Hi everybody (crowd) "Hi doctor Nick". Well I'm finally back, Because you had to wait so long I'll give you the the story now.
Return of Their Past
By natdrat00
Chapter Eight
A Little Problem.
"I'm still on Lyoko Joseph. What's wrong?" Angela asked very concerned now.
"I don't know some kind of error. Head north; there is tower you can hide in." Joseph said while frantically typing away and hunting trough the manual. As the elevator door opened and out stepped Koji Crissy and Mike.
"So what's the problem chef?" Mike asked.
"I don't know, for some reason it won't recognize her earthly pattern and so it's not letting her come back." Joseph said still nervous but managing to pull himself together. "I'll have to study this problem for a while."
"We're at this tower, but there is no door. How do we get in?" Jessica asked.
"You should just be able to walk though it." Joseph said.
"Only one way to find out." Angela said as she walked up to the tower with her hands outstretched. As they came into contact with it, ripples seemed to form in the side of the tower. She stepped forward and passed right though. Jessica saw this and soon did the same and passed right though herself. "That was freaky." Angela said.
"A little bit." Jessica added "So Joseph how's it going?"
"I just can't figure this out." Joseph said hopelessly "I hate to say it but I told you all this was a bad idea."
"Come on be optimistic" Mike said trying to ease his friend's nerves. "No one could have known that this would have happened."
"Mike's right" Koji added "There's no going back, all we can do is our best to fix this glitch."
"Now come on, get up to that keyboard and show us what your made of." Crissy told a now calmer Joseph.
"Your right, I can't dwell on what has happened," Joseph said as if getting a second wind "I need to focus on how to fix it." And with that he began to type away again. He ran various scans and tests, for two and a half hours he ran trough lines of code trying his best to make sense of it. He always came back to the same conclusion, the scanner wasn't registering a key code sequence but the scans said that that code was in place.
Then Crissy looked at her watch "two minutes after eleven, It's getting late."
"Look, me and Crissy are going to the dorms," Koji said as he and Crissy got up to go to the elevator. "If you want to stay we can get you in the morning for class if it comes to it"
"How can you think about sleep in a time like this?" Joseph said with a hint of disgust.
"Go easy on them" Angela said to her brother. "You have been working on it for hours with no luck. Go get some sleep."
"I can't, not until your out of there." Joseph said stubbornly.
"You said it yourself; you've been going in circles." Angela's calm voice helped calm her brother. "The best thing for you would be to take a break from this and clear your head. Don't even read the manual."
"If I fall asleep it will be in this chair." Joseph said. "Wait, I have another idea, but it'll take a while."
"What is it?" Angela asked
"It's hard to explain" Joseph stated "I'll have to program the test myself first, and then it will probably take all night to scan. How much access do you have to the programs?"
"A little it seems" Angela stated from within the tower "I have found out how to bring up the interface screen. But not much else."
"Well you have fun with that" Mike said as he and the Stern twins walked to the elevator "It's not that we don't care, it's just that we don't have any help to offer"
"I understand" Joseph said calmly "Jessica you can come back now too, if you want"
"Are you sure?" Jessica asked hesitantly.
"Go ahead Jess "Angela said politely "I'll be fine here"
"Okay then, if your sure" Jessica said "bring me back Joseph"
"Okay give me a minute" Joseph said as he shifted around windows on his terminal "okay, here you come." On Lyoko Jessica's feet began to turn to a wire frame then to nothing as her legs and then body followed. She waved bye quickly as her arm vanished.
The scanner room was filled with a low hum as steam escaped the opening scanner doors. Jessica stumbled out as the elevator doors opened. "Welcome back Jess" Mike said as she stepped in.
"So how's Joseph doing?" Jessica asked
"He's a wreck" Mike said truthfully "But he is dedicated"
"Well it is his sister" Jessica said as the doors opened on to the lab. "Good night Joseph, sorry to leave you like this but I don't know too much about computer programming."
