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.

22. Chapter 22

Part 36

Late afternoon. Jeremie, having finished his classes for the day, walks down the hallway of his dormitory. He calls Aelita, and is quickly greeted with a voicemail. He makes a face and hangs up. He goes up the stairs to the girls' hallway. He knocks on her door.

Jeremie: Aelita, are you in there? He knocks again. I know you're upset about Odd's dreams. I think we should talk it out.

When he gets no answer, Jeremie decides to head back down to his room. He descends the stairs, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

Jeremie: She probably just needs to calm down for a litte bit.

As Jeremie casually makes it back to his room, he sees César come out with his tennis outfit and racket. He immediately gives Jeremie an annoyed look.

César: There you are. I've been trying to turn off your stupid video game for the past five minutes!

Jeremie becomes confused.

Jeremie: Uh…what video game?

César: The one on your computer! It's been beeping incessantly and giving me a headache!

Jeremie: I….I'll take care of it.

César: Estupendo (Wonderful). He starts to walk away. It was such a pain to try to exit out of all four of those purple signals.

Jeremie stops as he places his hand on the door knob. A single word from César turns his stomach upside-down. He sticks his ear to the door and listens to the beeping.

Jeremie: Four?

He opens the door and comes face to face with his computer registering four activated towers at once. Jeremie inhales deeply.

Jeremie: I don't think he's joking this time…

Back in the lab, Aelita is still wiping the tears out of her eyes. Odd pats her on the back, reassuring her that everything is okay. At this point Aelita has exhausted herself. She settles down and starts to rest from her crying episode. She leans her head against Odd's shoulder.

Aelita: I forgot how much crying could make someone so tired.

Odd: Crying can do that to you. But do you still feel better?

Aelita shifts her head from side to side and shuts her eyes. Her lip trembles slightly. She covers her face with her hands, and then lets her hands fall back down to her lap.

Aelita: Hard to say. This is not something I can process all at once. It's not something anyone can process all at once. My mother…..She bends forward and rests her arms on her knees…I feel like I've been betrayed….but I don't think I should feel that way. I mean my mother didn't…I mean she couldn't have…

Odd rests a hand on her shoulder.

Odd: Your mother did not betray you. Jeremie already made it clear that Moriarty betrayed her. She judged him wrong. He fooled her with his charm like he has done to numerous people again and again. I mean, she chose Schaeffer after all.

Aelita: Yes….yes she did. She looks at the ceiling for a little while and then looks back at Odd. Odd, did Moriarty try to be friends with my mom and dad after the big…incident?

Odd: They still worked together on Project Carthage, so I imagine they had to come to some sort of agreement. They certainly started speaking to each other again. But my dreams haven't revealed that much yet. But he did show up to the hospital after you were born. Aelita's eyes become wide as saucers again. Odd mentally kicks himself for that blunder. Oh yeah…that happened too.

Aelita shakes her head and slumps against Odd again.

Aelita: I can't even care right now. At this point, nothing will surprise me. I just want to rest.

The super scan on the main monitor goes crazy. Odd turns his head.

Odd: I wouldn't take a nap just yet princess. Look's like we have a bit of a situation.

Odd lets go of Aelita and quickly goes to the computer. Aelita, who had just started to feel comfortable, lets out a sigh and reluctantly joins him at the computer. When she gets there, she sees that Odd is scratching his head with confusion.

Odd: Um…is the tower activation supposed to be giving out four separate signals? That's a malfunction, right?

Aelita blinks several times and rubs her eyes. She then looks again. When she sees that that her eyes didn't lie to her, she presses her fingers on the back of her neck and tilts her head back in an expression of frustrated disbelief.

Aelita: No, that's not a malfunction. Moriarty has activated four towers….all at once.

Odd groans.

Odd: I was afraid you were going to say that.

Aelita presses a few keys and takes a closer look.

Aelita: A tower activated in each sector. If this is one of Moriarty's scare schemes, it sure is an elaborate one. He's using a tremendous amount of power.

Odd: Do you think he's crying wolf again?

Aelita: Honestly, no….Anyway they are still active. If he doesn't back off soon, we can assume that Moriarty is not bluffing this time. Jeremie's probably realizing it just now. He should be contacting us any minute.

Odd looks at the computer and then looks at Aelita. Although there are still red lines under her eyes from her heavy crying, Aelita appears to be very mission-oriented and stoic. Odd stammers several times before delivering his loading question.

Odd: Uh….are you sure you're ready for a mission right now?

Aelita's left hand clenches the arm chair tightly, but her face still registers little emotion. She looks down at the floor.

Aelita: I can cry myself to sleep later, Odd. What matters is the here and now. And right now I'm still the only one who can deactivate those four towers. She looks away from him. The fight against Moriarty continues regardless of what I'm going through.

Odd: What about Jeremie? Should he know that you uh….well you know….know?

At the mention of Jeremie's name, Aelita's voice becomes strained again. But her emotions remain in check.

Aelita: No. I don't want to complicate this mission any more than I have to. She sniffles and wipes her nose. If Jeremie asks why we got here so early, tell him we were studying in the woods and the super scan on my laptop went off. Understand?

Odd slowly shakes his head.

Odd: Yeah…I got it.

Several minutes later, all eight of the warriors arrive at the factory. Jeremie notes the location of all four towers and then turns back to the rest of the group. They stand in a large circle. Jeremie claps his hands together to get their attention.

Jeremie: Okay everyone, we don't know what Moriarty is doing, but we do know that he's not bluffing this time. Considering his recent attacks….I was honestly afraid that some of you would be caught up in some sort of twisted game of his again. But miraculously, you're all here in one piece. And that's a good thing. It will be the first time the Lyoko Warriors will face Moriarty in full force. And I want you all to remain as a unit. We are not splitting up in different sectors. Since there is only one Aelita, you will go sector by sector, clearing out any Moriarty resistance that you encounter. Jeremie puts slams his right fist into his left hand. Whatever Moriarty's doing, we will put a stop to it. The longer we take the more of a risk we have of him succeeding. So let's finish this as soon as possible. Any questions?

William: If we are the targets, how do we know we're not walking into a trap? And if we all go, what's stopping Moriarty from doing something to the factory?

Jeremie: I will devirtualize some of you if the factory comes under attack. And as for the first question, no we don't know if you're walking into a trap.

Yumi: Of course…

Ulrich: Just like old times.

Jeremie: Since we've never had this many warriors at once before, we need to have someone on the ground to help call the shots and organize our attacks. Aelita is the obvious choice for this job.

Aelita immediately feels a deep and nervous pain hit her chest. She looks downward and slowly speaks up.

Aelita: Jeremie….I would actually prefer if you…didn't assign me as the combat leader today.

The warriors and Jeremie look at her with some surprise. Jeremie searches her face for answers, but he quickly assumes that the issue over her access to the dream log has compromised her emotions. He nods his head.

Jeremie: Okay, we'll have Yumi lead instead. That should work out for all of us. Any more questions?

Odd, in an attempt to lighten both the mood and Aelita's spirits, mockingly salutes Jeremie.

Odd: Sir no sir!

Most of the warriors laugh. Aelita makes an effort to do so but part of it is genuine. Jeremie rolls his eyes.

Jeremie: Right…well…..it's time to dive in. I'm sending you to the Mountain Sector first.

After several rounds of virtualizations, all seven of the warriors land on one of the circular platforms in the sector below a large mountain. Christophe and Natalya look around.

Christophe: Wow…haven't been here before.

Natalya: It's incredible….She looks in front of her. But are the sector's passageways always so narrow?

Ulrich: Yes, but luckily the mountains are made of several layers. If you fall off, you would likely land on a platform beneath the clouds. It's better not to test it though.

Odd: And even then, it would make you unable to help the rest of us. So try not to fall.

Natalya smiles weakly.

Natalya: Got it.

Jeremie: Alright, the tower is straight ahead of you past that gorge. I'm sending your vehicles, but uh….I guess you're going to have to share.

The vehicles appear in front of them. Christophe takes immediate intrest in the Overboard.

Christophe: Oh cool…can I have the skateboard?

Odd: It's an Overboard and not on your life!

Jeremie: Stop arguing and start moving already!

The warriors comply and take off. While Aelita is flying next to the others, her mind starts to wander back to her recent revelation. She closes her eyes and tries to brush the feeling aside. Images of her mother and Moriarty together come back to bite her. At the same time, the images correspond to past torturous experiences with Moriarty. That combination prompts her to imagine Moriarty's voice talking to her, mocking her predicament.

Imaginary Moriarty: It's amazing what love can do. We were quite a pair back then. What do you think about that?

Aelita gasps and shakes her head. Her reaction catches the attention of Odd, who flies on his Overboard near her.

Odd: Are you holding up okay?

Aelita: Yeah…I'll be fine.

A couple of kilometers from Kadic, Moriarty waits in a back alley close to a busy intersection. He waits against a rusted fence, periodically looking to his right and left. He cranes his head back and listens to the sounds of rush hour traffic in Paris. He closes his eyes. His right hand starts to tremble. He grabs it with his left hand to make the trembling stop. He reopens his eyes.

Moriarty: Fear? How could I be afraid? It should be the other way around. Moriarty's hands go to the spot where the bullet entered his head. I guess it's only natural. Historically speaking, this is like going into the hornet's nest. He opens his right palm and creates a ball of electricity. But things…are different now. I'm the hunter…not the hunted. His hand shakes again and the ball disappears. Damn…it won't go away. He growls and pounds his fist against the fence. I can't be afraid. I have to be at my best. I have to enjoy every minute of this….

Moriarty stands there in silence for a few minutes. Then, he hears the sounds of a large vehicle heading in his direction. He turns his head to see an armored truck approach him. The truck stops right in front of him. He relaxes his shoulders and stretches his neck to one side.

Moriarty: It's about time. He goes to the back and the door opens for him. Moriarty steps in the vehicle. Let's get moving.

The truck moves forward and goes back into traffic. Moriarty turns to face the inside of the truck. Surrounding him are at least a dozen men from RAID, France's special operations unit. All of them turn their eyes to Moriarty. Their corneas reflect the Moriarty insignia. Moriarty smiles, happy to have a waiting audience.

Moriarty: Gentlemen, today you have the honor of making history. With your help, I will be taking down the most despicable group of people ever to dare call themselves French. Our enemy is a disease, and we are the cure. He paces the truck. We are not a large group, but we are more than good enough for the job. Yes, we few, we happy few, we band of brothers shall today put an end to something that should have died long ago. Moriarty looks out the back windows to check how close they are getting. He turns back to the group. His nostrils flare and the cold murderous look returns to his eyes. And make no mistake…He opens his palms and electricity lights up the vehicle's interior. Moriarty's face turns twisted in the light and exhudes an uncontrollable bloodlust…there are to be no survivors.

The warriors make it to the gorge at the end of the long mountain passageway. Yumi, who is taking the lead on the Overboard with Christophe, suddenly stops and hovers in midair. She motions for the others to do the same.

Yumi: Hold up. She points to the gorge. On the mountain floor between the rock walls, a squad of around fifteen humanoids blocks their path. To their right and left, tigers prowl above the humanoids on the cliff ledges. There are about five on each side. Yumi muses over the situation with a slight frown. This one isn't going to be easy.

None of the monsters attack. They simply remain where they are and appear to be waiting for the warriors to make their move. Jeremie's voice is heard among them.

Jeremie: Moriarty adjusted his monsters to where we decided to strike first. And it looks like he's playing on the defensive. Which means we go on the offensive. Yumi, it's your call.

Yumi: Okay. Yumi takes another look at the situation and then turns to the rest of the warriors. Christophe, you and I will head to the left side. I'm going to drop you off so you can attack. I will try to take them out in the air. William, you and Natalya go to the right side on the Overdisc. Drop Natalya off so she can fire at the tigers from a distance. You will confront them directly and provide a good distraction for her. Ulrich and Odd, since subtlety has never been you're thing, I want you two to go straight up the middle and destroy the humanoids. Aelita….Aelita, whose thoughts still seem to be preoccupied, suddenly wakes up and pays attention to Yumi…stay in the air and attack the humanoids from above. Everyone understand?

William: Yes.

Christophe: Makes sense to me.

Ulrich revs his Overbike.

Ulrich: I'm ready to roll.

Yumi: Okay, if we execute this well, we will get past this roadblock without getting anyone devirtualized. She turns back to the monsters. A single tiger on the right side of the gorge loses patience and fires. Go!

