Some of you have brought up some very interesting points. I will do my absolute best to answer the questions asap. Plus I have to good news. My time at Fort McCoy these past two weeks haven't been in vein. I was able to witness three new Season 2 episodes and I guarantee that you will be seeing what I learned later in the story.
I don't know how many people are there or when they are coming back, but I dedicate this chapter to all our brave soldiers who are serving or served our nation in the past four or five years. (Excluding myself.)
I hope you all will pray for their safe return home with me.
Unleashing Valor
By: Tellemicus Sundance
Race Against Time
It was strange; Jeremy realized. Now was the perfect time for Xana to attack continuously and not worry about them ruining his plans. However the super computer seemed content to have Jeremy and Aelita raking their brains in an attempt to repair the time reversal.
Unless, he quickly feared, that this was only a stepping-stone in Xana's latest scheme. This prospect scared Jeremy and caused him to redouble his attempts. He had spent the better part of the four days now since the attack trying to fix or replace the fried circuits of the program. He was often caught skipping most of the day's worth of classes and spent as much time at the factory as he could. This change in behavior quickly angered the principal and Jim.
But it was lucky that Jeremy had taken to avoiding Jim as a new form of art. One that he excelled at remarkably.
The humid air and hot Wednesday sun beat down on his shoulders. Dressed in his white shirt again, it quickly became loose a fit it was on him. Pulled back by the wind and drenched in sweat, the shirt was like a second skin. Flapping wildly in the wind, his bandana proved its worth yet again.
He ran to keep himself in top physical condition. He ran to feel the familiar burn of his muscles. He ran to recover the strength that he'd felt he lost while healing. He ran to keep himself free of Sissi's never-ending monologues and whining voice. He ran to keep his mind off Yumi...
It was four o'clock when they found him. He was circling the soccer field and was breathing rather heavily from circumnavigating it so many times. He saw his friends as they left the school building and go their separate ways. Odd settled into his headphones and listened to his music, taking a break from the harshness of reality. William and Yumi were walking gradually toward the streets. Jeremy was running off toward the factory to finish the repairs of the Time Reversal Program.
Slowing his pace to a light jog, Ulrich's path of travel took him on a parallel course with Yumi...and William. As he approached, Yumi glanced at him suspicious eyes.
Though he wasn't sure what she was suspicious about, he'd wager anything it had to do with the theater attack. If she wanted to stare at him, that was fine. But he wished her expression had anything other than loathing or suspicion.
Ulrich settled down on to the bench beside Odd. After a moment, Odd caught on to his best friend's staring after Yumi. Though he would much rather continue listening to his music, he had a small burst of enlightenment. If neither of them made a move to talk, and soon, they would probably be at this awkward standstill for weeks or months or even years.
For one of the few times in his life, Odd became serious. Pausing his song and pulling his headphones down, Odd grasped Ulrich's shoulder gently and shook it.
"Don't be mad at Yumi," he said. Detecting Odd's tone, Ulrich gave him his full attention. He knew from Odd's voice that what he had to say was important, for once. "She only thinks that you abandoned her when you left. Plus, you really can't blame her for thinking that, either. You just up and disappeared, no note or even a good-bye."
Returning to his previous mind frame, Odd returned to his headphones. Thinking quickly, Ulrich stood and took off running after Yumi. Seeing his friend running after the girl of his dreams, Odd stood and left as well. There was an awesome new computer game he wanted to get.
Just as he was about to round the corner and go sprinting after Yumi, a horrible sensation rose in Ulrich's stomach. Like he was about vomit, but much less nauseating. It was feeling that he'd come to realize symbolized an approaching danger. He glanced back at Odd worriedly.
What if it was Odd that was going to be in trouble? He stood there for a moment. Torn between watching over Odd and chasing after Yumi.
Walking down the streets, Odd took a shortcut through the park. He was passing a clearing with his music playing loudly when things started happening. Because his music was so loud, he didn't hear the startled shouts or barks until he'd been tackled.
