This chapter was written by me and edited by AeroJester203.
Disclaimer: Code Lyoko is owned by MoonScoop. I only own my OC Lila. Mary is owned by AeroJester203.
Enjoy the long-awaited chapter!
A false start but with some truths
In the scanner room
POV Lila's
"Wha-what did you say?" Jeremy asks, stammering a little in disbelief.
Odd is about to open his mouth, but I interrupt whatever he's going to say, "It'll be easier to show all of you. Let's go down to the supercomputer room."
They nod.
Inside the freight elevator
We ride the elevator in silence, everybody staring at me as I lean against the wall with my hands in my pockets. Even with my tears dried, I'm still reeling about losing Mary. I hadn't planned to reveal the truth yet, but Xana has made me very desperate.
I can't keep them in the dark any longer if I want their help getting Mary back. As far as I'm concerned, Xana's thrown out the rulebook. I'm using every ounce of future knowledge to fight him now, and that's going to include changing this timeline, I think.
The freight elevator reaches the lowest floor. I push off the wall and lead the others into the dark room.
Inside the supercomputer room
The lights illuminate the room, the supercomputer's tower emerging from the floor. Aelita looks at it, grabbing Jeremy's hand out of fright. He can't help but blush. Despite myself, I smile a bit at their interaction.
"So… you're a time traveler?" Aelita asks. "What's that?"
"It's a person who travels from the future to the past," Odd answers.
She seems fascinated, "Is that possible?"
"No," Odd, Ulrich, Yumi, and Jeremy reply in unison.
I sigh and take off my necklace, "Okay, just stand back a little."
They retreat a few feet away from me and I press the button on the bottom of my time machine necklace.
The necklace starts glowing as I hurriedly place it on the ground and back away. The glow gradually flares brighter until it engulfs the whole room. Everyone shields their eyes, and the glow soon dies out, revealing the beaten-up time machine. Jeremy's jaw drops slightly while the others gasp in awe.
"That's – that's just not possible," he says, letting go of Aelita's hand to approach it carefully as if to confirm whether it's real.
Odd shakes his head in disbelief, "Better believe it, she's a time traveler, Einstein."
"Okay…" Ulrich slowly says, as if trying to wrap his head around it.
"So, when did you travel from?" he asks.
"The year 2043," I answer.
"And why were you crying?" Yumi asks.
"The very first time I joined you guys, I had my guardian with me. A female spectre named Mary Smith—yes, a digital entity like the ones Xana uses to possess things, but completely benevolent. She's a shapeshifting multipurpose assistant and has been acting as my mother."
"That explains a lot," Odd remarks in a thoughtful tone.
"Anyway, when I first joined, Mary was inside my cell phone. We fused on Lyoko… and sometimes she would be with me. Teaching me, guiding me…" I start to sniffle, and tears start flowing down my cheeks. Yumi goes over to me, wrapping her arm around me in an effort to comfort me.
"We're here, we believe you," she reassures. "What happened?"
"Xana, he- he took Mary from me!" I exclaim sadly.
Jeremy steps forward, "Lila… I'm so sorry. Can… I ask why you traveled this far into the past?"
I bite my lip in slight hesitation before I regain my resolve and say,
"Honestly… because of you."
"Huh? Me?" he asks with wide eyes.
Aelita looks over to the time machine and back to me.
"What did Jeremy have to do with this?"
"He created the time machine and sent me back in time for the sole purpose of destroying Xana," I reveal.
Jeremy looks at the time machine and asks in disbelief, "I - I, created this?" he asks, in disbelief.
"Yes," I reply. "You also created Mary…"
Jeremy blinks with bewilderment. "I- I did?"
"Yeah you did," I smile. "I'm not sure how you did it, but you did."
Jeremy fixes his glasses, and asks, "What was the relationship you and future me had?"
I can't tell him the truth… but he may believe this… I think.
"You knew my parents, and while they were fighting in the war, you were my guardian. It's true Mary's my guardian now, but before time traveling I never knew she existed. But during the time I've spent with her since we've formed the group… she's been more like a real mother to me," I reply. I look down at my feet.
"Was… she was a real mother to me…" reminding myself that she was taken.
