Part 21
Odd tosses and turns in his sleeping bag. Nightmares continue to pummel him. But shortly after midnight, his bad dreams begin to ebb. He descends into a new vision. The first thing he notices is blinding sunlight, shortly followed by the sea. He is standing on a balcony that has a beautiful view of the Mediterranean. He turns and passes through the wall into the main apartment. Inside the rather spacious and comfortable flat, a teenager around seventeen years-old impatiently taps his foot on the floor while reading a book. Though he is much older than the boy from his original vision, Odd can recognize him.
Odd: Richard…
Richard doesn't hear him. A soccer ball rolls from the main hallway into the living room. A ten year-old comes in and starts kicking it against the wall.
Richard: Damien, you know what Mom said about playing sports in the house.
Damien: But I'm not allowed to go to the park unless someone goes with me.
Richard: Then wait for Mom or Gautier come home.
Damien: That could take forever!
Richard: I know, but if you knock over a lamp again…..
Damien: I'll be careful!
Richard: You said that last time, and Gautier still needs to fix that window.
Damien: Can't you go to the park with me so I can play?
Richard: I'm sorry Damien, I have to study.
Damien: Can't that wait?
Richard: Not if I want to pass physics.
A disappointed Damien kicks the ball back down the hallway towards his room. He notices that Richard is really on edge.
Damien: When's he coming back?
Richard: God knows.
Damien: He's marching with them again, isn't he?
Richard sighs.
Richard: Probably.
Damien: But Gautier said if he ever caught him doing it again-
Richard: I know. But I don't think he cares.
The front door opens. Richard looks up.
Richard: Speaking of the devil.
A nineteen year-old radiating with teenage angst comes through the door. Every aspect of his appearance makes his far-right wing beliefs clear. He wears camo pants, black army boots, and a white T-shirt with two letters inscribed on the front: ON. In addition to his clothes, his blonde hair is combed into perfect neatness, which makes him look hauntingly similar to a Nazi youth. He regards Richard with annoyance and heads to the fridge.
Richard: Where have you been?
Moriarty: None of your business Mom.
He takes out a carton of milk and starts drinking directly from it.
Richard: You went to the rally, didn't you?
Moriarty scowls.
Moriarty: Now what would give you that idea?
Richard: Oh I don't know. Maybe your outfit and the acronym of your little racist group on your chest.
Moriarty is offended.
Moriarty: We are the Ordre Nouveau. And we are not little. We are getting bigger every day.
Richard: I don't care how big it is. What matters is that you have joined them.
Moriarty: So what?
Richard throws up his hands.
Richard: Do you not see how wrong this is?
Moriarty: Is it wrong to be a patriot?
Richard: Intimidating minorities makes you a patriot?
Moriarty: You mean the invaders?
Richard: Oh not this nonsense again…
Moriarty: Open your eyes Richard! France is being overrun by immigrants. Just walk around town. Marseille is full of them! They are taking away our jobs. Not only that, but the crime rate has increased. Do you think that's a coincidence? Something needs to be done!
Richard: Oh shut up. What has a foreigner ever done to you?
Moriarty becomes quiet. He glares at Richard, who quickly understands the message. Richard sighs.
Richard: André…
Odd pauses. He repeats the name to himself: André.
Richard: How long are you going to hold onto that?
Moriarty: Why have you let it go?
Richard: Because I can't. I can't go on hating forever. I can't do that to myself. I miss him as much as you do, but lashing out at people who aren't French just because our dad was killed is not the answer.
Moriarty: You've let the academia get to you.
Richard: War brings out the worst in people. France is no longer at war. Stop trying to keep it alive by creating new enemies for no reason.
Moriarty: They stepped onto our soil. Do I need another reason?
Richard: Listen to yourself! Is this what he would have wanted?
Moriarty: If he was alive, we wouldn't have to wonder!
Moriarty points at Damien, who has remained quiet this entire time.
Moriarty: Instead, Damien never got to know him and has to deal with that scumbag Gautier instead.
Richard: Don't bring Damien into this! And speaking of Gautier, when he finds you-
Moriarty: Like I care what the family socialist has to say.
Richard: That family socialist is our stepfather, and you've hit his last nerve.
Moriarty: Good. We can finally see if he actually has a spine.
The door opens again. This time a stout middle-aged man with half grey and half white hair comes in. The moment he walks in the door, he glares at his eldest stepson with disdain.
Gautier: Why am I not surprised?
Moriarty doesn't say anything. He is returning Gautier's hateful look.
Gautier: I thought I told you not to associate with those street scum.
Moriarty: Street scum?
Gautier: Yes, those good-for-nothing Nazis.
Moriarty: No, you're confusing the Ordre Nouveau with the foreigners you work with.
Gautier: You dare call my co-workers that in my presence?
Moriarty: I can do worse if you want me to.
Gautier: You despicable nationalist!
Moriarty: Thank you. And you are a blood-sucking socialist…
Gautier: I didn't fight in the French Resistance to see Hitler return to my own house!
Moriarty: Oh you don't have to worry about that. I'm much better looking than he was.
Gautier fumes.
Gautier: I'd suggest you change your tone. You are treading on very thin ice.
Moriarty: And if you were treading on it, you'd fall right through.
Damien giggles at this insult. Gautier turns around angrily. Richard puts his hand over Damien's mouth.
Gautier: Don't push me….
Moriarty: Or what?
Gautier: Or it's going to end very badly for you.
Moriarty: Whatever.
He starts to walk away.
Gautier: Don't you walk away from me!
When Moriarty refuses to obey, Gautier grabs his shoulder.
Gautier: I suppose you think I'm all talk and no action.
Moriarty: Past experience would support that notion.
Gautier: I haven't done anything because your mother told me to be patient with you. Said you would grow out of it. She told me that when you were thirteen. You're nineteen now! When are you going to grow up?
Moriarty: I have. You just haven't been paying attention.
Gautier: Mature adults do not beat up children!
Moriarty raises an eyebrow.
Gautier: Don't think I haven't heard what you and your friends did to that Greek boy.
Moriarty: He was asking for it.
Gautier: HE WAS TWELVE!
Moriarty: Young or not, he doesn't belong here!
Gautier: You think you're so much better than them! But you're wrong. They are far more civilized than you'll ever be. They are productive members of society, while you associate with Marseille's rejects, continue to be unemployed, and have refused to go to university.
Moriarty: Yes. Because they're full of socialists like you.
Gautier: I would watch the political insults if I were you. May I remind you that I am the one who puts a roof over your head!
Moriarty: A roof that you still haven't fixed, by the way.
Gautier: THIS IS MY HOUSE! You will treat me with respect!
Moriarty: I would. If there was anything to respect.
Gautier: I'VE HAD IT! EITHER LEAVE THE O.N. AND ACT LIKE A CIVILIZED HUMAN BEING OR I'LL-
Moriarty: You'll what?
Gautier's face is really red now. He seems at the point of losing control.
Moriarty: Talk talk. Let's see some action for once.
This is the last straw. Gautier takes a swing and punches Moriarty across the face. Moriarty goes down. Moriarty is in pain. A trickle of blood runs down his face. But there is a strange and eager smile on his face.
Richard: André, don't-
Moriarty: Finally…
Moriarty unleashes all his fury on Gautier. Gautier is strong, but he is too old to hold his own against someone in the prime of his life. Moriarty backs him up against the refrigerator and nails him in the gut. Gautier goes down. Moriarty seems eager to continue the beating.
Damien: NO! STOP IT!
Richard grabs onto Moriarty and tries to hold him back. Moriarty throws him off and punches him square in the face. Richard goes down. Damien goes to his side and starts to cry.
Moriarty: You're as bad as him!
Gautier struggles to get up. He points to the door.
Gautier: GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!
Moriarty: Gladly!
Gautier: AND DON'T YOU DARE COME BACK!
Moriarty slams the door. The loud slam jolts Odd awake. He rises and scratches his head. After giving Kiwi an affectionate rub, he reaches for his cellphone.
Odd: Jeremie?...Yeah, it happened again.
Several hours later William, Aelita, and Jeremie appear at the vending machine. William fills his cup with hot chocolate and leans against the wall. Aelita and Jeremie stand at opposite ends of each other.
William: How's he doing?
Aelita: Still shaken. But better.
William: Good to hear.
Jeremie: Ulrich and Yumi are still pretty out of it though.
Aelita is quiet for a moment.
Aelita: Yes.
William: How so?