"It's okay we'll be fine" Joseph said as the others walked into the elevator "Goodnight you all." He added as the doors closed
"So do you think he can do it?" Mike asked the group.
"If any of us can it would be him" Jessica said as they headed back to school
v-v-v-v-v
BUUUUUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
"Shut up!" A girl cried as a tightly clenched fist slammed on top of an alarm clock, cracking the screen. "not another one" she said getting out of bed. Her attitude toward the alarm should be expected; she didn't get to bed till eleven-thirty and was just woken up at five-thirty.
"Hey Jessica, you awake?" came a quiet voice from her door.
"Yeah, give me a minute and I'll be out Mike." Jessica stated. A minute passed and her door opened with her holding a towel and a change of clothes. "I need a shower after being in that sewer yesterday. Do you know where Koji or Crissy is?" she asked as they started to the main hallway door.
"They're already in the showers, Crissy came into our room at five. She couldn't sleep worrying about Angela." Mike said as Crissy and Koji walked through the door. "She wanted to go and check on her and Joseph soon."
"Good morning" Angela said keeping her voice low as to not wake up the other students.
"Good mourning, give us five minutes to shower then we'll met you in your room" Jessica said to Crissy. "As soon as we get out we'll check on Angela and Joseph."
"Okay, I'll go throw my clothes in my room then we'll be waiting in Crissy's room" Koji said as Mike and Jessica continued on to the boys and girls showers respectively. "Joseph will probably be hungry after working all night, do you have anything in your room for him to eat." he asked his sister.
"I don't know, I'll check" Crissy replied. As her brother started up the stairs to his room. Two cabinet doors and the mini fridge door hung open. "Not a thing." She exclaimed just as there was a knock her door. "Come in"
The door opened and Koji walked in followed by a wet haired Jessica. "Did you have any food?" The younger Stern twin asked.
"No, we'll just have to bring him back and get breakfast." Crissy said as she turned around and saw Jessica. "You're already out?"
"Yeah, Mike should be along in a sec" Jessica said "He always takes a long time."
"A long time! You were only in there for like five minutes!" Crissy said in amazement.
"What? I can't take a quick shower?" Jessica retorted as she moved to close the door.
"Wait" Mike called as he pop in the door before it closed. "Trying to lock me out, I see how you guys are" he said jokingly. "So, are we all set?"
"Yeah, let's go" Crissy said as they headed out the door.
As they exited the dorm Koji asked the question that was on every ones mind, "So what do we do if Joseph hasn't bee able to get Angela back yet"
"We drag Joseph back here so he can get something to eat then we tell her teachers she is in her room with a headache." Crissy said in a rehearsed tone. "After school we go back and try some more ways to get her back."
"If we don't get her tonight we could get my dad, he has some good computer guys working for him." Jessica said as they proceeded down the manhole and into the sewers.
"I don't think it would be a good idea to tell anyone," Crissy said I a worried tone of voice "We don't know how they may take it."
"It's not exactly a normal thing" Koji added "what if they pull the plug with Angela still on there? Or tell the news; we don't know who could be trusted"
"It's my dad" Jessica said defensively as the group neared the end of the sewer. "In his line of various works he has to be able to keep a secret."
"She's right, Randy can be trusted." Mike said as they began walking across the bridge. "I know him, I trust him.
"Exactly what lines of work is your father in?" Crissy asked after she slid down the cable.
"I'm not at liberty to say." Jessica replied in a very disciplined voice as they all boarded the elevator and proceeded down.
"Fine, keep your secrets." Koji said a little annoyed. "Mike, what do you know of her father?"
"He's like the head of S&S inc. and he owns my dad's race team, but you already know that." Mike said "He's a good guy, he can be trusted."
"Let's just see what Joseph and Angela thinks about it." Crissy said as she entered the door code.