The warriors move out. True to the plan, Yumi wheels the Overboard over to the left and attacks. She throws her fan and kills the nearest tiger.

Yumi: Christophe now!

Christophe warms up his wrist weapons. He is burning with excitement.

Christophe: You don't have to tell me twice!

He jumps off the vehicle and lands on a ledge between two very annoyed tigers. The tigers get on their haunches and Christophe waits expectantly, confident that he has mastery of the situation. The tiger to his left fires his laser. Christophe spins out of the way and allows the stray laser to destroy the other tiger. As he spins back around, Christophe aims and fires, destroying the remaining opponent. Before Christophe can celebrate, he hears a growl above him. He looks up to see a tiger about to pounce on him. But a fan cuts right across the tiger's eye. Yumi flies past. Christophe gives her a thumbs up.

Christophe: Thanks for the save.

Yumi: No problem.

The remaining tiger fires at the Overboard. Yumi is forced to land hard on a rocky ledge. Yumi pushes herself off the ground and comes face to face with the tiger. The tiger's mouth glows, signaling his imminent attack. Yumi tries to reach for her fan, but she can't get it in time. Luckily a small CD weapon cuts through the monster and destroys him. Christophe jumps down from his ledge and helps her up.

Christophe: I guess that makes us even…

Yumi: For the moment.

While this is happening, William and Natalya target the right side of the gorge. Natalya is dropped off and prepares to aim arrows at the tigers. But William seems intent on taking on the tigers himself. He turns into smoke and attacks three of them. They try to surround him, but they all end up as fodder for his vicious two handed blade. Natalya spots one of the tigers preparing to ambush William from a nearby ledge. Natalya aims and fires, but her nervousness causes her to miss. To her horror, the tiger gets the chance to pounce on him. Luckily for William, he manages to throw off the tiger before it can fire and pin it to the wall with his sword. Natalya stomps her foot on the ground.

Natalya: Idiot! You can't do that. You don't get second chances on Lyoko.

Natalya hears growling behind her. She instinctively reaches into her quiver and turns around. A tiger is right in front of her, preparing to fire. But Natalya notches her bow and beats it to the chase.

Natalya: But a little luck isn't out of the question…

Natalya fires and hits her target. The tiger falls and devirtualizes above the intense battle that is going on in the middle of the gorge. Ulrich, coming under heavy fire from the humanoids, decides to angle the Overbike into ramming position and leaps out of the way before impact. The resulting explosion destroys two of the humanoids. Ulrich takes out his two sabers and eliminates two more. He now goes into the thick of the fight, drawing the attention of the attackers. Odd now enters the equation, leaping on all fours and shooting down the humanoids. Their work is thinning the herd, but the rest of the pack converges on them. At this point, Aelita summons an energy field overhead and destroys one of the humanoids. She then summons another one, doing her best to absorb herself into the act of fighting. But in spite of herself, she feels the images of Moriarty opening the door to her conscious thoughts.

Imaginary Moriarty: Come on….you know the truth. Your mother chose me. Despite what you may think, Schaeffer was always second-best. He might have married him, but her heart always truly belonged…to ME.

Aelita loses focuses and starts aimlessly flying. Her energy field disappears in her hands. The humanoids, seeing the opportunity, shoot at her and knock her out of the sky. She lands behind the cluster of humanoids. Without air support, Ulrich and Odd feel cornered. Ulrich blocks several volleys, but Odd is hit twice in the abdomen.

Jeremie: Odd, that was forty lifepoints.

Ulrich is hit in the leg right afterwards.

Jeremie: Ulrich, that was twenty.

Odd: We could use some help here!

Before the pack of humanoids can finish them off, the other warriors on either side of the gorge notice their predicament and race to help. Yumi hops down several cliff ledges and tosses her fans into the mix. William travels down the gorge in super smoke form and beheads several of the humanoids. The quick thinking on William and Yumi's part allow Odd and Ulrich to turn the tables and finish the job. Ulrich looks around and sheathes his sabers.

Ulrich: That's the last of them.

A little further ahead, Aelita pushes herself off the ground. She cranes her neck back and shuts her eyes. The sound of the other warriors approaching her makes her shoulders tense. She expects them to immediately question her, to blame her for the mistake. But it is the voice outside of Lyoko that first speaks up.

Jeremie: Aelita, what happened there?

Aelita: I…just got hit, that's all.

Christophe: But you had an aerial advantage over them….Odd turns and gives Christophe a less than pleasant glare. Christophe shrugs in oblivious innocence. What? I'm just saying…

Aelita stares at the ground. The recent, intrusive thoughts buzz around her mind like a thoroughly enraged beehive, stinging at the still gaping wound of her secret knowledge. She shifts her feet uncomfortably.

Aelita: I just froze for a second…that's all.

The other warriors do not question her, sensing that doing so will only cause further resistance on her part. Odd folds his arms across his chest. A sharp pang of anxiety moves through his conscious thoughts, elevating his highly sensitive mind. But his anxiety is for her sake, not his. Odd fears that the pressure in her mind is building, and that an ultimate release will dwarf even the worst of his PTSD attacks. Back in the factory, Jeremie uneasily places his hands on the keyboard. He rests his chin on his fist, silently considering Aelita's predicament. He then adjusts the microphone closer to his mouth.

Jeremie: Okay, it doesn't matter what happened. You got through the obstacle. If you hurry, you shouldn' encounter any more resistance. Then we can take care of the tower and be a fourth of the way done.

Ulrich: You heard the man. He starts walking. Let's get moving. We got a long way to go.

William follows behind him.

William: Come on Ulrich. You should be excited. Four towers equal four times the fun.

Yumi: Not the way I see it.

Christophe: I don't get you guys. He motions to their surroundings. How could you ever get sick of this?

Yumi: Once you've nearly been eternally virtualized in the digital sea a couple of times, you start to lose some of the enthusiasm of being here.

The rest of the group begins to move towards the tower. Aelita trails behind them. After taking a few steps, she feels a hand touch her shoulder. She turns around to see Odd giving her a deeply concerned look. Her stomach tightens and she frees her shoulder from his grasp.

Odd: Aelita are-

Aelita quickly interrumpts and shuts Odd's sentence down before he can finish it.

Aelita: There is only one of me. I'm here to deactivate the tower. She looks up ahead and puts on a mask of forced strength. I don't get days off. Not now. Not for anything. End of story.

She sprints ahead of Odd. Odd reaches out his hand to stop her, but he is too late. He sighs and looks off to the side.

Odd: She won't even let me check on her….

He shakes his head and runs after her. Meanwhile Jeremie still looks puzzled. He scratches his head. He then checks the combat log from the group's recent battle. The kill ratio of the other warriors is very high, but Aelita's and Natalya's ratios are tied at the very bottom. Jeremie makes a face.

Jeremie: This doesn't make any sense. His eyes wander to the desktop folder on Odd's dreams. His eyes widen a little. She couldn't have….After a quick check, Jeremie sees that the dream log has remained secure. He leans back and lets out a sigh of relief. She didn't see it….He then frowns…but that still leaves more questions than answers. What has gotten into her?

On the eastern side of Paris, in the opposite direction of Boulogne-Billancourt, Moriarty's armored truck enters a sparsely populated industrial area. Abandoned factories, much larger and in worse shape than the factory belonging to the warriors, dot the area. Fences block off certain lots even though there seems to be nothing there. 'For Rent' and foreclosed signs are seen on both buildings and dilapidated houses. Moriarty stares out the windshield. His glare is hollow and callous. He impatiently grips the front two seats and motions to the driver.

Moriarty: There, take a left.

The driver complies and keeps moving through the area. The neighborhood around them transitions from factories to old office buildings. Most of them are closed down, but a few appear to still have life in them. They cross three more blocks and then Moriarty orders the truck to stop.

Moriarty: There it is! Pull in there!

The truck pulls into a small driveway leading up to a metal fence. Behind that fence is a large parking lot that contains only a small number of cars. To the far right of the parking lot is a medium-sized gray building of about four stories. The top two floors are boarded up and lifeless, but the bottom two floors have their lights on. The truck pulls up to a gate with an access panel to the side. Moriarty keeps his eyes on the building, and with a wave of his hand, the access panel turns green and the gate opens. The driver quickly enters the parking lot and swerves around to the right side of the building and parks. The truck is turned off and the hum of the engine is replaced with silence. The armed men look to Moriarty. He merely glances at them and opens the back door. He steps onto the pavement, entering into the chill of the cloudy late-afternoon. Moriarty adjusts his collar and pulls his lab coat closer to his body. He looks back at his troops.

Moriarty: Wait for my command.

He shuts the back door and walks around to the front of the building. He enters unopposed through the double glass doors. Though the exterior is somewhat lacking in appeal, the interior appears to have been remodeled. The walls are a light yellow, adding a sense of life that did not exist outside. Modern office spaces filled with white-collar workers can be seen to the left and right. Above the front desk, a sign reads COMPAGNIE HERCULE and underneath INSURANCE YOU CAN AFFORD. Moriarty pays little attention to these signs and goes straight for the front desk. The lady at the front desk wears a black pantsuit with her blond hair tied back in a ponytail. She talks on the phone and pays little attention to Moriarty.

Secretary: Did we schedule an entry at this time? Five second pause. Yes, but their appointments were scheduled an hour ago. Another pause. Did you give them the access code? ….That makes no sense…who could have-? The woman finally looks up at Moriarty and the words are taken from her mouth. Her grip on the phone slackens. She wordlessly puts the phone down, missing the receiver. Her facial muscles twitch uncomfortably as she considers either panic or courtesy. Her left hand grips her pen with the pointed tip facing up. Within a span of a few seconds, a smile somehow appears on her face. Hello, welcome to Compagnie Hercule. How may I help you today?

Moriarty's anxiety and hunger for vengeance build in unison into a raging desire to unleash hell. Every corner of his mind screams for to burn the entire place to the ground. But somehow, in spite of himself, he masters the urge. Instead, he rests his left elbow on the front desk and appears natural. But the words from his mouth are frightening and direct.

Moriarty: Hello, I'm here to see the Director.

One of the women carrying papers to Moriarty's right suddenly drops her pile. The people in the offices surrounding Moriarty look at him warily, staring up from their work to let him know that he is being watched. The secretary maintains the smile on her face.

Secretary: I'm sorry….you're….going to have to be more specific. You mean the director of sales? The director of finances? The director of customer support? She forces a laugh that is painfully fake. We have a lot of directors.

Moriarty plays along and stares at the insurance sign above her, pretending to be distracted.

Moriarty: Hmm….yes that may be so. But I'm looking for THE DIRECTOR. Can I see him today?

The looks from the office spaces become more and more hostile. They cease to keep up the guise of working. Every eye is fixed on Moriarty. The secretary's smile starts to crack.

Secretary: I'm really not sure what you are talking about, but if you want to speak to any of our directors, I'm afraid you need to have an appointment.

With all eyes on him and the charade steadily collapsing, Moriarty's bloodlust begins to boil over. Years of gathering hatred, prepared precisely for this moment, start to pound at the dam of self-control like a roaring ocean. Moriarty leans close to the woman, coming within inches of her face. The woman becomes frozen with fright. Moriarty smiles and drops his friendly act.

Moriarty: Oh I'm sure this director will make time to see me. He looks to his left and right and then trains his hollow eyes back on the secretary. This is a nice front you have here.

Moriarty notices that the woman is reaching her hand under the desk, most likely going for the panic button. He doesn't hesitate. In a flash, the woman is pinned to the wall by a wave of electricity. Immediately the agents in the offices drop the act. They come at him with their guns drawn. But Moriarty is in complete control. He holds out his arms in an almost crucifix position, and pours lethal amounts of electricity at all sides. A chorus of screams drowns the office area in horrific noise. As bodies drop to the floor, the alarm goes off. At that moment Moriarty's army enters from all sides, ready for action. Moriarty hops over the front desk and runs his hand over the back wall beneath the sign. He moves his hand to one specific position and stops. His fingernails dig into the wall. He smiles as his head turns into a black, smoking skull.

