Author's Note: Those of you who may have originally read this story may have noticed that it stopped rather abruptly after 'A World Without Danger.' That was because I had originally intended to continue the story from that point. However, my continuation seemed like it took such a radically different direction that I thought it should be another story. I was wrong.
So, here is the continuation and completion of 'Finding Franz Hopper.'
P.S.:The entire story takes place after the Autumn Harvest Dance described in 'Uncle Sam's Misguided Children,' and completes before the trip to the air base.
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.
"All right, we're done," Jeremie told Desmond Hopper, "the hardware's installed, the OS is installed, now all we have left to do is get your account set up."
Jeremie and Aelita had come over to Desmond's office in the Financial District to set up a new computer for him. Since his brother was no longer just a memory location, Jeremie thought that it would be helpful to Franz Hopper's recovery if he could communicate with his loved ones.
The computer Jeremie had Desmond order was one of the latest workstations. Jeremie specifically had it configured with about fifty percent more memory and hard disk than what his workstation at school had. He also installed Linux as the primary operating system. When Desmond complained that he knew nothing about Linux or Unix, Jeremie explained that the supercomputer at the old factory was Unix based, and some of the commands he was learning for when they had to go to Lyoko would be useful on his office workstation.
When Desmond said that the rest of the computers in his office ran Microsoft Windows, Jeremie replied that he had gotten some computer emulation software that would allow Desmond to set up a virtual Microsoft Windows computer within his Linux workstation. That was why Jeremie had him order the extra memory and disk.
Desmond was skeptical.
They got Desmond's account on the workstation set up, and they tried connecting to the supercomputer. When ever they would run into a connection problem, Aelita would check the supercomputer from Jeremie's laptop and change a configuration parameter. After a few minutes, the connection was made.
Jeremie performed some checks to see if the connection was okay. The response time was slower than at the console at the factory, but that was to be expected. Satisfied, Jeremie attempted to contact Franz Hopper.
"Franz, Franz Hopper, can you hear me?"
A window popped open, and an image resolved itself within it. It was Franz Hopper.
"What do you want," he said.
"I was testing a terminal connection between you and your brother's new workstation," Jeremie replied, "everything is hooked up now, so you two can talk."
"Why should I bother talking to another delusion?" Hopper replied, "is there something more you want out of me, XANA? Well, I have nothing left."
"Papa," Aelita said as she came into the web camera's view, "we aren't delusions, and Jeremie isn't XANA. We're just trying to help you, that's all."
"Then get me out of here!" Franz Hopper yelled.
"I already explained that's not possible right now," Jeremie said, "we have to somehow rebuild your DNA sequence so you can leave Lyoko. Say, your brother told me a few months back that you had your wife and Aelita's DNA tested when she was younger. Did you happen to have your DNA tested?"
"No," the image replied, "there was no need to test me. I just wanted to find out why Aelita's hair was naturally pink."
"Franz," Desmond piped in, "did you at any time before you disappeared have a DNA test performed, for any reason?"
"No," he said, "I've never had a reason to have it done. It's not like DNA testing will become easy to do. No one would ever have a need for something like that."
"That's not true," Desmond told him, "we have been sequencing the human genome for years now, and DNA testing is very commonplace. I have seen it used in many cases not only to prove a person's guilt, but also their innocence."
"Who would have thought," was Hopper's reply, "and what about quantum computers. I suppose you can buy them at the local hardware store now."
"No, sir, not yet," Jeremie replied, "the computer you built is the most sophisticated machine I've ever seen. It looks like it's at least a hundred years ahead of any thing we have now, and you built it over twelve years ago."
"Interesting," Franz Hopper said, "what else have I missed?"
"I can't answer that," Jeremie replied, "you're talking about filling in a gap that spans my entire life. But I'm sure you brother would be glad to fill you in."
"Yes, Franz," Desmond said, smiling, "I would. We have many things to talk about."
Jeremie and Aelita left the two brothers to reminisce.
A few days later, Sissi Delmas was sitting at her dressing table, preparing for the day. She still had her hair wrapped in a towel from her shower, and her clothes were laid out on her bed. She had just removed the towel from around her body to begin dressing when she heard something from Aelita's computer.
"Aelita?"
Sissi turned to the computer to see that a window had opened up, showing an image of an older man.
"Eeek!" She threw the towel in her hand at the computer. It landed so that it covered the web camera and the monitor.
"Didn't anyone tell you that it wasn't polite to just walk in on a lady in her bedroom!" she hollered at the computer.
