Disclaimer: I do not, nor have I ever owned Code Lyoko. All characters and themes belong to Moonscoop….Except Moriarty…that belongs to me. And Natalya….she is my own creation…..And Benoit….And Christophe and Emmanuel since the writers decided not to do anything with them…And Rosaire, can't forget that one.…And the idea to include psychological torture…..that belongs to me too. Actually a lot of these are my own ideas, but still…..credit where credit is due.
Part 23
William continues to crouch underneath the science desk. He tries to withdraw within himself, shutting out the chaos of the other students freaking out around him. Some say they are going to die. Some call quietly for their mothers. A few merely cry. After a while, he can sense someone scooting up next to him. He partially opens his left eye to see Natalya sitting next to him.
Natalya: Hey.
William: Hey.
Awkward pause.
Natalya: Mind if I sit here?
William: Go right ahead. He stares off into space. Doesn't really make a difference.
Natalya: Hmm…..I would have to disagree.
William: Why?
Natalya: Because right now, you are the only one in this room who doesn't seem to be losing his mind.
William shrugs after this matter-of-fact statement.
William: And I'm guessing you wanted to get away from that.
Natalya: You have no idea…..there's nothing worse than a crowded room full of panicked people.
William looks at her inquisitively
William: And you would know?
Natalya turns to him. She curls her hair with her index finger and starts talking.
Natalya: When I was pretty little, in my hometown of St. Petersburg, my mother and I were held hostage by gunmen in a bank…along with a bunch of other people. We were trapped there for several hours….and the people started to get pretty ansty. She stops talking, nervously tapping her fingers on the floor.
William: …..And now you're reliving it…
Natalya: Yes. But it was the hostages who scared me, not the gunmen.
William: And why is that?
She is quiet for a moment, then changes the subject.
Natalya: I hope the police figure this one out soon.
William observes her blank expression for a moment.
William: We all do.
Natalya: May I ask you a question?
William: Sure.
Natalya: This is kind of embarrassing…
William: Tell me.
Natalya: What's your name?
William: William. He gives her a strange look. How is that embarrassing?
Natalya stammers for a moment.
Natalya: It's just that, I probably should have known your name by now. I've seen you around so often.
William: Well, it's no big deal. You know now.
Natalya: And do you know my name?
William: Yes Natalya, I know your name.
Natalya: We haven't officially met till now. How do you know my name?
William: Oh, I've just heard some people mention you before.
Natalya looks away.
Natalya: Is my name the only thing they mention about me?
William becomes slightly uncomfortable.
William: Not exactly….
Awkward pause again. The two focus in opposite directions.
Natalya: Can I ask you another question, William?
William: Sure.
Natalya: How come you are so calm?
William considers his response carefully.
William: Perhaps I know freaking out won't help me get out of this.
Natalya smiles and points at him.
Natalya: Why do I have the feeling you know more than you say?
William: I don't know, why do you?
Natalya: Because I dated a lot of Russian guys. And though Russian guys, as a general rule, usually lack in the brains department, they are expert liars. So a Russian girl has to be good at telling when a guy is lying or not. And you William, are a terrible liar.
William avoids her gaze.
Natalya: Well?
William: Let's just say…..I know help is on the way.
Natalya rolls her eyes.
Natalya: You are going to have to do better than that.
William: Sorry. That's the best you are going to get.
William expects her to get angry, but Natalya just stares, regarding her companion with slight curiosity.
Natalya: Okay William, if you don't want to tell me, that's fine. But I always find out, one way or another.
Skinhead enters the room to check on the students. Everyone immediately goes silent. His boots clomp against the floor. When he passes William and Natalya, he views William with contempt. William braces himself, and Natalya digs her fingers into the wood of the desk. But Skinhead passes them without incident and leaves the room. There is a small but collective sigh of relief.
Natalya: Glad that's over.
William: Me too, I- He begins to feel dizzy. He holds his head.
Natalya: William?
The old, familiar voice comes back.
Xana: Slave….
William talks back to him in his thoughts.
William: Your timing never ceases to amaze me.
Xana: Silence! This is no time for that putrid human concoction you call 'humor'.
William: What do you want now?
Xana: My survival. Which unfortunately implies YOUR survival.
William: Oh that must be painful for you.
Xana: Silence! We must escape. It's only a matter of time before these humans under the enemy's control extinguish your life.
William: How do you know they want to kill me?
Xana: You are one of Moriarty's chief opponents, are you not? Wouldn't extermination be his natural motive?
William: Clearly you still don't understand much about him.
Xana: Silence! We must escape.
William: That's great….but how?
Xana: A distraction would be the logical conclusion.
William: What kind of distraction?
Xana: The human element in this room should be sufficient.
William looks around at the cluster of scared people around him through his half-lucid state. Natalya keeps asking if he is okay. William holds up his hand to answer her question in the affirmative, but she isn't convinced.
William: Would this distraction involve some people in this room being killed?
Xana: What is that to me? You want to live, do you not?
William: Sorry, wrong answer. Not going to happen.
Xana screams in protest, but William eventually shuts him out of his mind. He looks up at Natalya.
Natalya: Mind telling me where you went?
William: Um….
Natalya: Don't forget what I said earlier about lying…
William: Then I'm just going to stay quiet.
Natalya: You don't like talking about yourself, do you?
William doesn't say anything but gives her a guilty smile. At the desk across from them, Christophe and Emmanuel hide. Emmanuel angrily taps his fingers against the floor. After a few minutes, Christophe raises his head.
Christophe: Would you please stop that?
Emmanuel: Well, what else am I supposed to do?
Christophe: I don't know. But not annoying me would be nice.
Emmanuel grunts. Quiet rage works its way through him.
Emmanuel: These people make me sick.
Christophe: They are sick.
Emmanuel: I can't believe they were able to take over most of our school and keep us caged like rats.
Christophe: Yes, but they are the ones with the guns, so if I were you, I'd keep that to myself.
The two are quiet for a while. Emmanuel absentmindedly reaches into his pockets. There is an eerie coldness to his glare.
Emmanuel: If only we could…turn the tables.
Christophe: What are you talki-?
The last part is cut off when Christophe sees what's in Emmanuel's hands. His eyes widen when he sees Emmanuel playing with a Swiss army knife. The knife has a long and elegantly sharp blade with a black handle. Christophe scoots away a little.
Christophe: Are you out of your mind?
Emmanuel puts a finger over his mouth and tells Christophe to shut up. Christophe points at the knife.
Christophe: Put that away! You're going to get yourself killed!
Emmanuel: Alright, alright!
He puts it away.
Christophe: What the hell are you doing with a knife anyway?
Emmanuel shrugs.
Christophe: You could get expelled for that!
Emmanuel: Oh don't be so dramatic. He takes it out again, running his index finger down the blunt side of the blade. He smiles. A little self defense never hurt anyone.
Christophe remains uneasy after Emmanuel finally puts it away. Back on Lyoko, Ulrich keeps his sabers primed in defensive stance as the dark warriors begin to make their move. His hands tighten around the blades and his eyes move back and forth a thousand miles an hour, waiting for the inevitable. For a moment, there is complete stillness. Then Dark William roars and goes on the attack. Ulrich flips into the air right before the sword comes down onto his head. When the blade digs into the ice, Ulrich springboards off of it, cutting Dark William across the shoulder as he lands a few feet away. Dark William lets out a deep moan. Ulrich gets up just in time to deflect a barrage of fans and energy fields. His hands work with immaculate clockwork, skillfully blocking every attack. While Dark Yumi's fans return to her, Dark Aelita makes a beeline for Ulrich, flying close to the ground. As the same time, William's dark shadow closes in. Ulrich lowers his knees.