Jeremy is about to say something when Ulrich interrupts him.
"Wait, back up a sec. A war? With Xana?" he asks. Looking up at Ulrich, I answer:
"Yes… in the year 2043, Xana has total domination of the world."
Odd, Ulrich, Jeremy, and Aelita lower their heads.
"At least… he did…" I trail off.
"Did?" Yumi asks.
"When I traveled into the past, and accidentally established myself into this timeline I-" I start to explain, but Jeremy interrupts while fixing his glasses.
"Your timeline was erased via the grandfather paradox, right?"
"Right," I answer. "At least, that's the assumption. There's no way of proving my timeline was erased. For all I know… it could still be out there."
"Yes, it could be," he replies. "Okay, so then we make sure in this timeline that your future never happens. Do you know what causes the events in your timeline?"
"Yes. Xana reawakens in the year 2019, which is a long way away," I reply.
Odd tilts his head in confusion, "Why not just use the time machine now and go to 2019?"
"Future Jeremy gave me a mission to find something out about Xana. A weakness I can exploit and stop Xana from reactivating in 2019. Also, before you ask, I don't know any of you in the future. I can't tell you your fates," I lie.
Ulrich grimaces as if thinking of something unpleasant, "Something tells me I don't want to know."
"What about shutting Xana down?" Yumi asks. "Will that free Mary?"
"It might give her a chance to escape his hold and leave the supercomputer," I nod.
Jeremy nods back, "Okay. Then first thing tomorrow after classes we'll shut down the supercomputer."
"Lyoko was my home… It's going to be strange shutting the supercomputer down. What if something goes wrong?" Aelita asks.
"I'm sure it'll be fine Aelita," Yumi says, unwrapping her arm from around me. She walks up to Aelita and places a hand on her shoulder. "Come on, it's getting late. We should all get a good night's sleep."
"If it's okay with you Yumi- I'd like to walk her to your place," Jeremy says stammering a little. I can see a hint of red across his face and smile slightly. Yumi does too as she nods.
Walking to the time machine, I press the red button which has now moved to the side and it shrinks back into my necklace. I place it around my neck and under my shirt once again.
"Everyone… thank you for your understanding," I say.
"You're one of us Lila. You're a Lyoko warrior. Of course, we'd understand," Ulrich says.
The next morning
Waking up to my alarm blaring on my cell phone, I press the end button and force myself out of bed. Walking to the closet, I open it. I take a towel, some fresh clothes, along with some soap and shampoo and head to the girl's bathroom.
Outside
In the courtyard
I meet up with the guys, who are still waiting for Yumi and Aelita.
"How are you doing Lila?" Jeremy asks.
I shrug, "Could be better."
"Hey, look," Odd says. We turn to the direction Odd pointed and see Yumi and Aelita walking through the main gate. Some students exchange glances at Aelita and start whispering. Aelita and Yumi walk to us, ignoring them.
"How was your first morning on Earth, Aelita?" Jeremy asks.
Aelita smiles, "It was great! Sleeping is so wonderful!"
"I had to shake her a few times just to wake up," Yumi informs. "I almost had to resort to pouring water on her."
"Ready to see what classes are like here at Kadic?" Odd asks.
Aeltia nods, "Definitely, I just hope everything goes okay today."
"There's nothing to worry about, Aelita," Jeremy reassures.
"By the way Aelita… this may sound strange, but if people ask, you're my adopted sister okay?" I ask.
"Sister? Wouldn't it be better if she were to act as my cousin?" Odd asks.
"No, it wouldn't," I say with finality. "She should use the name Stones."
"Stones? Isn't that a name of a rock group?" Aelita asks.
Ulrich raises an eyebrow, "How do you know that?"
"I was showing Aelita some music last night before bed, she really likes them," Yumi explains.
"Hmm… Aelita Stones. I like that," Aelita smiles.
In History class
Yumi had gone to her class, leaving the rest of us to walk Aelita into her classroom. She eyes the room filled with students and Mr. Fumet. Bringing her to a chair we sit down together. I sit next to her. Odd and Ulrich sit down together, with Jeremy sitting behind us.
"Today we're going to start class a bit different. We have a new student; can you introduce yourself?" Mr. Fumet asks, looking at Aelita.
