When she reached the main room, Aelita was already with Jeremy. They were both chattering about the system in the Cortex, and although Alex wasn't particularly listening, the smiles on their faces indicated a huge success, and that was all she needed to know.
Odd followed right behind her, radiating satisfaction, but for a completely different reason. In the elevator, he boasted to her that it was he who convinced Einstein to dematerialize them, while the others were forced to land in scanners after encountering the opponent's blades. He believed that the two of them deserved much better treatment, so when Jeremy ordered them to join William on the bridge and get devirtualized, he firmly refused. He argued that they had done too much good for this mission to end like this, and because Belpois was in a good mood (and owed him a little favor), he let it slide. When she asked how big the difference was between dematerialization and devirtualization, Odd smirked cruelly, assuring her that William would definitely feel it.
Nevertheless, at this moment, the Ninjas were probably celebrating victory, unaware of their defeat; and that in itself was incredibly satisfying. Maybe not more so than the psychological torment session with Dunbar, but close.
- I wish for some coffee. - Della Robbia murmured, automatically taking a seat next to her. He leaned his head against the wall, closing his eyes, a dreamy smile spreading across his face.
After a few hours in Lyoko, his brain was awake enough to function fairly well if not for his numb limbs and dull headache. But a large latte with cherry syrup would certainly help solve that minor issue.
- That sounds like a plan, we can go there. - she returned the smile, though hers was decidedly more excited. - Especially since someone here has a free one…
He glanced at her, but the corners of his mouth quickly dropped downwards.
- I can't, I have plans. - he groaned as if the weight of the world had just crashed down on him. - And then I have to do an assignment for that witch, Hertz.
She fluttered her eyelashes, immediately capturing his attention. He wondered if she knew how much he liked it when she did that.
- Is that the one we were supposed to return two weeks ago?
- ...Maybe.
- The one about intracellular transports? - she inquired. When he nodded, she widened her eyes. - I reminded you of it! Three times!
- It slipped my mind! Happens to everyone.
- Do you realize all you had to do was fill in the text?
- Yeah, and Hertz will fill my place if I don't hand it over to her. - he lamented, and upon noticing her expression, he groaned once more. - You won't abandon me like this, will you? You know I'm so bad at it.
- But you're the best at unnecessarily making problems for yourself. - she stated, but her tone wasn't as sharp and firm as she intended. - I can send you the notes, how about that?
- Nuh-uh, I'd rather do it with you. I'll drop by around...- he glanced at his phone, ignoring her discontented grimace. - Five. Does that work for you?
He gave her that pleading look, and she rolled her eyes, fully aware of where this was headed.
- One last time. - she narrowed her eyes, and he lifted the corners of his mouth. They both knew it was a lie.
The problem with Della Robbia was that bending people to his will came too easily to him, and Alex was no exception. So at best, she'd end up dictating answers to him, and at worst, in a fit of frustration, she'd fill out the paper herself, as usual. Hertz herself once told her that soon Meyer would master Odd's handwriting to perfection.
- Well, look who's prowling. - she heard Stern's voice and almost jumped in fright, which Odd greeted with a quiet laugh.
He must have hypnotized her, otherwise she couldn't explain how the hell she didn't hear that damn elevator.
- Oh, for fuck's sake. - Dunbar's sharp voice reached their ears right after. - If they start licking each other, I'll puke.
- You? - Meyer scoffed, squinting at him. - Our fan number one?
- I could do a live performance for that one. - Odd added immediately, then quickly leaned in and licked her cheek.
He did it so unexpectedly that she couldn't stop laughing as she pushed him away, using her free hand to wipe her face. She complained about how stupid he was, to which he replied that it was ultimately William's idea. Meanwhile, Dunbar was going through the five stages of grief, glancing between them and Ulrich, who merely shrugged. And when he declared he had had enough, without a word, he turned around and approached Jeremy, escorted by Della Robbia's malicious chuckle.
A moment later, it was Odd who rebounded from the wall and sat down at the holomap, pulling her hand to do the same. And when Stern followed in their footsteps, it was only then that Alex noticed Ishiyama, and to say she felt awkward was an understatement.
She stood there, staring at her with those dark eyes, hands in the pockets of her jacket, with an unreadable expression. She was one of two people openly hostile towards her, but unlike Dunbar, she had something that intimidated her. She seemed authoritative, and just her gaze made Alex want to get out of her way.
- So... any good news? - Ulrich asked, unwittingly rescuing Meyer from embarrassment as Yumi finally shifted her attention to Aelita.
- Well, actually, yes. - Stones admitted, sounding quite pleased with herself. - Our old gadget worked, there was no alarm. It means the system hasn't changed.
- Then why the upgrades, like the scan?
- Probably additional security. - Jeremy replied. - Remember when Tyron stabilized the Cortex, and we still managed to get into the heart of it? He didn't know how back then, and the scan is a good way to answer that.