Moriarty: There you are…

He blasts open a secret door. Out of the rubble a metal staircase appears, leading down into a highly advanced, state of the art government operations facility. Moriarty simply walks down the staircase to see men and women in black look up with the kind of fear that can only be manifested in the face of certain doom. Some trip overthemselves reaching for their weapons. Others aim their pistols at Moriarty and the rest of his crew, their hands shaking violently. Moriarty's fury escalates beyond capacity and his form becomes increasingly fiery and demonic. Electricity flares up in the narrow space, causing the windowless space to lose power. The only light is that of Moriarty and his glowing body of electricity, primed and ready to kill. He laughs maniacally and stares up at the ceiling.

Moriarty: LES INVISIBLES, YOUR TIME OF JUDGMENT HAS COME! He motions to his men and points down at the hapless agents below them. SLAUGHTER THEM ALL!

At the other end of the gorge, the warriors face the tower. They stand on the opposite side of the central platform, separated by the mountain stepping stones. The warriors look around for any activity. Ulrich monitors the sky.

Ulrich: I guess Moriarty already played his best cards.

William: Or he has his attention elsewhere.

Jeremie: No matter the case, we don't get chances like this often. Deactivate it and move on to the next one.

Yumi nudges Aelita, who is standing towards the middle of the pack. She is still spaced-out, and is somewhat taken off guard when Yumi brings her back to reality.

Yumi: This next part is you, Aelita.

Aelita remains silent and nods. She hops forward, moving easily from stone to stone until she reaches the central platform. She takes a few steps toward the tower before Moriarty's voice returns to her.

Imaginary Moriarty: Odd is merely dressing up the story for you. He knows the real truth. Your mother was always fond of me, even after she learned more about my….unpleasant side. She never truly got over me, just as I never got over her. She knew about me…and still loved me.

Aelita pauses. Her knees bend slightly and she clenches her fists. With sheer willpower she erects mental stone walls to block out the waves of emotions assaulting her. The warriors are on the verge of asking her what's wrong, but at that moment she relaxes and walks to the tower again. Her brain goes on autopilot as she steps into the tower and prepares to do the same thing she has done thousands of times. She walks to the center of the lower platform and effortlessly floats to the top. Her feet rest on the upper platform and she gingerly walks over to the main screen. Before she puts her hand on the screen, she feels a need to pause and reflect on the situation. She takes a deep breath, attempting to calm her nerves. She looks around, staring at the blue screens and lines of data around her. She begins addressing them as if they were an audience.

Aelita: I don't care what my mother has done. I don't care what my mother did with Moriarty. She looks up at the ceiling of the tower. I am Aelita Stones, the daughter of Waldo Schaeffer and Antea Hopper, and nothing will ever change that.

With renewed confidence she presses the screen and activates the code. The tower deactivates. She smiles. But as she looks onto the blue holographic screen into her own reflection, a fatal thought works its way into her mind. At first the idea is so radical and absurd that her mind cannot accept it, and it bounces around chaotically in her head. But as the intrusive thought gains traction, it starts to seep into her brain like a poison. She backs away from the screen and holds her head, incredulous of what she is thinking.

Aelita: But what….what…if I'm not…Schaeffer's daughter?

At the worst possible time, the demonic and tortured side of her conscience comes back with a vengeance.

Imaginary Moriarty: Good question….why do you think I came to visit you and Antea in the hospital in the first place?

For a few seconds Aelita stands motionless on the edge of the upper platform, her mind floating in a mental limbo. Then, all at once, the stone walls blocking the tide of emotions give way. The blue cylindrical walls around her spin. Her once stabilized thoughts also jumble around her head like a tornado. She bends over and her mouth hangs open, evidence of a silent scream that is blasting from all corners of her psyche. Then the scream comes out audibly with a terrible and unabashed force that nearly blows out Jeremie's eardrums. Outside, the warriors do an about face, as the sound penetrates even the walls of the tower. Inside, Aelita falls down on the upper platform. She buries her face and pounds her fists on the floor violently.

Aelita: NOOOO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO I CAN'T BE!

In the factory, Jeremie desperately tries to make sense of the outburst. He keeps all eyes on the tower, excluding everything else from his attention.

Jeremie: You can't be? Can't be what?!

Aelita responds with a high-pitched scream that makes Jeremie cringe and keeps his ears ringing for a long time.

Jeremie: Aelita what?! WHAT IS WRONG?!

She lays her head on the floor and stares to one side of the tower, mentally dissolving into utter despair. Her voice suddenly becomes quiet.

Aelita: I know…..Jeremie I know about Antea and Moriarty's relationship…She starts screaming violently again. JEREMIE YOU JERK I KNOW EVERYTHING!

Jeremie's body temperature drops nearly two degrees. The resulting chill makes his stomach feel icy and nauseous. His fingers tremble as they reach toward the keyboard. A lump in his throat grows to such an extent that Jeremie finds it difficult to breathe, let alone speak. He struggles to swallow it down. Meanwhile, a hysterical Aelita continues.

Aelita: All this time…all this time you knew. We smiled, we laughed, we kissed, and even then you still knew….AND DIDN'T TELL ME!

In light of this accusation, Jeremie pathetically does his best to save face.

Jeremie: Yes! Precisely so we could avoid THIS!

Aelita: NO! Her virtual body experiences violent tremors as she lies down helpless on the platform. Ignorance is not bliss! MY WHOLE LIFE HAS BEEN A LIE!

Jeremie: Aelita, that's not-

Aelita: It's true and you know it's true!

At this point, the warriors start to speak up.

William: Jeremie?

Ulrich: What's happening to Aelita?

Yumi: Should we go in to help her?

In the midst of Aelita's gut-wrenching outbursts, Jeremie finds no alternative but to agree to Yumi's suggestion. He mutes Aelita's screams and turns his attention back to the others. He orders them in a tone that signals a crack in his composure.

Jeremie: Yes. Do it now. Something terrible has happened. Get her out of there!

Odd, knowing full well what has happened, gets on all fours.

Odd: I'm on it.

Odd bounds across the stones with incredible agility and runs to the tower. But Aelita can still hear the conversation. A sudden, violent scowl on her distraught face indicates that she will have none of this intervention. She goes to her knees and vehemently shakes her head.

Aelita: NO! She starts working on the holographic screen. She locks the tower, preventing anyone from getting in or out. No one comes in! And I'm not coming out! I'm going to rot here forever….LIKE I DESERVE!

Odd runs headlong into the tower right after she closes it. The impact prompts the other warriors to run over and join him on the other side.

Ulrich: What gives?! It won't let us through!

Odd: Aelita she….He rubs his head…She locked us out…

Jeremie remains hard at work, trying to bring Aelita to her senses.

Jeremie: Aelita stop this! You're not making any sense!

Aelita: I know everything Jeremie….AND MORE! I know what I really am!

Jeremie starts to pull his hair. Convinced that she is raving, Jeremie decides to use a firmer approach.

Jeremie: If you won't listen to reason then I have no choice but to materialize you!

Aelita: Don't bother…She lifts her head and stares coldly into the main projector screen. I already locked myself out of that as well. I'm not going anywhere….

The icy pit in Jeremie's stomach becomes heavier. His forehead becomes cold with sweat. Meanwhile, several vultures fly over head and a group of scorpions and humanoids approaches the group outside. Everyone draws their weapons. The monsters immediately attack, pinning the warriors into the small area around the tower. The scorpions and the humanoids begin to make their way across the stepping stones.

Yumi: Jeremie, whatever you plan on doing, do it fast. We won't be able to hold all of these off without casualties.

Ulrich: And we could use our vehicles again!

Jeremie registers their pleas and the sounds of battle, but they ultimately fade from his conscious thoughts. He sits there, motionless and fractured inside as he listens to Aelita coming apart at the seams.

At Les Invisibles headquarters, everything is going to hell. Shots ring out from all sides. Moriarty stalks around in his demonic appearance, striking and killing his victims without mercy. Computers and various electrical equipment are on fire, lighting up the darkened spaces. Some agents, desperate to escape the possessed men and Moriarty, attempt to get out of the exits, but all of them are on lockdown because of the loss of power. Many of them claw at the doors, only to be slain in mass around the areas of possible escape. Other agents huddle under their office desks, clutching their guns and grimly waiting for their final stand. Moriarty's forces begin to encircle the final remaining enclaves of resistance, edging closer and closer to wiping all of them out.

Moriarty: Come out come out wherever you are….surrender and I'll make it quick!

While the rest of the complex burns, a single office overlooking the damage from a floor above remains untouched. The glass walls are tinted black, allowing the silent viewer inside to see everything outside but preventing anyone from being able to see inside. A single wounded agent crawls up the stairs to the office, keeping out of sight from the possessed forces and Moriarty. He stumbles into the office, clutching his side. He falls to the floor and looks up at the balding man, who watches the carnage solemnly.

Agent: Sir, we are being torn apart out there! What are your orders?!

The Director continues to watch the slaughter. He lowers his head.

Director: Victor….you damn fool.

Agent: SIR!

The Director finally turns in the direction of the agent. He clutches the armrests of his chair.

Director: We don't have any chance of surviving this. He turns back to the fiery scene in front of him. Activate the Lethe Initiative.

The agent's facial expression contorts from a look of desperation into one of stoned-faced horror. He swallows, knowing full well that the initiative means a death sentence for him. His fingers dig into the carpet of the office. He somberly looks down at the floor.

Agent: Sir, we need to turn on the emergency generator to proceed with that initiative….And many agents have already died trying to turn it on.

The Director stands up.

Director: Then we better go together. We have a better chance if we both try.

Agent: No! You need to survive sir. The agent raises his head, looking at his boss with a desperate selflessness. It's just down the hall. I can get to it. I know I can…I have to.

The Director silently marvels at the injured agent, feeling a strong pity for him.

Director: What is your name agent?

The agent looks up at the Director, clearly confused.

Agent: My name?

Director: Yes, your name.

Agent: Agent R0542 sir.

Director: No. Your real name.

The agent hesitates.

Agent: François. My name is François.

Director: François…when this is all over, and Moriarty is finally defeated, I will make sure that your name will not be forgotten. Even if it provides little consolation, know that you have my eternal gratitude.

François shakes as he loads his pistol again. He forces himself to stand, leaning against the wall in an effort to do so. Emotions of fear have left his face. There is nothing but the certainty of death. He opens the door to the office and gives the Director one final salute.

Agent: I won't let you down sir.

The agent limps his way out of the office and down the stairs. Below him, the last remaining agents are being killed. The sounds of gunfire are dying down. He makes his way from the stairs to an adjoining hallway. Sure enough, the area around the activation panel for the emergency generator is littered with the bodies of agents. However, it is no longer guarded because the rest of Moriarty's forces are too preoccupied with circling the final surviving agents. François gingerly steps over the bodies of his fallen comrades and enters the code for the generator. There is a loud hum and suddenly the lights to the facility turn back on. François leans against the wall and sighs with relief.

Agent: I…I did it.

He turns around and comes face to face with Moriarty. His body immediately freezes, unable to react in the face of this living terror. Moriarty glowers with rage.

Moriarty: Yes….you did do it. Moriarty electrifies his hand and stabs it into François' chest with such force that it comes out through his back. His blood becomes spattered onto the activation panel. Moriarty removes his forearm, and the man silently falls to his death. Moriarty looks at the body without remorse. But you're a little too late.

With the power back on in his office, the Director goes to work. He opens his computer and launches the Lethe Initiative. A giant red screen appears with the words COMPLETE MEMORY WIPEOUT COMMENCING. The screen suddenly becomes glitched and then goes black. The power in the facility begins to turn off again. The Director stuffs all the confidential papers in his office in the metal trash can next to his desk. He then takes out his lighter and lights it on fire. Finally the Director picks up his briefcase and flips a switch underneath his desk. A secret door opens in his wall, revealing a small elevator that looks more like a large dumbwaiter. The Director then slips in to the narrow space and the elevator closes. The wall then returns to its normal place, leaving no signs of the Director's clean getaway.

Fast forward to the present. Dark Yumi looks on from her mountaintop, pleased with the progression of the battle. The warriors are being overwhelmed. The vultures circle the tower like buzzards. Another wave of humanoids and scorpions approach the tower. Despite long-distance barrages from Christophe, Natalya, and Odd, two of the scorpions make it to the other side. Ulrich draws his sabers. He runs underneath the first scorpion, holding out his sabers to cut the creature's legs out from under him. He then pounces on the immobilized shell and kills the scorpion. Unfortunately for Ulrich, the other scorpion has noticed Ulrich's actions. He raises his stinger.