"I umm… I…" Aelita starts stammering, I stand up and answer for her.
"She's my adopted sister. Her name is Aelita and she's from Canada. She's very shy," I say, sitting down. Odd smiles and nods approvingly.
"Welcome, Aelita, welcome," Mr. Fumet warmly greets. "Today we'll be learning about the 1812 war…"
Outside at the bench
I sit on the bench with Aelita, she sighs in relief.
Jeremy sits down next to her, "See, Aelita, history isn't so bad."
"I think I would prefer math class instead. There's a lot of fighting going on in the world," Aelita says, a bit confused from the history lesson.
"Um… not exactly Aelita," I say.
"Yeah, I mean those wars were in the past. Now that's not to say fighting isn't happening today but-" Jeremy starts to explain before Yumi walks up to us.
"You guys ready to shut down Xana and save Mary?" she asks.
We nod, and I notice that Aelita has a look of concern on her about something.
In the supercomputer room
I stand by the closed freight elevator doors, knowing that this is the others' moment as they gather around the rising supercomputer. Knowing that it wasn't over yet, but that they needed to find out about the link to Xana in order for things to progress, I keep my distance so that I can explain afterwards.
Jeremy walks up to the supercomputer, the handle emerging from the tower. Aelita starts to gasp.
"I- I" Aelita stammers.
"Aelita?" Jeremy asks, turning to her. Odd, Ulrich, and I look at her with concern.
"I've known Lyoko all of my life. It's the only home I have…" Aelita trails off, and I look at her.
"Aelita… I know what it's like losing a home, but Xana's given us a lot of grief. Don't you think it's time for a change? Not only to save Mary, but to give you a normal life, and so that you can make a home here… with us?" I ask.
Aelita turns to me, only hesitates briefly before nodding, "You're right…"
Jeremy turns to us.
"Any last words you guys?" he asks.
"I think Lila said what we wanted to say. Right guys?" Yumi asks.
"Right," Ulrich says with a nod.
Odd smirks, "Took the words right out of our mouths."
Jeremy nods and turns to the supercomputer. Aelita turns with him.
"Okay then… goodbye, Xana."
Jeremy pulls the handle. My vision starts to become blurry.
What…? I think in muted surprise, even my thoughts are slurred. What's... happ-ening? I think.
"Lila…Aelita?! Someone catch them they're going to-" Yumi's voice becomes distant to my ears before my vision blackens out completely.
Sometime later
Inside the factory
Feeling something tightening around my arm, I wake up. My vision is blurry, and I see someone in a red sweat suit, taking my blood pressure.
"Jim is that you? What are you-" I say, starting to get up from a bed. My vision becomes hazier as I become dizzy again.
"Slow down, Lila," he replies in a surprisingly gentle tone. "You and Aelita fainted."
"Why… how are you here?" I ask, lying back and trying to let my vision readjust itself.
"I… followed you guys to the factory," he hesitantly admits before continuing in a surer tone. "And it's a good thing I did; I arrived in that room just as you fainted. The doors opened, and I caught you. Your friends managed to get Aelita. You would have had a concussion if I didn't catch you."
"Thanks… is Aelita awake?" I ask.
"She is," Jim replies.
"How did you get these beds here?"
"Belpois restarted that computer to bring your pulses back. He's explained things to me. After he did, I took the liberty of taking a cab back to campus," the gym teacher explains. "I grabbed the beds, and the blood pressure cuff then had another cab bring me near Ishiyama's house like she recommended. She told me it was the closest way I could get here, and I walked from there."
He unwraps the cuff on my arm, after checking my blood pressure and nods, "Your blood pressure is back to normal. You can go and see your friends."
Rolling down my jacket's sleeve, I nod and smile slightly.
"Thanks Jim."
Inside the lab
The freight elevator's doors open, and I walk into the lab towards everyone gathered around Aelita and Jeremy.
"-To scan you," Jeremy finishes. He turns to me after noticing my entry.
"I was just saying to Aelita that once you were up we should get you two scanned."
"And that'll tell you what went wrong?" Yumi asks.