- That's why we were lucky to have Alex with us today. - Aelita lifted her head, smiling at Meyer, who, though returned the gesture, involuntarily avoided her gaze. She wasn't used to spending so much time with all of them, especially when they were being so nice.
- Yeah, about that. How did you guys outsmart the ninjas, exactly? - Ulrich asked, making her even more flustered. She thought they'd ask William about such matters and ignore her, as usual.
Her eyes involuntarily darted towards Odd, hoping for rescue. Instead, he raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms, indicating to her that he was just as curious about the answer as his roommate.
Fucking Della Robbia.
- That mechanism is very fast. All we had to do was get one of them into its range, then teleport Aelita, nothing special. - she explained and quickly shifted her gaze to Stones before Stern could ask anything else. - Did you find everything you needed?
- I certainly took everything I could. Now Jeremy has to go through it. - she replied politely, though there was a hint of tiredness in her tone. Indeed, she wasn't the only one; they were all exhausted, even though it was only mid-afternoon.
- Finding what we need shouldn't take long. - Einstein announced, then added, but with much less enthusiasm; - But writing the program will.
- How much?
- I don't know, Yumi. Right now, I'm counting on whatever Aelita gathered for me to be somewhat useful.
- Ah, so we were trying in vain? - Odd remarked sarcastically. - What a surprise.
- I didn't say that. I might be able to cobble something together from this data, but there's always a chance it might not work. - he explained, and when Odd rolled his eyes, he furrowed his brows. - You know? You should know that science is an ungrateful field.
- That's why I hate your damn science. - he snorted, ignoring Ulrich's reminder that you are taking biology as an advanced course, you moron.
- What about fixing the return to the past? When will you be able to turn back time? - Meyer interjected, and suddenly the room fell eerily silent.
Everyone turned their heads towards her, displaying a range of emotions; from surprise, through disbelief, to hatred. This definitely didn't bode well.
- Why? - Jeremy's blue eyes shifted to the girl, studying her for a second too long before he added; - Did your friend say something?
- No, but I don't want to risk. - she said, slowly and calmly, despite feeling her heart pounding rapidly.
She knew her question wasn't inappropriate, and her intentions were as sincere as ever, yet she felt stressed. Sometimes she hated her own body, but she hated explaining herself even more; hence she hoped that would be enough to convince Jeremy. But then she heard Odd sigh, and from the very expression on his face, she knew her plans were falling apart.
- I can't.
You must, she wanted to say, but quickly bit her tongue. Just an hour ago, she was determined to put a gun to Jeremy's head and thus compel him to launch that damn program - and now she stood right in front of him and the only thing she managed to blurt out was;
- Because?
- I won't fix the program before tomorrow. - he announced, sounding equally displeased with the fact as she was.
- You mean the return to the past has a limit?
- Yes. About forty-eight hours.
Odd and Aelita exchanged a similar, guilt-ridden look. They were so engrossed in the fight and its outcome that they forgot about the less pleasant aspects of the mission they had to share with the girl.
And when Della Robbia turned to Meyer to make sure she was okay, he heard her muttering something that sounded like a string of curses under her breath. A moment later, the girl removed her hands from her face, adopting a very neutral expression, but he knew which of her neutral faces were positive and which were negative. And well, at this moment, she certainly wasn't happy.
- So what should I do if he remembers? - her voice sounded just as empty and expressionless as she felt.
- If he doesn't remember anything after the attack, there's a good chance it won't happen.
- And if it does?
- Then we'll have another mercenary on the team. - William commented, drawing several unfriendly looks, including the main one from the person concerned.
Ultimately, however, she wasn't the reason for the disappearance of the smile from his face, but rather Della Robbia's angry gaze and Jeremy's warning blink. Even Einstein was surprised that the girl, despite her annoyance (she must have been furious, not naive enough to believe otherwise), kept her cool, even now. He expected an outburst of anger, insults, or tears, but he didn't get any of that from her and had to admit it was quite a pleasant change.
- Then you'll come to me, and we'll figure something out. - Belpois cut in decisively, and before biting his tongue, he added. - Is that all you wanted to ask?
- No. - of course not. Damn his politeness. - Why did the return to the past crashed?
He raised his eyebrows, clearly confused. He didn't expect this and for a long, awkward moment, he forgot his tongue. In a panic, he glanced at Stern, who caught his gaze and said;
- Oh, you don't want Einstein to delve into technical details.
- Was it Xana's job? - she persisted, letting his words go in one ear and out the other. Her eyes bored into the blonde, intentionally throwing him off balance.
Odd also looked towards his friend, and when he noticed how red his cheeks were, he had to bite his lower lip to keep from laughing.
Jeremy, on the other hand, was not amused at all. He even wondered if he should end the discussion here and now, before the girl reached a point where the boy wouldn't be able to give her answers. However, motivated by a slight nod from Stones, he concluded that that point was beyond Meyer's reach; at least for now.
