Although virtuality had its advantages, it couldn't neutralize the mental fatigue that weakened the body and clouded the mind - something he quickly remembered when his legs buckled under his own weight during the landing on the Carthage arena.
A few colorful curses pressed against his lips, but he managed to maintain a neutral expression and quickly straightened up, ignoring the blurry vision. He glanced discreetly at Ulrich, who seemed not to notice his slight stumble; or at least pretended not to, suddenly intensely interested in the white circle at his feet.
In his mind's eye, he already saw what would happen after they returned to Kadic. Until then, Stern would act as if nothing had happened, but when they were alone, he would start asking questions. What happened in the hermitage? Where was he all night? Why didn't he answer the phone? If Odd didn't respond quickly and credibly, Stern would start analyzing, paying attention, and bothering.
Ulrich never pushed when he didn't want to talk. The problem was, he didn't have to. Instead, he would observe, connect all the fragmented information shared by Della Robbia in moments of inattention, until he pieced it all together. And damn, he was really good at it, and that's all he currently lacked in life - being cautious of his own roommate.
- Jeremy? Did Yumi mention when she'll be here? - William spoke first, breaking the awkward (at least for some) silence.
- She said about half an hour.
- Does that mean we're going first? - Odd asked, snapping out of his thoughts and glancing towards Alex.
She stood against the wall nearby, arms crossed, and gaze fixed on the floor. She must have been aware that he was looking at her, yet she stubbornly didn't react. It took him a short moment to figure out why. After all, it was her first mission with the full group; she probably felt damn uncomfortable, and he didn't like seeing her like that. He preferred when she looked him straight in the eyes, with her head held high and a confident smile, as she should.
- Very funny, Odd. We're running late anyway. - heard Jeremy's response and looked at Ulrich, nodding his head for them to move ahead. Fortunately, the guy quickly caught on, so a moment later, the trio was heading towards the corridor entrance, while he approached Meyer.
- So, a romantic cruise? - he asked, placing one hand on his hip and the other leaning against the wall next to her head.
He could swear that just talking to her improved his mood.
- Actually, I was hoping the swimming part was a metaphor. - she muttered, and her gaze almost immediately darted in the direction the warriors had gone. Partly to check if they had moved far away, partly to avoid the sharp look of the boy.
Even before virtualization, she was told that Skid was something like a boat that allowed them to travel to other sectors not part of their supercomputer. Jeremy was ready to explain everything if she had questions, but the whole concept of navigating the internet sounded abstract enough for her to consider it a joke and not want to delve any further.
She had to admit it wasn't wise on her part. She should have known that someone like Jeremy wasn't joking when it came to matters related to Lyoko.
- Unfortunately, sunshine. - he replied, clearly amused. - I meant it; we'll be sailing.
- Well then, maybe we'll wait here? I could practice or something. - she suggested, though without much conviction. If Einstein was sending everyone, it certainly wasn't for them to admire the views.
- As if you need to. - he rolled his eyes. And then, as if reading her mind, he added; - There are fewer monsters in the digital sea than in the sectors.
- So, there are still some?
- Yes, but even if we encounter anything, you won't have to fight. Of course, unless you're tempted. - he tilted his head and raised a corner of his mouth. - I could cover you if you ask nicely.
- Fuck off. - she hissed, terrified that the boy would try to persuade her, as he was accustomed to doing.
He just chuckled.
- Alright, but you're coming with me. It's one of the few interesting things I really want to show you. - he confessed, and she didn't know how much of it was true.
Whether he genuinely wanted her to see the digital sea or if it was just an excuse not to talk to Aelita; probably both. On the other hand, he never asked her to follow him to Carthage; she chose that option herself, and it was too late to back out now.
- Alright, I'll think about it.
- I hope so. - he murmured, then leaned over her, whispering. - Because, you know, cats and their dislike for water is a myth, right?
- Not entirely. JJ hates water.
- Looks like it. - he observed with satisfaction as the corners of her mouth trembled. - But if JJ had the chance to sail on Skid, he would.
- Where did you get that idea?
