Code: Lyoko
Sins of the Father (Pt. 3)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phew. To tell you the truth, guys, turning out all these chapters is sending my mind towards a creativity meltdown!
In short, I'm coming down with a small case of writer's block so I think I'm going to have to take a small hiatus from
this for a while. Don't worry, I'll definitely continue this. Just give me some time to recharge the creative side
of my brain and I'll be back with more chapters.
Review Response:
Specter Von Baren: Not as much as it would be if I said they were actual brother and sister. This will probably be
addressed in the future.
firehair (in your Chapter 2 review): The end of this chapter should clear something up.
JQLN (in response to what you said in chapter 2 of "Tripped"): Don't worry, nobody's perfect.
Abstract: The most unlikely team in history undertake a dangerous mission to save Ulrich. Will they get to him in
time?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Previously on Code: Lyoko, while investigating Ulrich's disappearance, Jeremie and Aelita discovered who and why he
might've been taken. The culprit was the head of Core-Tech, a company that went out of business when it was
bought out by the company that Ulrich's father works for. Xana located Ulrich in a warehouse and reported it to
Jeremie and Aelita but just then, the Invaders had been spotted. How can Team Lyoko conquer two opponents at once?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Odd was playing with Kiwi when his cell phone went off. It was flashing the Lyoko symbol.
"Uh-oh, duty calls. Stay there, Kiwi, I'll be right back." Odd left the dorms and ran into the shed. He ran down
the steps and into the sewers. Taking his skateboard, he rode to the ladder that lead up to the factory. He swung
down the rope and into the elevator. When the vault doors parted, he joined Yumi, Aelita, and Jeremie inside.
"Here's the deal, guys," Jeremie said. "Xana spotted the Invaders in the mountain region. They've already taken over
a tower and transformed it into an Obelisk."
"But what about Ulrich?" Yumi asked. "He's still missing."
"Don't worry, Yumi, we already know where he is."
"You do? Where?" Yumi grabbed Jeremie by the shoulders and shook him. "Jeremie, where is Ulrich?"
"Yumi, we have to concentrate on Lyoko. I know you're worried about Ulrich. We all are, even Sissi for crying out
loud. But if the Invaders launch an attack on Earth, Ulrich as well as hundreds of others could be hurt. We need
to set our priorities here. Please, Yumi, we need you in Lyoko."
"All right. Jeremie, can you promise me something? Please, help Ulrich, no matter what it takes."
"No promise is needed, Yumi, I will!"
"All right, to the scanners," Yumi ordered. Aelita was about to follow her and Odd but Jeremie stopped her.
"Jeremie?"
"I'll explain later. Just stay here for now."
"Okay."
Jeremie typed in the commands. "Transfer, Yumi. Transfer, Odd. Scanner, Yumi. Scanner, Odd. Virtualization!"
Yumi and Odd appeared in the mountain region. "Guys, the Obelisk is located twenty meters in front of you."
"Let's go, Yumi." The two ran off but stopped short when a cliff loomed overhead. "Uh... Jeremie, bad news."
"Let me guess, a sixty foot drop?"
"Yup."
"Not a problem. Upload: Grappling Claw!" The item that saved Yumi from falling to her doom earlier appeared around
Odd's arm. The two began climbing down.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Jeremie, I don't understand," Aelita said. "Why am I not taking the plunge with them?"
"Because I need your help, Aelita," Jeremie said taking off his earpiece. "We're going to rescue Ulrich!"
"Just the two of us?"
Jeremie nodded. "We can't go to anybody without revealing what we did and what we can do. We'll have to rescue
him on our own."
"So what do we do once we find him?" Aelita asked as the two got in the elevator.
"Um... to tell you the truth, I'm not really sure, I'm making this up as I go along."
"I think some of Ulrich's been rubbing off on you," Aelita said with a smile.
The two returned to school. "I used the super computer to print out a map to the warehouse that Xana found Ulrich
in."
"Then let's go," Aelita said. "I just hope we can get to him in time."
"Just hold it right there!"
"Uh-oh," Jeremie and Aelita said at the same time. Sure enough, Jim was standing in front of them, blocking their
way out.
"Where do you two think you're going?"
Jeremie was about to use a lie when Aelita said firmly, "We're going to rescue Ulrich!"
"What? You know where Ulrich is?"
"Jeremie does."
"And just how does Jeremie know?" Jim gave Jeremie a suspicious glance.
Aelita laid a hand on his shoulder. "Jeremie can find out anything," Aelita vouched. "He's a genius!"
Jeremie blushed.
"Well you two are coming with me, we're going to the principal and you can tell him your story." Jim grabbed
Jeremie by the wrist.
Jeremie decided that since Aelita made a stand, it was time for him to do it as well. "No!" Jim looked at him
surprised. Obviously, Jeremie was the last person he expected a note of defiance from. Jeremie pulled his hand
away. "There's no time, Jim! Every second we waste brings Ulrich closer and closer to death! We're the only
ones who can save him! Now you're going to let us go rescue him whether you like it or not."
Jim put his hands on his hips. "Sorry, Jeremie, but I can't let you two go rescue him..." Jeremie and Aelita
lowered their heads. Jim suddenly put on a smile. "At least not without adult supervision." Jeremie and Aelita
smiled at him.
"Thank you, Jim," Aelita said.
"Follow me." Jim lead them to a wooden shed that looked more like a garage. "If you're right and time is of the
essence, then we need to get to where Ulrich is fast!" Jim pulled a cover off revealing a WWII era motorcycle
complete with sidecar. Jim threw the kids some helmets then donned one with goggles. The motorcycle was revved
up and the three of them took off unaware that somebody was watching them. Watching... and following.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yumi and Odd finally reached the bottom.
"Phew, I thought we'd never get down," Odd said. Yumi was silent as they walked towards the large black Obelisk in
the distance. "I mean I haven't seen that big of a line since Herb tried to pick up Aelita." He laughed but received
nothing in return, just silence. "Yumi, you're worried about Ulrich, we all are. I'm sure Jeremie already has
a plan to get him back."
"I hate it, Odd, I hate not being able to do anything about it."
"Hey, join the club. But look at all this. We have a computer virus on our side for crying out loud. One way or
another, I'm sure Ulrich's going to be rescued. Nobody will die today." Odd hoped he sounded more convincing than
he actually was.
"Uh-oh," Yumi said. "I think we're expected." Standing in between Yumi, Odd, and the Obelisk was a whole batallion
of Skeletons.
"At least we won't run out of playmates. All right, Jeremie, load us up!" There was no reply. "Hello, Jeremie?