Ulrich: Wait for it…
The two come within fifteen meters of him. Dark Aelita creates an energy field.
Ulrich: NOW!
He jumps up right before the two can strike him. Dark Aelita and William slam into each other. While Ulrich is still in midair, he flings one of his sabers at Dark Yumi like a madman. The sword makes a perfect path toward her face, but Dark Yumi catches the blade in her hands. A wicked smile lights up her red eyes. She begins to attack him with his own saber, beginning a fast-paced duel. Ulrich can see out of the corner of his eye that Dark Aelita and William are getting out of their daze. Dark Aelita is aiming an energy field and William is charging up his sword. Ulrich purposely backs up, bringing Dark Yumi closer to the other two. Ulrich's hyperactive senses are on full alert, listening for the precise moment the other two attack. The instant the blast is release, Ulrich ducks. Dark Yumi has just enough time to create a telekinetic wall before the shockwave throws her back twenty feet. She furiously gets up.
Dark Yumi: YOU IDIOTS! ATTACK HIM, NOT ME!
As the three close in again, Ulrich super sprints into a triangle. Dark William tries to approach. Dark Yumi holds out her hand.
Dark Yumi: Wait…..not yet…
The triangle moves faster and faster, until the point where Ulrich is just a blinding light. When the sound of his speed has become deafeningly high, the three Ulrichs leap forward and attack. A three-on-three brawl begins. One Ulrich duels Dark William. The other two enterain Dark Yumi and Aelita, dodging their attacks and then going on the offensive. But the battle does not go well for Ulrich. Dark William's combination of brutal strikes and smoke maneuvers prove too much for his Ulrich counterpart. A single misstep leads the first Ulrich into a welcoming sword. Dark Yumi throws her fans at diagonal angles, cutting through the air towards Ulrich's body. Ulrich blocks them and charges toward a supposedly defenseless Dark Yumi. But Dark Yumi uses her telekinesis to redirect one of her fans to come up right behind Ulrich. The second Ulrich is destroyed before he can touch her. Only Dark Aelita's opponent remains. Dark Aelita gives up trying to hit Ulrich with energy fields and decides to use Lyoko to her advantage. Ice begins to crawl up Ulrich's legs. When he tries to use his sabers to break it, Dark Yumi uses her powers to rip them out of his hands. Dark William extends two smoky arms that grab onto Ulrich's shoulders and pull back Ulrich's upper torso at an oblique angle from his frozen lower half. He is helpless and has become a wide open target. Yumi extends her fans.
Dark Yumi: That's it…..hold still.
Ulrich: NO! NOT NOW!
Dark William: Oh yes…..now.
Dark Aelita: This has been fun Ulrich…
Dark Yumi: But now it's time to stop. We have to get ready to ambush Yumi…..and throw her into the digital sea.
A fire returns to Ulrich's eyes as Dark Yumi prepares to finish him. He struggles against his restraints with all his might, letting out a powerful cry of sheer determination. Cracks form in his icy restraints.
Within their icy prison, Jeremie and Aelita try to exert themselves to keep their body temperatures up. Aelita does some crunches while Jeremie resorts to jogging in place. But they are starting to feel tired and weak. Aelita shivers.
Aelita: This….this isn't wo…working.
Jeremie doesn't respond for a moment. He wipes his foggy glasses to keep them clear. He puts them on and eyes his jacket on Aelita with barely constrained envy. He bites his lip and remembers that it was his duty to help her.
Jeremie: If you start working out too much, you'll sweat. And if you start to sweat in this room…
Aelita: …..Then the sweat will freeze. And then we'd really be in trouble.
He rubs his hands together and breathes deeply.
Jeremie: We need to….to think of some other way to k…ke..ke..keep warm.
Aelita: Any ideas?
Jeremie thinks for a moment. He quickly comes upon an idea that makes his cheeks hot despite the cold temperature in the room. Aelita waits with annoyance.
Aelita: Well?
Jeremie: I….have an idea.
Aelita: And?
Jeremie: …..Fo..fo..forget it. You are not going to like it.
Aelita: I…I…dah – don't care. I want to get warm. Tell me your idea.
Jeremie scratches the back of his neck.
Jeremie: Well, it's a proven fact that people can prevent hypothermia by ….sha…sharing body heat…..if you know what I mean.
Aelita stops shivering and gives him a hateful glare for being so bold with her. Jeremie backs up and cringes, expecting the worst. But Aelita merely sits down and faces away from him, hugging Jeremie's jacket close to her.
Aelita: You were right. I don't like it.
Jeremie coughs. A deep pain erupts in his chest. He can't tell if it is the pain of an approaching infection or the deeper pain of her words. He lowers his head and begins to slink away. As he walks to the other side of the room, he notices his reflection on one of the shiny metal shelves in the room. The boy in the mirror is scared, cold, and ashamed. Jeremie's face contorts in anguish. He feels incapable of sinking any lower. But after a few condensed breaths escape from his lips, he looks back at his reflection and composes himself. Two words run through his head: No more. He turns to Aelita and speaks to her in a calm but forceful tone.
Jeremie: Fine. I respect your decision.
A brief pause.
Jeremie: Of course you know, your d..dah-decision ma—means death. For both of us.
No movement on her end.
Jeremie: I'm not sure if we have a chance if we huddle together, but we certainly deh..da.. don't if we don't do it.
Her body tenses.
Jeremie: I c…ca..can't blame you after all. That probably sounds better to you than death.
He throws up his hands. His body is freezing, but he keeps going, not allowing the cold to make him stutter.
Jeremie: After all, who would want to cuddle up with the youngest megalomaniac in human history?...No one. And certainly not the poor girl who could only watch as her significant other drove himself to the unthinkable. No. To assume that would be nothing but insanity. And I know insanity.
Jeremie's words haunt Aelita, but she continues to listen in spite of herself.
Jeremie: How could he blame he for falling into the arms of another?...He couldn't. He has no excuse. He deserves nothing from her. He shakes his head. And even if that megalomaniac was redeemed by her and became drowned by guilt…..even if he promised to reform himself and NEVER, EVER do that again…..even if he swore to protect the world he came so close to destroying…..even if he defeated the greatest enemy to mankind and lived a completely upright life afterwards…how could she ever look at him the same way again?
Tears come from his eyes. They quickly start to freeze.
Jeremie: And you know what's funny? He did it out of fear…..paranoia…..Though he knows in his heart he has no excuse…..the truth is that he was so wrapped up in the colossal weight of a world's freedom balancing on his shoulders, so frustrated to the point of madness with his lack of progress, so terrified by the visions that his enemy gave him, so hopelessly… He closes his eyes….hopelessly alone…that he just couldn't take it. He was –though he tried not to be—human. And that human was broken….Utterly…and completely broken.
He looks at the ceiling. The dim lights of the freezer fill his streams of tears with blue light.
Jeremie: He slipped into an abyss, encased in a dark, paralyzed coma. And he woke to find the bloody stain of guilt covering him and the world burning from his wake.
He goes to his knees.
Jeremie: And the worst….worst truth of all in this story….is that I am that boy. I am the boy who was broken. Who nearly took over the world at the age of fifteen. And what did I get for it? Oddly enough, Moriarty was weakened. His spheres were nearly wiped out. He lost so much power that could have been used taking over the world's nuclear weapons. And now he is using a lot of energy maintaining a semi-human form just to exasperate us. He lost time. Which means I got what I wanted. I gained us time…But at what cost?