- Because the digital sea is beautiful? - the certainty in his voice, combined with his wide movie-star smile, made her inclined to believe every word he said. - Almost as beautiful as you in that lipstick. - he added, making that silly face where he furrowed his brows and pouted his lips. She laughed, pushing him away.
- Okay! Okay, I agree, just stop! - she snorted, and her feet dragged after him faster than her mind could process it.
This sector stood out the most from all she had seen so far. It wasn't an open space imitating a specific biome of the real world, but a vast construction of blocks and walls forming a maze of blue corridors. During their march, she could see her distorted reflection on the floor, while their footsteps echoed in the space, giving the impression as if they were walking on glass plates. She had to admit, it was impressive.
They walked at the back, while William and Ulrich were a few meters ahead of them, just behind Aelita. Dunbar was the only one who kept talking; incessantly, causing Odd a headache. The rest of the warriors remained rather quiet, except for Stern, who took it upon himself to keep the conversation going with the boy.
Meyer noticed that Ulrich occasionally glanced towards Della Robbia. He seemed like he wanted to say something, but as soon as their gazes crossed, he quickly turned his head away. Odd, however, seemed indifferent to it all. He was undoubtedly aware of all these surreptitious glances but chose to consciously ignore them.
He deliberately made eye contact only with her. He didn't force her into a conversation, but he also didn't shy away from her when she showed no interest. She assumed it had something to do with Aelita's silence and Ulrich's strange behavior, but regardless of the reason, she was grateful that he didn't leave her alone.
Moreover, she was gradually starting to relax, not noticing the amused look of the boy following the swaying of her tail back and forth. He himself needed to spend a lot of time in Lyoko to be aware of this additional part of his body. Similarly, it was with ears, and he was absolutely happy to bid farewell to the latter.
In her case, he found it quite cute.
- By the way, Jeremy? I didn't know a supercomputer could spit out two identical avatars? - William remarked, suddenly turning around and throwing a gaze from top to bottom, especially at the girl. Odd would lie if he said he didn't feel a twinge of irritation at that.
- Why wouldn't it? - said Jeremy, with a clear tone of weariness in his voice. The virtual appearance of his friends was the last thing he wanted to deal with right now. - Avatar matching depends on the person. If Alex and Odd's abilities fall within the range that the supercomputer assigns to such a form, there's no reason-
- Did virtualization finally damage your brain? - Della Robbia cut in, impatient with Einstein's muttering. - We're not identical.
- Please. She looks like you in negative. - he snorted, and even Stones looked their way to assess how much truth was in that. - Well, unless we're talking about who has bigger claws?
- Wanna find out?
In response, the warrior smirked maliciously before wordlessly turning his back on them.
- We've been here for two minutes, and you're already making catastrophy, William? - Stern commented, to which Della Robbia grimaced and looked disgustedly at his roommate, while Alex lifted the corners of her mouth, more out of politeness than anything else.
But she didn't look like she was about to burst out of her skin - and that was something.
- I'm not doing anything!
They finally reached the hangar, and before her eyes appeared the purpose of their short journey, causing a familiar tension in her body. She thought that after experiencing the ride on that dreadful elevator a moment ago, nothing in Lyoko would be able to scare her anymore, but apparently, she was wrong.
Very wrong.
- It's a submarine. - she murmured, scanning the capsules attached to the main axis of the machine. The ship was large, everything was truly impressive, but it wasn't what she expected to see.
- So what? - Dunbar said before stepping onto one of the circles on the floor. She guessed they were somehow connected to the Skidbladnir, as the others followed his lead.
- I thought that everything that enters the digital sea gets destroyed...? - her inquisitive gaze met the golden eyes of Della Robbia, who shrugged.
- Not our Skid. This machine has survived quite a lot.
- True. - added Ulrich, glancing at her over his shoulder. - Maybe you'll have a chance to figure out how torpedoes work.
- Don't even say that. - Jeremy immediately scolded him, causing him to flinch. - I don't want to hear about Xana today. I remind you that you have to get to the core, and I need to finish fixing the program. If Xana finds out about us, you have no idea...
Meyer swallowed, letting the rest of Belpois's words go in one ear and out the other. Overwhelmed, she stared at the virtual boat until she noticed Odd's hand reaching out to her.
