Jeremy sat at his desk, brow furrowed as he stared at his computer screen.
"Anything?" Aelita asked. The blonde mumbled something under his breath. "I'm sorry?" Aelita asked.
"I'm working on it," he mumbled. "In the mean time, I've been fixing the program we used for the fake William."
"So you're going to virtualize Ulrich and Yumi programs?" Aelita asked. Jeremy nodded.
"That way we don't have people on our tail again. These two will be better. They'll be able to socially function normally, and I've inputted parts of Ulrich and Yumi's personality." Jeremy added.
"So they'll both be hot-headed and stubborn?" Aelita asked, giggling slightly. Jeremy smiled, too.
"But getting them back…oh, what was I thinking? I can't just by them plane tickets. They'll need passports and they'd have to ditch their weapons, and what American security officer would let people in costume like THEM onto an international flight?" Jeremy knotted his fingers into his hair. "I should have been much more critical with the program. Not just launch our friends into it as soon as I created it. I should have made sure it was safe!" he yelled. Aelita put her hands on his shoulders.
"So, it wasn't XANA?"
"No," Jeremy muttered. "This was my fault. And since I can't get them back via plane…" Jeremy began.
"You have to find a way to devirtualize them." Aelita finished. Jeremy nodded grimly.
"Let's hope your father will help us out, somehow." Jeremy whispered, standing. "Come on, we have to get to the factory and bring in the alternates." He said stiffly, walking out the door.
The scanners opened, and Odd, Aelita, and Jeremy all stared anxiously as the steam dispersed, revealing copies of the two missing warriors.
"Ulrich? Yumi?" Odd whispered.
"No…we are programs, Odd, you know that," Yumi said impatiently.
"And if ANYONE asks…you're the real deal." Odd snapped back. The Ulrich stepped forward quickly and threw an arm around the shorter boy, patting his chest.
"Yeah, Odd. We're best friends. Class! We must go to class! Don't want to disappoint Mrs. Hertz!" Ulrich said, striding quickly to the elevator, Odd in his wake. Yumi followed the two, and Jeremy and Aelita exchanged glances.
"So the program isn't perfect. But it's better than William's and certainly better than nothing," Jeremy said defensively, as he followed the other three into the elevator.
"ULLLLLRICH! YOO-HOO! ULRICH!" A high-pitched voice called. The clone turned his head in the direction of the voice as Sissy ran towards him.
"Oh. Sissy, hello." He said flatly.
"Oh Ulrich, you just HAVE to see this new bathing suit I have, it's very…very! Come on!" she grabbed his arm and drug him away. The Yumi clone clenched her fists and watched angrily.
"Well, the Ulrich clone seems a little off, but Yumi is spot on." Odd muttered, staring after the couple.