Jeremy nods, "Yes, at least I hope…"
In the scanner room
Taking the middle scanner, I step in and Aelita takes the left scanner. The doors close, cutting off my view of the outside world.
"Starting the process now," Jeremy informs. Closing my eyes, the scanner starts spinning and then stops. "Okay… I'm finished. You two can come back up."
The scanners open. Aelita and I look at each other with concern.
In the lab
Jeremy scratches his head as he stares at lines upon lines of code.
Jim is with us and asks, "What did you find out?"
"It's complicated… but I'll start with Aelita. It seems there was a bug during the materialization."
"A bug?" Yumi asks. "That can't be too bad."
"Normally, yes, but… Aelita, did you feel anything when you were being materialized?" he asks, looking at her.
"Now that you mention it…. Just before you entered the code, I did feel like Xana was trying to hold me back," Aelita recalls.
"And that's the bug," Jeremy explains. "He created a virus, linking you and him."
"And that means?" Odd asks.
"It means, Odd, we can't turn the supercomputer off without killing Aelita," Ulrich guesses. "Right Jeremy?"
"That's right," he confirms.
Jim looks concerned, "What can you do?"
Jeremy starts typing on his computer, "I can try and create an antivirus that'll free Aelita from Xana."
"Can Aelita still deactivate towers?" I ask.
Jeremy nods, "Yes thankfully. Hopefully, the computer will finish the calculations by tomorrow morning. Lila… can we talk privately?"
Raising my eyebrow, I ask, "Can't you say whatever it is you want to tell me in front of everyone?"
"I can tell them later… but I need to tell you privately," he insists.
"Okay…" I reply in a puzzled tone.
Inside the freight elevator
Jeremy and I take the elevator up to the factory level. The freight elevator doors open. Turning to Jeremy, I ask him,
"So, what is it you want to tell me, that you can't tell the others now?"
"Lila, did… did my future version of myself ever tell you the circumstances of your birth?" Jeremy asks hesitantly.
I shake my head, "No. Where are you going with this?"
"There's no easy way to tell you this, but…" Jeremy trails off, beginning to explain. He starts explaining my situation, his voice starts to fade out from my shock as he makes his complicated hypothesis. His voice then starts to fade back in.
"I'm sorry. I wish I knew how to explain it better. But… it's the truth," Jeremy says. My eyes widen, and I shake my head.
"You're wrong…"
"Lila, I checked and double checked the data. I even triple checked, before you came up from the scanners. I'm sorry… but the data isn't wrong. What it showed is right..."
"You're wrong!" I scream at the top of my lungs. This catches Jeremy off guard. I start running to the factory's exit.
"Lila, wait! Please!" he calls back to me, but I ignore him and continue to run.
The next day
Waking up in my bed, I decide to stay in it and miss class. My phone starts ringing, and I ignore it and put my headphones on. Plugging them into my music player that Mary got me just a few weeks ago, I turn the music on to heavy metal.
Jeremy… you're absolutely wrong. No, you're dead wrong. If it's true… I can NEVER forgive my own father for not telling me the truth, I think.
Deciding to take a shower, I grab a towel and a fresh change of clothes. Walking in the hallway, Milly and Tamiya notice me. Glancing at their mouths, I can tell that they're trying to tell me something, but I'm in no mood to talk. Ignoring them, I continue to the girl's bathroom and head inside closing the door with a loud slam.
Afterwards
Opening the door to my room, I close it behind me and toss my towel and old clothes onto the bed. Wearing my fresh clothes, I look to my desk and decide to go over to it. Opening the drawer, I take out the old-time travel book Mary gave me a while back. Opening it, I start reading from where I left off.
Later
Flipping through the pages, I get to the last chapter. I read the title of the chapter.
"Multiverse theory/ Many worlds theory," I say. "Huh, what's this about?" asking no one in particular. Flipping the page, I start reading the chapter.
