resting place.
Aelita gave him a smile full of hope. " Actually, I wouldn't mind if you joined me."
Jeremie returned the smile, grasping her hand gently. " I don't mind at all."
Behind them, Ulrich and Yumi exchanged knowing grins, while Odd just smirked, glad that the whole ordeal was over. And glad that he wouldn't have detention.
Walking over, the two reached out, grabbing the shutdown handle, Jeremie's hand resting on top of Aelita's.
Ignoring the blush creeping up, Jeremie whispered. " On the count of three."
Aelita nodded.
" One, two three."
The handle came down.
Unlike the last time, when they'd tried to shut down Lyoko, and in turn found out XANA's trump card, the virus that had bound Aelita to it, there was only a small click. A dying hum filled the air as all aspects of Lyoko shut down, for the last time.
Suddenly weight fell on both their shoulders as Odd appeared between the two, draping an arm around their necks. " So, now that the world is safe from XANA, what should we do?"
Jeremie's smile matched Aelita's as he removed Odd's hand from his shoulder, and with no hesitation in his voice, replied. " I don't know about you, but I'm planning on spending some quality time with Aelita. You feel up for a walk, Aelita?" He asked, looking into her eyes as she answered.
" I feel up to anything you want to do."
Odd removed his hand from her shoulder, looking back to Ulrich and Yumi. " Well, I can see when we're not wanted." He walked up to them. " So, let's say we give the two some space, shall we?"
So preoccupied by just being in each others company, neither Jeremie nor Aelita noticed the mischievious grin that graced their friends faces.
" Yes, I agree completely, Odd." Yumi replied, Ulrich nodding his agreement. " How about we go get something to eat?"
Odd's grin melted into a look of pure longing. " You know I never argue when it comes to food. Lead the way."
" We'll meet you two later, okay?" Yumi called to the couple, receiving a small nod from the both of them.
As they left, Jeremie and Aelita did the same, the two making their way past the busy rush of traffic and general chaos of the city, letting their feet carry them as they conversed. Every so often Aelita would point out something new to her, at which Jeremie would give her an explaination.
Behind them, three figures followed closely, hiding every so often when the two seemed ready to turn around.
" I have to admit," Yumi said quietly to her companions as they stood in hiding again, " it's fun spying on those two."
" Yeah, especially without XANA around to keep us busy." Ulrich replied, turning to face Yumi.
Odd nodded, then gasped as he peeked around the tree. " Don't look now, but they're gone!"
Ulrich and Yumi followed his gaze. Sure enough, the two they were trailing had vanished.
" How the heck did they get away so fast?" Odd marveled.
" Simple, we knew you've been chasing us all along, and doubled back behind you."
All three nearly jumped out of their skins, whirling around to face the two giggling objects of their chase.
" I think the jig is up." Ulrich gasped, still clenching his chest as their friends giggling transformed into full out laughter.
" I believe it is." Yumi answered, still trying to calm her beating heart." Okay, we know when we're beaten. We'll leave you two alone for real."
" Aw, really?" Odd moaned.
" Yes, really." Jeremie interjected, his tone playful but stern. " We'll catch up with you later."
" Okay, you win." Odd conceded. " But we want all the details, right guys?" Twin nods answered him as they turned away, Odd's voice trailing in the slight breeze. " So, how about that burger?"
Still smiling, Jeremie and Aelita continued walking until they reached a park and sat down on a bench, finding quiet solace in the gentle shifting waters of a nearby pond.
" So, Aelita, how's that for excitement?" Jeremie asked after a few moments, wiping the remaining tears of laughter from his eyes.
" It's like a dream come true, no monsters, no attacks, just having fun without worrying. It's just so perfect." She picked up a stone, calculating it's trajectory in her mind, before throwing it towards the pond, watching it skip a couple times before sinking.
" Really?" Jeremie pryed, watching as her cheeks turned bright red, feeling his do the same.
" Well, there is one thing that would make this day complete, but I don't know how to ask.." She trailed off, letting her gaze linger on the small ripples flowing out from the pond's center. Feeling soft pressure in her hand, her eyes returned to Jeremie as he blushed even deeper.
" I already know what you want to ask, Aelita. So, before I lose my nerve I'm just going to say it."He grasped her other hand gently as he looked deep into the inviting emerald depths of her eyes. " Aelita, I love you."
If it was even possible, Aelita's smile grew even brighter. " Oh Jeremie, do you really mean it?"
He nodded. " I mean every word, Aelita. I love you with all my heart, I always have."
" As have I, Jeremie." Aelita said, her eyes shining with tears of pure happiness. " And I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
Jeremie nodded, and without exchanging another word, the two leaned forward, sharing a tender kiss filled with promises of a bright future.
The End.
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I AM SO SORRY. This story just sat around, collecting dust for so long that I wasn't even sure if I was ever going to get it done. I had at least three rewrites of the end.
Oh yes, I had a reviewer ask for bloopers for the story, and while I did start on some, they kept getting in the way of my finishing this story. So as it stands, I will write them eventually. But since I think posting a chapter of nothing but bloopers might violate this site's rules, I've decided that when I finish, I'll say so in my profile. At that time, you can e-mail me, with a request in the subject line for "Crossed Circuits" bloopers, and I'll send them.
Anyway, sorry for the long winded author's notes. And I can only ask, if you read, please review. I'd like people's thoughts on the long overdue final chapter of this story.