I'm still wondering where I am going to take this story next after that last chapter...should be interesting to see. Not much else to say this time unfortunately depending how you look at it.
If anyone wants to know what Domino looks like, I'll give a short description here. She has short blonde hair, green eyes, moon pale white skin and she is just about the same height as Aelita. Domino normally wears a pair of boy shorts and a short T-shirt. Remember what I said about Domino can show a lack of modesty when it comes to clothes, this chapter shows it to a degree.
Chapter Nine is based on episode six of the first series but it shows some of the aftermath of the previous chapter. Domino is still struggling to move past that personal reliving nightmare attack by Xana and the others do know that as she won't deny it but she doesn't have that belief of them being able to help her. This is a good chapter to write for me as I can't be too evident with Domino's problems but I have to keep it there at the same time.
So I'll stop there and let you read on. Review plese either good or bad. I hope to hear what you think. I don't own anything from Code Lyoko apart from the OCs created for this particular story and others that I have written over the years
Enjoy!
Chapter Nine: Personal Dilemmas
The others are worried about me. I've been more quiet since the last attack. I've had that constant question asked: 'Are you alright?'. It's not that I don't appericiate that they care but the amount of times that I've been asked that makes me want to hit something. It's not like I mean to avoid them but this is something that I have to deal with myself because in the end, it is my own past and not theirs. They haven't experienced it in any way, shape or form and I wouldn't wish that on them anyway as I haven't been able to move on from it as much as I thought I did.
To move on to another topic, the principal had gathered some of the students to talk about the renovations for the sports facilities. Although it's all I can understand because he does seem that he loves the sound of his own voice, sometimes I can believe that Sissi is his daughter in that respect.
"Man, he sure can talk. Do we really have to listen to all this?" Odd moans.
"Not really. You could have stayed with Jeremie." Ulrich says.
"What's Einstein up to anyway?" Yumi asks.
"The usual. He's glued to his computer screen and in a virtual conversation with his darling Aelita." Odd answers.
Aelita and Jeremie do like each other, we all know that too well. It's not that much of a leap to make considering that Aelita talks more with Jeremie than the rest of us. It makes sense because Jeremie was the first person she bonded with after the super-computer was reactivated.
"Are you alright, Domino?" Yumi asks.
Here we go again. I understand why they're concerned because I would be too if I were them. It's that uncertainity about how you approach someone who you don't really know that well and help them when they're normally closed for discussion. I don't make it easy for them when it comes to taking my mind off of things like what happened last week.
"Fine, I'm just thinking." I sigh.
"You've been like this since the last Xana attack." Ulrich mentions.
"Like what?"
"Like you're not really there."
They know what's bothering me and I haven't much attempt to deny it because it is that obvious so I don't see the point. I've made understatements about it and no-one else apart from the group have managed to suspect anything different from me but I barely talk to anyone outside the group anyway. I'm not against that but I think there's something about me that makes me hard to talk to.
"It's something I have to tackle myself that's why." I explain.
"But we can help you do that." Yumi replies.
I shake my head knowing they mean well but there's not much that they can do for me either. Recovering takes time and it takes as long as it takes although it would be easier if I could just move past it like most other Xana attacks but that one was personal to me for reasons that don't have to be explained.
"No offense but unless you've been through it, there's not much that you can do." I say gently.
If this was any other situation, people would be recommending that I see a psychologist but my life is too complicated to talk about in a therapy session and I can't be completely honest without revealing everything. Any issues wouldn't be solved there and I am somewhat grateful for that.
The interesting aspect of this academy is that classes are in the morning on a saturday so it's the only reason that we're all here. True, most of the afternoon had been taken by talking about the renovations with those bulldozers but it's better than being in a maths class. The others had their own things to do and so did I. Gym classes vary in what we learn each week but I did like to use the track for a run when no-one else is around. It gives more of a sense of freedom for me but that might be because of all those years in captivity.
