(A/N) First I would like to dedicate this chapter to The Ultimate Life Form. Thank you so much for the information! I will be sure to use it as thoroughly as I can in this story!

Unleashing Valor

By: Tellemicus Sundance

Helpless

A few minutes after the movie started playing, it became apparent to everyone present that something was wrong with Jeremy. His breathing was irregular; he became extremely edgy, and was turning steadier paler. This became evident when a fight scene happened between a werewolf and vampire in the middle of a theme park. The scene was full of mutilation and death of innocent people.

Rising to his feet, Jeremy stumbled toward the exit. His sudden movement caused Odd to loose his grip on his drink and drop it. Half blind, Jeremy didn't seem to notice the dampness on his pants leg as he hurried to leave the theater room.

"Dammit, Jeremy!" Odd groaned as he brushed the spilled liquid off himself. "Next time, warn me!"

"Jeremy?" Aelita called out gently. She was quick to rise to her feet and follow him.

"Are you okay?" Yumi asked Jeremy's retreating form. Jeremy didn't answer as he cleared the row and ran for the exit.

"He'll be okay," William said reassuringly. "I bet he just needs to settle his stomach."

Returning her gaze to the movie, she said, "Yeah, you're probably right."

"Green light, men," a voice said over the radio. "Green light!"

All the men smirked evilly as they divided up to do their assigned tasks. One of the men cautiously made his way toward the entrance. Another stood guard at the only other exit of the main corridor. The third made his way behind the theaters. All of them held their weapons at the ready.

This would be a message and they were the proud messengers…

Outside in the hall, Jeremy was leaning weakly on the wall. He was crouched over so low that Aelita was surprised that he hadn't fallen to the ground at that angle. She could partially make out the symptoms of shock: clammy skin, dilated pupils, and pale skin. In an instant, she understood.

"You don't like horror movies." It was a statement. Jeremy, who was fighting to settle his stomach, could only nod his head slightly in his shame. He hated appearing weak in front of Aelita.

As if reading his thoughts, she said, "That's nothing to be ashamed about, Jeremy. A lot of people don't like things that many others do."

"I know," he muttered. "But I still… I just wish…"

"Relax," Aelita said. With a sudden need, she wrapped her arms gently around him. She felt him shudder in her embrace, but not resist. After a moment, he returned it. In her arms, he felt his unease disappear. She was his strength. He had long since realized this, but this embrace only reinforced it. He was so caught up in the feeling of having by him that he lost track of how long they were like that. It could've been seconds or eternities.

But they were pleasant, warm, and safe.

Ten minutes passed and the couple hadn't returned. Growing both irritated and curious, Odd finally rose and walked out of the theater. He found them just outside the doorway. Aelita was holding Jeremy tenderly and he was returning it. Odd felt almost guilty about what he did next.

"Am I interrupting something?"

Both looked over at him as they suddenly parted. He grinned at them because he could see each had a fierce blush. They tried to compose themselves and stuttered slightly out of embarrassment.

"No," Jeremy said. "I—we…that is—uh? Want to—"

Whatever he was going to say was drown out by a sudden, deafening explosion: a real explosion. A section of concrete wall not too far from them erupted in flame and shrapnel, showering dust and debris of wall through the hall.

The explosion rocked the floor that they were standing on. Taken by surprise, all three of them stumbled. But Odd was the truly lucky one. A shower of debris raced over his head and was inches away from killing him.

Even among the screams of the people, Sissi's extraordinary voice was easily identifiable. A masked man had appeared less than ten feet from her. Even through his helmet and the cheers of his comrades, the man had to grasp its ears in an attempt to shield them from the din of her voice. He easily discovered her petrified form in the seat.

Roaring angrily at her, he raised his rifle at her. Ulrich reacted in the fraction of a second; seizing Sissi, he yanked her from the chair. A second later the chair was smashed into an undistinguishable mass of plastic and padding from a magazine of bullets.

While the man was trying to aim upon Sissi again, Ulrich crossed the distance in a heartbeat. With one hand, he knocked the rifle's muzzle upward just before the bullets sprayed out. His other hand rushed forward and he slammed his open palm into the man's face.

The unexpected attack disoriented the murderer long enough for Ulrich to drop to the ground and sweep his leg out. Crashing to the ground, the murderer instinctively rolled away from the boy. But he wasn't fast enough. Ulrich's hand slashed down and delivered a sharp blow to the back of the man's neck, knocking him unconscious.

Turning to Sissi, Ulrich let out a relieved sigh.

She'd fainted.

(A/N)WOHO! GO ULRICH!

Yeah, this is quite different from the original isn't it? And confusing too I bet. To be honest, the idea of thugs attacking the theater had only just recently come to me. So even I'm not sure of their motives at this point.

But, right now, I'm sure we won't be seeing them anymore once this story arc is over. They just aren't important enough to bring up again. Unless one of you have some new ideas for me…?