The Games of Moriarty

by Ragnarok777

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

10. Chapter 10

This took longer than I would have hoped. It is also a little longer than I thought it would be. I'm starting to think shorter chapters would help. But then I would have eight million chapters. Oh well…

Part 25

Aelita hovers the Skid near the Lyoko Network access gate. She presses a few keys. The Skid shoots a strange beam onto the closed gate. Four objects that look similar to satellite dishes appear on the gate's outer rim. Aelita begins a test run. The satellites focus on a particular part of the Network and fire four blue beams that merge into one large beam several hundred meters away. The beam stretches far out into the Network. Aelita stops the test.

Aelita: Everything is working perfectly Jeremie. The Trans-Network Cyber Bridge is a success.

Back in the lab, Jeremie is placing a strange metal headset on Odd's cranium. The wires are hooked up to the main computer mainframe. He talks to Aelita while setting up the equipment.

Jeremie: Good work Aelita. You can head back now.

Odd adjusts the cumbersome headset.

Odd: Remind me again what a cyber bridge is?

Jeremie: We had a really close call when Ulrich was almost eternally virtualized in the Network. Trying to destroy Moriarty's core is extremely dangerous. But we have to try. So Aelita and I have developed a sort of emergency recovery system in case one of you is devirtualized in the Network again. It creates a cybernetic force field and tractor beam that preserves one's virtual incarnation and redirects its trajectory back to Lyoko…

Odd: You're starting to lose me here Einstein.

Jeremie sighs.

Jeremie: Giant beam sucks defeated warrior back to Lyoko for safe devirtualization. No risk of disappearing forever. Do you understand now?

Odd: Uh….I guess so.

Jeremie: Good. Now let's start your procedure.

Odd swallows.

Odd: Jeremie, are you…..sure this is a good idea?

Jeremie sits back down at the command chair.

Jeremie: I've read that virtual reality experiments can help veterans suffering from PTSD overcome their emotional trauma through simulated exposure. Hopefully the same idea will work with you.

Odd nervously taps his fingers on the armrests of his chair.

Odd: Yes but you overlooked one slight detail…

Jeremie: And that would be….?

Odd: Virtual reality is what got me into this mess in the first place!

Jeremie thinks about this for a moment. He shrugs.

Jeremie: Well it's better than doing nothing.

Odd: Jeremie…..I….A slight tremor passes through his body as he dreads what is to come. I really….really don't want to do this.

Jeremie turns around to face Odd.

Jeremie: Odd, you have to face this. You have PTSD and my options for treating you are very limited. You can't stay in the factory forever. We have to do something…

Odd takes a series of deep breaths.

Odd: You're right….Let's do it….before I change my mind.

Jeremie: Okay. I'm starting up the simulation.

Odd's world becomes dark for a moment. Then the outlines of objects begin to materialize around him. The simulation becomes very bright and the area around him solidifies into the mountain sector. Odd finds himself in his old uniform, free of Moriarty's control. He takes a moment to look at his paws. He takes in his surroundings. Everything feels so real. Odd hears Jeremie's voice.

Jeremie: The simulation should be completely loaded by now. Does everything look real to you?

Odd shudders.

Odd: Too real.

Jeremie: The virtual reality helmet penetrates your subconscious and brings back the memories that haunt you the most. I am not the one controlling the environment. Where are you?

Odd: The mountain sector.

Jeremie: Then something must have gone terribly wrong there. Do you know why you are in the mountain sector?

Odd lowers his head, bracing himself for the worst. He does his best to keep fear from making him lose control.

Odd: Yes…

Jeremie is quiet, letting Odd have some space to deal with his burden.

Odd: This is the moment that…..that I failed.

Jeremie: Then whatever happens, remember that this is not real.

A dark red cloud rises out of the digital sea. Odd turns away, clearly terrified at the prospect of facing his worst fear.

Moriarty: It's just you and me Odd.

Odd puts his paws over his head. He goes to his knees.

Odd: No…anything but this.

Jeremie: Turn around Odd. The only power he holds over you is fear. Take that power away from him.

Moriarty: You've come to me at last….

Odd: Stay away from me!

Odd feels his hands light up with red energy. He instantly becomes horrified and ashamed.

Odd: No. Not these stupid powers again!

His hands glow even more. Odd becomes angry.

Odd: You're the reason I became possessed! You created this mess!

Moriarty's smoky arms grab Odd and force him to turn around. Odd fires red blasts at Moriarty out of instinct. It only makes him stronger. Odd cringes in horror as Moriarty laughs at him.

Moriarty: I honestly didn't think it would be you, but you have exceeded all of my expectations. Congratulations.

Odd's symptoms start to take over. He shakes in terror.

Odd: Jeremie….turn it off!

Jeremie: No. Not yet. Exposure is the only way to cure you.

Moriarty: You will make a powerful ally.

Odd starts to feel Moriarty taking over his mind. He fires laser arrows and red electricity at him in a mad frenzy. Odd convulses as he begins to feel his freedom drained away. His mind panics. This is no longer a simulation to him. It is terrifyingly real.

Odd: JEREMIE TURN IT OFF! TURN IT OFF!

Jeremie: Come on Odd, you can do this!

Moriarty's skull is engulfed in red fire. His sockets lock onto Odd's helpless soul. Odd feels the beast within regain control.

Moriarty: Join me…

Odd can't take anymore. He writhes like an animal desperate to survive. He screams at the top of his lungs.

Odd: FOR THE LOVE OF GOD JEREMIE SHUT IT OFF!

Moriarty brings Odd close to his smoky mouth, ready to swallow him. Jeremie sees Odd clawing at his helmet in the lab and finally decides to relent. The simulation shuts down. Odd yanks his helmet off and throws it halfway across the room. He hugs his knees and stares into nothing, doing his best to relax after reliving that horrible moment. Jeremie is struck with regret. He gets out of the command chair.

Jeremie: I think we're done for the day.

The next morning Moriarty teaches his 10th grade World History class. He speaks slowly and confidently, fully aware that several students in his class are in awe of this man for saving the school. But his scholarly manner does not give off a hint of pride.

Moriarty: Shortly following World War ІІ, many of the major European nations saw economic integration as the key to preventing the extreme nationalism that wreaked havoc on the continent. By making their economies mutually dependent on each other, they figured that no nation would be foolish enough to start another conflict. The first attempt at economic unity was the European Coal and Steel Community. A few years later in 1957 the Treaty of Rome furthered the unity by creating the European Economic Community. As the number of members steadily grew, the Community began to become more politically integrated as well as being united economically. But it wasn't until 1993 that the Maastricht Treaty formally created the European Union that we know today. In 2002 the euro became the central currency for the majority of the nations. He looks at the class and rolls his eyes. And although I'm getting ahead of myself, we all know how well that's working out…

Some of the students groan at the mention of the EU's economic woes.

Moriarty: Unfortunately, we have learned all too well that there are downsides to political and economic integration. In fact, it's making some experts wonder if we should toss the idea of unity out altogether.

Emmanuel snorts.

Emmanuel: Good…

Christophe turns to his companion and gives him a dirty look.

Christophe: Come again?

Emmanuel: You heard me.

Christophe: You got a problem with the Union, man?

Emmanuel: Several actually…

Christophe: And what has the Union done that you find so offensive?

Emmanuel begins to count on his fingers.

Emmanuel: Hmm…..lets see…..stepping on French independence and sovereignty, discouraging our national identity, and making our economy suffer at the hands of drunken nations like Greece and Portugal.

Emmanuel's statement ignites an argument among the tables around him. Moriarty turns to the chalkboard.

Moriarty: Now let's move on to the Suez Crisis….He turns around in annoyance at the growing argument behind him. Students…..The talking continues…..Students quiet down!

They finally settle down, but it is obvious that the conflict was not resolved, especially between Christophe and Emmanuel. Moriarty locks his eyes on the latter.

Moriarty: Emmanuel, we appreciate your strong political opinions, but I'd rather you not use them to get us off topic.

From their seats near the back, Yumi and William can tell that Emmanuel's strong opinions are exactly what Moriarty wants. But he hides it well.

Emmanuel: Dr. Renard, I think I have the right to speak my mind. Is it fair that responsible nations like France and Germany should pay the price for the mistakes of others, and then reward those nations by bailing them out to prevent a complete financial collapse?

Moriarty shifts his head a little, pretending to think about this. Yumi gives William a worried look.

Yumi: This is bad. This is very, very bad.

William: Emmanuel just gave Moriarty exactly what he wanted.

Moriarty walks back to the chalkboard. He is silent for a moment.

Moriarty: You make a good point Emmanuel. And….perhaps the Suez Crisis can wait. After all, with these new school reforms coming up soon, I have a lot more freedom on what to teach.

William leans close to Yumi. He whispers into her ear.

William: School reforms?

Yumi shakes her head.

Yumi: He doesn't waste any time. He's already making his move.

William: Yes but how?

Moriarty: …And we could be watching history in the making. The euro it seems, is doing a lot more damage than good right now. He takes a coin out of his pocket. He stares at it intently. If things get much worse, they might consider getting rid of this currency altogether. The question is….is all this worth it?