Jeremie: Ulrich has shut himself in his room whenever he can.
William: Moping?
Jeremie: No. Not exactly. He's just been emotionally torn to shreds. You don't heal from that easily. And Yumi isn't any better. She isn't talking to anyone. And every time I mention Moriarty her eyes just become….murderous.
Aelita: Well, Moriarty just abused her in an unimaginable way. What do you expect?
William is eager to change the subject. He points across the courtyard.
William: Hey, isn't that Natalya?
Aelita looks up.
Aelita: Yep. That's her.
Jeremie: You mentioned that she's rooming with you?
Aelita is quiet again.
William: Aelita?
Aelita: Yes. She is. But I haven't gotten to know her very well.
William: Why not?
Aelita: She's been rather…..busy.
Theo approaches Natalya. She instantly becomes annoyed.
Theo: Hey, where are you going?
Natalya: Away from you.
Theo: What gives? I thought we had something.
Natalya: Yes. Had something. As in past tense.
Theo: You telling me that was a one-night thing?
Natalya: I thought you knew that.
Theo: No I really didn't.
Natalya: Oh. I guess I forgot to mention that.
Theo: So you're just going to leave me?
Natalya: Pretty much. She smiles. You were very sweet. And you have far more brains than some of the Russian guys I've had to deal with. But then again, that's not saying much.
She walks away, leaving Theo stunned.
Jeremie: She moves fast.
Aelita: Mathias, Theo, Thomas. I can't keep up with them anymore.
William: Any idea when she's going to stop?
Aelita: Well, there are only so many guys at Kadic…
Jeremie: I'd rather not think about that. He picks up his laptop. I'm going….He thinks for a moment. I mean, Aelita, is it ok if I go to the factory?
She doesn't give him eye contact.
Aelita: Why do you want to go there?
Jeremie: I want to start a new program that will hopefully make you immune to Moriarty possessions.
William: And how would you do that?
Jeremie: If I activate a tower of my own, I should be able to plant a virus into one of the data streams in Sector 5. This virus could steal some important data from Moriarty, hopefully one that could tell me a lot about the virtual format of Moriarty's specters.
William: And what good would that do?
Jeremie: Imagine that Moriarty's specters are germs, and the stolen data is like dead bacteria. If your body studies the dead bacteria long enough, they can form antibodies to resist it in the future. If I follow the same strategy, I should be able to create a program of inhibitors that will protect your neural synapses from Moriarty's specters. All I need to do is expose you to the program in the scanners and presto! Instant spectral immunity.
William: …What?
Jeremie: Aelita?
Aelita: Go ahead.
Jeremie leaves.
William: Think he can do it?
Aelita: Maybe.
William can tell Aelita would rather not talk about it. He takes a sip of his hot chocolate. He spots Emmanuel and Christophe coming out of one of the main buildings.
William: Here we go again.
Aelita: Here we go what again?
William: Just watch.
Christophe: I'm telling you man, the guy gives me weird vibes.
Emmanuel: Yeah he's weird. But it's a cool weird.
Christophe: No, I really think it's just a weird weird.
Emmanuel: And what makes you say that?
Christophe: I….I don't know. Something is just…really different about him.
Emmanuel: Yes. He's different. He's different from all the other teachers here, and in a good way. He's only been here a few weeks and already he has become one of the most popular teachers on campus. Do you think that's a coincidence?
Christophe: No I don't. And that's what makes me feel a little uneasy.
Emmanuel: His sudden rise in popularity? That's what makes you not like him? If everyone else likes him, you have to rebel and not like him?
Christophe lowers his eyebrows.
Christophe: Hey, it's not like that. It's just…
Emmanuel: What?
Christophe: It just seems like….like he has an agenda.
Emmanuel: He does. He wants this school to be reformed. And I can't blame him. Don't you want change?
Christophe: That depends on the change.
Emmanuel: You're hopeless.
Christophe: Take for example, our last class. When he was talking about Japan. Don't you think he went a little far in his….judgment? And with Yumi right in the class?
Emmanuel: So he took the oriental down a peg. Who cares?
Emmanuel walks off and Christophe's eyes get very wide.
Christophe: If I didn't know you better, I would say that was extremely racist.
Christophe walks out of sight. William takes another sip.
William: They've been doing that for a while.
Aelita: I thought they were really good friends.
William: They are. But ever since Moriarty showed up, they've been divided on him.
Aelita: Well, at least we know that not everyone is listening to Moriarty.
William: But so many are. At least in the 10th grade. He's been telling them the things they want to hear, and they are starting to love him for it. Every World History class is transformed into his personal progaganda session. And they are buying it.
Aelita idly kicks her legs against the bench.
Aelita: He's doing the same thing in Ancient and Medieval History with the 9th grade.
William turns.
William: He is? How?
Aelita: Very deviously.
Aelita begins to tell the story of a particular class. Moriarty is showing them a map of Ancient Europe.
Moriarty: Class, this map shows the Roman Empire at its fullest extent in the year 117 A.D., under the emperor Trajan.
The class is somewhat bored. Ulrich sits next to Aelita, while Jeremie sits next to Odd's clone.
Moriarty: The Roman Empire was, for lack of a better word, one of, if not the greatest empire in human history. For the people who lived in it at the time, the empire encompassed most of the known world. Not only was it massive, it was also one of the longest surviving empires ever to appear on Earth.
He turns to the class.
Moriarty: Which brings up the question, when did the Roman Empire fall?
No one replies.
Moriarty: Ahem, Sissi?
Sissi looks up, obviously unprepared.
Sissi: Um….a hundred years ago?
Laughter ensues. Moriarty rubs his forehead.
Moriarty: Not exactly. Anyone else?
Herb raises his hand.
Moriarty: Yes Mr. Pinchon?
Herb: 476 A.D.
Moriarty: Very good Mr. Pinchon. Yes, around that time what was known as the Western Roman Empire disappeared, leading Europe into the Dark Ages, a barbaric period of time that took centuries to overcome. The Eastern half survived for another thousand years until it was swallowed by the Turks.
He looks to the map.
Moriarty: In less than four hundred years, this invincible empire would be gone. Now granted, four hundred years is a very long time. But it does raise the question. How could such a mighty power, completely unchallenged on the world stage, fall so dramatically?
He looks around.
Moriarty: Mr. Della Robbia? His eyebrows dance with an evil glee.
Odd's Clone: Processing enemy's query….
Jeremie nudges the clone with his shoulder.
Odd's Clone: Error. Request of teacher subject.
Moriarty: Odd, are you….ok?
Some classmates snicker.
Odd's Clone: Affirmative.
Moriarty: Do we need to talk to Dr. Klotz again?
Odd's Clone: Negative.
Moriarty: Then if you would be so kind as to answer the question.
Odd's Clone: Infighting between generals for position of emperor, plagues that decimated populations in third century A.D., as well as devastating invasions from Germanic tribes.
Moriarty: All of those are correct. But you haven't gotten to the heart of the matter.
Odd's clone leans to Jeremie.
Odd's Clone: Enemy's query did not involve the human cardiovascular system.
Jeremie: It's….an expression.
Moriarty: Let me make this a little clearer. What happens when an empire becomes so enormously successful and wealthy that the people can live extremely comfortably?
Herb: …..They get lazy?
Moriarty: Exactly. Some historians have argued that the very success of the Romans proved to be their downfall. Wealth from all over the empire flowed into the Eternal City. Slaves began doing the tasks ordinary Romans used to do. Gladitorial games entertained the masses with increasingly more spectacular displays of gore. As the years went on, the soldiers of the empire began coming from the outer provinces instead of Italy itself. Only officers actually came from Rome proper. Eventually when the barbarians began to invade, they allowed other not as hostile barbarian tribes to settle as long as they would fight the more hostile ones. Eventually it got so bad that barbarian chiefs controlled large swaths of land inside the empire. The empire became so weak that when the Germanic chief Odoacer demanded land in Italy in reward for his service and was denied, he merely took over.
He pauses.
Moriarty: Their own success proved their undoing. When they started relying on non-Romans to continue the hard work of their ancestors, their little comfortable dream shattered.
Ulrich: Moriarty has found a new way of torture.
Aelita turns.
Aelita: What's that?
Ulrich: Boring me to death.
Moriarty: The collapse of this empire proves a disturbing point. No major power lasts forever. Every empire, no matter how strong at any particular point in time, is capable of falling. We should all take this lesson to heart.
