Mirrors
"Professor Tyron, my plan didn't work. Odd switched the film." "Well, keep trying. I need to remove the XANA from my Supercomputer to take complete control. It knows that I have what it wants. XANA can take over the world another way!" "With Project Volcano? XANA's main home?" "Yep. Those children don't know anything. They can play with XANA, and I will get Franz Hopper's diary from their Supercomputer." "Which is where I come in as well. We will complete the mission. To create your AI and hold the world at its mercy!" Dawn covers her mouth, and Odd drags her away. "Who was that?" Odd asks. "I don't know?" Dawn asks. "I recorded the conversation. We need to tell the others." Anthea tries to look up Daphne's number. "Yes, she still lives in Pallet. I should call her." Professor Tyron yanks on Anthea's hair. "Listen, bitch, get back to work!" "Don't talk to me like that," Anthea said. Professor Tyron pushes Anthea against the wall. "Don't talk to me like that, bitch!" Anthea goes back, and Professor Tyron slaps her and walks away. "Listen, get the drug. She is not acting like she needs to be. Plus, I had a hard morning, so I need to de-stress," Professor Tyron barks. Anthea puts the phone number in her lab pocket.
"Hey, Sam. Do you have time to talk?" Allison asks via video chat. "Yeah," Sam said. "Hey, Gary, can we chat?" Ash J asks. "For my baby bro, sure," Gary said. "What is going on, little sis?" Sam asks. "Well, have you seen the news?" Allison asks. "You mean with the body of Jack Slate at your school's dance? Yeah. What the fuck?" "I don't know. He died of second-hand drowning last year, but his body appeared in our gym." "I'm sorry." "The worst part was that I found it." Sam does a double-take at the screen. "You? The girl who doesn't like dead bodies?" "Yeah. Also, someone sabotaged Odd's film." "I saw it on his social media. It was sweet. What did they do?" "The original version had basted a private conversation William was having." "Ouch. You also said that your friends had gotten weird Spotify emails? Do you want me to take a look into that? My internship has resources." "No. I think we blocked the email for now. I need to vent. Mom and Dad are away for a business, and they didn't answer." "Typical. Mysteries before kiddos." Allison laughs. "I needed that!" "Well, brother, between a dead body at the school dance and weirdness at school, shit has hit the fan," Ash J said. "I heard about that. I was going to ask mone Jackson to drive me to your school, but Allison said that you two could handle it," Gary said. "She's right, but I feel like a bomb will drop soon." "Why?" "Becasue, it feels like the game, Among Us, and someone is the bad guy." "Well, you can find out. I mean, the wombmates have to stick together. Plus, with Mom and Dad away, I think you're on your own." "Thanks," Ash J teases. Allison puts away her laptop and gets a text from Dawn. "Major update. We have a mole at school," Dawn texts. Allison heads out, and Ash J follows. "Sorry, wombmate. Some of the shit is from your friends," he said.
"Hold on; someone is working with Professor Tyron?" Ulrich exclaims. "Yeah. I couldn't make out the voice, but yeah," Dawn said. "So, Professor Tyroj knows about XANA and doesn't care," Aelita said. "It seems like it," Odd said. "What about Project Volcano?" William asks. "I'm not sure. I have to look into that," Jeremy said. "I mean, this is concerning," Allison said. "Dramatic?" William asks. "No. Allison's right. Professor Tyron wants to get rid of XANA and doesn't give a fuck that once he does, XANA will take over the fucking world," Ash said. "I think the Volcano is another replica," Aelita said. "So, there are two. The Cortex and the Volcano replica," Yumi said. "We have to be careful," Brock said. "According to the recording, Professor Tyron wants to create an AI for the same reason XANA wants to be free: for control of the world." "This is all too much," Dawn said as she sat on the porch of the Hermitage. Odd sits next to her. "Are you okay?" "No. I think we opened Pandora's box." "I think it was op4ned when XANA tried to strike Aelita with lightning." William sits on the couch and hears voices. I'm coming for you! I want you back. The Volcano was your home. Our home! William jumps up. "Are you okay?" Yumi asks. "Yeah. I need a Double Carmel Latte." "We all need something." Ash J listens from the outside and takes a breath. "Holy Shit! What did I find out?" XANA's specter emerged from the powerlines and possessed the clouds. They turned orange and shot lightning at the ground.