He looks at the class. No one says anything.

Moriarty: Come on….speak up. What do you honestly think?

Another pause. Yumi leans back to William.

Yumi: Now's our chance. If we don't speak up, he'll start to mess with their minds.

William: Yes but what if that's exactly what he wants?….To isolate us from the others.

Yumi: If we don't do something, it will happen anyway.

William thinks this over.

William: Good point.

William begins to raise his hand, but someone beats him to it.

Christophe: Dr. Renard, no one can deny that the euro has problems, but what about free trade? ….And more power in the global market? You can't deny that there are benefits to the euro as well.

Moriarty furrows his eyebrows at Christophe's unexpected rebuttal, but he shows no signs of irritation.

Moriarty: Oh, you are right Christophe. I'm not denying that there are benefits to the Eurozone. It is merely a question of whether the costs outweigh the benefits.

Christophe: The financial situation is bad. But if Greece can just get its spending under control and find ways to get more competitive, they might be able to fix it. We probably just need to be patient.

Emmanuel scoffs at this.

Emmanuel: Exactly how long do we have to wait?

Moriarty points a finger at Emmanuel and grins.

Moriarty: Once again, Emmanuel has a point. Christophe, although you have good ideas, what you are suggesting is not working in practice. Getting more competitive would mean devaluating their currency, something Greece couldn't do even if they wanted to because the euro does not belong to them alone. It would also mean cutting social benefits and reducing labor costs. The Greeks do not seem to be interested in making that sacrifice. The riots in Athens have shown that ordinary citizens don't want to have anything to do with austerity. And if their own people don't want to look beyond their own needs….Moriarty shrugs….there's not much the rest of the European Union nations can do.

Mathias: Then it's their fault. One nation is bringing the rest of the EU down, and they don't even care.

Emmanuel: Exactly….

A few students protest this, but Moriarty regains the floor.

Moriarty: While your position can be debated, you are right in saying that a nation like Greece or Portugal can singlehandedly put the EU in serious jeopardy. So the other nations have no choice but to bail them out. Otherwise they would default on their debts and ignite an economic disaster.

Mathias: So Greece is getting rewarded for doing something wrong?

Moriarty: In a nutshell, yes. There were conditions to the bailouts. Greece was supposed to impose strict financial reforms to remedy the situation, but their citizens and government don't seem very eager to accept them.

Anais raises her hand.

Anais: Dr. Renard, I don't want to be rude, but you seem to be suggesting that the Greeks are irresponsible, selfish, and lazy.

Moriarty shakes his head.

Moriarty: No. That's not it at all. They are merely addicted to an excess of the welfare state. Social benefits with very little concern for their cost. And don't get me wrong. Greece is nothing special. Europe is in love with the welfare state…..possibly too much. Workers demand more and more programs to suit their needs. And our beloved France is no different. Why, you remember the firestorm of protests when the government tried to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62. We strike all the time. The slightest cut sends us screaming into the streets. Teachers demand better wages all the time. But it's never enough. We just keep wanting more…

Yumi balls her fists.

William: Yumi careful…..don't let him play with your emotions.

Yumi: He's toying with them…..sprinkling some truth in to deceive them. We can't let him do this.

William: We need to choose our battles wisely. I don't think this is the right time or place.

Moriarty: …And when crisis finally hits, never once do we consider that maybe….just maybe this was our own fault. That perhaps in our quest to squeeze benefits from the government we have made the state bankrupt. We just demand even more once things get bad. Greece was not a special case. They were just really bad at handling it. The real fault does not lie with Greece. The source of the problem is a mentality among most of the working classes in Europe that you can make the government your personal nanny and get away with it.

Yumi stands up, much to William's chagrin.

Yumi: Sir…Yumi almost chokes on those words...that is not true. It was the selfishness of banks and corporations that really got the EU into this mess. They were the ones who acted irresponsibly. Ordinary people were the victims….not the cause of this problem. How could you blame this on them when so many are dealing with hard times right now? Moreover, how could you demonize teachers? You of all people should defend them. You're one of them!

The room becomes silent, as the class waits for Moriarty's reaction. Yumi remains firm despite her apprehension. William braces himself for the reply. Moriarty twists some chalk around his fingers, contemplating his response calmly while secretly reminding himself to punish that insult later. He slowly begins to speak.

Moriarty: You….also have…a point…..He faces the class. Yumi's statement points out just how broad this issue is. You can look at it from several angles. But…..even if it was not their fault, you cannot deny that European nations have trouble making sacrifices. People are suffering, there is no doubt about that. But poverty has always been a tragic fact of life…..If you ask me, the welfare state is like a boat…a boat that pulls people struggling in the water to safety. But eventually there are too many on board, and the crew has to decide whether to save more and sink the entire ship, or leave the others to die and save the rest. Faced with that reality, what more could we possibly do to fix this problem and keep up our old habits?

Natalya speaks up from a table near the window that is only occupied by her.

Natalya: We could tax the rich….

Moriarty smirks.

Moriarty: Spoken like a true Russian.

A few of the students laugh. Natalya doesn't think it's very funny.

Moriarty: A good thought…in theory. But if you take money away from the producers in society and give it to the consumers, eventually it will encourage more and more people to become consumers. And then the small number of producers won't be enough to satisfy the needs of the consumers anymore.

Anais: But that is a solution. We can't just let the super wealthy get off scot-free while the rest suffer.

Christophe: That could do a lot to fix things and get Europe off its feet.

William finally makes his move.

William: Letting the rich get richer is not going to fix this mess. It's just going to create a small minority of wealthy people in a mostly suffering society.

Moriarty looks around the room, watching as these students defy him. Some conservative students start to argue, but Moriarty taps on his desk. The classroom becomes quiet.

Moriarty: Very well, I understand if you think that way. He pauses. Although you do realize that you are talking about taking money from your own parents. After all, most of you come from very successful families. It's very easy to pledge loyalty to the ordinary worker when you live comfortable lives and haven't had to give up your money to help them.

Some of the students become a little embarrassed at this realization. But Christophe does not fall for it.

Christophe: Just because we grew up with luxury doesn't mean we can't stick to our ideals when we enter the real world.

Moriarty considers this. He paces the room with his hands behind his back. His mind hums with activity. After a few seconds, Moriarty smiles at Christophe.

Moriarty: Okay, you're on.

Christophe and the rest of the class becomes confused.

Christophe: I'm sorry, what's on?

Moriarty: Your bet.

Christophe: I…..I never made a bet.

Moriarty: Oh but you did. You told me that you would stick to your ideals once you got into the real world. Well, I say….. why wait? We can try this right here, right now.

The class becomes even more confused.

Christophe: I don't follow….

Moriarty: Oh it's very simple. The majority of you believe socialism is the best policy. I say let's put it to the test.

Mathias: And how do we do that?

Moriarty scratches his chin with his index finger, clearly eager to explain his brilliant idea.

Moriarty: A class experiment.

Curious whispers echo through the room.

Moriarty: From now on this class will be a laboratory for testing political extremes, both left and right. We will experiment with both sides and decide which is better. And since a lot of you seem to side with the left, we will try communism first.

Stunned silence grips the room.

Anais: But Dr. Renard…

Moriarty: It is Comrade Renard now. Don't address me by my title from a capitalist society.

Anais struggles to swallow this piece of information as she speaks.

Anais: Comrade Renard…..you are trying to install communism. We were talking about socialism. Those are two different things.

Moriarty: Oh but Comrade Fiquet, communism is a revolutionary and extreme version of socialism. And I want to test the extremes. This is important in terms of your study of history, for the 1940s and 50s were fraught with competition between fascism and communism. Instead of merely learning history…let's relive it. We can experiment with two opposite ends of the spectrum and see which is better for society. I know none of you hold views that extreme, but humor me. Besides, we have seen that moderate left and right policies in Europe so far have not relieved Europe's financial problems. So why not see if the extremes could work? Comrades, enough talk. Let's put your words into action.

The class slowly but surely becomes excited at this idea. The prospect of roleplaying in the classroom interests some of them. Christophe seems wary, while Emmanuel leans back in his chair and grins. Yumi and William almost turn white.

Yumi: What on Earth did we just get dragged into?

William tilts his head back, trying not to look worried.

William: Something very bad…..Comrade Yumi.

Yumi glares at him.

Yumi: Is this really the time to make jokes?

Moriarty: First things first. These tables must be adjusted. Form a circle with them. We shall have no hierarchy here. Everyone is equal, despite their individual talents. No one takes a special seat here. Now comrades!

The students slowly get up and start to move the tables. Moriarty leans against the chalkboard as the tables scrape the floor in hideous unison. Yumi looks at Moriarty's smug face. He nods at her and then points at the clock above him. As the second hand moves toward the 12, Yumi understands the message. His time of glory is near. A few hours later William and Jeremie are washing their hands in the bathroom. Jeremie seems distant, with a deep smile on his face.

William: Someone seems distracted.

Jeremie: What?...Oh yes I guess I am.

William: Would this distraction happen to have pink hair?