Some weapons would be nice about now!" Odd looked towards Yumi and shrugged. "Great, as if we didn't have enough
to worry about."
"We still have our powers," Yumi said beginning to make the sign with her hands.
"Yeah, but don't forget, they use up our energy. And once our energy is gone, it'll tap into our life points and
then we'll be in deep you-know-what."
{Jeremie, Aelita, please get Ulrich back soon.} "Mystic Aura... ram!" The white mist plowed into the center of
Skeletons like an oncoming train.
"Laser Crescent!" Odd fired a barrage of energy arcs at them.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As Jim's motorcycle cruised through the streets, Jeremie filled him in on what they discovered (he didn't reveal
how he found out, just said that it was "an Internet search")
"That makes sense," Jim said when Jeremie finished. "I feared this."
"You mean you knew that Ulrich was going to be captured?" Aelita asked.
"When Ulrich first came to this school, the principal pointed him out to me and said 'Jim, keep an eye on that one.'
I asked, 'Why, is he a troublemaker?' And the principal replied, 'No, his father wants an eye kept on him because
he might be captured.' I wondered who would want to capture him. The principal told me that Ulrich's father was a
very important businessman with many enemies."
"So Ulrich's father sent him to this school to protect him from people like Core-Tech who would want to kidnapp him
to get at the father," Jeremie analyzed.
"Yup. But now I see that it was no good. They found him anyway."
"I wonder if Ulrich knows," Aelita pondered.
"He knows his father has a lot of enemies, but I doubt that he knows why he was really sent to this boarding school."
"Jim, turn here!" Jeremie instructed. Jim turned into an alleyway. At the far end was a T-shape intersection and
at the far end of the intersection was a large white building. There were several crates, a large stack of wood and
a dumpster. The wall of the white building had old, dirty, windows along the side. "That's it, that's the
warehouse where Xa... I mean where Core-Tech is."
"Then let's bust in there and rescue him!" Aelita said.
"Hold on," Jim said. "Let's make sure that Ulrich is there first. I want to justify breaking and entering. Plus
the place looks to take up a full square block."
"That window is pretty high up," Jeremie commented. "I don't think even Jim could reach that high."
"But what if I stood on your shoulders and you sat on Jim's shoulders, we might be tall enough to peek in."
"Good idea, Aelita," Jim said. "Let's do it!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inside, Terry had set up a laptop computer with remote Internet access through a cell phone. Ulrich was leaning
against a stack of crates. Marrin was keeping a close eye on him. Leena and Merriman were playing cards.
"Terry, has the deposit been made yet?" Merriman asked.
"Not yet, chief," the Aussie replied.
"Your old man better come through or else you won't live to celebrate your next birthday," Marrin threatened.
"He's never let me down before," Ulrich said.
"Hey now, wait a minute, something's happening," Terry announced. Merriman and Leena went over to check it out.
Ulrich spotted something out of the corner of his eye. A pink-haired head sticking up from the other side of the
windows. Ulrich was surprised but tried not to show it. Aelita placed a finger to her mouth in a gesture of
silence. Marrin saw where Ulrich was looking and followed the look. However, Aelita quickly ducked her head and
Marrin saw nobody.
"That's it," Merriman confirmed. "Well, young man, your father apparently came through."
{That was quick,} Ulrich thought. {I wondered where Dad got the money?} "I knew he could. So I guess you
don't need me any more."
Merriman chuckled and lit a cigar. "Let me tell you something, boy, I admire your courage and tenacity. You
truly are your father's son and despite everything, I hold no ill feelings against you."
{I don't like where this is going.} "So... am I free to go?"
"I have no need for you any more." Merriman turned to Marrin. "Marrin, if you wish to shoot him, go ahead."
"Oh no!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Well, Aelita, did you see Ulrich?" Jeremie asked with his eyes shut tight. He didn't think Aelita realized that
by standing on his shoulders, she was giving him a full view of up her skirt.
"Yes, but it looks like they're ready to do something." Jim lowered the two down. "Jim, if we're going to bust in,
we should do it now."
"Yeah, but how? That place is sealed up tighter than a drum." Jeremie looked around from the dumpster to the planks
of wood, to the crates. An idea formed in his head.
"I have an idea."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Shoot me? But you said I could go free."
"I said that we have no need for you any more. Which means that if Marrin wants to shoot you, none of us will stop
him."
Ulrich looked around, but he was still bound so there wasn't anything he could do. He looked around for something
to use as a defense but all he had were the crates and those were too big to move. "Looks like this is it," he said
to himself.
"I'm going to put a bullet through you for all the times you mouthed off to me, and twice for your weasel of a
father!" He drew his gun.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Yumi, we're getting nowhere this way!" Odd said.
"Then why don't we go this way. Stay close to me." The two were at the center of a circle of approaching Skeletons.
"Mystic Aura... expand!" The mist formed a dome around them and expanded, knocking Skeletons back and into the
digital void.
"Yumi, look out!" Yumi turned to see several shapeless masses of purple energy flying towards them. "Laser
Crescent!" The energy monsters actually absorbed Odd's attack. It shot out tendrils which lashed Yumi and Odd.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"All right, everything's set up," Jeremie said looking at the makeshift ramp they made. "Once we get inside,
Jim will make a distraction while Aelita and I will get Ulrich."
"Don't be too long. Your parents and the principal would never forgive me if I let something bad happened to you."
"Okay. Here we go!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"This is going to be sweet," Marrin said. He took out his gun and cocked the hammer.
"Hey," Terry called. "Anybody besides me hear a buzzing noise?"
"It's probably just a fly," Leena dismissed.
"No, actually, it sounds like a motorcycle."
CRASH
With an explosion of glass, Jim's motorcycle burst through the already crumbling glass window. He landed right in the
middle of things.
"Hey Ulrich, need a ride?"
"Jim!" Ulrich leaped onto the back of Jim's motorcycle as Jim revved it up and took off. "Thanks, Jim, I owe you."
"Tell you the truth, I wouldn't have found you if it weren't for your friends." Jim gestured to Jeremie and Aelita
in the sidecar.
"Jeremie, Aelita! Boy, am I glad to see you."
"You've had us all worried, Ulrich," Jeremie said.
"Heads up!" Jim warned. "We got company!" It was Terry and Marrin, each armed. Jim swirved the motorcycle and let
out a burst of exhaust in their faces. "We need to get out of here."
