Chapter 8
Angels and Demons
"Are you absolutely sure you saw her?" Jeremy asked as he stopped by the vending machine to buy a bottle of milk while they were on their way to the cafeteria.
"I think I would remember my own mother, Jeremy. And yes, I did see her," Aelita replied as she leaned next to the vending machine. "I was having the same nightmare I've had for two nights now, and she just sort of appeared out of nowhere. The whole dream stopped, and it was just me and her. I know this might sound weird, but I felt her presence like the time my father saved me from falling into the digital sea. I felt like I was safe, like I was home with my family."
Jeremy got his milk from the machine and opened it. He looked at it for a while and finally choose the words he had been deciding on for a while.
"You know, I don't want to say it, I really don't. But it could be just a dream. The nightmare is what I'm more worried about."
"I told you Jeremy, I'm fine." Aelita said as she started walking towards the cafeteria.
"No Aelita, you're not. You've been falling asleep in class ever since this started. You practically look like you haven't slept in days."
"Oh, you worry to much." Aelita replied over her shoulder.
"So, anything else happen in this dream of yours?" Jeremy asked.
Aelita paused as she remembered that there was something else. She remembered seeing her mother holding something in her hand. Almost like she wanted Aelita to see it. Aelita started to remember small bits and pieces of what she saw.
"Well... there was this... thing."
Jeremy stopped drinking from his milk and turned to face the pink haired girl.
"What thing?"
"It was about this big." Aelita held out her hands a basketball's width apart. "It floated, and it glowed. It changed colors, and I think it was made of diamond or some kind of crystal like mineral. I'll have to draw what it looked like," Aelita said as she watched Jeremy take another drink.
"Have you ever seen it before?" Jeremy asked.
"No, but it did look familiar."
They neared the cafeteria as he asked her another question. "What do you mean?"
Before Aelita could reply they were both startled by William shouting their names as he ran towards them.
William was carrying his math books with him as he finally caught up to them and paused to catch his breath.
"Hi William. What's up?" Aelita asked as she noticed William finally caught his breath.
"Oh, that's right. I never thanked you for the arm." Jeremy replied as he figured that William was checking on Jeremy since he hadn't seen him after the cafeteria explosion.
"Naw man, its the least I could do after all you guys have done for me." William said as he stood up straight.
William was originally supposed to be a new member of the gang, since at the time, Xana was winning way to much. But when he was brought to Lyoko, Xana took control of him and forced him to fight his friends. After a few months, they managed to save him, only for Xana to take control of him again. It was on that day that Aelita's father sacrificed himself to kill Xana. A few weeks afterwards, when Aelita was starting to come out of her emotional slump, William apologized for what happened, believing that he was responsible. Naturally Aelita forgave him, and ever since then, William has done whatever he could for Aelita as a friend. Eventually Jeremy started to mingle with William more and soon after gained a pretty good friendship with their former enemy. Odd even started to accept the guy until Yumi and Ulrich vouched their reasons against William.
So in order not to cause any problems in the group, William decided to stay far away from the now dating couple as much as possible, and hang with Jeremy and Aelita whenever Yumi or Ulrich weren't around.
"Listen, I do have a question to ask you though. Last night around midnight my cell phone got this weird call, and I didn't know if maybe you knew about it too."
"What did it sound like?" Jeremy asked.
"It sounded like a vacuum catching fire or some kind of grinding noise."
Jeremy's eyes got wide. They weren't the only ones who got that call. But who else could have received it as well? This was too weird for it to be a coincidence.
"Did you here anything else on the call?" Aelita asked
"Just some kinda chirping and squealing noises, kinda like a computer or old piece of machinery."
William pulled out his cell phone and showed the displayed number on it. Williams phone had the very number Odd's phone deleted before he could get the number copied down. This was great, maybe now Jeremy could figure out what it was.
"William, do you mind if I copy that down so I can check it?" Jeremy asked as he held his hand out.
"Yeah, sure you can. But does that mean you know about it?" William asked as he hesitantly handed Jeremy his IPhone.
"Yeah, we got it a few nights ago after the cafeteria fiasco." Aelita responded as she looked over Jeremy's shoulder to see what the number was.