Jeremie: Um….yes she would.

William turns the faucet off.

William: Why am I not surprised?

Jeremie: Can you blame me? I thought she would never forgive me in a million years…..and yet she has. She's…she's just incredible.

William: Uh huh. William wipes his hands with a paper towel.

Jeremie: Today we're going to be working in the factory, getting back to the basics. Now that we have the cyber bridge in place, we can get back to the multi-agent system and fixing the supercomputer's circuit boards.

William: Wait, is this a date or will you two actually be working?

Jeremie puts his hands on his hips.

Jeremie: We will be working. Just because we're together again doesn't mean we can't act professional.

William: Um yeah…..sure.

Jeremie: Don't get me wrong, I am looking forward to spending time with her.

He looks into the mirror and gets a dreamy look on his face. At the same time, a specter emerges from one of the electrical sockets. Neither of them notice.

Jeremie: Maybe we can take some desserts from the cafeteria and share them while we work…

William feels a shadow above him. He spins around and begins to back up.

William: Jeremie…..

Jeremie: Or bring some extra croissants. She really likes croissants. And hot chocolate. Can't forget that.

William: Jeremie!

The specter attacks him and tries to possess him. His body becomes enveloped in a gray shade. He silently writhes and fights back, unable to make a sound.

Jeremie: It's going to be a lot of work, but I don't mind it as much if she helps me.

William claws on the walls, trying to get Jeremie's attention. He can feel a resistance rise up in him, most likely due to the inhibitors he was exposed to. But the specter does not give up so easily. He batters William's mind as he vies for control.

Jeremie: I mean, there's no law that says we can't have fun at the same time.

William gasps, doing his best to keep the specter at bay. He chokes out Jeremie's name, but Jeremie is still on his romantic rant.

Jeremie: I could be working at the computer, and then she could put her hands on my shoulders and leans in, and I would turn around and look at her…..

William reaches for the stall door and tries to pull himself up. He groans in pain as the specter tries to break his will. But just when William believes he can't take anymore, something else shouts from deep inside his subconscious mind.

Xana: This is my host. My slave. AND NO ONE ELSE'S!

The specter is violently expelled through his mouth. It goes into the air vent and disappears. William gasps for air. He slowly gets up and drags himself towards the sink. He splashes water onto his face.

Jeremie: And we can just hang out until…He finally notices William…Hey, what happened to you? You look awful!

William curses under his breath.

William: I've been tossed around like a rag doll for the past thirty seconds by a specter while you kept on babbling about Aelita!

Jeremie: Oh….I'm sorry. Pause. Did my inhibitors work?

William represses the urge to punch Jeremie in the face. He speaks through clenched teeth.

William: It needs…..some improvement.

Twenty minutes later, a group of people head towards a bus at the front entrance of the school to go to the neighborhood indoor pool. William walks close to Yumi.

Yumi: What happened to you? You look like you've been through hell!

William: I have. Moriarty tried to possess me.

Yumi puts a hand on his shoulder.

Yumi: Are you alright?

William: I could be better. But thanks for asking.

Yumi: Good thing the inhibitors worked.

William looks away from her.

William: Yes….but I wouldn't put a whole lot of confidence into that. It was a fierce battle.

Yumi: Well it's over now. Moriarty failed.

William: Yes but…He turns to her. You should be careful.

Yumi: Careful? Why?

William: When that specter tried to possess me, I could feel what it wanted me to do. It wanted me to hurt you…..badly. It wanted me to take advantage of your trust and beat you mercilessly. In other words, Moriarty is angry at you. He hasn't forgotten what you did, and if he couldn't use me, he will use someone else.

Yumi looks straight ahead, biting her lip as she absorbs this information.

Yumi: He can't scare me.

William: Be careful anyway. You know he always has a backup plan.

Yumi sees Ulrich next to Yumi's moped. He smiles as he waits for her.

Yumi: Got to go. We're taking the more adventurous route. See you at the pool.

William: Okay.

Yumi and Ulrich get on the moped and begin to take off. William wanders onto the bus and takes a window seat near the back. A few students talk as the bus begins to fill up. He puts on his headphones and drowns the noise out with some music. Two minutes later William sees Natalya walk in. She goes down the aisle nervously and looks behind her shoulder, trying to see if someone is following her. Eventually she wanders over to William. William turns his head once he realizes that she has stopped in front of his row. He takes his headphones off.

William: Hey Natalya….His senses pick up on Natalya's discomfort. You okay?

She hesitates to answer.

Natalya: William, I don't mean to impose, but….She leans close to him so no one else can hear. Mathias won't stop following me. It's getting on my nerves and the last thing I want to do is to sit next to him on the bus.

William pats the seat next to him.

William: Say no more. Just sit next to me and I'll make sure that won't happen.

Natalya looks relieved.

Natalya: Thank you.

As soon as she sits down, Mathias comes down the aisle. She eyes Natalya and instantly becomes disappointed that she's not alone. But he stops to talk with her anyway.

Mathias: Hey…

Natalya looks away.

Natalya: Hello Mathias.

Mathias: So you heading to the pool too?

Natalya: That's what this bus is for.

Mathias: Why don't we hang out together over there? It's an awesome place. It even has a hot tub and some great vending machines. I could buy you something.

Natalya: Thanks but no thanks.

Mathias: Are you sure? It's no fun to swim alone.

Natalya: I'll be fine.

Mathias: Look, I don't understand why you are trying to avoid me. I'm not trying to get you back….I just want to hang out and stuff.

Natalya: Please no. I'd prefer to be alone.

Mathias: I don't understand why you're upset when it was your idea in the first-

William gets up from his seat and glares at Mathias.

William: Hey. She says she's not interested. Alright? So stop asking.

Mathias reluctantly retreats in the face of William's warning to back off. Natalya breathes a sigh of relief.

Natalya: Thank you again.

William: No problem. I never liked that guy anyway.

Natalya: I can finally relax now.

William: Good for you. He pulls something from his bag and offers it to her. Croissant?

Natalya laughs as he grabs another one for himself and starts to eat it.

Natalya: Why do you have those?

William: A friend of mine wouldn't stop talking about having croissants with his girlfriend and it made me hungry. Want one?

Natalya: Sure. Why not?

She takes it and eats it quickly. William is surprised that she finished it so fast. Natalya recognizes William's surprise and becomes embarrassed. But William doesn't say anything and the bus ride continues. William plays his music again. Natalya looks over his shoulder.

Natalya: You like the Subdigitals too?

William: Of course. He thinks for a moment. I didn't realize that they were popular in Russia.

Natalya: They aren't. But they have a small loyal following.

William: Well, I'm glad that I met a part of that following.

Natalya smiles and then frowns once she looks around and sees Mathias staring at her from his seat.

Natalya: Oh no.

William: What?

Natalya: I have a feeling Mathias won't leave me alone once I get to the pool.

William is quiet for a second.

William: If he's that much of a pain, you could hang out with me at the pool. I will make sure he doesn't bother you.

Natalya seems pleased with this idea. But she teases him.

Natalya: You're quite the gentleman William.

William: I do my best.

The two ride in silence for a moment. Then Natalya begins talking again.

Natalya: Which song are you listening too?

William: "Angel of Mine"

Her face lights up.

Natalya: That's my favorite.

William offers to let her listen. They share his ear buds. William starts to sing the lyrics quietly.

William: "There's no time now to explain…..Oh no."

Natalya joins in.

Natalya: "….Been sent on a mission….Cause I got a vision right now"

They hum the chorus together as the bus takes off through the Parisian suburbs. Scene shifts to the pool. Yumi watches from the side of the pool in her black one-piece swimsuit as Ulrich dives. She claps as he comes up for air.

Yumi: Nice one.

Ulrich swims to the edge.

Ulrich: Why don't you come on in? The water's great.

Yumi gives him a teasing smile.

Yumi: Not right now. I'll just watch.

Ulrich: Oh come on.

Yumi: I'll swim in a minute. But not just yet.

Ulrich swims away with a sad expression on his face. Yumi turns her head to look at someone else go off the diving board. Ulrich then sneakily swims back to Yumi and drags her in by her legs. She barely gets a scream off before she hits the water. She comes up spitting water out of her mouth and glaring at her mischievous boyfriend.

Yumi: I'm going to get you for that!

Ulrich: If you can catch me.

Ulrich swims away.

Yumi: Why you little…

Yumi takes off after him. William laughs at the scene from the distance. He is wearing black swimming trunks and is sitting on a bench close to the changing rooms. Natalya is inside one of them.

Natalya: Okay, I'm ready.

She comes out of the changing room. She walks over to William. William turns his head to face her…and becomes awestruck. He had recognized that she was very attractive before, but now her white bikini makes her full beauty hard to ignore. Her bikini is not very immodest, but William is still overwhelmed. The way her hair falls onto her shoulders and the sweet smile she is giving him combined with an amazing figure makes William speechless. A pang of desire washes over him. He fights back the feeling, doing his best to keep his old womanizing self in check. He looks away from her for a moment.

Natalya: Is everything okay?