- No. - he cleared his throat before adding. - It's a problem with the system update.
- Before or after the attack?
- Before.
- And are you sure it's just a software glitch? Nothing deliberate?
- Yes, I'm sure. Xana had nothing to do with it; it was a coincidence. The computer booted up automatically in the afternoon, a few hours before the tower was activated. - he explained, and when he understood the meaning of her interest, he added; - Don't worry, you weren't the target of the specter.
- Is that so? - she muttered, her gaze resting on the pink-haired girl. - If we weren't the target, then why did you come to the hermitage?
Damn it.
- I asked her to. - Einstein replied for her, and at that moment, he turned twice as red. - She needed help, and I... I thought I'd be able to fix it much faster. I'm sorry.
The regret in his voice was too genuine to be a lie, but it certainly didn't make the ugly situation they found themselves in any better.
- Now that we've explained that, can we get back to discussing the program? - Ishiyama snapped bitterly, and apparently, it was non-negotiable.
It didn't matter, because even if she wanted to, Alex couldn't get a single word out of herself anymore. At this point, her heart began to beat so fast that it felt like it wanted to escape from her chest, and her cheeks were slowly flushing with hot blood. Misfortunes come in pairs, and in her case, always in a row; she should have expected that.
She didn't want to be here. Not in this place, not in this situation, not at this time.
Jeremy quickly changed the subject, and everyone focused their attention back on him, treating her like air again. Everyone, except the blond boy, who placed a hand on her back, firmly pushing her towards the elevator. He said goodbye on behalf of both of them, and when they were alone, he kept her company in silence all the way through the sewers.
- Don't hold it against them. - he pleaded as they reached the entrance to the park. He spoke very calmly, though he was barely keeping his nerves in check himself.
Earlier in Lyoko, he had been angry, but now he was just plain pissed off.
Jeremy had once again thrown him off guard, and he felt like killing him for it. Instead of politely answering her question and then shutting up and waiting for the next one, he just had to add his two cents. And yes, he understood why he did it - he was somewhat grateful that he wanted to calm her down. He also realized that sooner or later Alex would ask him about yesterday's events herself, but he preferred it to be later and on his own initiative. And so, Belpois once again sped up the natural course of things, wresting control of the situation from him, and that irritated him.
There was also another reason why he had to get out of there immediately. Namely, watching the same nasty feelings growing in the girl's eyes aroused in him a primitive need to avenge her. Being a witness to their discussion reignited the fire in his chest, and if he stayed even a second longer, he would start arguing with all of them again. It wouldn't make any sense at all and would only make matters worse on many levels.
- I don't know what to think yet, Odd. Why did he take such a risk?
He stopped, and she stood next to him, wrinkling her nose as he pulled a pack of cigarettes from his back pocket. He understood her disapproval; he rarely smoked sober. He didn't particularly like that irritating feeling in his throat that persisted for another day, but today he decided to make an exception.
- Alex, this is… - he clicked his tongue, simultaneously pursing his lips around the filter. However, he quickly changed his mind and decided not to say that Jeremy actually had little to do with it. - It's not that simple.
- Yes, it's not. - she snorted. - Every specter so far has been fast, strong, and looked straight out of a horror movie. So why did he send Aelita specifically to us? How were we supposed to help her, especially with Charlie?
- He thought he'd finish the program in time. - he reminded her, but she vehemently shook her head, gesturing with her hand for him to let her have a drag, which he did very reluctantly.
She didn't really feel like it, but she loved teasing him. He often refused her cigarettes, even when they were drunk. Didn't your parents teach you that it's unhealthy?, he would say then, grabbing for the second cigarette before he finished the first. In this case, he was a terrible hypocrite.
- Even if he did, that decision was insane. - she declared, her voice slightly hoarse. She did it on purpose, amused by the grimace on his face. - You passed out, Aelita was blind, and I couldn't do shit, especially with Moreau.
- Einstein didn't know I was unconscious. There was no signal, and it was the first time I was on earth during an attack.
- But he knew how you react to specters in Lyoko. - she snapped, and this time her anger was not funny to him at all. - He should have assumed the same scenario yesterday, after all, he's not an idiot.
- Maybe he's not, but he doesn't think very clearly when he panics. And he does it often when Aelita is in danger. - he smiled grimly, knowing it was no excuse. - You know how it is.
- Exactly, what was she even doing in that part of the forest? Did Jim give them outdoor classes? - she mocked, remembering well the state she had come to them in yesterday afternoon. She shuddered at the mere memory.
He noticed it and raised the corner of his mouth. It crossed his mind that if she knew the real reason for Aelita's haste, she would consider her insane, and he would agree with her.
- The entrance is nearby, and the specter probably cut off her way. They often did that.
