Past and Present
By thesuperdot
Chapter 3: Resemblances
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"Hey, Ax, eat much?" Said a kid near the one named 'Ax'.
Ax, or rather his real name was Axenal Baramus, looked up at his close friend with a reproachful look. There was a very good reason for this, and after swallowing a heaping bite, he spoke with a frown. "You know why I'm eating this way."
Axenal look a great deal like Odd, but, there were differences. Ax wore a red, with long, yellow sleeves shirt and an orange vest. He had deep red pants and a pair of bright red walking boots. His eyes were a deep brilliant blue, and he had red hair. But, Ax took great care in shaping it and everything, even going to a stylist to get blond highlights and spike it. He then would carefully sculpt it into what would look like fire. He gave the impression that he was made of fire.
Ax lived off campus with his parents. But, and this was the reason for why he ate like Odd, his parents could not cook. They had to remodel their kitchen, not because they wanted to, but because Ax's father managed to start a fire by making toast. His mother was no better. She somehow managed to make iced tea taste like soap. Many people would say that if the Baramus' tried to cook for you, be sure you have a ride to the emergency room. This could not be said for Ax himself, though. Despite his parent's culinary inexperience, he was a culinary genius. There was nothing he couldn't make, be it a complex soufflé, or a simple cheese sandwich.
Ax's friend grimaced. "Eee, what was it, the waffles?" Terry Alsato, as his name was, recalled his experience with Ax's mother's waffles. He was absent for two days. Terry was more of the type who preferred sports to cooking. But that didn't mean he was a jock, he most certainly wasn't. He was, however, one you didn't want to challenge to a soccer match, seeing as he was captain of the school's and also the city's MVP of sorts. Last year, he managed to yet again, lead his team to the championship match and win.
Terry looked a lot like Ulrich, but, he too had differences. You would never see him without wearing his soccer shirt for his favorite team. He always claimed it brought him luck. Over top of his favorite shirt, he wore a multi-pocketed, blue jean jacket. His hair was jet black and always kept very tidy. He also wore blue jeans to match his jacket. He lived on campus, with his other friend as a roommate. He was sitting across from Ax and Terry, typing away on his laptop.
"Hey, guys, I found us a great place to explore." Ax said.
"Oh, yeah? Where?"
"It's an old abandoned factory down by the riverside. It's been there for about 30 years or so. I saw on a trip with my parents and have been itching to check it out."
Terry looked at Ax with raised eyebrows. "Really? Well shoot, that sounds interesting! I'm game."
"Really, an abandoned factory? What could possibly be there?" The geek said, looking up from his laptop.
Grant Godlove, as his name would be, fitted your typical geek-like persona. He had a laptop, loved computers and absolutely worshipped Jeremy's work. When he found out that the science class he would be going to would be taught by Jeremy himself, he nearly passed out. To think, being taught by the very mentor! In fact, his computer had JOS v3 on it, and he had even made a few modifications to it.
Grant normally wore a simple black, long sleeve shirt and a pair of dark green cargo pants. You could never see him with out a satchel slung over his shoulder, which he used to carry his laptop in, which was his most prized possession. He also wore wire rimmed glasses that were transitions and polarized to prevent glare. When he was partnered with Terry, they became, despite the typical stereotypes, fast friends. His personality, however, was not entirely like your typical geek. He had light brown hair that was long and pulled into a ponytail at the base of his neck, and his eyes were a jade green.
"I dunno, really, I just want to explore it. Wanna come?"
Grant smiled. "Walk through what is surely a condemned building for no apparent reason? How can I resist?" You see, Grant was adventurous, and like hanging out with his friends, which is why he had a laptop, so he could get out and about.
Ax laughed. "Ha, ha! I knew you'd come!"
Terry laughed as well. "Hey, Grant, whatcha doing? Hacking the governments system again?"
Grant looked at him. "Please. You know that's no challenge for me. I'm going for Jeremy himself!" He also liked to joke around with them.
Ax looked around. The fourth friend was missing. "Hey, where's Ceil?"
Terry groaned. "Not here. She must still be sleeping. Come on, let's go wake her up."
