Disclaimer: I do not own Code Lyoko or Matchbox Twenty. I do own Musa, Cascada, any new characters that are mentioned in this chapter, and the story's overall plot.
The Men in Black are Back
Dream…
She felt like she was weightless, floating. She tried to move but felt something around her wrist and ankles, holding her down. She moaned slightly as she opened her eyes, only to see things in a green tint.
"What's going on?" she thought to herself. She looked around realizing she was entrapped in a see through container, submerged in a thick green goop. Her hands and feet were encased in hi-tech cuffs and a breathing mask was providing her oxygen. She was completely nude, only having her long flowing hair to hide her virtue.
Men in white lab coats surrounded her, each with a clip board. They were all oblivious to the state of panic she was in, that, or they just didn't care. But her eyes weren't on the strange men surrounding her. Her eyes were on the one man she recognized; the man whom she had deemed father.
"Dad! HELP ME!" she tried to yell but the mask prevented her from speaking but the man knew what she was saying. She knew because she saw the look of regret on his face; the look of shame…and betrayal.
If it weren't for the strange goop she was in, tears would have been already spilling. She tried to wriggle free from the cuffs but they were stronger then her. Panic set in. She felt like she was suffocating. The only thing she saw before she lost her mind to sheer terror and fright was a crack beginning to run down the wall of her container, the men panicking, and crimson red…
A slumped form sat in the chair of the supercomputer, the computer that housed a virtual world known as Lyoko, created by a man with a dream. Curls of black and neon blue hair spilled onto the keyboard and over the side and limbs hung over the chair's arm.
A window flashed on the screen sending a bright green flashing light throughout the somewhat dim room. It was quiet, save for a few of the computer's soft beeps and the slumped figure's snore. That is, it was until…
Bbbbbrrrriiiinnnngggg!
The person let out a startled scream before they fell off the chair and onto the cold hard floor. "Kuso!" the person cursed from beneath their curtain of black and blue hair. Pale hands moved the long locks aside to reveal a girl with bright blue-green eyes.
Bbbbbrrrriiiinnngggg!
The girl reached inside her pocket pulling out a ringing cell phone. She opened it up, turning off the alarm clock she had set up earlier though she couldn't remember why she had set it to begin with. As she tried to figure out the reason for setting her alarm her mind wandered to the dream she had just had.
"That was really weird," she thought rubbing her wrist, trying to shake off the feeling of being cuffed. She sighed running a hand through her hair as she got up, returning to her seat. She stared at the screen. Download complete, it read as she took out a disk from the drive, putting it in a bag with about a couple dozen other disks.
She typed on the keyboard rapidly, far faster then someone should be able to type. "And delete," she murmured to herself as she pressed one final button. The 3-D holo-sphere in the center of the room seemed to flicker for a second before completely going off. The computer screen soon followed suit till it was only a black monitor. "Hope Jeremy doesn't kill me," she sighed to herself as she gathered her things making sure she had all the disks she had created.
The girl did one final scan of the room before heading towards the elevator. She stepped in, still trying to remember why she had set that damn alarm.
She had exited the factory where the supercomputer resided and half way into her dorm when she remembered why she had sat her alarm. "NO!" she yelled running into her room, putting down the bag and changing into some fresher clothes. "How could I forget?" She began running around the looking under her bed and her sleeping kitten for something when she heard a knock on the door. She ran over to it and opened it revealing a large man in a red sweater and sweats.
"Oh, Jim-sensei," the girl gasped. "I'm sorry! I can't really talk right now. I'm late and I can't find my notebook!"
"You mean this?" the P.E. teacher asked holding out a black notebook stuffed with loose sheets of paper.
"Yes!" the girl grinned taking the book and stuffing it into her bag. She was about to leave her room when her stomach rumbled. "Great," she thought, "I slept through breakfast."
She was surprised when she found a paper bag in her hands. She looked at the man who was trying to seem impassive before looking back at the bag from which she could smell something like a pastry inside it. She smiled as she skipped over to the man, standing on her tips toes to place a kiss on his cheek before running out of the room.
"Arigatou, Jim-sensei!" she yelled over her shoulder at the slightly embarrassed teacher.
"Man, Cas is going to kill me for being late when I promised I wouldn't," she thought stuffing the food into her mouth as she ran out of the gates of Kadic Academy.
CODE TWILIGHT
"She's late," a strawberry blonde sighed looking at the clock.