- And what, he chased her from the gym, and no one saw her? Where was everyone else at that time? - she asked, watching as the flame of the lighter shimmered in his bright eyes as he lit the cigarette, simultaneously stamping out the remnants of the previous one.
He shrugged, and she looked at him surprised as he wordlessly offered his hand to her. She didn't refuse and didn't break eye contact, leaving a pale pink imprint of her lips on the filter. And then she stepped back and patiently waited for his answer, but for some reason, he was irritatingly slow in smoking that cigarette.
- Raspberry? - he suddenly asked, and his lips stretched into a lazy smile.
- What?-
- Your lipstick. - he muttered, glancing at her sideways. - If they all tasted like that, I'd get addicted faster.
She looked at him in a mixture of amusement and embarrassment before bursting into laughter.
- Is that why you rarely share with me? - she thought, maybe hoping to unsettle him even a little by trying his own tactic, but it was quite the opposite. He smiled even wider, and his ears turned even redder. - Okay, not now, Romeo. Don't change the subject.
- Alright. - he leaned against the tree behind his back and tilted his head. - Do you think there's any way I could apologize to you?
She was about to reply when she froze, and his smile became sharper as he saw understanding flash in her eyes.
- Oh, goddamn it, Odd...- she muttered, rolling her eyes so hard they almost got stuck in the back of her head. Then they both started laughing.
- Sorry, couldn't resist. - he admitted, and from the tone of his voice, she could hear that he wasn't really sorry. Not that she expected anything else.
She was also aware that although he was joking and flirting in that funny way now, at first, he looked at her with that blank expression, and none of his tricks could fool her. Not this time.
- When did you tell Jeremy about our outing? - she asked a moment later, now one hundred percent serious, and suddenly it was him who felt thrown off guard. She hadn't managed to dismiss him so quickly before.
- After breakfast.
- And then? Did you contact him?
He felt like his breath got stuck in his throat as he noticed how intensely she was staring at him. She was doing something to his brain that prevented him from putting together any coherent thoughts.
- Why do you ask?
- I want to know.
- I didn't talk to him. - he finally said as another cigarette butt landed under his boot, deciding it was nothing worth keeping a secret. Meyer nodded, and he felt rather than saw that she had shortened the distance between them. - Where are you going with this?
- Since you didn't contact Jeremy, how did Aelita know where to find us?
He chuckled, but it sounded too forced; too rehearsed to be natural.
- Sweetheart, we all know this area. - he assured, but as soon as the words hung in the air, he froze.
Fuck.
- Maybe, but we weren't planning to go in, remember? - she said, not taking her eyes off him. - And let me tell you what I think, Odd. Jeremy wouldn't have left Aelita alone with the specter. In fact, none of you would have, both out of consideration for her and for you. And considering this... sweet atmosphere between you two that's been going on since yesterday, I guess it wasn't about being late today, but about that house. Am I right?
The question was rhetorical because she knew that was exactly how it was.
The longer she thought about it, the fewer facts fit together. Odd planned to take them to some shed near the abandoned house. And even if the warriors knew the place, Stones immediately ran into the building as if she expected to find them there; and they hadn't planned to go in there. Meyer doubted that she would have checked the area beforehand, especially since the whole time the girl was blind. On the other hand, when Odd regained consciousness, they both looked at each other as if they were about to jump at each other's throats, even though everything was fine between them at school.
Moreover, not only they behaved strangely. Jeremy seemed more stressed than ever, especially when she looked at Aelita. Even when he confessed to ignoring the program issues, putting them in great danger. Yumi quickly shut down the discussion when it touched on yesterday's Xana attack, and Stones clenched her teeth when Alex mentioned the word 'hermitage'.
- Cheap trick, Meyer. - he hissed, narrowing his eyes.
He definitely didn't like this turn of events, and now he understood how Jeremy must have felt.
- So what's all this about? Is this another hideout of yours, huh? - she continued, either oblivious to his irritation or simply disregarding it.
He knew that if he tried, he still had a chance to lie. He could use one of those excuses he had come up with in the Megapod, like saying that Jeremy used the supercomputer to find them. The tension between him and Aelita? Oh, it was because he missed another meeting with Yumi, nothing special. That house they were talking about? Just another place to hang out, like the one by the river.
It would be so easy, right?
The catch was, he didn't have the strength for it, he was tired of getting lost in his lies. Besides, the girl had already connected the dots, and he didn't know whether to be impressed by her perceptiveness or resentful that she caught him lying. But he quickly settled on the latter.
- Ever heard what killed the cat?
She almost backed off when he clenched his jaw, sending her that hard stare, as if warning her not to start this topic. But almost.
- And what brought it back to life for you? - she retorted, trying to hide how much he was intimidating her right now. - What's in there that's got everyone so angry with you?
- Nothing that concerns you.
- Stop it, you know what I mean. - she complained, surprised by his sudden hostility. - I have a right to know what made them risk the lives of the three of us.