"0-002-0004. I think Odd's was different than this one" Jeremy replied as he stared at the number for a second. "But why would William's have the number and Odd's wouldn't?"
"Because I put it on hold till I could find you. I tried to find you last night but King Jimbo was on the loose so I waited till today. But if you take the call off hold now, then we might lose it."
"I should take this to m-"
Aelita grabbed Jeremy's arm and interrupted the scientist. "We!! Are going to get some breakfast, and then you can go play Hero later." Aelita gave Jeremy a firm yet familiar smile as she interrupted the guy's conversation. "Care to join us William?"
William looked at Aelita for a minute. It became pretty clear to William that Aelita finally had Jeremy out of his room for the first time in 3 years since he found her. And it was obvious that she wasn't going to give him up without a fight.
"Actually I probably shouldn't, Yumi and Ulrich might be in there. I think I'll just get a drink from the fountain and work on my homework a little."
"I'll give you your phone back later this afternoon. And don't worry, I'll take good care of it."
William turned around as Aelita and Jeremy walked into the cafeteria.
Odd slowly approached Tanell's table. She was sitting down eating breakfast and text messaging someone. She hadn't noticed Odd slowly making his way towards the table, chewing on what he should say and how he should say it.
"Hey, remember me? I was the smart one." Odd whispered as he rubbed the back of his head and stared at his shoes. "No, that wont work. Ohh. Hey good looking whats cooking? No, wait. Is heaven missing an angel. No, I've used that too much."
Odd looked back at the table to see Yumi and Ulrich just sitting and talking about random stuff, so there was no support from them. And Jeremy and Aelita had just walked in and were standing in line. They had not yet noticed him, so he was flying solo again. There was no support from his friends or anyone.
"OK... here we go."
Odd walked over to Tanell who finally noticed him and put her phone away. She looked the young kid over. She noticed the purple sweatshirt, the strange anime-style hair, and the weird smell. What was that smell?
"Uhh hey, remember me?" Odd stuttered as he brandished a small smile.
"Yeah I remember you. Bob was it?"
"No, it was Odd, remember? The smart one who let you cut in line." Odd replied as he put his hands in his pockets.
"Oh yeah, that guy. What do you need?" Tanell replied in a happy tone.
"Well I was wondering. That new zombie movie is opening this Friday. Would you like to go see it with me?"
Tanell slowly put her fork down and looked up at Odd. "Sorry there bud but no thanks. I know what you're going for and I'm not interested. Besides, I only go out with cute guys anyways."
Odd suddenly looked at Tanell. What did she mean? She said that he was cute. And that he was smart as well. Did all of that suddenly fly out the window?
"But wait. I thought you said I was cute?" Odd said in surprise.
"Well... so what?"
Odd started to get a little frustrated as he tried to comprehend what she had just said to him.
"Well why was it that when I let you cut in front of me last week, you said that I was on your list? I thought that maybe you were interested in me?"
"Oh, really? Well let me put it to you this way." Tanell started to stand up as she looked Odd square in his confused face. "People like you aren't cute. I wouldn't date you, or that weird looking, tree shaped hairdo if you were the last living organism on the face of the planet. There are much better looking people here anyways. Like that Stern kid. Now that's a possible candidate. And yet he is busy wasting his time with that freak of a Korean girl over there."
Odd suddenly stood in shock. The girl he had been thinking about the past few days, his would-be angel, was actually a two faced demon who was not only striking at him, but now his friends.
"She not Korean, she's Japanese. And sorry to burst your bubble, but Ulrich wouldn't date a two bit creep like you if your life depended on it." Odd fired back in a low tone.
"Oh, so the walking smudge can bite back. Oh please, I can have any man I want. Like my own little fan club standing right behind you."
Odd turned around to see Nicholas and Herb standing behind him. Both of them were giving him a foul and dirty look. Herb looked like he was going to punch Odd in the face any minute now.
"How dare you talk to Tanell like that, you worthless lowlife." Herb fired in retaliation as he stared at Odd in rage.
"Wait a minute. I thought you two were friends with Sissi. And I thought you had a crush on Sissi, Herb."