Odd's Clone: Another cardiac query?
Jeremie: Not now Odd.
Moriarty notices Sissi is filing her nails. He pounces.
Moriarty: Including you, Miss Delmas!
Sissi has that blank look on her face again.
Moriarty: The Romans have a lot to teach you Sissi.
Sissi becomes confused and annoyed.
Sissi: But why? What does an empire collapsing so long ago have to do with me?
Moriarty forms an eerily creepy smile. Aelita gives Ulrich a look that says, "Oh no. Here he goes."
Moriarty: I'm so glad you asked Sissi. Why does the story of the Romans pertain to me?
He taps the desk with his ruler. His eyes pulsate with thought.
Moriarty: If the Romans establish the fact that every empire can fall, what does that say about us?
Herb raises his hand, but Moriarty ignores him. He looks to Jeremie.
Moriarty: Jeremie?
Jeremie swallows. Moriarty's gaze bears down on him heavily.
Jeremie: That current world powers can also fall.
Moriarty: Exactly.
He moves in for the kill.
Moriarty: Question. Would you consider us a powerful, modern nation?
Class nods in agreement.
Moriarty: Interesting. And would you consider us a successful and mostly comfortable people?
More nods.
Moriarty: I see. And just out of interest, who does most of our manual labor?
Silence. Jeremie curses. They have fallen into his trap. Moriarty feigns sincere curiosity and innocence.
Moriarty: In all honesty. Who does most of our manual labor? Do native French people do it most of the time? Or does it come elsewhere?
Herb: Recently, immigrants from lesser developed nations have fulfilled that niche.
Moriarty: Oh now I get it. We get immigrants to do the work we don't want. Fake alarm comes on Moriarty's face. Now wait a minute. Where have I heard that before?
Class gets the memo.
Aelita: Should have seen that coming.
Ulrich: What do we do?
Aelita: What can we do? This isn't Lyoko. We're just students here. He can do anything here.
Moriarty: Remember class. No empire, or world power for that matter, is invulnerable. And if a threat doesn't rise from the outside….well…..it can always come from somewhere else.
Ulrich, Aelita, and Jeremie can tell the students are thinking critically about what Moriarty has said.
Moriarty: Not that I would be suggesting that this will happen to us. Times have changed. Nations are not permanently conquered anymore. And after all, we are not an empire. Who is the real 'imperial' superpower on the world stage today?
Sissi raises her hand.
Sissi: The United States!
Moriarty: Congratulations Miss Delmas. For a moment, I was afraid you would say the Soviet Union.
More laughter. Sissi fumes.
Moriarty: No one can deny that the United States is a world leader. It has been the most powerful nation on Earth for much of the twentieth century up to the present time. Compared to the Romans, that's not a very long time. We could expect this trend to continue.
He sits down at his desk and smiles. A chill goes down the warriors' spines.
Moriarty: But like I said…every empire falls. As long as there is some nation, or someone, ready to take its place.
Aelita finishes the story. William finishes his hot chocolate.
William: Is there anything that he can't twist to his agenda?
Aelita: Apparently not.
Pause.
William: What are we going to do about him?
Aelita: I don't know. I just don't know.
William: Why would he decide to become our teacher anyway?
Aelita: To torture us and cause trouble at the school. Isn't that obvious?
William: …I have a feeling he doesn't want to stop there.
Aelita: What do you mean?
William looks away.
William: You know, we made a pretty good team on Lyoko last time.
Aelita: Yes. We…we did what we had to do.
William: We are going to have to be if we face those elephants again.
Aelita: Mastodons.
William: What?
Aelita: Mastodons. That's what Odd decided to name the monster.
William: Why?
Aelita: Because he thought calling them elephants was stupid.
William shrugs.
William: Works for me.
Aelita looks at William intently.
Aelita: Are you alright?
William looks surprised.
William: Alright? Of course I'm alright. Why wouldn't I be alright?
Aelita: Well, your worst enemy is now your history teacher, and he just tried to take advantage of your feelings for Yumi.
Pause.
William: True.
Aelita: Well….?
William: Can't say it hasn't affected me. He gets up. But it might be for the best.
Aelita: Why?
William: I've finally gotten over Yumi.
Aelita: …..You…you have? How?
William: I don't know. I can't really explain it. But when both Yumi and her dark Lyoko form tried to seduce me….something in me changed. I….I couldn't see her the same way I used to. Granted, it wasn't her fault, but it's left a mark. During that mission, I realized that as long as I had feelings for Yumi, Moriarty was going to use it against me. I couldn't allow that. Both for myself and for the group.
Aelita: So what did you do?
William: …I cut the strings….permanently.
Aelita: Just like that?
William: Pretty much.
Aelita: You just turned off your feelings for her? Is it possible to do that so easily?
William: Apparently stabbing the evil version of your love interest on Lyoko helps.
Aelita grins a little at this.
Aelita: So if it's not Yumi anymore, who's it going to be?
William: It may not be anyone. I can't afford to have any weaknesses against him.
Aelita: But you're still human, and you shouldn't forget that. Don't let Moriarty numb you.
William: I'll keep that in mind, but there is really no girl I'm interested in right now.
Aelita smiles.
Aelita: What about Natalya? I'm sure she'd be willing.
William rolls his eyes.
William: Natalya…..is not exactly my type.
Aelita: That's one way of putting it.
Later on that day, Herb is backed against a wall in the hallway. Fellow nine-graders Theo and Romain attack their helpless victim.
Theo: Hold his arms! I'll go for the glasses!
Romain: Got it.
Herb: LET ME GO!
Theo: Hold him still!
Romain: I'm trying! The nerd's squirming too much!
Theo triumphantly takes away his glasses. A sadistic grin crosses his face.
Herb: I said….LET ME GO!
Romain: No problem….
Romain pushes him to the ground. Herb struggles to get up. Without his glasses, he becomes nearly blind. He gropes for them, but his tormentors keep them out of reach. Theo cocks back his arm.
Theo: Hey, Romain, catch!
Herb tries to intercept the pass, but Romain gets a hold of it.
Romain: Oh, too slow.
Herb: GIVE THOSE BACK!
Romain: You're going to have to work for it!
He passes it back to Theo.
Herb: THIS ISN'T FUNNY!
Theo: Pretty funny from where I'm standing…
Herb burns with anger and humiliation. He turns to Theo.
Herb: You know, just because your Russian girl dumped you doesn't mean you have to take it out on me!
Theo's face becomes far more sinister.
Romain: Oh, you're in trouble now.
Theo drives his fist into Herb's stomach. He doubles over in pain.
Theo: At least girls can look at me without being disgusted.
The last statement hurts worst than the punch. Theo prepares to deliver more punishment, but he is interrupted by the sound of footsteps in the hallway.
Moriarty: So how goes your progress with Odd?
Klotz rubs his head.
Klotz: In all my years, I have never seen such a complicated case. It's as if he's had a complete change of personality. I haven't gotten anywhere with him so far. All he gives me are these weird, robotic phrases and sentences. I think he might have buried his emotions and come up with this new persona to deal with the pain.
Moriarty: Keep working on him. I'm sure you'll make progress soon.
Klotz: I hope so.
They stop in their tracks when they come upon the scene. The teachers' eyebrows are immediately furrowed in outrage. Although Moriarty's reaction is a bit fake. Theo and Romain stop everything, hoping to look innocent.
Klotz: I see my strict 'No Bullying' policy became unenforced during my absence.
Moriarty: How old are you two, five years-old? This is no way to behave.
Theo and Romain lower their heads.
Theo: Sir, it's not what you think.
Romain: We were just messing around with him.
Klotz: Like I haven't heard that one before!
Moriarty: If that's true, why do you have his glasses?
Theo, realizing his mistake, tries to hide the glasses behind his back. Klotz's face becomes red. Moriarty holds out his hand. Theo reluctantly gives him the glasses. Theo and Romain look at each other, bracing themselves for the sentence.
Moriarty: Hans, would you care to take these two to the principal's office?
Klotz: Gladly.
Moriarty: I'll help Mr. Pinchon.
Klotz drags Theo and Romain away. Moriarty helps Herb up.
Moriarty: Are you alright?
Herb: Yes…I think so….Thank you.
Moriarty hands him his glasses.
Moriarty: I'm terribly sorry you had to go through that. I assure you, they won't get away with it.
Herb huffs.
Herb: Maybe, but it really doesn't matter.
Moriarty: And why is that?