- Ladies first? - he muttered quietly enough not to interrupt Einstein's tirade.
Normally, she would start teasing him, but this time she felt too awkward, especially since his friends kept staring at her. However, Della Robbia seemed unfazed by it, continuing to look at her with eyes brighter than the stars themselves.
She wanted to say no. In fact, she had planned to say no and back out of it; she had a bad feeling. But he always gave her that proud look when, despite doubts, she decided to try new things with him.
How could she refuse him?
She took a deep breath before taking his hand and approaching the last available spot. Nothing in her facial expression betrayed that something was wrong.
But the truth was that she was absolutely terrified at the prospect of diving, and too proud to voice her fears out loud. Especially to Odd, who not long ago confessed to her that he was terrified of swimming. And it was this man who seemed the most relaxed of them all, so she really had nothing to worry about, right?
She could swear it got colder when the bright orange sky was quickly replaced by dark blue. She felt her stomach drop somewhere around her ankles as she swept her surroundings with her gaze. Her heart began to pound in her chest, and it didn't slow down even after a few minutes. They were in the digital sea, surrounded by a space where one mistake could cost them their lives, with only a thin layer of glass separating them from eternal disintegration.
Was there pressure here? Would it destroy their boat if, for some reason, they had to dive deeper? Were the monsters larger than the ones she had seen so far on land? Just the thought of a giant virtual shark or another fish with big teeth made her feel nauseous. She didn't even know how to control this thing; she wouldn't be able to defend herself, and-
Could she teleport outside the capsule?
As soon as she thought about the latter, she clenched her teeth and immediately closed her eyes. As quietly as she could, she took a few deep breaths, hoping to focus on William and Ulrich's conversation. However, each word seemed to blend together, creating meaningless gibberish. The chaos in her mind grew, intensifying the buzzing in her ears and the trembling of her limbs.
Stop, Alex. You literally survived a fucking nightmare, and you're afraid of this?, she scolded herself, trying to pull herself together.
Technically, she knew her fears were justified - however, the digital sea was nothing compared to Charlie's possession or the specters' attack. Besides, she was here for Odd, right? They were supposed to steal data crucial to his life, believing Jeremy's words. At best, she was here to help, not hinder the mission; she had to get a grip on herself.
Eventually, over time and with more rational thoughts, her breath began to slow down slightly, and her claws stopped gripping the seat tightly. At some point, she even dared to open her eyes, but quickly shut them when it turned out their boat was hanging over some giant, red wire, ready to dive into it.
She promised herself she would never listen to Della Robbia again.
After being spit out on the other side of the node, they spent the next few (or maybe a dozen?) minutes in silence. This allowed Meyer to calm her nerves, and the longer she stared at the ceiling, the less she thought about the annoying bodily urge to teleport somewhere; anywhere, even for a moment. Several times, she even scanned the surroundings, although she couldn't look at it for more than a few seconds. Still, she was genuinely proud of herself.
- Okay, what's going on? - William suddenly spoke up, and her pulse quickened again at the thought that these words were directed at her. - You're all unusually quiet today. - he added, and Alex breathed a sigh of relief, Ulrich held his breath, and Odd clenched his jaw.
Aelita, in turn, sighed, loud and clear.
- Nothing's happening.
- Yeah, clearly. Since we got here, you're constantly-
- I think you shouldn't give a damn, William. - Della Robbia interrupted him, and the tone of his voice clearly suggested there was no room for discussion.
There was only one way to divert William Dunbar's attention, and it certainly wasn't having a conversation about nothing, as Ulrich attempted, or a gentle refusal to testify, which was typical for Aelita. No, Odd preferred less subtle means, such as swearing and a bit of blackmail if the guy was clever enough to put two and two together.
- Ignore him, William. - Stones intervened before he could even respond. - Odd's just doing his thing, as usual.
- And what was that supposed to mean?
- Well, I don't know. - she said with clear sarcasm in her voice. - Maybe that we're on a mission to save your life, and we're all sacrificing our time to help you, and you couldn't even come on time?
Meyer furrowed her brows, just like Dunbar, who suddenly regretted the moment he opened his mouth. Ulrich, on the other hand, sank deeper into his seat, and Jeremy hid his face in his hands, struggling to suppress a desperate groan.