"Oh please. Sissi's nothing compared to Tanell." Herb replied with a look of death on his face. "She's an earthly angel. And you're just being a worthless lowlife. So back off Dellarobbia."
Odd stared down Herb as Nicolas walked to Odd's side. Odd knew that any minute these two would jump him for all the grief and hassle he gave them for the past few years.
"See, all I gotta do is snap my fingers and they can wipe the floor with you. What do you say, Cutie!" Tanell snickered as she stood up and folded her arms.
Ulrich walked over and stood between Odd and Herb, while Jeremy walked over and stood next to Nicolas. He wasn't sure how useful he could be, but he at least thought he could do a little good in the situation.
Yumi walked over and put her arm around Odd's neck and tried to lead him away. She had heard most of Tanell's remarks and was trying really hard to bite her lip.
"Come on Odd, walk it off." Yumi said as she led Odd towards the door.
"Yes Odd. Listen to miss Korea there and take a hike, go crawl under the dumpster you hide under, cockroach." Tanell replied as she put her hands on her hips.
"For your information, I'm not Korean, you half wit retard. I'm Japanese" Yumi snapped back as she stared back at the young girl.
"What's the difference then. You all live in a trashy part of the world anyways."
The joke was enough to make Herb and Nicolas laugh. By now one of the lunch room attendants were attempting to break up the argument. But with the crowd of people around the table, there wasn't enough room to get into the conversation. One of the ladies had motioned for Jim who was currently giving William a lecture on why it's important to be on time to class. Jim burst through the doors and yelled so loud that most of the people in the cafeteria were startled by his presence, but eventually they turned around to watch what was about to transpire.
Ulrich was so angered by Nicholas and Herb's laughter that he walked over to Nicolas and stood right in his face.
"Is there something funny about my girlfriend's ethnicity?" Ulrich growled as he stood ready to go to war with the sandy blond haired kid.
"Yeah there is. You're girlfriend's little homeland. I thought it was just a trashy little island. I guess I stand corrected since she is trash."
Ulrich pulled back his fist and aimed straight at Nicolas head. He attempted to throw his fist only to have it caught by some one. He turned around to see William standing there trying to hold him back.
"Sorry, Ulrich, but it's really not worth it. Especially with "Jug head" Jim standing over there looking at us." William said as he led Ulrich out of the cafeteria.
Ulrich glanced over to see Yumi and Odd walking toward the door as well, with Jeremy and Aelita following them out trying to hurry them out as fast as possible before any other comments were made that might offend someone.
"That's right Miss Fortune Cookie, Mr Hair Style. Keep walking, and know your place in this world you freaks. Even your two freaky friends who stayed out of it know their place." Tanell yelled as Jim took Herb and Nicolas to the far end of the cafeteria.
Aelita turned around and gave Tanell a foul look as she followed Ulrich and William out the door.
"MISS LEWIS. That is quite enough from you young lady!!" Jim growled as he led Herb and Nicolas out the door and to the principals office. "You're coming with me young lady."
As Tanell walked to the door she carried a feeling of triumph about her. She had put a group of complete nerds in their place. And her two cohorts had helped her succeed.
As Tanell walked to the door she was intercepted by Sissi who stood in her way with her arms folded in defiance. She had walked in and saw the whole thing, from Tanell's remarks to Ulrich almost thrashing her former friend.
"Not even Odd Dellarobbia deserves to be humiliated like that." Sissi murmured as she passed Tanell, bumping her in the shoulder.
Tanell instinctively grabbed her shoulder and leaned towards Sissi's ear.
"You know what they say. Birds of a feather flock together."
Tanell let go of Sissi's arm as she walked out of the door. Sissi stood there in anger. Ever since Tanell had arrived, she had relieved Sissi of Herb and Nicholas, stolen her role as diva of the school, and humiliated her on her clothes and status as principals daughter. She remembered every insult Tanell said that day.
"What? You had to have daddy run the school for you? Are you that scared of your own shadow?" Tanell had asked as she looked Sissi square in the eye.