- There's nothing there. - he repeated, leaning over her. - But if you're so keen on finding someone to blame, go ahead, blame me, like everyone else. - he growled, practically inches from her face. - I hope that satisfies you.
- I'm not going to. - she looked at him as if he had lost his mind; that's how he felt.
- Maybe you should. - he snapped, his voice devoid of emotion, which only aggravated her. Then he straightened up, crossing his arms over his chest, saying; - After all, it was me who took you to the hideout, and it was me who wanted to leave you there, not them.
- Oh yeah, sure! - she gasped, deciding to play along. - I must have also forgotten that a place decides where the next attack will occur. Surely it provoked Xana, not the little pink riding hood with the codes, alone in the forest. - she said, her voice heavy with sarcasm, which left him unfazed. - Alright, you know what? Actually, you're right, I couldn't care less about this house, but I want to know-
- Then don't. - he cut her off. - Because I'm not going to discuss it with you.
- But why, what's wrong with you now? - she snapped, clearly taken aback by his reaction.
- You know damn well what's wrong with me. I don't want to go around in circles about the same thing, you understand? - he spat, and he had no idea how he managed to say it so calmly. - I had a shitty night and an even shittier morning, and damn it, the last thing I need right now is to go through all of it again. I thought at least you would give me some damn peace instead of nagging me about something I can't fix.
He felt like he was being interrogated and had had enough of it. Everyone was asking him about things he didn't want to talk about and that no longer mattered, maybe except for satisfying their own curiosity at the expense of his nerves. It was so pointless, although that wasn't what irritated him the most.
After everything she said to him back in the Cortex, Alex was doing this. He hated the fact that even the person he had carried on his shoulders all day and who allowed him to distract himself from all this crap was now doing what everyone else was doing. Turning against him.
- Okay. - she said, barely holding back the trembling in her voice. - Fine, I probably didn't put it right. Like I said, I don't care about this house...
- Good.
He didn't look at her, and she was glad for it. Otherwise, he would have noticed how glassy her eyes were, and she wouldn't be able to explain it. After all, it wasn't even an argument; he hadn't raised his voice at her once, so why was she so upset?
She didn't want to cry, and she didn't need to cry, not now or ever. However, tears were her natural reaction whenever a mix of anger and frustration clouded her rational thinking. It was like that yesterday with Moreau, it was almost like that in the factory, and it was like that now. She hated it.
- ... But Charlie is a different story. - she continued, and although she couldn't look him in the face, her resolute tone hit him with double force. - When he goes back there, I need to know if he's in danger.
He sighed impatiently. She saw him reach for the pack of Camels for the third time, only to curse under his breath and toss the empty pack behind him.
- Where did you get the idea he'd go back there?
She laughed shortly. Whatever was in that house, it was clear the warriors didn't want anyone to approach it. And if she had figured it out now, it only meant that Moreau already knew.
- Ask Aelita. - she scoffed, but before he could respond, she quickly added; - You don't know what he's capable of. If he gets something into his head... - she stopped before taking a sharp breath. - He won't let go, got it?
- Clearly. - he muttered, somewhat sarcastically, but she brushed it off.
After a long moment of silence, she dared to look at his face and struggled to swallow when their gazes met.
- So?
- So what?
- Is there anything in the hermitage that could lead him to Xana? Or the factory?
- There's no supercomputer there, if that's what you're asking. - he muttered indifferently, which she acknowledged with a slight nod.
- Great. That's all I wanted to know. If I find out anything from Charlie, I'll let you know on Monday. - seeing his confusion, she added; - Don't worry, I'll send you the answers for Hertz.
He didn't like how she looked at him. In that patronizing, cold way she always treated strangers, the rest of the warriors; sometimes even Charles, when he annoyed her greatly, but never him. Even after he avoided her for a week, she didn't look at him with such distance as now, as if he were a complete stranger to her. And when he looked closer, he also noticed the painful disappointment she tried to hide behind a serious expression.
Oh.
Suddenly, what he perceived as taunting him turned into what it had been from the beginning; an attempt at an honest conversation. She didn't accuse him of anything, even though she knew he was hiding something from her. She didn't manipulate him, she had been playing with open cards from the beginning, and it was he who didn't listen to her, he who tried to divert her attention. She didn't want to prove guilt - neither to him nor to the warriors, even when he himself pushed her to do so. She was only interested in those aspects that could help her protect Charles in the future, and thus their secret.
And the awareness of this made the anger that had engulfed him instantly disappear, leaving behind a suffocating sorrow.
- Alex, please... - he said, and her lower lip involuntarily trembled, making him feel twice as worse. He raised his hands, as if to hug her, but quickly withdrew them when he noticed how tense she was. - I... - I'm sorry, he wanted to say, but it couldn't pass through his throat. - Listen, I'm tired today. Maybe... we'll talk about it later, okay?
