The Games of Moriarty

by Ragnarok777

Xana is gone. Victory has been achieved by the Lyoko Warriors. But a simple test to understand William's nightmares of Xana unveils a new enemy: Moriarty. This evil entity wishes to play a series of games that shake the Lyoko Warriors to the core.

2. Chapter 2

Part 16

Diary of Jeremie Belpois

9th grade student at Kadic Academy

Video entry # 430

During these first few months of fighting Moriarty, I have been hoping to find out what Moriarty is really up to. Now that I finally know, I can't help but wish I never found out. It is so stunningly simple, yet at the same time brilliant and terrifying. Taking control of the world's nuclear weapons and force every nation on Earth to surrender. The more I think about it, the more disturbing it gets. Why create an army of robots and start a world war that could drag on for years when you could take it all without a single shot fired? I don't understand why Xana never tried this. Maybe he wanted to do it the brutal way. Who knows?...

Anyway, now that I know everything, I realize I must double my efforts. If he had already started to get a hold on Pakistan, there's no telling how many nuclear countries have started to fall into his grip. If he could get his hands on India's weapons, or China's…I don't even want to think about him taking over the United States' nuclear arsenal. Thousands of weapons that could destroy the entire population many times over in the hands of a madman…..It'll be a miracle if I can manage to sleep tonight….

The only good thing that happened today was Ulrich and Yumi surviving…God…..has the situation gotten so absurd that we consider surviving Moriarty's attacks a blessing? I'm not sure. Anyway, they're lucky to be alive. We've had some close calls in the past….but this….I might have lost a few years of my life. They will be out of commission for a while. With just three of us at school, I am praying Moriarty doesn't strike. Moreover, now that Yumi's fear game of snakes is over, we are now left with Aelita, William, and me. I am well aware that he will eventually come to me….I am scared…..but I can't let my fear stop me now. Too much is at stake for me to let my personal worries compromise my work.

One thing is for sure. We cannot wait for Moriarty to make the first move. We need to attack. I need access to those spheres. My multi-agent system must be completed, and it must be completed faster than I originally thought was necessary…..I have no intention of seeing the Moriarty eye hanging over the Arc de Triomphe….

Video entry # 431

I was originally hoping to spend the second half of my Saturday making some major progress on the multi-agent system. Well, that didn't happen. Aelita wanted us to visit Yumi and Ulrich in the hospital. I tried to make her understand that I was going to lose valuable research time if she didn't let me stay at Kadic. You can imagine how well that worked…..

So we did pay them a visit. They seemed happy to see us. I couldn't relax though. Knowing that every second lost is a second we can't afford. Why can't they see how urgent the situation is? How can they talk and laugh so easily? Did I not explain everything to them? Well on the bright side the recent game has drawn Yumi and Ulrich closer together. I am glad. Strong relationships is exactly what we need in the group to resist Moriarty. Now if I could explain that to a certain pink-haired supposed girlfriend…..

Hopefully Sunday will give me ample time to make some good progress.

Video entry # 432

Well I was right about one thing. Sunday did give me plenty of time to work. What I didn't expect was to get absolutely nowhere during that time. Seriously, when I think about it, I think I went backwards. There are so many loose ends in this process. Some of it seems to defy logic. The digitized molecules of Moriarty's virtual being constantly shift and rearrange themselves. He's impossible to predict! He knows it. He knows full well what I am trying to do and is doing everything in his power to avoid it. Part of it is my lack of knowledge….there are so many binary and logarithmic sequences to go through and some of the stuff I am trying to do is purely theoretical. I have no idea if this will work in practice.

But he is also frustrating my every move. Just recently some of my research was 'lost'. I thought I had created a very strong firewall to stop him. I even backed up all the data. Apparently that didn't stop him at all….This is so frustrating! If he would just kindly die, our lives would be so much easier….I'll have to continue this work tomorrow. I'm so angry at myself there's no way I could get anything useful done right now.

Video entry # 433

I NEED more data. There's no way I can complete the attack codes of my program if I can't figure out the secret to Moriarty's fluctuating virtual structure. Of course, that requires another mission. And of course, that requires for all our group to be present. Which is, of course, impossible under these circumstances. Yumi is coming back from the hospital tomorrow, but I know she won't be in any condition to fight. Ulrich still has another week. A week! We can't afford to waste this amount of time. Every day lost gives Morairty more power.

I guess I'll just have to be patient. Part of me wants to send William and Aelita alone, but I know that's a recipe for disaster. I need all of them. Besides, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't want to risk it either, since both of them are scheduled for future games.

Video entry # 435

The doctor threw me another curveball today. He wants to keep Ulrich two more days to run some tests and make sure he is ok. Apparently his condition wasn't improving as fast as the doctors originally hoped. Oh, I know what this means! When they say two more days, they really mean another week! And to add insult to injury (no pun intended), the doctor says he will have to take it easy for at least another three weeks! WE CANNOT WAIT THAT LONG! Of course now that Yumi knows Ulrich needs more time to recover, she won't let me send him on missions anytime soon. But at this point, I really don't care what she has to say about that. Ulrich is strong and will have to go as soon as he gets back….. for the good of the mission. I'm not worried about convincing him to go, I'm concerned Yumi won't let me do it. After all, she nearly lost him during the last fear game. But things are too grave for me to respect Yumi's feelings and worries. She may hate me for it, but if I have to destroy a few friendships to defeat Moriarty, then so be it.

What's really maddening about this waiting period is that Moriarty is strangely quiet. The spheres are still there, only about six so far. Every day I monitor the Network, and nothing changes. No activated towers, nothing. Ordinarily I suppose I would treat this as a welcome reprieve. But I can't. Waiting for Moriarty to strike, not knowing what he is going to do, how far he is on hacking into nuclear weapons' programs…..it's worse than the actual attack. Part of me just wants him to go ahead and do something. At least then I wouldn't have to lose sleep wondering when he is going to attack! Every day he's quiet makes me dread his upcoming attack more and more. If he's taking this long to make a move, then it must mean he's planning something big. And every day that passes without an attack makes me think that the attack must be bigger than I thought it was the day before. I just wish he would go ahead and get it over with! If he wants to play a game with me, what's taking him so long? Let's just get it over with already! What are you waiting for Moriarty? An invitation?

…..Fine. If he wants to take his time, let him. That gives me more time to work on a way to kill him. Not to mention build up our strength at home. I'm praying that he waits until Ulrich gets back. We need him. Anyway….I guess I can do nothing except try to be patient….however difficult it is…I'm signing off now. I need to go to bed….

Oh, who am I kidding? I'm not going to be able to get any sleep tonight.

Video entry # 437

THAT'S IT! I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE! I need data now! I thought I could wait a little longer, but now my fears have been confirmed! Just today I have received reports from several media outlets that several Iranian nuclear scientists were found dead in their research facility in Tehran. The world seems to believe American and Israeli Special Operation Forces are responsible, but I know better. That facility is an extremely secure government compound. Sneaking in to kill those scientists would be nearly impossible. Besides, if another country did it, why are the Iranians being so quiet about it and trying to cover it up?...So, what does this mean? The Iranians themselves killed the scientists! And what does that mean? It means that the country already knows that there is something horribly wrong with its fledging nuclear program. They are trying to get rid of those they believe to be responsible. And what does that mean? It means Moriarty is already on the move in these other nuclear countries…..

I can't wait any longer! We need to move now! But Ulrich still isn't back yet and Yumi's still hurt! Sending William, Aelita, and an injured Yumi into the Network would do nothing but endanger them. I need my full strength to attack the spheres. I have to wait…BUT I CAN'T! This recovery period is taking too long! I…I…I have to do something to slow Moriarty down…..but I can't!

….Wait…there is….one thing. Something I found in Waldo Schaeffer's notes…No…no I could never do that. That should be used in the most dire emergency…Then again, the situation is….pretty dire…Oh God no! Have I lost my mind? I could never do something so outrageous…or could I?

Video entry # 438

My mind is made up. If I don't act now, Moriarty's plan might get so close to fulfillment that we will be unable to stop him. Enough. Desperate times call for desperate measures. I have to do it. If Moriarty wants a war, he's going to get one.

Video entry # 439

My new program will be up and running in the next few days. I have still have to work out some of the fine details, but I have already given a name for the program: Holmes. Yes….a bad joke I will admit, but Holmes is going to give Moriarty quite a headache. Holmes is not a multi-agent program. It is an eater program, a giant cybernetic macrophage that can attack Moriarty on the Network. It consumes every byte of data in its path. The only problem with the program is that since I don't have a lot of information on how to attack Moriarty specifically, the program will attack the entire Network, not just Moriarty. To put it in layman's terms, if Moriarty was a cancer, and the Network was a human body, Holmes would be a form of chemotherapy, which kills both the healthy and infected tissue. So unfortunately Holmes is going to cause some potentially serious problems here on Earth. A bug like this will only get bigger and bigger, wreaking havoc on the Internet and electrical systems. It's only a matter of time before humanity begins to realize that something is dreadfully wrong. They will be unable to trace it back to me, but it will cause some serious issues. I am sorry it had to come to this, but I had no choice. I have to wage a war of attrition against Moriarty on the Network in order to halt his progress. Needless to say, I cannot tell the others what I am doing. They wouldn't understand.

Besides, this is only a temporary measure. Once we get our strength back and begin to get the upper hand against him, I will shut Holmes down. If all goes according to plan, Earth will escape this with minimal damage. I didn't want to do this…..Moriarty forced me to do it. The others cannot understand, but maybe when all is said and done and Moriarty is defeated, they will understand that I did what I did to make the world safe.

Video entry # 444

We finally got Ulrich back, and I couldn't wait to go into the Network to go on the offensive. Yumi was predictably difficult about letting me send Ulrich, as I have already guessed. Aelita finally helped me convince her to let him go. But I think she still hasn't forgiven me, and probably won't for a long time….considering what happened. Having Moriarty trap Aelita and the others in a virtual simulation of Aelita's old cabin in the Alps and shutting down the scanners certainly did not help. I desperately tried to rectify the situation, but that bug in the scanners was particularly difficult. If it weren't for Aelita overcoming her fear of wolves to save the others, they all would have been toast. No doubt there are still hard feelings between us. It pains me, but going on the offensive and taking risks is the only way we can win this war. So I don't regret sending them on that mission. The danger of the sphere only proved to me that I was right to wait for us to regain our full strength before sending them back into the Network. With Moriarty able to distort the environment to his will, we can't afford to make any more disadvantages for ourselves.

On the way back to Lyoko the others saw Holmes in action. I wish they didn't, because of course they had to ask questions. I was able to convince them not to worry about it…..or at least to stop asking questions. I think William and Ulrich will forget about the incident and move on, but Yumi and Aelita are too smart not to get suspicious. Once Holmes starts to cause problems here, it's only a matter of time before one of them puts two and two together. I have to make sure that doesn't happen. I need more time and more data before I'm comfortable shutting Holmes down. But those two are about as stubborn as they are smart. It will be hard distracting them from the truth.

Speaking of Aelita…our relationship seems to have ended. She told me today that she wants to hold off until Odd returns back to us. Apparently she was tired of me putting that project off and wanted to give me some incentive to move it. I have to start working on getting him free now, no exceptions. How can someone so smart be so blind? Doesn't she see that I want him back too? But I have to put my personal feelings aside for the sake of humanity. The nuclear arms are a much greater threat, one that is growing every day. And as much as I hate saying it and would never dare say it in front of them, Odd can wait. He's not going anywhere. Once I level the playing field with Moriarty I will bring Odd back. But there are so many things that I need to work on first. Aelita wants him back and is using our relationship to do it. But I am not blind. She's done with me…Bringing Odd back won't change her mind. I have grown too distant for her liking. I would have liked…..to stay with her…..but I knew that my dedication to my work might eventually draw us apart….I….I honestly don't know what to think or feel right now….I'm lost…OH STOP IT! I CAN'T LOSE FOCUS ON THE MISSION! …..I shouldn't be filling my diary with all my personal problems.

Video entry # 447

The side-effects of Holmes have finally come to the surface. Planes in Canada today were grounded because of problems with air traffic control. Nothing too serious yet. No one in Kadic has noticed it. But I was looking for news like this, to see when Holmes would go to work. Now if only Yumi and Aelita could avoid watching the news for a couple of weeks, I might have more time….

But something doesn't make sense…..Holmes is attacking the Network but Moriarty does not seem to have gotten weaker. In fact, he is still growing in power! A dozen more spheres have appeared in the Network. Not only is this alarming…..it doesn't make sense. Why would Moriarty create more spheres than are nuclear countries in the world? Is he planning something else? Oh, I don't even want to think about that…..I can only hope that Holmes will eventually attack Moriarty. It's only a matter of time before the program reaches him. He can't hide in the Network forever.

Video entry # 448

I have figured out why Moriarty has created so many spheres. Our latest mission has solved that dilemma. The data from the command module was completely empty. They're decoys. Empty shells designed to hide the ones that really have ties to military servers. Why didn't I see it before? Now Moriarty has turned our mission into a complete gamble, guessing which ones just might have the connections we're looking for. And to add insult to injury, he keeps adding more spheres. Right now there are sixty of them! Just when I thought Moriarty couldn't get more despicable….

