Woods near Kadic Academy
Bolougne-Billancourt, France
December 26th, 1986
After driving from Switzerland for over a day, Franz Hopper, as he was now called, and his daughter Aelita had arrived at their destination: A small house built right in the middle of the woods.
"Well, here we are." Franz said. "This is our new home."
Aelita then ran up to the gate and looked at the inscription on the plate. The plate said only one word:
HERMITAGE.
"Hermitage?" Aelita asked.
"Yes. I had it built here long ago; everything is all set up for us." Franz said. "Come on. Let's take a look." The two then went inside and got themselves aquainted.
A day later, Franz began looking for work. He started at the nearby school of Kadic Academy. He went inside the main office where two men, an old bearded one, and a much younger one with a heavy build and a bandage on his face.
"Can I help you?" The older man said.
"I'm looking for a job around here." Franz said. "Can you provide me with something?"
"I'm Jean-Pierre Delmas, principal of Kadic Academy." He said. "We do have one opening as a matter of fact: We're looking for a new science teacher."
"That's perfect." Franz said. "Science was always my favorite subject."
"Good." Mr. Delmas said. "By the way, I didn't get your name."
"My name is Franz Hopper." He said.
"Very well, Mr. Hopper, I'll show you to your room now." Mr. Delmas said. "If you have any other questions, report to me or my senior advisor Jim Morales, who is standing next to me."
The two then led Franz into one of the classrooms where they saw a young woman with thick glasses and a ponytail cleaning up the tables.
"Who's that?" Franz asked.
"That's Suzanne Hertz." Mr. Delmas said. "She'll be your assistant. I'll just leave you now." As Mr. Delmas left, Jim turned to Franz.
"Don't you try anything funny." Jim said. "I've been over Suzanne since she started teaching here, and I won't have her falling for you."
"I assure you, I have no intentions of being anything other than her partner." Franz said.
"Right." Jim said as he left. Franz then walked up to Suzanne.
"Excuse me." He said.
"Can I help you?" She asked.
"I'm Franz Hopper, I'll be teaching beside you in this class." He said.
"Oh, well pleasure to meet you Mr. Hopper." She said.
"Same here. Here, let me help you clean up." Franz said. They did just that.
Over the next few years, Franz Hopper became one of the greatest and most intellectual teachers that Kadic has had. However, he had his own secrets.
A year after he started teaching at Kadic, he discovered an abandoned factory near the Seine River. Franz went inside the factory and looked around. After going through every floor, he made his decision: To build one last supercomputer. One to hide himself in before his enemies could track him down. He had only made it halfway through until one faithful day.
June 6th, 1994
Franz was preparing for his first class of the day when he was approached by Suzanne.
"Excuse me, Mr. Hopper." She said.
"Please, call me Franz." He said.
"I was just wondering if you're doing anything today after school."
"A few things. Why?" Franz asked.
"Well, I was wondering if you'd like to go to Normandy with me for the D-Day celebration." She said. "There will be fireworks and everything."
"Let's see." Franz said. "Yeah, I think I can fit some time. What time should we leave?"
"Well, I can get plane tickets for 5:00. How does that sound?" She asked.
"Five is just fine." Franz said.
"Good, I'll see you then." Suzanne said.
"See you." Franz said.
A couple hours before five, Franz Hopper went home to get ready for the trip. He was about to go inside until he saw a young man come by.
"Excuse me." The man said. He had black hair and was dressed in a business suit. Holding his hand was a small boy approximately 2-3 years old.
"Yes?"
"I was just saying that you look familiar." The man said. "My name is Johannes Stern. That name ring a bell?"
"Well, yes." He said. "It's me, Waldo Schaeffer."
"That's right." Johannes said. "Anthony's brother."
"Why don't you come inside and we'll talk some more." Franz said as he led the two inside.
"So what brings you here?" Franz asked.
"I'm just here on a business trip." Johannes said. "And I thought I'd take my son here to see the sights."
"And is this him?" Franz asked pointing towards the child.
"Yes. His name is Ulrich." He said. "Ulrich, this is your daddy's friend, Waldo." Ulrich just gave a small wave.
"Don't be too offended, he's just a bit shy." Johannes said to Franz.
"You know, there's a nice school not to far from here." Franz said. "Maybe your son could go there."
"I'll give it some thought." Johannes said. "I already have plans to branch out my steel mill in France, so moving here is a possibility."
"Okay." Franz said. "You want anything to drink?"
"Just water, thank you." Johannes said as Franz headed into the kitchen.
"Aelita?" Franz said to his daughter who was reading a book on the couch. "Why don't you talk to Johannes a bit while I'm in the kitchen."
"Yes, Dad." Aelita said as he walked up to the two.
"So how long have you known my father?" She asked.
"Oh about 25 years maybe." Johannes said. Aelita then got close to Ulrich.
"And who's this little guy?" She asked.
"That's Ulrich, my son." He said. Ulrich then ran over to Aelita and hugged her leg.
"Aww. He likes me." She said.
"I'm surprised." Johannes said. "He normally doesn't warm up to strangers so quickly."
Meanwhile, Franz was in the kitchen getting Johannes a glass of water. He immediately glanced over at the window and couldn't believe what he saw: Two men in suits were waiting by his house.
"They've found me." Franz said as he ran out the back door. He then went down a nearby entrance that led to the sewers. He kept running until he reached the factory, and then he took the elevator down until he came across his laboratory. He then began typing frantically.
"There must be something to help me." Franz said. "Something to keep them from destroying my progress."
As he searched through his computer, he found a message with a series of code. Attached to the code was a message:
Hopefully this buys you all the time you need
Warm Regards,
Anthony Schaeffer.
Franz then added the code to the computer and began typing a series of commands. Just then, a bright light came from the supercomputer and covered the entire lab.
The next thing Franz knew, he was back at the school when Suzanne came in.
"Excuse me, Mr. Hopper." She said.
"I told you, call me... Wait a minute." Franz said.
"I was just..."
"You wanted to ask me if I can come to Normandy with you for the D-Day celebration, right?" Franz asked.
"Yeah, how did you know?" She said.
"Just a guess." Franz said. "I'm going to go home and prepare now." With that, he left and headed home.
"That program must have taken me back in time." Franz said to himself. "Now I can continue my work."
He then headed back to the factory and began adding doing more to the supercomputer. Everytime his enemies came close, he would activate the Return to the Past, as he called it, and go back a day.
After 2546 uses of the program, Franz finally managed to finish Lyoko, as it was called. He then went home and began playing on the piano, waiting for his daughter to get back to tell her his plan.
Aelita then came home after riding her bicycle. She then went to her father, who was still on the piano.
"Daddy." She said. "I'm going to my room now." A short time later, he heard voices from outside the house.
"Alright, come out of there!" Franz then ran to his daughter's room.
"Daddy." Aelita said as her father came up. "Daddy, the Men in Black are here."
"I know. You remember where Mister Puck is?"
"Yes."
"Come with me." Franz said. The two went down the stairs and out the door and went down the secret entrance just before the Men in Black could find them. After traveling through the sewers, they then arrived at the lab at the factory.
"Where are we?" Aelita asked.
"In my laboratory." Franz said. "Let's go."
"Where?" Aelita asked.
"To a world where we can be safe." Franz said. "You and I, forever."
They then headed to a large room with three cylinder shaped chambers. Aelita and Franz Hopper each entered one.
"See you in a minute, honey." Franz said as the doors closed.
"See you in a minute, Daddy." Aelita said.
You know the rest...
Phew. Last chapter. Now to focus on my next story, 100 Days in the Lives of Calvin and Friends.
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