Herb: I'm still the nerd. You may deal with them, but they'll be back. They always come back. And even if they don't, there's always someone there to take their place. He sighs and looks at the floor. You teachers try your best, don't get me wrong, but there's only so much you can do. Nothing's going to change. It just never ends.
Moriarty puts a hand on his shoulder.
Moriarty: Just remember that you'll have the last laugh.
Herb: You mean when I graduate?...Yeah I guess so. But in the meantime, I'm powerless…
Herb starts to walk away. Moriarty smiles.
Moriarty: Who says you have to wait until you leave Kadic?
Herb halts and raises an eyebrow. He turns around.
Herb: Sir?
Moriarty: Surely the ultimate reward for you shouldn't be just to escape Kadic.
Herb: I….I don't understand what you're talking about.
Moriarty: Maybe not now. But you will. Sooner than you think.
He starts to walk away. But then he stops and turns his head back to Herb.
Moriarty: You're a brilliant student Herb. No one can deny that. Your future is bright. But your ultimate fate should not be to work as a humble software designer for the rest of your life and make a lot of money in a world that still doesn't respect you. He pauses. You are capable of so much more. And though you don't know it yet, you can turn the tables at this school. If you put your mind to it…
Moriarty walks away, leaving Herb in a deep trance of thought. An hour later, Yumi walks along the portico of one of the school buildings. She comes to a window outside Moriarty's classroom. She can see him inside. A tide of rage rolls over her. She takes out a small packet of something from her pocket.
Yumi: Ok Moriarty, let's see how you like wasabi in your coffee.
She looks for an opportunity for Moriarty to leave the room. Instead, Delmas opens the door. Yumi keeps out of sight.
Moriarty: Yes?
Delmas: Sébastien, there are some gentlemen here to see you.
Moriarty: I see. And who are these gentlemen?
Delmas: They….they didn't say.
A sudden twitch of anticipation appears on Moriarty's face. He bites his lip.
Moriarty: Ok. Tell them to come in.
Delmas leaves. A few seconds later two rather large men in black suits and sunglasses enter the room. They quickly regard Moriarty with an air of reserved hostility. Moriarty merely smiles.
Moriarty: Why hello there. How can I help you?
Agent 1: Dr. Sébastien Renard?
Moriarty: You're speaking with him.
Agent 2: Then, by order of the French government, we must place you under arrest.
Moriarty pretends to be horrified.
Moriarty: Arrest me? Why, whatever have I done?
Agent 1: Don't play dumb with us Renard, you know exactly why we're here.
Moriarty: ….Maybe I do. But do you know why you're here?
Agent 2: We have orders to take you into custody. We don't need to know anymore.
Moriarty: I would beg to differ.
Agent 1: You are wanted for treason against the state.
Moriarty: Funny how you call me a traitor when the average French citizen doesn't know what YOU are doing.
Agent 2: That is not our concern! You will come with us!
Moriarty: Do you even know who you are?
Agent 1: We know what we need to know.
Moriarty: Les invisibles…..
Agents 1 and 2 look to each other.
Agent 1: The very fact you know our name means you know too much.
Agent 2: Come on!
They reach for Moriarty's arms, but their hands phase right through. The agents back up in shock. Moriarty rises, a shadow of hate cast over his face.
Moriarty: Oh, but I'm afraid you know too little.
The door shuts. The agents suddenly become tense.
Moriarty: For instance, do you know that you're not leaving this room alive?
The agents draw their pistols, but Moriarty magnetizes them to the ceiling.
Agent 1: WHAT THE-!
Moriarty: I bet after all these years, you thought I was dead.
Agent 2: THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE!
Moriarty: So sorry to disappoint you.
The agents back up, trying to hide their fear.
Agent 1: Stand down!
Agent 2: Assaulting a government officer will get you the maximum penalty in prison!
Moriarty: Then I appear out of the blue after all these years, never bothering to change my name.
Agent 1: You will obey us!
Moriarty: Did it ever cross your mind that I WANTED you to find me. That this might be…..a trap.
Yumi watches this scene with confusion and suspense.
Agent 2: Renard, you know who we are.
Moriarty: You chased me like a wild animal throughout Europe for years.
Agent 1: And you know we have powerful allies.
Moriarty: Now it's my turn to return the favor!
Moriarty unleashes electricity onto them. They shriek in pain and go to the ground. Yumi puts her hand over her mouth. The agents try to get up.
Agent 1: You….you won't get away with this.
Agent 2: The others will come for you!
Moriarty puts his foot on Agent 2's chest. There is a wild maliciousness in his eyes. The Moriarty of contemplative shrewdness and control seems to have vanished.
Moriarty: Exactly what I want.
Agent 1: What are you talking about?
Moriarty: I can't wait to kill them as well.
Agent 2 reaches for his earpiece to call for backup, but it levitates into the air. Moriarty crushes it with a motion of his palm.
Agent 1: You…YOU CAN'T DO THIS!
Moriarty: Oh but I can.
A storm of electricity emanates from Moriarty's body, lighting up the agents terrified faces. Indescribable wickedness and rage seethe from Moriarty.
Moriarty: AND YOU WILL PAY FOR WHAT YOU DID TO ANTHEA!
Moriarty strikes them with horrifying ferocity. The agents' screams are muffled by the sheer amount of volts frying their brains. They catch on fire and writhe. Moriarty increases his power, causing the agents' bodies to literally disintegrate into dust. In a matter of moments, the two agents are reduced to nothing. Outside, Yumi, whose face has become whiter than paper, loses the ability to stand. She sinks to the ground in shock, body shaking. She holds her chest, struggling to breathe. Delmas walks back into the room.
Delmas: Sébastien?
Moriarty: Yes?
Delmas: Have those men already left?
Moriarty: Yes. I'm afraid you just missed them.
Delmas: Oh. Well, what did they want?
Moriarty: Nothing too important.
Yumi slowly gets up and walks down the portico, her face frozen by expressionless trauma. Overcome by a sudden feeling of nausea, she leans over a trash can and throws up. She robotically makes herself enter the rec room. Jeremie and Ulrich pass the time with a game of foosball. William leans against the wall, watching. Aelita watches TV in the corner. Jeremie turns when Yumi comes in.
Jeremie: Oh. Hey Yumi.
He turns away, but quickly turns back, realizing with a second glance that Yumi is not at all okay.
Jeremie: Yumi! You look terrible!
The others also recognize it and quickly hurry to her side. Ulrich takes her hand.
Ulrich: Yumi….What happened to you?
Yumi looks into his face, unable to answer. Her only response is an inaudible scream of terror coming from her pupils.
William: Sit her down on the couch! Give her some room!
The others obey. Yumi lets them sit her down. Aelita gets up and watches the door. Luckily, they are the only ones in the room.
Ulrich: Give….give her some water!
Jeremie quickly gets her a glass of water. He puts it in her hand. Yumi holds it, but her face is still hollow. Her only visible reaction is the water in her glass vibrating with her shaking body. Ulrich sits down next to her.
Ulrich: Yumi…..
Nothing.
Ulrich: Yumi, talk to me.
Still nothing. Ulrich puts a hand on her shoulder. Her skin is very cold.
Ulrich: Yumi. Look at me.
She obeys.
Ulrich: I want you to drink some water and then….slowly….tell us what's wrong.
Yumi takes a look at her glass, almost surprised it is there. She slowly brings it to her lips and takes several sips. The water helps bring her out of her shock.
Yumi: …..Mo….Moriarty.
Jeremie: Yes?
More fear comes to the surface.
Yumi: …He just killed two people.
Dead silence. The only sound in the room is the hum from the lights on the ceiling.
William: He…he committed murder?
Aelita: WHO? WHO DID HE KILL?
Yumi: They….they looked like government agents.
Jeremie: …How did he do it?
Yumi explodes after this blunt question.
Yumi: HE FRIED THEIR (expletive) BRAINS AND BURNED THEM ALIVE! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK HAPPENED?
Pause. The temperature in the room drops twenty degrees.
Jeremie: Why did he do it?
Aelita lashes out at Jeremie.
Aelita: WILL YOU STOP ASKING HER QUESTIONS? CAN'T YOU SEE SHE'S COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED?
Jeremie quickly shuts up. Ulrich does his best to comfort her. William paces. Aelita sits next to Yumi.
Aelita: It's going to be ok. Just try to relax.
Yumi: …..There's nothing left of them. Just dust.
Aelita: Take it easy, ok?