It was the very day that Tanell had arrived. Sissi didn't even know how it started. All she knew was that one minute she's walking to her room, and the next minute Tanell had hunted her down and started to attack her.
"Why you disrespectful little brat!!" Sissi fired at Tanell. "When my father hears about this, you'll be kicked out so fast..."
"Ohh as if my dear." Tanell interrupted. "How will it go? Lets see something like."
Tanell got on her hands and knees as she tried to demonstrate how Sissi would talk to her father.
"Please daddy!! The cute girl won't leave me alone. And I can't find my pacifier, or my bottle. AND I THINK MY DIAPER NEEDS CHANGED!! WAAHHAHAH." Tanell joked as she started to stand up.
"You're just pathetic. You hide behind your father and think that you have it made. But you don't. People like you are just pathetic, and what's more is that I've seen what you were once. And now you think you can change? Why? Because Ulrich Stern might notice you?"
"Leave him out of this, I happen to be friends with Ulrich and his friends. And I also know he has a girlfriend." Sissi fired back.
"Oh please, daddy's girl. You think that by trying to change that he might notice you? That maybe he will ask you out? You are nothing more than old news. You are just like Madonna. You try to look nice and sexy, but you're really all old and crispy. Where I'm like J-Lo. I give the boys what they want. And then when I don't need them, I discard them like Ben Affleck."
Sissi's eyes started to water up as Herb and Nicholas watched the new girl put Sissi in her place.
"Aww. Is daddy's little angel gonna cry?"
"Shut up!! You're no different from me and you know it." Sissi said as she tried to cover up the fact that she really was crying. No one had ever talked to her like this.
"Oh. So there is a brain at work in there. And I thought you were all looks and no brains," Tanell said as she started to circle Sissi. "Don't make fun of Elisabeth Delmas. She might let her father know." She said teasingly. "I bet you use that for a crutch every chance you get. I bet you don't even have any friends."
"Yes I do. I have Herb and Nicholas."
"Oh please. They're a fine example of your disgrace. These two follow you around all the time, like small puppy dogs. And you never give them the time of day for anything. Why would they follow a shallow little thing like you when I can give them what they want. I can give them respect." Tanell said as she stared at the two boys.
"She's right Sissi." Herb finally said. "I have tried for years to tell you how I feel, and every time I do you hit me for it. Well I've had it. Any feelings I had for you were crushed time and time again." Herb finally spoke up.
Sissi stared at Herb as she realized that Tanell was right. "...Herb!!"
Herb walked over to Tanell's side and stood on her left. Before Sissi could say anything, Nicholas walked over to Tanell's right. He also obviously felt the same way as Herb.
"It's like I said Madonna, nothing but a selfish daddy's girl. Goodbye Madonna. I think its time for your nap anyway." Tanell said as she turned to walk down the hallway, Herb and Nicholas following.
Sissi stood in the hallway. She couldn't believe what had happened. Tanell was absolutely right. She was right about everything. Slowly Sissi entered her room and began to softly cry to her self...
Sissi slowly found her self back in the cafeteria staring out the window. She watched as Odd, Yumi, and Ulrich, were led to the dorms by the others. She thought in her head for a while and came to a conclusion.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
The bank was extremely quiet and calm. An armed guard stood at the entrance as the tellers filed paperwork left and right for money transactions. The three agents were led to the vault by the current bank manager. They walked past a second guard and into the vault area. Inside there were safety deposit boxes left and right. Some were currently occupied, while others were vacant.
"Here you go. Box 4231. Registered to Waldo Schaeffer," the manager said as he sat it down on a table in the middle of the room.
Travis walked over to the box and pulled the key out of his pocket. He placed it in the box and paused as he stared at the key.
"You two might want to step back a little." Travis warned as he looked over his shoulder
"Why? Why should we?" Jessica asked
"It could be booby trapped."
"Dude, just open the dang box!" George exclaimed
Travis turned the key as there was a clicking noise from the box. He slowly lifted the lid to view the contents of the box. Jessica and George gazed over his shoulder to see... nothing.
"What the hell?" George said in disbelief.
Travis shifted the box a little. A small CD slid down from the opposite side of the box. On it was the same symbol as the wall. Also on it was the initials F.H.