William swallows.

William: Yes. Everything's….fine.

Natalya: Good. Let's go swim.

William: Okay. Do you want to go off the diving board first?

Natalya laughs.

Natalya: You can if you want, but me? In this bikini? That's not a good idea. If I do that my top might come right off.

William tries to laugh with her, but it's clear the thought of that has made his head spin. He turns a little red.

William: I'm sorry, I…..I guess I never thought of that.

Natalya: Oh it's okay. Most guys never think of that. Come on, let's swim!

She jumps in and signals William to follow. William tries to shake off the feeling and jumps into the pool with her. After a few minutes of swimming, William decides to go off the diving board. After he makes his dive, he closes his eyes and swims to the surface. William accidentally rises up right next to Natalya and bumps up against her chest. She squeals a little in surprise.

Natalya: You need to watch where you're swimming.

William becomes more embarrassed and overwhelmed than ever by getting so close to her. He treads away from her.

William: Sorry, didn't see you there…..had my eyes closed and I couldn't have…seen…you being there…..

William is at a loss for words. Natalya laughs.

Natalya: Are you sure you're okay? You seem more confused than a Ukrainian walking out of a bar.

Before William has to answer this slightly racist joke, he sees Ulrich and Yumi swim up from behind them.

Yumi: Oh….Hi Natalya.

Natalya: Hello.

Ulrich: Hey William. Wanna race?

William: I'm….not really in the mood.

Ulrich cleans some water out of his ears.

Ulrich: I'm sorry….I think I need to get my hearing checked. Did you just back out of a challenge?

William: Don't be immature Ulrich, you can't goad me into racing you.

Water splashes onto his face. William glares at a very guilty looking Ulrich.

William: Okay. You asked for it….

As the boys begin to race, Yumi and Natalya get out of the pool to watch. They both wrap towels around themselves and sit on a bench. Yumi cheers Ulrich on.

Yumi: Come on Ulrich! He's beating you, step it up!

She leans back and sighs.

Yumi: He still has bad technique.

Natalya: I take it you know Ulrich pretty well.

Yumi finds the comment amusing.

Yumi: Very well actually. We're dating.

Natalya seems surprised.

Natalya: Oh…well, I….

Yumi: Something wrong?

Natalya: I thought you were with William.

Yumi laughs.

Yumi: William? What gave you that idea?

Natalya gives her a perplexed look.

Natalya: I heard that Christophe walked in on you two kissing in his room.

Yumi: Oh…that…..um…Yumi scratches the back of her neck and searches for an explanation. Well, I wasn't exactly myself at the-

Natalya suddenly gives Yumi a sly grin.

Natalya: Oh…..I get it. You were trying to make Ulrich jealous, weren't you?

Yumi: No! That's not….well…

Natalya: You don't have to tell me girl. I completely understand. You have to make sure the good ones stay with you. By the way, I haven't seen Ulrich in any of my classes. Is he in the tenth grade?

Yumi: No he's in the ninth grade. He's a year younger than me.

Natalya chuckles.

Natalya: Oh so you're a cougar…

Yumi is offended and becomes defensive.

Yumi: I…I am not!

Natalya: He's younger than you.

Yumi: Well, that….that's not the same!

Natalya: Call it what you will.

Following William's victory, the boys head to the side of the pool. William climbs up the pool ladder and unexpectedly catches Natalya's eye. As William flips his hair back upon exiting the water, Natalya can't help but notice how lithe and muscular he is. He steps onto the concrete and stands up straight, his wet dark hair almost covering his deep brown eyes. In a single instant, she finds him rebellious and rough, yet suave and gentlemanly at the same time. This time she's the one enticed, and her heart does a little acrobatic act. She stares at him for a few seconds as he reaches for a towel. Yumi can't help but notice Natalya's distraction. Meanwhile Ulrich walks up to Yumi and begins to talk to her, ending the awkward silence.

Ulrich: I think I'm going to change and head on home.

Yumi: Why? Because you lost badly to William?

Ulrich: Ugh….you're not going to let that go, are you?

Yumi: Not for a while I'm not.

Ulrich: Are you going with me?

Yumi: I think I'll stay a little longer.

Ulrich: Alright. I'll take the bus.

He walks into the changing room. William rubs his hair dry and looks back at Natalya. She realizes that he is noticing her staring at him and turns her head away. William can't help but feel a little uncomfortable again. He wraps the towel around his swim suit.

William: I'm uh….going to get a drink.

Natalya watches him leave. Yumi's lips curve into a devious smile. She hums a little tune to herself. She taps her fingers on the bench.

Yumi: "One brave new world….to be uncoiled…Are you there? I've got a message to send, are you there? I wanna find a brand new friend."

Natalya: You and your friends are big fans of the Subdigitals it seems.

Yumi: Yep. You know…that song was written by Chris Morales after he fell in love with a girl he met in an online chat room.

Natalya raises her eyebrows.

Natalya: Really?...Natalya then starts to wonder about something...Any reason you wanted to mention that?

Yumi taps her foot on the concrete innocently.

Yumi: Oh…..no reason.

Natalya purses her lips. Something is eating at her, and curiosity makes her break down.

Natalya: So….if you're not with William….then…..

Yumi: Yes he's single.

Natalya: Hey….I didn't even finish my question…..But it's clear it was answered. How did you know I was going to ask that?

Yumi: Oh….I don't know. Lucky guess.

Ulrich comes out of the changing room in regular clothes. He leans over to Yumi.

Ulrich: I'm heading out.

Yumi: Okay, see you back at Kadic.

Ulrich: You still coming over to study with me tonight?

Yumi: I'm coming over alright, whether we are actually studying has yet to be seen.

Ulrich: Good point. See you later.

He bends down to give Yumi a peck on the lips. Yumi smiles broadly as Ulrich walks toward the exit. She watches him leave. Natalya observes Yumi closely.

Natalya: So you really like this Ulrich guy?

Yumi: Yes….She traces a circle on the concrete with her toe. A deep blush glowing with feminine passion rises to her cheeks. Actually I….She pauses.

Natalya: You what?

She runs a few fingers through her black hair.

Yumi: I'm pretty sure I'm in love with him.

Natalya is quiet for a few seconds, unsure what to say but clearly intrigued.

Natalya: Are you sure?

Yumi: …..Yes. I mean….I know I'm still pretty young, but if what I'm feeling isn't love, then I don't know what it is. She rests her chin on her fists and has a dreamy look on her face. But it's incredibly powerful.

Natalya nods her head, but there is an uneasiness about her. To the untrained eye, this action might appear as that of an understanding listener. But in reality Natalya is suppressing a gnawing feeling that she wishes to hide from Yumi: envy of what she has.

Natalya: What's it like….being in love?

Yumi is unsure how to answer this question for a moment. She tilts her head to the side and thinks.

Yumi: Well, although I would not know from experience, being in love is like…..being drunk. You feel weightless, enjoying life at its fullest and giving yourself up to its rhythm. You feel free, no longer burdened by the worries of your life, no matter how big they are. All you can think about is the moment….and him. And when you see him….either at school or on a date, your heart leaps and your body can't stop shaking. Because when you're with him, you don't just touch his body…..you touch his soul…..And vice versa.

Yumi sighs after giving that long poetic explanation. Natalya takes some time to absorb it.

Natalya: But you still touch his body, correct?

Yumi: Of course, physical desire is still part of it.

A naughty look takes shape on Natalya's face.

Natalya: That would explain why you were staring at his butt when he walked away.

Yumi blushes again.

Yumi: Was not…..

Natalya laughs.

Natalya: It's okay girl. No one blames you. Not with a catch like that.

As the girls continue their heart-to-heart, Ulrich walks out the front entrance of the pool facility into the parking lot. The moment he gets out, the door slams shut behind him. He turns in surprise. An ordinary person would assume that the door was faulty, but Ulrich knows better. He goes back and tries to open the door from the outside. It is locked. He tugs harder and suddenly receives an electric shock that makes him fall to the asphalt. He curses and grabs his hand in pain.

Ulrich: Moriarty.

Back at the factory, Jeremie and Aelita work in the supercomputer room. They diligently replace and examine the circuits, using some basic tools trying to fix the damage Moriarty caused. The two are a little sweaty from working close to the hot supercomputer. Jeremie stands up and wipes his forehead. He walks over to check on Aelita's progress, but he fails to notice the large metal crowbar beneath him and trips over it. He falls over and accidentally tackles Aelita, landing right on top of her as they fall to the floor. Aelita immediately gives him a questionable look.

Aelita: You know, if you wanted to do this, you could have at least been a little more subtle.

Jeremie turns red.

Jeremie: That was an accident. Honestly. You know how much of a klutz I can be. I just tripped.

Aelita: You don't seem to be eager to get up though.

Jeremie chuckles.

Jeremie: Can you blame me?

Aelita: Hmm….I guess not.

Jeremie bends down to kiss her. But right as their lips are about to meet, the elevator door opens. Odd runs out.

Odd: Jeremie, Aelita I…..He stops in his tracks once he sees what's going on. Uh…..am I interrupting?