When the door was opened they saw Joseph in the chair, his elbow on the arm rest and his head in his hand like he was thinking. They walked up to him. "Hey Joseph, we need to talk." Jessica said as she stood beside him.
No response.
"Shh, be quiet." a voice said, the group looked at the main monitor and saw a window open up with Angela's smiling face in it. "He's sleeping and he needs it." Angela said in a low voice. "He was up till three-thirty when he fell asleep. As you've probably guessed we had no luck last night." she continued, her expression becoming sad with downcast eyes.
"Did you discover any thing last night?" Jessica said being sure to keep her voice low.
"Not much more," Angela said looking up again "It's some kind of bug; Joseph had another idea for a program when he put his head down to thing of how to code it. That's when he drifted off to sleep; I didn't have the heart to wake him. He is so worried."
"That's understandable, we where thinking that we may need some ones help on this" Jessica said.
"Give him one more try today" Angela said confidently. "he was coming close last night, and I was up learning more about this system."
"You where up all night?" Koji questioned "Aren't you tired?"
"No, not really" Angela responded "It's funny but I feel fine, not tired, not hungry. I'm just fine."
"Except that you're stuck in a super computer." Joseph groggily stated as he began to yawn and twist his head, popping his neck as he woke up.
"Sorry, we didn't mean to wake you." Jessica said apologetically.
"But you were about to," Joseph began to say matter-of-factly "You all came here to make sure I went to classes whether or not Angela was out, right?"
"Sorry Angela." Jessica said as she looked to the monitor at Angela's face. "But if you both are gone today the school may get suspiouse."
"We could just say you have a head ach and staying in your room." Koji added.
"I understand. You can try again after school Joseph." Angela said in a monotone voice, "and before Joseph could complain she added "I'll be fine here, I've learned how to work the interface. I am surfing the net now."
"You mean you can check your email in there?" Mike asked curiously.
"More than just email and surfing" Angela began to explain "I could hack into electrical networks and overload them. Or corrupt computer systems and take control of them, but I don't know how exactly to do that yet."
"I hope I can get you out of there before you start to want to take over the world." Joseph said jokingly, relieving the group with his wise crack.
"You get going and have breakfast" Angela said "You need to go eat bro."
"I know, okay. I'm am sorry I failed.." Joseph said before he was cut off.
"You didn't fail! This is just over our heads" Angela quickly said. "now go back to school. I'm fine here."
"I'll be back at lunch" Joseph said.
"Only if he eats first, okay." Angela said to the others.
"Will do." Jessica said.
"Now lets go get some breakfast," Mike said then worked ashamed "Sorry Angela, I didn't mean it like I didn't care."
"It's okay Mike" Angela said in a forgiving tone. "Go on"
"We'll see you after Joseph eats lunch." Crissy said as they headed to the elevator.
"See you later" Koji said as the door began to close.
"Later" Angela called back.
On the way back to Kadic, Joseph told them about all the things he had tried last night and how there was a problem with all of them. They where coming up the manhole when Jessica asked her question "Joseph, If you can't get Angela back" she began uneasily "my dad has connections with computer techs, if he says they saw nothing then they saw nothing."
"What! We can't tell any one!" Joseph snapped.
"Joseph you can trust her dad." Mike said trying to calm his friend. "I know him, he can be trusted."
Joseph stared at them in thought. On one hand he knew he wasn't skilled enough to save his sister. On the other he feared what other people might think of the super computer, whether they would work with it or shut it down with Angela inside. And using a foot he thought that if they got Jessica's father it might be okay, Randy had been working with armies for some time, surely he could help. Joseph lowered his head "Give me one more day." he said with a flat voice as he proceeded to the cafeteria for breakfast in silence.
"Are you okay?" Crissy asked after Joseph hadn't said any thing in twenty minutes.
"I'm fine, just a little worried about her." Joseph said referring to his sister.
"You needn't worry, I'm sure we'll get her out soon." Jessica said caringly.