Here it goes.
- Please, can you-
- That Yumi also plans to be late doesn't bother you as much as fifteen minutes from me? - Odd noticed, completely ignoring Einstein. A few seconds ago, he was ready to drop the topic, but if Aelita wanted to openly attack him, he wasn't going to sit quietly.
- Yumi is working. - she hissed. - She's not partying the night before the mission.
He rolled his eyes. So, he even told them about it? That he wasn't in the room last night? Damn Ulrich...
Or rather, damn everyone.
- Since when do you care about what I do in my free time? - he mocked, and his voice was as cold as ice.
- I don't care what you do in your free time, Odd. I care about the results. First, you disappear without a word, don't respond to messages, and when you finally bother to show up at the factory, you look like a walking zombie. And I'm supposed to believe you weren't anywhere?
He didn't know whether he was more annoyed by the girl's prying or perhaps the suggestion that he was capable of something like that after everything that happened yesterday. Or maybe the fact that Stern didn't correct them in his name? Or maybe a bit of everything.
- I don't give a fuck about what you believe. - he snorted. - If you were in such a hurry, you could have gone without me.
- You know very well that we couldn't sail in a group of three because it's too dangerous! - she replied, adding an equally mocking tone. - Just like going to Lyoko hungover.
- I didn't drink anything!
- I confirm that. - Dunbar announced, to the surprise of both. - He was definitely sober.
- But apparently not sober-minded, as it shows at every step! - she said, and it was an obvious allusion that sent shivers down Odd's spine.
Why was it Stones trying to turn the situation to her advantage in this way? After all, it wasn't him who cared about keeping things quiet. And that malicious voice in his head was shouting that he should prove it, revealing the true reason behind their argument.
And he probably would have done that if it weren't for the fact that she was right.
- It's not my fault! - he finally spat out, grinding his teeth. - I didn't ask for the codes!
- And that's exactly why we're trying to help you, so stop making it difficult for us! Is the absolute minimum of responsibility really that hard for you, especially when it comes to your life?
- You stop it, Aelita! We all know we're mainly going there for information, and the program is just a bonus. So cut this bullshit like this mission is all about me! - bitter words flowed from his mouth faster than they formed sense in his head. Perhaps because he didn't have to look her straight in the face, or maybe he was so tired that he no longer paid attention to what he was babbling about. It was hard to say, he didn't want to think about it now.
Jeremy's eyes widened slightly in response to his words, and his fingers hovered over the keys, suddenly forgetting what he had just typed. William whistled softly, and Ulrich and Alex grimaced, shocked by the sharp tone of the boy and the long silence from Aelita. Now Meyer understood how Odd must have felt listening to their argument with Charles.
- If you really think so, then you're a complete idiot. - Stones finally said, and she didn't seem angry. She sounded rather disappointed, and Della Robbia must have picked up on that because he spoke the next words much calmer but just as firmly;
- So i am.
When they were finally released from the floating prison, also known as Skidbladnir, Aelita and Odd glanced at each other only once before silently going in opposite directions. The remaining trio stood on the edge of the platform, not entirely sure how to behave in this situation. None of them spoke, waiting for further instructions from Jeremy.
Several long, awkward moments passed, and during that time, Odd only turned his head once to make eye contact with Ulrich, confirming his belief in how much he messed up. Now he was in for a lecture of the century, and probably a truly exhausting monologue from Yumi. Unlike Aelita, Ishiyama was not inclined to resolve conflicts quickly and amicably. She would not let him out of her sight after the mission so easily if he didn't fix it now.
He was so angry for letting himself be provoked.
He regretted it almost immediately when, after his last words, even Dunbar stopped talking. The atmosphere was unbearable, and yet he could have easily avoided an argument with Aelita, taking advantage of the presence of the unaware Alex and William. If he had played it well, he could have come to her later and explained everything privately. Then he wouldn't have to put on the theater that he anticipated, kneeling before the warriors and begging for forgiveness individually.
Everything would have gone smoothly if only he knew how to shut the fuck up.
