Warning: Rated for language, some violence and 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.
To Amherst: here you go...
"No! Not Yet!" Ulrich hollered as his alarm went off. He sat up in bed and looked at the traitorous clock that had torn him away from Yumi just when she needed him most.
Oh God, please let her be alive, please! He ran that prayer through his mind over and over as he got up and prepared for the day.
Ulrich stood at attention on the parade grounds next to the Commandant and Cadet Major as Lima Squad presented the colors for the day. One of Commandant Krieger's changes to this ritual was that the Squad Leader did not lead his squad when the colors were presented or retired. The squad was expected to perform by themselves with no prompting.
Lima Squad marched to the flag pole in perfect cadence. Cadet Pennington held the flag in front of him, like he was holding a tray. The squad stopped a few steps away from the flag pole, then Dexter and Micah marched the remaining distance alone. When they got to the pole, Dexter paused a moment, then called out, "Attention!"
Everyone on the parade ground that wasn't already at attention snapped to.
"Salute!" Everybody saluted.
Dexter unfolded the flag, careful not to let it touch the ground, while Micah prepared the rope to attach the flag. Dexter extended the top corner, and Micah attached it, then pulled on the rope raising the flag a little. Dexter then presented the lower corner, and Micah attached it. Micah then began quickly raising the flag. As he did, Dexter took one step back, snapped to attention and saluted. Micah raised the flag up to the top of the flagpole, then tied the rope off to secure it. Then he also stepped back, snapped to attention and saluted.
Over the loudspeakers, the National Anthem played as the assembly stood at attention and saluted. After it finished, there was a moment of silence, then Dexter called out, "Port Arms!"
Everyone dropped their arms to their sides. Dexter then turned to where the Commandant and Ulrich were standing and called out, "Sir, Standing By For Orders!"
Commandant Krieger' took one step forward and saluted Dexter. After the cadet returned the salute, he called out, "Assembly! Dismissed!"
As the group dispersed to their duties, Krieger called to Ulrich, "one moment, Stern, I'd like to have a word with you."
"Yes, Sir?" Ulrich replied.
"It's about Cadet Pennington," the Commandant said, "walk with me."
The two set off.
"Dexter's in quite a spot, in his mind," Krieger started, "as old as he is, he's still got it in his head somehow that either he's responsible for what his parents are going through or that he can do something about it."
"I know, sir, that's why I had him talk to you last night," Ulrich replied, "like I told him, if I got that call, I'd be jumping for joy."
"You and quite a few other people, I gather," was the strange reply, "anyway, I'm going to try and get in contact with his parents and let them know about Dexter's worries. Depending on how things work out, Dexter may be absent from class for a while, and may have to withdraw from Ravensbrook."
"If this were the beginning of the school year, I'd say Dexter would be the happiest guy in the world, circumstances aside," Ulrich replied, "he really didn't like it here at first."
"Well, time and good friends can change opinions sometimes, right Stern?"
"Yes sir, they can."
Ulrich was still worried about Yumi well into his afternoon tutoring session with the Commandant.
"Earth to Stern! Earth to Stern! Adjust attitude by one hundred eighty degrees, you're drifting!"
"Oh, sorry sir!" Ulrich replied.
"Now what's your problem," asked the Commandant, "you've been distracted all session. Is there something going on I need to know about?"
"No sir, it's nothing like that, it's personal. I wish I could explain it to you, but you'd never believe me."
"Try me. There's very little I haven't heard, Ulrich."
"Okay, last night I had a dream. My girlfriend is in trouble, almost dead, and I don't know if she survived."
"Stern, it was a dream. She's probably eating breakfast right now."
"Sir, the part you won't believe is it wasn't a dream. Yumi is in trouble, right now, and I'm not sure if she's still alive."
"What, you two have a telepathic link?"
"For lack of a better term, yes."
"Then I take my previous statement back. I've never heard that one before." The Commandant was silent for a second. "Okay, for argument's sake, let's assume you can reach out to her. Can you still feel her?"
Ulrich was surprised by the man's statement, and by his own stupidity. Ulrich concentrated on his bond, and felt Yumi on the other end, weak but alive.
"Yeah, I can. I forgot all about that. Thank you sir."
"Well, not that I really believe you or anything, but it seems obvious to me if you two had that close a tie, you'd know it if she had died. Now, if there are no other revelations you would like to make, teleportation, time travel, something along those lines..."
Commandant Krieger was interrupted by the telephone. He answered it.
"Yes? I'm with a student at the moment, you know that! Who? You're kidding. Okay, I'll see them momentarily."
He hung the phone up and said, "Stern, you are not going to believe this, but your mother and another woman are outside, wanting to see me. Any idea as to why?"
"No, sir."
"Well then, let's find out. I will have to say, you've made this school year quite interesting, yes indeed."
It turned out that Yumi's mother accompanied his mother to Ravensbrook. After the Commandant greeted the ladies and poured them refreshments, his mother explained that she wanted to sign the papers to enable Ulrich to enlist in the military. When Krieger explained that she would have to do that in person, along with Ulrich, during the week, the woman got visibly scared.
"Mom, don't do it," Ulrich pleaded, "I'll find another way."
"No," she said after a moment, "at least one of us will escape him. Tell me when the best time to be here would be, Commandant, and I will be here."