Aelita is crying now, softly.
Jeremie: Now we are going to die. From a situation that is once again my fault…He looks at the floor. I'm not religious…but if a hell exists…..I know there is a pit waiting for me. He looks back at Aelita. Not that you would have to worry about that.
Her crying gets a little louder.
Jeremie: All in all, the true irony of this story is that in an effort to save the world, I lost what was most important to me in it.
He sits down away from her.
Jeremie: I don't expect you to forgive me with that. But I thought you needed to hear it.
Her sobs become very vocal now. When it gets louder, Jeremie looks up in wonder. Aelita turns to him, her eyes full of frosty tears.
Aelita: You….you left one part out of the story…
Jeremie: What are you talking about?
Aelita: ….The part where the girl abandons the boy and allows him to become a megalomaniac.
Jeremie's eyes widen.
Jeremie: Aelita, you can't blame that on—
Aelita: …..The part where the girl abandons the boy she loves to get over the guilt of something else she screwed up.
Jeremie: Aelita…..
Aelita: Everything I touch…..is destroyed. Odd, my father,…..and you. I failed to save you. I failed ALL of you.
Jeremie tries to interrupt but Aelita continues.
Aelita: Now my father is dead, Odd is slowly falling apart from PTSD and is crushed by guilt from hurting you when I didn't care less, and you are going to freeze to death.
Aelita's look hardens.
Aelita: I hated you. I hated you with a passion. I hated you for killing the Jeremie that I cared about. And coming and back and trying to pretend that he never died.
The pain comes back to Jeremie's chest.
Aelita: I opened the door wide open for Moriarty to exploit you. I abandoned you when you needed me most. And I hated you for the consequences.
Jeremie: Aelita…..I think you're forgetting who really did the damage here—
She shouts in rage.
Aelita: I HAVEN'T! HOW COULD YOU? HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME? YOU IDIOT! IDIOT! HOW COULD YOU?...HOW?…..She slams her fists onto the floor. How could I?
Jeremie retreats to the edge of the room, feeling he has done enough to hurt Aelita to last a hundred lifetimes. He curls up and resolves himself to the inevitable. But a few moments later he feels two arms wrap around his abdomen. He turns to see Aelita laying against his shoulder.
Aelita: No more guilt.
A surprised Jeremie slowly wraps his arms around her. The two get close together.
Jeremie: No more guilt.
Two hundred meters or so away, Moriarty comes up to a staircase. He sees one possessed gunman guarding the area. Moriarty aims from the top of the staircase. He fires. Outside, the officers become alarmed.
Police Officer 1: Have they started shooting?
Police Officer 2: That wasn't directed at us. It's coming from inside the building!
Benoit rushes up to the front of the line.
Benoit: Are they executing the hostages?
Officer 1 gets the binoculars.
Police Officer 1: Most of the students can be seen from the windows. And all of them seem to be alive.
Police Officer 2: Chief, should we move in?
Benoit hesitates, cursing under his breath and holding his breath.
Benoit: Have you heard any more shooting?
Police Officer 1: No sir. Just one shot.
Benoit: And do you know where exactly it came from?
Police Officer 1: I'm not positive, but it didn't seem to be coming from any of the classrooms that we can see from the windows.
Police Officer 2: Chief, what do you want us to do?
Benoit wracks his brain, trying to make a decision. He exhales deeply.
Benoit: I really hope I don't regret this, but let's not move in yet. We don't know what's going on in there, and I'm not going to cause needless deaths just because of suspicion.
Police Officer 2: But sir…
Benoit: We don't know, we don't go in. Got it?
Police Officer 2: Yes sir.
As Dark Yumi prepares to finish him off, Ulrich uses all of his strength to break the ice around his legs. The cracks get wider. As soon as Dark Yumi unleashes her fans, Ulrich's icy bondage breaks. Dark William's smoky arms that were pulling Ulrich's upper torso towards him now unintentionally yank Ulrich in his direction. Ulrich uses the momentum to backflip over Dark William. The fans go beneath Ulrich and destroy Dark William before he has a chance to react. He dissolves into smoke. A furious Dark Aelita fires several energy fields at him. He ducks and rolls toward her. Using his forearms as a launching pad, he knocks Dark Aelita down with a powerful midair kick. He immediately heads for his sabers, which are lying on the ground a few meters away from him. Dark Yumi throws her fans again. Ulrich jumps to avoid it, but one fan cuts across his stomach. He falls down and picks up his sabers, doing his best to fight the female shades at the same time.
Ulrich: Odd, how many lifepoints do I have left?
No response.
Ulrich: Odd, are you there?
Still nothing.
Ulrich: Odd, ANSWER ME!
The command chair in the lab room is empty. Odd stands at the entrance to the factory, looking at the outside world with trepidation. His skin is very pale as he peers out into this vast and intimidating land of insecurity. He balls his fists.
Odd: Come on Odd, stop being a coward, Aelita and Jeremie need you.
He tries to move forward, but his legs are shaking.
Odd: You have to at least try to save them. You can't sit here and do nothing.
The sounds of traffic and urban life suddenly increase. Odd backs up. Now the rest of his body is shaking as well.
Odd: Now is not the time to be afraid. I….I have to do this.
With great reluctance, he tries to take a few steps outside the safety of the factory. Every step onto the bridge increases his heart rate and fear. Though he tries to ignore it as best he can, his body starts to go into panic mode. He begins to hyperventilate. Once he gets a meter away from the sewer cover, he can take it no longer. His instinct makes him fly back to the sanctuary of the factory. He tries to regain control and leans against the factory walls, completely dejected by his own failure.
Odd: I can't…..I can't…..Aelita forgive me. I can't do it.
He punches the wall and stands there, wallowing in misery.
Jeremie and Aelita continue to wait in the freezer. Their reconciliation has helped warm them, but it cannot last forever. They are shaking violently and hold on to each for dear life…..literally. They talk to keep their minds alert.
Jeremie: Portugal?
Aelita: ….Lisbon.
Jeremie: Sweden?
Aelita: Stockholm.
Jeremie: Libya?
Aelita: Tripoli.
Jeremie: Uruguay?
Aelita falters, holding her head. She seems dazed.
Aelita: Mon…..Mountain…I…forget.
Jeremie: Montevideo.
Aelita: Right. I knew that.
Jeremie: Stay with me Aelita…He leans over, becoming more fatigued every minute. His lips and fingers are beginning to look blue, and his skin is deathly pale. Got to s…st.t..stay with me.
Aelita shakes his arm.
Aelita: Jeremie!
Jeremie: I'm…I'm fine.
Aelita: Ok. It's my time to quiz you.
Jeremie rubs his eyes. He seems almost drunk with cold.
Jeremie: Ok Aelita….give it to me.
Aelita: Name the noble gases.
Jeremie: Helium, Argon,…..Krypta…..Krypton, Neon, Xenon, and …..Oxygen.
Aelita becomes very concerned.
Aelita: No Jeremie. The last one is Radon, not oxygen. You know that.
Jeremie: Right…..right….it must have slipped my mind.
Aelita shivers with fear. She presses Jeremie more earnestly.
Aelita: What are Newton's Laws of Motion?
Jeremie squints his eyes, trying to break through his mental stupor.
Jeremie: The first one says an object at rest will remain at rest unless….unless acted upon by…
He begins to drift off. Aelita shakes him violently.
Aelita: Jeremie wake up!
He tries to push her away.
Jeremie: I'm alright…..just let me rest….let me rest for a little bit.
Aelita: NO! You can't sleep now Jeremie! You have to stay alert, you understand? You have to stay awake or….or else….
