He Who Calls
Chapter 21
"What do you mean? They're coming back!" said Aelita. "Jeremy? You hearing all this?"
"Yes," said Jeremy.
"They're coming back, aren't they?"
"I don't know," said Jeremy. "I'm checking every inch of Lyoko for them. Milo's Code Split stunt was good, but Good and Bad William will recombine in twenty hours. No matter where they are on Lyoko. If Bad William no longer exists, Good William will turn to dust in twenty hours."
"Please tell me you found Milo already," said Aelita.
"I think I did," said Jeremy.
"Where?" asked Aelita.
"They're both between the first shield of the Core of Lyoko and the second," said Jeremy. "Milo can still talk to me. He says he's going to impale himself on William's sword so he can get out. He's sliding on to it and… I think he's back on Earth!"
"But what do we do with Good William?"
"Leave him. If he doesn't recombine he'll die."
"All right," said Aelita. She turned to Good William. "I have to go. Milo got safely back to Earth, and Bad William will get pulled back into you in twenty hours. I'll see you later." She vanished before he could protest. So he threw himself over the edge. He had decided he was going to kill his other side and die in the process.
Aelita stepped out of the scanner on Earth to find Milo lying comatose in the other one.
"Milo!" She quickly checked his life signs, sighed with relief, and ran up to Jeremy. "Milo is dying!"
"So are Odd and Yumi!" said Jeremy. "Only one option. Return to the past now!"
Aelita went through a moment of disconcertion, then realized what had happened.
"When are we?" she asked, after checking that only the Lyoko Warriors were in the room. "Where are Sam and Emily?" They were back in her dorm room.
"They just left after telling you about foiling the blackmail attempt," said Jeremy with a grin. "Milo, are you okay?"
"Just scared," said Milo. "And tired. Is it really only five-thirty?" He checked his watch. "It is. But hold on… It's tomorrow! It's Aelita's birthday!"
"What?" said Ulrich.
"Well," said Jeremy. "Odd, Yumi, and Milo all nearly died. I guess we had to eat a day to replenish your life forces."
"Well, we have to go down to my room," said Milo. "I think Aelita's going to like her present."
"Come on already! What is it?" asked Aelita.
"You'll see in my room," said Milo. They all ran down to Milo's room, Aelita holding his hand the whole way. "Here it is," said Milo. And he opened the door. It was a turntable, sound-effect, and keyboard combo with various sets for CDs and vinyl. "I knew you liked turntables, so I made this."
"Oh, wow," said Aelita. She went over and saw that all her favorite CDs and records were in the decks.
"The records are from me," said Odd. "The CDs from Milo. Happy birthday, Aelita!" Then they all repeated it in unison. Aelita smiled and sat on Milo's bed.
"Best birthday ever."