Laura walks around campus, listening to music. "You need to calm down!" Laura sings and overhears Odd, Dawn, and Brock. "Jeremy has saved the recording to the Supercomputer. Hopefully, he can use his voice recognition to ID the student helping the crazy-ass mad scientist," Brock said. "I hope so. Dawn and I risked our lives to record the conversation, and I need this to be over," Odd said. "I hope so too. As long as XANA can chill!" Dawn said. Over by the cafeteria, Aelita and William feel faintish. "XANA!" Yumi looks up and shouts. "Look out!" Odd and Brock push Dawn out the way, and Laura jumps and zaps. A lightning bolt crashes through the sky and onto the ground, and pieces of concrete cut the students. "XANA!" Allison shouts. "Let's go. We're safer in the factory," Ulrich said. Ash helps Laura up. "Stay inside," he said. Laura nods but decides to follow the group to the factory. Once at the factory, Jeremy looks up the activated tower. "The tower is in the Ice Sector, and the weather is reoccurring snow squalls." "Weather report?" Odd asks. "Since XANA's upgrade, we noticed that there is weather on Lyoko, so I added a weather tracker." "Smart!" William said. "I think the beta team should go to Lyoko, and the alpha should stay in case the Lighting cause damage." "I agree," Yumi said. Aelita doesn't like that William is deciding, but she notices that Allison is looking around. "What are you looking for?" Aelita asks. "Him!" Allison shouts. She opens the door from the ladder and shouts. "Wombmate! Come out!" Ash J pops his head in and sees the Lyoko Warriors staring at him. "What the fuck is this?" Ash J asks. "Did you follow us?!" "I'm asking questions. Is this why you are always tired?" "You need to leave!" "Look at this. I heard the conversation by the creepy ass house. If XANA is such a threat-" "Fuck you! You have no idea!" "Right! Plus, William is having a hard time in this." "Please, keep me out of your twin squabble," William said. "I think we need to do an RTTP and re-think our Lyoko plans," Yumi whispers as a boom! "Twins! There is a lightning storm outside. Table it!" Brock commands. "Fine!" "I think Allison should stay with her brother, and I'll stay to keep the peace," Ash said. "Me too!" Ulrich said. Aelita growls but pulls Allison aside, and so does Dawn. "Fine, it will be Allison and the boys but hurry!" Jeremy said.
On Lyoko, the first squall happens. "The tower is straight ahead!" Odd said. "But, we have to wait until the squall finishes," Brock said. Brock heard something in the snow. "Hornets!" "I'm so done with hornets!" Dawn said. "Stand your guard!" Dawn said. The hornets start to shoot ice lasers at the group. "We can't see!" Yumi said. "Focus on one spot," Dawn said. "The hornets will come into your view at some point." Yumi tries, and a hornet shoots at her, but she uses her fans to deflect the laser. William uses Super Smoke to move away from the squall, but it follows him. "Don't move too fast, or you'll come back home. That is what we want!" William stops and freezes as hornets come flying toward him. Brock shoots arrows at two hornets, and Odd shoots laser arrows at one. "Are you okay?!" Odd shouts. "Yeah, I think I got lost in the squall," William said. The squall is over, and the skies are clear. "I see the tower, let's move," Aelita said. "Jeremy, can we have our ride?" Odd asks. "With the recurring squalls, it is too dangerous to have them," Jeremy said. "Plus, exercise is good for you," Dawn teased. Meanwhile, Allison, Ash, Ulrich, and Ash J look around and see black spots on the ground. "The lighting is trying to destroy the factory," Ulrich said. "Hopefully, the others can deactivate the tower soon," Allison said. "I still need answers," Ash J said. "No!" A lightning strike crashes onto the factory floor and starts a fire. "A fire!" Ash J shouts. "And with all of the old factory parts, this place will be up in flames," Ulrich said. The sprinklers go off, but the flames are still there. "We need more water," Ulrich said. "From Pokemon," Ash said. "Make your stance, Swanna," Allison said. "Croconaw, come out!" Ash said. Swanna fluffs her feathers and waves her wings as Croconaw dances. "Hasn't changed," Allison teases. "Gardevior, come out!" Ulrich said. 'Gardevior is a psychic type," Ash J said. "Well, she can move bodies of water from the river," Ulrich said. "Well, Liepard can use Rain Dance," Ash J said. "Come out!" "Let's go!" Jeremy is in the lab and smells smoke, so he calls Allison. "Allison, what is going on?" "The lighting caused a fire!" "Do you need backup? Wait, I don't have a water type." "Jeremy, Aelita, and Dawn left their Squirtle and Piplup Poke Balls in their bags for this reason. You can use them." Jeremy calls out the Pokemon. Squirtle looks around and cries for Aelita. "Squirtle!" Piplup calms Squirtle down. "Hey, there is a fire, and I need your help," Jeremy explains while talking to the Pokemon at eye level. "Squirtle!" "Piplup!" "Okay!" Jeremy said. "Hey, there is a fire on the factory floor. I'm going to assist!" Jeremy leaves with the Pokemon. "How is he going to help?" William asks. "We left our Pokemon in the lab," Dawn said. "We expected that to happen," Aelita said. As Jeremy leaves, Laura enters and places the Supercomputer in incognito mode. "Now, let's find what we need," Laura said.