"The multiverse theory/ Many worlds theory was a theory, theorized by Bryce Seligman DeWitt. To explain this theory, I want you to think of a tree. Are you thinking about it? Okay good. Now imagine the tree branching out, creating different paths. Each branch is its own timeline. Imagine a timeline where you're rich… or imagine a timeline where there's no need for money. Think of the tree as the universe. While the different paths include different histories of the Earth… we are still under the same universe. Our current Earth history allows us to look back on what could have gone wrong. Imagine… imagine if the Germans won World War 2. Now imagine that history on a branch of that tree I mentioned. While that history is apart of that branch, their Earth is completely different. Germans won, and the allies defeated. All they know is destruction and death. That history allows them to have their Earth reach different heights. Different technologies… and even though their Earth is different, they still look upon the same universe as we look upon it now, because it is solely under one tree. Just a different branch. This is perhaps the best way to explain the multiverse theory, or many worlds theory, because despite the fact that there might be infinite Earths with infinite possibilities… we all share the same universe. When someone interferes with time, they're creating a different timeline from the original history of their Earth. The original history can never be changed. If they're the first-time travelers in existence then their "tree," hasn't branched out yet. By time traveling, they'll create a second branch, and this second branch would be called a second timeline. If someone interferes with time, one has the potential to do great good or great evil. One must tread carefully should time travel ever be possible…"
Closing the book, I take a breather.
This was interesting… that being said it seems that my timeline might still be out there. If it's part of a branch of a tree… then the branch shouldn't just snap off, not according to what I just read. But now I'm really stuck in this timeline until I free Mary… I think.
Taking the book, I place it in one drawer and then open another one. I take my diary, it's key and a pen from the drawer. I close it. Using my key, I unlock the diary and then begin to write in it.
Dear Diary… Aelita's materialization in this timeline was a success. Something… something went wrong at the end—something different that I wasn't prepared for. For some reason, Xana took Mary… and I have no idea what took her. It sounded… strange. To top it off, Jeremy told me something last night that makes me angry. I can't even write it without nearly breaking the pen. It's the reason why I ended up fainting with Aelita when the supercomputer was turned off. I still can't believe it...
It frustrates me to think my father could have kept a huge secret like this from me. I mean… he raised me. He took care of me after my mom died… and seeing Jeremy with Aelita now, how can someone be so secretive in the future? It doesn't make sense! My father lied about my birth; he couldn't even tell me who the leader of the resistance was. I mean, come on, what's the big secret? It can't be someone close to me… it just wouldn't be possible. There was no one left but Jeremy.
And if there's a chance, a CHANCE my timeline is still out there somewhere… now I really am stuck in this one. I need to find out what took Mary and free her. From there… we'll have to defeat Xana and who knows…. maybe Mary might let me change the timeline? I know we originally planned to do that with the paradox… but all of our hypothesis's might have been wrong. Maybe, we can find a way to create a peaceful future for this timeline, after she's freed. That being said… it's strange to think my timeline might be out there still. If my timeline's future is still there, could Mary have known all along? No… no I don't believe she would lie to me like that. I… I just don't know. To be honest the multiverse theory sounds far-fetched. I know I arrived in the past… and yet I can't shake the feeling that this past is the not the same past, from the timeline I came from. So maybe there is a chance, I created a new branch like the author mentioned. Maybe I did create a second timeline, and I'm living in it now? But even if that's true... then why did I lose my memories when I first entered the timeline? Perhaps... the best reason I can think of is that the memory lost is a side effect of time traveling like my father mentioned before the time jump? A permanent one... I don't know...
Ugh, I feel like my head is going around in circles sometimes… especially when it feels like I have no one to turn to now. That's the worst part of this… I'm truly alone now…
While writing in my diary, I start hearing shouting from outside.
"What's going on?" I ask. Quickly getting out of my chair, I hop into my shoes and run out of my room.
Outside
Looking around outside, the ground has been destroyed by something. Seeing a student running, I hear faint whirring and clicking movements and my eyes widen.
"No way… what's that doing here?!" I exclaim. Looking at the Kankrelat, it notices me and then starts charging its laser. Looking around for some sort of weapon, I see a somewhat jagged rock from the destroyed ground.
The monster fires its laser and I roll to the side, grabbing the rock. Whipping it through the air at the eye of Xana, the rock hits dead-on and pierces the pseudo flesh of its body. The Kankrelat sparks before it falls over with a small explosion blowing off half its upper body, leaving it dead on its side.
