August 31, 2024, 9:15 pm

As Martin sneaks through the front gates of Kadic in the dark. Looking forward, the forest in front of him showed a path being lit up by the lights overhead. To avoid any prefects that might be doing a check to make sure any of the students aren't sneaking around, Martin decided to walk around the lights. Watching his feet he walked through the forests, keeping an eye on the path to make sure he doesn't get lost in the woods.

Slowly sneaking around in the woods, watching his step and bated breath. He reaches the main campus and sees no teachers around. He thought to himself how easy this is. Giggling at himself as he slowly glides across campus close to the dorms. As soon as the door opens, there stands an Angry man. A very, very angry man.

"What do you think you're doing this late out young man!" screamed Coach Poliakoff in his pajamas. Clearly upset he found a student to be sneaking around after the curfew.

"I can explain!" Martin said desperate for a straw to grasp for this situation. After a moment the coach narrowed his eyes to Martin, giving the signal to hear his explanation. After some time, Martin was trying to scrub his brain for an excuse, any excuse will do. As long as he doesn't end up in the headmistress office.

"I was out with dinner to my parents?" Martin didn't sound too convincing. Which made Coach Poliakoff even more peeved than before.

Coach Poliakoff opened his mouth wide and pointed a finger before she deflated and started chuckling to himself. Martin was confused and his face showed it. "Like father like son huh?" The coach chided in himself for not realizing this sooner.

Martin was even more confused, "you know my dad?"

"Of course, we went to school together. You remind me a lot of when he was your age, though he was more to himself than anything." The coach reminisced in his memory with the boy in front of his father. A smile on his face before a reminder of how different his friend group was at that time was versus the boy's fathers was.

"In any case, go back up to your dorm room. You know not to be sneaking around, and you best bet you'll be seeing the headmistresses first thing in the morning!" The coach sounded like he was trying to mimic someone he knew in the way a Coach should act but failing to extreme proportions.

Martin sagged his shoulders as he walked past the Coach then up the stairs. Coach staring at Martin to make sure that he actually makes it there first, and to theorize how he ended up in a situation like this. A small sigh leaves Poliakoffs mouth, as he heads to where his room is in the dorms.

Martin started to scheme in his head as he walked to his dorm. 'What if my next game about that factory, except it's a space shooter where you shoot at aliens from earth with a huge gun? Nah that'd be too stupid, plus the closest thing to that already is space invaders.' He tried to think of the next game he should make, until something clouded his mind. Eating at his stomach as he felt the guilt of ignoring the warning from earlier. He knows he should've listened. There wasn't anything of interest at the factory, but the least he could do is lower the power bill for whoever still pays for it.

Martin reaches the door of his dorm and enters. In front of him is a desk in front of the windows to his dorm, his bed on the left side of his desk while his wardrobe was on the right. It was also his mom's idea to hang up this weird poster of Einstein sticking his tongue out above the bed on the left side wall. Said it would help with some creative juices and motivation. Martin had half a mind to rip it off the wall. But he didn't, he could see how important this poster was to his parents, for whatever reason.

Martin sighed and fell down into his bed, tiredness finally setting in. He placed a pair of glasses onto the desk that reached his bed. Since tomorrow was a Sunday Martin was relieved that it's a free day tomorrow, so he plans on sleeping in. After shuffling around to a sitting position on his bed he began to think about the video again. He finally makes up his mind, his plan tomorrow was to head over to the factory after the meeting with the principal and turn off the computer tower. Then at least he can live without guilt every time he needs some alone time.

With his mind made up, he changed into a T-shirt and some green shorts before hitting the hay. As he lay there, tossing and turning he had lots of random stray thoughts quickly entered and leave his mind. Stuff like the possibility of what would happen if he didn't shut off the computer, thoughts on what the headmistress would say in tomorrow's meeting, should he finish a game he's been working on, etc. His mind finally became silent as he drifted off to sleep.