Struck from behind, Odd landed heavily on his chest. His headphones slipped from his ears and his CD player snapped in two when it hit the pavement. But that was the last thing Odd was thinking about. A mouthful of sharp teeth had buried itself in his left shoulder!
Screaming in pain, Odd struck at what held his shoulder reflexive. His fist caught the dog, a golden retriever, in the eye. Releasing Odd instantly, the retriever thrashed about slightly. Pushing himself to his feet, Odd saw the retriever quickly return its attention to him and then he heard more barks. Lots more!
Not thinking twice, he ran as fast and far as he could from the crazed the canines. But it wasn't fast enough. He was tackled again. Fangs bore down on him: biting, tearing, and yanking. Odd was screaming bloody murder in his pain. He forced his eyes close so he couldn't see his body being torn and his blood pooling. Tears of indescribable pain were leaking out from the corners of his eyes as he feebly tried to repel the dogs.
Then there came a shout from somewhere nearby. The canines halted their assault and rushed past Odd's battered body. Managing to open one eye a sliver, he glimpsed a dark figure swinging something. Whatever that object was, it was able to cleave the raging dogs into pieces. It was barely lasted ten seconds before Odd fainted from blood loss and shock.
When he had first approached, Yumi almost walked away again. Ulrich had first tried to apologize to her, but the words got stuck in his throat and didn't come. It didn't help with William there, supporting and influencing Yumi. She only glared at him. When Ulrich had asked why she was mad at him, William answered before she could.
"Why don't you leave her alone?" he demanded, standing up. "She obviously doesn't want you to be by her... If you're so desperate for a girlfriend, go get Sissi. You know? She was right: you two were meant for each other. You're doing the exact same thing that she always does to you."
As this thought raced through Ulrich's mind, he realized that William was right. He was doing the very thing that he despised Sissi for doing. He was begging and bugging Yumi to forgive him and be his friend again when she no longer wanted to know him anymore. Just as Sissi always was pestering him to like her when he was and is love with Yumi; he is annoying her while she is in love with William. William was right! This revelation made Ulrich sick.
Seeing that he'd found a weakness, William pushed on. "Now, why don't you pull that little trick you learned two months ago, and disappear! Everyone was happier when you were gone."
Then the bus arrived. As William walked Yumi on to the bus, Ulrich called out, "I'm sorry for being a thorn in your side, Yumi." The passion and pain in his voice was as thick as a milkshake. Even Yumi's newfound hatred of him was temporarily quenched by the evident heartbreak that he was experiencing.
Then the moment passed. They were absorbed into the flow of the six people as they entered the bus and the rest of the passengers disembarked. The moment was over but the feelings remained. For Ulrich, it was a tragedy. A sadness of proportions unknown to any who had never experienced a true heartbreak dampened Ulrich's already miserable mood.
He watched as Yumi as she took a seat near the window. Her face was turned toward William, lips moving silently as she spoke to him. As she spoke, a slow smile spread on her lips. Facing William, she said a couple of words and they leaned closer to each other. With a deepening fear, Ulrich watched from his limited field of vision at what happened next.
Yumi kissed William.
Barely able to breathe, Ulrich felt a strange knot of despair descend upon him. It contracted particularly hard around his heart. His stomach felt hallow and empty. All the love and happiness he'd ever felt throughout his life seemed to vanish in that instant. Then it was replaced with loneliness and emptiness. He had never known how much he had truly loved Yumi until that moment.
"Are you okay?" asked a boy.
Ulrich looked at him with cold, dead eyes. A gleaming stream of tears had rushed out of him without him even realizing it. Wiping his face, he blocked his feelings behind his emotional barrier as he nodded to the kid.
"Nice skateboard," Ulrich commented in an attempt to distract the boy.
"Thanks," the boy said proudly.
Returning his gaze to the bus, which was now pulling away, Ulrich noticed something on the instrument panel that made his blood freeze. Shining fiercely on the panel was the red eye of Xana!