Chapter 5 Narrow Escape

There's something about that girl that I just don't like, thought Ulrich, as they snuck out of their mock-prison. Hope had gone off to her post, and left Odd half-smiling, saying, "I always knew there was something special about that saying." Ulrich turned towards him.
"How do you know she's not just letting us on? She might be a traitor and has led us straight into a trap," he said.
"I just know. She would never do that," Odd said, never quite losing that look on his face. Ulrich rolled his eyes. He was about to comment on the fact that Odd just met Hope half an hour ago, but he saw Yumi giving him a cold stare and shaking her head a little, so he held his tongue.
"We have to find Jeremie!" said Aelita, bringing everyone back to the task at hand. "Do you have any idea where he might be?"
"For some reason, I don't think they kept him in a regular room." Yumi Ishiyama said. "He operated the Super Calculator, and he knows more about Lyoko than any of us. No, he was not put in a room like we were. Somewhere different. Somewhere…"
"Somewhere like the control room itself!" Odd and Ulrich said in unison. It was decided to go to the Super Calculator control room and rescue Jeremie.
"Wait a minute," Aelita grabbed Ulrich's arm. "Why would they do that? Couldn't he just connect to Lyoko, since obviously XANA is back online?"
"You're right," Yumi said. "Maybe there was someone else there to make sure he didn't. I bet somebody had plans for Jeremie." Odd spoke up.
"I remember Hope telling me something about the leader of EMPIRE, Doctor Giblets or something like that."
"Oh, yes, I remember. It was Dr. Gibson, I think." Aelita said, nodding her head. Ulrich frowned.
"That means there's bound to be tons of guards surrounding the freight elevator. We're out of luck, unless you're up to fighting dozens of people, without Lyoko powers."
"We have to try." Ulrich sighed and agreed. They walked to the end of the off-hallway, and peeked around the corner for guards. The group advanced to an assembly line, right in front of a stairway leading to the next level. (Just for reference, they are near the front of the factory. The bridge and the freight elevator are at the back.) There were two guards, ones a little older than they were, in front of the stairs.
Hm. I guess they let younger people join this crazy… thing, Yumi thought. Ulrich had gathered two metal poles and handed one to Yumi.
"On three. One…two…" he began.
"THREE!" Yumi shouted as they both charged from behind the assembly line, striking the surprised guards before they could react.
"I guess it helps to know martial arts in situations like this," Odd said. He and Aelita were already heading up the stairs, while Ulrich and Yumi had to lug the unconscious teens and hide them somewhere. They soon joined their comrades.

This is all my fault, thought Jeremie, running away as fast as he could from Dr. Gibson, the super calculator, and that whole crazy organization. If I hadn't been so stupid and left the materialization program on there and the computer intact, ready to be brought back online… I could have at least broke the switch off. But no. I had been too foolish. And now this mentally ill madman is going to take over the word and there's nothing I can do…
Jeremie had been too busy thinking and just plain trying to get away to notice where his feet were taking him. He was now on the roof of the factory. It was his favorite place to go when he wasn't monitoring Lyoko or hanging out with his friends. When he wanted to be alone. It overlooked the river, and on good days there was a gentle breeze and a warm sun. He had planned to take Aelita there one day when the bad memories of XANA wouldn't keep them away. It was so private and secluded, and Jeremie doubted anyone knew how to get there besides him and the people who built the factory of course. Today was unlike the good old days. It had started to rain while they were gone, and instead of the quiet winds there were violent gusts and heavy downpour. Jeremie was now completely soaked, but he didn't care. He just wanted to be alone. Then he remembered the school and how they just left, expecting a return trip to the past. He turned around and headed for the door.

Ulrich, Aelita, Yumi, and Odd's plan to save Jeremie didn't work. They were captured once they finally reached the cathedral part of the factory (yeah, yeah, I know. I got it from that one French CL site with the map, and it may have not translated that right). There were around eighty guards, waiting, ready for them. Some of the adult EMPIRE guards attacked with their uniform martial arts style, and Yumi and Ulrich tried to defend themselves while Odd and Aelita tried to make a break for the elevator. Alas, their effort was in vain because they had a remote-shut down for it. Ulrich attacked with the pole he had found earlier and used it like he was an expert, striking to the front, the back, side to side; while his Japanese friend fought hand to hand with some of the younger guards. This lasted for about five minutes. Then some higher-up buff looking officials came around the corner and it was over in a few unbelievably swift and strong attacks. Once the kids had been recaptured, the guards discussed what to do with them.
"You think we should take 'em to the boss? He might want to deal with these troublemakers himself." One man in a black suit suggested.
"Ha! Like he'd want to bother with them." A familiar voice came from the crowd. Hope stepped forward.
"Mr. Patterson, did the good doctor not inform you that he no longer had any use for these captives?" she said rather loudly and oh-so official sounding. She shoved forth someone who she had brought along with her. It was Jeremie.
"Ah, I see you've got the smart one."
"Of course. Now if you don't mind, I've been given orders to escort the prisoners to our holding base south of Paris." Now, as she said this, she winked at Odd so he knew that she was not betraying them. He acted as if she just said they were going to be executed. Jeremie, however, was a very bad actor.
"Oh…no. Please do not take me to that horr-i-ble place. Somebody help…me?" he said, not enthusiastic at all. Patterson chuckled.
"Very well, Ms. Jamison. You two! Deliver the captives over to Ms. Jamison!" he shouted at the officials restraining the gang who weren't exactly trying to get away while Hope distracted them. The girl with the blue eyes "escorted" the "prisoners" outside into the stormy weather.
"Ms. Jamison?" Odd asked.
"That's just what they call me. Jamison's not even my real last name," she said, giving him a warm smile. It quickly turned into an angry face. "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!"
Odd jumped back a little.
"Well, we thought, you know—"
"You thought wrong! Did you expect to walk into the main control center and there NOT be hordes of guards waiting!" Hope shouted scornfully at the lot of them. She looked away.
"I'm sorry. I just got a little upset. You're lucky I ran into your friend here and he told me where they put him. I figured you guys would try something, so I devised a plan and we headed for the elevator.
"Are you really going to take us to the whatever in the south of Paris?" Ulrich asked.
"Of course not! I'm just gonna sign fake prisoner transfer forms and shred some random five prisoner's records. Don't you trust me?"
Ulrich thought about this, and slowly began to shake his head. Hope looked hurt for all of one second and then pretended not to notice it.
"Anyway, I think you guys should head back to your school. The blocks they sent were merely to lure you into the sewer, so it should be quiet there," Hope said, smiling once again. She turned towards Odd and slipped him a piece of paper.
"My cell phone number and my e-mail address," she whispered. "I'm dreadfully sorry to keep leaving you like this, but I really need to send those fake forms. Contact me if you need me."
Hope winked again, and then left for the factory. As soon as she was gone, the gang surrounded Odd. They were all going "ooooooooh" teasingly.
"Odd's got a girlfriend!" Yumi sang.
"I do not! Shut up!" he replied.
"Odd and Ho-ope sitting in a tree!" Aelita and Jeremie sung together.
"I SAID SHUT UP!"
"K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"
"UGH!"
"She said contact me if you "neeeeed me"!" Yumi teased. "I guess we know where to find you if you're late for class!"
That was the last straw. Odd glared at them all and then ran to the raft.
"Hurry up! If you start that up again, I'm gonna leave you!" he shouted. They didn't, of course. They piled in the raft and rowed to shore.