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.
The car had pulled up to the front entrance of the United States Embassy. The driver got out, came around to the walk, and opened the door for his passengers. The ladies stepped out first, helped by the driver. They made room for their dates to join them, which they did a few seconds later.
Once out, the gang took in their surroundings. The whole building was lit up, and there was the sound of music drifting out from the inside. Photographers were lined up all along the walkway, just waiting to snap a picture of the Great and Powerful. When they got out, the paparazzi started snapping picture after picture, just on the off chance that the children standing there were Important People.
The boys led their dates into the building, where they presented their invitations to the guard standing there, MGySgt. Taylor Thompson. He looked at each invitation, and each one of them as if he had never met them before. Then he returned the invitation, said, "welcome and have a good evening," and let them through, but not before giving each of them a quick smile and wink.
There was a minor misunderstanding when they went through the metal detectors at the entrance. Yumi's fans set off an alarm, and a Marine took her aside and waived a handheld detector over her. I buzzed when it encountered the fans, so the guard took them and examined them for a moment. He had a questioning look on his face, but they didn't seem dangerous, just a little heavy, so he returned them to the girl. The gang then entered the Embassy.
They followed the crowd of people to the Embassy's Ball Room. The huge double doors were closed, but they could hear the music being played inside. Each invitee would get to the door, give his or her invitation to the doorman standing there, who would then open the door, usher them in, and announce them.
"Presenting Miss Yumi Ishiyama and Mr. Ulrich Stern!"
"Presenting Miss Elizabeth Delmas and Mr. Odd Della Robbia!"
"Presenting Miss Aelita Hopper and Mr. Jeremie Belpois!"
They were all so overwhelmed by the moment that Sissi didn't even complain about the majordomo calling her Elizabeth.
They proceeded down the steps into the ballroom proper, coming to the Reception Line. Here, all of the US dignitaries were lined up, greeting the arriving guests. They would greet the guest, lightly shake their hand, and maybe say a quick little something if they knew the person.
The only people the kids really knew here were the Marines and Jeanie Wilkerson. Other than Taylor Thompson, none of the other Marines they knew were around.
They proceeded down the line and came to General Maxwell. He greeted Ulrich and Yumi first.
"Ms. Ishiyama, Mr.Stern, good evening. And how are the two wayward lambs?"
Both of them blushed as they replied, "fine, sir," getting a quick chuckle from the General.
"Good! Just as long as Mr. Stern is doing the team proud. You take care of each other now, and have a good time."
As they moved down the line, the couple had a confused look on their faces at Maxwell's comment, until Ulrich figured it out and blushed redder.
They finally reached the end of the line, where Ambassador Wilkerson and family stood waiting. When they got to Jeanie and Herve, she squealed in delight and gave them each a very undiplomatic hug and kiss.
"God, I'm glad you guys could make it! I was afraid for a bit that I would be stuck all alone with these stuffy old diplomats. Talk about a fate worse than death!"
Behind her, GySgt. Ann Grace and Cpl. Coffy stood and smiled. When Jeremie saw them, he got a troubled look on his face.
"Gunny Grace, you look fabulous this evening," the boy said, "and, congratulations on your engagement."
"Thanks, Jeremie," the woman replied.
Jeremie then took the woman by the arm and pulled her aside a step or two.
"Listen," he whispered, "seeing you and Sanka here just gave me a bad feeling, like I've seen you this way before. Be extra careful tonight, okay?"
"Jeremie, you would make an excellent bodyguard, did you know that?" Ann replied, smiling, "you've got a sense of paranoia that easily rivals my own. Don't worry, kid. We've got everything covered."
The evening progressed and they had a wonderful time. Jeremie and Aelita danced several times, then switched off and danced with the others, then switched off and danced with complete strangers. After a while, they drifted off into the crowd, taking in the atmosphere, and listening to the conversations around them.
Jeremie actually got involved in a conversation with General Maxwell and another General, talking about quantum physics of all things. Jeremie later found out that the other man in the conversation was the NATO SACEUR, or Supreme Allied Commander for Europe. That had been a mind blowing experience.
Aelita later told him she had a conversation with the wife of the Russian Ambassador, who seemed to have a thing for techno-pop music and young girls. Aelita quickly excused herself when she found that second fact out.
They noticed Ulrich and Yumi talking with Ulrich's mother off in a corner. Elsewhere, Jeremie noticed Ulrich's father talking to one of the caterers, then quickly walking off. That bothered Jeremie a lot.
Jeremie also noticed something odd about some of the other caterers. About eight of them seemed to have no interest in catering the event. They were looking all about them instead. That nagging feeling returned to Jeremie, and he and Aelita went to find Ann Grace.
