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.
It was earlier Saturday evening, and the boys hadn't left for the Ishiyama's yet. Jeremie quickly pulled out his cell phone and called Mrs. Ishiyama. He told her about what had just happened and the Return To The Past he had to do, and that everything was alright. This was the first time she had ever been thrown back in time by the RTTP, and it unnerved her when she suddenly found herself hours in the past.
The next call he made was to Desmond Hopper, telling him the same thing. He too had never experienced a RTTP, and Jeremie's call settled him down.
The last call Jeremie made was to MGySgt. Thompson.
"Master Guns, you need to keep a close eye on the catering staff," Jeremie said without preamble, "some of them are terrorists, and they want to kidnap and murder Jeanie."
"Jeremie, you're letting your imagination run wild!" the Master Gunnery Sargent replied, "the biggest problem the caterers have right now is eight of them didn't show up for work tonight! The Head Chef is fit to be tied because of it. Just come on by, have a good time, and don't be so uptight."
Jeremie then said, "you once said that if bullets started flying your way because of my game, we would revisit the subject of the old factory, and you would be insisting on answers. Well, you don't remember it, but bullets did fly your way because of my game, and Ann and Sanka got seriously wounded as a result. I've told you once already that I would tell you everything I know, and I intend on keeping that promise. I want you to arrange for you and Ann and my father to get a way for a while, so I can do just that."
"Jeremie, I think your crazier than a shithouse rat," came the response after a moment, "but okay. As soon as you get here, I'll hear you out."
While the rest of the gang stayed at the Ball, enjoying themselves and keeping an eye out for trouble, Jeremie and Aelita took Jeremie's father, MGySgt. Thompson and GySgt. Grace to the old factory. Since the gunfight had never happened, Ann was in perfect health, if not more than a little confused.
Jeremie took them down to the computer lab, where they had been hours from now in a different time stream.
"This is our secret," Jeremie began, "twelve or so years ago, a man by the name of Franz Hopper built this computer, a quantum computer..."
He told them the whole story, about Lyoko, XANA, Aelita, Franz Hopper, the supercomputer, everything.
After Jeremie had finished, Taylor said, "and you're telling me that I've already seen this? We've already been here once?"
"Yes and No," Jeremie replied, "the last time, there were people here I didn't want to know, and people not here that I wanted to know. I launched the Return To The Past to get me out of a sticky situation. In fact, you were pointing a gun at my head when I did it."
"Jeremie," his father said, "what is to stop any of us from pulling the plug on this whole mess? From what you said, this Franz Hopper is the only person here. All we need do is power down this computer, and it would be done."
"You're wrong, dad," Jeremie replied, "shutting down the computer won't destroy XANA. This computer and this place may be the only thing in the world that can ultimately defeat and destroy it."
"Another thing, could you honestly do that? Turn it off while Aelita and Desmond watched?"
Michael Belpois looked for a moment at Aelita, then back at his son.
"Yes, Jeremie, I would in a heartbeat," his father replied, "I will do whatever it takes to protect my family, and I would not lose a wink of sleep at night after doing so. I would do it, even if it earned me your hatred, for you must be alive in order to hate me."
Jeremie stared at his father for a moment, as if he were seeing the man who was his father for the first time. The man who stood before him meant every word he had just said. He would do anything to protect those he loved, whatever the consequences. Michael Belpois returned his son's stare with a composed look.
"Then help me, father," Jeremie said at last, "for something pursues me and will not stop until it has killed me, my friends, and everybody else on Earth. It can't be bargained with, convinced to quit, or tire out. It will keep coming until it has killed us all, and it will take special delight in killing Aelita and me."
"Jeremie," Ann Grace said, "what's to prevent us from going back to General Maxwell and coming back with a platoon? I'm willing to bet that we could get all of this equipment out in a day."
"I'm at your mercy," Jeremie replied, "I really can't stop any of you from doing anything. I can only pray that you care enough for me to help me."
"It could be argued that taking this computer away would be helping you," Taylor said.
"Then do it," Aelita suddenly said, "do it. End all of this. Almost a year ago, I shut the thing off myself, knowing that doing so would kill me. If I had succeeded, XANA would have been destroyed then and none of this would have happened! Go ahead, turn it off and see what happens! Maybe we all will live long lives before being slaughtered. And that is exactly what will happen, Mr. Thompson, Ms. Grace, Mr. Belpois. XANA got a taste for cruelty after it escaped, and wants to feed it. You may not care about us, but what about Jeanie Wilkerson? XANA's minions were going to kidnap, torture and murder her, not just to stir up tensions in the world, but for 'pleasurable feedback!' Maybe next time, they will succeed. Maybe next time, it will be someone close to any one of you."
"What do you want from us?" Taylor finally said.
"Your silence," Jeremie replied, "and your help. XANA seems to be using people almost exclusively now. We may be attacked in ways we as kids can't even imagine or understand, let alone defend against, just because we don't know how the world works. You do. There may be times when we will need the knowledge and wisdom you have accumulated in order to help us out."
"That's the first sensible thing you've said tonight," Ann told the boy.
"Alright, Jeremie," Taylor said, "but know this: I am a United States Marine, sworn to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America, and I will not violate that oath just because you told me a scary story. If this little 'game' of yours ever threatens my country, I will end it, full stop, period."
"I can safely echo my fiancé's promise," Ann added.
"I can live with that," Jeremie said.
"I will make no such promise," Jeremie's father said, "I will allow this to continue only because I cannot think of a way to protect you without this equipment. If I ever find a way, however, you will know it when this building explodes."
"Dad, just keep in mind the supercomputer is powered by weapons-grade nuclear material," Jeremie replied.