Ulrich: It's over now.
She shakes her head.
Yumi: It's not over. I…I CAN'T UNSEE THAT! I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO WIPE THAT IMAGE FROM MY MIND!
Ulrich and Aelita are quiet. Yumi turns to Aelita.
Yumi: Aelita?
Aelita: Yes?
Yumi: What did you say your mother's name was again?
Aelita is thrown off by such a random question at a time like this. She pauses.
Aelita: Anthea….why?
Yumi stares into space. She turns away.
Yumi: No reason.
Jeremie meets with William away from the couch.
Jeremie: This….this is not good.
William: And the understatement of the year award goes to…
Jeremie: Enough! Focus for a second!
William gives him his attention.
Jeremie: Two government agents are dead. You can't hide something like that. I don't know what they wanted with Moriarty, but it's obvious the government has found out about Moriarty or will very quickly. The secrecy of our mission is in danger.
William: Well, maybe that's a good thing. Moriarty is in the real world now. He's dangerous. Maybe it's better that people start to know. It could really help us.
Jeremie: …Or seriously backfire.
William turns over the issue in his mind.
William: What do we do?
Jeremie: We need to go into the Network and destroy that parasite.
William: What? I thought you said it was very heavily defended. Isn't that a big risk?
Jeremie: Are you willing to let Moriarty take more human life?
William sees reason in this. He looks to Yumi, who is still shaken.
Jeremie: As soon as Yumi gets a hold of herself, I'm sure they will be willing to go.
Forty minutes later, the Skid cruises through the depths of the Network.
Jeremie: You are getting very close. The core of the parasite is 15 degrees west of your current position.
The group takes a good look at the nearby databases. Some of them are slowly turning black. Cables grow out of infected databases, infecting new ones when the cables come in contact with them.
Yumi: I think we can already see it.
Ulrich: Those cable things keep on growing and spreading. It's like a disease.
Jeremie: And that's how Moriarty has become so powerful lately. He's infecting the Network, drawing power and information from it. And it looks like his appetite cannot be satisfied.
Aelita brings the Skid around. She comes to a long and narrow channel between two clusters of databases.
Jeremie: Continue down this passage. This section of the Network is full of paths that all lead directly to Moriarty's core, like the avenues to the Arc de Triomphe.
Ulrich: Works for me. Let's blow this thing.
The color in the Network changes from blue to purple.
William: That can't be a good sign.
Aelita: Get ready. No telling what's in store for us.
Yumi: Great. It's like the spheres all over again.
Turrets suddenly appear out of the left and right walls of the passage. They aim for the Skid.
Ulrich: Uh oh.
They open fire from all sides. The shield of the Skid protects them, but it is quickly weakening under the onslaught.
William: Jeremie, we can't take much more of this!
Aelita: Fire all weapons!
The Skid opens up on the turrets. But there are too many to take out all of them. The shields begin to give.
Yumi: What do we do?
Aelita makes a split second decision.
Aelita: Disembark! If we make multiple targets it will be harder for them to keep track of us.
The Nav Skids break off. William heads to the top of the passage, keeping close to the ceiling hoping to keep out of firing range. Yumi breaks off to the left, slipping through a gap in the passage to go down another one close by. Ulrich does the same except to the right. He swings left once he finds a wide open path to the core. He accelerates. The Skid descends slightly and plows forward. Despite the split-up, the Skid continues to be ravaged by laserfire. One blast rocks it completely. The impact makes Aelita fall over onto her controls.
Jeremie: Aelita, get out of there! If you stay you'll be destroyed.
Aelita balls her fists in frustration.
Aelita: It's up to them now.
Aelita retreats out of the passage to an open part of the Network outside the cluster of databases protecting the core. Meanwhile Yumi continues down her strait, expertly avoiding laserfire.
Yumi: Jeremie, how close am I?
Jeremie: 600 meters and closing…
Yumi warms up her torpedoes.
Yumi: Time for some sweet revenge.
She momentarily glances at her navigation map. This lapse in attention allows one of the turrets to score a direct hit on her. She spins wildly. The turrets now start to hammer her mercilessly.
Jeremie: Yumi, GET OUT OF THERE! YOU'RE A SITTING DUCK!
She curses when she notices how low her shields are. She falls back to the Skid.
Yumi: I'll get you next time.
Back in the original passage, William continues to flirt with the ceiling. William's strategy is working, as his position mostly falls outside turret firing range.
William: I'm so going to enjoy this.
Jeremie: Be careful William, the defenses are about to get more intense.
William: I got this.
Suddenly one large turret opens up with a powerful, continuous laser beam. William pulls up to avoid it, only to slam into the ceiling. He ricochets and comes under major fire. William is completely disoriented from the blow.
Jeremie: WILLIAM! RETREAT! YOU'RE IN DANGER!
William moans. Through his blurry vision he can see his shields falling.
Jeremie: WILLIAM!
William doesn't respond. But deep inside William's mind, another presence makes itself known.
Xana: FOOL! WAKE UP!
William: Uh….not you again.
Xana: I have no intention of dying with you today! Retreat!
William: Can't…..My head.
Xana: Then allow me.
William's hands mechanically go for the controls. William flies out of danger, controlling his Nav Skid like a sleepwalker. He emerges at the other side with Yumi and Aelita.
Aelita: Had us scared there for a minute.
William resumes control. He rubs his head, not able to remember the experience of escaping.
Yumi: Are you alright?
William: I'm…I'm fine.
Ulrich, the last man standing, plows through to his goal. He notices a crystalline sphere at the end of the tunnel.
Ulrich: Jeremie, I can see it!
Jeremie: It's up to you Ulrich. Keep going!
Ulrich: No problem. Moriarty goes down today!
But intensive turret fire begins to get the best of him. His Nav Skid is rocked considerably, but he forces himself to continue. He ignores the red warnings on his shield monitors.
Jeremie: Ulrich, you're taking too much damage!
Ulrich: No, don't worry about me! I still have a little more time!
More hits and the warnings intensify. Ulrich's shields are almost gone.
Jeremie: ULRICH! FALL BACK!
Ulrich: I'M ALMOST THERE!
Jeremie: ULRICH IF YOU DON'T FALL BACK NOW-
Ulrich: JUST TRUST ME!
Yumi screams at him over the intercom.
Yumi: ULRICH LISTEN TO HIM! THIS IS NO TIME FOR HEROICS!
Ulrich doesn't respond.
Yumi: ULRICH!
Ulrich: Just a little further….
Ulrich warms up his torpedoes. He can now see the sphere clearly. His targeting computer zooms in. But without warning, one lucky turret blast decimates his Nav Skid. All traces of Ulrich are wiped out in a fiery explosion. The green dot indicating Ulrich on the Skid's main screen disappears. Aelita stares at it, speechless.
Aelita: No…no it…..it can't be.
Jeremie: I….I don't see him on any of my screens. I….No. No he….he couldn't have been eternally virtualized. He…HE JUST CAN'T!
William presses the intercom.
William: Yumi?
Yumi doesn't answer. Her body is entirely still within her Nav Skid. The light has died from her eyes. She opens her mouth, but nothing comes out. She tries her best to stave off reality, desperately holding onto a hope that is rapidly failing. But eventually she loses her grip. She quietly curls up into the fetal position, blocking out the world.
Aelita: No. It….It must be a glitch in the sensors. He couldn't have just….died!
Jeremie takes off his earpiece, solemnly accepting the truth. A tear falls from his eye.
Jeremie: Why didn't he listen?
Aelita: We'll go in to find him!
Jeremie: You can't. You've taken too much damage.
Aelita lowers her head.
William: It would only endanger all of us.
Aelita silently concedes. The Skid quietly makes its way to Lyoko. The three utterly crestfallen warriors exit the scanners. Aelita immediately starts to cry. William allows her to do so on his shoulders. He turns to Yumi, who seems to have completely left this world. She mechanically walks to the elevator and presses the button.
William: Yumi.
The doors open.
William: Yumi, where are you going?
She answers through a choked sob.
Yumi: Anywhere but here.
When the doors close, she leans on the metal walls, staring at the floor. Her tears begin to fall slowly and methodically down her face. A few minutes later, when William and Aelita exit the elevator into the lab room, Jeremie walks past them into the elevator. His head hangs low.
Jeremie: I searched everywhere. I….I can't deny the facts. Ulrich's gone.
Pause.
Jeremie: I'm going to Kadic. I need to work some things out.