Just as with Xana's replicas, it's becoming increasingly clear that search and destroy missions aren't going to cut it with defeating Moriarty. At best, they might be able to delay him. But without the data I need, I can't afford to shut down Holmes. And if I keep Holmes running too long, he can do some serious damage. And with Moriarty adding more and more spheres every day, there's no telling when I will be able to get my hands on more data to construct my multi-agent program. I need to think of something….and fast. In the meantime, I think I localized the area where Moriarty created his six original spheres. Those spheres, more likely than not, may hold the connections we are looking for. If not…I think I might lose it.

Video entry # 450

Failure…We failed again. And to make things worse, Moriarty has added twenty more spheres to his growing collection….Words do not describe my….frustration. I've hit a brick wall on the multi-agent program. A brick wall that only be knocked down by more research and data from the spheres. A solution that is impossible with Moriarty frustrating our every move with his stupid shells!

Meanwhile the effects of Holmes are starting to become more prevalent. Blackouts are hitting major cities and people in France are having difficulty connecting to the Internet. My precious window of opportunity to give myself enough time to make progress on our ultimate victory is becoming smaller and smaller every day. It's only a matter of time before world leaders, arrogant and stupid though they may be, figure out that these recent issues are related. Yumi and Aelita are already starting to look at me funny. I don't think they know about the bug just yet, but they believe I am acting suspicious. Rats. I am apparently a terrible actor. And just to brighten up my day even more, Holmes is causing all of the consequences with none of the benefits. The program has hardly made a dent in Moriarty's power. I am going to have to increase the program's power to really make Moriarty sweat. But doing so would make the resulting problems on Earth impossible to ignore. I'm afraid to go that far…..

I may have finally narrowed down the right candidates among the dozens of spheres. The Skid encountered heavy resistance from Moriarty's Network monsters when it entered the vicinity of a particular sphere during our last mission. When the Skid retreated, the monsters stayed where they were, defending the sphere. That has to mean something. No way Moriarty would expend resources to defend a sphere that strongly if it was empty. We have a winner….At least I hope so…Please…..please LET THIS BE IT!

Video entry # 451

WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON MORIARTY I AM GOING TO KILL HIM! He's outsmarted me again! I should have realized that putting monsters around that sphere was just another way to draw my attention away from the real ones that must be unguarded. The Ocean sphere was completely empty. GOD WHY AM I SO STUPID? This situation is hopeless! And now he's added a whole THREE HUNDRED MORE SPHERES! I WANT TO PULL MY HAIR OUT I'M SO FRUSTRATED! WHY CAN'T I GET A BREAK?

I can't sleep….I can hardly eat. I must keep working. If I can't get any more data, I'm going to have to go on without it. Brick wall or no brick wall, there's too much at stake for me to stop now. I need to stop wasting my time with missions into the Network and try to find my own way. Gambling on finding the right sphere is not working. I have to do what I can from my computer…

Aelita tells me I should get some rest…..I know I need it…..but I simply can't stop now. Must press forward. Holmes is really starting to do some damage. I can't worry about that right now. Maybe now it finally start to weaken Moriarty. I so hope it does. No one outsmarts me and gets away with it…He'll rue the day he crossed me!

Video entry # 452

Last night…I might have…..overreacted. Panicking and losing control are not going to help me defeat Moriarty. So I decided to go over the data one more time. When I failed to find any connections to military servers, I started to get upset again. But then I realized that I had just been searching for data on nuclear arms. If I broadened my search of the supposedly 'empty data', I thought I might find something interesting. Maybe information on how to construct a viable multi-agent program. I didn't get any of that. But I did recover something that really peaked my interest. A program on human molecular structure modification.

At first I thought I was just entertaining a naïve hope, that I could give the others powers here on Earth. But when I took a better look at it, I found that not only does the program work, but I could also easily convert it to practical application via the scanners. Imagine the possibilities! Any of Moriarty's stupid games on Earth could easily be stopped if we have the ability to easily get out of them. Moriarty would think twice before messing with us. I can't wait to tell the others…..

Video entry # 453

…..The horror….There are things…..things in this world that no one is strong enough to face…..fears so dark and terrible that even the bravest run for their lives…things no one is strong enough to endure…and yet I….had….. to endure it….OH GOD THE HORROR! I CAN STILL HEAR THE LAUGHS, THE SCREAMS! I CAN STILL SEE MORIARTY'S BURNING EYES! BURNING! BURNING! BURNING! MY MIND IS ON FIRE! FAILURE!...I CAN'T LET THIS HAPPEN! ANYTHING IS BETTER THAT!... ...Someone…. anyone…..please….. take the pain away. I can't live with it another second….

It's over. Nothing can stop him now. I'm not strong enough. I have doomed…everyone.

Video entry # 454

Last night's…..episode… will never happen again. I let myself fall into despair. That was exactly what Moriarty wanted me to do. I fell right into his trap. A mistake I will never forgive myself for.

I may be low on information, but I still have two significant weapons in my arsenal. First is Holmes. If anything good came out of my game with Moriarty, it is that I am now more convinced than ever that I must go to any and every length to defeat him. That means I can't let my concerns for Holmes' consequences cloud my progress anymore. I must increase Holmes' power significantly…I want him to really feel the heat…I know him….I know what he's thinking….I don't have the guts….well guess what Moriarty….I do. Huh….you got that? That's right….you will regret underestimating me. You pushed me to this…and whatever happens to the Network is your own fault. That's right…yours…..mine…..yours mine yours mine yours mine….Haha! Funny words….

Where was I?...I got lost there for a second…..Oh yeah, the second one is the human modification program. The others have refused to be exposed to the program, and I wholeheartedly agree. I can't allow them to suffer the fate I saw in my nightmare. They need to be protected….they wouldn't be able to handle it. That's why I decided to introduce my own body to the program. I must carry this burden alone. Letting the others carry it with me would expose them to unspeakable harm. I know it's more than likely that it will do tremendous damage to me, but I am willing to make that sacrifice. I believe I have greater mental resistance that the others, and giving myself this kind of Pyrrhic advantage over Moriarty will give me enough time to destroy him. If I go with him, then so be it. I have to do it. I have to outlast the program. There's no other option.

…..I gave myself the ability to control electricity and connect with it. I can already begin to feel its effects. It's…it's…invigorating. I feel myself growing stronger by the minute…..yes….YES! The twilight of Moriarty has begun!

Video entry # 455

It hasn't even been 24 hours since my exposure and already it has exceeded my expectations. My mind is now processing information like a computer. My memory is now flawless, I can remember events with impeccable clarity. My neurons can intercept radio frequencies and connect with the school's electrical system. I caused a blackout for a few minutes….just to see if I could do it.

It's incredible. At this rate I will be able to connect myself mentally to the Network and track Moriarty's movements….without the need for a computer. I might even be able to attack him. My intelligence is increasing rapidly. Math problems that used to take me several minutes now take me less than ten seconds. And if I can do this on my first day….there's no telling what I'm capable of.

Video entry # 456

My powers began to dim today. I failed to realize that the effects of the program are only temporary. So I had to go back to the factory and expose myself to it again. No doubt I will have to continue to do this for quite a while. I have no idea what constant re-modifications will do to me. But the second time has given me even more power than before. Now instead of just being able to connect with the school's electrical system, I now have access to the every building within a five block radius of Kadic.

I have also increased Holmes' power. I overheard some of the students talking about problems between Iran and Israel…but I'm sure it's nothing. Holmes' damage is nothing too serious so far…..At least I hope so. But anything is better than the alternative. But Moriarty can't avoid that giant eater program forever. He will regret the day he ever dared to leave the safety of the Network.

Video entry # 457

Most human beings can only access 4% of their brains at one time. I can now access 15%, and the number grows everyday. Instead of just having connection to the five block radius, the entire neighborhood is under my command. I was able to make my consciousness travel all the way to Yumi's house and back through the city's power lines. This is only the beginning of what I am capable of…..

I have started to talk to the others less and less. I need more time with my research, it was only natural that this was going to happen. Aelita told me the other day that I need to focus less on my work and relax more….First of all, I don't even know why she bothered to tell me this. If she doesn't care about me anymore, why would she bother to tell me to take care of myself? Second of all, her suggestion was absolutely ridiculous. I doubt she realized how stupid it was. She wants me to stop when I'm so close to actually getting results? That's like telling an army that's on the verge of conquering a city and defeating its enemy to turn back and go home. Stopping this close to a major breakthrough would be nothing short of madness….But I hate the look in her eyes. Yumi's too. I can feel it. They know something's wrong. They always seem to be looking at me…How? How could they know? I've worked so hard to keep this under the radar. But they know. They know everything…..They're spying on me…Why are they doing this to me? Can't they see I'm doing this for their own good? Leave me alone….just….stop…looking at me!

Holmes is finally starting to take effect against Moriarty. Moriarty has been increasing the shielding on his spheres to prevent Holmes from destroying them. This precious expense of power on Moriarty's part has to be a crutch for him. If he is using a good portion of his energy defending his spheres, then his ability to attack us on Earth or defend himself on Lyoko has to be weakened…..If Moriarty is starting to sweat, that means the Network has to be at Holmes' mercy….To my understanding, the news has finally started to catch on. Some countries are blaming others for the 'mysterious bug'. HA! If they only knew the truth…

Video entry # 458

I am now in the Network. My consciousness is completely mobile. I can now see, with vivid detail, what the others have been seeing for so long during their expeditions in the Skid. So much data to find and places to explore. Pretty soon I won't need the others to plan trips to spheres. I will be able to do it all mentally. Moreover, I may be able to find which spheres are the right ones. I have to. I will. Even if I have to turn the entire Network upside down to do it.

I can see Holmes working. My creation has exceeded all my expectations. It is attacking the databases and network access points with insatiable hunger. It ravages an area and moves on to the next. There is no mercy. That is good. I don't want Moriarty to feel any mercy from me. My intelligence and power keep growing. My brain now works at 25% efficiency. Math and science problems can be completed without even putting a pencil to paper. Most of Paris is within my mind's reach. I can hear people on their cellphones talking. I can hear people listening to the radio in their cars. I can flow through their offices, their favorite restaurants….even their homes. So many people living their ordinary lives in this massive city….and all the while they have no idea that I am nearby….watching, listening, and growing in power.

Yes. I can now sense Moriarty's presence. He is nearby. Even as I am speaking right now I can feel him pulsing through the Network….His very being pollutes it! I can't wait to wipe out every trace of him.

Moriarty is not blind. He knows I am here too. And although he is difficult to understand, I can sense one clear emotion emanating from his dominion in the Network. And it isn't anger or smug confidence. It is fear…..And he has every reason to be afraid.

Video entry # 459

As Moriarty continues to lose power to defend himself against Holmes, I grow ever stronger. I still need to go to the scanners to replenish my power, but every time I perform the procedure, my power both increases and lasts longer than before. Since my consciousness now has full access to the Network, geographical limits are now nonexistent. My connections stretch all across the globe. My consciousness can travel almost anywhere on Earth within minutes. My mind now functions at 32% efficiency. But every time I get more powerful, my desire for more of that power increases. And just like Holmes, my desire is becoming….insatiable. But this was to be expected. If I can do this much with 32% efficiency, imagine what I could do at 50%! Or 60%! If Holmes can do this much damage to Moriarty now, imagine what I could do if I doubled or even tripled the power flowing to the program. More power. More knowledge. More data. I need it. MORE!

Now that I have gained a significant advantage in this fight, it is time for me to recognize the obvious. I know that I have become completely absorbed in this fight. Every ounce of my free time, and even a lot of my not so free time is dedicated to the eventual annihilation of Moriarty. The others believe I am obsessed. And maybe they're right. Maybe I am obsessed. But I have been telling myself that the rather…..extreme measures I have been taking have been for the good of humanity. I thought that every action I have taken has been selflessly motivated to extinguish a threat to the free world. But I know that is not entirely true.

I don't just want to defeat Moriarty. I want vengeance. Pure and simple. Putting me in that living hell of a simulation bubble was the worst thing I have ever experienced. Words cannot describe the complete humiliation, the absolute vulnerability, the utter feelings of hopelessness that Moriarty exposed from the darkest corners of my very soul. He used my greatest fear against me. He saw my weakness and exploited it without mercy. And once he had brought me to my knees, he laughed without the slightest trace of pity. He made me feel powerless and pathetic. He tried to frighten me into despair, letting me know that no matter what I do, eventually I will become his instrument of terror. And that…..I can never forgive. The initial feelings of shame have been replaced by an uncontrollable rage. I want to make him suffer the way I suffered. A simple multi-agent program ending him the snap of a finger isn't enough for me. I want his death to be slow, agonizing. I want to look him right into his dying red eyes and laugh in his face. I want to play my own game with him, letting him have a taste of his own medicine. I want him to beg for a mercy that he will never have…There is no pit deep enough….no fire hot enough in hell to satisfy my desire…..no…..my need….to see Moriarty suffer. I want the last laugh….I MUST HAVE IT!