Jeremie shakes his head.

Jeremie: Every single time…

Aelita: Can't this wait Odd?

Odd: Not unless an activated tower 'can wait'.

Upon hearing this, the two forsake pleasure for business and get up. They immediately head towards the elevator.

Jeremie: Have you called the others?

Odd: They aren't responding.

Jeremie: They're all together at the pool. He shakes his head. Perfectly vulnerable.

Aelita: I'm prepared to go in alone if I have to.

Jeremie: No. That is saved for emergencies only, and we don't know if it's an emergency yet.

Odd reads Aelita's disappointment at the decision. She clearly is willing to go along with Jeremie, especially since they just got back together, but she's also very worried. A nervous tingling goes down Odd's spine as he thinks about her on Lyoko alone. A lump forms in his throat. He bites his lip.

Odd: I…I can go with her….if I need to.

Jeremie and Aelita turn to Odd in shock. Aelita immediately shakes her head.

Aelita: After last night? No way Odd, it's too dangerous. You…..you might not be able to take it.

Odd seems very eager to follow Aelita's advice, but he persists against his will.

Odd: But what if they're in danger?

Jeremie holds up his hands.

Jeremie: Hold on! Hold on! We don't know anything yet. So no one is going to do anything drastic until we have more information. If we hear nothing in the next fifteen minutes, Aelita is going to Lyoko alone. Got it?

The two nod in agreement and Jeremie hits the elevator button to go up. Back at the pool, William comes back to the bench area holding a coke in his hand. He sees that Natalya is gone and Yumi is rooting through her bag, which holds her change of clothes and other belongings.

William: What are you doing?

Yumi: Looking for chapstick. My lips are getting dry and I know I put it in here somewhere. She keeps searching.

William looks around.

William: Where's Natalya?

Yumi: She went to the bathroom….Now where is it? Yumi then pulls out her phone. She looks at it. Oh no…

William: What?

Yumi: Two missed calls from Jeremie. Never a good sign.

Suddenly her phone starts ringing.

William: Jeremie?

Yumi: No….Ulrich.

She answers it.

Yumi: Hello?

Ulrich: Yumi, we have a problem.

Yumi: What's wrong?...Are you in trouble?

Ulrich: No…you and William are.

A worried expression takes hold of Yumi.

Ulrich: Come to the exit….now.

In less than thirty seconds, William and Yumi are racing to the exit. When they get to the two large double doors, they see Ulrich outside through the windows in the door. He seems agitated. They try to push the doors open, but it doesn't work.

William: We're locked in!

Yumi: Moriarty's trapped us…

Ulrich talks to them from the outside.

Ulrich: I left right before the doors closed on me. We need to find a way to get you guys out of there!

William: And everyone else too. There are at least a hundred people in this building.

Yumi pushes against the door. Her muscles strain.

Yumi: This door won't budge. We'll have to break some windows.

Yumi's phone starts ringing again. She picks it up without thinking.

Yumi: Jeremie?

Moriarty: Not exactly…

Yumi freezes. She takes a moment to steel her nerves. William notices Yumi's reaction and immediately understands.

William: Put it on speaker. I want to hear this.

Yumi rests her phone on a nearby table and puts it on speaker. Ulrich puts his ear near the crack in the door to listen.

Moriarty: I hope you all are enjoying your swim.

William: We were….

Moriarty: Well you might as well try to enjoy it again…..because you aren't going anywhere.

Yumi: You can't hold us here Moriarty. We will find a way out.

Moriarty: Oh but that would be cheating…and in this game, cheating has deadly consequences. If you and William even think about escaping, everyone in this pool facility will die.

A heavy weight falls on them. William and Yumi try their best to numb themselves to the situation, for they know letting emotions get the best of them might mean the difference between life and death. No words are spoken for a moment.

Yumi: What do you want?

Moriarty: Do you remember my boat theory about not being able to save everyone?

Yumi: Yes, your intellectual excuse for heartlessness. What about it?

Moriarty: Well, I want to put it to the test. To put you in a situation where you have to decide whether to save a few by letting some die or avoid getting your hands dirty and letting everyone die.

William: What are you talking about?

Moriarty: How many are in the pool right now?

Yumi: What does that have to do with anything?

Moriarty: I asked you a question. How many people are in the pool?

Yumi looks through the long hallway at the pool.

Yumi: About fifteen. Why?

They can sense Moriarty gleefully contemplating this fact over the phone.

Moriarty: Hmm…..fifteen funerals…..Could be worse.

All three quickly become disturbed.

William: WHAT?

Moriarty: Oh….I get tired of being mysterious and building up the suspense. You all are SO slow. It's rather easy to understand. One of you has to find the circuit breaker panel to this facility and turn on the switches I tell you to turn on.

William: Dare I ask what that will do?

Moriarty: The point of the game would be lost if I didn't tell you the truth. If you follow my instructions with the circuit breaker, it will set off a short circuit in the lights above the pool. Then the electricity might…accidentally jump and fry everyone in the pool.

William loses his breath and Yumi looks like she's going to be sick. Ulrich bangs his hand against the door from the outside.

Yumi: And…..let me guess. The alternative involves you killing everyone in the entire building?

Moriarty: Yes. If you refuse to play, carbon monoxide will leak into this building and kill everyone inside…..including you. A much less painful death, but a much larger number of bodies.

Yumi closes her eyes, fighting back anger and frustration. William folds his arms, his expression immutable.

Moriarty: Oh and any attempt to get everyone out of the pool will cause me to set off the carbon monoxide. Remember that I'm watching….Yumi and William notice a camera on the wall focused on them. So your choice. Kill a few and save the rest, or let everyone die.

Yumi: Do you really expect this to convince me that you're right?

Moriarty: No. But it's fun anyway.

Yumi: ….This is the point where I usually tell you how disgustingly sick you are, but I think I'd be wasting my breath.

Moriarty: Now you're getting the hang of it Yumi. So let the games begin. And you have a time limit. Don't try to delay me, or it will end badly.

He hangs up.

William: He's pulled out the big guns this time. No longer one or two lives….

Yumi: …Yeah.

William: So what do we do?

Yumi: First things first.

She goes to the door and finds a slight opening. She manages to stuff her keys through it to the other side. Ulrich notices this and picks them up. He starts to get the memo.

Ulrich: Yumi I….

Yumi: Don't argue Ulrich. Take the moped. You're the only one who can get to Lyoko.

Ulrich leans his hands on the doors and stares at Yumi.

Ulrich: You want me to just leave you here like this?

Yumi: Yes! Go! We'll manage somehow.

He nods.

Ulrich: Okay. But be careful.

Yumi's voice suddenly softens.

Yumi: You too Ulrich.

Ulrich leaves the window and jumps onto the black moped. He revs the engine and takes one last look at the building. Then he speeds up and tears off into the street. Yumi watches him go, silently wishing him luck. She then turns around to William.

William: Do you have a plan?

Yumi: Yes. It's not foolproof, but I have one.

William: What is it?

Yumi points her index finger at him with a deeply serious aura emanating from her.

Yumi: Keep everyone in this building. If someone tries to get out and figures out the problem, it might start a panic.

William: Right. And….how exactly do I do that?

Yumi rolls her eyes.

Yumi: I don't know. Use your imagination. They just can't get near the exits, got it?

William: Got it. And what about you?

Yumi pulls a strand of hair away from her eyes. She turns her back to him.

Yumi: I'm going to find the circuit breaker panel.

William feels his stomach turn to ice upon hearing this come from Yumi's mouth.

William: You…you're not seriously-

She glares back at him, admonishing him with her piercing eyes.

Yumi: Of course not. I just need to buy us time and make it look like I am doing what he is saying.

William: And how will that work?

Yumi turns back around and starts a very believable acting routine. She gets down to her knees and appears to beg. She seems near tears.

Yumi: Oh please Moriarty….don't make me do it. I'll do anything else I swear…..You are right. You are superior. Oh please no! It will scar me the rest of my life!

Yumi stops the act and rises with confidence.

William: Playing the suffering game victim…..nice. He wouldn't be able to resist.

Yumi: It's his weakness. He enjoys psychological torture too much. He can lose sight of his goal. And I intend to exploit that. Just do your part and I'll do mine. Hopefully Aelita and Ulrich will be able to take care of the rest.

William: Okay, good luck.

Yumi opens the door to a stairwell.

Yumi: You too.

She closes the door and disappears. William walks back to the pool. As he passes by the restrooms, he runs into Natalya as she comes out. Natalya sees him and smiles at first, but the smile quickly disappears. She senses something's wrong.

Natalya: William? Is everything okay?

William tries not to make eye contact.

William: Everything's fine. Let's go back to the pool.

Natalya puts her hands on her hips.

Natalya: What did I say about lying to me?

William stops and rubs his forehead in exasperation.

Natalya: Well?

William puts his hand on her shoulder and starts to walk with her back to the pool. Natalya's heart speeds up a little when he does this, not really sure what to make of it.

William: Natalya…

Natalya: Yes?

William: Do you trust me?

Natalya carefully considers her response to this unexpected question.