The elevator doors close. Aelita and William are left in the lab room alone. They immediately separate. Aelita sits next to the holomap, resting her head against her knees. She cries softly. William paces the room. In a sudden outburst of frustration, he punches the wall, then curses from the resulting pain. William looks to Aelita, but she pays no attention to him. Unable to find a reason to stay any longer, William enters the elevator and leaves. For a few minutes, Aelita is left alone. Then she hears footsteps coming down the ladder from the upper corridor above the lab room. She raises her head to see Odd looking down on her, with flowers in his hands.
Aelita: What…..what is this?
Odd looks at her sheepishly.
Odd: I….I don't like to see you upset. So I guess I brought you these flowers.
Aelita holds them. They are a disorganized arrangement of beautiful violets.
Aelita: Where did you find these?
He sits down next to her.
Odd: They were growing in some cracks in the stone walls on the factory balcony.
Aelita smiles through her tears, very appreciative of this small gesture during such a terrible tragedy.
Aelita: They're beautiful.
She rests her head on his shoulder.
Aelita: Thank you. I really needed that.
Odd: No problem princess.
Aelita: You didn't have to go to all that trouble though.
Odd: Are you kidding me? After everything you've done for me?
Odd gently touches her face.
Odd: It was the least I could do.
His hand remains for a moment. They both gaze at each other, suddenly realizing how close they are. Odd blushes a little and withdraws his hand. His facial expression changes. A heavy cloud of despair rests on him.
Odd: I just can't believe it.
Aelita closes her eyes.
Aelita: I can't either.
Odd: When I heard the news, I immediately went to look for some flowers. I knew you would need something to make you feel better, and I also needed to get my mind off of it.
Aelita holds onto Odd's arm, something he didn't expect.
Aelita: Why didn't he listen to us?
Odd: It's not the first time he's done that.
More tears fall down her face.
Aelita: No….But it was his last.
Odd immediately wishes he hadn't said that.
Aelita: Moriarty finally carried out his threats. He's killed three people now.
Odd: At least Ulrich went down fighting.
Aelita: Is that supposed to make me feel better?
Odd: Other than the fact that's the way he would have preferred to go down, no.
The two are quiet for a moment.
Odd: Now it's only three warriors. That's not enough.
Aelita: We still have you though.
Odd shakes his head and almost laughs.
Odd: I'm not the brave Lyoko warrior I once was.
Aelita: No, you're braver.
She runs her hand through his hair. Odd relaxes to her touch.
Aelita: Not many people can go through what you went through and be able to stand it. I know it's done incredible damage to you, but you have endured. Despite Moriarty's best efforts, you have refused to be broken completely. He may have overwhelmed your mind and body, but he has not broken your spirit.
Odd beams.
Odd: Well, it's been a long time since I was complimented by a pretty girl.
Aelita gives Odd an inquisitive look when she hears this. Odd blushes again and starts to stammer.
Odd: I….uh….well I can't deny that…..you are.
Now she blushes. They are once again very close.
Aelita: Thank you. You're not so bad yourself.
Odd: Really?
Aelita: Sure, why not?
Odd: Ninety-nine percent of girls at Kadic would have to disagree with you.
Aelita: That's because they don't know you like I do.
She holds his hand.
Aelita: You're funny, handsome, and sweet. You know how to treat a girl, and be there for her when she's down. You're strong and heroic, always ready to stand up against evil.
Odd: You must have me confused with some other Odd.
Aelita: No. You are one and the same. She gives him a slightly flirtatious smile. You just need to find him again.
The ceiling groans for a moment. Odd becomes hypersensitive, expecting to be attacked.
Aelita: Odd…..remember….calm.
Odd shakes for a moment.
Aelita: It's just a memory. It can't hurt you.
Odd holds his temples and breathes deeply. The flashback seems to pass.
Aelita: Better?
Odd: Yes…I...
He suddenly freezes.
Aelita: Odd?
He leans his head to the side, as if trying to listen.
Aelita: Odd, what is it?
His eyes widen.
Odd: Check the sectors.
Aelita: Why?
Odd: Just trust me.
Aelita goes to the computer. Odd follows close behind, ready to monitor her work.
Aelita: What exactly am I checking for?
Odd is focused on the screen.
Aelita: Odd?
Odd: Did the logs ever show Ulrich being eternally virtualized?
Aelita: …..What…..what are you trying to say? His Nav Skid was destroyed. There's no possible way…
Odd: Have you checked the logs?
Aelita: Well, no…but.
Odd stares at her intently. Aelita becomes confused, starting to doubt herself. She looks to Odd, who nods.
Aelita: I suppose one last check couldn't hurt.
Back on the factory balcony, Yumi looks out at the city skyline. The radiant sunshine warms her body but fails to penetrate her icy misery. She holds a white flower in her hand while sitting on the balcony edge. She begins talking to the air.
Yumi: You refused to do it.
She looks at the flower.
Yumi: Moriarty made you make an impossible decision.
She plucks a petal off.
Yumi: You had an impossible decision to make…And you chose me.
Tears come down in streams.
Yumi: I was possessed and you refused to hurt me…..You couldn't do it.
Another petal comes off.
Yumi: You said I was your weakness. You begged me to fight back, because you couldn't bring yourself to do it.
There is a long pause. She bites her lip, feeling a tidal wave of emotion ready to overwhelm her. She tries to resist, but it subdues her. She weeps loudly, tears coming out profusely.
Yumi: And you said it! You really said it!
She holds the flower tightly in her hand.
Yumi: You told me you loved me….
Silence.
Yumi: I wasn't sure at first. But…..I know now. I know for sure…I love you too.
She looks down at the river.
Yumi: I know for sure now…But it's too late.
She plucks off all the petals.
Yumi: I'll never be able to tell you the truth…That I feel the same.
She lets go of the flower and watches it fall into the Seine. A cloud passes over the sun, shrouding Yumi and the factory in a cold shadow. Yumi adjusts herself and lies on her back on the balcony edge, crossing her arms tightly as she tries to hold herself together. Bits of sunshine peak through the dark cloud. The combination of light and shadow in the cloud create an image hauntingly similar to Ulrich's face. Yumi turns away and cries some more. Several minutes later, Yumi's phone buzzes. She ignores it for a long time, but it persists. Finally she answers.
Yumi: …Hello?
As soon as the person on the other line begins to speak, she bolts upright so fast she nearly falls off the edge.
Yumi: WHAT?
A minute later, Yumi runs out of the elevator into the lab room. She immediately becomes glued to the computer screen, almost oblivious to Odd and Aelita's presence.
Yumi: Please….please tell me I'm not dreaming.
Aelita vigorously types on the computer.
Aelita: You aren't. We found him.
Yumi's emotions flip completely upside down. Brightness returns to her eyes.
Yumi: He…he's alive?
Aelita: Yes! He's in the Desert Sector.
Yumi: Is he okay?
Odd and Aelita look at each other. There is an awkward pause.
Yumi: Well, is he or not?
Odd looks uncomfortable.
Odd: Define 'okay'.
High up on the sandy plateaus of the Desert Sector, a small army of monsters approaches the tower Jeremie had possessed a few hours ago. At the front of the line, Ulrich rides on top of a scorpion. His old Lyoko uniform is gone. In its place is a royal purple metallic suit with a black Moriarty eye on his chest. His headband is blood red, with a skull logo in the center. He draws his two sabers and points at several mastodons nearby.
Ulrich: ATTACK!
The tower is lit aflame. Back on Earth, Yumi stares in disbelief.
Yumi: …That's not okay.
Jeremie and William rush out of the elevator. Both are breathing heavily, obviously having just run from the school.
Jeremie: Ulrich's still alive, but he's possessed! And he's attacking my tower!
Odd: Way ahead of you Einstein. You can save your breath.
William: This doesn't make sense. We saw that Nav Skid get destroyed. No one could possibly have survived that.
Aelita: Unless Moriarty captured his virtual form right before he experienced eternal virtualization.
William: You're telling me Moriarty SAVED him?
Aelita: In a manner of speaking, yes.
Jeremie: How do you figure all of this out?
Aelita: I didn't. He did.
Everyone looks at Odd.
Jeremie: Odd?
Odd: …Um…when I was having one of my flashbacks, I…I could feel Moriarty's presence. That's pretty normal for me. But I could also tell that he wasn't alone. It was clear to me that something….or someone had come under his power. And then I knew. Ulrich couldn't be dead.
