Chapter 6
Passion
"Our annual fall ball will be held this Saturday, 7 o'clock in the gym. And I've been told that it is "girls-ask-guys" this year. See you there." The principal walk off and out the door.
Yumi turned her head to the person next to her with a smile. She was pretty certain that William would say "yes" when she asked him. The bell rang and everyone started to file out. It was around 12:30 so Yumi and Carl walked together to the cafeteria and got seats with the rest of the gang. Jeremy was the first to greet them. "Hey, guys. I think that we've made a breakthrough. We may finally be able to join Lyoko and Regalis now."
"Great," said Odd over his mouthful of mashed potatoes. "It's only been a month since you started."
As Yumi started into her roast beef, she caught a glance at Ulrich. He had been looking at her ever since she arrived. "I wonder if he thinks that I'm going to ask him?" she thought.
A loud beeping disrupted her thoughts. Jeremy pulled out his laptop and flipped it open. "Xana's activated a tower."
The stress signal blared loudly. Workmen were running everywhere trying to open the floodgates. The man only known as Boss walked down the stairs, a glowing cigar in his mouth. "Who in h#! closed those gates and why aren't they open?"
One of the men stopped in front of him. "They aren't responding, sir. If they don't open soon, the dam may not hold."
Boss's eyes bulged. "But that will flood half the county!" He jumped over to one of the control consoles and started punching buttons. Something jarred loose, making the whole dam shudder.
A voice from down the hall called out. "Sir, we've got another problem."
He blew out a smoke cloud. "Now what?"
"ALL of the floodgates are opening completely."
"Oh, d. GET THOSE THINGS CLOSED OR THE TOWN WILL FLOOD IN A MATTER OF HOURS!"
"What's he doing?" Ulrich asked as everyone gathered around the screen.
"I'm not sure yet. He may only be just starting." He shut the laptop. "We should get to the factory before it gets serious."
Everyone filed out and ran into the woods.
Jeremy sat down before the computer screen. Yumi stepped out of the elevator as well. "I'll stay here. The three of you can handle things in Lyoko." Carl nodded and hit the button to begin the descent to the scanner room. She walked to stand next to Jeremy. "Jeremy, there's something that I want to ask you."
"Oh?" He kept keying in commands as he looked up into her face. "It's about the dance, isn't it?" She nodded. "If it's about who to take, I can't tell you. You have to make that decision." He turned back to the screen. "Transfer Carl…"
Everyone landed in a circle in the ice region. Aelita came a few seconds later. "You've got to go 100 klicks north. I'm deploying your vehicles." The machines slowly materialized. Zen had transferred Carl's vehicle over their link. It was quite impressive. It was a long glider, bone white, with a single round engine in the center. Two semi-circular handlebars rose around where the pilot stood directly over the engine. There were also two straps connecting the handles so the pilot could lie down and travel faster. (A/N: If you've seen "Nausica of the Valley of the Wind," it is the same glider) They all mounted up, Aelita joining Ulrich, and flew off. "There aren't any monsters around."
Yumi sat against the wall and debated in her mind. "I like William, but I also kind of like Ulrich." (Even though she would never admit it) "Well, he'll just have to deal with a let-down."
Jeremy interrupted again. "Looks like Xana has made his move." Another screen popped up on the monitor. A reporter was standing in front of a large dam. "For reasons unknown, the floodgates of the Sudra Mar have been fully open. Local water levels are rising rapidly and many communities have been evacuated, but officials are afraid that the water may overcome the large crowds. No one has been injured thus far, but scientists and geologists say that, if the gates are not closed within the hour, than several thousand people may drown. I'm Lisa Hamilton, Channel 13 News."
"That's strange," mused Jeremy. "That dam is several miles from here. It would take hours to flood the school."
"But thousands will die first," said Carl.
"True." The computer beeped. "Watch it guys. Incoming monsters." He pressed several buttons. "Strange. I've never seen these monsters before."
In Lyoko, everyone slowed down their vehicles slightly. Ahead of them, three large black blotches appeared over the ground. Each slowly contracted as mounds rose from each one. "I think I have," said Carl as he pulled his glider to a halt. "I believe these are shadow clones." The large lumps grew bigger and began to flow and mold. Suddenly, three figures were crouched on the ground. They looked exactly like Ulrich, Odd, and Yumi, except totally black with glowing red eyes. "Yumi, you might want to get down here."
"I'm on my way," she said before running to the elevator.
"What's a shadow clone?" Ulrich asked. "And why aren't they moving?"
"Shadow clones are basically you, but not quite as intelligent. I've fought them before. You guys are in for quite a fight," he said before laughing.
"What do you mean 'you guys'?" Odd asked.
"I can't fight them. Only each of you can beat your counterpart."
Yumi ran up behind the others. She saw the black clones and took out her fan. This was like a signal to the clone. The dark Yumi also drew her fan and lunged forward. Ulrich pulled out his sword. "Watch out, Yumi!" He swung at the figure, but his sword passed right through like he was cutting a vapor.