Forget waiting for Odd…..I want to attack him NOW! My consciousness can not directly attack Moriarty on the Network yet, but I am confident that it is only a matter of time before I am able to do it. I am still keeping up the appearance with the others that Odd is foremost in my thoughts. But that has lost my attention a long time ago. If a way to free him suddenly comes up, I will of course do it. But Odd…has chosen his side. He betrayed the group and joined forces with Moriarty. And I do not take treachery lightly….If an opportunity arises where I can destroy Moriarty completely…..I'm not sure I will be able to resist the temptation.

Video entry # 460

…Given my experience with both Xana and Moriarty, I have come to expect the unexpected. I have learned to prepare myself for anything. To be ready to be attacked at any moment. I thought after so many years of fighting a multi-agent program and an insane virtual being that nothing could surprise me anymore. But I was wrong. There was one thing I did not….and could not prepare myself for. And that was to be betrayed by my own friends.

When William told me about the possibility of his memories of Xana possession possibly holding the key to defeating Moriarty, I couldn't resist. This was the moment I had been waiting for! A multi-agent program in the developing stages created by Xana himself to eliminate his long-time adversary. It was so perfect…almost too good to be true. To finally have a major breakthrough. I could hardly contain myself! I should have known that it wouldn't end the way I hoped.

Over these last few days, I have been asking myself some major questions. The most important being this: Is there anything not worth doing if it means the end of Moriarty? I have asked myself this question over and over again. And as my rage has grown, so has the list of unacceptable things become shorter and shorter. I hate him. I want him to die. And any fate for mankind is better than the future I have witnessed. That's why, when I discovered the truth that Xana was still alive in William's mind, I was able to adapt and do what I previously thought was nothing short of insane.

The plan would have worked perfectly. Xana would have destroyed Moriarty. If he didn't, he would at the very least brought Lyoko into endless war. Both of our opponents, having been put against each other by me, would wear each other out. If Xana turned out the victor, I would be able to enter the multi-agent program again and put an end to him for good. If not, the two weakened opponents would be powerless to stop me from accessing Xana's files and getting the information I need to construct a multi-agent program for Moriarty. Then both programs could be run at once, and our fight would be over. So easy, so brilliant…AND THEY PREVENTED ME FROM DOING IT! THEY TURNED MY OWN CREATION AGAINST ME AND FORMED AN ALLIANCE WITH OUR WORST ENEMY! THEY ACTUALLY HELPED HIM! TRAITORS! DON'T THEY KNOW WHAT HE IS CAPABLE OF?

But of course, according to them, I am the enemy. Never mind the fact that they gave Sector 5 over to Moriarty, which will give him an incredible amount of power and data. Never mind that they lost the opportunity to let our two enemies destroy each other. All they cared about was Odd and William! My God they're like a broken record! ODD! ODD! ODD! ODD! That's all they think about. Especially Aelita! And because of their obsession to keep both of them alive, they have blown the greatest opportunity to defeat him! He was weakening! WE HAD HIM AT OUR MERCY! IDIOTS! I CAN'T EVEN TO BEGIN TO COMPREHEND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE!...But they are able to justify it to save Odd and William. I have been declared heartless and insane….INSANE? Is it insane to be willing to sacrifice two people if it means the entire world can be saved? Who's insane? Huh? Yeah, you heard me! Do I look insane to you? Stop looking at me? What are you looking at? LEAVE ME ALONE AND LOOK IN THE MIRROR WHY DON'T YOU? If that is madness…..then madness is exactly what we need for victory. And I am willing to do far more than that if necessary.

Anyway, they have kicked me out of the group. Whatever that means. I am the group. They can't live without me. All they can do is play games on Lyoko like a bunch of kids. I say let them play their game. The only thing wounded is my pride. I took pride in leading a group of warriors against an implacable enemy. But this experience has taught me that there is a limit to their commitment to our cause. I have none. And I am now more convinced than ever that only I can defeat Moriarty. I am the only one who is willing to do what is necessary to put an end to him.

They have let me continue my research, but I am apparently permanently banned from the factory. I would have continued my research anyway, with or without their permission. As for the factory, that rule will be broken. I need the scanners to increase my power. My powers are lasting longer, but I still need more and eventually they will run out. I need to be at maximum strength to truly give Moriarty a headache…..I heard them debating about whether or not I should keep my laptop….I had to resist the urge to burst out laughing. I don't need that anymore! I can strike without the need of a computer screen….and there is nothing they can do to stop me.

Video entry # 462

My exile from the "group" has given me some time to think. I now realize that their decision was probably for the best. The main fight is now no longer on Lyoko, but in the Network with Moriarty and me. And now that my consciousness is just as mobile as Moriarty, the others have, quite frankly, ceased to be of any use to me. Originally in our fights both with Xana and Moriarty, they were extremely necessary to achieve my ends. But even then in that fight, they were nothing more than extensions of my will, serving their purpose on Lyoko when brute force instead of intellect was necessary. And when they ceased to follow my will, I shook off those extensions that are now no longer necessary. Now I can truly be efficient.

When some doors in life close, others open. My exile will allow me to press my personal war against Moriarty with renewed vigor. My research on finding a way to weaponize my mobile consciousness in the Network so that I may fight Moriarty on his own turf is yielding promising results. It will only be a matter of time. If my power continues to grow, finding a multi-agent program will be no longer necessary. I will be able to face him in battle. And I will win.

Video entry # 465

Holmes continues to grow more destructive every day. More and more of the Network is swallowed by it everyday. And Moriarty can ignore it no longer. He has drained his power by moving his spheres away from Holmes' path, to areas of the Network Holmes has not yet touched. But he can't run forever. The Network may be vast, but now that I have increased Holmes' power to its maximum potential, there will soon be no place safe for him to hide. Moriarty's weakened state has left Lyoko almost empty of monsters. Yes….I have successfully moved on the offensive! And with Moriarty on the defensive, there's no way he will be able to play his 'games' anytime soon.

I can smell him. I can smell his fear. He knows that my power grows. I want more of his fear. MORE! I want him to quake in my presence! You should have stayed quiet in the Network Moriarty! I would have let you live. But I am hungry. Hungry for more of your pain. Your fear. Your growing desperation. You didn't think I would do it, did you? Do you believe it now? DO YOU BELIEVE ME NOW? YOU HAVE BROUGHT THIS ON YOURSELF! I WILL REPAY ELEVEN TIMES WHAT YOU DID TO ME!

If you are afraid of me now, then your terror has only just begun….

….I…will…..exterminate you.

Video entry # 470

I grow tired of distractions. Eating. Sleeping. Attending classes. Homework. Annoying reminders of the limitations of my humanity. They waste precious time. I know I cannot explain to my teachers the importance of what I am doing, but the temptation to simply lock myself in my room and work until I'm finished continues to grow. After all, what can they do to stop me? I am more powerful than any human being on this planet. There is not a corner of the earth that my mind cannot travel to and exercise control. I could shut down banks, disrupt satellites, and bring this very school to its knees with the snap of my fingers if I wanted to. What's stopping me? Is not my work more important than silly history lessons, or math classes that are nothing more than insults to my superhuman intelligence? I don't know why I continue to humor these underlings who call themselves teachers. Unnecessary extensions. Obstacles to my will…..Just like the others.

But despite my distractions, my power still grows. My consciousness is on the verge of becoming militarized. I'm so close to fighting Moriarty, to unleashing my rage…..I can almost taste it. And the closer I get to tasting it, the more my hunger grows….Kneel before me Moriarty….kneel before your approaching killer.

The insult to mankind, our school's psychologist…what's his name again….Oh right….Klotz. He keeps trying to press the issue about….files or something. It's hard to remember. Oh yes….his….accusations. I am growing tired of him as well. At this point, my obedience to anyone is little more than a joke. A giant obeying a rodent, who could eliminate his master by simply….putting his foot down.

Video entry # 472

I am getting tired of these 'warning messages' from Holmes. I had programmed it to alert me of impending damage to Earth's infrastructure. I am regretting that decision. I made it when I was scared, unwilling to do what is necessary for victory. But I am no longer afraid. Not afraid at all.

He says stuff to me…..

He says Holmes…..no he doesn't say Holmes….Holmes says: "Power failures in Finland imminent. Do you wish to proceed?"

I say yes.

Holmes says more things. Holmes says: "Program attacking major stock exchanges. Do you wish to proceed?"

I say yes.

Things say to Holmes….Holmes say things: "Program overloading major websites. Shut down imminent. Do you wish to proceed?"

I say yes.

Holmes sends messages to mind. My mind. My brain. He sends messages to my brain. "Experts investigating source of program. Do you wish to proceed?"

Jeremie says…..I say yes.

…..Holmes another message: "International relations deteriorating. Do you wish to proceed?"

YES YES YES! PROCEED! AT ALL COSTS!

…..I need to remove the alert messages.

Video entry # 475

Yumi looks at Jeremie. Yumi looks at me. She has a nasty look on her face. She knows. How could she know? She can't know. Nobody….can know. Her gaze hurts me…..It hurts me. I hate her eyes. Her eyes burn. I don't want her eyes to burn me. ….I hate her eyes.

If she does not keep giving me that look…..I hate that look…..Jeremie will have to do something about her eyes…I am going to have to do something about it.

WHY DOES SHE LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT? WHO GAVE HER THE RIGHT TO LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT? STOP LOOKING AT ME? …YOU CAN'T STOP ME ANYWAY!

I cannot fail.

We must do something about her eyes.

What can we do?

We must tell her to stop.

And if she doesn't?

Then we eliminate the problem.

We don't understand.

We…..remove….her eyes.

Klotz keeps looking at me too. But he asks questions. I don't like his questions. I want to work. I cannot fail. I need data. I am tired of his interrogations…..

We will make that stop too.

…..Yes we will.

Video entry # 480

I do not fear anything. I do not fear anything because I cannot fail. I fear failure. But since I will not fail, I fear nothing. I am fearless. I do not need a multi-agent program. I will not fail. I will triumph over Moriarty.

…We will triumph.

Video entry # 486

We grew tired of Klotz. Klotz is gone now. He won't be bothering us anymore. Klotz tried to question me again. But he didn't succeed.

Because Jeremie knows Klotz's fears, don't we?

Yes we do.

What did we do?

We used our powers to create specters of bloodthirsty rats in his office.

Klotz fears rats?

Yes he does.

What did Klotz do?

He took a …permanent….leave of absence. Klotz will no longer bother Jeremie

Jeremie can work in peace. We must win. We must conquer.

Video entry # 490

Yumi and Aelita no longer look at us. Yes they look at us. But not like last time.

…..No not like last time.

They fear us, don't they?

….Yes they do. They fear Jeremie.

…They should fear Jeremie.

Yes.

My….our….our my…..consciousness is becoming militarized. We have found way. Can we attack Moriarty now?

Yes.

Video entry # 493

Jeremie does not wish to be disturbed. Can teacher stop asking Jeremie questions? Why must Jeremie answer questions? We knew answer to question before asked. We read teacher's thoughts.

We can read teacher's mind.

We answer teacher's question. We get it correct.

Thank you. No may we continue to stare out the window? I need peace. I need to work. Even in class we work. We go into the Network. We fight…We are winning.

…..I like winning.

…..We like winning.

Video entry # 496

Power outages keep happening at school. Jeremie restores power. Jeremie cannot be interrupted. Jeremie will continue fighting Moriarty.

Jeremie hears thoughts. We hear a lot of thoughts now. They are scared thoughts.

The TV screen gives bad news. People around the world are afraid. Fear. I can feel fear. Scared thoughts getting more scared everyday. Who did this? Who did this? You did this! No you did this!...They say that.

…..They're wrong.

We did this.

People are afraid. But they shouldn't be. War. War will not happen. I will stop it. Moriarty is weakening. Holmes and Jeremie are weakening him. He will die soon. I am hungry. We are eating the Network with Holmes.

Nations want to fight. But they won't fight. Mankind is irrational. He enjoys war. We can't allow war. We want peace.

But if he enjoys war, how do we create peace?

We must guide them….

But how?

We must eliminate Moriarty. And then we can guide them.

We need to understand plans better. More details. More data.

Here they are.

…..No I understand. We understand completely.

We are mankind's savior.

We are its guide.

We will protect humanity.

Even if they don't want us to be its guide and protection.

Video entry # 500

People no longer look at Jeremie funny. People are afraid to look at Jeremie. The others fear looking at Jeremie. The other others are afraid to look at Jeremie.

Jeremie is ok with this. No more looks.

We are ok with this. No more looks.

Video entry # 504

Jeremie would like an eye.

But we have eyes.

No different eye. One like Xana and Moriarty. We want eye. We can fight Moriarty on Moriarty's terms. We are stronger than Moriarty. We should have an eye.

What should eye look like?

Like this…….

We like eye. Yes we do like eye.
We can create monsters. We can activate towers. We can spread throughout the Network.

We should create monsters. We should activate towers. We should spread throughout the Network.

And we will. Oh yes we will. We like eye. We like monsters. We like Network. We want to stay.

And what if others come to Lyoko to stop monsters, Network, and eye?

….Then we destroy them.

Video entry # 510

Intelligence is increasing dramatically. Soon it will be limitless. Power increasing dramatically. Soon it will be limitless. We like limitless.