Yumi: Ulrich, look out!

He looks up. His determined look fades.

Ulrich: Crap…

The stinger delivers the blow and devirtualizes him. The warriors go on the defensive, blocking blows as Moriarty's vanguard moves forward. Meanwhile a hail of lasers rains down from above courtesy of the vultures. Odd activates his shield and monitors the vultures from below.

Odd: Jeremie, an Overboard would be really nice right now.

Jeremie still doesn't is still stuck at the command chair, pierced by the pain of Aelita's crying. Odd growls with frustration.

Odd: Fine, I'll deal with it myself. He looks over to the lead scorpion that is currently being distracted by Christophe and William. He focuses on the tail of the monster, which is intent on destroying the two annoyances. Odd then looks up at the vultures again and their position relative to the scorpion's tail. An ingenious smirk forms on his face. I got an idea.

Right as William prepares to end the scorpion, the vulture barrage hits him in the shoulder. Odd takes William's place and leaps onto the scorpion's shell. Instead of killing the beast, Odd grabs on to the tail for dear life. Christophe watches in disbelief.

Christophe: Odd, what the hell are you doing?!

Odd: Watch and learn rookie!

The scorpion's tail arches back like a catapult. Sure enough, the tail throws Odd up in the air. He flies just high enough to hold on to the wing of the one of the vulture. Despite the creature's struggling, Odd manages to get on top of the bird. He then digs his claws into the monster's back, causing the bird to scream and follow Odd's direction. He uses the vulture to pursue the other ones and destroy them. Natalya, after destroying a humanoid, looks up to see the scene unfold. She stares in wonder as Yumi fights beside her.

Natalya: You can ride a monster?!

Yumi: It's….not recommended.

Odd wheels the vulture around the tower and heads for the scorpion. Odd fires and destroys the warrior's main headache in the fight. The sight of Odd riding the vulture confuses the monsters below. The warriors begin to turn the tables. Odd spins the vulture around and targets the monsters on the stepping stones for another strike.

Odd: Alright Frederick, let's get them!

A fan cuts the vulture's head off. The vulture starts to devirtualize. Odd frowns.

Odd: ….So much for our partnership. Odd hears the whirling of another fan. He turns to see one flying headlong towards his face. I'm dead…

Odd devirtualizes. The warriors see the event and turn to their right. They see Dark Yumi standing on the mountaintop. The dark warrior does several somersaults and lands in front of the warriors. She licks her lips and holds her gray fans close to her face. William tightens his grip on his sword. He turns to Yumi.

William: You and Natalya handle the other monsters. We'll handle this.

Yumi: Right.

Yumi and Natalya break off, doing their best to keep the last of the monsters from the second wave from overwhelming them. Christophe gets into his battle stance and turns to William.

Christophe: By 'we' I assume you meant me, correct?

William: I didn't want you and Natalya to handle all of the monsters on your own. That would risk us getting surrounded. But I think you are more than enough of a match for this one.

Dark Yumi hisses and opens her fans.

Dark Yumi: I'm going to make you choke on your words…

William: Then what are we waiting for?

They attack. Back in the tower, the emotional standoff between Aelita and Jeremie continues. Aelita has just confessed to Jeremie that she is no longer sure she is Schaeffer's daughter. Jeremie, for his part, can't bear to speak. His throat is incredibly dry, and the tears in his eyes begin to stream down his cheeks. The self-disgust in his chest and stomach burden him, crushing his will to face her. His fingernails rub against the keyboard. He then forms a fist and presses them into his palm, squeezing until he feels pain. On the Lyoko side of things, Aelita has curled into a ball. Her face is drained of emotion. She has transitioned from grief to the sheer shock of her terrible conclusion. In a manner similar to Jeremie, Aelita runs her fingers over the upper platform. She tightens her ball.

Aelita: If….Moriarty really is….my father. She closes her eyes. Then….I have to die. I can't stand that. Jeremie sits there quietly, too emotionally compromised to answer her. He lowers his head and covers his face. So much shame….more than any human can handle. I can't live knowing this.

The voice of her tormented subconscious returns with even more sadistic delight.

Imaginary Moriarty: To think all this time…you were Daddy's little girl.

Aelita rolls over on to her back. She stares up at the ceiling, lost in the blue screens around her.

Aelita: Being her daughter would be….unforgiveable. Jeremie tries to speak up, but he chokes on his words. Aelita wraps her arms around chest and pulls her knees up close to her body. She looks up with a desperate despair that sees only one course of action. I should throw myself into the digital sea.

This final suicidal notion from Aelita forces Jeremie out of his paralysis. His heart accelerates and his thoughts regain clarity. The lump in his throat finally dissolves as the fear of losing Aelita overcomes his self-loathing. His eyebrows lower in defiance of Aelita's reckless statements. He slams his fist on his armrest.

Jeremie: No….Aelita continues staring, hardly registering a response. You will not.

Aelita: Give me one reason why…

Jeremie: Because you are not Moriarty's daughter. Odd's dreams tell us that your mother did have a relationship with Moriarty. But she married Waldo Schaeffer and had a child with him. And that child was you, Aelita.

Aelita raises her left hand and stares at her palm. She recalls the evenings when her father would take her into the woods on summer nights, holding her hand. Her face contorts with pain as she wonders whether there was any blood relation between that touch.

Aelita: Moriarty visited me in the hospital. She lets her hand fall to the platform. Why would he do that, unless he in fact was my father, and kept it secret?

Jeremie: It is true that he visited you in the hospital, but he did it out of an old sense of obligation for Schaeffer.

Aelita forces a heartless laugh.

Aelita: Moriarty doing something good for him….now I know you're lying.

Jeremie breathes out through his nose, feeling his frustration with her increase.

Jeremie: Believe me or not. It's the truth. In the dream, Odd heard Moriarty say that he once promised to be there for the birth of Schaeffer's child, not his own. Moriarty was not completely corrupt at that time. In context, it's not hard to believe that he did it for his old friend's sake.

Aelita's lip quivers, evidence that Jeremie is beginning to have an effect.

Jeremie: If you don't believe me, check the dream log. It's all here in black and white.

A fragment of hope emerges in Aelita's eyes. Her state of utter dejection begins to ebb, but just as her thoughts begin to brighten, she shuts down. She stares back at the ceiling with the same despair she had before.

Aelita: M-Maybe. Maybe you're right. But…there's still the doubt. How can I be sure? Even if there's only a small chance, a narrow possibility that I could be Moriarty's child…how can I sleep at night? How can I not be utterly sick to my stomach? How can I hold up my head in the world, knowing that there's a chance…?

For a moment Jeremie's face remains steadfastly serious. He drums his fingers on the keyboard, contemplating what to say to her. He fears that he has lost her again. Then, as his frustration boils to its maximum, the tense muscles in his face suddenly relax. He sits up, struck by a sudden thought. Ever so gradually a smile forms out of the corner of his mouth and spreads. Then he inexplicably starts to chuckle. The chuckle transforms into a good, healthy laugh. The tears in his eyes turn into laughing tears. Jeremie's laughing sparks a latent anger in Aelita, who suddenly sits up in the tower.

Aelita: Is something funny?! Jeremie at first keeps laughing and doesn't respond. JEREMIE?!

Jeremie wipes a tear from his eye and settles down.

Jeremie: Sorry about that, but yes, something is very, very funny.

Aelita: What could possibly be funny at a time like this?!

Jeremie: You of course…

Aelita stands up. Her shock that Jeremie is mocking her so riles her that she lets go of her despair and starts shaking with anger.

Aelita: How could my pain possibly be funny to you?!

Jeremie: Because you think that being the blood daughter of Moriarty could somehow change who you are.

Aelita's rageful shaking comes to an end. Her eyes widen.

Jeremie: Assume you really are Moriarty's daughter. Well...Jeremie smirks….so what? That doesn't change who you are. If you are really his daughter by blood, then I can tell you with confidence that he long ago gave up the right to be your father. A girl such as you deserves infinitely more than that. Aelita stands there, feeling the truth of Jeremie's words. And you did get more than that. You got Waldo Schaeffer as a father, if not in blood…then in spirit.

Aelita perks her head up and gives Jeremie her full attention.

Jeremie: Think back Aelita….would your mother really lie to you? Would she keep up a charade pretending that Waldo Schaeffer was your dad?

She looks off to the side.

Aelita: No…no that wouldn't make sense. But…she might have…not known.

Jeremie: Even if that is true, it doesn't change anything. Forget genetics. You are not Moriarty's child. Jeremie smiles warmly. You are Moriarty's sworn enemy, continuing the legacy of your REAL father by committing yourself, body and soul, to bringing him down.

Aelita paces around the platform, stunned by Jeremie's powerful speech. She looks at her hands again. This time, she remembers the warmth of her father's touch with the same positive feelings that she had before. She then turns and looks at her reflection in the tower's main screen. Outside, the battle continues to go poorly. Yumi and Natalya pay so much attention to a scorpion that they fail to notice two humanoids behind them. Natalya is devirtualized, and Yumi barely manages to survive the attack. In the fight with Dark Yumi, William attacks with broad, violent strokes, attempting to catch her off guard. Christophe fires several discs and manages to scrape Dark Yumi's legs. Enraged, Dark Yumi turns the tables by allowing William to come close to her. Thinking he has the advantage, William attacks, but Dark Yumi's agility allows her to dodge and cut at William's wrist. Dark Yumi uses the attack to get a hold of William's sword. Then, just as Christophe tries to rush her, Dark Yumi impales him onto a nearby rock. William wills the sword to return to him and the fight begins anew.

Jeremie: The others really need your help out there. At the rate things are going, we won't be able to complete the mission without your intervention. Aelita looks pensively into the screen, confused about her next move. Aelita….Jeremie takes a long pause and a deep breath. A girl once told me that my past actions, no matter how terrible they were, do not define me. And that girl was you, Aelita Stones. The statement starts to shake Aelita out of her stupor. The voice of Moriarty that had haunted her all this time has finally been silenced. If you could forgive me for doing something unforgiveable, then why can't you let go of some possibility that wouldn't even be your fault?

Aelita's pink wings appear. She lifts off the platform.

Aelita: I've been….such an idiot.

Jeremie: As have I. I should have told you earlier. But that is behind us. We need to keep looking forward. Aelita continues hovering in the tower. A hardened look of determination forms on her face. Now finish this…

Dark Yumi disarms William and kicks him to the floor. William looks up as Dark Yumi lifts his sword.

Dark Yumi: A pity. Looks like you lost your toy again.

Yumi comes running over, having defeated the last of the monsters.

Yumi: William I'm coming!

Dark Yumi lifts her hand and Yumi is telekinetically thrown against a rock.

Dark Yumi: Or not…She turns her attention back to William. He puts the sword to his throat. What a hollow victory. I already did what I came here to do. This is just overkill.

Aelita comes flying out of the tower, barreling straight towards Dark Yumi. The servant of Moriarty doesn't even get time to react. Aelita tackles her over the edge and follows her down. William crawls over to look down.

William: Aelita!

There is a few seconds pause. Then the stream of light indicating something falling into the virtual sea shoots up next to William.

William: No…

Yumi: Please tell me that wasn't her.

For a few moments, the two hear nothing. But then a pink figure rises up above them and lands beside them. Aelita has come back triumphant with a broad smile on her face.

Aelita: Did you miss me?

William and Yumi look at each other.

William: You could say that…

In the belly of the destroyed Les Invisibles headquarters, Moriarty rummages through the Director's stuff. He snarls and throws a drawer halfway across the room, nearly hitting one of his men. He barks orders to them.

Moriarty: Keep looking. Leave nothing unturned. I want him brought back here now!

The special tactics force searches harder. Meanwhile Moriarty heaves the Director's bookshelf onto the floor. To his dismay, he finds no secret door behind it. At first he boils with such anger that he nearly blows a hole in the wall, but then he stops himself.

Moriarty: No…it's just like before. He presses his hand against the wall. When he senses an open space, he uses his raw pawer to rip the drywall apart. The hole in the wall reveals the tiny elevator, leading down to an escape. Purple electricity burns at Moriarty's fingertips. No….He thows a lightning ball at the other side of the wall. NO!