Commandant Krieger was silent as he regarded Ulrich's mother. He looked at her like he was evaluating the performance of one of his cadets. He then gave a very small, very subtle smile of approval, and picked up the phone.
He called Ulrich's father and told him that Ulrich had been in an accident, and had to be taken to the hospital. Krieger's face changed to almost outright disgust as he heard the response from the other end. He then politely asked if there was anyone else who could come and authorize any treatment Ulrich needed, then wrote something down as he received his answer. The Commandant thanked the man and hung up.
"Mrs. Stern, it seems your son was involved in an accident today, and had to be taken to the hospital for observation. Now, I can't tell you how serious the injuries are, and I don't know how long Ulrich will have to stay in the hospital, but given my past experience in these matters, I think I can safely say that it will be at least... Tuesday before Ulrich is discharged. Would there be any possibility that you could stay in the area to authorize any treatment he may need until then?"
Ulrich's mother smiled as she looked over at Ulrich, sitting safely next to her. Yumi's mother was also smiling at the turn of events.
"Why, yes sir. For my son, I will do anything."
Since Ulrich was in the hospital due to an accident, he did not return to his quarters that night, or for the rest of the weekend. The Commandant assigned guest quarters for Mrs. Ishiyama and Ulrich and his mother.
Ulrich took Yumi's mother aside and told her what little he knew about Yumi. Mrs. Ishiyama got a very concerned look on her face, then pulled out her cell phone and called home. It turned out that Allen Maxwell had called her father that morning and told him about what had happened to Yumi, as much as he could, anyway. Mrs. Ishiyama then dialed another number, and talked to Allen herself, getting the complete story. When she finished, she still had a concerned look, but not near as concerned.
The two guests and Ulrich had dinner with Commandant Krieger in his Residence that evening. Ulrich marveled at how the Commandant drew his mother out, reassuring her that she was safe in letting her guard down, and finally got her to relax and truly enjoy herself. In later years, she would always say that two important turning points in her life were when she accompanied Ulrich out to that US air base when he was a freshman, and the dinner she had with Commandant Krieger when he was a senior.
Ulrich would always remember that for the first time in his life, he slept in his mother's arms, secure in the knowledge that, at least for that weekend, she was safe.
Sunday was quiet. Ulrich didn't attend worship services, being in the hospital and all, but the Chaplain did pay him and his mother a visit. They spoke for quite a while, and he spoke with Mrs. Stern for a longer while. Before he left, he did something Ulrich had never seen him do before. He laid his hands on both Ulrich's head and his mother's and prayed that the two of them would find the strength they needed to face the trial they had to face.
Ulrich knew he would be facing trials in his life, that's one of the reasons he was at Ravensbrook. It wasn't until later he found out what his mother had to face.
In his dreams Sunday night, he sat there, stoking his mother's hair. She was asleep, not having access to their place of dreams, he supposed. Her head was laying in his lap, and she slept peacefully.
He looked at her body, and saw all the tattoos there. All of the vile and hateful things that had been done to her over the years were etched there for all the world to see. He remembered a time, years ago, when something similar nearly happened to him and Yumi, and how narrowly they escaped.
"She looks so peaceful," came a voice.
Ulrich looked up and saw his Love, his Life. Yumi stood there, pale from her struggle, a weak smile on her face.
"Why is it there is so much pain in the world?" she asked him, "why do good people like her have to suffer so?"
"Choices," came a third voice.
Yumi and Ulrich turned and saw Yumi's mother standing there. Yumi ran and threw herself into her mother's arms. As Mrs. Ishiyama returned her daughter's embrace, Yumi changed from the young woman she was, to the young girl she was when Ulrich first met her, to a small child, and back again.
As she released her daughter, Mrs. Ishiyama said, "we all make choices in life, dear one. Some people choose to do good, like you and Ulrich and your friends. Others choose to do evil. The choices we make can sometimes limit the choices we can make in the future, and sometimes limit the choices others can make in their futures."
"Why doesn't she just leave him?" Yumi asked, "she's freed herself, why doesn't she leave?"
As she spoke, Yumi pointed at Ulrich's mother. Around her neck, and unnoticed until now, was a large heavy collar, with a large heavy chain attached to it, trailing off into the distance. The collar had a lock on it, but the lock was broken.
"She is not ready to remove it," Yumi's mother said, "but she will though, and soon, if I'm not mistaken. Ulrich, you will need to be ready when she does. And know this, you both are always welcome in our home, no matter what."
"Thank you, Mother," Ulrich solemnly said.
"Thank you, Miko," Rachael Stern said in her sleep.
On Monday, Ulrich, his mother, Mrs. Ishiyama and Commandant Krieger went down to the EU Combined Armed Forces Recruiting Station, where Ulrich enlisted. Mrs. Stern signed the form giving her permission for Ulrich to enlist before the minimum legal age. The recruiter administered the Oath to Ulrich and said that he would be scheduled to start Basic Training about two weeks after he graduated from Ravensbrook. When they left, Ulrich hugged and kissed his mother goodbye, then did the same to Yumi's mother. As the two women set off on the long trip back to Paris, Ulrich turned to Commandant Krieger and said, "thank you sir. She would have never done this if you hadn't helped."
"Yes she would have, Stern, " Krieger replied, "I just made it easier for her to do what she wanted to do. Will you be ready to help her the rest of the way?"
"Yes Sir, I Will."