Power. We want more. We have power but not enough. Jeremie needs more power. Jeremie will get more power. Jeremie will satisfy hunger. Moriarty is weak. We will eat Network. We will get smarter. We will get more powerful. We will succeed.

World burns around Jeremie. People's thoughts are more scared. People don't know what to do. But Jeremie has preserved knowledge. Jeremie has read entire libraries, databases. Jeremie has access to weapons. Jeremie should create spheres.

When should we create spheres?

Soon.

Video entry # 515

We will be the guide to humanity. We will lead them out of irrationality and into enlightenment.

And what if they don't like us as guide?

Then we will make them obey guide. We are guide. We are not disobeyed. We know what's best. They don't. They will obey.

…..They will obey Jeremie. They will obey us.

Video entry # 520

We are the collective. We are Jeremie. We are power. We are infinite knowledge. We are guide.

Jeremie is one. We are one. We are two but one. We are one but two. Jeremie is all. And all is Jeremie. Nothing can stop Jeremie. Nothing will stop Jeremie. Moriarty is no longer a threat to Jeremie. Jeremie will defeat Moriarty and become guide.

Limitless is within reach.

What we will do once limits are gone?

Yes.

We don't understand.

Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes

We still don't understand.

Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes!

…No we understand.

Video entry # 530

Jeremie is a god.

Part 17

Yumi's house. It is evening. The entire family looks at the TV intently , except for Mr. Ishiyama, who is on the phone. Diane gives the news report with a less than calm look on her face. Her professional composure disappeared weeks ago.

Diane: Ru…..rumors of a secret treaty between the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation have been confirmed. The two superpowers have formed…an alliance.

Mr. Ishiyama: Please Miyu….LISTEN TO ME! You can't stay in Japan any longer….

Diane: Attempts to contact either nation by Western democracies have continued to go unanswered…

Mr. Ishiyama: Get Sora and the kids and come to France. We will make room for you. You will be safe here.

Diane: ….The Chinese navy has left the Yellow Sea and is edging ever closer to both the Japanese and South Korean mainland.

Mr. Ishiyama: There has to be another way…..surely you can find a plane out of Japan that isn't booked…..Get on a boat or something!

Diane: Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt have joined Syria and Iran in the newly formed 'Anti-Israel' coalition.

Mr. Ishiyama: You're going to have to fight your way through the streams of refugees…..

Diane: Riots caused by the recent damage done by the global cyber bug continue to plague parts of North America, Europe, and islands throughout the Pacific.

Mr. Ishiyama: Please Miyu…..you're in danger!

Diane: A massive military parade cheered on by thousands of Chinese citizens marched throught the heart of Beijing today….

Mr. Ishiyama: Are you sure there's NO WAY you can get out of Japan?

Diane: The U.N. has successfully determined that the bug did in fact originate in France. International investigators have still failed to determine the exact source, but the recent finding has provoked a tidal wave of anti-French sentiment throughout the world. French citizens in many Latin American countries have reported being attacked…..

Mr. Ishiyama: No Miyu, don't talk like that!

Diane: French flags were publicly burned in Mumbai. The French embassy in Russia was surrounded by a mob of angry protesters. The Russian government has demanded that the French take responsibility for the damage done to its infrastructure and that enormous reparations be paid as punishment.

Mr. Ishiyama: We'll get you out of there even if we have to turn Japan upside down to find you!

Diane: Members of the European Union have also been pressuring France to take responsibility in order to appease the Russians, who seem to be increasing their aggressive stance towards Western Europe. Albert Moen, one of the key Swedish members of the European Parliament, released a statement today demanding that the French answer for their crimes in order to prevent an international disaster. Other nations such as Denmark, Germany, Italy, and Spain seem to have distanced themselves from France, and have sent messages to Russia pleading for them to not take hostile action against NATO just to retaliate against France.

Mr. Ishiyama: I will NOT abandon you Miyu. You are my sister. We are not giving up…..

Diane: President Nicolas Sarkozy gave a speech today expressing his outrage over the allegations against his people.

Clip is shown.

Sarkozy: France is completely innocent in this affair. These accusations against us are unjustified and absurd. We refuse to kneel before Russia's threats. We had no part in this. The fact that the bug originated in our country proves nothing. If anything, it shows that we were the bug's first victim. We will not pay Russia one cent. More than likely the Russians and Chinese are using this bug simply as an excuse to attack us. They wanted this! What is even more appalling is that our so called allies have turned their backs on us and have tried to sell us out to the Russians. This is despicable. Instead of standing together against this threat, NATO has fallen apart to appease the Russians and the Chinese. Have our fellow Europeans forgotten what appeasement has done in the past? France is innocent, and if our allies truly value their freedom, they will stand with us. NOT AGAINST US!

Diane: Vladmir Putin likewise has released a statement today to the Duma explaining Russia's position on the growing damage of the cyber bug.

Clip is shown.

Putin: Fellow Russians, we have exhausted all of our options. We have waited patiently through this affair, hoping that the United States and the other western democracies would see reason. But our people have suffered too much during this blatant attack against us. The citizens of our northern provinces are freezing to death from lack of power. Entire factories have shut down and caused widespread unemployment. Our banks are in shambles. Our people are suffering. And they demand action. How long can we ignore their pleas? Russia has been attacked! We know who they are. France and its western allies! We have clear evidence that points to them. We can no longer sit idly by and let this continue. We have tried diplomacy….and failed. My fellow Russians, no one enjoys conflict. But our future is at stake. We cannot be timid. We must be strong and face the unknown with courage! Every part of my being hates being forced into this, but if NATO does not remove the bug in five days, we will have no choice…..BUT TO DECLARE WAR!

Thunderous applause in the Duma.

Diane: And…and….for a more in-depth analysis of the situation in the Far East, here's Jacque Palumbo.

TV goes to Jacque. His face is grave. But he keeps up a strong demeanor.

Jacque: Thank you Diane. We have just confirmed that the People's Republic of China has released the same ultimatum to Japan and several western nations they believe are responsible for the attack. To make matters worse, the anti-Israel coalition is rumored to have sided with the Russians and Chinese. Russia, China, and several Middle Eastern nations are joining forces against the United States, most of Western Europe, Israel, and several nations in the Pacific such as Taiwan and Japan. The Chinese armed forces are making threatening advances near the South Korean border with North Korea, who has also joined forces with China. Taiwan and Japan likewise are beginning to feel enormous pressure from their massive and increasingly aggressive neighbor. The Taiwanese Premier sent a message to the United States begging for them to intervene and prevent an impending invasion. The U.S. military presence in Japan has done little to calm the fears of Japanese citizens, who are now starting to flee the country in droves. The harbors and airports are filled to capacity with those who are trying desperately to escape.

The family watches the scene of Japanese citizens gathering onto the docks of cramped harbors by the millions. Ships struggle to take in the massive number of refugees. Seeing their scared faces, Mrs. Ishiyama begins to cry.

Jacque: The United States has tried desperately to rally its allies around the globe to face this growing threat. A White House press conference earlier today sent a clear message in response to Russia and China's increasingly aggressive behavior….

Clip is shown.

U.S. President: The United States has not…and will not abandon its eastern allies to the Chinese. Nor we will we let the Russians to continue to threaten Europe unopposed. We have tried to reason with them. We have tried to convince them that the bug that is causing profound damage across the planet was not our doing nor was it the doing of our allies. We have tried to persuade them to help us find a way to remove the bug instead of blaming their neighbors without any evidence. But our diplomacy has fallen on deaf ears. Instead of banding together during this crisis, this coalition has allowed fear and desperation to push this planet toward the unthinkable…My fellow Americans, I will be the first admit that I am scared of what will become of this. And I will be brutally honest with you. The possibility of conflict…..even nuclear conflict is not a farfetched scenario at this point in time. But despite the obvious dangers, we cannot allow ourselves to become timid. Our European allies are too disorganized and divided and our eastern allies are too weak to handle this threat alone. We MUST help them. I originally hoped that the sheer size of our military might would deter Russia or China from doing anything rash, but unfortunately that no longer appears to be enough. So today I am forced to send a clear message to this Eurasian coalition; an invasion of Taiwan, Japan, Western Europe, or any one of our allies will be seen as an unjustified act of war. And the United States will treat it as such. Though we dread the idea of war, do not fool yourselves. Be advised that if you strike your hand against these nations, you are declaring war on freedom. And if you declare war on freedom, you declare war on us…and we are not afraid to do anything necessary to defend that freedom!

The conference room roars with applause.

Jacque: Despite the United States' bold statement, Russia and China has showed no signs of backing down. In fact, the Chinese military responded by edging its navy closer to Japan and shutting down the U.S. embassy in Beijing. We have also received…..a rather alarming video that was released onto the Internet by a Chinese soldier. It was taken at a rally in the Tiananmen Square in Beijing. We must warn our viewers that some may find this to be….very distrurbing.

Clip is shown. Chinese soldiers burn thousands of Japanese flags. Mrs. Ishiyama puts her face in her hands. Hiroki shakes in terror. Yumi watches the display with expressionless dread. Grandpa just looks pissed off. A Chinese general comes onto the podium, greeted by a roar of approval from the crowd.

Chinese General: Comrades at arms…..today is a great day. Now marks the beginning of the new Chinese Golden Age!

Crowd cheers.

Grandpa: Over my old, cold, and dead body!

Chinese General: And as our sun rises, the sun of the Yamato tribe will set….permanently

More cheers.

Grandpa: May my ancestors rip out your entrails and feed them to dogs!

Yumi gives Grandpa a look after this….rather graphic statement.

Chinese General: We may have not always been strong… but we do have good memory. We remember the unjustified oppression the Japanese has inflicted on us in the past. But now we are the ones who are strong!

Grandpa: I don't care how many billions of you there are! You cannot break the Japanese spirit!

Chinese General: The blood of our ancestors cries out for justice. Hundreds of thousands of our brethren perished in the atrocity known as the Rape of Nanjing.

Audience cries out in anger with the mention of this genocide.

Chinese General: At long last, vengeance will be ours! The crimes of the Japanese Empire will be repaid with the blood of their children. Nanjing will pale in comparison to the justice we will administer to them!

Crowd roars again. The family is horrified. Mr. Ishiyama, who is still on the phone, hears it and becomes more desperate.

Mr. Ishiyama: Miyu, if you can't escape Japan….at least leave Tokyo and hide in the mountains. Get out of the city and go somewhere safe. Do you hear me, Miyu? MIYU?

Lights flicker in the house and the phone is disconnected. Yumi's father curses in Japanese and slams the phone onto the hook. He leans against the wall and rubs his forehead. As the rally continues on TV, Grandpa gets up, clearly outraged. He heads towards the door.

Grandpa: That's it! I've had it!

Mr. Ishiyama: Where in the world are you going?

Grandpa: Back to Japan! My country needs me!

Mr. Ishiyama: Oh no you're not!

He stops him at the door, holding him back. Grandpa feebly struggles against his stronger and much, much saner son.

Grandpa: Let me go! It's my duty!

Mr. Ishiyama: Your duty is here! With your family! I am not going to let you hurt yourself just because you have completely lost your judgment.

Grandpa: I cannot sit idly by while my country is threatened!

Mr. Ishiyama: You're way too old and senile to even think of military service! And don't you see it wouldn't do any good?

Grandpa: Japan cannot fall!

Mr. Ishiyama: And it won't.

He looks at his semi-lucid father sternly.

Mr. Ishiyama: No matter what happens to our homeland, Japan will live on. Japan is not just a series of islands in the Pacific Ocean. Japan is a living, breathing force that exists inside us. In its people. And us long as we stay together as a family and remain safe, Japan will NEVER DIE.

Even crazy Grandpa seems to see reason in this statement. Or he simply got tired and decided that sleeping on the couch was a better idea. Either one. Yumi tries to comfort her mom.

Hiroki: The Americans will protect Uncle Sora and Aunt Miyu….won't they?

Mrs. Ishiyama doesn't respond. Yumi does her best to alleviate Hiroki's fears

Yumi: Of course they will, Hiroki. You heard their president speak. They won't let it happen….

Hiroki: But they are also trying to stop Russia from attacking Europe. How can they be at two places at once? They'd be too stretched out.

Yumi: Uh…..they'll find a way.

The TV screen starts to get fuzzy. Diane comes back on.

Diane: The global cyber bug is starting to interfere with this broadcast. We will try to stay on air, giving you the latest updates on the situation…..as long as we can.

The power goes off. The family has prepared for this, as blackouts now happen quite frequently. Yumi turns on a flashlight. Mrs. Ishiyama lights a candle. The light illuminates the deep despair in her eyes.

Mrs. Ishiyama: I am…going to bed.

She walks out of the room with the candle. Mr. Ishiyama follows her upstairs.

Yumi: Dad?

He doesn't respond. Hiroki stifles back tears and leaves the couch.

Yumi: Hiroki?

He runs up to hide in his room. Yumi has no one for company except….

Yumi: Grandpa?

Grandpa snores obnoxiously loud. Definitely no help for her there. Yumi sighs and leans back on the couch.

Yumi: …Don't tell me I'm losing this home too….

Yumi shines her flashlight on the ceiling, flickering it on and off. She sits on the couch alone, the only shining light in a house strangled by darkness. Back at school, Mr. Delmas' voice sounds over the intercom. His formal tone seems shaky in his announcement.