Aelita starts to become more desperate. Jeremie turns to her. He is alert, but he seems very confused.
Jeremie: Aelita….
Aelita: Jeremie?
Jeremie: I think my work on your antivirus is almost complete. Just a few more days and I….He smiles with an unusual expression of peace on his frozen face...and it should be done.
An unnatural chill goes through Aelita's spine.
Aelita: Jeremie, my virus was removed a long time ago, remember?
Jeremie: We have to keep going Aelita…..we can't allow Xana to win.
Aelita becomes terrified. She slaps him.
Aelita: JEREMIE SNAP OUT OF IT! STAY WITH ME!
Jeremie: I'm okay Aelita….really. I'm just so tired.
Aelita takes off Jeremie's jacket and thrusts it into his hands.
Aelita: TAKE IT! HURRY UP AND PUT THIS ON!
Jeremie: NO!
Aelita: JEREMIE, IF YOU DON'T PUT IT ON YOU'LL DIE!
Jeremie: I don't need it! I'm warm actually. It's getting too hot in here.
Aelita watches in horror as Jeremie tries to take his shirt off. He's become completely delusional and irrational. Aelita jumps onto him and does her best to keep him from taking off layers.
Jeremie: Let me go! I'M BURNING UP IN HERE!
Aelita: NO! I'M NOT LETTING GO! Not again!
Aelita continues to hold on, hoping and praying with all her strength for rescue. The fight on Lyoko has evolved into a hectic ballet between Dark Yumi and Ulrich. Sword and fan strike and dodge with the movements of the other. Meanwhile Dark Aelita flies overhead, hovering as she waits for the right moment to strike. Ulrich keeps Dark Aelita in his sights. He knows Dark Yumi is serving as a distraction for him and he can't allow himself to fall for it. As the fight continues to be evenhanded, Dark Aelita grows impatient. She hisses and swoops down without warning. Ulrich reacts quickly. He grabs Dark Yumi's wrist and takes her legs out from under her, removing her as the immediate threat. He then jumps and slashes in the air, cutting Dark Aelita in half before she can release her energy field. Ulrich lands on the ground and turns, eyes aflame with determination as he regards his final opponent. Dark Yumi gets up and brushes herself off. She smiles and laughs in a dark, seductive tone.
Dark Yumi: You…are hard to kill.
Ulrich: I was about to tell you the same thing.
She grins.
Dark Yumi: A little pointless, don't you think? No matter who wins here, no one is really defeated. Either I send you back to Earth, or you force me to take time to regenerate. Both of us come back to fight again, and so on. Endless stalemate.
Ulrich: Maybe, but it's not pointless to me.
Dark Yumi: And why is that?
Ulrich's sword grip tightens.
Ulrich: Because if I let you delay Yumi, Aelita and Jeremie will die.
Dark Yumi: Oh that's right. No wonder you fight with such…..tenacity.
Ulrich: You got that right.
Dark Yumi: Which will make failure all the more difficult.
Ulrich: That's not happening. He bends his knees. Get ready to join the others.
Dark Yumi: Oh, can you really find it in your heart to hurt me? She licks her lips. Something tells me you'd rather be doing something else with me instead.
Ulrich cringes.
Ulrich: You're out of your mind.
Dark Yumi: You know, technically it wouldn't be cheating.
Ulrich: And technically that makes me sick. Forget it. I'm not William.
Dark Yumi: Oh so you're still mad about that?
Ulrich launches a saber at her face, which Dark Yumi barely avoids. It lands in the ice several meters away.
Dark Yumi: I'll take that as a yes.
Her entire body glows. With a simple raising of her hands, three icebergs rise to her will. They spin around her body, ready to move at a moment's notice. Ulrich keeps his saber close to his side. She snaps her fingers and the icebergs come at him all at once. Ulrich charges forward. He cuts the first iceberg in half. He leaps to avoid the second, but it manages to scrape across his side. The third slams straight into him and he collapses. His saber drops from his hand. Dark Yumi throws one of her fans at a seemingly weak Ulrich, but he surprisingly catches the fan and throws it back at her. It grazes her shoulder. She burns with rage.
Dark Yumi: Big mistake!
Her boot connects to the icy floor and unleashes a shockwave. It blows Ulrich back onto the ground. He rises to see Dark Yumi facing him with her fists clenched. Knuckles explode into his face. Ulrich wobbles backward, only to suffer through a stinging barrage of blows that seem to connect to his body all at once. Ulrich tries to fight back, but he is disoriented and Dark Yumi is quick. His stomach implodes from a final, brutal kick. Ulrich goes back to the ice, unable to move. The fight has been drained from him. He soon feels his body being picked up. Dark Yumi knocks a hole in the ice wall, revealing the digital sea below. She holds him above the opening. Ulrich finds himself unable to struggle against her grip.
Dark Yumi: Well I have to say, as far as last stands go, you don't disappoint.
Ulrich scowls at her.
Dark Yumi: I guess there really is an end to this...And this time Moriarty isn't going to save you…
She winks at him, reveling in this moment.
Dark Yumi: Goodbye.
Before Dark Yumi can finish him, blue lasers explode around her feet. Ulrich and Dark Yumi turn to see the Skid in attack mode. Yumi sits at the controls.
Yumi: Drop him.
Ulrich turns to Yumi in horror. Dark Yumi smiles.
Dark Yumi: If you insist….
She lets him go. Ulrich falls.
Yumi: No!
Ulrich is able to hold onto the ice, but just barely. He dangles there, trying his best to hold on. Dark Yumi hisses and leaps onto the Skid. She stands right in front of Yumi, with her fan ready to chop at the Skid's hardwiring. Yumi glares at her with hate.
Dark Yumi: The bigger they are, the harder they fall.
Yumi makes the Skid spin 360 degrees. Dark Yumi is knocked off. She turns around to see the Skid aiming at her.
Yumi: Not today.
A single torpedo blows her to bits. Yumi gazes at the black mark on the ice with triumph. But it is cut short by Ulrich's cries for help. He is about to fall. She quickly energizes out of the Skid and rushes to his side. As Ulrich's fingers slip, Yumi grabs him and slowly helps him up. Ulrich turns to her.
Ulrich: Drop him?
Yumi scratches her head.
Yumi: Perhaps I could have worded that better.
Ulrich: No kidding.
He lays down, staring blankly at the sky.
Yumi: Are you alright?
Ulrich: Oh sure. I only faced three Moriarty warriors at once while you took your precious time. No big deal.
Yumi: Hey, it wasn't a cake walk on my end!
Ulrich: Whatever….He rests a moment. Then his eyes widen. Yumi, the tower!
Yumi: Oh my God! How could I have…..I'm so stupid!
She gets back into the Skid and turns it to face the tower. The merciless barrage begins. At Kadic, the tense air of the siege suddenly erupts into chaos by the sound of gunfire coming inside. This time it is not a single shot. Benoit waves his hand forward with pistol in hand.
Benoit: MOVE! MOVE! WE'RE NOT WAITING ANYMORE!
The entire army of officers converges on the courtyard. They expect shots from the windows, but surprisingly none comes. They approach a large double-door entrance to the academic building and wait on either side.
Benoit: BUST IT DOWN!
Before the special tactics unit knocks down the door, it suddenly opens. Guns are immediately drawn. To everyone's surprise, the gunman to exit the building is Moriarty. He drops his weapon and puts his hands up, clearly taken aback by this amount of force around him. He smiles. Benoit signals his men to lower their weapons. He looks at Moriarty, completely confused.
Benoit: You….you're a…..teacher.