Aelita looked up and noticed some boxes stacked on top of a catwalk. She suddenly got an idea. She leaped from the
motorcycle, rolled (like that guy did in the movie that she watched with the others last week) and ran for a metal
ladder that was built into the wall.
"Aelita!" Jeremie called out.
"Is she crazy?" Jim asked.
Aelita climbed up the ladder and over to the boxes. Right now, Jim was leading them in circles around the interior
of the large warehouse. Aelita began to pushing the boxes. There was only one problem: the boxes were filled and
kind of heavy. Aelita tried with all her might but they could only move an inch.
"Someone help me," she said. Suddenly she felt a pair of strong hands on her shoulders, pushing her as she was
pushing the boxes. The boxes began moving. They dropped just as Jim passed under the catwalk. And crashed right
in front of the chasing crooks. Aelita looked around to see who helped her but didn't see anybody. She shrugged
and climbed down.
No sooner had her feet touched the floor then she felt an arm grabbed her. It was the woman, Leena. "Come out of
hiding and hand the boy over or she dies in his place!" Jim and Ulrich came out but Aelita didn't see Jeremie.
Had he been captured as well.
"NO!" Jeremie threw himself at Leena's legs. His weight knocked her off-balance allowing Aelita to deliver a
sharp kick to her knees. The two ran to join Jim and Ulrich.
"Jeremie, thank you!" Aelita embraced him fiercely. "You saved me."
"We saved each other, Aelita."
Jim drove by on his motorcycle. "Hop on!" Jeremie and Aelita climbed into the sidecar and Jim drove for the
main door.
There was only one problem, the door was closed.
But that problem was solved as the Lyoko symbol flashed on the control operating the heavy door. It began
rising.
{Xana came to help us!} Aelita thought. {Thank you, Xana.}
"It's rising too slowly," Jim realized. "Everyone duck your heads!" Everyone lowered their heads and the
motorcycle was able to pass through. Jim got onto a road and began driving in the direction of the school.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ernie Merriman cursed. "Terry, bring the car around!" He scolded himself for not putting up any guards. But
he would get the boy back and eliminate those other three.
As Ernie climbed into the unmarked sedan, they were unaware that someone was watching them. This someone went up
to the still active laptop and began downloading its harddrive, all while thinking, {She's a lot braver than I
remember her. Must have to do with those other kids.}
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I need to get you three back to school A.S.A.P.," Jim said.
{No, we need Ulrich at the factory,} Jeremie mentally argued. "Jim, wait! Those crooks managed to grab Ulrich at
school. If we go there now, we would most likely be walking into a trap!"
"So what do you suggest?" Jim asked.
"We need to hide Ulrich somewhere until we can call the police. And I know just the place..."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Odd, my energy's drained!" Yumi cried.
"I know, mine is too!" Odd agreed. His tail told him that something was about to attack him from behind so Odd
leaped into the air, backflipped and landed behind the Skeleton. He kicked it in the head and actually knocked its
head off. Its body started swinging its sword wildly. Odd just avoided it until the body went over the edge.
Yumi judo-tossed a Skeleton then screamed as a purple tendril wrapped around her waist. Yumi felt hundreds of volts
coarse through her body.
"Yumi!" Odd tried to help her but a tendrill wrapped around his waist as well. The purple energy masses threw them
towards the cliff wall.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jim's motorcycle raced across the bridge that lead to the factory. It came through the entrance and catapulted
itself to the ground floor. No sooner had they entered, then the metal garage-like door lowered.
"Aelita and I will take Ulrich to a safe place," Jeremie said. "Jim, you call the police." Jeremie tossed Jim his
cell phone.
"What kind of a safe place?" Jim asked.
"Um... sorry, Jim, can't tell you. If the crooks were to find out, we'd all be in trouble. Trust me, it's for the
best." And before Jim could argue any further, Jeremie and Aelita took Ulrich into the freight elevator. Jim sighed
and dialed the number of the police.
"Yumi and Odd need you in Lyoko, Ulrich," Jeremie explained.
"Then let me at that scanner, I'll help them," Ulrich promised. "It's the least I can do after I made everyone worry."
The elevator dropped Jeremie off at the control room. He gave Aelita and Ulrich a thumbs up. "Go get 'em, you guys."
Ulrich returned it. "Don't worry, we will."
As Ulrich and Aelita arrived in the scanner room, Aelita said, "Ulrich, I think you deserve to use the fourth scanner.
I mean after all you've been through.
"Wow, thanks, Aelita." Aelita took the last available scanner.
"Transfer, Aelita. Transfer, Ulrich. Scanner, Aelita. Scanner, Ulrich. Virtualization!"
Ulrich and Aelita were dropped off in the same location that Odd and Yumi were dropped off at. {Hang on, Yumi, just
for a little bit longer.} The two ran along the path until they came to the drop. Explosions could be heard in the
distance. "Sounds like Yumi and Odd can use our help," Ulrich said.
"Give me a second and I'll upload the grappling claw," Jeremie said.
"Don't worry about it, Jeremie," Aelita said. She dropped to her knees and made a triangle sign with her hands. Her
mouth opened and let out an angelic tone. The slab of ground they were on broke away and began slowly descending.
"Wow, Aelita, I didn't know you could use your powers without your weapon."
"I've been thinking," Aelita said, her eyes still closed. "That without our weapons, our powers should be at the
same level as they were before we were upgraded."
"These are some pretty weird upgrades Xana provided us with."
"I'm not complaining."
"Neither am I."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yumi and Odd struggled to get up. Each of them hurt all over and their energy and life points were so low that they
couldn't even stand let alone attack.
"What are they waiting for? Why don't they finish us off?" Odd asked.
"They must want to prolong our suffering," Yumi guessed. {Good-bye, Ulrich, I'll see you in one world or the next.}
"HI-YAH!" A black blur came falling out of the sky and knocked a quarter of the Skeletons over the edge, one at a time.
A slab of ground bowled others over. Ulrich and Aelita landed perfectly in front of Yumi and Odd.
"Hey bone brains," Ulrich called. "If you want to get to them, you're going to have to go through us!"
"Ulrich, Aelita!" Yumi cried.
Ulrich turned and helped Yumi up. "Are you two okay?"
"We're fine now that you're back," Yumi said. Ulrich re-discovered what he should've known all along, that his
friends, especially Yumi, really cared about him, otherwise they wouldn't have risked life and limb to rescue him.
"Boy, are we glad to see you two," Odd said.
"What, no hi for me?" Jeremie asked.
"Jeremie!" Odd said shocked. "You know, you forgot to upload our weapons."