They quickly found her, standing close to Herve and Jeanie, who were talking to some dignitaries.
"Ann, I think something's going on," he told her, "some of the caterers are acting funny."
"Jeremie, you've got to settle down. Just who do you think is acting funny?" she replied.
"Him, for one," Jeremie replied, pointing to one of the caterers close by.
Ann turned to look at the man just as he pulled out a submachine gun.
"Breach Omega!" Ann screamed into her microphone as gunfire erupted in the ball room.
"GET HER OUTTA HERE!" Ann screamed at Sanka, as she drew her pistol and shot the caterer near them dead.
Jeremie and Aelita grabbed Herve and Jeanie and ran for it, Ann and Sanka close behind.
"OUT THOSE DOORS!" Ann shouted. Jeremie saw the doors she meant and bolted for them.
The got through the doors just as bullets whizzed by their heads. Jeremie heard an oomph! behind him but kept running. Then gunshots erupted in the hallway behind them, and more bullets whizzed by them.
Thinking quickly, Jeremie opened a door and thrust everyone inside. A few seconds later, they were joined by Ann Grace and Sanka Coffy. Ann was half-dragging Coffy with her. Jeanie and Herve ran over and took Coffy from Ann, and dragged him behind the only cover in the room, a large desk.
Jeremie looked about the room. He was hiding behind a desk, Aelita beside him. Jeanie and Herve were pressing their hands into Cpl. Coffy's side and chest, trying to stop the rivers of blood pouring from the wounds he had there. In front of Jeremie, protecting all of them, was GySgt. Ann Grace.
Oh My God! My Dream!
"Ann, be careful, my dream..." was all Jeremie could cry out before gunfire rang out again. This time, Ann was jolted by something, but she managed to raise her weapon and return fire. Outside, someone screamed and died.
Ann staggered back behind the desk, then slid down the wall, leaving a large streak of blood there.
"Dammit dammit dammit!" she said, "have you got anything to plug these wounds?"
"I... I do," said Aelita. Opening her purse, the pink-haired girl began pulling out packets and packets of sanitary napkins and tampons.
Ann smiled, "you've been hanging out with SEALs again, haven't you missy?"
Aelita blushed and replied, "something compelled me to take all this. I didn't realize why until just now."
"Well, you done good. Hand some of those pads to Herve and Jeanie. Then give me a tampon and I'll plug this hole."
Ann screamed as she pushed the tampon into the gunshot wound in her shoulder.
"Jeremie, you're going to have to defend us until help arrives. Aelita, you're going to have to move me forward and plug the exit wound."
Aelita got a sick look on her face, but did as Ann told her. Ann screamed again when Aelita moved her, and a third time when she pushed the tampon into the wound.
"Jeremie, take my gun. Jeanie, Herve, Sanka should have some clips on him. Find them and give them to Jeremie."
"Ann, I don't know if I can do this," Jeremie told the woman.
"Deep in your heart, you know you can; just remember Napoleon," she replied.
Jeremie winced when she said 'Napoleon,' gently reminding him of the price paid for his education. The boy took Ann's gun, and the clips that Jeanie handed him. Aelita watched in disbelief as Jeremie expertly cleared the round in the chamber, ejected the clip from the weapon, loaded a new clip, then racked the slide, loading a round into the chamber. He turned toward the door, crouched behind the desk, and brought the pistol to the ready.
"Jeremie, listen to me," Ann coached him, "right now, your body's pumping adrenaline into your system like soda pop, preparing you for flight or fight. You may feel like pissing or shitting your pants right now. It's natural, your body is trying to dump any excess baggage it can in case you have to run. If it happens, don't worry about it."
She continued, "when the action starts, time's gonna slow down. You'll get tunnel vision. That's normal, too. It's called hyperfocus. Don't let it overcome you completely though, you still need to be aware of your surroundings."
"When a Bad Guy comes through the door, shoot him. Don't talk with him, don't warn him, shoot his ass! Put two in his center body mass and let God handle the rest."
Just then, one of the caterers appeared in the doorway. Jeremie did exactly as he was told. He fired twice, and put both rounds in the man's chest. The man staggered back and fell, dead.
Twice more Jeremie repeated the drill Ann gave him. Twice more, Bad Guys died. After the second one, the slide of Jeremie's weapon locked back.
"Misfeed! Quick, clear the round!" was all Ann could say before a shot rang out and hit her.
"Don't move, little boy." said the Bad Guy standing in the door way.
Jeremie looked at the man and recognized him.
It was the Demon.
To Be Concluded...