I hear my phone ring just as I'm about to start a run seeing that it is Odd calling. That's different considering if anyone from the group calls me directing, it's normally Jeremie because of a Xana attack. I might as well see what it is though before I judge anything.
"What is it, Odd?" I ask.
"Meet us in Jeremie's room. He finally cracked Aelita's materialisation with a little help from me." Odd answers.
That's something new. I know the day was a matter of time but I didn't think it would be that quick but that could me as the others have been waiting for this for nearly a year before I was in the picture. It would be fast to just materialise Aelita like that even though Jeremie is probably eager to do it now.
When we are altogether, the others also share my doubts about rushing the materialisation. It would be perfect to finally kill Xana for good by bringing Aelita here but there's another world that she has to live in which isn't so ideally suited to her circumstances.
"It's now or never, we may not get a second chance. What if there's some kind of bug? I'll never be able to set up the program again." Jeremie paces.
"Listen. You can't just materialise Aelita like that without making a lot of preparations." Yumi reasons.
"I've boosted the scans, the program is set up. Everything's ready."
In one world but not in the other. Jeremie wants Aelita here and so do we so we can finally put an end to Xana and regain our normal lives again. Still, not everything is perfect just yet for Aelita's real world arrival.
"In your head. Come back to Earth, Jeremie. Aelita has no parents and she hasn't got a birth cerfiticate. What's more she isn't enrolled in any school. Okay, that's no biggie but all that put together means she doesn't exist in our world." Ulrich lists.
It's almost the same situation with me but with Aelita there is less of a track to her being from a virtual universe. I actually lived in reality before so there is a trail to my past which makes me more careful about what I say and reveal.
"They're right, Jeremie. You couldn't get me a life here without any of those precautions that you took." I agree.
"Imagine this: 'I'm Aelita. I've just arrived here from a virtual universe'. That's a one-way ticket to the nuthouse." Odd adds.
"You know, Jeremie, it doesn't have to be today. I can wait." Aelita says.
Aelita understands it as well and considering she has had to wait for nearly a year to be materialise, another day wouldn't hurt her.
"Well, what do we do now?" Jeremie questions.
"I can put her up at my house. My folks wouldn't mind." Yumi suggests.
"And you can plug into the city hall's computers and make a fake identity for her. Give her a new name, all the stuff she needs." Ulrich says.
"And next you just have to enroll her at our school and try and put her in our class, that would be really cool." Odd continues.
We're not getting ahead of ourselves but these precautions are going to take some time and can't be done overnight. They need to be without any questions like with me but just more tight or we'll all be in for tough times considering our connection to Aelita. Jeremie can't argue with the logic behind it as he is a logical person in a academic sense more than anything else.
"Okay. We'll start first thing tomorrow." Jeremie decides.
I hear a knock at my door and I just give out a tired moan. It's not even two am yet. What now? I get out of bed rubbing the sleep out of my eyes and failing. I open the door and see Ulrich, Odd and Jeremie standing there somewhat shocked. I remember that I'm not wearing an actual top but just my bra and PJ shorts. I grab a top from the desk and put it off so they can stop staring at me like that. Boys...
"I wasn't expecting visitors. This had better be important." I respond with a snap.
"Xana attack." Jeremie tells me.
"That's all I need to know. Lead the way." I sigh reluctantly.
We head outside seeing those bulldozers are moving on their own. Xana isn't wasting any effort this time. This could end badly with those machines.
"He's picked a real winner this time. He's attacking us with bulldozers. Nice job, Xana, how subtle can you get?" Odd says.
"Jeremie, you and Domino head to factory and help Aelita. Odd and I will try stop these horrible things." Ulrich replies.
Jeremie lets Yumi know about the ongoing crisis through the use of his phone but judging from what the time is, she must be just as tired as the rest of us. Jeremie and I are already at the factory and I head down to the scanner room feeling some form of dread.
"Don't worry, Aelita. Odd and Domino are on their way and let's hope that Yumi and Ulrich are as well." Jeremie says.