"She'll be here," a blonde hair boy wearing purple said.
"I don't doubt that she won't be here, Odd. I'm just saying that she's going to be late after I told her that she needed to be here on time," the girl yawned leaning back into the embrace of a shaggy hair boy next to her.
"Should we wait for her?" a pink hair girl asked.
"We're on a time limit guys," another blonde hair boy with glasses said.
"Jeremy's right," a brunette hair boy said.
"Let's just do one song while we wait for her," a Japanese girl offered.
"How does that sound Odd?" the shaggy hair boy asked.
"Fine," the purple loving boy sighed.
"You guys ready?" a white hair man said walking into the room followed by a dirty blonde hair man.
"Ready when you are, Chris," Odd said.
"Where's Musa?" the dirty blonde hair man asked.
"She's not here yet Mr. Della Robbia," the pink hair girl replied.
"Aelita," the man chuckled, "How many time do I have to tell you? Just call me Ken. Now let's get started on this C.D.!"
"What song are we going to do Odd?" the brunette hair boy asked.
"You know the one, Ulrich," the purple loving boy grinned.
"Odd, I can't sing," Ulrich said.
"Yeah right," the strawberry blonde girl scoffed. "We all know you have a great voice, Ulrich, and if you don't agree to do this I have my ways of making you," she grinned pointing to the Japanese girl who was grinning just as mischievous as he friend.
Ulrich sighed. He hated when they used Yumi as his kryptonite. He stood no chance. "Whatever, Cascada," he said getting his guitar ready. "You had to have a bossy manipulating girlfriend, didn't you, William?" The shaggy hair teen merely shrugged as he sat behind his drums.
"Ready, good buddy?" Odd asked.
"Do I have a choice?" the brunette asked, his gaze lingering on the black hair girl not too far away from him.
"Let's get started guys," Chris said from the sound booth with Jeremy, Ken, and a few other people.
Ulrich cleared his throat stepping forward to the microphone.
Hello
Hello
Hello
William began playing Ulrich soon joining in with Aelita, on piano, and Odd, on guitar quickly following.
I'm waking up at the start of the end of the world,
But its feeling just like every other morning before,
Now I wonder what my life is going to mean if it's gone.
"Damn!" Musa thought. "I'm so dead! Cascada is going to kill me with her lecture! Then I'll have to be brought back to life so Chris and Ken can lecture me. I knew I should have written a will!"
The cars are moving like a half a mile an hour if that
Started staring at the passengers waving goodbye
Can you tell me what was ever really special about me all this time?
Odd: But I believe the world is burning to the ground
Oh well I guess we're gonna find out
All: Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Odd: Well I, believe, it all, is coming to an end
Oh well, I guess, we're gonna pretend,
All: Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
The streets just had to be crowded today, didn't they? Did whatever power that control the world just love to mess with her or was she just that unlucky?
"Excuse me!" Musa yelled moving through the crowd of pedestrians that seemed to be moving extra slow today. "Excuse me! Sorry! Hey watch it buddy! I'm walking here!"
The wolf A.I. but her lip looking at her watch briefly. At the rate she was going, she would be lucky to make it to the studio by next year!
Ulrich: I think it turned ten o'clock but I don't really know
Then I can't remember caring for an hour or so
Started crying and I couldn't stop myself
I started running but there's nowhere to run to
I sat down on the street, took a look at myself
Said where you going man you know the world is headed for hell
Say your goodbyes if you've got someone you can say goodbye to
Odd glanced at the clock that was on the wall. "Where is she?" he wondered.
Odd: But I believe the world is burning to the ground
Oh well I guess we're gonna find out
All: Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Odd: Well I, believe, it all, is coming to an end
Oh well, I guess, we're gonna pretend,
All: Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
"Almost there," Musa murmured to herself as she sharply turned a corner.
Odd: It's gone gone baby it's all gone
There's no one on the corner and there's no one at home
Well, it was cool cool, it was just all cool
Now it's over for me and it's over for you
"You do remember what we talked about, right?" a short spiky hair brunette woman with blonde highlights asked from her seat next to an icecap white hair boy next to her. The woman wore a mixed between casual and business like outfit.
The boy's white hair was long in the front, part of his hair covering the left side of his face, eyes hidden behind glasses while his hair became short at the back. Headphones placed over his ears, blasting loudly as he tapped his fingers against the window's cold glass. One may have thought he hadn't even heard a word the young woman said but the boy nodded before pulling up the hood of his large black hoodie.