She nodded, although she seemed as if she wasn't listening to him at all. Then she gave him the saddest smile he had ever seen, and then turned on her heel and quickly walked towards the main path. And although everything in him screamed to chase after her, he forced himself to stay in place, watching her until she disappeared from his sight.
He ran his hand over his face, muttering curses under his breath. Great, damn it, fantastic. An incredible end to a phenomenal day, it couldn't be better.
He bit into his cheek and slipped his hands into his jacket pocket. Yumi was right, he really behaved like a brat who couldn't learn from his mistakes. He repeated exactly the same pattern as at yesterday's meeting, with an equally hopeless ending. And judging by how he treated Alex, the matter of their Tuesday date had just been explained, and for some reason, it didn't make him happy at all. They could have a good time, even if he only invited her for the purpose of...
He flinched, and his eyes widened in panic as he frantically searched through the material, but nowhere could he find the familiar shape.
Damn it.
Damn it all, no. It had to be a joke.
Where's the envelope?
Jeremy's gaze followed Odd and Alex until they disappeared behind the closing doors. Even after the elevator left, he waited a few more seconds before turning to William.
- And what's your opinion?
- Besides the fact that she's a psychopath? - William snorted, but quickly grew serious when Jeremy raised his eyebrows. - I have to admit, she's got brains. She came up with the whole plan and executed it solo. - he paused for a moment, considering his words before adding, - But she can't fight, at least not without her teleportation.
- Why do you say that? - Stern asked. - I thought she was just tormenting you.
- So, for most of the time, she just sat there, looking like a beaten dog in Odd's direction instead of going to help him? Please. - he rolled his eyes, and Aelita couldn't help but stifle a quiet chuckle.
- She was wise not to use her powers until Jeremy materialized me. Thanks to her, we gained time, and since no one detected me, perhaps we'll be able to do the same in future missions. I mean… - she glanced down with embarrassment. - If she still wants to help us.
- Yeah, about that, can someone explain to me what actually happened? - Dunbar interjected, annoyed that apparently he was the only one in the room who missed something. - How does she know about the hermitage?
- Don't even ask. - Jeremy muttered, and when the boy furrowed his brows, he waved his hand. - I'll tell you later. Anyway, what do you think about that boy, Aelita?
- I think he doesn't remember the spectrum, but he certainly remembers me.
- That probably won't help much. - Ulrich remarked, and Stones grimaced in response.
- Well, our cats disagree. - she sighed with a slight smile, nervously rubbing her arm.
- Speaking of her, don't you think she figured out how all this works too quickly? - Yumi asked, but Dunbar immediately protested;
- Oh, come on, she's not that smart. - he complained, clearly annoyed. - She was just watching. Besides, the whole Tyron's security thing wasn't that difficult. A regular Xana's block would've figured it out.
- You didn't. - Ulrich scoffed, to which Dunbar raised his middle finger, and Stern smiled even wider.
- So what do you say, Jeremy?
Belpois opened his mouth, but quickly closed it and sighed, rubbing his eyelids with his fingers.
- I don't know, Aelita. I guess nothing. - he finally replied, and that had to be enough for them, as he couldn't think of anything else at the moment.
- Nothing? - Dunbar couldn't believe it, looking at him with wide-open eyes. - Come on! There must be something for how she treated me!
- Do you mean how she tricked you into thinking the scanners fucked up? Actually, it was quite funny.
At the mere memory of his horrified expression when the ninja devirtualized him shortly after their arrival, Stern burst out laughing.
- Besides, you deserved it. - Belpois added. - You acted like a jerk.
- But you told me to provoke her!
- And you chose the method.
- What did he do? - Stern inquired, and when Einstein described the situation during their Megapod ride, he whistled slowly. - You made Odd's girl beg? Before him? You better make sure he doesn't find out, or he'll kill you.
- I'd like to see him try. - he replied, and didn't seem particularly remorseful.
In fact, he sounded rather pleased with himself, even despite the disapproving looks, especially from the girls.
- He already knocked you out once. - he reminded him, and when he furrowed his brows, added; - On the trip, two years ago. Does that ring a bell?
- No.
- You might have forgotten, William. You got quite a beating back then. - Jeremy remarked. - It's a good thing we recorded it.
- First of all, he did it by surprise! - he snapped, to which the boys exchanged doubtful looks. It was hard to call a situation where someone stood in front of their opponent, shouting 'come on, you won't do it' a surprise. - And secondly, he damn well lucked out because back then he was such a dwarf and I couldn't hit him back, or they would've kicked me out for bullying kids. - he added, his face reddened with either shame or anger, which only amused them even more.
However, the smile quickly disappeared from Einstein's face when he noticed the gloomy expression on the boy to his right.
- Don't you think we went a bit too far? - he asked, responding to the blond's silent question. - I mean, I understand Alex, but tricking Odd?