Moriarty: Yes. Yes I am. Dr. Sebastién Renard, if you must know. Why do you ask?
Benoit's face is blank. He tries to look behind Moriarty.
Benoit: How did you?...Where are the escapees?
Moriarty ponders the question for a short gleeful moment.
Moriarty: Oh….they're inside…..But don't worry…they're not going anywhere.
Benoit walks past Moriarty into a large room with a staircase to his left and the auditorium to his right. He stops cold.
Benoit: My God…
The staircase and floor are littered with the bloody bodies of the dead gunmen. The other officers can't believe their eyes.
Moriarty: Is it safe for the students to come out now? I think I got all of them.
Benoit turns to Moriarty. He hold his head for a moment.
Benoit: Who…who are you?
Moriarty gives him an innocent shrug.
Moriarty: I told you. My name is Dr. Sebastién Renard. And I am a history teacher here at Kadic.
Icicles have formed around Jeremie's nose. A few scattered and icy breaths come out of his mouth. Frost spreads all over his glasses. His body begins to go limp in Aelita's arms. He is fading fast, and Aelita is not doing much better.
Aelita: Please…please stay awake.
Jeremie doesn't respond. A tear that quickly becomes frozen flows down Aelita's face.
Aelita: Please…..please…..
Sharp voices come from outside. Aelita barely has the strength to lift her head.
Police Officer 1: Here! They're in here!
The door is kicked down. The officers immediately realize the gravity of the situation.
Police Officer 2: GET THEM OUT OF HERE! These kids have severe hypothermia!
The officers literally pick up these weak dolls and bring them into the kitchen. After laying them down next to the cafeteria line, the officers move anxiously around, unsure what to do. They take off their jackets and place them over the freezing pair, but it's clearly not enough.
Police Officer 1: We need blankets!
Police Officer 3: There aren't any here.
Police Officer 1: THEN GO GET SOME! This is a boarding school! There has to blankets somewhere!
The officer nods and runs outside. Officer 1 points to the kitchen stove and motions to Officer 2.
Police Officer 1: Turn all of those on full blast! Warming up this room may be their only chance.
Police Officer 2: Should I turn on the oven and open it?
Police Officer 1: Yes! Do what you have to do until the paramedics arrive.
The sound of boots comes into the cafeteria. Officer 1 turns.
Police Officer 1: Chief…
He points out Aelita and Jeremie's desperate situation. Benoit gets out his handheld radio.
Benoit: Get an ambulance over here….now.
Officer 2 examines Jeremie.
Police Officer 2: Chief, this kid's in serious trouble!
Officer 3 rushes back in.
Police Officer 3: I have blankets!
They begin to smother the two with them. Benoit watches over the affair, giving orders on how to care for them but showing no signs of emotion. The officers start to pay special attention to Jeremie.
Police Officer 2: He's going to freeze to death!
Benoit: No he's not! Keep him close to the oven and make sure he keeps breathing!
A weak Aelita tries to approach Jeremie. Officer 1 holds him back.
Police Officer 1: Take it easy. You need to stay here and get warm.
Aelita: No….please…I need to be with him.
Police Officer 1: Your friend's going to be okay. Do you hear me? His voice becomes strained. He's going to be okay.
Aelita: I….I can't let it end like this.
She bends forward towards Jeremie. Officer 1 holds her back again. Freshly hot tears burn the freezing skin on her face.
Aelita: I….I want another chance. Can you hear me Jeremie?...She loses her voice as she watches Jeremie's life hang in the balance. I want another chance….for us.
The tower explodes, devirtualizing as the base is destroyed. Yumi and Ulrich breathe a sigh of relief. At the same time, the special tactics forces enter the science building. They find Skinhead and Ugly lying unconscious on the ground. They open classroom doors. Some of the girls in Ms. Hertz's class scream when they enter. But they quickly understand that they don't have to worry anymore. Ms. Hertz finally wakes up.
Ms. Hertz: May I ask why there are several armed gentleman interrupting my class?
They ignore this confused science teacher's comment. The students try to collect themselves and slowly exit the classroom. Natalya and William get up.
Natalya: Ugh. Please tell me I never have to do that again.
William: You'll never have to do that again.
She rolls her eyes.
Natalya: You're lying again…..She looks out the window. Well, at least no one got hurt.
William and Natalya notice an ambulance pulling into the front entrance with their view from the window.
Natalya: …..I spoke too soon.
William's hands dig into the marble science tables until they turn white.
William: No…..please no.
He runs outside the classroom. Natalya watches him leave.
Natalya: William?
By the time Ulrich and Yumi have exited the elevator into the lab room, a helpless Odd is already resting his head against the keyboard of the computer. They slowly approach him.
Ulrich: Heard anything?
Odd: No…..nothing.
Yumi: Well, it has to have worked. The tower is gone. The police must have saved Aelita and Jeremie right now. They know they're in there.
Odd's cellphone rings. He grabs it like a madman.
Odd: Hello?
William is on the other end, standing in the courtyard as Jeremie and Aelita are huddled into ambulances. A small crowd gathers around.
Delmas: Students please, let the paramedics do their job!
Jim: Go to your rooms! I know this has been a crazy day but this is no time to gawk and stare.
William: Odd, we need a return to the past….now.
Odd: What's wrong? Are Aelita and Jeremie hurt?
William swallows and watches as the ambulances pull away.
William: They're on their way to the hospital. And the paramedics looked very panicked…
Odd nods.
Odd: Okay, but I'm not sure how to activate a return to the past.
Ulrich nudges Odd to the side.
Ulrich: Hold on. I've done it before.
The green screen of the Earth revolving appears. Ulrich presses the Enter key. A bright light begins to envelop the factory, but it quickly dies. A loud bang can be heard two floors below. Error exclamation points pound the computer screen.
Ulrich: Um…that wasn't supposed to happen.
Yumi: No kidding….what did you do?
Ulrich: I didn't do anything! I followed Jeremie's procedures completely. I'm….I'm sure I didn't make a mistake.
Yumi: Let me look at it!
Odd gets out of the chair after the two jockey for the computer.
Odd: William, we have a problem. I'm going to see if there is something wrong in the supercomputer room.
William: This is no time for technical problems! Aelita and Jeremie may not survive!
Odd: DON'T YOU THINK I KNOW THAT?
He hangs up and angrily presses the button to go down. As William puts his phone in his pocket, he turns to see Moriarty talking to several police officers. He moves closer, trying to overhear the conversation. Out of nowhere a swarm of reporters and cameramen begin to surround Moriarty and the officers.
Male Reporter: Sir, can we talk to you for a moment?
Benoit: Back up! Back up! We don't have time for this right now!
Female Reporter: Is it true that a lone teacher singlehandedly fought off the armed gunmen?
Benoit: No comment. We are not ready to discuss that y-
Moriarty: Yes it is true.
Benoit glares at Moriarty but he is drowned out by the deluge of the reporter's questions. They turn to Moriarty.
Male Reporter: Sir, do you know this teacher?
Moriarty: You're speaking to him.
The reporters completely lose their minds. Benoit cannot hold them back.
Female Reporter: How could you have mustered that kind of courage?
Moriarty: Well, the students were in danger. I couldn't just sit and do nothing….
Male Reporter: Where did you get the skills to do that?
Female Reporter: Did you ever serve in the military? Special forces?
A genuine but sly smile takes shape on Moriarty's face.
Moriarty: Well, I'm not sure I can…..openly discuss that.
His response fuels their curiosity. They keep asking questions.
Benoit: People please! Dr. Renard will answer your questions LATER.