Luckily, these monsters are the most fragile of the bunch. If these were Krabs I think we'd be in trouble… I think. Looking around the area, I see the destruction the Kankrelats have caused already.
I've got to help out my classmates! I think.
Looking around, I run to the forest to see if anyone is hiding out there.
Further in the woods
Looking at two Kankrelats ahead of me, a younger kid cornered by them, I quickly kick them over in a single sweeping roundhouse, knocking them on their sides. It had been a while since I fought Xana's monsters for real, but my old instincts were still there. Stomping one of them for good measure, I quickly back off before it blows up, triggering a chain reaction and destroying the other since they were beside one another.
"Hey kid, are you alright?" I ask.
"Um – yeah," he nods. "I think I saw a few of them near the shed area. Stern and Ishiyama were there. Jim was fighting some of them too."
"He was? Thanks, I'll head that way," I nod.
Near the shed
Running towards the supply shed, I pant heavily.
Old instincts or not, I'm still in a younger and untrained body. After this, I'm definitely going to start exercising seriously. I've been slacking since it's more peaceful here. Too bad all of that running on Lyoko doesn't help my body in the real world, I think.
I find a bunch of Kankrelats lying on the ground with small holes punched in them, deactivated from taking too many shots, and see one more aiming at a downed Jim with several laser burns. He's shakily holding up a nail gun with a fallen Kankrelat still buzzing electricity through the hole recently punched right through the eye of Xana.
"Hehe, it's time for you to head to the scrap heap…" he weakly chuckles, even from his prone position. "After all, I handled your little buddies, didn't I?"
"Hey, you stupid bug! It's me you want right?!" I yell at the monster to get its attention from Jim. It turns to me.
"Lila, what are you doing here?! Leave before it-" Jim starts to say but stops.
Ignoring Jim, I immediately rush the remaining monster, easily knocking it on its side and planting my foot on its body while it's legs kick futilely. Making sure that its laser shooter is faced away from me and Jim, I lean down.
"Xana if you're listening… I want Mary back!"
With that said, I crush its body before leaping to dodge the ensuing explosion. The small explosion sets off, and I smile. I get up.
Jim looks at me in stunned silence before he asks, "Lila… how did you…?"
"It's very difficult to explain…" I mutter.
Looking ahead, the white wall of light starts heading from the horizon and I realize that Jim won't remember since he wasn't scanned in the scanners. It engulfs us all.
The previous day
In Lila's room
Waking up inside my room, I look at the empty chair desk and the copy of my father's laptop not open. Mary's still gone. Sighing, I get up to change into a fresh pair of clothes and head to Jeremy's room.
In Jeremy's room
Odd, Ulrich, Yumi and I all stare at the monitor. Looking at Aelita, she seems rather upset. Kiwi is with us this time, as Odd had brought him to Jeremy's room. Kiwi is sleeping on Jeremy's bed.
"We're starting the re-materialization immediately," Jeremy says, and is about to grab the program disc, but Aelita stops him.
"Jeremy please… don't," she requests.
Jeremy hesitates and begins saying, "But, Aelita, I-"
"I can still feel a link between Xana and me. I'm sure Lila does too."
Jeremy looks to me and I nod; he looks back at Aelita.
Yumi places her hand on Jeremy's shoulder, "We can always materialize you for a couple of hours. That way you can come and visit us."
"I'd like that. Until then, I think it's best I stay on Lyoko. Until you can find a way that will free both Lila and I. Perhaps some type of anti-virus," Aelita says.
"There's one other thing," I chime in, making everyone look at me.
Odd speaks up first, "What is it?"
Yumi pulls her hand from Jeremy as she realizes it too, "We forgot about Jim!"
Kiwi wakes up from his sleep and barks.
"Aelita, we'll talk later okay?" Jeremy excuses.
"Okay, Jeremy," Aelita answers and she logs off.
All of us run out of the room and I close the door behind us, leaving Kiwi inside.
Outside Jeremy's room
On the boy's dorm floor
We turn down the hall to see Jim walking towards us.
"Aha! I finally caught you! I think it's time you told me what your little secret is, and we're not going anywhere until you do!" Jim exclaims.
Odd shrugs innocently, "We were just studying."