"I know, sorry about that. Here, will this make up for it? Lifepoint restorer!"
Odd shot up to his feet but was surprised by it. "Hey, I'm all better."
"You two are now at full life points and energy," Jeremie said.
Xana came barreling out of the sky and landed with gymnast-grace and seismic-power.
"Hey, Xana's here too," Odd pointed out. "Looks like the whole team's together again."
"That's right," Ulrich agreed. "So let's kick some Invader butt! Jeremie?"
"Oh yeah, I love this part. Upload: Twin Kitanas! Upload: Disk Launchers! Upload: Wrist Claws! Upload: Lyoko Wand!"
Their weapons appeared. The two sides stared at each other. Then the battle began.
"Energy Wave!" Ulrich sent a large crescent of energy careening into the Skeletons.
"I've finally figured out the way to defeat these energy beings," Yumi said making her sign. "Mystic Aura... Freeze!"
They not only froze in place, but they turned into ice versions of themselves. Aelita broke them with her staff.
"Up please," Odd requested of Xana. The computer virus threw Odd into the air. Odd placed his arms out like Superman
and began spinning. "Drill Claw!" Odd finished them off.
"We did it!" Yumi shouted. Everyone (except Xana, seeing as how he didn't have a mouth) cheered. "Now, let's go for
the Obelisk!" They all took off towards the Obelisk.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"What started out as a kidnapping turned into a dramatic rescue as one junior-high student was saved by two other
students and a gym coach. The boy was captured by Ernie Merriman, former head of Core-Tech Enterprises almost four
days ago and was being held pending ransom. Somehow, the two other students and the gym teacher found out where he
was and performed an eleventh hour rescue. The crooks were apprehended by police near an old factory on the
waterfront. Three of them are now in custody. The fourth, Leena Niyambo, has been taken to county hospital for knee
surgery. In what appears to be a related story, a CD-ROM was delivered to the police station. The contents of the
CD-ROM included a video of the kidnapping in action as well as files that showed that Merriman was embezzling money
from Apex Industries. As for the person who downloaded it from a laptop found in a Core-Tech warehouse, the delivery
boy only said that somebody told him to take it to the police station immediately. As for the boy and his three
heroes, they have escaped with only minor scrapes."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"And so," the principal was saying. "It gives me great honor to present Aelita, Jeremie, and Jim, with these medals
for heroic achievements in rescuing one of their fellow students from danger." The entire auditorium burst into
applause. Jeremie, Aelita, and Jim bore their medals proudly, especially Aelita. She never received so much
attention before.
Ulrich, who was on stage as well (as the "guest of honor") lead the audience in giving the three a standing ovation.
Yumi and Odd, who were in the front row, shared a knowing glance. The five of them would be the only ones who knew
the entire truth. Sissi, seated in the middle, grudgingly joined in. Yumi was acquitted of everything and even
received an apology from the principal. To Sissi, it looked like Yumi and Ulrich were now closer, which meant that
her chance with him was rapidly slipping away.
At the succeeding reception, Jeremie was filling Aelita and Odd in on some missing details.
"As it turned out, it was Xana who placed the two million into the account. He wanted to distract them while we
scouted for Ulrich. I don't think he realized what it might've triggered."
"Wow, Xana's just about as clueless as Aelita when it comes to understanding humans," Odd cracked.
"Hey! I'm trying."
"Sorry, Aelita."
Something was tugging at Aelita's mind though. Who could've helped her push the boxes over? She knew that there
was no way she could've pushed them over by herself. But how come she couldn't see anybody? Aelita decided not
to tell Jeremie and Odd about it, instead choosing to discuss something else.
"Hey guys," Aelita addressed. "I've... been talking to Xana and... we agreed that in exchange for helping us
save Ulrich, we... would leave Lyoko online after the Invaders have been defeated." Jeremie and Odd were surprised.
"I'm sorry for not discussing it with you guys earlier, but... I mean Xana did help in a big way. He found Ulrich
and even got the door open for us. I... I feel like it's the least we can do."
"Well... I guess it is the least we can do," Odd agreed. "Actually, when we're not running for our lives or fighting
evil monsters and stuff like that, Lyoko can be a pretty cool place to hang around in."
"Xana is a hard one to figure out," Jeremie commented. "I mean we don't know if he's doing this because he likes us
or he's just saving his own... uh... hyde."
"Xana's an ally," Aelita said. "I just know it. He may not know how to express it, but... we can count on him. I'm
sure of it!"
"Well, Aelita, if you think he can be trusted, then I believe he can be trusted."
"Congratulations," Will mumbled as he pass by.
"Oh, thanks, Will," Jeremie said.
"Yes, thank you," Aelita agreed. "But to tell you the truth, we did have a little help... I mean if it wasn't for
Jim, we probably wouldn't have arrived in time."
Will just nodded and continued along his way.
"That is one strange kid," Jeremie commented. "He acts like he doesn't care about anything at all, but I'm thinking
that's all it is, an act."
"You know, in some ways, Will kind of reminds me of Ulrich," Aelita commented. "To me, they both seem to not care
but when everything seems dark, they're your strongest lifeline to rely on."
"Speaking of Ulrich," Jeremie asked looking around. "Where is he? I mean this is his party just as much as it's
ours."
"Oh, I guess he had enough excitement for one day," Odd said. "I saw him sitting outside."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ulrich took a breath of air and let it out slowly. For the first time in a long while, he could finally relax. He
looked up as the sun was just preparing its descent for the night.
"Hey," Yumi greeted. "Mind some company?"
"Nope." Ulrich moved down so Yumi could have a seat next to him.
"So it's all over?" She asked.
"Yup. The testimony provided by Jeremie, Jim, Aelita, my father, and myself will be enough to put all of them away
for a long time."
"That's good." Yumi leaned her head on his shoulder. "I'm glad you're safe."
"Thanks."
Ulrich took his hand and started to reach across the bench. He stopped half-way, then continued until it touched
her far shoulder. Yumi made no attempt to stop him. In fact, she actually seeemed to take comfort in it, like she
wanted him to do that.
"Nice sunset," he said nervously.
"Yeah," she agreed. They said and did nothing else until the sun had completely set.
From their hiding place, Jeremie, Odd, and Aelita smiled at each other and nodded, deciding to leave the two in peace.
After all, after all they've been through, it's the least they could do.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well guys, that's it for me. If you guys have any suggestions on what I can put in here, please speak up or forever
hold your peace. In the mean time, I'm on my way to AnimeNext. Try to spot me. I'll probably be the one in glasses
blowing into wads of kleenex (don't ask).