Natalya: You've given me no reason to doubt you so far…

William: Then trust me when I say it's better that you don't ask questions.

Natalya: Is that seriously all you can tell me?

William scratches his head. His fingers tap against his skull as he tries to decide what to tell her.

William: No. I can tell you that no one can try to leave this building. We have to keep them here. Do you understand?

Natalya searches William's face, trying to understand William's unusual request. After a few seconds her eyes widen and she looks away.

Natalya: Okay.

William gives her a strange look.

William: Okay? That's it?...You believe me?

Natalya: Yes.

William: How?

Natalya: Because as strange as it sounds, I know you are telling the truth.

Natalya looks at William and gives him a nod that shows her willingness to help him. William's spine tingles as a result of Natalya's complete trust in him. They keep walking. As they reach the poolside, William stops to consider his options. He glances anxiously from side to side. There are many people in or around the pool, but the activity seems to be winding down.

Natalya: Well, how do plan to keep them here?

William holds a clenched fist near his temple, probing his mind for options. He then notices Christophe getting some clothes out of his bag so he can change and go home. William walks toward him.

William: Hey, what are you doing?

Christophe continues to put stuff in his bag without looking up.

Christophe: Going home. What does it look like?

William: What's the rush? Don't you want to stay a little longer?

Christophe gives him a strange look.

Christophe: Are you kidding? I'm tired and I need to study. Besides, swimming gets really boring after a while.

William: It would be more exciting if….if….He searches for something to keep Christophe from going anywhere….we could have a party here.

Christophe gives him a stranger look than before.

William: You know….get everyone who's from Kadic and is here at the pool to stop lounging around and….actually have a good time. You know what I'm saying.

Christophe thinks this over.

Christophe: Well yeah. I've wanted to do that for years, but no one gets into it. He looks at the people in the pool. They say they want to party but they have no idea how to do it.

William notices something in Christophe's bag.

William: They might if someone could add some….music.

Christophe immediately recognizes what William is staring at and shakes his head. He knocks his bag back behind him with his foot to prevent William from looking at it.

Christophe: No way….not my iPod SoundDock system. Absolutely not. If that gets wet it will be ruined!

William: Then why would you bring it here?

Christophe: Uh….Christophe breaks eye contact with William. I don't like leaving it in my room. Afraid someone would steal it.

William: Seriously?

Christophe: It's important to me, okay? The answer is no. I am not risking my SoundDock so you can throw a party.

William: But-

Natalya lightly edges William aside. She gives William a wink that says: "I'll handle this". She then turns to Christophe and flips her light blonde hair. She smiles sweetly and innocently but with a slightly seductive flair. She struts up to Christophe and touches him lightly on the forearm. Christophe opens his mouth in surprise.

Natalya: Christophe, we would never let anything happen to your stuff. We know it's so important to you. We just want to have a good time.

Christophe scratches the back of his head awkwardly.

Christophe: I uh….don't doubt that you would, but there are a lot of people here and…

Natalya looks at Christophe's arm, pretending to be impressed by his bicep.

Natalya: I hear you're such a music expert.

Christophe starts to stammer.

Christophe: Well, not…..that much of an expert.

Natalya: Oh don't be modest, I'm sure you have great taste.

Christophe: Thank you but I still-

Natalya walks behind Christophe and puts her hands on his shoulders. Christophe almost shakes at her touch. Natalya goes in for the kill.

Natalya: Do you think you could let us use your SoundDock…pretty please? It would mean a lot to me.

Christophe begins to cave.

Christophe: Okay, but….I'm not sure people will want to have a party.

William shouts out to everyone around the pool.

William: Hey, who wants a pool party with some sick music?

A few shouts of affirmation quickly answer Christophe's question. In the face of such peer pressure, Christophe relents and takes out the SoundDock. He puts his iPod into the speaker and starts to crank up the volume. A blast of heavy rock music fills the large complex. People crowd around the area and start to hang out. Life has returned to the scene, and no one seems eager to leave. William leans toward Natalya.

William: Thank you.

Natalya: You're welcome William. But I expect an explanation eventually.

William groans at the thought.

Natalya: But in the meantime…She pushes him into the pool. He resurfaces and glares at her with fake anger. She shrugs. Sorry, couldn't help myself. After all, it is a pool party.

William takes some time to relax, knowing that he has done his part. He notices a camera focused on him. When no one is looking, he makes sure Moriarty can see his middle finger from the camera's view. Back at the factory, Odd watches the outside world from the entrance. He gets a call and answers his phone.

Odd: Yes.

Jeremie: Time's up. Do you see anyone?

Odd: No. No one's shown up.

Odd can hear a groan on the other line.

Jeremie: Okay, come on down. Aelita is about to be transferred.

Odd suddenly hears a strong hum heading his way. He turns his head.

Odd: Hold on, I think I see someone.

Ulrich suddenly appears on the bridge, pushing Yumi's moped as fast as it can go. He slams on the brakes and turns the vehicle at an angle right in front of Odd. He hops off and starts walking towards the ropes.

Odd: Where are William and Yumi?

Ulrich: Preoccupied at the pool. We need to hurry.

Ulrich slides down the rope. Odd continues to talk to Jeremie.

Odd: Ulrich's the only one who could make it.

Jeremie: That's a relief. I don't know what to expect on Lyoko, but I feel a lot more comfortable knowing that Aelita doesn't have to go alone.

Ulrich comes out of the elevator. Aelita is sitting inside of a scanner, obviously bored and eager to get moving.

Aelita: What took you so long?

Ulrich: Sorry. Traffic was terrible.

Aelita: What's the situation?

Ulrich walks into a scanner.

Ulrich: Oh you know. Disturbing game. Pool antics. Locked doors. Short circuits. Carbon monoxide. The usual.

Aelita: Then we'd better get moving.

Jeremie: Get ready for the desert sector.

The doors close and the two are virtualized onto a large plateau in the desert sector. The plateau stretches pretty far out into the distance. Several narrow ravines cut through the plateau, dividing it into several pieces. Ulrich steps forward in front of Aelita to get a better view.

Jeremie: The tower is directly northwest of your position. Judging by the map, it should be located in the middle of a large sinkhole.

Ulrich: Let's get this over with and save Yumi and William from Moriarty's usual insanity.

Aelita sprouts her wings.

Aelita: Ulrich is going to need a vehicle if we are going to get over that ravine in front of us.

Jeremie: Just a second.

A second later the earth begins to rumble. Ulrich and Aelita stare at each other in confusion. Then the earth shakes and knocks them off their feet.

Ulrich: Jeremie….please tell me you did that.

Jeremie: I would love to…..but no. Something is coming. He checks the map. Moriarty seems to be drawing a lot of energy from his core.

Aelita's wings fall to her side. Concern immediately dominates her usually stable composure. She looks at Ulrich with dread.

Ulrich: What's wrong?

Aelita's body becomes tense.

Aelita: Do you remember what happened when another enemy of ours took power from his Replikas?

Ulrich suddenly understands.

Ulrich: We're in trouble.

A roar makes the two spin around to look toward the edge of the plateau. The shaking increases. Ulrich and Aelita can tell that the shaking is the result of very large footsteps. Footsteps that are heading in their direction. Finally the two can see a very large reptilian foot grab onto the rock. The next thing that rises makes their blood run cold. Two silver-plated basilisk heads peer over the top of the plateau. The creature's mouths open to reveal razor sharp teeth. Both their foreheads display the Moriarty insignia. The heads are connected to two very long gray necks. A second foot brings the rest of the beast up. Its massive body resembles that of a prehistoric brontosaurus. The monster slowly moves forward and brings its hind legs up to reveal a large tail with a spike-balled tail the size of a medium-sized truck. Ulrich and Aelita can do nothing but gape at this massive beast. The two serpent heads then focus on them.

Ulrich: We're really in trouble…..

The creature's heads tilt toward the sky. The monster roars with a ferocity that causes the entire desert sector to vibrate. Two massive purple beams stream out of his mouth and begin to focus on the two puny Lyoko warriors. Meanwhile Yumi makes her way down the staircase into the basement under the pool. She walks into the dimly lit hallway. The lights above her occasionally flicker. She looks around.

Yumi: Alright Moriarty. I'm in the basement. Now what do I have to do?

Moriarty's voice echoes from somewhere down the hall.

Moriarty: Continue down this hallway. The circuit breaker panel isn't far.

She walks forward, her bare feet gingerly touching the floor. Her cautious movement reveals her growing trepidation.

Moriarty: A bit nervous, aren't we?

Yumi: Well, pardon me if I'm not comfortable with murder.

Moriarty: If all goes according to plan, you can tell the jury you were just trying to limit the damage.

Yumi: If all goes according to plan, you are going to be my only murder victim.

A metallic laugh passes through the narrow corridor.

Moriarty: I do very much enjoy your bold talk, Yumi.

Yumi: Can it.

Steam starts to come through some of the pipes. Yumi freezes.

Yumi: What are you doing?

Moriarty: It's just the steam from the saunas upstairs. Keep moving.