Jeremie: Incredible. Your psychological connection works even when you're not asleep. Did you learn anything else?
Yumi: Hey, can we get back to the fact that Ulrich is possessed by Moriarty and needs our help? I don't really want Ulrich to become the next Odd!
Yumi turns to Odd.
Yumi: No offense.
Odd: None taken.
Jeremie: Yumi's right. We need to move. The longer we wait, the more likely Ulrich could remain his permanent soldier. Head to the scanners.
The trio of William, Aelita, and Yumi appear on a rise in the desert. Below them looms the tower, under siege from a large force of scorpions, mastodons, and cobras. They can see Ulrich leading them with hostile efficiency. The group huddles together.
Aelita: Ideas?
Yumi: Yes. Free Ulrich.
Aelita: Less emotionally attached ideas?
William: They have an army down there and we have only three to fight them. We'll need to draw some of them off.
Aelita: How do we do that?
William: Someone needs to be bait.
Aelita and Yumi immediately stare at William. William looks at them strangely. Then he understands.
William: Me and my big mouth. Jeremie, Overdisc!
William takes a running start onto a materializing Overdisc. He races down toward the unsuspecting army. He slashes off a mastodon's ears, devirtualizing the beast. An entire squad of cobras is decimated. William then swings around and cuts off the legs of Ulrich's scorpion, causing Ulrich to fall off. The possessed Lyoko warrior glares at William. William levitates higher.
William: What's the matter? Afraid to hit a moving target?
He takes off away from the tower. Ulrich motions to a few nearby monsters.
Ulrich: Destroy him!
Three scorpions and two cobras go after him. Ulrich then points his sabers toward the tower and unleashes a powerful purple blast that causes cracks to appear along the tower's outer frame. Now with a good part of Moriarty's army destroyed or occupied, Yumi and Aelita make their move. Yumi plows forward on the Overwing, while Aelita flies close behind her. Ulrich and the other monsters are unaware of their presence.
Yumi: Jeremie?
Jeremie: Hold on. The rerouting procedure of Odd's liberation program to Ulrich's virtual signature is almost complete.
Yumi: Well hurry. I don't want to devirtualize him and lose our chance.
On the computer screen back in the lab room, some important codes transfer from Odd's virtual card to Ulrich's. A litany of codes appears in a new window and begins to download.
Jeremie: It won't be long now. Hopefully only a minute or so….
Aelita rolls her eyes.
Aelita: Hopefully?
Jeremie: Well, I don't want to promise anything.
Yumi: Just hurry!
As they near the enemy, Yumi uses her telekinesis to pick up a rock. She tosses it onto a mastodon right next to Ulrich. When the monster is destroyed, Ulrich turns and faces his opponents with his sabers in an attack stance. He charges into super sprint, heading straight for Yumi. He slices the underside of the Overwing, sending her tumbling to the ground when it devirtualizes. Ulrich approaches her as she struggles to get up.
Yumi: Ulrich….
Ulrich is prevented from finishing her when Aelita sends a torrent of energy fields in his direction. He crosses his sabers and absorbs the blows. The energy in his sabers builds and he redirects the attack back at her in two powerful beams. Aelita dodges the first, but the second one grazes her, causing her to fall. But Aelita extends her hand and encases Ulrich's legs in stone. While Ulrich angrily chops at his restraints, Yumi rushes to her side.
Yumi: Are you okay?
Aelita: I'll be fine.
Jeremie: Guys, I know this wasn't the original point of the mission, but my tower is about to be destroyed, and I would rather that not happen.
Ulrich breaks free and stalks toward them.
Yumi: William is either busy or devirtualized at this point.
Aelita: Which means one of us has to defend the tower. And one of us has to stay with Ulrich.
Yumi: I'll stay.
Ulrich triplicates and prepares to charge.
Aelita: Are you sure you can handle him?
Yumi: In a relationship? Most of the time. The battlefield? Not so sure.
Aelita: Well good luck with the latter.
She flies off towards the tower, showering the surrounding monsters with energy fields. The three Ulrichs super sprint around Yumi in a circle. She holds her fans at the ready. When the first Ulrich attacks, Yumi knocks the edge of the blade away from her and kicks him in the chest. She cartwheels and flips around the other two as the fight begins. Meanwhile William has brought the chasing monsters to a cliff overlooking the digital sea. A cobra devirtualizes his Overdisc and he falls to the ground. He then quickly dissolves into smoke and disappears over the edge. The confused monsters look below, trying to see if he fell into the sea. But William reforms behind them. He drives his sword into the ground at an angle, causing a large crack to form between him and the monsters. The monsters turn. William smiles.
William: Oops.
William grabs onto the handle and uses the sword like a crowbar, using all his might to force the small piece of land to tip the monsters over the edge. As the incline increases, the monsters try to scamper to safety. But William increases the pressure, and as the gap widens, all of them fall into the digital sea. A nearly exhausted William triumphantly yanks his sword out of the ground and slowly runs back to the tower. Farther off, Yumi is taken down by the three Ulrichs. They cut her fans out of her hands. Two of them grab her arms and force her to her knees. The third raises his sword, ready to take her out. Yumi sends out a telekinetic shockwave that knocks the third Ulrich ten feet backward. When the other two Ulrichs are distracted, she reaches for one of their sabers and cuts both of them down before they can react. Ulrich rises, clearly more furious than ever.
Ulrich: You cannot win!
Yumi: There is no alternative…
Ulrich: Your continuing resistance does nothing but humor my master.
Yumi: He is not your master!
Ulrich: Oh but he is. And I do not intend to leave him.
Yumi: Ulrich, Moriarty has taken a lot from me. My peace of mind. My dignity. My self esteem. But this is where I draw the line. I swear….by all that I am….HE WILL NOT TAKE AWAY YOU!
She runs at him and clashes her fans against his sabers. The two fight a kind of dance, attacking each other with aggressive but graceful moments. Ulrich attacks erratically, but Yumi retains her cool, calmly waiting for a chance to strike. Unfortunately Ulrich gets lucky and cuts her abdomen. Yumi grabs her stomach and falls. Ulrich prepares to drive both swords into her body.
Yumi: I should have told you sooner.
Before Ulrich can finish the job, he sees that William and Aelita are destroying his force. William cuts apart a mastodon while Aelita entertains some cobras. The outer frame of the tower is starting to heal as a result of this strong defense. Ulrich grunts and runs toward the greater threat. Yumi forces herself up.
Jeremie: Yumi, I finally got the program successfully transferred.
Her fans turn green.
Yumi: That was not a minute.
Jeremie: Like I said, no promises.
She makes her way to the tower. At the same time, Aelita swings around the top of the tower, watching William kill the last scorpion.
Aelita: Well, that's the last of-
Two airborne sabers penetrate her back and devirtualize her. The sabers return to Ulrich's hands. William turns and engages him. His strikes are powerful, but Ulrich is incredibly quick. William's recent fights have clearly fatigued him, as his motions become slower and slower. When William is significantly worn down, Ulrich disarms him with several cuts to the wrist. As William goes to his knees, Ulrich brings down his sabers to cut his head off. But William once again evaporates into smoke and slips away. Ulrich growls.
Ulrich: Come back and fight you coward!
William spins around the tower and drives straight for Ulrich, forming into a wrecking ball. Ulrich fires a purple blast of energy that electrocutes William and returns him to his human form. While lying on the ground, William reaches for his sword and deflects Ulrich's sabers just before they slice his throat. Ulrich stands over his victim, pushing the blades closer and closer. William begins to weaken.
Ulrich: I will cut you to pieces!
William: Not….going….to happen.
Ulrich: Moriarty will triumph!
William: No he won't. And you are coming with us!
Right before William is destroyed, he manages to kick Ulrich's legs out from under him. William then turns the tables and prepares to bring the full force of his massive sword onto Ulrich.
Jeremie: WILLIAM NO! WE'LL LOSE OUR CHANCE IF YOU DEVIRTUALIZE HIM!
This interruption makes William lose focus. Ulrich grins and flings his saber into William's heart. After he devirtualizes, Ulrich rises. His sabers aim toward the tower and power up.
Jeremie: Yumi, stop him! The tower's defenseless!
Yumi appears onto the scene. She glows with unbridled intensity.
Yumi: ULRICH!
He turns to her with lowered eyebrows.
Yumi: ENOUGH!