"Don't forget. Your career is not the only one on the line here. Mine is too," the woman said taking out a small make-up mirror checking her makeup.
"Whatever," the boy murmured.
"You're so damn enthusiastic," the girl muttered closing the mirror and stuffing it in her purse. "Ralph, step on it."
"Yes, ma'am," the chauffer nodded in the rear view mirror before returning his attention back on the road.
"You really should smile more. Maybe you would be able to find a girl then," the woman said turning to the boy once again.
He didn't answer.
"Or not."
Odd, William, and Ulrich: Well it's gone gone baby it's all gone
There's no one on the corner and there's no one at home
Caramel eyes scanned the crowded sidewalks as nervous hand twisted the napkin within her grip.
"Would you like anything else, mademoiselle?" the waiter asked. She shook her head, mocha color hair bouncing around cinnamon toned skin. The waiter left, the girl already been paid for.
Chipped nails tapped against the table nervously before they stopped and the girl got up, gathering her things. She walked the crowded streets, hands stuffed in her coat pockets, one containing a CD. She ran her fingers over the smooth plastic, remembering its smoothness, though she had already committed it to mind months ago. The girl blushed, deep in thought and she didn't notice that she was crossing the street, the traffic going against her.
Well, it was cool cool, it was just all cool
Now it's over for me and it's over for you
Musa was almost there. She could practically see the studio's sign. "Yes, almost there!" She was just about to run across the street, the green light telling her to go when she heard a horn honking. She turned, seeing a girl crossing the street; the no walking sign on as a black car came honking towards her, though not slowing down. The neon blue streaked hair girl gasped and before she realized what she was doing she had run across the street, faster than a human was supposed to go and pushed the girl and herself out of the way.
Odd and Ulrich: I believe the world is burning to the ground
Oh well, I guess, we're gonna find out
Let's see how far we've come (oh yeah)
Let's see how far we've come
Both girls let out a surprised squeak as they fell to the ground. Musa moaned, rolling off the girl. A small crowd had gathered around them to see if they were okay.
"Oh my!" a white hair man wearing a suit and chauffer hat came rushing over to them. "Are you okay? I didn't hit either of you did I? Oh! Ms. Sitara! I didn't notice it was you! Oh and you two child," the man said looking at Musa, "I'm so sorry!" the man blabbered.
"It's okay," Musa said waving him off. "Are you okay?" she asked the girl who was holding a broken CD in her hand. "Oh I'm so sorry!"
The girl shook her head, smiling to ease Musa's guilt though the wolf A.I. knew it was just a mask.
"May I see?" she asked holding her hand out. The girl hesitantly handed over the broken CD.
"Terran Yuki," Musa read. "Weird. Never heard of him." She shrugged handing the broken CD back before she glanced at her watch. "Kuso!" she yelled getting up and startling the man and girl. "Gomen, but I have to go!" she said taking off for the studio only a few feet away.
CODE TWILIGHT
The brunette hair woman stared from the back of the car, waiting as the chauffer made sure the girl he nearly ran over was okay while the other girl ran into a music studio.
"That girl is strange," she remarked watching as the neon blue streaked hair girl ran off.
"Is she okay?" the boy asked voice sounding bored as he faced ahead.
"Which one do you mean?" the woman grinned but once again, silence greeted her.
Odd and Ulrich: Now well I, believe, it all, is coming to an end
Oh well, I guess, we're gonna pretend,
Let's see how far we've come (oh yeah)
All: Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
"I'm here!" Musa cried running into the studio. Everyone looked up as the girl ran into the room. "Sorry I'm-" the girl was cut off when he foot caught on the rug, causing her to fall forward.
The girl waited for her body to meet the ground, but it didn't. She never met the floor and she realized that it was because someone had caught her. She looked up at her savior to see a young man, about late 20's with wheat colored hair and glasses, holding her.
"You should watch your step next time," the man reprimanded. The girl stared shocked. Was he ordering her around? She glared.
"I would prefer if you not talk as if I was a little child," she said holding back a growl.
"It's funny how you didn't dismiss the fact that you were still a child," the man chuckled.
Musa frowned, confused pondering his words but before she could come up with a comeback Ken had walked over.
"Musa, good to see you, though you need to work on your timing," Ken chuckled.