The room sparks into flames. The fire quickly spreads. The tactics force, still as mindless and obedient as ever, look to Moriarty for direction. Moriarty nonchalantly snaps his fingers and releases his grip on them. The three remaining towers deactivate. They immediately pass out in a pile on the floor. The fire dances on the floor and inches in their direction. Moriarty coldly watches their impending doom as the heat in the office intensifies. He turns his back on them.

Moriarty: You have served your purpose.

Moriarty goes into the elevator and pulls his way down, taking one last look at the burning facility. He quietly slips away out a back door of the building, breathing in the evening air. He turns the corner into the main parking lot. Without even blinking, Moriarty unleashes a spark that crawls into the armored truck's engine, causing it to blow up. The powerful explosion causes the asphalt underneath Moriarty's feet to shake. Moriarty shrugs.

Moriarty: Not so armored on the inside it seems…

Moriarty walks off into the night. Behind him, the Les Invisibles headquarters begins to crumble. Explosive and hazardous materials that had been lying dormant in the facility go off, speeding up the process of the building's destruction. Floor collapses on top of floor. Mortar and bricks fly everywhere. The facility collapses into a heap of rubble. The final vestiges of Les Invisibles, as well as their legacy, go up in smoke.

The warriors assemble at the computer mainframe behind Jeremie. Jeremie scratches his chin as he looks at the four deactivated towers. After a moment of silence, Ulrich raises his voice.

Ulrich: Just like that?

Jeremie: Just like that. The three other towers are deactivated.

Christophe: Is Moriarty pulling the same stunt again? Should we expect more of these false alarms?

Jeremie brushes the thought aside with the wave of his hand.

Jeremie: Not this time. Moriarty used a tremendous amount of power on his last attack. No way he would do that unless….unless he actually had a purpose behind it.

Natalya: And what could that possibly be? Moriarty did nothing to us.

William scratches his head.

William: No, but now that I think about it, the dark clone of Yumi did mention something about that. She said 'I already did what I came here to do'.

Yumi: What could that mean?

Jeremie: Not sure. Whatever the case, the target was not us. Or at least, it was not meant to attack us directly.

William: Moriarty being secretive…He folds his arms across his chest…I hate it when he does that. At least when he comes out in the open I know what to expect.

Jeremie: Well, there's no use worrying about it right now. He looks tenderly at Aelita, who has remained peacefully silent. He lightly pats her on the head. We've already been through a lot today.

Odd touches her on the shoulder.

Odd: Just for the record, I'm so…so sorry. I wish Jeremie and I had the nerve to tell you in person. I'm sorry you had to find out this way.

Yumi touches her hand. She stutters a little.

Yumi: I…I can't even imagine what you went through.

Ulrich: Everything, the tower and your actions during the whole mission, they all make sense now.

Aelita leans against the computer mainframe.

Aelita: Yes. I wanted to apologize for that. You didn't deserve to be left out getting cut to pieces like that.

Yumi: We don't care. We've all had those moments. Sometimes it's just too much to handle.

Aelita: But I botched the entire mission. We could have succeeded in deactivating them if...

Natalya: Don't say things like that. Natalya approaches her. Her eyes water a little bit. I've lost my mother too. To Aelita's surprise, Natalya pulls her into a strong, Russian embrace. I know what it's like to want to preserve the memory of own's mother, no matter what she did to…She sniffs…shatter that image.

Aelita, deeply moved by Natalya's words, returns the hug. Jeremie, sensing that he must add something, decides to speak up.

Jeremie: I would also be careful about drawing that conclusion. Whatever Moriarty wanted to accomplish, I bet he wanted to delay us as long as possible. He probably carried out what he wanted using only one tower and merely used the other three to throw us off. It's unlikely we could have succeeded regardless of what happened.

Christophe: Is that supposed to make us feel better? That Moriarty won?

Jeremie gives Christophe a cynical look.

Jeremie: No. It was meant to make Aelita feel better. It should make the rest of us feel terrible.

Odd laughs and stuffs his hands in his pockets.

Odd: So we've learned two things today. Jeremie's bedside manner is still atrocious, and secret keeping among the group can lead to disaster.

Jeremie: Yeah…Upon further reflection, Jeremie's expression suddenly becomes serious. He steps out of the command chair and faces the group. Keeping secrets among the group has led to an unacceptable number of disasters. I've said this before, but I'm being absolutely serious now. These secrets must end. I admit that I've been the worst offender, but the fact still remains. He puts his hands on his hips. So no more of this. We must be completely honest and upfront with each other. And that is an order. This is your final warning. Whatever you have been hiding that you believe is vital for the fight against Moriarty, speak now. If you don't and we learn you kept a secret from us-He points at all of them-Then I will have no choice but to force the offender to wear Odd's socks for a week!

Several of the warriors gasp in horror. Ulrich looks like he's going to be sick. Meanwhile Odd appears to be a little lost and offended. He shrugs.

Odd: Oh come on…the smell's not that bad, is it?

Ulrich gags.

Ulrich: You don't want me to answer that question Odd.

The warriors now laugh. Odd frowns and looks off to the side, appearing to be a little hurt. He takes a deep breath through his nose.

Odd: Yeah well….Odd scratches the back of his neck…I know the punishment doesn't exactly threaten me, but I do have something to talk about.

The laughing stops. The warriors look at Odd, fearful of what he might say. The anxious looks he receives makes Odd feel more nervous than usual. He rubs his forehead with his thumb and index finger in an attempt to ease the delivery of the news.

Odd: You see….I have this psychological connection to Moriarty. I can see his memories through my dreams and he can draw power from my mind.

Pause. Jeremie taps his fingers together as he thinks over his response.

Jeremie: We appreciate you telling us that Odd, but that's not exactly a secret. We've known that for a while.

Odd's face darkens and the inflection in his voice becomes more grave and severe.

Odd: I'm…not finished. The warriors give him their attention again. Right now I'm fine, but since my mind is connected to his, I've been wondering…

Odd's voice trails off.

Aelita: Wondering what?

Odd swallows and looks away from the others.

Odd: I've been wondering whether or not destroying Moriarty could….somehow do harm to me as well.

The mood in the room takes a decidedly negative turn. The distraught faces of his friends make Odd feel worse about it. He closes his eyes and sits down.

Odd: That's it. There you have it. I've said what I had to say.

Jeremie: I've thought about this a few times myself. We've been occupied with so much other nonsense that I often forget about it. But with my research into the Cannae Initiative….the prospect is becoming increasingly hard to ignore.

Odd: That's what I also wanted to say. You should continue working on that Cannae project. He lowers his head and traces a figure eight on the metal floor. If you get the opportunity to finish him once and for all, don't hesitate. It's not right to sacrifice the safety of the world for my sake. I just wanted to let you know to prevent this whole thing from being brought up at the last minute.

Aelita: Odd, we can't just ignore you-

Odd firmly shakes his head.

Odd: The mission comes first. If we get a chance, we shouldn't be worried about what happens to me.

Aelita: No! You've just started to get better! We can't…

Ulrich: We won't endanger your life!

Odd gives the two an accusatory look.

Odd: Even if it means letting Moriarty win?!

The uncomfortable question leaves a vacuum of silence among the group. The tension in the room rises as the warriors seriously think over this question. Yumi breaks the silence.

Yumi: Jeremie, couldn't you try to find a way to…break the link?

Jeremie sadly shakes his head.

Jeremie: Psychological connections are way out of my league. I don't think that's anything technology can fix. Either the link eventually passes with time or Odd lives with it until…

Odd: Until you're forced to make a choice…

Silence takes control of the room once again. An impasse has been reached. For a while it seems the conversation will go nowhere, but then William holds his hands up to break the deadlock.

William: Hold up. Everyone just calm down for a second. We don't even know if killing Moriarty will hurt Odd. Why should we worry about something that's not even certain?

Aelita raises an eyebrow at William.

Aelita: Are you saying it's acceptable to take the risk?

William: Well think of it this way…I was still connected to Xana after I was freed from him. But when you destroyed him, I turned out fine. The link was still there and I ended up having nightmares and Xana living inside my head, but I didn't die because of it.

Jeremie: You do bring up a good point William…it could fail to affect him at all.

Yumi: But there's no guarantee that ending Moriarty will be the same as ending Xana.

Jeremie groans.

Jeremie: Also true. Jeremie thinks for a moment. Alright whatever the case may be, let's just put this conversation on hold. We're not making any decisions right now. I'll study Odd's case in more detail while continuing to work on the Cannae Initiative. Let's just stay rational about this. I'm sure we'll find a way. We're not letting Moriarty win, but we're not going to lose Odd either. Is that clear?

The warriors nod with agreement, but it is half-hearted. Odd feels a pang of guilt for making everyone feel bad again. He searches his brain for something to say to lighten the mood. Then he gets an idea. He covers his excitement and pretends to be very serious.

Odd: ….And there is also something else….something so terrible it's hard to speak about. But someone has to point it out. The warriors gaze at Odd with deep concern, expecting more bad news. Odd milks the act. God, I'm not sure how to say this but….He suddenly points at Jeremie….Jeremie still wears briefs!

The room explodes into laughter, save Jeremie and Aelita. Jeremie turns red, angry that the tension has been alleviated at his expense.

Jeremie: ODD! I meant secrets pertaining to our mission! Not my underwear!

Odd: Oh but it does! Odd puts on a look of fake horror. Just imagine…the evil Moriarty could inflict with Jeremie's tight-fitting undergarments!

The laughter increases and others join in on the fun.

Ulrich: It's true! Jeremie is going to have to work on a boxer program or we're all doomed!

Christophe: The wedgies would be terrible!

Yumi laughs so hard that she has to hold her side.

Yumi: Guys stop! You're giving Aelita way too much information on Jeremie's underwear!

Natalya: Oh don't sell her short. She winks at Aelita. She might already know a thing or too about it.

Another round of laughter commences and Aelita and Jeremie turn bright red.

Aelita: That's not-!

Jeremie: She doesn't-!

Jeremie & Aelita: HOW DARE YOU!

Jeremie and Aelita try to defend themselves, but there seems to be no end to the intense mocking. Jeremie adjusts his glasses and looks away to cover up his obvious embarrassment.

Jeremie: Alright alright….I'll switch to boxers already. Can we please move on?

Odd: Oh sure…as soon as you move on to big boy underwear.

They laugh once again. Jeremie is not amused.

Jeremie: Very funny…The laughing fit comes to an abrupt halt when the main computer starts beeping. Everyone stops and looks. Jeremie furrows his eyebrows and approaches his chair. What? Another activated tower?

Odd: You've got to be kidding me. How long is Moriarty going to drag this out?!

Ulrich: I say we don't go. If he is going to keep deactivating the towers like this, there's no point in wasting our time.

Jeremie sits in his chair. His expression goes from annoyance to confusion.

Jeremie: It's not an activated tower, it's a message….from Moriarty.

The warriors soon crowd around Jeremie, eager to see what it is. Jeremie opens the message alert. Jeremie reads it out loud.

Jeremie: 'This morning I started out with two enemies…now there is only one'.

Jeremie is silent. Several of the warriors turn toward him, looking to him for answers.

Christophe: Now there's only one…what does that mean?

Another message alert. This time it is a picture message. Jeremie moves his cursor to click on it. But when the arrow hangs over the OPEN button, there is a visible hesitation to his movements. However, he eventually overcomes his reluctance and opens the message. Immediately a grisly image showing the destruction of Les Invisibles facility shortly before the burning appears on screen. The initial shock of the sight stuns all of them. Although the veteran warriors are soon able to steel their nerves, the two recent additions to the team aren't as prepared. Christophe merely stares, finding himself unable to comprehend the magnitude of such a slaughter. Natalya covers her mouth with her hand and edges closer to William. Her upper body shakes a little.

Natalya: Those…those are…She says the following word with a defined feeling of repulsion...bodies.

William grits his teeth.

William: Sick…just sick.

Yumi: I'm not sure 'sick' can give this atrocity justice.

Jeremie digs his fingernails into the arm rests of his chair.

Jeremie: I understand now. All these false alarms we've had lately were designed to throw us off. To make us think we were the target. He used our fear and confusion to cover up his real target: the government agents who pursued Schaeffer and him. And as further measure, he activated three extra towers to throw us off in order to protect the real one. The Mountain Sector one was merely one of those distractions. He takes another look at the photo. If this agency was ever an asset against Moriarty, then it's over now. He turns his chair around and looks at the others. We're really on our own in this fight.