Seeing the drawn sword, dark Ulrich jumped. Carl and Aelita backed up. "Ulrich, you can't hurt the other Yumi. Only Yumi can," Carl explained.
Odd stood there, eyeing the shape in front of him. "Why hasn't mine moved yet?"
"You haven't caused a threat yet."
Ulrich and Yumi had been pushed back to back, fighting separate ways. The dark Yumi swung quickly, knocking Yumi's fan across the glacier. As she came in again, Yumi screamed. There was a sudden clang. Yumi opened her eyes and found Ulrich's blade locked with dark Yumi's fan. "Get back!" he screamed as he threw the shadow back.
"Thanks, Ulrich," she whispered as she blushed.
Ulrich spun to continue his previous fight. Between blows, he answered back, "No problem. I'll always be here to protect you."
Something clicked in Yumi's head. "What? Is he trying to say something?" The dark Yumi stirred, drawing Yumi's attention. She quickly brought out her second fan and let it fly. It was a perfect throw. The fan flew straight through the neck. The shadow clone melted back into a large puddle and vanished.
Ulrich kept blocking and attacking. "This clone is good. Neither of us can land a hit." Ulrich saw a gap for a split second and took it. He knelt down and left, ducking under a horizontal sweep. He then brought his blade straight up the height of the clone and out its head. It too slumped back into a puddle.
Odd hadn't moved for the whole battle. He simply knelt there, looking like the clone's clone. He finally came up with a plan. He raised his wrist. "Laser arrows." Three arrows flew off, only degrees difference from each other. The first whizzed past to the right of the dark head by mere centimeters. It quickly ducked left to avoid the next coming at its head…straight into the third arrow. Instant kill. Odd stood as his clone oozed away.
Ulrich looked around, but couldn't find Carl and Aelita. "Where'd Carl and Aelita go?"
"They went for the tower," Jeremy answered. "Nice fighting, by the way. Carl said that you should stay there."
No sooner had he spoken then three glowing blue orbs appeared over where each of the shadow clones disappeared from. Each hovered for a second, and then flew into the gang, one into each body. Pain coursed through their bodies as a strange energy spread throughout. After several seconds, they were simply lying on the ground, limp.
"WHAT?"
"Jeremy, we made it to the tower. Don't worry about the others. They'll be fine."
"Did you encounter any monsters?" His voice was a little shaky with fear for his friends.
"No. The shadow clones should have drained Xana's strength. Get a Return ready."
He entered in the command, but held off on initiating until Aelita called to tell him that the tower had been deactivated. Everything whited out as time rewound.
"Our annual fall ball will be held this Saturday, 7 o'clock in the gym. And I've been told that it is "girls-ask-guys" this year. See you there." The principal walk off and out the door.
Yumi lowered her head. She didn't know what to do. Had Ulrich actually admitted that he had feelings for her? Or was that just a friend thing? She decided to just do what she had chosen originally. As soon as the bell rang, she turned to William. "Hey, Will. You want to go to the dance with me?"
"Oh. OK, sure."
"Awesome. I'll see you later." She joined Carl and walked out to the courtyard.
"Any ideas about what those orbs were, Jeremy?" Ulrich asked while and the others were sitting around the table.
"Not yet," he said as he took a bite of his hot dog.
"I know," Carl commented as he and Yumi walked up. "The shadow clones are basically like a boss in a video game. They appear when your skill level gets high enough. If you beat the boss, then you get a new ability. But this also means that Xana is probably going to get stronger as well."
"Cool. We should go after dinner and see what these new things are," Odd suggested. "It better be worth it, though. That thing hurt."
Sissy strolled up to the table, hands on her hips. "Oh, Ulrich. Had would you like the honor of taking me to the fall ball?"
"I would probably be more honored by taking a monkey." Everyone laughed.
"Ha ha. When are you going to admit that you like me? What are you waiting for? Yumi to ask you?" Sissy shouted in aggravation.
"Actually, yes." He replied coolly.
Beaten, Sissy stormed off. Ulrich turned back to the table, and everyone else started eating like nothing was happening.
"Um, Ulrich?" Yumi said softly. "Williams already going with me to the dance."
"Oh," he said with a bow of his head. He picked up his tray and stood. "I've got to go. I have homework to finish." He took his tray to the window and walked out.
As he was approaching the main hall, someone called out. "Hey, Ulrich!" He turned to find Yumi running after him.
"What do you want?" he asked as he turned.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know that you wanted me to ask you."
"Hm." He simply turned and kept walking.
"Hold on a moment." She grabbed his arm gently, but he didn't turn. She leaned over close to his shoulder. "Remember," she whispered. "Just because I'm going with him doesn't mean I don't like you." With that she gently kissed his cheek. Ulrich froze at the touch and blushed. By the time he turned his head, she was already walking back to the cafeteria. She held up her hand and waved. "See ya."
He smiled and turned the corner. No one heard him jump and let out a soft "Yeah!"