Sins of the Father (Pt. 3)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phew. To tell you the truth, guys, turning out all these chapters is sending my mind towards a creativity meltdown!
In short, I'm coming down with a small case of writer's block so I think I'm going to have to take a small hiatus from
this for a while. Don't worry, I'll definitely continue this. Just give me some time to recharge the creative side
of my brain and I'll be back with more chapters.
Review Response:
Specter Von Baren: Not as much as it would be if I said they were actual brother and sister. This will probably be
addressed in the future.
firehair (in your Chapter 2 review): The end of this chapter should clear something up.
JQLN (in response to what you said in chapter 2 of "Tripped"): Don't worry, nobody's perfect.
Abstract: The most unlikely team in history undertake a dangerous mission to save Ulrich. Will they get to him in
time?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Previously on Code: Lyoko, while investigating Ulrich's disappearance, Jeremie and Aelita discovered who and why he
might've been taken. The culprit was the head of Core-Tech, a company that went out of business when it was
bought out by the company that Ulrich's father works for. Xana located Ulrich in a warehouse and reported it to
Jeremie and Aelita but just then, the Invaders had been spotted. How can Team Lyoko conquer two opponents at once?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Odd was playing with Kiwi when his cell phone went off. It was flashing the Lyoko symbol.
"Uh-oh, duty calls. Stay there, Kiwi, I'll be right back." Odd left the dorms and ran into the shed. He ran down
the steps and into the sewers. Taking his skateboard, he rode to the ladder that lead up to the factory. He swung
down the rope and into the elevator. When the vault doors parted, he joined Yumi, Aelita, and Jeremie inside.
"Here's the deal, guys," Jeremie said. "Xana spotted the Invaders in the mountain region. They've already taken over
a tower and transformed it into an Obelisk."
"But what about Ulrich?" Yumi asked. "He's still missing."
"Don't worry, Yumi, we already know where he is."
"You do? Where?" Yumi grabbed Jeremie by the shoulders and shook him. "Jeremie, where is Ulrich?"
"Yumi, we have to concentrate on Lyoko. I know you're worried about Ulrich. We all are, even Sissi for crying out
loud. But if the Invaders launch an attack on Earth, Ulrich as well as hundreds of others could be hurt. We need
to set our priorities here. Please, Yumi, we need you in Lyoko."
"All right. Jeremie, can you promise me something? Please, help Ulrich, no matter what it takes."
"No promise is needed, Yumi, I will!"
"All right, to the scanners," Yumi ordered. Aelita was about to follow her and Odd but Jeremie stopped her.
"Jeremie?"
"I'll explain later. Just stay here for now."
"Okay."
Jeremie typed in the commands. "Transfer, Yumi. Transfer, Odd. Scanner, Yumi. Scanner, Odd. Virtualization!"
Yumi and Odd appeared in the mountain region. "Guys, the Obelisk is located twenty meters in front of you."
"Let's go, Yumi." The two ran off but stopped short when a cliff loomed overhead. "Uh... Jeremie, bad news."
"Let me guess, a sixty foot drop?"
"Yup."
"Not a problem. Upload: Grappling Claw!" The item that saved Yumi from falling to her doom earlier appeared around
Odd's arm. The two began climbing down.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Jeremie, I don't understand," Aelita said. "Why am I not taking the plunge with them?"
"Because I need your help, Aelita," Jeremie said taking off his earpiece. "We're going to rescue Ulrich!"
"Just the two of us?"
Jeremie nodded. "We can't go to anybody without revealing what we did and what we can do. We'll have to rescue
him on our own."
"So what do we do once we find him?" Aelita asked as the two got in the elevator.
"Um... to tell you the truth, I'm not really sure, I'm making this up as I go along."
"I think some of Ulrich's been rubbing off on you," Aelita said with a smile.
The two returned to school. "I used the super computer to print out a map to the warehouse that Xana found Ulrich
in."
"Then let's go," Aelita said. "I just hope we can get to him in time."
"Just hold it right there!"
"Uh-oh," Jeremie and Aelita said at the same time. Sure enough, Jim was standing in front of them, blocking their
way out.
"Where do you two think you're going?"
Jeremie was about to use a lie when Aelita said firmly, "We're going to rescue Ulrich!"
"What? You know where Ulrich is?"
"Jeremie does."
"And just how does Jeremie know?" Jim gave Jeremie a suspicious glance.
Aelita laid a hand on his shoulder. "Jeremie can find out anything," Aelita vouched. "He's a genius!"
Jeremie blushed.
"Well you two are coming with me, we're going to the principal and you can tell him your story." Jim grabbed
Jeremie by the wrist.
Jeremie decided that since Aelita made a stand, it was time for him to do it as well. "No!" Jim looked at him
surprised. Obviously, Jeremie was the last person he expected a note of defiance from. Jeremie pulled his hand
away. "There's no time, Jim! Every second we waste brings Ulrich closer and closer to death! We're the only
ones who can save him! Now you're going to let us go rescue him whether you like it or not."
Jim put his hands on his hips. "Sorry, Jeremie, but I can't let you two go rescue him..." Jeremie and Aelita
lowered their heads. Jim suddenly put on a smile. "At least not without adult supervision." Jeremie and Aelita
smiled at him.
"Thank you, Jim," Aelita said.
"Follow me." Jim lead them to a wooden shed that looked more like a garage. "If you're right and time is of the
essence, then we need to get to where Ulrich is fast!" Jim pulled a cover off revealing a WWII era motorcycle
complete with sidecar. Jim threw the kids some helmets then donned one with goggles. The motorcycle was revved
up and the three of them took off unaware that somebody was watching them. Watching... and following.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yumi and Odd finally reached the bottom.
"Phew, I thought we'd never get down," Odd said. Yumi was silent as they walked towards the large black Obelisk in
the distance. "I mean I haven't seen that big of a line since Herb tried to pick up Aelita." He laughed but received
nothing in return, just silence. "Yumi, you're worried about Ulrich, we all are. I'm sure Jeremie already has
a plan to get him back."
"I hate it, Odd, I hate not being able to do anything about it."
"Hey, join the club. But look at all this. We have a computer virus on our side for crying out loud. One way or
another, I'm sure Ulrich's going to be rescued. Nobody will die today." Odd hoped he sounded more convincing than
he actually was.
"Uh-oh," Yumi said. "I think we're expected." Standing in between Yumi, Odd, and the Obelisk was a whole batallion
of Skeletons.
"At least we won't run out of playmates. All right, Jeremie, load us up!" There was no reply. "Hello, Jeremie?