- It wasn't entirely a trick.
He raised an eyebrow.
- Really, Aelita? Lying that the communication was down when Jeremy was eavesdropping on the whole conversation?
- Well... It was... Okay, fine, it was a trick. - she sighed and spread her hands. - But she passed the test, right?
- We were just making sure. - Einstein assured. - And if Odd knew about it, he would never agree.
- And he'd have a reason.
- Besides, it wasn't that big of a deal. - he continued, ignoring his words. - If Yumi hadn't reminded me, I would have completely forgotten about it.
Ulrich sighed softly and lowered his gaze.
- I don't know. I feel bad about it. - he admitted, burying his hands deep in his pockets.
- It's too late for that now, isn't it?
- Damn it, William...
- He's right. - Ishiyama interrupted, her gaze focusing on Stern, who had been irritating her with his indecision since early morning. - And actually, why do you think we shouldn't do it? Since he's always been more concerned about being fair to a stranger than to us, we can repay him in kind.
- You know him. The more you pressure him, the less he'll say. And apparently, Alex understands that.
- Or she's manipulating him to make him talk more. - she pointed out. - Besides, such an approach doesn't help him at all. Odd needs to get himself together instead of constantly avoiding responsibility. Even now, it's you who's explaining for him, as usual.
Yeah. It was hard not to agree with her.
- So far, she hasn't asked him about the factory or anything like that. - he finally said, deciding to omit the issue of Della Robbia's approach to life. When he heard the girl snort, he glanced at her and added emphatically. - That's what he said, and I believe him.
- Anyway... - Jeremy interjected, deciding to interrupt their discussion before it even started in earnest. His ears couldn't handle another argument. - Today, Alex had the perfect opportunity to harm us, yet she didn't do anything suspicious. Quite the opposite. I'm not sure if this mission would have succeeded without her.
- Are you sure she didn't want to lull our vigilance this way? - Yumi grumbled, to which Belpois hesitantly shook his head.
- I watched her, and she never approached any of the ninjas. Most of the time, she was with one of the boys, explaining the plan to them, and when she was alone... - he shrugged. - She mostly insulted William.
- Seriously? What did she call me?
- You better ask what she didn't call you. - there was barely suppressed laughter in his voice, which disappeared immediately when he glanced back at Yumi.
- What about Xana? - she continued, ignoring William's complaints. - Have you found out how he knew we would be in the Cortex?
The blond clenched his lips, staring at his own hands for a moment before announcing;
- I suppose he was prepared. He knew about our mission on Thursday when he tried to destroy Skid. I've been at the computer since yesterday, and there hasn't been any notification of an active tower after the attack. I assume he's been lying in wait for us since then, that's all.
- Do you think he'd have enough strength for that?
- Probably. The Cortex is still his domain. It's logical that he feels stronger there. - he pondered for a moment before adding, more casually; - It's just common sense, really. He figured out that we were going to get to the Cortex as soon as possible, especially since he took Aelita's codes.
- Okay, but then how did he know about the mission on Thursday? - Ulrich spoke up, and the boy had a hard time restraining himself from shooting him a glare. He hoped no one would ask him that question.
- I don't know that. - Belpois admitted. - It was during the attack...
- Which he planned to get to Skid. - Aelita reminded. - So he must have known beforehand.
- Just like when we went to the core. - Stern added, and everyone looked at Einstein, who was becoming increasingly annoyed with each passing second.
- Listen, I don't know, I have no idea. Maybe he didn't even know about this mission, he just didn't want us to return to the Cortex? Once I fix the programs, I'll review the data and the super scan, and if I find anything, then we'll talk. Okay? - when no one protested, he turned back to the computer, resuming his work where he left off.
Two hours later, Ulrich returned to the factory once again. He silently traversed the room until he stopped by the holomap, observing Jeremy deeply engrossed in the monitors, completely ignoring him. However, it was just a façade, as the boy was painfully aware of his friend's presence behind him, which made it difficult for him to concentrate.
- How long will the program take you? - Stern inquired, but with a tone of nonchalant interest.
- I already said I don't know. - he retorted, not even bothering to glance at him. - There are tons of files. And I need to fix everything else first before I get to this.
- Got it.
- That's why I'd like to get to work if it's not a problem. - he added, with a clear sarcasm in his voice.
- Five minutes. - he replied, and when the boy glanced at him over his shoulder, he noticed the paper bag and coffee cup extended towards him. Funny, he only now noticed the scent of coffee.
- You didn't have to. - he grumbled, and his expression showed that the idea of taking a break didn't sit well with him. Nevertheless, he swiveled the chair and accepted the offered items, with a reluctant thanks on his lips.
He didn't even know how long they sat like that in silence, but judging by the eaten croissants and half-drunk coffee, some time had passed.