Ulrich's eyes widen when he notices her green fans. He super sprints toward her, blades in stabbing position. Yumi reacts quickly and cartwheels over him. Ulrich stops himself and spins back around. Yumi unleashes both of her fans, but Ulrich knocks both of them away. Yumi then bends down and trips him as he runs past, sending him sprawling against the edge of the tower. He reaches for his sabers, but Yumi drags them toward her with her mind.
Yumi: Sorry, but you won't be using those.
Ulrich comes at her unarmed. Yumi extends her fans and begins to duel Ulrich at close range, swinging her fans with expert grace. One strike nearly hits Ulrich, but he ducks and knocks the fan out of her hand. She arcs her second fan to hit him directly on top of the head, but Ulrich grabs her wrist and holds her back. With a wicked smirk on his face, Ulrich kicks Yumi in the stomach. As she once again falls to the ground, her fan falls out of reach. Ulrich plants his foot on her chest and retrieves his sabers. Yumi is helpless.
Yumi: Ulrich…..please no.
Ulrich: All who resist Moriarty shall perish.
Yumi: Don't talk like that. You're a Lyoko warrior!
He sharpens his blades, preparing to finish her.
Yumi: Stop obeying Moriarty! He's your enemy!
He puts a saber against her throat.
Yumi: Resist him! Resist him like you told me to!
A dark shade of anger presides over Ulrich's cruel face.
Yumi: You're better than this!
Ulrich: SILENCE!
He takes his free hand punches her. Yumi grabs the left side of her face and moans. After he commits the act, Ulrich's body relaxes. His face becomes blank for a moment. He shakes his head and quickly resumes his hateful look. But Yumi notices the temporary change. Ulrich raises his saber for a final blow.
Yumi: You're not just a Lyoko warrior. You're more to me than that.
Ulrich brings his saber down, but Yumi rolls over just enough for it to narrowly miss her side. Ulrich replants his foot onto her chest and fumes.
Ulrich: Hold still and die!
Yumi: Moriarty can't take you away from me.
Ulrich gets ready to eliminate her again.
Yumi: He's already made me suffer so much…..
When the blade comes down again, Yumi tries to create a telekinetic wall around her chest. Ulrich struggles to break through the invisible wall. Fully enraged, he stomps on her stomach and makes her double over in pain. But Yumi keeps on talking.
Yumi: But I wouldn't be able to take it. I can't.
Ulrich puts his foot on her throat and prepares to finally end it.
Yumi: I need you….
The blade swings down but freezes midway through. But this time it isn't Yumi stopping him. Ulrich's hands refuse to go any further. His face contorts as a battle begins to rage within. His body shakes. Yumi keeps it up.
Yumi: Please. I don't want to fight you. I want you back home, where you belong.
As Ulrich struggles, Yumi notices her fan in the distance. She secretly wills it to come toward her. The fan begins to rattle. She laughs with a deep tinge of desperation in her voice.
Yumi: Funny how it always takes life and death situations for us to admit our feelings….
Ulrich seems to become exasperated with his personal confusion and struggle.
Yumi: Fortunately that seems to happen a lot.
The resistance in Ulrich's body moves up his arms and goes to his head. He looks at Yumi helplessly. Words struggle to come out of his mouth.
Ulrich: …..He….Help….mmm…me.
Yumi closes her eyes as she feels the fan approach.
Yumi: I will.
The fan comes into her hand and she unexpectedly leaps forward. Ulrich instinctively stabs her, but not before her fan digs into his stomach. Ulrich watches with a combination of horror and wonder as his body lights up with green energy. A devirtualizing Yumi gives him a tender smile.
Yumi: See you on the other side.
Both disappear in a flurry of green light. Back in the scanner room, William, Odd, and Aelita anxiously wait. Odd affectionately rests his hand on Aelita's shoulder. Yumi stumbles out of a scanner first and forces her way to Ulrich's scanner. When it opens, a very weak Ulrich braces himself against the inner walls.
Ulrich: Uh…did somebody just put me into a blender?
Yumi comes into the scanner and tackle hugs him. Ulrich is caught off guard.
Yumi: Thank God you're alive!
Ulrich: Uh….you sure about that?
Yumi: I love you.
Ulrich: Oh….that's nice...Wait….What? You do?
Yumi kisses him. They remained glued together for a long time.
Yumi: Yes. I think so.
William and Aelita seem pleased. But Odd balks at this dramatic display.
Odd: Ugh!...Get a room!
Yumi gives Odd a sly look and then slams her boot against the inner wall of the scanner. The scanner doors shut on them, locking them together in a very narrow space.
Odd: THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT!
Yumi: Sorry, can't hear you.
Aelita: That's…just…..not right.
William shrugs.
William: Don't worry. They won't do anything too immoral.
Aelita: How do you know?
William: Because Yumi refused my many attempts to do something immoral with her in the past.
Odd looks up and starts to speak to Jeremie through the intercom.
Odd: Hey Jeremie, do you think you could maybe virtualize them together and see what-?
Jeremie: Absolutely not.
The next day Delmas addresses the Board of Trustees for Kadic Academy in a very ornate room above the faculty offices. These dozen or so rich old men are getting increasingly bored by Delmas' talk.
Delmas: …..And if we cut spending in this department, we should have more than enough money to have extra scholarships for underprivileged but bright students. Any questions?
One bald man in the back raises his hand.
Delmas: Yes Mr. Lambert?
Lambert: Will these new scholarships be targeted for potential athletes?
Delmas: Well, we don't want that to be the main focus.
Another lean man with a white beard begins to speak.
Girard: I think we should take that seriously. Lincoln has been getting a lot of good soccer players with their need-based scholarships.
Delmas waves his hand.
Delmas: I think it would be best to pay more attention to students who could really improve their lives by going to school here.
A well-dressed gentleman with a rather large belly speaks up.
Bessette: Don't get me wrong, that is all very important. But athletics have really suffered lately, Jean-Pierre.
Delmas: I agree but-
Roux: Perhaps a change in coaching could help. Jim Morales hasn't always been very reliable.
Delmas: Uh….true, but Jim is committed to this school and I'm sure he will have some success soon enough.
Girard: Exactly how long are we willing to wait?
Delmas: Um…..well that concludes our budget meeting for today. However, one of my recent faculty additions would like to make an announcement.
Delmas opens the door and Moriarty walks in. He regards the board members with a rather overly flattering show of respect. There is a box in his hands.
Moriarty: Good afternoon gentlemen. How are you this fine day?
Some bored grunts and replies echo in the room. Delmas steps toward the exit.
Delmas: May I present Dr. Sébastien Renard, our new history teacher here at Kadic.
Some half-hearted applause.
Delmas: I understand he is proposing some charity suggestions for a very just cause.
Moriarty: That is correct.
Delmas: I hope that you enjoy his brief proposal. Now, if you will excuse me, I'm afraid I'm way behind on some important work.
Delmas leaves. Moriarty comes to the front and lays his box at the end of the table. The trustees pretend to give him their attention.
Moriarty: Hello. As Mr. Delmas has just told you, I am Dr. Renard. And I have something I want you to consider.
He points to the window, overlooking a soccer practice in progress.
Moriarty: Look at those children. Safe. Secure. The whole world ahead of them. They don't really know how lucky they are.
He turns to them, a clear look of deep despair on his face.
Moriarty: Yet half the world away, many children their age to this day are being captured and forced to become soldiers.
The board members grumble in agreement.
Moriarty: I am sure you are aware of what I am speaking. The ongoing conflict in Uganda has made thousands of children endure the horrors of war. The Lord's Resistance Army continues to subject these children in despicable ways. And there seems to be no end to their crimes
He raises his right index finger.
Moriarty: But there is hope. Men like you, who are blessed with so much, can do a lot to end this crisis. With your generous support, Kadic can make a difference. If we donate money through fundraisers and other means to help end it, Kadic's personal reputation will improve dramatically, allowing us to both do good and reap a significant reward.
The trustees nod. They are now paying attention.
Moriarty: And to show your solidarity, I have these metal braceletsthat you can wear. I hope you enjoy them.
Several silver bracelets inscribed with the words 'No Child Soldiers' are passed around. The trustees give them strange looks.
Moriarty: Oh come on. They are all the rage amongst young people nowadays. Wearing them could make you look good.
The trustees mumble and put the bracelets on. Immediately their bodies become still. Their bracelets shine and the Moriarty eye emerges in their pupils. Moriarty displays his familiar wicked smile and taps his fingers together.
Moriarty: Now, you will do exactly what I say….
Part 22