The next morning, Jeremie sits at his desk with Jim standing over his shoulder behind him. Jeremie opens a Network portal with a Skype-like program. He then turns his chair around and looks up at Jim.

Jeremie: Okay, the secure network is up and running. I should have a completed website in the next couple of days, but for now we'll work with this system. He points to the screen where a collection of light pink tabs are vertically arranged. These tabs signal our connection to other Outcast groups throughout France. They allow us to do private videoconferencing and plan strategies safely and on a low budget.

Jim puts a firm grip on Jeremie's shoulder. Jeremie's slightly pained expression shows that it might be a tad too 'firm'.

Jim: Jeremie, I don't know how you do it…No really I have no idea how you do it, but this technology you have here can put us one step ahead of Renard. Jim checks his watch. And it looks like you finished it just in time. Shouldn't you cousin's school be calling us right about now?

Jeremie: Yes, the LycéeJeanne d'Arc Outcast group should be contacting us. One of the tabs lights up, turning a darker shade of pink. A specialized address shows up on the flashing tab, indicating which specific school group they belong to. And speaking of the devil, here they are. He stands up from the chair and offers it to Jim. Alright, this next part is all you.

Jim rubs his hands together with excitement. He plops himself into Jeremie's chair (with some difficulty) and clicks on the tab. He immediately starts talking.

Jim: Good morning fellow Outcasts, my name is Jim and let me be the first to welcome you to our-He opens his eyes and realizes that the screen inside the teleconference window is black and has no audio. Jim puts his hands on top of his head and starts to freak out. Oh no, The Order has infected your computer. We're completely isolated!

Jeremie is not so concerned. In fact, he seems to be somewhat annoyed.

Jeremie: Uh….no. My computer's fine. You forgot to turn on both the microphone and the video cam.

Jim sits there blank-faced for a moment, pondering over his blunder.

Jim: Right….I knew that.

Jim follows Jeremie's instructions and successfully starts to establish a connection with Lycée Jeanne d'Arc. Several kilometers to the north, the Lycée group gathered in a large science classroom anticipates Kadic's response. Patrick runs to the front and makes sure the main projector is connected to the laptop.

Patrick: He's answering our call…Check the front door! We can't have any Order members spying on us.

The Outcast members in the room quiet down. The message is received and Jim's face appears on the projector screen. He is disappointed by the small size of the group, but nevertheless he clears his throat and begins.

Jim: Good Morning fellow Outcasts, my name is Jim Morales. I am the head of the Outcast branch here at Kadic. Before we get on to any serious business, let me be the first to welcome you to our movement.

The Outcasts listening to Jim clap. Jacqueline and Patrick sit next to each other, eager to hear what Jim has to say.

Jim: Okay then…first things first. Who is running the show over there?

A middle-aged man with a thick mustache and large square glasses stands up. He appears to be very professional and carries himself as such. He walks to the front.

Basil: Mr. Morales, I am Dr. Alexander Basil, a chemistry teacher here at Lycée. I also happen to be, until further notice, the leader of the Outcasts here. He turns to the small group of students and faculty behind him. As you can see, we are not a large group, but our numbers continue to grow. The Order here has become increasingly radical, and more and more people are starting to see the danger they pose.

Jim: I see. Have you suffered any serious persecution since you formed your group?

Dr. Basil shifts uncomfortably.

Basil: We were already persecuted for not accepting The Order here, but since we formed the Outcasts, things have gotten worse. Students are becoming ostracized and even threatened. And the faculty has not escaped reprisals either. I used to be the head of the science department at this school. He lowers his head. It is a title I now no longer possess.

Jim: I'm sorry to hear that. You are very brave for standing up to this madness and bringing these people together.

Basil: Oh don't look at me. He motions to Patrick. Mr. Belpois over here is the true mastermind of this operation. Had he not contacted you and organized us, we might not be talking here today.

Jacqueline nudges Patrick's shoulder. Patrick gives a weak smile, feeling a little embarrassed by the attention.

Jim: I see that kind of leadership runs in the family. Good! Let's get down to business then. Has Jeremie got you up and running on the new website?

Basil: Yes, and we are prepared to adapt to any changes he decides to make.

Jim: Good. Now, what can you tell me about The Order branch you are dealing with?

Basil: For a while it was just several students who gave lip service to Dr. Renard. But as time passed, they became organized under our gym teacher and soccer coach, Eliot Huron. He has a bad reputation at this school for his temper and extreme political views. In fact, the school board was considering letting him go. But Mr. Huron took advantage of the arrival of The Order and set himself up as their fiery public speaker and leader. He is not a particularly intelligent man, but he is very much hostile to us.

Jim's reaction radiates a personal disgust.

Jim: A gym teacher taking advantage of his power…how terrible. He pauses. Is there any way we can exploit his weaknesses as a leader?

Basil: Actually I had an idea that you might find interesting.

Jim: I'm all ears…

Basil: I think if we gather enough-The videoconference is suddenly cut off. Several students stand up in alarm. Dr. Basil lowers his eyebrows, annoyed that he was cut off in mid-sentence. What's wrong? He turns to Patrick. Is something wrong with your laptop?

Patrick moves to the front and checks it.

Patrick: No, it's purring like a kitten. It's the internet connection. It's been cut off.

Basil: Considering the timing, I find it hard to believe it's a coincide-

A rock breaks through the windows and scatters glass across the floor. Patrick, narrowly missing the rock, ducks behind a chair. Students and faculty scream in shock.

Jacqueline: Patrick, are you okay?!

Patrick slowly rises to his feet.

Patrick: Yeah, just a little stunned.

Dr. Basil steps with his thick black shoes over the glass to the window. He stares outside. The unknown culprits have already fled out of sight. He shakes his head sadly.

Basil: Huron….you crazy fool.

Back at Kadic, Jim stares at the blank screen with disappointment. He looks at Jeremie.

Jim: Please tell me I didn't do anything that time.

Jeremie: No. It was a problem on the other end. And I have a feeling that it wasn't an accident.

Jim: Well that's just great. He slumps in Jeremie's chair. What am I supposed to do now?

Jeremie: We will have to wait for the Lycée group to fix their own problem. And if it was sabotage, then it might take a while.

Jim slumps further, causing Jeremie's chair to creak.

Jim: Wonderful. He sighs. Before his mood sinks any lower, the computer starts to beep again. He looks at the screen. Uh…did they get their connection back?

Jeremie takes a closer look. The Lycée tab still registers as offline, but the other pink tabs are lighting up like a Christmas tree. Jeremie stares with a mixture of surprise and excitement.

Jeremie: No…it's the other Outcast groups. They're contacting us!

Jim: Really?! But I thought they weren't going to set up their accounts for another couple of days…

Jeremie: So did I. He smiles broadly. They must have heard about the conference we were going to have with Lycée and sped up the process. They don't want to be left out.

Jim: Yep the gang's all here. There's Lincoln and the other four-Jim stops and presses his face close to the computer screen, looking confused.-Now hold on a second, I'm counting seven-Another beep-no eight tabs. We…we haven't formed that many branches. How can there be eight?

Jeremie watches in wonder, almost as surprised as Jim.

Jeremie: You're right. They must have set themselves up on their own. Our reputation is spreading….people are taking the intitiative and making contact with us.

Jim looks back at the eight tabs with a hint of extra anxiety. Jeremie nudges him.

Jeremie: Well, what are you waiting for? They're dying to speak with you.

Jeremie's encouragement shakes Jim back to himself. He puts on his rather goofy leadership face.

Jim: Right….let's do this.

Several hours later, a crowd dressed completely in black gathers at a graveyard. At first glance, the gathering seems to be an ordinary grave site ceremony. But the majority of the crowd is wearing a purple Order patch on their black suits and dresses. They cluster around the coffin of Gustave Chardin in silent respect. A picture of Chardin giving a short speech in front of the theater is framed next to the coffin. The priest, who is very old and whose voice is dry and listless, fills the silence with his ending remarks.

Priest: He was a good friend, a deep thinker, and a passionate teacher. He gave his all to the art of living and encouraged his students and peers to do the same. He was a man with a lot of life left to live, and we mourn that he was taken from us in violent circumstances. Though his life on this Earth is done, his memory continues to live on in us. Today we acknowledge his loss and wish him a pleasant journey into the next life…

As the speech continues, Herb Pinchon looks up at Moriarty. Moriarty gazes at the coffin with a hint of genuine sadness. Herb looks down, but Moriarty notices his attention and speaks up.

Moriarty: His death will not be in vain. Herb turns back to Moriarty. Moriarty continues to stare, lightly clutching three roses that he is ready to lay at the grave site. Change is painful, and sometimes it is not completed without resistance. Chardin may not have lived to see it come to completion, but our dream will take place.

Herb solemnly nods.

Herb: Yes. We must continue. We owe that much to him. The look on his face becomes decidedly angry and ugly. The subversives in this country will pay for what they've done. They won't get away with this.

Moriarty looks up at the sunny sky, happily thinking over the fact that the true offenders have already paid. He lays a hand on Herb's shoulder.

Moriarty: Our enemies are becoming more numerous and diverse by the day. Success will require…a greater commitment on behalf of the members of The Order than we previously thought.

Herb: Oh, believe me Commandant-He lifts his right hand and clenches it into a fist. A dangerous passion rises to the surface of his emotions.-There is nothing I won't do for the sake of our cause…

Late that night, Odd sinks into another dream. A dim light gradually emerges from an inky blackness, revealing a poorly lit room with all the windows covered in blinds, even though there is no sunlight coming through. A single lamp flickers above a wooden desk covered with papers. A vanilla folder labeled CONFIDENTIAL rests on the side. Moriarty is hunched over the desk, hard at work. His tie and shirt are disheveled. He looks like he hasn't slept or eaten much for days. His eyes blink rapidly as he scribbles one last detail to a sheet of paper. He finishes, and the pencil drops from his hand. He lays his head on his desk.

Moriarty: Finally, done….

On cue, an agent enters the room without knocking. The shock jolts Moriarty out of his seat.

Agent: Have you finished your work?

Moriarty stacks the papers together in order and shuffles them into a neat pile.

Moriarty: Yes. It took a long time to get it right, but what I have here should be what you're looking for.

The agent picks up the stack of papers and immediately puts the stack in the vanilla folder. He then puts it in his jacket and looks down at Moriarty with his soulless sunglass gaze.

Agent: You discussed this with no one, correct?

Moriarty: Yes that's correct.

Agent: And you understand that this transaction never happened, correct?

Moriarty: Of course.

The agent looks at the papers again. He still seems hesitant.

Agent: One more thing. You didn't make any copies of your work, did you? Is this everything you worked on?

Moriarty: There won't be a trace left. All my failed rough drafts have been permanently destroyed.

Agent: Excellent. The agent opens the door. If this turns out well, we may call on you in the future.

The door shuts behind him. Moriarty waits a few minutes, organizing some other unrelated files and storing them to pass the time. He periodically glances out the glass window into the hallway. He tunes his ears for anything suspicious near his door. When he is certain that the agent is gone, he opens a cabinet drawer, revealing a copied version of his work. The scene shifts to a wintry landscape with the Alpine Mountains in the background. A single log cabin stands out amidst a cluster of trees. Smoke pours out of the chimney, a sure sign of life in the cold environment. Inside the house, three men gather in the living area, underneath a low-hanging chandelier. Waldo Schaeffer and Gaspard DePaul sit on chairs while Moriarty sits across from them on the couch. Moriarty watches as the two men go over a stack of papers with increasingly alarmed looks on their faces. Schaeffers sets his pack down. He runs his fingers through his beard.

Schaeffer: This is worse than I feared.

Gaspard shakes his head.

Gaspard: Why on Earth did you agree to do this? Did you not see that they were using your expertise for their own agenda?

Moriarty leans forward and immediately becomes defensive.

Moriarty: Of course I did! But I didn't exactly have a choice, not with those agents following me and 'checking up' on me wherever I went, even my own apartment. It didn't take me long to understand that this project was a command, not an offer. Given the circumstances, I felt it was better to go along with it in order to show you. He puts his hands together and rests his chin on them. I knew I couldn't deal with this alone.

Schaeffer: What's done is done. André did help the agency in charge of Project Carthage, but it's not too late to turn the tables on them. We need to use information like this to-

The doorbell rings. Moriarty and Gaspard leap out of their chairs, their minds suddenly on full alert. Moriarty furtively looks at the back door as a possible means of escape. But Schaeffer motions for them to calm down.