Ceil also lived on campus, in fact, she was staying in Jeremy's old dorm room, Terry and Grant were in Ulrich and Odd's.
Ceil was different, she snored, and also loved her sleep. If you woke her up, and you don't have a good reason, you will get hurt. Grant looked at the others, and shook his head.
"I did it last time! My arm still hurts!"
But despite his protests, he was dragged along to wake her up. They didn't have to, however, because when they knocked, she promptly opened the door.
"Hi guys!" She said cheerily. "What's up?"
Ceil was in almost all aspects, a very nice person. However, don't let her deceive you, because underneath the kindness, there was a lion hidden. She had a secret crush Terry, and so did Terry on her. Neither knew it, though, everyone else did.
Ceil had beautiful blond hair that was in a pony tail near the top of her head. She also had nice chocolate eyes and a welcoming smile. She liked to wear a blue headband, a pink shirt with light blue, long sleeves, and a pair of blue khakis.
"Nothing much. Terry and Ax wanted to come make sure you're up."
"Thank you. Well, I am."
Ax started in on the conversation. "Hey, what are you doing today?"
Ceil closed on of her eyes in concentration. "Uhhhm, nothing at the moment, why? Did you find a place to check out?"
Terry and Grant laughed. Ax could always be read like a book by Ceil.
Ax groaned. "Shut up, you two. Yeah, I did. It's an old factory by the river."
Ceil held her hand together and smiled with glee. "Really? Sweet, count me in!"
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Today was a special day for Jeremy. It was the anniversary of the disappearance of his friends. It was more of a personal day than anything else, but if one would look carefully, you would know what the day was.
The day progressed with out fail, and it soon came to be the last class of the day. Terry, Grant, and Ax were running late for class, science with Jeremy.
Just as soon as they crossed the threshold for Jeremy's class door, the bell rung. Each of them froze. Jeremy looked at them with a slight smile. The class was looking as well.
"Just made it, I see."
Everyone in the class chuckled. The friends smiled shyly. "Eh, yeah, I guess…" Ax said.
Jeremy made a motion with his head. "Take a seat, by all means." They did so. "Okay! Today we'll be making a perfume that smells like spearmint…"
When the bell rung, Ax, Grant and Terry stayed behind, Jeremy looked at them with curiosity. "The bell has rung; you can go, if you want."
"We would like to help clean up, sir."
Jeremy smiled and gave a chuckle. "Heh, you don't have to call me sir, call me Jeremy."
"Okay, Jeremy." Ax said; he had no problem calling him that. Around that time, a knock came on the door.
"Come in, oh and you can start by putting away the tools." Ceil came in.
"Hiya, guys! You ready yet?"
"Hey, Ceil, help us out, and we will!" Grant called.
Jeremy paused from his work at his laptop, still the one he used so long ago, to look at the four friends. As the memories came flooding back, he began to laugh.
"Hey, what's so funny?"
Jeremy continued smiling as he looked at each of them. "Oh, it's nothing. It's just, well…" He waved his hand in an off handed way.
"No, tell us, please?" Ceil asked.
Jeremy rolled his eyes. "It's just, you remind me of my friends I had at your age. Man, the fun we had." He let out a heavy sigh.
Grant look at Jeremy with admiration. "Isn't, isn't today the day they…"
Jeremy shot an alarmed look at him. "Yes. Yes it is. But you shouldn't concern yourself with it!"
Grant bit his lip. "I, I'm sorry sir…"
Jeremy smiled again. "Don't worry about it. So, have anything planned for today?"
Ceil nodded. "Yeah, Ax found a place to explore today!"
"Oh, really? Well, you be careful."
Terry, Ax, Grant, and Ceil headed out the door. "Don't worry, we will!"
After arriving in the courtyard, Ceil smiled. "Alright! Onward to the factory!"
Who would have ever guessed a 20 year old nightmare would return?
Who would ever guess that another four friends would follow in similar footsteps?
No one, perhaps, but then again, strange things have happened.
Fate is all that can be said about this day. Pure fate.
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Next Chapter Soon. I also have not said that I don't own anything in Code: Lyoko except for Grant, Terry, Ax, and Ceil. There, that's done with.