Elsewhere

"I have confirmed that the computer hasn't turned off after the video was watched. After many people have found this warning, they take it immediately and forget that it's ever happened. But this is a unique one, and I feel like you're more inclined to decide what we need to do." A deep voice came from the phone. An older Jeremie from the video, with a full beard, similar haircut but added a sway into the right direction. With the look of concern and fear plastered over his face. He types away on his computer trying to see if he can do a remote shutdown from there. But after 30 years he can't remember what the firewall passwords were.

"Damn it! Why'd it have to be him!? I tried to steer him off course!" said Jeremie as he furiously typed away. After a moment of silence on the phone he stopped typing, moving the phone from one ear over to the other. A sigh could be heard through the phone.

Jeremie reciprocates and adds a sigh of his own to the owner on the other end of the phone call. "With me and Aelita doing a work convention over in the states I won't be able to handle this. I assume you can take care of this for me." Another sigh escapes the Jeremie's mouth as he trembles.

"After how you've helped me after my long 'prison' and no one else would. It'd be my honor to make sure nothing happens to him, or you know who." Said the deep voice coming from the phone. After getting confirmation that his friend would take care of it, a couple of tears run down his cheek, scared of what could happen if this doesn't get wrapped up quicker.

"Thank you" is all Jeremie could muster as his voice cracked. Feeling all the dreadful memories pouring back in of the torture that this malicious virus put him and his friend group through. Including his wife, how he cared for her dearly. He would make sure none of what is happening reaches her.

Jeremie hangs up the phone after saying their goodbyes, as he sits in his hotel room with his wife in the bathroom shower, not hearing what happened from what her husband was doing. The blonde man gave a huge sigh and putting himself back together before his wife can read him like a book.

Kadic Academy

September 1, 2024, 7:45 am

Martin woke up to a knock at his door, it seemed to have been going on for a while as it's beginning to get louder and louder. With a voice on the other side of the door screaming for him to wake up. Martin crawled out of his bed with his hair a mess and looking half dead. He opens the door to see Coach Poliakoff ready to pound more on the door. Poliakoff looks down at Martin. He noticed that the Coach was wearing a light blue jacket with the number 8 sewn onto the side arm, as well as some brown sweatpants that looked like the legs were scrunched to go up to his lower knee.

"You were supposed to be in the Headmistress's office an hour ago!"

"To be fair you never told me the time I need to be there. I just assumed it's a pick and choose time type date." Said Martin offhandedly.

"Smart mouth you got right in the morning! How about you head straight down to the Headmistress's outfit at once!" Poliakoff said trying again to mimic some other person but failing epically, at least in Martin's eyes.

"I can head straight there in my 'jammies if you prefer. I don't mind." Martin said, if Poliakoff could sense if Martin was joking. He didn't show it.

Coach Poliakoff sighed and pinched the bridges of his nose. "You can change, just please make sure you head straight to her office afterwards."

"You sure? I don't want to keep the Headmistress waiting for little 'ole me!" Martin said sarcastically, this time Coach Poliakoff did show that he was aware of this. He just shook his head, put his hand up to his face and shook it. Without another word the Coach was making his way down the hall to the entrance of the dorms. Martin just chuckled to himself a bit until realizing that there were other kids sticking their heads out of their dorms to see what the commotion was. Martin quickly retreated back into his dorm, slamming the door in the progress.

Martin quickly changed out of his "'jammies" and into some clothes that'll more befit the later day. The factory does tend to get cold. After a couple minutes of frantically changing, he dashed out of his dorm to avoid any other people slowing him down. Amidst the chaos he saw a reflection of himself and noted how he looked. He had his hair still look a lot messier than he'd like. His very like pinkish hair, something that he got bullied a lot from other kids. That's probably why he resented them so much. His green sweater and grey undershirt were flowing with the way he's moving and dashing through the halls. Reminding him of how he got those skills. At the previous school he had to run, a lot, from bullies. And the constant holes in his jeans, his mom wasn't appreciative that he tore of a lot of jeans from running.

That's when he noticed something missing, something important that slipped his mind. His glasses! He doesn't need them to see close up objects but farther away the blurrier it gets. He didn't simply notice until he checked his reflection. He made a jump and skidded on his feet, rotating at the same time to try and keep the momentum but moving it the other direction.