William boils inside. A stiff and angry breath exits his nose like a bull. Amidst the onslaught of reporters, Moriarty briefly turns to William. He winks. William mouths a few choice words at him. Natalya comes behind William.
Natalya: Have you heard the news?
William: About Dr. Renard?
Natalya: I…..I can't believe it! That sleazy middle-aged teacher taking out the gunmen? How is that possible?
William shakes his head and walks away. Natalya raises an eyebrow.
Natalya: What is with that boy?
In the supercomputer room, Odd notices a circuit board sticking out of the massive machine. He pulls it out and notices that it is caked with soot and heavily damaged. Odd buries his head in his arms.
Odd: No….NO!
He throws the circuit board halfway across the room and withdraws into himself. Two floors up Yumi curses and slams her fist next to the keyboard.
Yumi: It was a trap!
Ulrich: What?
Yumi: Some of this data doesn't make sense to me, but that code right there is a dormant virus. A virus that was designed to cause damage in the supercomputer when the return to the past program was activated.
Ulrich slaps his head.
Ulrich: I'm such an idiot! I fell for one of his traps again!
Yumi pulls her hair. The veins in her head seemed to become strained and swell. She starts talking ninety miles per hour.
Yumi: Now we don't know anything and Aelita and Jeremie are going to die while we sit around here like idiots and we can't do anything about it and Moriarty is going to win that murderer! Murderer! MURDERER! ALL THAT EFFORT FOR NOTHING!
Ulrich: Yumi…
Yumi: They can't die…..THEY CAN'T DIE!
Ulrich: Yumi stop it. This is exactly what Moriarty wants you to do!
Yumi sinks in her chair, defeated.
Ulrich: It's out of our hands. And when that happens, there is nothing you can do.
Yumi: …Not necessarily.
Ulrich: What do you mean?
Yumi is quiet for a moment. Then she touches Ulrich's hands and looks at the ceiling.
Yumi: Oh God don't let them die…..If you are who you say you are you won't let them die.
Ulrich is surprised.
Ulrich: Yumi, were you just praying?
Yumi: …..Maybe
Ulrich: Since when did you become religious?
She wraps her arms around Ulrich's neck and rests her head on his shoulder.
Yumi: Since I became willing to try anything.
Jeremie rides through the eye of a hurricane. Chaotic images of people rushing around and putting things on him boggle his mind. He opens his eyes to see a blurry green light move to the rhythm of his weak heart. He feels light and nothing else at all. He can feel motion, and the faint vibrations of sirens work its way into his brain. He can sense nothing else but a strange peace. Something is placed on his mouth. He can feel air coming into his lungs. Air…warm air. Warm. He blacks out again.
After either a few seconds or a few eternities, he begins to feel conscious again. His eyes open to light. Jeremie wonders in the back of his mind if this light means what he thinks it means. But that illusion is broken when his vision clears to see Odd's clone three inches from his face.
Jeremie: Dah!
Odd's Clone: Creator has regained consciousness!
Jeremie breathes heavily. He notices Ulrich and William at his bedside.
Ulrich: You nearly gave him a second close call.
Odd's Clone: Spectral entity did not wish to disturb creator.
Jeremie: Well…I was disturbed. Very much so.
He lays back down.
William: How do you feel?
Jeremie: Um…I'm not sure. I feel like if I get out of this bed, I might fall over.
Ulrich: You should probably trust that feeling.
Jeremie's eyes light up.
Jeremie: Aelita…..is she-?
William: Alive. Don't worry.
Ulrich: Yumi's with her in a room across the hall.
Jeremie relaxes.
William: You had us scared to death.
Ulrich: The doctors looked very worried at first.
Jeremie: Why not…return to the past?
Ulrich and William look at each other.
Ulrich: We tried.
William: Moriarty had other plans.
Ulrich: A bug was implanted in the return to the past program. Caused part of the supercomputer to fry.
Jeremie's expression becomes grim.
Jeremie: He was trying to make sure I died.
William: Maybe so. But I don't think we can limit his goal to that.
Jeremie: What do you mean?
William takes the remote and turns on the TV. He flips to the news. The sight nearly causes Jeremie's heart to fail. He is looking at Moriarty on TV being interviewed. He sits in a comfortable chair across from a very attractive and well-dressed female host. Moriarty is wearing a formal but comfortable outfit.
Host: So tell us more…..what was it like to face down those gunmen in the school?
Moriarty: Well I don't know if I have much to say about that. When you are in a situation that tense, your brain begins to go on autopilot. My only thought was my desire to keep the students safe at all costs.
The female host leans in, eager for more.
Host: But surely it must have been terrifying.
Moriarty: Of course. That goes without saying. If anyone can face five armed gunmen alone and not feel an ounce of fear, well…I would really like to meet that person.
Host: Rumors are abounding throughout France about your possible training. We could find very little about your background. That's leading us to believe that you might have a secret history as an….agent of sorts. If you know what I mean.
Moriarty basks in the attention. His smile has no limit. He gives her a mysterious look.
Moriarty: Well, I do admit that the likelihood an a middle-aged history teacher liberating a school from hardened criminals is tough to swallow…..But I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to say.
Host: Oh you're simply killing me with curiosity!
Jeremie: I've seen enough.
William turns off the TV.
Jeremie: I don't understand...
Odd's Clone: Enemy seeks to deceive the masses.
Jeremie looks at Odd's Clone. William nods.
William: This entire attack was a publicity stunt. Moriarty wanted to be the hero, so he staged his own school hostage situation. Then when all seemed lost, he came out at the right moment to save the day. It was a perfect move. All he needed to do was kill the very people under his control.
Jeremie shivers.
Jeremie: I know they were criminals, but did Moriarty have to kill them?
Ulrich: No…no he didn't.
William continues.
William: Now all of France…..and the world for that matter, knows who this guy is. I don't have a complete idea of what he means to do with that, but I imagine it's not good. That's why there was a bug in the return to the past program. So we couldn't erase what Moriarty had so painstakingly orchestrated.
Ulrich: And we won't be erasing anything else any time soon. Some of those circuit boards are heavily damaged. The supercomputer doesn't have the power to generate any return trips.
Jeremie nods.
Jeremie: Which means we have to be very careful.
He rests for a moment, absorbing all of this horrible information.
Ulrich: I know this is not exactly good news, but do you want us to bring anything to cheer you up?
Jeremie: I'd like to see Aelita.
Ulrich smiles.
Ulrich: What a coincidence. She wants to see you too.
Jeremie is struck with disbelief.
Jeremie: She…..she does?
Ulrich and William smile and nod. Down the hall, Yumi and Aelita have some girl time.
Aelita: So he's-?
Yumi: Alive.
Yumi holds her hand. Aelita leans back. A few tears come down her face.
Yumi: Hey…..didn't you hear me? He's going to be okay.
She turns over in the bed away from Yumi.
Aelita: I know.
Yumi: Then why are you so upset? You should be relieved.
Aelita: I am.
Yumi: Then what's wrong?
Aelita grabs the sheets in her hands and pulls it close to her.
Aelita: It's just that…..I've been so awful to him.
Yumi doesn't say anything. She merely pats her hand.
Aelita: I've been so mean. Refusing to forgive him or speak to him even after the rest of you had.
Yumi: We've all done things we regret, Aelita.
Aelita: I've been holding a grudge ever since his lapse into insanity and lust for power. But when we were locked in that freezer together, literally forced to confront each other, I remembered something.
Yumi: Which is?
She turns back to Yumi. There is a strange smile on her face, as if she is laughing at herself.