Yumi obeys. The hallway eventually turns to the left, revealing an emergency exit and a black circuit breaker panel. Yumi grows pale. She had hoped that the panel was farther away so she could buy the others more time.

Moriarty: Well, there it is. Now all you need to do is follow my instructions and hope no one important to you is swimming right now.

Yumi shivers and grabs her stomach, clearly a nervous reaction to the situation.

Moriarty: Anytime you're ready.

Yumi bites her lip.

Moriarty: Oh….predictable as ever. Honestly this sometimes gets old.

Yumi goes to her knees.

Yumi: No…I…I can't.

Moriarty: You once agreed to sacrifice your boyfriend. I'm pretty sure you could do this.

Yumi: Please….they are just innocent students….don't make me do this. You were right…about that boat thing. You were right.

Yumi pauses, hoping her act is working. She shuts her eyes, then barely opens her left one to see Moriarty's reaction. For a moment nothing happens. Then a particular strange chill overcomes her. The temperature in the room drops. But in a matter of moments, it suddenly increases. The steam from the pipes comes out at a faster rate.

Moriarty: Your rehearsal was much better.

Yumi: I'm sorry, what?

A specter suddenly spills through the cracks in one of the walls. A smoky arm takes hold of her neck and slams her into the wall. Yumi gasps from the pain and shock.

Moriarty: Did you really think I wouldn't catch on to your pathetic act?

Yumi is able to breathe enough to make a comeback.

Yumi: It was…..worth a shot.

The grip on her neck tightens. Yumi gasps.

Moriarty: A good guess, if I was interested in watching you grovel for those pathetic lives upstairs.

Yumi coughs.

Yumi: Then….what?...

Yumi can't finish her sentence.

Moriarty: I knew you would volunteer to confront me. I know you too well. You like to pretend that you're not afraid. You like to be in charge. You have scores to settle with me….

Moriarty tosses her to the ground.

Moriarty: Well I have a score to settle with you too. You defied me in front of my entire class. And I do not tolerate defiance. I have finally gotten things going the way I want at Kadic, and I am not going to let you ruin it.

Yumi struggles to get up.

Yumi: I am going to continue to defy you Moriarty. I am not bowing to you. I may not know what exactly you're trying to do, but I am not backing down. I will fight you with everything I have.

The specter literally slaps her across the face. Yumi moans.

Moriarty: It is for that exact reason that I loathe you Yumi Ishiyama. I've seen the others at their breaking points. Odd is a shadow of his former self. I drove Jeremie to insanity. Aelita can easily become emotionally compromised. Ulrich is strong, but I've seen him kneel to me in order to save those closest to him. William continues to be unmoved, but at the expense of almost completely removing his emotions and even relying on Xana for protection. But you Yumi…..The air gets warmer. No matter how many times I break you, you just keep coming back for more. Emotional trauma just seems to harden your resolve to kill me. And you have the determination to sacrifice almost everything to kill me. You refuse to give in, but at the same time you have continued to live your life without killing your emotions like William. Your spirit it seems Yumi…..is very hard to kill.

Yumi: Then there's nothing you can do. A smirk takes shape on her injured face. I win.

Moriarty: Wrong.

The specter backs away from her. The steam in the pipes seems to crawl toward her. The vapor cloud is super hot and begins to sting her. She wails.

Yumi: STOP IT! STOP IT THAT HURTS!

Moriarty: If I can't break your spirit, then I will break your body…like a twig.

The specter hits her in the gut. She cries out and doubles over.

Moriarty: The mind and body are deeply connected. If emotional trauma can't move you, then maybe physical trauma will drain your will to fight.

Yumi's pupils burn intensely with hatred.

Yumi: You will not break me.

The steam burns her legs. She grimaces and tries to endure it.

Moriarty: Let's see how much abuse you can take before you beg me to let you set off that short circuit.

Ulrich and Aelita have no choice but to jump into the ravine to avoid the rampaging monster's blast. Ulrich has a rough landing and has difficulty getting up. Aelita yanks on Ulrich's arm, trying to pull him to safety. One of the beast's heads appears at the top of the ravine. It scratches and claws its way into the crevice, trying to get to the warriors. Aelita tugs with more urgency.

Aelita: Ulrich, come on!

Ulrich gets up and they retreat into a nearby cave. The beast eventually worms its way through the ravine. The creature sticks its head into the mouth of the cave and snaps at the two warriors. Aelita produces two energy fields and throws it at the monster. Although it hits the eye, the attack only seems to make the monster more angry. The head slithers further into passage. Ulrich and Aelita continue to run. The entire plateau shakes above them. It's obvious that the monster is trying to tear its way through the rock to get to them. Eventually the monster's head stops, unable to go any further. Ulrich stops running and laughs.

Ulrich: Ha! It's stuck!

The monster opens its mouth. A strong purple light begins to form at the back of his throat.

Ulrich: Uh oh….GET DOWN!

Ulrich tackles Aelita into a small cavern that connects to the main cave. A purple blast of light barely misses them. The beast roars. The two cover their ears.

Aelita: Ideas?

Jeremie furiously types on the computer back at the lab room.

Jeremie: Aelita, these caves should lead to the tower. If you can get away from that monster, you should be able to get there.

Aelita: Well that won't be easy. He doesn't seem eager to leave us alone.

Another roar shakes the narrow space.

Ulrich: I'll have to distract him. Once I have his attention, make a break for it.

Aelita: Okay, sounds like a plan.

Ulrich draws out his sabers. He takes a deep breath, then leaps out of the cavern.

Ulrich: Hey ugly! You hungry?

The beast lets out a shrill cry that answers Ulrich's question. Ulrich waves his sabers.

Ulrich: AELITA NOW!

She flies out of the cavern away from the beast. The creature snaps, trying to get to her, but Ulrich cuts off three of his teeth in the process. The monster screams in anger.

Ulrich: Jeremie, I think I got his attention.

Jeremie: Well keep it as long as possible. Aelita still has some distance to go.

Ulrich narrowly avoids the creature's jaws.

Ulrich: She better hurry. This guy wants to rip me in half.

The monster opens his mouth to unleash another blast. Ulrich responds by jumping on top of his head. The resulting blast widens the cave as the beast shakes his head from side to side in an attempt to throw Ulrich off. Ulrich holds on and raises one of his sabers.

Ulrich: Size isn't winning this time.

He jams his sword into the eye. The monster roars, but he does not disappear. Ulrich curses.

Ulrich: You've got to be kidding me.

The creature throws Ulrich off and growls through his sharp teeth. Ulrich feels a wave of fear move through him.

Ulrich: This is not going to end well.

The party at the pool is starting to heat up. More and more people come out of the pool to listen to the music. William smiles at the progress. He leans against one of the columns near the pool's edge. Natalya turns away from the party to look at him. Her eyes ask: "How much longer?"

William shrugs, essentially telling her: "Not sure."

Jim suddenly appears on the scene. His enormous gut proudly struts among the partying teenagers. He hits the off button on the SoundDock. The students begin to moan.

Jim: Okay that's enough. The principal wanted you back by 17:30, and that's what I'm going to do.

William starts to get nervous.

William: Sir, can't we stay a little longer?

Jim: Absolutely not. This party is over, and nothing…..and I mean nothing can convince me otherwise.

Yolanda: Hello Jim.

Jim's eyes suddenly widen with surprise. He turns to see the blonde nurse Yolanda in a lovely red bikini. Jim's eyes get wider.

Jim: Oh Yolanda, I…..I didn't see you there.

Yolanda: Oh don't mind me. I just needed a break. And swimming sounds so good right now…

Jim pushes his hair back. He tries to hold in his large belly to make himself look thinner. He watches Yolanda swim away.

Jim: Um…..perhaps we can stay a little longer….

William breathes a sigh of relief and the other kids cheer. Christophe turns the music back on. Jim starts to practice talking to Yolanda before joining her in the pool. He talks to the wall.

Jim: Yolanda, I'm terribly sorry to hear that your fiancé walked out on your engagement. He slaps his forehead. NO IDIOT! Don't mention that!

William gets on his phone.

William: Jeremie, how much longer?

Jeremie: I'm not sure. We're dealing with a new huge monster and it's not going well.

William: Moriarty is going to lose patience eventually. We need to get everyone out of the pool just in case.

Jeremie: Yes, but how do we do that without Moriarty noticing?

William probes his mind for answers. He paces back and forth. Suddenly he stops.

William: What if he saw something else?

Jeremie: Meaning…?

William: Old clips of the pool to fool him.

Jeremie snaps his fingers.

Jeremie: A fake camera loop. William you're a genius!

William: Can you do it?

Jeremie: It might take a while, but I think so. Just give me a minute. Just act natural.

For a tense three minutes that seems more like three hours, William waits for Jeremie to respond. He mingles with the other people around the pool. Natalya tries to get his attention, but he is too intensely focused on the mission to notice. Finally he gets a text. It says: All clear, now get them out.

William looks at the pool. He realizes that at least twelve people are still swimming, including Jim and Yolanda. He realizes he doesn't know how to convince them to get out. He starts cursing. He sits on the sit of the pool with his feet in the water, his hand firmly resting in his hands. A minute later he feels a hand on his shoulder. He looks up. Natalya is staring at with concern.