Schaeffer: Relax, I was expecting him.

Moriarty: Him? Who's him?!

Without answering Moriarty's question, Schaeffer goes to the door and opens it. A large square man with thick shoulders shuffles into the room, resulting in an unpleasant squeak on the floor. He is sandy-haired with an emerging bald spot near his forehead. He wordlessly takes off his heavy jacket and wipes the fog from his small round glasses which appear tiny in comparison to his large physique. Moriarty's initial panic subsides when he recognizes the face, but his suspicions do not entirely leave him.

Moriarty: Tyron? What….what are you doing here?!

Schaeffer: Relax André. Professor Lemaire is with us now. He disapproves of the current direction of Project Carthage and can be trusted.

Gaspard: We could have told about this in advance.

Schaeffer hangs up Lemaire's coat and continues.

Schaeffer: You two may not have worked closely with Tryon, but I did work with him towards the latter end of the project. All the while we talked about nothing but work and our desire to finish this project and move on with our lives. I doubt we can do much without at least four people. That being said, I wanted you two to personally meet him so you could come to share my trust.

Moriarty: Still, one can't be too careful. He levels a suspicious glare at Lemaire. We don't know who to trust anymore. Any one of our colleagues could be fully working for them now.

Professor Tyron Lemaire motions back to the door.

Lemaire: If this is a bad time, I could go back home. If you need time to gain my trust, I understand.

Schaeffer: No Tyron, time is a luxury we can no longer aff-

Antea: Excuse me…

The four men stop everything and turn to a woman who walks through the kitchen to greet them. Her pink hair matches perfectly with that of the small child in her arms, who sleeps soundly on her shoulder. Moriarty suddenly becomes fidgety and nervous.

Antea: I'm sorry to interrupt, but can I offer you gentlemen anything? She smiles and adjusts Aelita's position in her arms. That is, after I put this little one to bed?

Schaeffer ignores his three companions to attend to his wife and daughter. He gets on his knees and stares at Aelita, pushing a strand of the child's pink hair back into place. Aelita shifts around in her sleep.

Schaeffer: My precious little angel, you must be exhausted from playing today. He looks up at his wife. You don't let her play out in the snow for too long, do you? We can't have her getting a cold…

Antea: I try, but you know how difficult it is to keep her inside when there's any snow on the ground.

Schaeffer kisses Aelita on the forehead. He then kisses his wife, which sends a tremor of pain down Moriarty's spine. Schaeffer gently touches his daughter's forehead.

Schaeffer: Goodnight my little baby girl.

Antea turns to leave. Moriarty stammers, trying to get her attention. The words finally manage to stumble out.

Moriarty: Antea!

She turns around, looking at him with neither special affection nor any trace of ill will.

Antea: Yes?

Moriarty hesitates, feeling tongue-tied and embarrassed.

Moriarty: I…I just wanted to say that I would like some water…when you get the chance.

Gaspard: Oh, I would like some too if you don't mind.

She politely nods at the both of them.

Antea: I'll be sure to do that in just a second.

She walks down the hallway and out of sight. With her departure, some of the tension among the group has been reduced.

Lemaire: Waldo, are you sure you're comfortable with having this meeting in your own home? Don't you think this is risky? Wouldn't it be better to do it somewhere else?

Schaeffer: No. He walks back to the living area and sits back down at his chair. He motions for the others to also retake their seats. Meeting somewhere private and out of the way would draw their suspicion more than over here. They already know where I live, so there's no point in avoiding this place. Better to do it in plain sight. After all, we're just here having some drinks among friends, correct? He looks at the other three with a strong air of seriousness. That is all that happened tonight, right?

Moriarty: Yes.

Gaspard: Understood.

Lemaire: Nothing more than that.

Schaeffer looks back down at his coffee table.

Schaeffer: Good. Now let's get down to business. As you have already guessed, I have gathered us here for one sole purpose- He looks up, causing the light from the chandelier to reflect in his glasses- to orchestrate the permanent end of the corrupted Project Carthage.

The room is silent. The wind howls outside the comfort of the Swiss cottage as the temperature outside the cabin drops. The temperature inside, however, starts to climb as the four group members look at each warily. Gaspard slowly starts to speak.

Gaspard: The…the information the French agency has collected from us can only mean that they intend to use our communication interference and interception knowledge…for the sole purpose of advancing France's own agenda.

Schaeffer: Or at the least, France's underbelly. In other words, their agenda. And from the project notes we have from André, we can only assume that they not only plan to adopt our expertise, but expand it as well into an unexplored and dangerous frontier. He rests his hands on the table. We can't allow that. Europe has just now entered into an age of unlimited promise. The old divisions and hatreds of the past are finally starting to ebb. But human distrust and the desire for power is already breaking apart what we have tried so hard to achieve. If this agency is allowed to succeed, then it could tip the balance of power in Europe in France's direction in a way that can't possibly be good for the continent.

The other three silently nod their heads in agreement. Moriarty then pipes up.

Moriarty: As the world starts to move into this new, globalized age, it's clear that the agency wants to establish themselves as the overlords of a new hegemony, one that controls not geographical borders, but communications itself. They can have the world at their fingertips. And that means the entire world, not just the old Soviet bloc. Even France's longtime allies could be vicitms of their intense scrutiny.

Lemaire: Okay, so we've established that Project Carthage has to be stopped. There remains the million dollar question….He motions to the rest of the group…How can four people possibly match the resources and strength of the project? We may have brought it to fruition, but can we shut it down now that these agents are running the show?

Gaspard: Professor Lemaire, we may be few in number, but I'll have you know that the two other scientists sitting next to you are the best of the best in the project. If anyone can do it, it's them. That being said-He turns to Schaeffer with a puzzled expression.-how would we go about shutting it down? Should we use sabotage? Crash our own servers?

Schaeffer: If only it were that simple. But Project Carthage is programmed to operate outside its original servers. Even if we cut off its head, the agency could easily restore it at a different location. It was designed to survive such sabotage, in case of Soviet attacks. A failsafe that was, by the way, designed per your instructions.

Gaspard becomes slightly embarrassed at this lapse of memory.

Gaspard: Oh….right. I can't believe I forgot about that.

Schaeffer: Anyway, even if that were to work, we would be immediately apprehended by them. I want Project Carthage gone, but I'd rather not sacrifice my freedom if I can help it. We need to destroy Carthage, but at a distance where we cannot be tracked…

Lemaire ponders the idea, tapping his fingers on the coffee table.

Lemaire: Good point. But if Project Carthage isn't limited to just our servers, how are we supposed to take it down? Target individual locations and destroy it piece by piece?

Schaeffer: That would take too long, and by that time our new bosses would have taken the necessary measures to protect the remnants of the project and have captured all of us. No, it's best to do it in one piece. The longer it takes, the more danger we're in and the less likely we are to succeed.

Gaspard: A termination process that complicated would require a staging ground, a specialty network host or a highly advanced computer.

Schaeffer: Not just any computer-Behind the lenses of his glasses, the eyes of Waldo Schaeffer radiate a powerful churning of excitement and gravity- a quantum supercomputer…

The three others focus all their attention on Schaeffer, dumbfounded at what has come out of his mouth. They all sit quietly as the words 'Quantum Supercomputer' gradually sink into their minds. Antea Schaeffer comes into the living area with a tray of drinks.

Antea: Here are your-She looks at the others and quickly realizes she has come at a bad time. She swallows and sets the tray down, refusing to look any of them in the eye. Her hands shake as the tray is set down on the wood. Moriarty takes a moment to look at her face. There is a strong uneasiness to her demeanor that he didn't notice before. She coughs and excuses herself out of the room, disappearing into the dark hallway-I'm sorry to bother you.

As she leaves, Gaspard turns back to Schaeffer. He clears his throat and speaks with a somewhat strained voice.

Gaspard: A quantum…supercomputer? Waldo please…most of the processing necessary for such a creation is purely theoretical. It's ages ahead of our time!

Schaeffer remains optimistic and smug.

Schaeffer: Then we'll just have to speed up time a little bit.

Lemaire: Quantum computation is extremely difficult, even on a small scale. But at the level of a supercomputer, the chances of success are astronomically out of our favor. Are you sure that we should go to such drastic measures?

Schaeffer folds his hands together and stares silently at the floor.

Schaeffer: We have no chance of eliminating Carthage without the use of quantum mechanics. It is the only possible staging ground powerful enough to destroy it. He takes out a sheet of paper and draws a central sphere with four adjoining axis around it. The sketch looks remarkably similar to the holosphere map of Lyoko in the factory. Schaeffer points to specific areas with his pencil. Here's what I see. An enormous virtual environment operated solely by quibits of data. He writes out extremely complicated equations on several parts of the page and continues. It's properties of superposition and entanglement will be perfect for Project Carthage's destruction. Our former creation's programming is probably being reconfigured to target all communications systems, but I believe it will still be presupposed to independently and actively target former Soviet information. He adds some more equations. We simply need to cover the central sphere here with Soviet codes that we've gathered from the past. Carthage will be ensared by the central sphere's traps. Then, I simply add a form of multi-agent system, possibly an AI, to finish the job. He scribbles a little more and places his palm on the piece of paper. Any fragments of Carthage left will disperse and corrupt the rest of the program, tearing it apart no matter where it hides. He looks up at the others, his face full of confidence. And that's the way we put an end to this nightmare.

The ticking of the wall clock near the kitchen can be heard amidst the silence. Gaspard takes hold of the sheet of paper and examines it closer in the light. He doesn't blink. He pores over the paper, checking for any possible errors. When it becomes clear that his theory might work, Gaspard becomes stuck between enthusiasm and disbelief.

Gaspard: It's…He slaps his forehead and laughs. It's incredible! Schaeffer, you are not of this world! But still…the technology, the power, the resources we would need would still make this plan a practical impossibility. He looks to Moriarty. You've stayed quiet all this time, and you know this nutcase better than any of us. Can he…can he really do it?

For a moment the ticking of the clock regains its place as the only noisemaker in the room. Moriarty takes hold of the paper and brings it closer to him. He briefly looks it over and looks back at his comrades. He nods his head, showing no signs of hesitation or concern.

Moriarty: If we help him, there's no doubt in mind that he can do it.

The dream darkens for a moment. Odd is then carried into a bright light, which slowly dissipates into sunlight shining over a Swiss café. Schaeffer and Moriarty sit at a table outside next to a pristine stone avenue. As they eat, they look over another sheet of paper, showing a sphere of data representing a quibit. Moriarty takes it and shakes his head.

Moriarty: No, no no. If you do that, the whole thing will fall apart. You don't want the supercomputer to break before you even start it up, do you? He points to the paper. See, you messed up this basic equation and now the whole thing is unstable.

Schaeffer folds his arms across his chest and appears offended.

Schaeffer: How rude…I could never see myself messing up something so-He takes a closer look and stops-Oh…yes I see that now. Oops.

Moriarty rolls his eyes.

Moriarty: Oops? Oops may not work so well when we put this into practice and the rest of Europe is counting on us. The agency will not be so careless.

Schaeffer: Naturally I will check my work a lot more when we put this into practice. He takes a sip of water. As he sets the glass down, his hand holds on to it. His fingers become tense. He scratches his beard and looks up at his friend. André, I don't want to be too invasive but-

Moriarty looks out at the shops across the street. He lightly taps his fork.

Moriarty: Just go ahead and ask your question. I've known you long enough to know that you're going to ask anyway.

True to Moriarty's prediction, Schaeffer continues.

Schaeffer: It's just that, we're fighting a group of people who want France to become a superpower in Europe. You well…used to be a French nationalist. What I'm trying to say is, why are you helping us? At least from the perspective of your youth, wouldn't this be something that you wanted?

Moriarty looks back at Schaeffer. The blank face he gives his friend makes Schaeffer immediately regret asking the question. In an act of strange aggression, Moriarty picks up his knife and stabs it into his pastry. He clutches the knife tightly as his gaze becomes pained and distant.

Moriarty: At one time, maybe I would want this to happen. But even when I was at my worst, I could never see myself ever accepting these agents being the instrument of bringing about a strong France. I still want a strong France, but these men don't deserve to create it. What they want serves no one, including the people of France. France deserves a central, strong, charismatic leader, one that can bring the nation out of stagnation. He relaxes his grip on the knife. And they are not it.