Aelita: That I can't stay mad at Jeremie forever. No matter what he has done, I simply can't make myself do it.
She looks to the ceiling.
Aelita: I tried. I really did. I tried to feed my anger, keep it going. I wanted to be a daily reminder to Jeremie that he could never atone for his colossal mistake.
Yumi: And how did that work out for you?
She shakes her head.
Aelita: I only ended up hurting myself…Badly.
Yumi: So I guess that means you've forgiven him?
Aelita: A little more than that actually…..
Yumi gives her a sly look.
Yumi: Oh really?
Aelita: Yes…..I mean, if he wants to.
Yumi: Something tells me he will.
Aelita: It's just that…..She scratches the back of her head. There's one slight problem.
Yumi pauses.
Yumi: Would that 'slight problem' happen to be in the factory right now?
Aelita: Yes….
Yumi: Because he wanted to talk to you.
Aelita sits up to see Yumi offering a cellphone to her. Aelita takes it. While resting in the factory, Odd gets a call. He picks it up.
Odd: Hello?
Aelita: Odd?
Odd: Yes?
Aelita: I heard you wanted to talk to me.
Odd: I do. But first things first. How are you feeling?
Aelita: I could be better. But the doctor says I'm going to be fine.
Odd: That's what I wanted to hear.
Awkward pause.
Aelita: Odd?
Odd: Yeah, I wanted to talk to you about the other night.
Aelita tenses.
Aelita: I'm…..I'm listening.
Odd: I've been thinking about it pretty hard, and…and I just don't think…it was right.
Aelita slowly nods.
Aelita: I agree.
Odd: For a while, I was really confused. I wasn't sure if I really felt something for you, or if it was just a combination of hormones and my condition. And looking back on that night, I think I know the answer.
Aelita: You don't.
Odd: No. Aelita, you have become my closest friend. I am closer to you than anyone else. I trust you and I deeply care about you. Princess, I can't thank you enough for what you have done for me since I was freed. But I don't think we were supposed to be together in that way. I think doing that would hurt our strong bond. I want to go back to how it was, just you and me clowning around, making the lives of the serious guys in our group more interesting whether they like it or not.
She smiles.
Aelita: I want that too. I want to go back to that.
Odd: So…..friends?
Aelita: Friends.
Odd: Thanks princess. Thanks for everything.
Aelita: You're welcome.
Odd: I'll talk to you later. Get better soon, okay?
Aelita takes in a deep breath.
Aelita: You too.
They hang up. Odd pats Kiwi's head. Kiwi wags his tail.
Odd: ….I'll try.
An outline of a man sits in a dark room and watches TV. His fingers cross together as he carefully observes Moriarty during his interview. The shadowy man's eyes squint together. Light pours into the room when a younger and larger man opens the door and walks in. He walks right up behind the man in the chair.
Simon: We can't still find the bodies sir.
The man in the chair is very quiet for a while.
Director: He's goading us.
Simon: Sir?
Director: He knows we are watching…..and he's loving every minute of it.
Simon: He should be apprehended.
Director: Clearly.
Simon: Then let me assemble a team. We'll get him this time.
Director: And risk killing more agents?...I don't think so.
Simon: He's just a middle-aged man sir. We can get him.
The Director scratches his chin.
Director: 'Just a middle-aged man?'…..Maybe...And yet that middle-aged man has already killed two of my best agents.
Simon: What are you trying to say sir?
Pause.
Director: …..There are state secrets even you don't know about, Simon…..Things I haven't been able to believe…..until now.
Simon doesn't respond.
Director: He's in the public spotlight now. Taking him out has just gotten very difficult.
Simon: So what do we do?
Director: Your job remains the same. Protect the president. That doesn't change.
Simon: But what about Dr. Renard?
He turns his head to Simon.
Director: We watch…and wait.
The next day, Yumi walks out her front door. She absentmindedly adjusts her small backpack over her shoulder and walks out the front gate. As she turns around from closing it, she double takes. In front of her is a sleek black moped. When she approaches it, she notices a red bow tied around one of the handles. She picks up a small note on the seat. The message reads: I didn't forget this time. She smiles.
Yumi: Ulrich….
Ulrich: You rang?
She turns to see Ulrich leaning against a tree a few feet from her house. He is holding two helmets in his hand. He holds them out in front of him, clearing offering her a joyride. Yumi can't believe her eyes. She beams with excitement.
Yumi: How did you-?
Ulrich: Let's just say I might be getting an angry call later.
His phone starts ringing.
Ulrich: ...Or now
He shuts his phone off, saving the yelling for later.
Ulrich: Happy late birthday. Sorry I couldn't do this yesterday, but we were slightly busy.
Yumi: Oh…..I think a school hostage situation gives you an excuse…..but just barely.
Ulrich: Do you like it?
Yumi spins around, almost dancing like a little girl with unrestrained glee. She grabs Ulrich's shoulders.
Yumi: Like it? I love it so much I want to kiss you right now.
Ulrich complies and gets ready to kiss. Yumi gets close to him as well, but at the last moment she grabs one of the helmets and runs toward the moped.
Yumi: …..After a ride!
Ulrich: Hey!
She gets on the moped and puts her helmet on.
Yumi: Coming?
Ulrich shakes his head.
Ulrich: You're impossible.
He gets on behind her and puts his helmet on. She starts it up right as Yumi's parents come out the door.
Mrs. Ishiyama: Yumi, what on Earth?
Mr. Ishiyama: Where did you get that?
Yumi starts to pull away.
Yumi: Birthday present. Ulrich. Can't talk now gotta go!
Mr. Ishiyama: Wait, you can't just-!
Mrs. Ishiyama: We never approved-!
Yumi speeds away before they can finish their sentences. Yumi cheers as she drives the moped through the neighborhood.
Ulrich: You're enjoying this way too much.
Yumi: Sue me.
Ulrich: Where are we even going?
She looks back at him.
Yumi: Who cares?
Ulrich: Hmm….good point.
They pass through a park. As Yumi makes a turn, Ulrich taps her on the shoulder.
Yumi: What?
Ulrich: Stop the moped.
Yumi: Why?
Ulrich: Because otherwise we are going to miss the show.
Yumi stops the moped as Ulrich points to their left. In a forest clearing, Jeremie and Aelita are talking. By their close proximity to each other and the smiles on their faces, the scene looks pretty intimate. Suddenly they pull themselves into a kiss. Jeremie wraps his hands behind Aelita's back and pulls her close. They hear Yumi and Ulrich cheering in the distance.
Aelita: Really?
Jeremie: Ignore them.
Aelita: That is so immature.
Jeremie: Yes I know. Ignore them.
Aelita turns. Ulrich and Yumi are still watching and laughing.
Aelita: They don't seem to be eager to leave.
Jeremie shrugs.
Jeremie: Well, if they want a show, we might as well give it to them.
They kiss again. Ulrich and Yumi give another obnoxious cheer. After a minute or so, they finally leave the other two alone. A few minutes later, Yumi stops the moped in an isolated area further in the park. They get off and take off their helmets. Ulrich seems confused.
Ulrich: Why did we stop here?
Ulrich feels himself violently flipped onto the grass. A triumphant Yumi pins him.
Ulrich: Ow! Why did you do that?
Yumi: I promised you a kiss, remember?
Ulrich: That was a takedown!
Yumi: Same thing.
They touch lips and lose themselves in a kiss alone in the park. Back at the school, Delmas and Jim are in the midst of a very serious discussion in Delmas' office. Jim puts his fist on the table.
Jim: He can't stay here Mr. Delmas.