"Oh my goodness! I apologize profusely!" Franz Hopper said, "I thought this was my daughter's room."
"It is," Sissi sharply said as she quickly dressed, "I'm her roommate, remember? The one you were hijacking and taking out for joyrides?"
"Oh, yes," he replied, "Miss Delmas, correct? I'm sorry that I did that to you, but you were the only way I could find to speak to the others. And it felt so good being able to feel anything after so many years, I got a little carried away."
"That was too much information," Sissi replied, now dressed. She pulled the towel from the computer, allowing Franz to see into the room once again. "You need to knock or something before you show up here again. Just barging in like that is too much."
"I will find some way to announce my presence before entering, I promise you," he replied, "where is Aelita?"
"I'm not sure," Sissi said, "I would have thought she was still here. Have you looked in Jeremie's room?"
"Yes, but he seems to have a setup similar set up to what you have," the man replied with a smile, "it seems that young men have the same concerns about their privacy that young women do. From what I did see, he was alone, though."
Sissi got a wicked smile on her face, "are you sure?"
Franz Hopper chuckled at her, "yes, I am. I'm insane, not stupid. His bed was empty. You don't have any idea where she is?"
"No. I would have thought if anyone knew, it would be Jeremie. He's always been very protective of her."
"Hmm. Well, I guess I'll just have to try again later. Goodbye."
"Don't forget to knock or something next time!"
Aelita didn't join the gang until lunch that day. She just walked into the cafeteria like nothing had ever happened. She got her lunch and joined the gang at their table.
"Hi, everybody! Herve, Nicholas, how are you today?" she said as she sat down.
Herve Pichon and Nicholas Poliakoff returned her greeting with a flat "fine." They had joined Sissi at the gang's table today, at Sissi's invitation. They sat as close to Sissi as they could while at the same time sitting as far away from the others as they could, an interesting problem since Sissi was sitting next to Odd. Odd and Ulrich started to say something when they sat down, but shut up at a sharp look from Jeremie.
"Aelita, where have you been? I've been worried about you," Jeremie said, "your father popped in this morning wondering where you were."
"He visited me, too," Sissi added, "it seems he needs to relearn some social skills."
Aelita got a questioning look on her face at Sissi's remark, but filed it away for later consideration. "I spent the night at my uncle's," she said, answering Jeremie's question, "with everything that's been going on, we haven't had much time to get to know one another. He's the only family I've got on earth, and it's time I got to know him."
"We're your family, too," Jeremie pointed out. The others murmured in agreement.
"You know what I mean, blood relations. Anyway, we spent the evening together. He showed me old photos of my father when he was younger, and pictures of me and my mother..." Her voice drifted off, ending in the beginnings of a sob.
She recovered and continued, "then Marie fixed us dinner and we ate and talked about my parents. It was wonderful, but bittersweet too."
"Who's Marie," Odd asked.
"Desmond's wife. They've been married for three years now."
"Another thing," Aelita continued, "he wants you to set up another workstation in his home, like what he has at the office. He said he liked the workstation after playing with it for a while after talking to father."
"Sure, no problem. Just have him order the same equipment from the same places," Jeremie told her, "you saw how I set everything up. You should have no trouble doing it yourself, if you want."
"Just don't set it up in the bedroom," Sissi added.
"Another thing we talked about last night," Aelita resumed, "he's going to arrange things with Mr. Delmas so I can spend some afternoons after school at his office. He thought it would be a good idea if I started earning money for myself. He also said it would be a good learning experience for me, to start showing me parts of the world I've not seen yet."
"Wow, that's great," Jeremie said with no enthusiasm. Aelita laughed.
"Uncle Desi thought you would react this way," she told the genius, "don't worry, Jeremie, there will still be time for us, I promise."
The warning bell for afternoon classes rang and everybody got up to go.
"Oh! Jeremie, I almost forgot," Aelita said just as Jeremie was turning to leave, "Desmond gave me this to give to you." As she was speaking, she rummaged in her book bag and pulled out an envelope and handed it to Jeremie.
He took the envelope and opened it. Inside was a check for 500 euros, drawn on the attorney's business account, made out to one Jeremie Belpois. With it was a note:
For services rendered.
I would appreciate it if you could make some time to return to my office. I would like to discuss further enhancements to my computer network there. I also think it would be worthwhile for you to spend some time with my new assistant. She has much raw talent, but I believe she would benefit from some seasoning from someone like yourself.
Call me at my office so we can make the appropriate arrangements.
Desmond Hopper