Schaeffer: I'm sorry, I…should never have questioned your intentions.

Moriarty sighs and looks up again.

Moriarty: Oh forget about it it's-Behind Schaeffer, Moriarty sees something that makes him freeze. Peeking out from behind several alleyways, men in black start to encroach on them. Their approach is gradual and mostly goes unnoticed by the locals, but Moriarty is not fooled. He counts two, then three, then six agents starting to converge. His hands latch onto their table. A heavy dose of fear starts to pulsate through his veins. Waldo, we have company.

Schaeffer's face flashes with concern. He tries to turn around to see, but Moriarty grabs his arm to stop him.

Moriarty: No you idiot! If they see you they'll arrest us immediately.

Schaeffer: Do you even know if they're here to arrest us?

Moriarty: They've followed me before, but I've never seen this many at one time….It can't be a good sign.

Moriarty and Schaeffer keep their eyes on their plates, feeling the grip of the agents tighten around them. Cold sweat drips down Moriarty's forehead while Schaeffer remains locked in shock.

Moriarty: They…they know. I don't know how but they know.

Schaeffer: We…we need to split up. Let's go separate ways. Our chances are better that way.

Without so much as a 'goodbye' or 'good luck', Moriarty and Schaeffer leave the table. Schaeffer disappears from Moriarty's sight. Moriarty walks along the sidewalk, glancing behind him. Sure enough, three of the agents break off and start to follow him. Moriarty's throat becomes dry. His legs become wobbly as he continues to walk by carefree townsfolk, oblivious of the danger that is stalking him. He looks back around. The agents are walking faster and are getting closer. Moriarty picks up the pace, and the agents follow suit. Moriarty begins taking deep calming breaths as he feels his throat tighten. The footsteps of the agents behind him grow closer and louder until they match the intensity of his panicked heart. The two beats, the one coming from his heart and the other from their black boots, build into a hideous cacophony until it is the only thing Moriarty can hear. The torture of the noise builds until it surpasses Moriarty's breaking point. In one chaotic motion, Moriarty begins to run. While the agents give chase, Moriarty's muscle memories of running drills from his days in the French army kick in, giving him a much needed boost. He turns into an alleyway and takes several turns that confuse the agents. He moves into a narrow passage and finally stops to catch his breath. But his moment of relaxation does not last long. He hears the voices of the agents in the area, still searching for him. In the midst of his crisis, he notices that a homeless man is resting on the wall in front of him. He is clothed in a ratty but thick brown coat. Though he is very ragged and disheveled, he does bear a striking resemblance to Moriarty. The man stirs awake and looks at Moriarty, holding out his hand.

Homeless Man: Hey, could you spare some change?

A lightbulb suddenly goes off in Moriarty's head. He takes off his white coat.

Moriarty: How about I improve the deal? I'll give you all the money in my pocket if you switch coats with me.

The agents search the area. One of them catches sight of a man passing through in a white coat. He immediately moves into action and subdues the man. The other agents notices his success and go to him for backup.

Agent: By the order of the French government, you are under-He stops when he gets a closer look at his prisoner. The man in his custody is confused, terrified, and smells like he hasn't had a shower in a week. The agent growls with rage.-You're not…where is he?!

Homeless Man: A m-m-man gave me money to switch coats with him. I don't know where he went!

The agent pushes the man onto the ground and lets him scurry away. He turns to his comrades.

Agent: Keep looking! We can't loose him!

While the agents search, Moriarty slips back into the town, using the coat to cover his face and make his escape. An hour later, Moriarty makes his way back to the Carthage facility. It is completely empty and dark. Normally Moriarty would find this strange, but his mind is too concerned with his safety to care. He makes his way through the halls, his mind swimming with paranoia. Every shadow, every noise is seen as the approach of the men in black. Moriarty keeps frantically looking over his shoulder. After what seems like an eternity, Moriarty sees a single light emanating from Gaspard's office. Moriarty throws open the door without a second thought. He starts talking between deep breaths.

Moriarty: Gaspard, we are in danger! The agents know about us, we need to hide!

Gaspard sits at his desk with the back of his chair facing Moriarty. His eyes remained locked on his bookshelf, his eyes glancing from title to title. Gaspard sighs.

Gaspard: I never got to read all of these…how tragic.

Moriarty stares at Gaspard in shock, not understanding why his friend remains calm and composed. Following a several second pause, Gaspard finally replies to Moriarty.

Gaspard: I know André. We've been found out. It's over.

As Moriarty's confusion increases, so too does his heartrate.

Moriarty: H-How…?

Gaspard turns his chair around. There is a look of despair on his face that expresses utter defeat. It instantly makes Moriarty's heart sink.

Gaspard: Professor Tyron was working with them the entire time. He betrayed us. They know everything. And we….are finished.

Gaspard's news hits Moriarty so hard that he finds himself unable to stand. He manages to grab one of the chairs in the office and sink down into it. His mouth becomes dry as he tries to force words out.

Moriarty: Schaeffer…he…he trusted him.

Gaspard: His trust doomed us all.

Moriarty tightly grips his knee caps. The rest of his body continues to shake in fear. His forehead is damp with sweat.

Moriarty: We're…going to spend the rest of our lives rotting in a cell, aren't we?

Gaspard doesn't say anything for a while.

Gaspard: No. Moriarty looks up with surprise. I've made a deal with them. I won't have to go to prison…or worse.

Moriarty: But how?

Gaspard doesn't answer. He looks out the window, where sunlight streams through the blinds. Gaspard gets up and looks through the blinds.

Gaspard: Just look at that. The Swiss countryside looks so beautiful this time of year. He closes his eyes. I'm glad I was able to see this.

Moriarty: Gaspard, you're not making any sense…what deal are you talking about?

Gaspard sits down. In an instant, Moriarty sees his composure start to break down. The muscles in his face tighten and he digs his fingernails into his desk so hard that it leaves a mark. A combination of fear and a desperate madness take shape on Gaspard's face. Tears come out of his eyes and his facial expression becomes more and more crazed and distraught. The sight makes Moriarty back up in his chair. Gaspard's hands shake.

Gaspard: I had to…protect my family at all costs. They could not suffer for my…my mistakes. The tears begin to come down his cheeks. So I made a deal. First…He points to the dark hallway. I sent everyone home early for the day.

Moriarty: W-What else did you agree to?

Gaspard's shaking hand reaches into a drawer. He pulls out something black and metal. The breath is taken out of Moriarty's lungs as he recognizes the cold shape of a pistol. Moriarty begins to connect the dots and suddenly becomes terrified of the possibilities of Gaspard's deal. He falls to the ground and starts to crawl away from the desk, frightened for his life as Gaspard looks at him with the pistol in his hand.

Moriarty: Gaspard…wait. We're colleagues…friends! You…you can't..d-d-d…DON'T SHOOT!

Gaspard loads the pistol without any emotion on his face. Moriarty looks at the door, wondering if he can escape in time. He realizes that he would never make it. His heart pounds almost out of his chest cavity as he feels the jaws of death close in. Gaspard taps the gun on the desk. He looks at Moriarty with profound pity.

Gaspard: André, you misunderstand. I didn't agree to kill you.

Moriarty: Then what-Moriarty's mouth drops when Gaspard points the gun at his own temple. His eyes lock onto the shocking sight without blinking- No…

Gaspard: As I said…Gaspard's hand trembles and he starts to choke up. He cries some more…I had to do what was necessary to keep my family out of it. He forces a dreadful smile that signals to Moriarty that he has decided to do the unthinkable. After all, a suicide from work stress is much more explainable then disappearing without a trace.

Moriarty: You…you can't…

Gaspard cocks the pistol. The trembling in his hand begins to stop.

Gaspard: André, I just wanted to let you know…even though it has come to this, I don't regret the day I came to see you and Schaeffer in your crappy apartment. I'm happy that we were able to work together. His face suddenly becomes unusually calm. If you and Waldo are able to get out of this, continue your work. Our mission can't end with me. His finger edges toward the trigger. Moriarty is still frozen, completely unable to say or do anything to stop him. Oh and one more thing. I don't think they offered the same deal to Schaeffer. I know they're going after his family next. Maybe if you hurry, you'll be able to save them. His index finger makes contact with the trigger. He smiles at Moriarty. Goodbye…my old friend.

A gunshot rings out in the small office. Several birds near the window scatter at the noise. Blood sprays onto the floor and begins to flow in tiny rivers. Gaspard slumps in his chair and the gun falls to the ground. Moriarty doesn't dare look at the sight. He continues to lay there, the shot still ringing in his ears. The horror that has just unfolded keeps him locked in place, and nothing seems to be able to get him to move. But Gaspard's final warning suddenly kicks in. A new fear takes hold of him and forces him to his feet. He bolts out of the hallway, sprinting through the halls as fast as his legs will carry him. All the while, one name occupies the entirety of his thoughts. He repeats the name over and over as he sprints out of the facility.

Moriarty: Antea…Antea!...ANTEA!

Moriarty takes a cab to the mountainside cabin. He hands the driver a large wad of money and runs out of the cab. He trudges through the snow in shoes that are not meant for this kind of weather. He sees the cabin up ahead, and for a moment, he hopes for the best.

Moriarty: Yes….YES! I made it in time! I made it in-

Moriarty stops. To his right, several meters ahead, he sees Schaeffer up ahead on his knees in the snow. He holds onto a little girl that cries into his arms. Moriarty recognizes the girl as Schaeffer's daughter. The little Aelita sobs in her daddy's arms.

Aelita: Mommy….mommy….THEY TOOK MOMMY! BAD MEN TOOK MOMMY, DADDY!

Schaeffer holds Aelita tighter. Tears come down his eyes.

Schaeffer: Yes baby…I know….I know.

Moriarty sees that behind the two, tire tracks lead off into the woods and disappear. Moriarty comes to the terrible conclusion he has dreaded all this time. His body becomes numb. His hands fall to his sides and hang there. The silence and peace of the light snowfall become oppressive to him, capturing in his mind the cruel vacuum that has been left by her capture. He holds his hand out, imagining the feeling of her pink hair in his fingers. He wants nothing more than to touch and see it….one last time. But he knows that it will not happen. Moriarty falls to his knees. The tragedy facing him builds up into one single emotion: Rage. At that critical moment, something within him snaps. Thoughts and feelings become swamped underneath a single flood of anger. His old happy memories with her are ruined as the pain and fury at his own helplessness boils to the breaking point. Moriarty balls his fists and then shouts into the air so loudly that it can be heard across the entire snowy valley. He then does it again, and again, and again until he becomes exhausted. He then lies back in the snow. He lies there for a long time, watching the snow come down. He stays there until Schaeffer walks up and looks down at him. Moriarty refuses to look at him. But he does speak.

Moriarty: Where's your daughter?

Schaeffer: I put her inside. She's….inconsolable.

Silence.

Moriarty: We're wanted men. We'll have to start over. Begin all over again.

Schaeffer: Yes. He looks away. I thought you might want to know, I still want to continue with our project. I understand if you don't-

Moriarty: No. Moriarty stands up. He looks Schaeffer in the eye. I refuse to suffer for nothing. I can't let them get away with this. They have to pay. I will work with you. But just so we're clear. Moriarty, in a fit of anger, punches Schaeffer in the stomach. He doubles over, and nearly falls onto the snow. Moriarty stares Schaeffer down with a vindictive look of judgment. I will never forgive you or trust you, ever again…

Schaeffer's face becomes clouded with despair.

Schaeffer: Fair enough.

The scene shifts. Moriarty and Schaeffer stand at a bridge crossing over the Seine River. They carry briefcases of their work in their arms. The sun shines on them. Schaeffer uses his hand to keep the sun out of his eyes. He takes in his surroundings with satisfaction.

Schaeffer: Yes. This is the place.

Moriarty walks up behind him. He takes a moment to look over the recently abandoned car factory in front of them.

Moriarty: Yes, this will do.

Odd's dream ends. He sits up in bed, startling Kiwi in the process. He reaches for his cellphone and dials Aelita. The phone rings unanswered three times, and then is finally answered. Aelita doesn't sound too pleased.

Aelita: Odd, do you have any idea what time it is?

Odd: I know. But I swore I would never keep secrets from you again. I thought you might want an update, while it is still fresh in my mind.

Aelita's line is silent for a moment. Then she speaks up again.

Aelita: Ok…I'm listening.