As a child, he hated when someone supervised his creative process, especially in terms of time spent on it, so he always worked alone. He thought he had grown out of it during the entire period of fighting Xana, but lately he found himself slowly returning to old habits. It was an incredibly easy path to exhaustion, which is why he greatly appreciated Ulrich's concern, even if he didn't show it openly.
- What you said earlier about Alex, is it true? - he asked, pulling Jeremy out of his reverie.
- What do you mean?
- That we wouldn't have made it without her. Do you really think so? - he looked at him, to which Belpois nodded. - Yet you still suspect her.
- Maybe. - he replied laconically, holding the cup with one hand and returning to typing with the other.
It was a very telling gesture on his part, but Ulrich was never one to be easily shaken off.
- You know what, Jeremy, I don't understand you. - he admitted, to which he discreetly rolled his eyes. - I thought you always saw the whole spy thing as one big joke from the beginning, and that's why you literally asked her about it.
- Because it was.
- So what changed?
- Xana changed.
Ulrich sighed, rubbing his forehead with his hand. It was like talking to a wall.
- And what does that have to do with anything?
- That Alex is always where she shouldn't be, and it annoys me. - he snapped, his tone changing so abruptly that if Stern didn't know him better, he would have thought him mentally unstable.
- You mean the hermitage? But it was Odd who took her there, and we...
And we made the situation worse, he wanted to add, but he allowed the words to hang unspoken in the air. Jeremy didn't need that. He was aware of his guilt, just like all of them.
- Hermitages, the factory, Lyoko... - he listed, gripping the plastic cup tighter as he noticed his hand starting to shake. - And for some reason, she's being chased by Xana and-
- And we agreed on the version that it's because of Odd's presence. - he said, grimacing at the realization, which Einstein understood well.
It was another thing they hid from their friend. It wasn't that difficult, considering that the boy avoided meetings with Yumi, and then the topic of Meyer was often brought up.
After the failed possession of the girl, Belpois concluded that Xana knew about her resistance to returning to the past. Maybe he caused it himself - considering his current state, they couldn't be sure of anything anymore. In any case, Einstein believed that's why the virus attacked her when she returned to the factory. Xana took her for an inexperienced warrior, easy to eliminate, which she soon became.
- Yeah, but... I just don't know anymore. - he muttered, because although it made sense, the explanation based largely on assumptions couldn't calm his logical mind. Especially when pessimistic whispers from others poisoned him additionally. - Every moment I hear that I made a mistake, sending her to Lyoko then. That I should have made sure better, that I could miss something, that I risked too much. And maybe they're right, but... damn it, they didn't hear his scream.
It had been about three weeks since then, and that sound still haunted him at night, keeping him awake. Spectrum held Yumi back for a good dozen seconds, and all that time Odd screamed like never before. He couldn't even imagine the agony the boy was in then. Just the thought of it made Jeremy feel sick, with his stomach churning.
He didn't wish that on anyone.
- And that's why you shouldn't listen to them. If not for your decision, we all could've ended up much worse. - Ulrich murmured sympathetically, placing his hand on his friend's shoulder. - It was the same today. Don't you think, then, that just for that reason alone she deserves a chance?
- I don't know. - he admitted. - And what if Yumi is right and she did it as a distraction?
- I don't think so. I mean, come on, she's only interested in Odd. You saw how they look at each other, even William admitted it. - he chuckled, and Belpois smiled weakly. - And you heard him. He asked us to trust her, and he seems to trust her himself.
- That's the problem. I trust him, seriously. - he pointed his finger at Stern, who raised an eyebrow. - But I don't trust his intuition, especially when it comes to girls.
- Then start. We're not as clueless as we were in high school. - he stated, and when he noticed Jeremy's expression, he squinted. - Even Odd. Besides, he seems to genuinely like her.
- Not the first, not the last.
- Come on, you don't want to ruin it for him. - he said before adding more softly. - You remember how it was with him when he broke up with Sam.
He clenched his lips. Of course, he remembered.
It was the moment when he first truly worried about Odd's mental state. Along with the rest of them, but besides Ulrich, no one really knew what happened between him and Samantha, after almost two years of relationship. But whatever it was, since then Della Robbia wasn't the same. And if he hadn't witnessed it himself, he probably wouldn't have believed that it was the girl who would be the reason for the loss of light in Odd's eyes, but that's exactly how it was. He himself couldn't quite believe it.
But at the end of the day, it was the boy who was responsible for sorting out his own feelings. Einstein, on the other hand, had to ensure his safety, so he sat back down at the supercomputer without a word, returning to work.
- Promise me you'll leave them alone.
Belpois stopped typing on the keyboard and turned to look at his friend, as if another head had suddenly grown on him.
- And what if-
- You promise?
He remained silent for a moment before letting out a sigh of irritation.
- Fine.
Ulrich looked at him again.
- And you won't tell me what's really bothering you, will you?
- ...No.