Gardevior moves water from the river to the fire on the floor as Swanna and Croconaw use Water Gun and Hydro Pump. Liepard uses Rain Dance in between eating berries. "We need more water," Ash J said. "Squirtle and Piplup, use Water Gun!" Jeremy commands. The Pokemon shoot water at the flames. "Jeremy!" Ulrich exclaims. "Got water?" Jeremy teases. "The boys and their jokes," Allison said. As the flames intensify, the Pokemon work harder. "Can you keep up, Croconaw?" Ash asks. "Croc!" "Please tell me that the others are close to this tower thing?" Ash J asks. "Almost. They went through three squalls," Jeremy said. "Make that four," Yumi shouts as Aelita makes a cave for shelter. "Almost," Aelita said. "I wish we could run straight through without getting hit," Odd said. "I think we can," Dawn said. "I gave the same plan," William said. "Which is?" Brock asks. "Aelita can fly. If we distract the hornets during the next squall, Aelita can fly high and straight into the tower," Dawn said. "I'm okay with that," Aelita said. "Me too," Yumi said. "Ready, 1,2, 3," Aelita says as she breaks the cave and the Warriors embrace the squall. Aelita flies up as hornets shoot at her. Brock looks straight ahead, sees a hornet's laser, and shoots the hornet down. Aelita flies up and sees a clear path. At the same time, the flames are building up. "The more fire we put out, the more fire emerges!" Ash J shouts. He holds his sister's hand. 'Look, I don't understand this XANA thing, but if we get out of this, I won't say anything." "No," Allison said. "What?" "We will get out of this; just wait. Then you can promise not to say anything." Ash J smiles. A firey beam falls from the roof, and Allison pushes her brother out of the way. "Ouch!" Allison said. "Your leg," Ash J cries out. "I'm okay," Allison said as she looked at the burns on her left leg. Ulrich caters to an exghustedGardevior. "We need a new plan, Jeremy. I don't think the others will get to the tower on time." "I think all of our Pokemon can use or learn Rain Dance. Maybe that can be enough water to out the flames," Jeremy said. "Croconaw knows Rain Dance," Ash said. "So does Swanna," Allison said. "And Liepard. It comes in handy to mix things up in a battle," Ash J said. "What about Squirtle and Piplup?" Ulrich asks. "And before you ask, yes, Gardevior knows Rain Dance." Piplup and Squirtle look at each other. "Piplup!" Piplup and Squirtle stand tall. "Squirtle!" "I think that means yes," Jeremy said. Laura has almost finished her work. "All I need to do is save it. Which should be a few minutes," Laura said. "Almost there," Aelita said. The storm clears up, and there are two more hornets. "Let's squish some bugs!" Dawn said as she threw fire from her Poi Stick at a hornet. "Okay, Odd, send me back." "Why?" Odd asks. "If the fire is not under control, one of us has to activate the RTTP." Odd understands and de-virtualizes Dawn. Yumi rushes towards a hornet as Aelita enters the tower. "Use, Rain Dance," Allison, Ash, Ulrich, Jeremy, and Ash J command. The Pokemon do a joint Rain Dance, and the rain pours over the flames, and the fire is out. "Yeah!" Ash J shouts. The Pokemon cheer as well. Dawn enters the elevator as Laura quickly types in one thing and leaves via the ladder. Dawn arrives in the lab as Aelita enters the code. "According to the security footage, the fire is out, and everyone is dancing in the rain," Dawn said. "But it looks like the Supercomputer is in the incognito mood." "Close the window and activate the RTTP. That should fix it," Aelita said. Dawn complies. "Return to the Past, now!"
The next day, Allison meets her brother at the Hermitage. "Why are your friends here?" Ash J asks. Allison hugs him and kisses him on the cheek. "Yuck!" Ash J said. "We're having dum sum and bubba tea. You want some?" Ash J's stomach grumbles. "Only if Moxie and Rocky can get some." "Get your ass over here," Rocky said. "Odd is trying to eat all of the food!" "No! I am eating my fair share!" Odd said. "If you are getting 20 pieces and the rest of us getting two is fair, then you need Allison's help in math more than ever," Moxie teases. Ash J laughs.
Whoa! What a day. Wait! What about Laura? A few days later, Dawn drinks some orange juice in the morning. "Everything is well," Dawn cheerfully said. "Extra! Extra! The Kadic News has gone digital!" Tamiya said. "Well, support freedom of the press, and then we can get back to who hack Odd's film and who is working with Professor Tyron." Dawn takes out her phone. "Maybe they're the same person." Laura sits on a bench and drinks her ice Moca Latte with extra expresso. "Expresso and powder to keep me going." She looks at her phone and smiles. Laura remembers tampering with Odd's film and her disappointment when Odd switched the film. Laura also recalls stealing information from the Supercomputer and sending the data to Professor Tyron. "I'm glad they were able to put out the fire." Fire? How does she remember? Laura recalls moving a large mirror over and reflecting the lighting strike on the factory floor. "Oops!" Laura also recalls "adjusting" the RTTP code. "I remember it all, bitches!" And what else did Laura do? Laura smiles and sips her drink. Dawn is about to read the Kadic News when her mother calls. "Hi, mom. Yeah, the school has been hard!" Speaking of mothers, Daphne is back from her trip. She sits in her chair, sips some Shandy, and gets a phone call. "Hello? A call from Swizterland?" "Daphne. My baby sister! It's me. Anthea!" Daphne drops her glass. "Love you, too!" Allison runs to Dawn. "Dawn, have you seen this?" "What?" Dawn checks her phone and sees a picture of herself kissing Odd the night of the fundraiser dance. Dawn gasps and starts to panic as she reads the headliner. "The Chronicles of the Secret Lover: The Coordinator, The Filmmaker, and The Backstabbing Kiss!"