"What's F.H.?" Travis asked as he handed Jessica the CD.
"It was his alias, remember? He took his middle name and his wife's maiden name and created a whole new identity." George explained
"Why go to all the trouble to hide a CD? Can we even view it?" Travis asked
Jessica took the CD and looked at it. She noticed the label on the bottom next to the initials.
"Its a earlier version of a CDR, but it should work," she said as she gave it back to Travis.
"OK. We need to take this back to the hotel and figure out just what's on it. It could possibly even be the evidence we need for Mal-Tech." Travis announced.
"Actually, maybe I should hold on to it. After all, the CIA has been following this case for years." Jessica replied as she held out her hand.
"No way. This is our investigation. You can tag along and take notes." George argued.
"Look, we can both examine it back at the hotel. Jessica, you're not really in a hurry to get this, and besides. I believe you're assigned to assist us in any way shape or form." Travis explained as he walked out with the CD.
Jessica gave Travis a nasty face as she followed behind him. Those were not the regulations she was given on this assignment. She always did things by the book. And this was certainly not by the book
The three agents stepped outside and walked to George's car. They had left Jessica's car at the hotel and brought George's car over instead. The three got in the car and drove off into the intersection. None of them noticed that a black Mercedes was following them. Inside were two men wearing straight black suits.
"That's them alright. One CIA operative, and two FBI agents. And they have something with them." One of the agents said as he watched them carefully.
There were three of them. There were two up front and one in the back. The agents in the front were both young and short looking in stature. They were obviously new from wherever they were contracted from. Possibly ex marines, army, or even airforce. The agent in the back was a tall and slender man with curly blond hair. It was Thompson.
Thompson stuck a cigar in his mouth and lit it as he gave them instructions.
"The orders were to extract the journal, and kill the agents. No witnesses. Understand?"
The two agents nodded in agreement as the car followed the Mustang down the street. They followed them all the way to the hotel, unbeknown to the three agents attempting to hurry back in time to see what was on the disk.
The black Mercedes stopped at a corner near the hotel, and watched as the three agents pulled into their parking spot and entered the room. It was a small, one story hotel with a few empty rooms. There were signs that the hotel had seen better days. The paint was chipped and worn, the rooms were in mild condition. And yet they still remained in business.
The three agents sat in the car sweating as the thermometer read 86 degrees. They would wait a while. Study the surrounding environment and monitor all movement in the area.
Travis picked up his laptop and sat it on the computer desk. George, who was the computer expert of the team, sat down and opened the CD case. When he opened it he noticed something behind the cover of the case.
"Well would you look at this." George announced as he held up the photo.
It was a picture of Waldo and Antea, sitting on the couch with their daughter. She was dressed like a fairy while sitting on Waldo's lap. She was smiling in a way that only a innocent child could smile, holding a small bag, while her mother was dressed like a witch holding a pumpkin. Waldo held his daughter up high as they all smiled for the impending flash from the camera. The date on the photo was October 31st 1988.
"It makes me feel terrible inside that someone wanted, or still wants this family dead." Jessica said as she took the photo and placed it in the file that she had brought with her.
George placed the CD in the tray and closed it. Almost instantly a password screen came on. George let out a sigh of grief as he knew it would take a while to break it.
"Great, as if the old house and the bank wasn't enough. Now the files on the CD are password encrypted."
"What does that mean? If they're encrypted?" Travis asked
"It means that without a password, I can't view the files."
"Wait, try Waldo?" Jessica suggested
George typed in the name and came up incorrect.
"Try Antea."
George again typed in what Jessica suggested and came up with nothing.
Travis stared at the screen for a while and finally figured out the answer.
"Try... New Dawn."
George typed it in and to his amazement, it worked. The screen revealed a number of folders. There were five in all, and each were labeled 1-2-3-4-5 in the correct order.
"Try number 1." Jessica suggested.
George clicked it. A video file suddenly popped up on screen, revealing a man with gray hair and over sized glasses. He was sitting in a chair next to a desk in what appeared to be a living room of sorts. He stared at the camera for a while before he started in on what would possibly be his introduction.