"Studying my eye!" Jim barks back. "Do you really expect me to believe that? And Ishiyama, what's a day student doing inside the dorms at this time in the morning?"
"Uh, see, the thing is, Jim –" Yumi tries to explain and he then shakes his head.
The gym teacher crosses his arms, "I think Mr. Delmas should hear about this!"
"Jim," a voice calls out. Turning to the voice, we all look at Mr. Delmas who just opened the doors and is walking to us.
"What's going on here?" he asks. Mr. Delmas reaches us and looks at Jim, he then looks at us. "Well?"
"I finally caught them, sir! These children were up to no good!"
"No good? Again, Jim? Is this one of your stories about-" Mr. Delmas starts, and Jeremy speaks up.
"He's right sir. We were up to no good. We were planning to play a prank on Nicholas and Herb," he lies.
Odd nods, "Yeah, a good one, too."
"Honestly, sir, if Jim hadn't caught us we'd be late for class," I say.
"Yeah I mean pranks are one thing… but being late?" Ulrich adds. "That's more trouble than it's worth."
Mr. Delmas looks at all of us, bewildered by our "honesty." Looking at Jim, he clears his throat.
"Well… I suppose I can overlook this matter since you're being honest. Off to class now, children," Mr. Delmas says. Fixing his jacket, he proceeds to walk out of the dorm. After he's gone, we then look at Jim and smile.
"Thanks, kids. But why did you cover for me?" he asks.
Jeremy smiles, "Well, let's just say we think you'll do the same thing for us one day."
"Yeah. I mean we never get a chance to tell you, but we appreciate everything you've done for us," Ulrich says.
"You're great, Jimbo!" Odd exclaims, and the three boys start making their way out of the dorm.
Yumi gives him a small kiss on the cheek before adding, "You're a real hero!" She runs to the guys and Jim rubs his cheek in surprise.
"A hero, wow," he says shocked.
"You really are Jim," I smile at him before catching up with the others.
"Uh, thanks! Don't forget to tell your principal that!" he exclaims happily.
Later in Mrs. Hertz's class
I really wish I knew what took Mary… How can I get her back? Is there a chance I'll ever see her again? No, I know I'll see her again. I just wish I knew why Xana took her. Even IF the AI figured out I was a time traveler… there's no way he could access Mary's memories. Right? She must have had a lot of security measures built in by my father. So, whatever took her is going to have a hard time breaking through them, I think while idly staring at Mrs. Hertz's, who is writing on the blackboard.
After class
In Lila's room
Listening to the music on my music player, I hear a faint knock coming from the door. Powering it off, I get up from the bed and go to the door.
I grab the handle, "Who is it?"
"It's Jeremy, may I come in?" Jeremy asks.
Pulling the door handle down, I open it and allow Jeremy to come in. He enters the room, and I close the door. I sit on the bed with a defeated look, knowing that this conversation would have to happen at some point.
"Lila… I'm sorry," Jeremy says.
"You … shouldn't be," I say at length, shaking my head.
"But it's my fault; on a cosmic level at least. My future self should have told you the truth about your birth. Especially if he was like a parent to you and especially since he created Mary."
"There are just some truths, a person can't take," I say.
"It's okay. I've should have explained it better. I'll try and explain it better this time. Your brainwave patterns match Aelita's, both of yours being more uniform than normal. You always excelled in mathematics just like she does. I even found something inside of you that's radiating some sort of electronic frequency, like an advanced power source that Aelita might lack at this point because of the differences in the time period."
"I see… I'm sorry for my first reaction Jeremy… I shouldn't have yelled at you…" I trail off.
Jeremy nods, "Honestly Lila, it's a normal reaction… especially finding out that you're an artificial intelligence like Aelita? How else are you expected to react?"
And done! The next chapter will lead into season 2 of Code Lyoko. The story will continue as a whole, it will not be separated into parts. Lila's Journey will continue with a new chapter soon, that's a promise! We should be back no later than the 25th and will return with our regular updates!
Author's note : All errors regarding Lila's year she traveled from (2043), has now been fixed!
Don't forget to review! Please feel free to share your thoughts on that big twist! Did you hate it, like it? How shocked were you?
LyokoWarrior1994