Her words helped for his face softened and a slight smirk appeared. "You're right, we will get her out." Joseph said as he got up. "I'm going to get a shower before class."
"Okay. Do you want to tell her teachers or do you want me to?" Jessica asked.
"I'll tell them." Joseph said.
-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-
"Hey Ms. Z." Joseph called out.
"Yes Joseph?" Z, the art teacher, said . "Is something wrong?"
"Not much, Angela won't be in your class today, she's in her room with a headache." Joseph said.
"Okay, thanks for telling me." Z said.
"No problem, I'll get her work tomorrow if she's still not feeling well." Joseph stated.
"Okay, now run on to your class." Z replied before turning to enter her room.
"That was easier than I thought it would be" Joseph thought out loud.
As the day ran on Joseph continued to bend the truth to hide the predicament his sister was in. He hoped the school offices wouldn't investigate. He was low on luck by the time lunch rolled around. "Yolanda could you come here?" Sissy called from down the hall. The school nurse for more then twenty years made her way over.
"Yes Ms Delmas?" Yolanda asked.
"Angela Belpois hasn't been in any classes this morning." Sissy stated. "Her brother Joseph has been telling teachers that she is in her room wit a headache, do you know any thing about this?"
"No, but I'll check on her a little later, I have a kid with a possible flu right now and Jimmy fell down the steps." Yolanda explained
"Okay, just don't forget" Sissy said as she walked back into her office.
Today was a busy day for Yolanda, after two students came in hurt after trying to climb a tree; she was busy until two-o clock. "And stay out of the trees" she lightly scolded the two students. "What a day. Oh wait, I still have to check on Angela." she exclaimed as she quickly made her way to the dorms. When she reached Angela's door she knocked but heard no answer. "I'm coming in." she called as she opened the door to find no one there.
"Are you sure she wasn't just in the bath room?" Sissy asked after Yolanda reported back to her.
"Yes, I checked them." The nurse assured the assistant principal.
"Go find Joseph and bring him if you would." Sissy said. Yolanda did what she was asked as brought Joseph in. "Your sister has been reported in her room with a headache, but after looking around the school we couldn't find her." Sissy said with a worried voice. "Joseph do know here she is?"
"I can't tell you." Joseph replied.
"Then I'll have to call your parents." Sissy said as she picked up the phone..
"Are you sure the meeting was pushed back?" Aelita asked as they waited out side the restaurant their meeting was to take place.
"Yes I'm sure" Jeremie said, "Look there he is now."
"Sorry to keep you all waiting, but something came up and I had to take a later flight.
"It's alright" Jeremie said to the S&S inc rep that had just walked up.
Just then Aelita's cell started ringing. "Hold on a minute please" she said apologetically
"I'm sorry about that." Jeremie said. Just as he was about to start discussing business a loud yell came.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE'LOST?" It was Aelita. "Jeremie, the school can't find Angela."
"WHAT, How could they lose her!" Jeremie said with horror.
"What's going on?" Randy, the S&S inc president, asked "Can I help?"
"Our daughter is missing from the boarding school, and our son isn't talking to them to help." Aelita explained.
"What? Joseph isn't helping?" Jeremie said even more worried now. "Why wouldn't he help?"
"I don't know. But we need to get to Kadic Academy soon." Aelita said very worried.
"I'm sorry sir but we have to go." Jeremie said turning towards his car.
"They're at Kadic Academy? My girl is there to. Get in my car; I'll get us there quick." Randy said as he walked to his car.
"Are you sure?" Jeremie asked, Randy nodded. " Thanks" he added as he and Aelita got in Randy's black four door car and proceeded southwest.
Well how was it? I know it wasn't worth the wait. It was delayed by the fact that I moved twice since the last chapter. And I got a new job working 55 hours, so I haven't had much free time. Hopefully the next one will not be held up as much. Well, read and review please.