"Ulrich? He's on the bulldozers trying to figure out what Xana's up to." Odd replies.
Although I'm not actually in the computer lab, I can tell that Jeremie has brought up communication with Ulrich. If Xana isn't interested in the school then there's only one place.
"Bad news, Jeremie. I'm on the riverbank and I'm afraid Xana's target is the factory." Ulrich confirms.
"That's gotta be it! If Xana manages to destroy the factory, we an say goodbye to our equipment. No more computer means no more comunimcation with Aelita." Jeremie realises.
"Don't forget about the scans. Without them no more transfers to Lyoko. That's total victory for Xana." Odd adds.
Odd heads down and meets me in the scanner room and we both head into our own scanners. My heart beats faster and that dread grows more but it could be partly because of the destruction happening while I'm out of comission in a reality sense. It would be naive of me to think it isn't because of the last attack still haunting me but if I stay out of it, Xana would be winning.
The forest sector seems to be empty right now but I never know what to expect with Xana. It seems quiet but there's bound to be surprises as we go on.
"Oh, hello. You two are looking stressed." Aelita says coming out from behind a tree.
"We just don't know what to expect when we get here." Odd dismisses.
"Come with me. The activated tower is this way."
We move further ahead to a crossroads. We need to move forward but two Kankeralats are blocking the way. It's suprisingly minimal for Xana. There are two of us capable of fighting monsters so it seems bare to me.
"Talk about a receptioning commitee." Odd says sarcastically.
"Kankeralats normally move in groups of five." Aelita reminds.
Aelita is right as three more Kankeralats come with one each blocking a road. It's an ambush! I manifest two daggers, one for each hand. This could be tough. It's easier than dealing with a Krab or a squadron of Blocks so I can't complain.
"Wow looks like the commitee is at full strength." Odd sighs. "Hello, Kankeralats so which one of you wants to be first?"
I have to deal with the ones blocking the side paths while Odd has to manage with the ones blocking the path heading backwards and forwards. He has the harder side of things with three while I have two to deal with. I throw one dagger at the Kankeralat but it misses by quite a bit. My aim isn't always perfect but isn't that off either. A laser is fired at me hitting me in the arm and I throw the spare dagger hitting it not on target but damaging it.
"Domino, you have to stay on-target." Jeremie pushes.
"Not easy, Jeremie." I sigh.
A small dagger manifests in my right hand and I throw it this time dead on target. This poor aim can't be a good sign for my mindframe. I shake my head wanting this psychological problem to go but it's still there. It's going to cost me if I'm not careful.
"Odd, you're supposed to be protecting Aelita." Jeremie moans.
"Wanna trade places then, Einstein?" Odd responds.
There are three Kankeralats left here but we decide to keep on moving forward with Aelita but with those monsters in tow.
"Odd, Domino find a way to slow down. You're way ahead from Yumi." Jeremie says.
"Take care of the tower! We'll take care of the Kankeralats!" Odd replies.
Aelita runs ahead and the both of us stand behind different trees taking cover from the fire. Let's see, I have twenty life-points now so I can't afford another hit by a monster. I still have one more dagger in my hand so if I can manage to succeed with one hit, I can get rid of one of them. I sigh hoping this problem doesn't cost me this time. I throw the dagger at the Kankeralat missing but the Kankeralat doesn't fail to hit me.
I open my eyes and see that I have been sent back to Earth. I let out a frustrated breath knowing that my own mind has just cost me. I go up to the computer lab knowing that there is nothing else I can do now. The bulldozers are getting closer. Debris is starting to fall everywhere.
"I don't mean to rush you but if the scans are destroyed, you're on a one-way trip, Yumi." Jeremie pressures.
"No problem, I'll hurry. I wouldn't mind a little nap before class." Yumi agrees.
"Jeremie, it isn't the scans she has to worry about. I just had a vision, I saw Yumi falling into the digital void." Odd says.
"Virtualised forever? Hey, Yumi..."
"I heard him." Yumi confirms.
