Warning: Rated for language, violence and references to adult behavior.

The main characters of this story are based on characters from the cartoon 'Code Lyoko.' I do not own, nor do I claim, any copyright to these characters.

Author's Note:

Certain abbreviations are used during the course of this story. In order to, hopefully, avoid confusion, they are presented here with an explanation:

MGySgt.: Master Gunnery Sargent

GySGt.: Gunnery Sargent

Cpl.: Corporal

This story begins after the events in 'Yugen No Ma,' and before the events of 'Finding Franz Hopper.'

"C'mon, Jeremie, you promised," said the pink haired girl to the blond headed boy.

"But, Aelita, I've got to work a little longer on this! I think I've got a lead on where your father is and..."

"I know, and I want to find him too, but can it wait for a little while?"

Aelita Hopper and Jeremie Belpois were in Jeremie's room. For the last week, Jeremie had been running scans and writing programs to try and find Aelita's father, Franz Hopper, in the maze of the supercomputer that housed the virtual world of Lyoko. He had been working for a month straight, between classes, and had gotten nowhere.

"Jeremie, he may not be in there," she told him with a bit of sadness in her voice.

"Do you want me to stop?" he snapped, "I could, you know. We could go over to the factory, right now, and shut the supercomputer down. We really don't need it any more, now that you're safe and XANA's escaped..."

"Of course I don't want you to stop," Aelita replied, "it's just that I'm worried about you. You've been at it non-stop since summer and you haven't found anything yet."

Jeremie said, "and I did the same thing for years before that, trying to bring you into our world. I can't do anything less for your father, can I?"

"Will burning yourself out bring my father back any faster? I'm not asking you to abandon your work, I'm asking you to take me to the movies. And you did promise."

"Alright, you win. What do you want to go see?"

"I don't know. What do you want to see..."

It took a while, but they decided to see "The World's Fastest Indian," a film about a New Zealand man trying to set a land speed record with a motorcycle. It was the least objectionable movie the two could find.

Jeremie asked his other friends, Odd Della Robbia and Ulrich Stern if they and their girlfriends would like to come along with them that evening. Odd said no, he had other plans, and Ulrich said he had already seen the movie with Yumi, his girlfriend, over the weekend. So the couple went on their own.

The first evening show was at 7 pm, so they left Kadic Academy around 6 pm. They made their way into town and found the theater. The sidewalks were full of people bustling about, going to dinner, the movies, or generally running errands. Jeremie did notice something unusual at one point, some guys hanging out around an alley. He had never seen them before, and something struck him as being wrong. They all wore similar clothes, and it looked like they were harassing the passers by. It also looked like they were drinking. He made it a point to steer clear of that area.

They got to the theater fifteen minutes before the movie started, and there was a line at the ticket counter. While they were waiting, Aelita struck up a conversation with another girl waiting with them.

The couple finally got up to the ticket window, and Jeremie paid for their admission. As they entered, Aelita said, "Jeremie, this is Jeanie. She's from America."

"Hi, Jeanie," he said to the girl in English.

"How do you do," she responded in shaky French.

"You can speak English if it's easier for you," Jeremie said, "we won't mind it."

"Thanks," the girl said, visibly relieved, "with my luck I would have probably called you something obscene by accident with my French."

They all laughed.

"What are you seeing tonight," Jeremie then asked.

"Same as you, 'The World's Fastest Indian,'" Jeanie replied, "I've seen it already, but I haven't seen it dubbed in French. I thought it would be an interesting way to practice."

After the movie, the three stopped at a little café close to the theater for a snack. Jeremie and Aelita told Jeanie about themselves, keeping Lyoko out of the conversation, and Jeanie told the couple about herself. She was the daughter of an 'American Businessman' in Paris doing some work for his company. She was bored with staying a home all the time and decided to sneak out and find out what the natives were like.

Finally, Jeremie said that it was time for Aelita and him to head back to school. They got up to leave, and Jeanie did too.

"Ah, could I walk with you guys," she asked, "I'm getting a little spooked, and I'd appreciate the company."

"Certainly," Aelita immediately replied, "if you want, you could come back to the school with us, then call your family for a ride home."

"Yeah, that would be great," Jeanie replied.

The three began walking back to Kadic Academy. As they passed an alley, they were suddenly surrounded by the gang Jeremie saw earlier, on the other end of the street. There were six of them, and they had obviously changed location while Jeremie and Aelita were watching the movie.

"Well, fellas, look what we have here!" one of the boys said.

"Looks like a good time to me!" another said.

With that, they grabbed Jeremie, Aelita and Jeanie and pulled them into the alley.

To Be Continued...

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