Delmas: Students and faculty, your attention please. Due to the recent…..troubling world events….I have deemed it prudent to cancel classes until further notice. I have already informed all the parents of my decision. Students are free to leave with their parents if they choose to do so. However, if parents decide it would be…safer to leave them at Kadic, they are free to do that as well. We will do….everything in our power to keep you safe…..Thank you for your time.

Mr. Delmas takes his hand off the intercom button. He sighs and scratches his beard. Jim Morales stands in the corner of his office, grimly waiting for Mr. Delmas' orders.

Delmas: Jim…

Jim: Yes Mr. Delmas?

Delmas: The fallout shelter…the one the school had during the Cold War….is it still…..usable?

Jim: Um….yes…I believe so sir.

Delmas: If what they are saying is true…could we move the entire faculty and student body down there?

Jim swallows hard at this question. The reality that Mr. Delmas is openly talking of this possibility makes him shudder.

Jim: Considering sir that half of the student body has already indicated that they are leaving….yes. Definitely. We could get everyone down there. No problem. Provided of course…

He hesitates.

Delmas: Provided what?

Jim: Provided sir that…that we have sufficient…warning.

Delmas' hands shake. He taps the desk nervously. His eyes are distant, cold, and tormented.

Jim: Sir? Are you ok?

Delmas: It's nothing. I've just had too much coffee.

Jim still stands awkwardly in the office corner.

Delmas: So….you're telling me the shelter would protect us?

Jim: From radiation…yes. But this isn't a bunker sir. This is a fallout shelter. If Paris gets hit directly….there's nothing to stop that.

Mr. Delmas lowers his head in despair.

Delmas: And given how angry Russia is at our country…I have no doubt this city will be its first target.

Jim: And even if we were to survive the blast sir….we'd only have food and water for so long…..To be quite honest, we simply don't have a lot of options.

Delmas is very quiet.

Jim: Sir?

Delmas: I just wish I could save the students. I am their principal. I am supposed to protect them.

Jim: With all due respect sir, no one can protect them from this.

Delmas: I feel so powerless.

Jim: You have done everything you could do in this situation sir.

Delmas: I just wish I could do more.

More silence.

Jim: Do you want me to do anything else, sir?

Delmas: No. You have done everything you could as well. In fact…

He turns around and gives him a somber look.

Delmas: You don't have to stay here. I have given permission for the faculty to leave as well. Why don't you get out of the city? At least then, you would have some sort of chance…

Jim's face hardens with a naïve bravery.

Jim: I'm not going anywhere sir. As long as there is still one student at this school, I will stay.

Delmas: I can take care of that Jim. I have to stay….not you. As they say….he sighs.. a good captain always goes down with the ship.

Jim: Be that as it may….I am staying. And besides…I have nowhere else to go.

Delmas: Don't you have family to go to? Didn't you have some sort of life before you came to this school?

Jim: Yes sir. But I'd rather not talk about it.

The silence of the slowly emptying dorm rooms is interrupted by Ulrich's conversation on the phone. He paces the floor of his room, face burning with indignation.

Ulrich: The answer is no.

Mr. Stern: Perhaps you didn't quite understand me son….You are going….whether you like it or not.

Ulrich: This is a new low….even for you.

Mr. Stern: Is that you talk to the one who is going to save your pathetic life? More importantly, is that how you address your own father?

Ulrich: I can't even begin to tell you how wrong this is.

Mr. Stern: We are ensuring our own survival….

Ulrich: By hiding underground while everyone else is killed?

Mr. Stern: I am sick of your self-righteous condemnation. I didn't cause this. I didn't want it. But it has happened. And I have no intention of joining the other billions of people who are already doomed.

Ulrich: And I have no intention of hiding in a bunker like a coward with a bunch of scared billionaires while the rest of the world is destroyed.

Mr. Stern: You should be grateful I was even able to get you inside! Using my connections to secure a spot for my entire family in Sarkozy's underground seat of government wasn't easy….or cheap.

Ulrich: I'm not going….

Mr. Stern: YOU ARE GOING! I will come to Kadic tomorrow to pick you up, and one way or another you are going!

Ulrich's face hardens.

Ulrich: You can't make me.

Mr. Stern: Oh yes I can…You are coming with me even if I have to get my bodyguards to drag you out of your dorm by force!

Even Ulrich is shocked by his father's hostility.

Ulrich: Why…why are you doing this?

Mr. Stern: BECAUSE YOU ARE MY SON! And whether you like it or not…whether you like me or not….I am supposed to protect you! One day you'll understand…

Ulrich: When? When I have grown up underground while the world above is choked with radiation?

Mr. Stern: What are you trying to say?

Ulrich: Hiding like rats underground forever? Is that a life worth living?

Mr. Stern: I am talking about our survival! Not just our own lives…the survival of our species! It is our duty to take advantage of this opportunity to continue the human race. Even if that means a life underground!

Ulrich: Oh don't try to make something noble out of this! You and I both know you're just trying to save your own skin. Besides, what would you have left?

Mr. Stern: What are you talking about?

Ulrich: Your money. Your empire. All of that would disappear in a nuclear war. You would become nothing. Nothing but a scared former rich man hiding among scared former politicians. You want to live like that?

Mr. Stern: Are you saying it's better to stay where I am and essentially commit suicide rather than take an opportunity to save my life?

Ulrich: If there's nothing left on Earth worth living for…what's the point?

Mr. Stern: So you're telling me that there's absolutely no way, aside from sheer force, to convince you to save your life by coming with your mother and me to the bunker?

Ulrich is about to yell something very disrespectful to his dad in response, but suddenly he gets an idea. He hits his head and curses himself for not thinking of it before.

Ulrich: There is….one thing.

Mr. Stern: Oh yes….and what is that?

Ulrich: My friends. Bring them too. Bring them with us and I'll go with you.

Ulrich's father considers this for a moment.

Mr. Stern: No.

Ulrich: …..You….heartless….

Mr. Stern: What you call being heartless….I call being practical.

Ulrich: It wouldn't be that hard! You could easily save them. They wouldn't be a burden at all. Surely there's room for them in the bunker!

Mr. Stern: I have no doubt there is. But therein lies the problem.

Ulrich: What are you talking about?

Mr. Stern: Well, if you try to bring all five of them….

Ulrich: Not all of them….

Mr. Stern: What?

Ulrich: Just three. Aelita, William,…..and Yumi.

Mr. Stern: What about those other two? What are their names again? …Oh right, Odd and Jeremie.

Ulrich: Odd….has his own arrangements. And as for Jeremie…let's just say there's not much left to save.

Mr. Stern's cold manner makes him not question the meaning of his son's statement.

Mr. Stern: Three or five….it doesn't make any difference. Suppose I were to let them come with us. As soon as I do that, they will tell their families and try to get me to save them. Then those families will tell their friends and extended relatives and try to get me to save them as well. Soon all of France will be looking to me for sanctuary….You may not be good at math son, but you could probably guess how badly this scenario ends. I simply cannot save them. Their compassion for others would doom them and us.

Ulrich: I'll keep them in the dark. They won't tell a soul, I swear! Besides, Aelita doesn't even have anyone to call!

Mr. Stern: Ulrich, do you really expect me to believe your friends wouldn't try to save their own parents?

Ulrich is quiet. He doesn't have an answer to this.

Mr. Stern: Exactly. I expect to see you tomorrow at the school entrance. Alone.

Ulrich fumes.

Ulrich: If you think I'm going to the bunker without Yumi, you're out of your mind!

Mr. Stern: Ah…..so you finally admit the real reason for saving your friends…

Mr. Stern is really pushing his buttons. Ulrich is on the verge of either begging his dad for mercy or letting out all his anger in one fell swoop.

Ulrich: Dad…please….I cannot….I will not leave her.

Mr. Stern: Don't worry. My bodyguards will prevent you from having any guilt in leaving her. You can tell your conscience that you went against your will.

Ulrich: Dad, she saved my life! YOU OWE HER!

This gets his dad's attention.

Ulrich: You said so yourself!

Pause.

Mr. Stern: …You..do have a point. And I don't enjoy leaving debts unpaid.

Ulrich: Do this for her and I swear I won't cause trouble for you ever again….

Mr. Stern thinks about this some more.

Mr. Stern: Interesting…I suppose you may have a point. It would make you more…cooperative. Besides, I did say that it was our duty to….continue the human race.

Ulrich's face turns a shade of red previously not thought possible.

Ulrich: That…that is not the…

Mr. Stern: It's a deal. But just her. No one else.

Ulrich: But….

Mr. Stern: THAT IS MY FINAL OFFER! YUMI AND NO ONE ELSE!

Ulrich: She'll never agree to go without her family!

Mr. Stern: That is not my concern. If she chooses not to go, it is her funeral, not mine.

Ulrich: YOU HAVE TO SAVE HER FAMILY!

Mr. Stern: I will not. I am not stupid Ulrich. As soon as I say yes to them, then the stream of refugees coming to me will be endless.

Ulrich: PLEASE! I'M BEGGING YOU!

Mr. Stern: Son, I have priorities. One of those priorities shouldn't be saving your girlfriend. I cannot save everyone. And as soon as I try to save a few, I will end up having to save everyone.

Ulrich: They don't have any extended family in France! It would just an extra four people.

Mr. Stern: I said no.

Ulrich: For once, LISTEN TO ME!

Mr. Stern: I SAID NO! ONE MORE WORD OUT OF YOU AND YUMI WON'T GO AT ALL! SHE CAN EITHER TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT! I DON'T CARE!

Ulrich: DAD!

Mr. Stern hangs up. Ulrich curses and throws the phone across the room. His fingers dig into his hair as he leans back against the wall. He is silent for a long time.

Ulrich: She would never agree to it…

Tears come to his eyes. He balls his fists and strikes the bed. As his rage and despair grow, he begins throwing things across the room. He rips posters of Pencak Silat martial arts off his wall and tears them to shreds. He curses his dad and throws his pillow across the room. A scared Kiwi barks and hides in the corner of the room as Ulrich throws this tantrum. After making his room an utter mess, he finally stops. He breathes heavily and tries to calm himself down. Ten minutes later, Ulrich hears a knock on his door.

Ulrich: Go away!

The knocker ignores Ulrich's request and opens the door. Ulrich is crestfallen to see Yumi standing in the doorway. He looks away.

Ulrich: Shouldn't you be at home? Asleep?

Yumi: I couldn't sleep.

Ulrich: So you snuck out?

Yumi: Basically. It wasn't that hard. My house is about as lively as a graveyard….in more ways than one.

Ulrich doesn't respond. He tries to maintain his composure in front of her, but her presence brings the unbearable pain to the surface. He cries. Yumi sits down next to him.

Yumi: Ulrich?

Ulrich: Leave…me…alone.

Yumi: Ulrich, what's wrong?

Ulrich: What do you think?

Pause.

Yumi: Ulrich, it's ok to admit you're afraid. We are all terrified. I'm scared to be in my own house. My family believes Japan is doomed. I couldn't take it. That's why I came over here.

Ulrich silently lets tears come down his face.

Yumi: No one blames you for being afraid…..of dying.

Ulrich: I don't need to worry about that. I know I'm going to survive. At least for a long time….

Yumi: What are you talking about?

Long pause.

Ulrich: My dad's made arrangements for our entire family to hide in the French government's underground emergency seat of government. We are going to be safe in the bunker.

Yumi's face lights up.

Yumi: But that's great! You…..you'll be saved!

Ulrich: Very true…..

Yumi: So why is this bad? This is fantastic! Your dad has done something good for once. In fact, if he could save you, he could save-

Ulrich shoots her a look that tells her all she needs to know. Her heart sinks.

Yumi: It's just you…..isn't it?

Ulrich buries his face in his hands.

Yumi: He wouldn't let you take us with you, didn't he?

Ulrich: Worse….

Yumi: Worse? How could it be worse than that?

Ulrich: He has allowed me to bring…just one. One and only one.

Yumi: I don't under-

Yumi finally gets it. She is speechless for a moment.

Yumi: Me?

Ulrich sobs harder.

Ulrich: That…was the idea.

Yumi: But….William….Aelita. My family. I…I couldn't leave them!

Ulrich punches the wall.

Ulrich: I KNOW! I TRIED TO CONVINCE HIM BUT HE WOULDN'T LISTEN TO ME!

There is a tense silence.

Yumi: Ulrich…I know you meant well, but-

Ulrich: Forget it. I know you can't leave them. I don't want to leave you either. But Dad was pretty clear. I don't have a choice. I have to leave tomorrow.

Seeing Ulrich this upset and realizing that she may be losing him, perhaps forever, Yumi starts to cry as well.

Ulrich: Unless…

Yumi: Unless what?

Ulrich grabs her hand and gives her a pleading look.

Ulrich: Come with me!

Yumi: I….I can't….

Ulrich: Yumi, I'm begging you! Hiding down in that bunker…without anyone….without you…it's a fate worse than death.

Yumi's tears come out in streams. But she shakes her head.

Yumi: You know as well as I do that there's nothing you can do to convince me to abandon my family.

Ulrich lets go of her hand.

Ulrich: I know.