- I'm sending Yumi to you. - Jeremy's voice snapped him out of his momentary trance, and he sighed as he looked around for Meyer, who apparently considered eye contact a silent consent to approach him.
He was so embarrassed by the awareness that she had to listen to their earlier argument that when she stood next to him, he couldn't utter a word. So they stood side by side, staring at the materializing silhouette of Ishiyama nearby, while the boy struggled to figure out how to start the conversation.
- And... how was the journey? - he asked before biting his tongue. You're great, Odd, really.
- Honestly? The digital sea sucks, and Skid even more.
He looked at her, raising an eyebrow.
- Seriously! - she retorted. - It's dark everywhere, and everything looks the same. Plus, it's uncomfortable as hell. You can't straighten up; you just float for eternity, bent like an idiot. Maybe if those miniskids weren't so microscopic-
- You're a miniskid yourself. - he snorted, amused. - It's navskids.
- Detail.
- Besides, how can someone your height complain about their size? Do you have claustrophobia or something? - he teased, but he sobered up a bit when he noticed she hesitated. - Wait, seriously?
- I... no. More like paranoia. - she sighed, somewhat embarrassed. - I was afraid I might teleport accidentally... or something like that.
- Why didn't you say so? - he asked, and she glanced at him from under her eyelashes. - Damn, yeah, stupid question. - he muttered, hiding his face in his hands, absolutely devastated by how much he couldn't think today.
The situation wasn't improved by the fact that even though he couldn't see it, he could feel Yumi's warning gaze on him. He knew that from this distance she couldn't know what they were talking about. Still, she seemed to act differently, making him stress more than the situation was worth.
He wasn't afraid of his own mother as much as he was sometimes afraid of Yumi.
- That's not what I meant. - he heard Meyer's words and looked at her, dropping his hands.
- So what?
- I decided to handle it on my own. And I did, because I'm awesome. - she explained, smiling conceitedly. Then, in a fraction of a second, she became more serious, shooting him a sharp look. - And I fucking swear. I'll never let you talk me into something like that again.
He couldn't help but chuckle when she uttered those words, noticing the shape materializing behind her.
- So, you won't ride with me in the Megapod?
- Mega-what?
She looked in the direction he was staring, and her eyes caught sight of a vehicle that looked like a large yellow ball on four wheels. She stood close enough to see that it exactly met all the requirements on her 'Absolutely Do Not Approach' list. Namely, it had no openings; no doors, no windows that would allow her a view of the outside world and, consequently, teleportation in case of danger. It also looked fast and damn dangerous, especially in the hands of someone who loved risk.
In the hands of someone like...
- And I suppose you're driving? - she asked, although she knew the answer perfectly well.
- Of course? I'm an excellent driver. If you let me, I'll-
She raised a finger, placing it on his lips and silencing him mid-sentence.
- Absolutely not, Della Robbia.
- Are you going, or are you going to keep flirting there?! - William yelled at them, and only then did the girl realize that the others were clearly waiting for them. Due to how quietly they behaved, she momentarily forgot they were even there.
They were, observing.
- This time I won't persuade you; there are only four seats. - Odd declared, once again drawing her attention to himself. - See you at the core?
She blinked, disoriented.
- And you?
- I'm driving, forgot? - he shrugged and lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, staring intensely at her. - None of them can drive well.
She looked at him. Then at the vehicle, and then back at the boy, nodding. The blond, in turn, rewarded her with a grateful smile before passing by her and shouting:
- Get away from the wheel, Dunbar!
William raised his hands and stepped back from the vehicle, but his foolish grin quickly faded when he noticed that Alex wasn't following Odd. She, too, was staring at him in surprise. And when they realized they were doomed to each other, both of them simultaneously grimaced in disbelief and disgust.
She watched as the four of them were teleported inside the Megapod, following it with her eyes until it disappeared into one of the corridors of the sector. Then she shifted her gaze to Dunbar, who summoned a large sword from somewhere, only to drive it into the ground, lean against it, and stare at her ostentatiously. Not that she cared; after what she had experienced in the last twenty minutes, she completely depleted her stress and embarrassment limit.
– Up for a little race, Catwoman? - he proposed, to which she rolled her eyes.
- Whatever you say, Kevin Levin.