He runs into his dorm to pick up his glasses, they were squared off glasses with some round edges on each side. After putting them up he noticed an alert on his computer, it was an email. He felt the urge to read it that second, but to avoid any confrontation from his parents, potentially from his parents. He decided against it and ran back out of the dorm to leave the dorms.

September 1, 2024, 8:05 am

"Are you aware of the meetings I had to postpone or cancel to get you in here young man?!" said the Headmistress in a stern and livid tone. Martin did nothing but look down at the ground, he didn't say anything. He just wanted to get the punishment done and out of the way. He, in his mind, had way more important things to do today. And that doesn't mean spending his whole day in a room with this woman.

"Are you even listening to me?" the Headmistress accused pointing a finger at Martin. Martin looked her in the eye and nodded along. He didn't want to make her madder than she already is.

"it's only been a week since school started, and you've already been in my office 3 times this week. I don't expect this from you, especially with those goodies two shoes' parents you have." She said waving her hand around, clearly, she's not too fond of his parents either. That's one thing they have in common.

"You haven't been showing up to your practices, haven't you? The coach has told me you've missed football practices, you've only been to one! Care to explain that?!" She held up another accusatory finger, leveled at Martin.

Martin couldn't hold it in any longer. "Because my parents signed me up without my consent! They're always putting me into things that I don't care for! I hate them for putting me in some dumb sports were hitting a ball with your own damn foot and calling it 'fun' is against my belief of the word!" Martin did hold back a bit as another phone call with his dad this week would have put him in another sour mood for days.

The Headmistress looked taken aback, she certainly wasn't aware of their equal hatred towards the couple, but more so that they put their child into a sport they didn't even like. Headmistress Delmas physically looked calmer, stoic even.

Delmas sighed, "I can understand what you're going through, believe me. But you aren't able to completely back out of practice anymore, deadline to leave the football team came and went." She sighed again, putting two of her hands on her office chair to support her. "Please don't put the Coach in more stress, please make it to his practices. Even if it's not something you want, you may make some friends out of it." There it is that's how she got him. That's what sent Martin off the edge.

"You think it's that easy to make friends? I'm the freak with light pink hair?! I've tried to play it off as a prank but after a time they don't believe me as my hair stays the same color. I hate my hair! And I hate the idea of friends!" Martin seethed; he was lying a bit but had to get all the hate he had built up out in some way. He just sat there, breathing heavily, eyes wide realizing what he had done. Regretting it easily. Started to do some breathing exercises to try and calm himself down.

Delmas just shot her eyes down, afraid of what her next words would be. She didn't deserve this; she was the Headmistress of this academy. She needed to stand firm but couldn't do it. She couldn't discipline a child for lashing out against the unfair treatment he gets from other kids his age. Nothing she could do could completely change something like that.

Delmas just sighed again, not knowing what to say. "How about we talk about that subject another day, as it seems to be a sore subject." Martin, not making eye contact just nodded, tears forming in his eyes, but he fought hard to keep them in.

"Let's get to the second reason, the main reason you were brought to my office. You were sneaking around last night. Where and why?" She refocused on the conversation that she knew she had more power to handle.

Martin looked back up at her. "As I said to Coach, I was out to dinner with my parents." Even with the lie he even knew the Headmistress wouldn't even believe either after the outburst earlier. Delmas just looked at him, firmly.

"You are aware that I don't buy that lie?" Delmas said in a flat tone. Martin just looked away and nodded.

"Will you tell me at least where you went?" Delmas said in a somewhat softer tone, realizing that she's losing the kid in front of her. Martin kept his head down, shaking his head. He didn't want to get yelled at by telling her she went to that factory.

She sighed, "I know this hasn't been the easiest talk for you, but I'm also in charge of the school and can't be seen giving preferential treatment to any kid, how much it hurts me to do this, but you'll have library detention with Mr. Pichon." Martin quickly looked up and started daggers at her. If looks could kill, Headmistress Delmas would be dead ten times over.

"Anybody but him." Martin was starting to sound desperate but hiding it enough to show anger.