Some weapons would be nice about now!" Odd looked towards Yumi and shrugged. "Great, as if we didn't have enough
to worry about."
"We still have our powers," Yumi said beginning to make the sign with her hands.
"Yeah, but don't forget, they use up our energy. And once our energy is gone, it'll tap into our life points and
then we'll be in deep you-know-what."
{Jeremie, Aelita, please get Ulrich back soon.} "Mystic Aura... ram!" The white mist plowed into the center of
Skeletons like an oncoming train.
"Laser Crescent!" Odd fired a barrage of energy arcs at them.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As Jim's motorcycle cruised through the streets, Jeremie filled him in on what they discovered (he didn't reveal
how he found out, just said that it was "an Internet search")
"That makes sense," Jim said when Jeremie finished. "I feared this."
"You mean you knew that Ulrich was going to be captured?" Aelita asked.
"When Ulrich first came to this school, the principal pointed him out to me and said 'Jim, keep an eye on that one.'
I asked, 'Why, is he a troublemaker?' And the principal replied, 'No, his father wants an eye kept on him because
he might be captured.' I wondered who would want to capture him. The principal told me that Ulrich's father was a
very important businessman with many enemies."
"So Ulrich's father sent him to this school to protect him from people like Core-Tech who would want to kidnapp him
to get at the father," Jeremie analyzed.
"Yup. But now I see that it was no good. They found him anyway."
"I wonder if Ulrich knows," Aelita pondered.
"He knows his father has a lot of enemies, but I doubt that he knows why he was really sent to this boarding school."
"Jim, turn here!" Jeremie instructed. Jim turned into an alleyway. At the far end was a T-shape intersection and
at the far end of the intersection was a large white building. There were several crates, a large stack of wood and
a dumpster. The wall of the white building had old, dirty, windows along the side. "That's it, that's the
warehouse where Xa... I mean where Core-Tech is."
"Then let's bust in there and rescue him!" Aelita said.
"Hold on," Jim said. "Let's make sure that Ulrich is there first. I want to justify breaking and entering. Plus
the place looks to take up a full square block."
"That window is pretty high up," Jeremie commented. "I don't think even Jim could reach that high."
"But what if I stood on your shoulders and you sat on Jim's shoulders, we might be tall enough to peek in."
"Good idea, Aelita," Jim said. "Let's do it!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inside, Terry had set up a laptop computer with remote Internet access through a cell phone. Ulrich was leaning
against a stack of crates. Marrin was keeping a close eye on him. Leena and Merriman were playing cards.
"Terry, has the deposit been made yet?" Merriman asked.
"Not yet, chief," the Aussie replied.
"Your old man better come through or else you won't live to celebrate your next birthday," Marrin threatened.
"He's never let me down before," Ulrich said.
"Hey now, wait a minute, something's happening," Terry announced. Merriman and Leena went over to check it out.
Ulrich spotted something out of the corner of his eye. A pink-haired head sticking up from the other side of the
windows. Ulrich was surprised but tried not to show it. Aelita placed a finger to her mouth in a gesture of
silence. Marrin saw where Ulrich was looking and followed the look. However, Aelita quickly ducked her head and
Marrin saw nobody.
"That's it," Merriman confirmed. "Well, young man, your father apparently came through."
{That was quick,} Ulrich thought. {I wondered where Dad got the money?} "I knew he could. So I guess you
don't need me any more."
Merriman chuckled and lit a cigar. "Let me tell you something, boy, I admire your courage and tenacity. You
truly are your father's son and despite everything, I hold no ill feelings against you."
{I don't like where this is going.} "So... am I free to go?"
"I have no need for you any more." Merriman turned to Marrin. "Marrin, if you wish to shoot him, go ahead."
"Oh no!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Well, Aelita, did you see Ulrich?" Jeremie asked with his eyes shut tight. He didn't think Aelita realized that
by standing on his shoulders, she was giving him a full view of up her skirt.
"Yes, but it looks like they're ready to do something." Jim lowered the two down. "Jim, if we're going to bust in,
we should do it now."
"Yeah, but how? That place is sealed up tighter than a drum." Jeremie looked around from the dumpster to the planks
of wood, to the crates. An idea formed in his head.
"I have an idea."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Shoot me? But you said I could go free."
"I said that we have no need for you any more. Which means that if Marrin wants to shoot you, none of us will stop
him."
Ulrich looked around, but he was still bound so there wasn't anything he could do. He looked around for something
to use as a defense but all he had were the crates and those were too big to move. "Looks like this is it," he said
to himself.
"I'm going to put a bullet through you for all the times you mouthed off to me, and twice for your weasel of a
father!" He drew his gun.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Yumi, we're getting nowhere this way!" Odd said.
"Then why don't we go this way. Stay close to me." The two were at the center of a circle of approaching Skeletons.
"Mystic Aura... expand!" The mist formed a dome around them and expanded, knocking Skeletons back and into the
digital void.
"Yumi, look out!" Yumi turned to see several shapeless masses of purple energy flying towards them. "Laser
Crescent!" The energy monsters actually absorbed Odd's attack. It shot out tendrils which lashed Yumi and Odd.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"All right, everything's set up," Jeremie said looking at the makeshift ramp they made. "Once we get inside,
Jim will make a distraction while Aelita and I will get Ulrich."
"Don't be too long. Your parents and the principal would never forgive me if I let something bad happened to you."
"Okay. Here we go!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"This is going to be sweet," Marrin said. He took out his gun and cocked the hammer.
"Hey," Terry called. "Anybody besides me hear a buzzing noise?"
"It's probably just a fly," Leena dismissed.
"No, actually, it sounds like a motorcycle."
CRASH
With an explosion of glass, Jim's motorcycle burst through the already crumbling glass window. He landed right in the
middle of things.
"Hey Ulrich, need a ride?"
"Jim!" Ulrich leaped onto the back of Jim's motorcycle as Jim revved it up and took off. "Thanks, Jim, I owe you."
"Tell you the truth, I wouldn't have found you if it weren't for your friends." Jim gestured to Jeremie and Aelita
in the sidecar.
"Jeremie, Aelita! Boy, am I glad to see you."
"You've had us all worried, Ulrich," Jeremie said.
"Heads up!" Jim warned. "We got company!" It was Terry and Marrin, each armed. Jim swirved the motorcycle and let
out a burst of exhaust in their faces. "We need to get out of here."