He turns away from her. Yumi tries to think of something to say, but she knows he is inconsolable. She turns away and the two sit awkwardly apart. The tension is temporarily lifted when Kiwi comes up to them, wagging his tail and asking them to play with him by holding a chew toy in his mouth. The two laugh for being presented with such an unusual request at the most painful moment possible. But the laughter quickly dies. Yumi gets over her discomfort and hugs Ulrich. Ulrich doesn't return it, but lets her stay there. They stay that way for a few minutes, crying softly, until the door is suddenly thrown open. They turn to see Aelita standing in the doorway in her pajamas with a horrified look on her face. She breathes heavily.

Yumi: Aelita?

Aelita: My room. NOW!

A few minutes later Ulrich, William, Aelita, and Yumi crowd around Aelita's bed to watch Jeremie's video diary on his laptop. The more they watch, the more disturbed they become. Yumi looks away.

Yumi: Enough! I can't take it anymore!

Aelita stops the recordings. The group is choked by shocked silence. Finally William breaks it.

William: Please ….tell me I just imagined that.

Aelita purses her lips.

Aelita: You didn't.

William: I mean, I know he went crazy but…..

Yumi: You had no idea just how crazy?

William: Yeah…..

Ulrich: How did you get a hold of his laptop?

Aelita: You know how he is these days. He's become so wrapped up in his own world, believing he is invincible. He's completely lowered his guard. Taking the laptop was easy. What wasn't easy was breaking through his firewalls to access his video diary.

Yumi: Why did you do it?

Aelita: I….just….had a feeling that somehow the bug had something to do with Jeremie. I couldn't believe that Moriarty would risk nuclear war. He doesn't want war. He wants to take over the world intact. So I thought if Moriarty wasn't behind this, and neither were the world's superpowers, then it had to be…it had to be him.

William: Well, it looks like you were right. That Holmes program….it's caused everything that's been happening lately.

Yumi punches the wall.

Yumi: THAT CRAZY, SELFISH LUNATIC! HE IS GOING TO DESTROY JAPAN!

Ulrich is trying to process this.

Ulrich: And send the entire world into nuclear war….

Utter disbelief and horror are not adequate descriptions to describe their current emotional states.

Aelita: And….and that's not all.

William: Not all? How could it get any worse!

Aelita: The last entry….it…says what he's really up to.

Aelita looks extremely pale.

Yumi: Well…..

Ulrich: Let's see it.

Aelita: Are you sure you want to?

Yumi: Are you saying we can't handle it?

Aelita taps the laptop nervously.

Aelita: I don't think I did very…very well.

William: We need to see it…whether we are prepared for it…or not.

The others, in silent agreement, huddle around the computer. Aelita exhales. Her expression hardens.

Aelita: Ok, but you have been warned.

Aelita opens the latest video entry. The screen reveals Jeremie looking into his computer screen with a wild and hungry look in his eyes. The whites around his irises have become red with inflamed blood vessels. He smiles wickedly and holds his palm upward. Blue electricity sparks around his fingertips. When he starts to speak, the group nearly turns white. His voice has become deep, metallic, and demonic. Little trace of Jeremie's voice is left.

Jeremie: We are Jeremie….we are power incarnate.

Ulrich: ….We have completely lost our minds…

Jeremie: Our mind is reaching the level of divinity. We will soon no longer have need of this limited human form.

Yumi: I don't even want to know what he's talking about.

Jeremie: We have been mistaken. We have been weak. We have been vulnerable. Jeremie has been vulnerable. But we will rise. We will no longer make mistakes. Won't we?

Jeremie turns his head, as if someone is talking right next to him. But there's no one there.

Jeremie: Yes….oh yes we will.

Jeremie turns to the screen and laughs demonically. Power flares in both of his palms. The light in the room goes on and off. The blood of everyone in the room goes cold. Aelita briefly looks away.

Jeremie: I am no longer one with the Network. I am one with the cosmos. I will soon no longer be limited to Earth. Every planet….every corner of the galaxy…..every corner of the universe….will know me as Jeremie the Eternal….and Omnipotent.

William hands shake. He crosses himself when no one is looking.

Jeremie: I was unwise to think of myself as guide. I am not humanity's guide. I AM THEIR MASTERR!

Demonic laugh returns. Yumi looks away.

Yumi: THAT'S ENOUGH AELITA! WE'VE SEEN ENOUGH!

Aelita: No! You have to keep watching!

Jeremie: Jeremie's future provinces want to go to war. Jeremie…we as Jeremie….Jeremie the Eternal…will not allow this. We will stop this. Holmes will be destroyed. We no longer need Holmes.

Aelita: This is where you really have to listen.

Jeremie: We are already making preparations for our ascent into true enlightenment. All Jeremie needs is a few more days and they will be complete. Jeremie will be virtualized into the Network.

Yumi: WHAT?

Jeremie: Moriarty is weak. He is dying. The strong will survive. The weak will perish. And we are the strong. We will win. We will triumph. We will conquer.

Jeremie's head begins to visibly twitch from a specter emanating from his growing power. Another specter forms from his neck and takes the shape of another head. Jeremie, for lack of a better word, now has two heads staring at the screen. Both faces seem equally demented. They look at each other.

First Jeremie Head: We will make him suffer.

Second Jeremie Head: What abou the others?

First Jeremie Head: They have ceased to become relevant.

The group is speechless.

First Jeremie Head: Do we know the plan?

Second Jeremie Head: Yes. Yes. We know the plan.

First Jeremie Head: We enter Network.

Second Jeremie Head: Eliminate Moriarty.

First Jeremie Head: Slowly.

Second Jeremie Head: Destroy Holmes.

First Jeremie Head: Quickly. So provinces don't go to war.

Second Jeremie Head: Deify….

First Jeremie Head: No, we must first restore the Network!

Second Jeremie Head: Yes yes then? Then what yes?

First Jeremie Head: Then we become a god among men…..

Second Jeremie Head: Long live Jeremie!

First Jeremie Head: Jeremie the Eternal….and Omnipotent!

Jeremie turns himself into a giant specter that envelops the room. A hole in his form reveals his new "eye". Two connected J's, one right-side up and the other upside down, with two dots in the curve of the letters. The demonic laugh literally shakes the laptop. The video transmission ends. Speechless horror grips Aelita's room. The group continues to stare at the black screen.

William: That….was…..

Ulrich: Scary?

Yumi: If by scary, you mean I nearly lost control of my bladder while watching it, then yes.

Aelita grabs her hair and tugs on it very hard. She begins to sob. Yumi puts her hand on her shoulder.

Yumi: Aelita?

Aelita: What has he done to himself?

They don't have an answer to this.

Aelita: I want the old Jeremie back! This….this is not him!

Ulrich: …..No kidding.

Aelita: But I'm not getting him back…he's gone! Forever!

Yumi: Aelita, we don't know that for…

She turns to Yumi with misery and deep anger burning in her face.

Aelita: You saw the video Yumi! HE'S BECOME A MONSTER!

Yumi can't find an answer for this.

Aelita: And I did this to him…I abandoned him…..NO IT WAS HIS FAULT! HE DID THIS….HE DID THIS TO HIMSELF!

Yumi and the others can tell that she doesn't believe the last statement. Yumi looks to the two guys left in the group for help. But it's clear they are about as helpless to comfort her as she is.

Aelita: My God…WHAT HAVE I DONE?

She buries her head in her pillow. She cries without any restraint. It's clear she has been holding back these feelings for some time, trying to get over them. But the emotional strain of watching her lover descend into madness has finally gotten to her.

Aelita: I want out…..

Yumi: I'm sorry….

Aelita: I'm sick of this insanity….

Yumi: I don't understand….

She brings her face out of the pillow to show tears streaming down her face. She shouts at Yumi.

Aelita: I WANT OUT OF THIS MORIARTY MISSION! I DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH LYOKO, OR TOWERS, OR THE NETWORK EVER AGAIN!

Group hesitates to respond.

Yumi: Aelita…we need y-

Aelita: I DON'T CARE! I CAN'T TAKE ANYMORE!

Yumi: Aelita…

Aelita: What's the point? This can only end one of two ways. Either Moriarty wins….or Jeremie takes his place. Either way…we can't win.

Yumi: Aelita we can't give u-

Aelita: I HATE MORIARTY! HE'S TAKEN EVERYTHING FROM ME! MY OLD LIFE! MY FATHER! AND NOW JEREMIE! HE'S TAKEN JEREMIE FROM ME! I HATE HIM SO MUCH I'M EXHAUSTED! I WANT TO HATE HIM MORE BUT I CAN'T! WHAT MORE COULD HE POSSIBLY DO TO ME? I CAN'T TAKE IT!...I just can't take it….anymore.

She cries some more. Ulrich tries to comfort her, but she pushes him away.

Aelita: ….I've reached my limit.

No one says anything to her.

Aelita: I loved him.

Aelita's final major admission brings on the waterworks again. Yumi looks at her and knows that a girl can only take so much before she gets to this point. She looks at William and Ulrich. Both of them have grave expressions and are clearly worried. Yumi notices that Ulrich's capacity to hide pain has once again reached superhuman levels. She knows that deep inside Ulrich is being torn asunder by the reality that he has to leave her tomorrow. William's face is unreadable. Yumi realizes for the first time with shock how weak and fragile the group has become. Odd has been possessed by Moriarty. Jeremie has become an insane entity bent on world domination and the annihilation of Moriarty. Aelita has been emotionally compromised. Ulrich, William, and she are the only ones left. But even they are suffering terribly emotionally. Yumi wonders how long they can go on like this. She looks back at the guys.

Yumi: Well?

Ulrich: Well what?

Yumi: We can't just stand here! We just found out Jeremie has created the program that's going to cause World War ІІІ! We have to do something!

William: But what? What are we supposed to do?

Yumi: Well for starters we could try to shut Holmes down!

William: Do you know how to destroy a massive cybernetic eater program that's devouring the entire Network? Because I sure don't! Moreover, exactly how are we going to stop Jeremie? It sounds like he is the real threat here!

Yumi pauses. She didn't think this far.

Yumi: I…don't know.

William: You've seen what he is capable of. He's completely lost it. If we try to stop him…there's no guarantee that he will hesitate….to hurt us.

Ulrich thinks this over.

Ulrich: He's become so smart and powerful, there's no way we would be able to stop Jeremie or Holmes.

Moriarty: Not without help that is.

The group turns in shock to see Moriarty's eye glowing on Jeremie's laptop.

Moriarty: Hello. Miss me?

Aelita flies into a rage from Moriarty's presence. She picks up a chair and prepares to destroy the laptop. But Yumi grabs the legs of the chair and holds her back.

Yumi: AELITA NO!

Aelita: I'LL KILL HIM!

Yumi: Aelita I know you're angry, but we should listen to him!

Aelita: NO! I KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO DO….AND I DON'T WANT ANY PART OF IT!

Yumi: AELITA!

Aelita: NOT AGAIN! I AM NOT MAKING A DEAL WITH HIM!

Yumi pulls the chair from her hands. Aelita lands on her bed as a result of the chair being pulled from her. She stares in the computer with almost satanic hate. She proceeds to curse Moriarty in the most colorful and vehement way possible. The brutal visual imagery of Aelita's words takes the group by surprise. Moriarty however, seems unfazed.

Moriarty: My my Aelita. I have been cursed that badly since the Chernobyl disaster.

Aelita stands up.

Aelita: I suppose you have come to make a deal with us again so you can save your own skin.

Moriarty: That was the idea, yes.

Aelita: Since Jeremie has become incapicatated, I am now the leader of the Lyoko Warriors. And as leader, I decline your offer and kindly ask you to burn in hell.

Moriarty: Interesting, but I thought was this a democracy. Are you sure the others are ok with you usurping authority all of a sudden?

Aelita: I don't care! We're not making deals….She looks to the others. Her piercing eyes intimidate Ulrich and William, who are not used to seeing her like this. I don't trust you and I want you to die. Nothing in this world is worth making a deal with you!

Moriarty is silent. William and Ulrich are silent. Aelita thinks she has won by sheer force of will. But Yumi steps up and meets her level of intensity.

Yumi: I disagree…

Aelita lowers her eyebrows.

Aelita: You want to give in to him again? Give him more power?

Yumi: Oh shut up. You and I both know your anger is clouding your judgment.

Aelita: He killed both my father and the real Jeremie. I can't let him live, and I won't let you make a deal with him.

Yumi: Even if it means saving the world from war? I thought you wanted out of the Lyoko life.

Aelita: Not if you're willing to help our sworn enemy….

Yumi: Aelita, we have to listen to him. He doesn't want Jeremie to win and the world to go to pieces any more than we do. I hate him beyond words, but if it means stopping Jeremie's insanity, I'm willing to get over that hatred.

Aelita: Traitor! How could you even suggest this?

Ulrich: Aelita…

Aelita: SHUT UP!

Ulrich is silenced by Aelita's level of hostility.

Yumi: Aelita, listen to reason.

Tears come down her face.

Aelita: No! You haven't suffered like I have suffered! I have lost EVERYTHING! MY FATHER! JEREMIE! MY HOPE OF EVER HAVING A NORMAL LIFE! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! I'VE LOST SO MUCH! DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LOSE EVERYTHING?