We won't be able to change the vision with only her being there or at least try to. She can know that and it can still happen anyway.
"I'll go and help her." Ulrich decides.
Ulrich who had a tough time with those bulldozers isn't in the best of shape to do anything on Lyoko. It doesn't seem like the best idea but it is the only one we have. I have to respect Ulrich for wanting to do it but I'm not surprised given that he likes Yumi just as much as Jeremie likes Aelita and would do anything for her...almost.
"Come on, Ulrich. The shape you're in, it'd be crazy." Jeremie reasons.
"Odd, help me." Ulrich says.
Odd helps him down to the scanner room but my attention is more focused on Aelita. She's nearly at the tower now. It's just a few feet away. There's a Mega-tank blocking Aelita's path to the tower.
"Give me a visual." Jeremie instructs.
The visual shows this massive hole leading straight to the digital sea/void. It's not the safest area for a fight.
"That's it! That's exactly where I saw Yumi fall." Odd recognises.
Ulrich has been virtualised and he should get there soon to help Yumi. Aelita is moving forward to the tower and she takes cover using those trees to avoid the Mega-Tank's attack but when she starts going down the path leading to the tower, another attack is charged and fired at her. The whole virtual world seems to slow down for me as Yumi knocks the Mega-Tank into the digital void stopping the attack from hitting Aelita but leaves Yumi hanging on the edge of the platform.
"Jeremie, I can't hold on anymore." Yumi says.
"Aelita's inside the tower now. Hang on, Yumi." Jeremie encourages.
Ulrich is seconds away but by the time he gets there, Yumi's grip is gone and she falls into the abyss as we all look on completely horrified and shocked. Jeremie launches a return to the past when the tower is deactivated but there is still something tragically missing.
"I never thought it was possible...for one of us to become..." Jeremie says still in shock.
For all I've seen, I never thought I would see something like that. It can't end like this. I just feel like what happened is my fault
"It's all my fault. If I had been faster, she would still be here." Ulrich says.
"No, it isn't." I disagree.
"But there is a solution and Jeremie knows what it is." Aelita replies.
"The materialisation program. It's operational but Aelita has to give up her place to Yumi." Jeremie explains.
It isn't fair for Jeremie considering that Aelita can finally be here if she is used for the program but the right thing would be that Yumi is instead. Life isn't fair in general but we can live past that.
"I can only materialise one person. One and only one." Jeremie sighs sadly.
"Then choose Yumi. She's part of your world already. It's okay, I can wait a little longer." Aelita decides.
"Okay, Aelita. First, I have to track down Yumi in the digital void." Jeremie says.
Ulrich, Odd and I wait down in the scanner room for Yumi's materialisation. The scanner door opens and Yumi is standing there but she collapses with Odd and Ulrich catching her. It is a relief to see her back in reality again though. At least all of us are still fighting against Xana.
"Welcome home." Odd says.
I sigh deeply thinking that maybe if I didn't have my own problems getting in the way maybe I would have been able to stop her falling into the digital sea in the first place and Aelita would be standing there. It sounds like I'm being harsh on myself but it feels true to me. Next time, it could be me that ends up in this situation and I wouldn't have anything saving me from being on Lyoko forever and being there for five years felt like a lifetime.
Jeremie is still despondant about not being able to bring Aelita to Earth but the good thing that has come out of this attack is that Aelita can be brought here rather than it just being a theory. We all start making our way back to the academy with this attack now being dealt with.
"When I said that I had to tackle with my own problems myself, I meant it." I start.
"Yeah, so?" Ulrich says.
"I guess this last attack showed me that I can't at least not on my own." I admit.
It feels like a weakness to be admitting that I'm not without fault but I think that Xana's way of thinking over the years has affected my own and I want to avoid that more than anything. But still, anything that affects me in any form should be dealt with before it gets worse.
"You know what I'm asking." I sigh.
"Sure, we'll help you. It wasn't that hard, was it?" Odd answers.
Maybe not...