Aelita looked up and noticed some boxes stacked on top of a catwalk. She suddenly got an idea. She leaped from the
motorcycle, rolled (like that guy did in the movie that she watched with the others last week) and ran for a metal
ladder that was built into the wall.
"Aelita!" Jeremie called out.
"Is she crazy?" Jim asked.
Aelita climbed up the ladder and over to the boxes. Right now, Jim was leading them in circles around the interior
of the large warehouse. Aelita began to pushing the boxes. There was only one problem: the boxes were filled and
kind of heavy. Aelita tried with all her might but they could only move an inch.
"Someone help me," she said. Suddenly she felt a pair of strong hands on her shoulders, pushing her as she was
pushing the boxes. The boxes began moving. They dropped just as Jim passed under the catwalk. And crashed right
in front of the chasing crooks. Aelita looked around to see who helped her but didn't see anybody. She shrugged
and climbed down.
No sooner had her feet touched the floor then she felt an arm grabbed her. It was the woman, Leena. "Come out of
hiding and hand the boy over or she dies in his place!" Jim and Ulrich came out but Aelita didn't see Jeremie.
Had he been captured as well.
"NO!" Jeremie threw himself at Leena's legs. His weight knocked her off-balance allowing Aelita to deliver a
sharp kick to her knees. The two ran to join Jim and Ulrich.
"Jeremie, thank you!" Aelita embraced him fiercely. "You saved me."
"We saved each other, Aelita."
Jim drove by on his motorcycle. "Hop on!" Jeremie and Aelita climbed into the sidecar and Jim drove for the
main door.
There was only one problem, the door was closed.
But that problem was solved as the Lyoko symbol flashed on the control operating the heavy door. It began
rising.
{Xana came to help us!} Aelita thought. {Thank you, Xana.}
"It's rising too slowly," Jim realized. "Everyone duck your heads!" Everyone lowered their heads and the
motorcycle was able to pass through. Jim got onto a road and began driving in the direction of the school.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ernie Merriman cursed. "Terry, bring the car around!" He scolded himself for not putting up any guards. But
he would get the boy back and eliminate those other three.
As Ernie climbed into the unmarked sedan, they were unaware that someone was watching them. This someone went up
to the still active laptop and began downloading its harddrive, all while thinking, {She's a lot braver than I
remember her. Must have to do with those other kids.}
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I need to get you three back to school A.S.A.P.," Jim said.
{No, we need Ulrich at the factory,} Jeremie mentally argued. "Jim, wait! Those crooks managed to grab Ulrich at
school. If we go there now, we would most likely be walking into a trap!"
"So what do you suggest?" Jim asked.
"We need to hide Ulrich somewhere until we can call the police. And I know just the place..."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Odd, my energy's drained!" Yumi cried.
"I know, mine is too!" Odd agreed. His tail told him that something was about to attack him from behind so Odd
leaped into the air, backflipped and landed behind the Skeleton. He kicked it in the head and actually knocked its
head off. Its body started swinging its sword wildly. Odd just avoided it until the body went over the edge.
Yumi judo-tossed a Skeleton then screamed as a purple tendril wrapped around her waist. Yumi felt hundreds of volts
coarse through her body.
"Yumi!" Odd tried to help her but a tendrill wrapped around his waist as well. The purple energy masses threw them
towards the cliff wall.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jim's motorcycle raced across the bridge that lead to the factory. It came through the entrance and catapulted
itself to the ground floor. No sooner had they entered, then the metal garage-like door lowered.
"Aelita and I will take Ulrich to a safe place," Jeremie said. "Jim, you call the police." Jeremie tossed Jim his
cell phone.
"What kind of a safe place?" Jim asked.
"Um... sorry, Jim, can't tell you. If the crooks were to find out, we'd all be in trouble. Trust me, it's for the
best." And before Jim could argue any further, Jeremie and Aelita took Ulrich into the freight elevator. Jim sighed
and dialed the number of the police.
"Yumi and Odd need you in Lyoko, Ulrich," Jeremie explained.
"Then let me at that scanner, I'll help them," Ulrich promised. "It's the least I can do after I made everyone worry."
The elevator dropped Jeremie off at the control room. He gave Aelita and Ulrich a thumbs up. "Go get 'em, you guys."
Ulrich returned it. "Don't worry, we will."
As Ulrich and Aelita arrived in the scanner room, Aelita said, "Ulrich, I think you deserve to use the fourth scanner.
I mean after all you've been through.
"Wow, thanks, Aelita." Aelita took the last available scanner.
"Transfer, Aelita. Transfer, Ulrich. Scanner, Aelita. Scanner, Ulrich. Virtualization!"
Ulrich and Aelita were dropped off in the same location that Odd and Yumi were dropped off at. {Hang on, Yumi, just
for a little bit longer.} The two ran along the path until they came to the drop. Explosions could be heard in the
distance. "Sounds like Yumi and Odd can use our help," Ulrich said.
"Give me a second and I'll upload the grappling claw," Jeremie said.
"Don't worry about it, Jeremie," Aelita said. She dropped to her knees and made a triangle sign with her hands. Her
mouth opened and let out an angelic tone. The slab of ground they were on broke away and began slowly descending.
"Wow, Aelita, I didn't know you could use your powers without your weapon."
"I've been thinking," Aelita said, her eyes still closed. "That without our weapons, our powers should be at the
same level as they were before we were upgraded."
"These are some pretty weird upgrades Xana provided us with."
"I'm not complaining."
"Neither am I."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yumi and Odd struggled to get up. Each of them hurt all over and their energy and life points were so low that they
couldn't even stand let alone attack.
"What are they waiting for? Why don't they finish us off?" Odd asked.
"They must want to prolong our suffering," Yumi guessed. {Good-bye, Ulrich, I'll see you in one world or the next.}
"HI-YAH!" A black blur came falling out of the sky and knocked a quarter of the Skeletons over the edge, one at a time.
A slab of ground bowled others over. Ulrich and Aelita landed perfectly in front of Yumi and Odd.
"Hey bone brains," Ulrich called. "If you want to get to them, you're going to have to go through us!"
"Ulrich, Aelita!" Yumi cried.
Ulrich turned and helped Yumi up. "Are you two okay?"
"We're fine now that you're back," Yumi said. Ulrich re-discovered what he should've known all along, that his
friends, especially Yumi, really cared about him, otherwise they wouldn't have risked life and limb to rescue him.
"Boy, are we glad to see you two," Odd said.
"What, no hi for me?" Jeremie asked.
"Jeremie!" Odd said shocked. "You know, you forgot to upload our weapons."
"I know, sorry about that. Here, will this make up for it? Lifepoint restorer!"