Delmas: Now let's not be too hasty Jim.
Jim: He can't be trusted.
Delmas: The man saved this entire school. He risked his life to save the lives of the students. I don't think you can easily draw that conclusion.
Jim: Sir, with all due respect, he's a trained killer.
Delmas: We shouldn't hold a man's history against him when he has done nothing but dedicate himself to this school.
Jim gets close to Delmas. He points his hand at Delmas' face in order to make his point clear.
Jim: Sir, something about Renard isn't right.
Delmas: And why do you say that?
Jim: Sir, he just….He struggles for words…..I just have a bad feeling about him.
Delmas takes off his glasses and rubs his eyes.
Delmas: I respect your opinion Jim. But I am not going to fire a teacher who just saved the school and has become enormously popular with the students and France. Firing him would be a colossal mistake.
Jim: But-
He's interrupted by Moriarty entering the room. He greets both men with a polite nod and a smile. There is a yellow folder in his hands.
Moriarty: Mr. Delmas…
Delmas: Dr. Renard, how nice to see you. He turns to Jim. Would you excuse us for a moment?
Jim reluctantly leaves. Moriarty cocks his head to the side after Jim exits the room.
Delmas: Dr. Renard, I know I have told you this a thousand times, but there is no way I can fully show you my eternal gratitude.
Moriarty: And for the thousandth time, I am not looking for a reward.
Delmas: Oh but I must insist. It is the least I can do. You should be chair of the history department here. I'm sure you would enjoy that.
Moriarty: Oh, I've never had ambitions for administration Mr. Delmas. Teaching is my passion.
Delmas: But you should be promoted somehow.
Moriarty's eyes flicker with sly malevolence. He adjusts his lab coat and gives Moriarty an unnerving grin.
Moriarty: Oh, I know you will.
Delmas laughs, thinking Moriarty is joking.
Delmas: What do you mean?
Moriarty taps the folder.
Moriarty: Well, I was going over our school finances like you asked…
Delmas gives Moriarty a strange look.
Delmas: I….never asked you to do that.
Moriarty pretends to be surprised.
Moriarty: You didn't?...Well, I guess it's too late now.
Delmas: What do you mean 'too late'?
Moriarty puts the folder on the table and opens it. He points to several strange transactions for Delmas to see. Delmas loses his breath. He looks up at Moriarty, unable to form words. Moriarty begins to play dumb to torment him.
Moriarty: Why, what do these numbers mean? Money from the school suddenly disappearing?…..That can't be good.
Delmas tries to act natural.
Delmas: I….I don't know what you are talking about.
Moriarty: All this trustee money donated to the school disappearing into a mysterious account…Hmm…..I believe there is a word for that…..Oh yes! He leans close to Delmas. Embezzlement.
Delmas: Well…..yes but-
Moriarty: You know, I'm curious. How could a middle and high school principal afford such a lavish lifestyle for himself and his precious…..precious daughter?
Delmas freezes, his heart pounding.
Delmas: It…..it's not what you think.
Moriarty goes in for the kill.
Moriarty: It's not? Then please…explain it to me.
Moriarty gleefully watches while Delmas begins to cave. Delmas grabs onto the end of his desk and squeezes it nervously. He lowers his head in defeat.
Delmas: What do you want?
Moriarty shrugs.
Moriarty: I want you to get out of the way.
Delmas: What are you talking about?
Moriarty: I want you to get out of the way so I can do the following….
He hands Delmas another sheet of paper. It contains a plethora of written permission from the board to do various things. Delmas reads outloud.
Delmas: Authority to conduct teach-ins…class social experiments…to manage the faculty as Dr. Renard sees fit…..Life tenure! WHAT IS THIS?
Moriarty: Orders….directly from the board.
Delmas feels lightheaded. He swallows.
Delmas: How….how did you?
Moriarty: That's none of your concern. All you have to do is continue to sit in that little chair of yours and pretend like you're still in control while I do my stuff.
Delmas becomes enraged.
Delmas: YOU CAN'T DO THIS! I AM YOUR BOSS! I CAN FIRE YOU!
Moriarty remains calm.
Moriarty: Not anymore….He picks up the folder again. Unless you want the board to know you've been stealing from them.
Delmas is shaking. He slowly rises from his seat.
Delmas: This….is blackmail.
Moriarty: I prefer the term 'insurance'.
Delmas: Why….why are you doing this? You just saved this school, and now you're taking over?
Moriarty: Pretty much. And as long as I have all the board members on my side, you can't do anything about it. You shouldn't have let me into that meeting alone. Every one of them gave me their support.
While Delmas wallows in his own helplessness, he suddenly realizes something.
Delmas: That's not possible.
Moriarty: Oh but it is.
Delmas: No it isn't. Not every one on the board was in that meeting.
Moriarty's face changes from confidence to shock. His face turns red, but he keeps control.
Moriarty: What was that?
Delmas: One member was absent. Mr. Ingolf Stern.
Moriarty's body tenses.
Moriarty: Mr. …..Stern?
Delmas: Yes. Ulrich Stern's father. You might have heard of him. He told me he had an important business meeting that day and couldn't make it. I forgot to tell you.
Moriarty absorbs this unexpected information with calm. He points a finger at Delmas.
Moriarty: It doesn't matter. Our deal remains the same.
He walks out, thinking over the problem in his head. In the elaborate and well-lit seating room outside the office, Klotz waits on the couch.
Klotz: Did you tell him?
Moriarty: I did.
Klotz: So he's fired?
Moriarty: No.
Klotz can't believe his ears.
Klotz: What do you mean he's not fired. We both discovered he was stealing money from the school!
Moriarty: Yes I know. And I told him that. And he knows we know.
Klotz: And that's it?
Moriarty: Of course not.
As Moriarty walks away, Klotz puts the pieces together.
Klotz: You…..you're blackmailing him, aren't you?
Moriarty stops. He turns around and shakes his head with a smile on his face.
Moriarty: Blackmail is such a harsh word, Hans.
Klotz: But that's what you're doing.
Moriarty frowns and exhales, visually informing Klotz that this decision pains him.
Moriarty: I understand your concern. But now that we have this information, we can do so much good at this school.
Klotz: But if Delmas is fired, then a new principal can come in and….
Moriarty: ….And what? Continue Delmas' legacy? They are all the same Hans. Principals of private preparatory schools are all the same. His replacement would continue the same policies that are harming the students at this school.
Klotz: But you could be the replacement! You saved the school and-
Moriarty holds up his hand to stop him.
Moriarty: No. I am unqualified for that position, and I don't want it. My place here is with the students. I wouldn't have it any other way. Trust me…..keeping Delmas under our fingers is the best thing we could ever do for this school.
Klotz still isn't comfortable with this.
Klotz: But it's wrong!
Moriarty pats Klotz's shoulder.
Moriarty: Hans, Hans. What Delmas did was far worse. Think of the ends…..not the means. We could do so much good here.
Klotz: Well, you're right but-
Moriarty: And think of the school. We were just overwhelmed with a hostage situation. Is this any time to let a scandal come to the surface?
Klotz sees reason in this.
Klotz: No…..no it isn't.
Moriarty: Exactly. Think of the students. You have your work cut out for you. Some are traumatized by that experience. And can you really expect Delmas to fulfill their needs?
Klotz gets angry at the thought.
Klotz: No.
Moriarty: Neither can I. Face it friend. We have no choice.
Klotz nods.
Klotz: You're right. We need to act.
Moriarty: Exactly. Now get some rest. You look exhausted. He walks down the hall. You're going to need it. We have a lot of work to do.