"I would have been here on time but I just save some poor girl's life by pushing her out of the way of a rushing car," Musa explained.
"Sure you did," Cascada said sarcastically, walking up to her sister.
"It's true! You can look out the window now and still see the crowd!" the girl exclaimed.
The wheat hair man walked over to the window and did just that. When he turned around he was frowning. "There's nothing out there except for the usual traffic."
"But-!"
"Cut it Musa," Cascada said walking away.
The younger girl pouted.
"You really are childish," the wheat hair man murmured.
"Who do you think you are, Bub?" Musa whirled around and asked him.
"Musa, this is Oswald Jefferson," Chris introduced, trying to stop a fight.
"Call me O.J.," the wheat hair man said.
"Are you sure about that?" Musa asked. A confused look crossed the man's face. "You know, O.J. Simpson, the ex-football player who's accused of killing his wife and is in court now for some other obscene reason." The man still didn't seem to understand. "I'll just call you Ozzy."
"If you must," Ozzy sighed.
"Anyway, Ozzy," Chris said, grinning at the look of distaste that the man showed when he used the nickname, "is your financial manager and also head of the sound crew."
"Interesting," Musa said already bored with this conversation. She walked away from the men, her sister following.
"Did you finish?" Cascada whispered.
"Yes," Musa nodded.
"I have all the files saved on disks safely hidden in my room."
"Good, but you still aren't off the hook," Cascada said walking by.
Musa sighed before she was embraced from behind. She knew instantly who it was as she felt soft kisses trail down her neck. "Odd," she blushed trying to wriggle free from his tickling kisses.
The boy pouted letting her go. "I missed you," he said.
"I missed you too," the girl giggled. "Sorry I was late."
Odd shrugged. "We got Ulrich to sing."
"And I missed it?" the girl gasped. "No fair!"
"Don't worry," the purple loving boy winked. "Jeremy, Will, and I hid a camera somewhere. It should have recorded everything. It'll look great for that video I'm making of the band."
"I'm sure," Musa smiled kissing him on the lips.
"Hey," Jeremy said coming up to them. "We're already behind schedule," he said looking at the wolf A.I.
"Whatever," the girl sighed. "If you guys don't believe me, then fine."
"I believe you, Musa," Odd said kissing the girl's cheek.
"Whipped," Ulrich coughed.
"What?" Odd growled.
"Stop fighting you two," Cascada said grabbing both boys' ears and pulling them over to their instruments despite their protest. "It's time to make music."
"Sometimes, onee-san scares me," Musa whispered to Aelita, Yumi, and William. They nodded in agreement.
"I heard that!" the plant A.I. shouted.
CODE TWILIGHT
"Ugh, who knew singing was so tiring?" Musa said from her position on William's back as the group made their way back to Kadic after hours of recording.
"Stop complaining," William grunted. "You're not as light as you think you are."
"Hey!" the girl said hitting him playfully.
"Well I can't wait for dinner," Odd grinned. "I'm starving!"
"When are you not?" Ulrich asked.
"Hey guys, do you mind stopping at the factory?" Jeremy asked not seeing the looks that Musa and Cascada exchanged.
"Sure," Aelita said.
"Fine," Yumi, William and Ulrich sighed.
"Only if you give me your desert," Odd grinned.
"Okay," Musa said getting off of William's back.
"But watch your backs," Cascada said ominously.
"Why?" Aelita asked worried.
"It's just a feeling; intuition," Musa said. "Don't make too much noise once we get there."
Though they weren't sure what was going on the other teens nodded, trusting the two girls. When they arrived at the factory they all began to wonder if Musa and Cascada were psychics when they saw the sight before them.
Not too far away, across the bridge that led to the abandon building where a caravan of black trucks with tinted windows. and the men walking back and forth from them, taking out what looked like large pieces of computer software, were all wearing black suits.
The men in black, the ones who had haunted Hopper, forcing him and his daughter to take refuge on Lyoko, were back…
Okay! For those of you who don't know the name of the song is called How Far we've Come by Matchbox Twenty. Love it. Hate it. I really don't give a care. As for why Ulrich was singing it, I just like putting my characters in embarassing situations. Oh well. Anyway, new characters are introduced. Some things are still left unclear but that's okay! Thanks for the review for last chapter!
Anyway, for some reason I keep laughing everytime I read the title for this chapter. Don't know why but, whatever...
Nothing more to say so...PLEASE REVIEW!