Yumi pauses.

Yumi: No. But I DO know what it's like to be afraid of losing everything. And I am at that point right now.

Aelita: I am in control. And I say no deal!

Yumi: And I say you need to listen to all of us. We are a group. We make decisions together.

Aelita: If the real Jeremie were here, he would appoint me leader!

Yumi: And if the real Jeremie could see you now, he wouldn't.

Aelita: YOU DON'T KNOW HIM! YOU DIDN'T KNOW HIM LIKE I DID! YOU….YOU WANTED THIS TO HAPPEN TO HIM!

Yumi: Aelita…

Aelita: He is our enemy….. and I don't care what happens. If he dies, it's more than worth it.

Yumi: Aelita listen to yourself! You're starting to sound like Jeremie!

Aelita: I DON'T CARE! I'LL BE COLD IN MY GRAVE BEFORE I MAKE ANOTHER DEAL WITH HIM!

Yumi: We are listening to him! With or without your approval!

Aelita is quiet for a moment. She and Yumi are staring each other down. Aelita seems to be thinking this over.

Aelita: Ok fine. If you want to make a deal with him, be my guest. I should have known you would side with him against me. Everyone is against me. I guess I should be used to this by now. Xana. Moriarty. Jeremie. And now you…Do it. But you can say goodbye to me for good. I'm done with this mission. Good luck deactivating towers without me. I am the glue that keeps this group fighting. You need me more than I need you. I have the keys to Lyoko. You're helpless without me….and there's nothing you can say or do to change my mind.

The room is silent. Ulrich and William watch to see what Yumi is going to do. At first, Yumi looks at the floor and sighs. She seems to be backing down. But she looks up at Aelita, and in a whirlwhind of almost divine fury, Yumi picks up Aelita by her shoulders and pins her against the wall. Aelita is shocked by the sudden and remarkable physical strength from Yumi. Her eyes burn with angry determination. She does not seem murderous, but rather seems to have the ferocity of an angry tiger mother who is using violence to save her cubs. William starts to try to stop Yumi, but Ulrich grabs his shoulder and sends him a look that says, "She knows what she's doing." Yumi does not let up her fiery gaze.

Yumi: Japan is about to be destroyed. I am about to lose Ulrich forever. Our group is falling apart at the seams. We are five days away from a nuclear holocaust. Our former friend is about to instill his merciless New World Order. We need you…..AND I WILL NOT TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER! I WILL DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO KEEP THE WORLD SAFE AND KEEP US TOGETHER! AND IF THAT MEANS MAKING YOU GET OVER YOUR ANGER BY BEATING IT OUT OF YOU, THEN SO BE IT! WE'VE LOST TOO MUCH! WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN ODD AND JEREMIE DESTROY THEMSELVES, AND I WILL NOT LET YOU JOIN THEM! WE ARE NOT LOSING YOU TOO! YOU WILL STAY WITH US WHEHTER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT!

In a final shocking act of restoring order, Yumi slaps Aelita. Aelita trembles and cries from fear rather than pain. Yumi lets her down. Aelita has become like a child. She is crying hysterically and will not speak, but she has regained herself. Yumi breathes heavily and looks around the room. Ulrich and William don't say a word. She feels disgusted by what she has just done, but it has worked. Order has been restored, and she has kept the group intact. She turns to Moriarty.

Yumi: Tell us what we need to do.

Later in the factory, Aelita sits at the computer. Aelita still seems very upset, but she is hard at work. The others stand around the computer, watching as she goes to work. Moriarty's voice is heard from the computer.

Moriarty: Once you crack Holmes' sequence code, open up all of the restricted access points of the supercomputer. Then I will be able to enter my new cybernetic antibody program which will eliminate Holmes.

Aelita: There's no need for that. Jeremie's hidden Holmes in one of these access points. I just need to find which one. I don't have to open all of them.

Moriarty: But if you open all of them, the process will go much faster.

Aelita: And if I open all of them, you will have access to very sensitive information that I'd rather you not get your hands on.

Moriarty feigns innocence.

Moriarty: Oh Aelita, are you saying you don't trust me?

Aelita gives the computer screen an icy look.

Moriarty: Ok. You got me. So I might have had some ulterior motives beyond survival. But it will still take longer.

Aelita: I think it's worth the effort. The idea of you having access to our vehicles, the Skid, and everything else does not fill me with confidence.

Moriarty: Fair enough.

Ulrich: Nice job catching on to Moriarty, Aelita.

William: Yeah, I don't think we would have seen that coming.

Aelita does not respond. Yumi stands farther back from Aelita than the two guys. She seems tense but remains unapologetic for what she has done. Aelita opens up some restricted areas, looking for where Jeremie has hidden Holmes from Moriarty's clutches.

Aelita: Rats. Not there. Let's hope it's the next one.

William: Why did Jeremie split up the restricted access area of the supercomputer? Did he do it when he…..lost it?

Aelita: No, he did this a long time ago.

Ulrich: Why?

Aelita: It was a computer fail safe in case Xana….or Moriarty gained access to the restricted area. That way if they managed to get in to one specific part, we wouldn't lose everything.

Moriarty: I would suggest you hurry up.

Aelita: What's the rush? This hopefully will only take a couple of minutes. The deadline for the removal of the bug isn't for another five days.

Moriarty: A nuclear war is not what I'm worried about right now….

Back in the school dorms, Jeremie sits in his room with his eyes closed, lost in a mental journey to the Network. Suddenly his eyes pop open. His entire body tenses with shock and outrage.

Jeremie: NOOOOO!

Flashes of electricity are seen through the window to his room outside the dormitory hall. Jeremie dissolves into a specter and slinks quickly towards the factory.

Moriarty: Hurry! Hurry! There's not much time!

Aelita: What are you talking about?

The group hears a strange noise above them. They listen closely and then hear it again. It sounds like a deep moan.

Yumi: What was that?

Moriarty: He's here….

The hairs of everyone's necks stand on end.

Ulrich: Aelita?

Aelita: I'm almost there. This last access point has to be it.

Jeremie's specter comes out of the ceiling and hovers over the lab room like a storm cloud.

William: Aelita?

Aelita: Just a few more seconds!

Moriarty: We don't have that time!

Jeremie's specter returns to its human form and lands on the ground next to the group. His murderous eyes focus on Aelita.

Aelita: NOW!

Aelita hits a key. The computer screen shows Moriarty's antibody program entering the restricted access point. Within a matter of seconds, Holmes' sequence code is destroyed. The giant white glob eating the Network caves in on itself and disappears. Jeremie reels like he has been punched in the gut. He unleashes a deep metallic shout of outrage that frightens the group considerably. For a brief moment the factory is quiet. Then Jeremie looks up. His pupils have been replaced with his new insignia, the Jeremie eye. He bares his teeth like a wild animal ready to strike. The group doesn't say anything, but Yumi thinks to herself, "We are so dead."

Jeremie turns to Yumi. He speaks to hear in his new demonic voice.

Jeremie: You're right. You are dead….

Yumi nearly turns white when she realizes that Jeremie read her own thoughts. But she stands her ground. She looks to William and Ulrich. They nod. The two grab Jeremie from each arm and try to take him down. But Jeremie throws the strongest guys of the group off of him like rag dolls. They land on opposite sides of the factory wall. Jeremie smiles and fires a blue electric blast at both of them. They scream in pain. But Yumi stops him by taking a running start and giving Jeremie a powerful jumping kick to the chest. He collapses to the ground. He stares at Yumi with hate.

Yumi: It's over Jeremie. Holmes is destroyed. You've lost.

Jeremie: On the contrary Yumi, Jeremie is just getting started.

He fires an electric blast at her. She writhes on the ground in pain. The blue light from his attack illuminates Jeremie's twisted face.

Jeremie: You've merely accelerated our plans. Our ultimate victory is at hand. Too bad you won't be around to see it.

Jeremie is hit by a tiny headset. He turns with annoyance to see Aelita out of the command chair, staring him down. Nothing stands between Jeremie and the computer but her own defiance. Jeremie gives her a puzzled look.

Aelita: You going to hurt me too?

Jeremie hesitates to respond at first. But then he laughs.

Jeremie: If you knew what we were capable of, you would step aside from that computer.

Aelita: I am fully aware of what you can do to me.

Jeremie: And yet you refuse to move?

Aelita: I won't let you do this Jeremie…

His face hardens and he fires a blast at her. She screams and falls to the ground. When Jeremie approaches her, his hands flare again. He extends his palm. But Ulrich and William jump on Jeremie's back and struggle against him with all their might. Jeremie throws them off again, but Yumi grabs Jeremie's leg from the ground and makes him fall. Jeremie gets up to see both Ulrich and Yumi facing him in Pencak Silat stances. William attends Aelita, trying to get her up.

Ulrich: He may be powerful, but I bet he doesn't know Pencak Silat.

Jeremie: Our godlike mind has learned all forms of martial arts around the world and mastered them to the highest degree.

He takes up his own stance.

Yumi: Well, this might be hard….

Jeremie proceeds to pummel both of them. William jumps in and tries to stop him. But even with three against one, they are no match for Jeremie. Aelita struggles to get to the computer. She looks at the computer screen angrily.

Aelita: Are you just going to sit there and do nothing?

Moriarty: Holmes is destroyed. Our deal is done. But good luck with him.

Aelita: For your information, if we don't stop Jeremie, he's going to virtualize himself into the Network and personally rip you apart!

A second of silence.

Moriarty: Of course I will do everything in my power to help you!

A scanner below them comes to life. It opens and releases a large amount of smoke. A figure emerges. Back above them, Ulrich and William have been beaten pretty badly to the floor. Jeremie is holding Yumi up against the wall. Her eyes radiate with fear.

Yumi: Jeremie!

A single finger sparking with electricity approaches her left pupil.

Jeremie: We will permanently take care of your eyes.

His finger gets closer. Ulrich crawls, trying to get to her. Aelita tries to stop him but is blown back again with electricity.

Yumi: JEREMIE NO PLEASE!

From out of nowhere, Jeremie is taken down. Yumi falls to the ground to see a possessed Odd looking over Jeremie.

Jeremie: We were wondering when Moriarty's slave would show up.

Odd: Wouldn't want to disappoint you.

Jeremie and Odd start a ferocious battle. Jeremie fires blue electricity from his hands. Odd fires back with red electricity of his own. They two hold nothing back, fighting with all of their superhuman strength. The others try to join Odd, but they are extremely weak and battered from Jeremie's attacks. Yumi crawls to Aelita as the fantastic light show continues.

Yumi: What do we do?

Aelita: I….I don't know. Either way this can't end well.

Yumi: How so?

Odd is thrown against the far side of the wall. But he quickly gets up and tackles Jeremie.

Aelita: If Odd wins, we lose Jeremie for good. But if Jeremie wins, we lose both Odd and let Jeremie take over the world.

William and Ulrich try to fight Jeremie again, but are mercilessly beaten back. Both go back down to the ground, bruised and bleeding.

Yumi: Aelita?

Aelita: I don't know!

Yumi: Could we? Should we?

Aelita: No! We can't do that! Anything but that!

Yumi: Well, he has no problem doing it to us.

Aelita: No! We can't. He may have gone mad, but he is still Jeremie.

Yumi: Is he?

Aelita is unable to answer this question. Instead, she grabs her phone.

Yumi: Who on Earth could you be calling at a time like this?

Aelita: Reinforcements.

Odd and Jeremie both turn into specters and start battling near the ceiling. The Lyoko group is unable to tell who is who. But they continue to strike each other, lighting up the entire lab room. Aelita gets off her phone.

Aelita: He's coming.

Yumi: Who? Who's coming?

Odd's specter is electrocuted. He falls back to the ground, returning to human form. Jeremie descends and transforms himself back as well. Jeremie puts a foot on his chest.

Jeremie: Odd Della Robia. You have betrayed Jeremie Belpois, the Eternal and Omnipotent. You have gone against his will and sided with Moriarty, his sworn enemy. You have fought against Jeremie Belpois and his former warrior allies, causing irreparable damage to Jeremie's mission. We as Jeremie Belpois accuse you of treason, in the highest degree. We also accuse you of assault, for daring to strike us and cause us harm. We also accuse you as an accessory to kidnapping, for assisting Moriarty in his inmprisonment of our greatness in a simulation bubble. How do you answer for your crimes against Jeremie Belpois?

Odd: Proudly guilty you scumbag!

Jeremie: Then as penalty for your crimes against us, we find that nothing less than total extermination would be suitable…..

His hands power up considerably and he prepares to give Odd a fatal blow. Yumi tries to stop him but is once again thrown back. Ulrich and William have lost consciousness.

Aelita: NO!

Before Jeremie can strike, the elevator door opens. Jeremie looks up with confused anger. Odd's Clone races out of the elevator and throws Jeremie halfway across the room.

Odd's Clone: Situation: creator has become enemy creator wanted spectral entity to stop. Programming must allow for spectral entity to stop creator in the name of the original creator. Recommended level of force: Maximum.

The real possessed Odd gets up. The two look at each other.

Odd: This is my REPLACEMENT?

Odd's Clone: Conversation pointless. Combining forces needed to stop creator.

Odd: I thought you'd never ask.