Odd shot up to his feet but was surprised by it. "Hey, I'm all better."
"You two are now at full life points and energy," Jeremie said.
Xana came barreling out of the sky and landed with gymnast-grace and seismic-power.
"Hey, Xana's here too," Odd pointed out. "Looks like the whole team's together again."
"That's right," Ulrich agreed. "So let's kick some Invader butt! Jeremie?"
"Oh yeah, I love this part. Upload: Twin Kitanas! Upload: Disk Launchers! Upload: Wrist Claws! Upload: Lyoko Wand!"
Their weapons appeared. The two sides stared at each other. Then the battle began.
"Energy Wave!" Ulrich sent a large crescent of energy careening into the Skeletons.
"I've finally figured out the way to defeat these energy beings," Yumi said making her sign. "Mystic Aura... Freeze!"
They not only froze in place, but they turned into ice versions of themselves. Aelita broke them with her staff.
"Up please," Odd requested of Xana. The computer virus threw Odd into the air. Odd placed his arms out like Superman
and began spinning. "Drill Claw!" Odd finished them off.
"We did it!" Yumi shouted. Everyone (except Xana, seeing as how he didn't have a mouth) cheered. "Now, let's go for
the Obelisk!" They all took off towards the Obelisk.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"What started out as a kidnapping turned into a dramatic rescue as one junior-high student was saved by two other
students and a gym coach. The boy was captured by Ernie Merriman, former head of Core-Tech Enterprises almost four
days ago and was being held pending ransom. Somehow, the two other students and the gym teacher found out where he
was and performed an eleventh hour rescue. The crooks were apprehended by police near an old factory on the
waterfront. Three of them are now in custody. The fourth, Leena Niyambo, has been taken to county hospital for knee
surgery. In what appears to be a related story, a CD-ROM was delivered to the police station. The contents of the
CD-ROM included a video of the kidnapping in action as well as files that showed that Merriman was embezzling money
from Apex Industries. As for the person who downloaded it from a laptop found in a Core-Tech warehouse, the delivery
boy only said that somebody told him to take it to the police station immediately. As for the boy and his three
heroes, they have escaped with only minor scrapes."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"And so," the principal was saying. "It gives me great honor to present Aelita, Jeremie, and Jim, with these medals
for heroic achievements in rescuing one of their fellow students from danger." The entire auditorium burst into
applause. Jeremie, Aelita, and Jim bore their medals proudly, especially Aelita. She never received so much
attention before.
Ulrich, who was on stage as well (as the "guest of honor") lead the audience in giving the three a standing ovation.
Yumi and Odd, who were in the front row, shared a knowing glance. The five of them would be the only ones who knew
the entire truth. Sissi, seated in the middle, grudgingly joined in. Yumi was acquitted of everything and even
received an apology from the principal. To Sissi, it looked like Yumi and Ulrich were now closer, which meant that
her chance with him was rapidly slipping away.
At the succeeding reception, Jeremie was filling Aelita and Odd in on some missing details.
"As it turned out, it was Xana who placed the two million into the account. He wanted to distract them while we
scouted for Ulrich. I don't think he realized what it might've triggered."
"Wow, Xana's just about as clueless as Aelita when it comes to understanding humans," Odd cracked.
"Hey! I'm trying."
"Sorry, Aelita."
Something was tugging at Aelita's mind though. Who could've helped her push the boxes over? She knew that there
was no way she could've pushed them over by herself. But how come she couldn't see anybody? Aelita decided not
to tell Jeremie and Odd about it, instead choosing to discuss something else.
"Hey guys," Aelita addressed. "I've... been talking to Xana and... we agreed that in exchange for helping us
save Ulrich, we... would leave Lyoko online after the Invaders have been defeated." Jeremie and Odd were surprised.
"I'm sorry for not discussing it with you guys earlier, but... I mean Xana did help in a big way. He found Ulrich
and even got the door open for us. I... I feel like it's the least we can do."
"Well... I guess it is the least we can do," Odd agreed. "Actually, when we're not running for our lives or fighting
evil monsters and stuff like that, Lyoko can be a pretty cool place to hang around in."
"Xana is a hard one to figure out," Jeremie commented. "I mean we don't know if he's doing this because he likes us
or he's just saving his own... uh... hyde."
"Xana's an ally," Aelita said. "I just know it. He may not know how to express it, but... we can count on him. I'm
sure of it!"
"Well, Aelita, if you think he can be trusted, then I believe he can be trusted."
"Congratulations," Will mumbled as he pass by.
"Oh, thanks, Will," Jeremie said.
"Yes, thank you," Aelita agreed. "But to tell you the truth, we did have a little help... I mean if it wasn't for
Jim, we probably wouldn't have arrived in time."
Will just nodded and continued along his way.
"That is one strange kid," Jeremie commented. "He acts like he doesn't care about anything at all, but I'm thinking
that's all it is, an act."
"You know, in some ways, Will kind of reminds me of Ulrich," Aelita commented. "To me, they both seem to not care
but when everything seems dark, they're your strongest lifeline to rely on."
"Speaking of Ulrich," Jeremie asked looking around. "Where is he? I mean this is his party just as much as it's
ours."
"Oh, I guess he had enough excitement for one day," Odd said. "I saw him sitting outside."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ulrich took a breath of air and let it out slowly. For the first time in a long while, he could finally relax. He
looked up as the sun was just preparing its descent for the night.
"Hey," Yumi greeted. "Mind some company?"
"Nope." Ulrich moved down so Yumi could have a seat next to him.
"So it's all over?" She asked.
"Yup. The testimony provided by Jeremie, Jim, Aelita, my father, and myself will be enough to put all of them away
for a long time."
"That's good." Yumi leaned her head on his shoulder. "I'm glad you're safe."
"Thanks."
Ulrich took his hand and started to reach across the bench. He stopped half-way, then continued until it touched
her far shoulder. Yumi made no attempt to stop him. In fact, she actually seeemed to take comfort in it, like she
wanted him to do that.
"Nice sunset," he said nervously.
"Yeah," she agreed. They said and did nothing else until the sun had completely set.
From their hiding place, Jeremie, Odd, and Aelita smiled at each other and nodded, deciding to leave the two in peace.
After all, after all they've been through, it's the least they could do.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well guys, that's it for me. If you guys have any suggestions on what I can put in here, please speak up or forever
hold your peace. In the mean time, I'm on my way to AnimeNext. Try to spot me. I'll probably be the one in glasses
blowing into wads of kleenex (don't ask).