"Unfortunately, our Coach is currently running drills for the football team and won't be able to make it. The only other teacher I can trust with your case is him. After you're done here, I want you to go straight to the library where Mr. Pichon will be waiting for you." Principal grabbed some papers and started sorting through them, hitting the corners to reorganize them. She slowly sat back down in her chair as she opened a vanilla folder.

She looked up to see Martin still there, fury in his eyes. "You can go now, I'm aware you haven't had breakfast this morning, I made sure to send a tray from this morning to the library." She looked back down, hearing the boy in front of her getting up, and slowly walking out the door. She sighed again as she went back to her paperwork.

September 1, 2024, 10:02 am

Martin sat at one of the tables of the library. Nothing in front of him except an empty tray from the cafeteria, for the first 15 minutes while he was there, he ignored the food and just kept giving daggers to the teacher that's watching him. He did notice a few others that were there. 2 kids, They seem to know each other. The girl seemed to fit more to the goth stereotype, but a lot tamer. Just black hair tied up into a ponytail, black eyeliner and black lipstick. She wore a punk rock t-shirt, some long black jeans with tall boots. The boy also looks somewhat like a goth but more colorful? He had hair pulled up into spikes, colored mostly blue. Looks like blonde hair at the base and slowly transitions to blue the higher up the hair goes into the spikes. He had dark blue eyeliner on the left eye while the right eye had light blue eyeliner. He wore a plan blue t – shirt and some blue jeans. I don't know if you couldn't tell but they like the color blue.

The pair seem to be snickering with each other while whispering in between. They look like they're having a blast, whilst Martin sits there, angry and hopeless. He needed to head to the factory and shut off the computer, otherwise something bad could happen. But then that got Martin thinking.

'If something bad is supposed to happen if it stays on, then why doesn't anything bad happen? Now that I think of it, with how long ago that video was and how "important" to shut off this "Super Calculator" is, nothing has happened. It was a bunch of BS.' Martin thought, slowly leaning back in his chair. More upset with himself he got himself worked up over nothing. He sighed a sign of relief. He noticed the other pair of kids notice him moving around. Martin just shot them a glare and they went back to themselves, giggling and asking, "what's his deal?"

Martin felt the tinge of hunger start biting at him, he started taking nibbles of the food in front of him until the hunger took over and he began to, what it looked like in comparison. Kirby inhaling an enemy to obtain a power up. But for Martin it was energy. After a minute the tray was empty, except for the stray banana peel and plastic fork. He then sat there thinking about games and what functions he'd want to add. Then going through the process of making each pixel or polygon from the ground up. This is how Martin coped with boredom whether he was in detention like now, or in a class on a subject he didn't much care about. You could say it was his happy place.

Up until the present time, the teacher didn't seem to care much for the kids in front of him, more so the book he was reading. It seemed to be a research book about certain scientific anomalies recorded up till that point. Which seemed slightly interesting but boring.

With the quietness but some snickering here and there from the pair. It seemed somewhat peaceful, until a kid barged through the door. Screaming for everyone to get out and run to safety.

The teacher looked alert and started escorting the kids out of the library, Martin couldn't understand what the issue was. Was there a fire from the chemistry lab? No impossible, the teacher that ran the chemistry lab was right here. What if a fire opened up in the home education class? No impossible it's Sunday, there's no school?

As they exit a corner, they see a bunch of wires from what seemed like power line poles, except there were no poles around, just the wires and they were flailing around as if a chicken had its head cut off. Lightning was spewing everywhere out of the wires. It seemed to know what it was doing. As it made its way closer to Martin, and only Martin. Why?!

A/N sorry for leaving this off on a cliffhanger. But it seemed like it was getting longer than it needed to be. Plus, I know I said previously I didn't like straight sad stories, and this one is somewhat sad, it felt like it needed a sad chapter to set up for the drama to unfold. I promise that this won't immediately focus on just Martin, as I'm setting up the group members and will follow them.

Otherwise thank you all for any reviews and just reading the story! Thank you all! Next chapter I promise there will be a fight on lyoko. I wanted to fit it into this chapter but, again it was starting to get long.