Natalya: Hey, what's wrong? We've kept everyone inside the building.

William: I know….but now we need to get everyone out of the pool.

Natalya: And I guess you still can't say.

William: No. I can't. But we still need to convince them to get out.

Natalya thinks for a moment.

Natalya: The only thing I can think of is dumping something gross into the pool.

William: I'd prefer not to get expelled…..if possible.

Natalya: What if it didn't look like your fault?

William raises an eyebrow.

William: And how would we do that?

Natalya pulls a water bottle from her purse.

William: Bottled water?

Natalya: No. Bottled salt water. If you drink it, you will throw up. Then everyone would have to get out of the pool.

William feels disgusted by such an extreme measure. But when he looks up towards the ceiling lights above the pool, he can see a dark swirling shadow inside a few of them. William sighs.

William: Okay. Give it to me.

She hands it to him. William pauses, dreading the experience. He suddenly thinks of something.

William: Why are you caring a bottle of salt water in your purse?

Natalya looks away, clearly avoiding the question.

Natalya: Never mind that, just do what you have to do.

William opens the cap and stares at the seemingly harmless water. He takes a deep breath and starts to drink. Downstairs the abuse continues. The specter bends her arms back in a position they shouldn't go. Yumi fights back but Moriarty is stronger. The steam forms a circle around her, occasionally moving forward to burn her arms and legs. Yumi's pain tolerance is beginning to give. She screams.

Moriarty: There's only one thing you can do to make the pain stop Yumi. And you know what it is.

Yumi breathes deeply, trying to hold on a little longer.

Moriarty: You can agree to set off the short circuit and submit to me.

Yumi mumbles something.

Moriarty: I'm sorry, what was that?

Yumi grits her teeth.

Yumi: ….When…..you're d-dead…

Moriarty: Yes?

Yumi struggles to exhale.

Yumi: I can't wait to get the group together…SO WE CAN ALL PISS ON YOUR GRAVE!

Moriarty's specter gets ready to strike her, but suddenly his form starts to become fluid and weak. The smoke cloud recedes. Moriarty's specter lunges for her, but it nearly collapses in on itself. Yumi watches this with a combination of confusion and enjoyment.

Yumi: What's wrong Moriarty? Don't have enough power to finish me?

The specter tries to reform.

Moriarty: Don't get too cocky Yumi. I still have you under my finger. Ulrich and Aelita are overwhelmed by my new creation, and the other students are still in…He pauses, somewhat confused for a moment. Then he hisses in anger. Jeremie….I'M GOING TO RIP HIS HEAD OFF!

Yumi forces herself to laugh despite the pain.

Yumi: He got you again, didn't he?

Moriarty: He thinks he can show me false footage and get away with it? Let's see how clever he is when everyone in this building is dead!

The specter starts to rise toward the ceiling. Yumi grabs a nearby cord. Her adrenaline and the weak wiring allows her to pull it into two sparkling pieces. She forces her legs to let herself rise. Then she jams the wires into the specter's body. Moriarty howls. The light from the electric shock illuminates Yumi's beaten, but determined face. Moriarty growls and knocks her down.

Moriarty: YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN TO QUIT, DO YOU?

Yumi: Never do.

Yumi braces herself for another attack. At the same time, William starts to feel sick. He immediately bends over the pool and heaves. Natalya looks away. The students start to react.

Olivia: Oh my God!

Sissi: That's so gross!

Emily: He must be sick!

More people start to talk all at once.

Jim: Okay everyone out of the pool!

No one argues with Jim's demand. People crowd around William, who still looks pretty bad.

Christophe: Hey man, are you alright?

William: Must have been…..something I ate at lunch. I don't know.

He discretely hands the bottle to Natalya to prevent any suspicion. He prays that Yumi and the others can pull through before Moriarty's patience wears out. In the desert cave Ulrich struggles to stay away from the monster's jaws. It tries to bite him, but Ulrich's sabers keep the head at bay. But an attempt to slice through the monster's teeth ends in Ulrich losing his sabers down the monster's throat. The beast glares at his defenseless opponent.

Ulrich: Oh…..crud.

The monster swallows him whole. He reappears in the scanner, holding onto the edge of the doors.

Jeremie: Ulrich, are you okay?

Ulrich: I just got eaten alive thanks for asking.

Aelita is flying toward the cave's exit. She accelerates as the monster begins to rip its way through the rock. The cave starts to collapse.

Jeremie: Ulrich got eaten. The monster's heading straight for you.

Aelita: I noticed.

She picks up speed and flies out of the cave and straight for the tower. The monster has crushed its way through the plateau, debris all around him. He roars and storms toward the tower.

Jeremie: That thing can easily destroy the tower. Hurry!

Aelita rises to the top platform.

Aelita: Almost there….

Yumi is heavily bruised and slightly burned from the beating Moriarty has given her. Despite her intense pain, she notices a hissing sound coming from one of the pipes.

Moriarty: Hear that? That's carbon monoxide. No one is getting out of this building alive.

Aelita enters the code right before the beast destroys it and devirtualizes her. Moriarty's specter begins to quake. Yumi smiles.

Yumi: Game over.

Moriarty: This was only part of the bigger game I have in mind. Remember that….Comrade Yumi.

He fades into nothingness along with the fog. Yumi's head relaxes onto the wall. The gas stops leaking. All is still. Her phone rings. She crawls to answer it.

Yumi: Hello?

William: Yumi, it's over. Everyone is heading toward the bus. Where are you?

Yumi: I'm sitting in the basement…trying to recover from being beaten senseless.

William: What? Hold on, I'm coming!

Yumi: Don't. If the teachers and students see how injured I am, they'll ask questions. We can't return to the past. So we can't let them see me. Tell them….tell them my parents are picking me up.

William: You want me to just leave you there?

Yumi: I'll be fine. Just send Ulrich to come get me.

William's silence on the other line indicates his hesitation. But he relents.

William: Alright, I'll tell him.

Yumi: Tell him not to speed either.

William: Yumi, you're hurt. Do you honestly think I could convince him not to break the sound barrier?

Yumi: Good point. She grimaces. I'll see you at Kadic.

Several hours later, Yumi is laying on Ulrich's bed. The entire group looks after her, helping her in any way they can. Jeremie uses his limited medical knowledge to supervise the affair.

Jeremie: Some pretty bad bruises and a few second-degree burns. But nothing you can't recover from. You're lucky.

Yumi turns her head.

Yumi: Do I have any broken ribs doctor?

Jeremie places two fingers on her bottom ribs. She winces.

Jeremie: A few of them might be cracked, but I don't think so. Otherwise you would be in serious pain right now.

Ulrich cleans a cut on her forehead. He handles her very delicately, but inside he is full of pure wrath. He clenches his fist.

Ulrich: I'm going to kill him. I'll tear him apart. No one hurts you…beats you like that and gets away with it.

He punches the dresser. Yumi sighs.

Yumi: Less testosterone. More Neosporin.

William talks with Jeremie.

William: I did what I had to. But Natalya is very suspicious right now. She knows I'm hiding something, and she can see right through my lies.

Jeremie: We have to adapt. Without the return program, we have to be willing to let a few people suspect us if it means saving lives.

William scratches his head.

William: But what if she finds out?

Jeremie: As long as you stay away from her, she won't.

William's face becomes blank. He doesn't respond to this. Jeremie adjusts his glasses and observes his dark-haired friend's demeanor.

Jeremie: William, are you developing feelings for Natalya?

William quickly shakes his head.

William: No. She's just….a good friend. And I would hate to just ignore her.

Jeremie: Regardless, I would recommend you not spend too much time with her. If you two get very close, Moriarty may consider her an ally….and hurt her.

William takes a moment to absorb this piece of wisdom from Jeremie. He lowers his head.

William: You're right.

Somewhere in downtown Paris, Mr. Stern is seen working in an ornate office overlooking the city. His secretary buzzes in.

Secretary: Mr. Stern, someone has called to speak with you.

Mr. Stern: Name?

Secretary: He wouldn't say, but he says it's urgent.

Mr. Stern: I'm busy. Tell him to go away.

A few seconds pass.

Secretary: Sir, he insists, and he says he has something important to tell you. Something of….great interest to you.

Mr. Stern taps his desk in annoyance.

Mr. Stern: Fine. Put him on the line.

A button on his phone turns red.

Mr. Stern: Hello?

Moriarty: Mr. Stern, it's nice to speak with you.

Mr. Stern: And who am I speaking with?

Moriarty: That's not important. But I can say that I'm a computer….expert of sorts that can help you with your…cargo.

Mr. Stern stops writing. He puts his pen down.

Mr. Stern: I don't know what you're talking about.

Moriarty: No. You know exactly what I'm talking about.

Mr. Stern pauses. He hits another button on the phone.

Mr. Stern: Is this line secure?

Secretary: Yes sir.

He refocuses on his prior conversation.

Mr. Stern: Okay, what do you have to offer?