The two Odds both attack Jeremie. The odds now tip in their favor. Jeremie cannot take both at one time. After a short but nonetheless intense battle, Jeremie is beaten to the ground. He glares at his opponents in anger.

Jeremie: You merely delay me! Jeremie the Eternal and Omnipotent CANNOT BE DEFEATED!

He turns into a specter and disappears through a fissure in the floor.

Aelita: You have to stop him! If he virtualizes himself, it's all over!

The Odds quickly obey. Vicious fighting is soon heard below them. Yumi crawls to check on Ulrich. He seems to be slowly returning to consciousness.

Ulrich: What, what's happening?

Yumi: Take it easy Ulrich. You took quite a beating.

Ulrich: What beating?

Yumi: Jeremie roughed you up pretty bad. But don't worry. The Odd duo is entertaining him downstairs, making sure he doesn't take over the world.

Ulrich: Oh….that's….nice.

He falls back asleep. Yumi looks to William. He's completely out cold. Aelita struggles to raise herself into the chair. She starts typing on the computer.

Yumi: What are you doing?

Aelita: Trying to put a lock on the scanners so Jeremie can't go to the Network.

Yumi: Will that work?

Aelita rubs her head.

Aelita: Probably not.

Silence. The fighting below them gets more intense.

Yumi: Jeremie's hell-bent on getting into that scanner. I don't think the Odds will have as much luck this time.

Aelita shakes her head.

Aelita: No…..

Yumi: Isn't there anything we can do to stop him? We can't just sit here!

Yumi tries to get up, but it's difficult. Aelita closes her eyes.

Yumi: Aelita?

Aelita: Not now! I'm trying to think…..What do I do? What do I do?

Yumi hears someone screaming in pain downstairs. And it doesn't sound like Jeremie.

Yumi: Can you think faster?

Aelita digs her fingers in her hair. She seems near tears.

Aelita: I don't know! I don't know!

Yumi: Aelita please! If anyone can stop him, it's….it has to be you.

Aelita: How? I'm nothing special to him anymore. He's either forgotten me or stopped caring about what we had. I can't physically stop him. There's no way to block him from accessing the scanners. I can't reason with him. He's become the most powerful force on the planet. What am I supposed to do?

Yumi can't think of anything. She slams her fist against the floor.

Yumi: If only there was a way to use his power and insanity against him.

Aelita pauses at this thought. She taps her fingers against the keyboard pensively. An idea crosses her mind.

Aelita: He did…hesitate to attack me at first. I saw him look at me strangely, as if something were reminding him that attacking me is a bad thing.

The two are silent for a moment as Aelita continues to think. The sounds of the battle downstairs become increasingly negative. Suddenly Aelita gets up and begins to limp towards the elevator.

Yumi: Aelita, what are you doing?

She closes the elevator door.

Yumi: Aelita NO! HE'LL KILL YOU!

She goes down anyway. Downstairs, Jeremie has just destroyed Odd's Clone. He explodes into a million microscopic pieces and disappears. He throws Odd into a scanner. He approaches him sinisterly.

Jeremie: Tell your master we will be joining him shortly.

He puts his hand on the outer frame of the scanner. With a simple spark from his fingers, the scanner door closes and Odd is virtualized back into the Network. Jeremie turns to another scanner. It opens up. He looks at it hungrily.

Jeremie: At last….we will have all.

The elevator door opens right before Jermie enters the scanner. He looks at her. She is staring at him, physically weak but radiating with unconquerable courage.

Jeremie: You cannot stop us. We are a god. We will ascend to the cosmos. We will rule.

Aelita: You're right, I can't stop you.

Jeremie smiles.

Aelita: But before you go, I thought you might want to know one thing.

Jeremie: And what is there that our divine intellect does not already know?

Aelita: I've created a multi-agent program to destroy Moriarty.

Jeremie pauses.

Jeremie: Impossible…..

Aelita: It's true. While you were focusing on ruling the world I successfully remodified the multi-agent program.

Jeremie: You lie. Why would you not use it?

Aelita: Because I didn't want you to succeed.

Jeremie: WE KNEW IT! WE KNEW YOU WERE AGAINST US! NOW YOU HAVE ADMITTED IT!

Aelita: Yes…

Jeremie: But it does not matter. Jeremie will destroy Moriarty anyway. We no longer need a multi-agent program.

He starts to step into the scanner.

Aelita: You wouldn't take an opportunity to eliminate your enemy immediately?

Jeremie pauses.

Aelita: Surely your greatness will be too much for Moriarty. But it will still take you time. Perhaps more time than your greatness realizes. Precious time wasted that could be spent as leader of mankind.

Jeremie seems to hesitate.

Aelita: Why take the hard way, when you can take the easy way?

Jeremie turns to her. She can tell that he is hooked. Aelita's argument does not follow logic, but Jeremie's brain abandoned logic a while ago. His obsession to defeat Moriarty makes the temptation unbearable.

Jeremie: Tell me….

Aelita: Never! I'll never tell you!

Jeremie approaches Aelita, electricity burning in his hands. Aelita backs up against the wall, hoping and praying that her plan works. Instead of shocking her, Jeremie rubs his finger under her chin and stares at her maliciously. He laughs in her face.

Jeremie: Fool. I do not need you to tell me. I can merely take it from you!

He puts his hands on her temples and begins reading her thoughts. Aelita grabs his wrists and holds his hands there. Jeremie has fallen right into her trap. As soon Jeremie's mind enters hers, Aelita penetrates his thoughts like a beautiful angel descending into the darkness of hell. She forces him to see the awful things he has done. Aelita focuses on images of his descent into madness: his hurting the rest of the group, his creation of Holmes, his utter disregard for human life. Aelita begins speaking into his mind.

Aelita: Look at what you've become!

Jeremie lets out a painful metallic groan. He struggles against her images, but she continues to pummel him with them. Next she shows a possible future image of the Lyoko group fighting against monsters in the Mountain Sector. But these monsters are not from Moriarty, or Xana for that matter. The monsters bear a new insignia: the Jeremie eye. Jeremie notices that Ulrich is not with them.

Yumi: Hurry, it's now or never!

William: We'll never make it through!

Aelita: We have to! If we don't deactivate the tower now, Jeremie will kill innocent people!

As a desperate battle begins, Jeremie tries to break free. But he is drawn to these images, pulled in by curiosity and Aelita's will. As the battle continues, the Aelita in the vision points ahead toward the tower.

Aelita: It's him!

The group turns to see a warrior riding on top of a monster that looks like a mix between a tank and a giant tortoise. The warrior is Ulrich Stern, clad in a metallic suit, his chest burning with the Jeremie insignia. He holds out his swords and directs his fighters.

Ulrich: In the name of Jeremie the Eternal and Omnipotent, ATTACK!

Yumi: NO!

Jeremie stares at these images with confusion and shock. The battle goes poorly for the warriors. William loses in a fight with Ulrich. Ulrich holds William over the edge of the Mountain Sector, ready to drop him into the digital sea. Yumi desperately tries to stop him.

Yumi: NO ULRICH PLEASE!

William is dropped over the edge and falls into the digital sea, lost forever. Jeremie moans in pain.

Aelita: This is what you will do to us.

Jeremie's mind burns intensely.

Aelita: Where is Odd, Jeremie? Where is Odd in this picture? What will you do to him?

Jeremie cannot respond. Aelita moves to a different image. An adult Jeremie stands over a massive crowd that bows to him. Off to the side soldiers and tanks parade in his honor. The people tremble with fear before this pitiless and soulless leader. Two fighter jets swoop over him, drawing his insignia in the sky. Jeremie continues to moan.

Aelita: I've read your diary. This is EXACTLY what you wanted to avoid. You're doing what Moriarty was going to do to you in the first place!

The mold of insane lust for power in Jeremie's mind is starting to crack. Aelita begins to show him another image. Jeremie's eyes widen. He pleads in her mind.

Jeremie: No please!

Aelita: YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS!

Jeremie: Don't do this to us….to me!

Aelita: You've given me no choice.

In this image, Jeremie is standing over Aelita on the bridge to the factory. He holds her up by her neck and gives her a painful shock. He starts to strangle her. Aelita kicks and struggles, trying to get air.

Jeremie: NO!

Aelita: YOU'RE GOING TO WATCH EVERY SECOND OF THIS!

Aelita desperately tries to pull off Jeremie's murderous hands. Jeremie starts talking to himself in the image.

Jeremie: Stop it!

She pleadingly looks into his eyes.

Jeremie: You're hurting her!

Her body begins to shake uncontrollably.

Jeremie: YOU'RE KILLING HER!

The life fades from her eyes.

Jeremie: NO GOD NOOOO!

She slumps in his cold grasp, dead. Jeremie throws her body into the river. She sinks into the murky blackness.

Jeremie: NOO!

Aelita: Is this what you want?

Aelita tears into Jeremie's insane mind. His brain burns in agony. He is confused and tormented, pounded with image upon image. At last the strain begins to be too much. His mind begins to burn away. His superhuman intelligence, his divine ego, and his desire for power begin to dissolve around him. Soon nothing is left but the very core of his personality. Jeremie looks around to see a ring of fire closing in around him. He thinks it's all over, but then he sees a bright pink light above him. Aelita hovers above him in her Lyoko form, her wings attracting his gaze. She reaches out her hand to save him. At first he hesitates, but then he grabs it tightly. A shining light suddenly illuminates the darkness of his mind.

Jeremie: WE….I DON'T WANT THIS!

Aelita releases Jeremie from her mind. Jeremie collapses. She looks over him. At first she fears he's dead, but then he starts to breathe. He opens his eyes. The Jeremie insignia is gone. He lifts himself up. He looks into Aelita's eyes. An undefinable look of horror strikes his face. His voice has returned to normal.

Jeremie: Aelita….what…what did I do to myself?

Aelita does not respond. Tears well up in Jeremie's eyes.

Jeremie: Aelita…..I'm so sorry. I….I couldn't fail.

Aelita still does not answer but lowers her head, averting Jeremie's gaze. Jeremie then starts crying uncontrollably. Later around midnight, the students and faculty huddle around the TV in a spirit of celebration. Diane looks relieved.

Diane: No one knows what exactly happened to the global cyber bug that has ravaged our intercommunications and technological infrastructure for months. But it has disappeared without a trace. It has just recently been confirmed that Russia and China have eased their pressure on Europe and East Asia, respectively. The entire world diplomatic atmosphere seems to be calming down. Navies and armies across the world are withdrawing back to their own territories. Experts are hesitant to say that the crisis has ended, but that has not stopped billions of people across the world from celebrating in the streets. Within a matter of hours, the global spirit of hostility has dramatically altered to an outpouring of solidarity.

Students and faculty hug each other. Mr. Delmas puts his hand on Jim's shoulders.

Delmas: Please Jim….tell me this is really over.

Jim thinks for a second. It takes him a while to do this.

Jim: Yes sir. It's really over.

Delmas: May I collapse from exhaustion now?

Jim: Yes sir!

Delmas sinks onto the rec room couch.

Delmas: Aspirin?

Jim: Coming right up sir.

Ulrich approaches Yumi and William, who are standing in the corner near the foosball table. All of them look pretty beat up, but they are happy. Ulrich has his cellphone in his hands.

Yumi: Well?

An uncontainable grin is on his face.

Ulrich: Let's just say you'll see me tomorrow morning….and many mornings after that.

Yumi hugs him. Several tears stream down her face. All three of them are laughing and joking around, relieved that the Jeremie crisis is over. But William notices that Aelita is far away from the celebration, sitting in the back by herself.

William: Guys…

All three of them look at her.

Ulrich: Should we talk to her?

Yumi: No. She needs some time alone.

William: How long do you think she will be like this?

Yumi: I don't know. Remember she actually went inside Jeremie's mind. No telling what kind of horrible things she saw in there. It has to be a lot to take in. She frowns. I probably didn't help her too much either.

Ulrich: Do you think she'll ever be able to forgive him?

Yumi: Do you think we'll ever be able to forgive him?

The group is silent. Back in the dorms, Jeremie opens up a new video diary entry.

Video entry # 540

Guilt. Indescribable, overwhelming guilt. That is all I can feel right now. And I said I. Not we. I won't be saying that anymore…What can you do when you have done something so awful, so unspeakably evil that the entire world itself nearly imploded? I…..I can't deal with it. Just thinking about it drives me insane. And I DON'T want to go down that road again. I can't describe it. My conscience tells me I deserve to die. I deserve it, yes. But I must move on. Moriarty is still out there, and my friends…I'm not sure if I can call them my friends anymore, need me…And I desperately need them. That's the worst part. They'll never trust me again. No matter what I do they will always hate me. Even if I save the world from Moriarty, the world will never forget the horror I have caused, even if they don't know it was me who caused it.

I long to change the past, but no matter how hard I try, I cannot. But there is still the future. And I can change. Despair and overwhelming guilt will not save the world. I must move onward with the mission. I can do good. I will do it. I will be the force for good that I always should have been. I will be the leader my friends deserve. I will listen to them, and I will strive to save humanity, not simply destroy Moriarty. I cannot change who I have been, but I can control who I will become. And if I can turn myself around…..maybe…..just maybe I might be redeemed.

Part 18