A/N: This chapter came out SO LATE. I could explain the reasons why in detail, but I don't want to sound like I'm making excuses. And, if I'm honest, I procrastinated transcribing this for several months. I'm sorry.

I will say though, as I uploaded the previous chapters, FanFiction didn't show me any traffic info, so I didn't really know how many people were visiting this story. My only feedback were a few comments, follows, and favorites (thank you so much by the way). I was surprised to know that there are people visiting Reboot up until today, and summing up to a few hundred visits since I started it. Thank you so much everyone!

As a motivation for continuing this story, I uploaded a canon-friendly story about Ulrich, as part of a compilation called "Lyoko Lost Logs". I'd suggest you go take a look at it, since I quite enjoyed writing it.

Without further adieu, here goes Code Lyoko: Reboot, part III, chapter 10.

Interrogation

Morning. Mr Delmas calls students to the main yard.

Delmas: Dear students, in regards to yesterday's events, it has been necessary to communicate with your parents. After listening many of them and their concerns on the case, I have decided to suspend classes for the next two days.

Generalized screams of joy from the students.

Delmas: Quiet, please!
Jim: Silence!

The students quiet down.

Delmas: This does not mean that we'll have two less days of class. The most likely thing that we'll have to do is recover these days at the end of the season, making the holidays begin later.

Exclamations of discontent.

Jim: Silence!
Delmas: Your teachers and I will be working to make the return to class as expeditious as possible. For the moment, some of your parents are going to come and pick you up. You'll be notified if that is your particular case.

Delmas pauses, and the students whisper to each other.

Delmas: As another information, we'll tell you that we are currently investigating the causes of the incidents. If anybody experiences problems with their cell phone, we'll ask that you let us know as soon as possible. That is all, have a good day.

The students scatter energically. The kids are overjoyed to have free time during weekdays.

Delmas: (approaching Jeremie) Jeremie, please come to my office in five minutes.
Jeremie: Uhh… Yes sir.

Delmas leaves.

Yumi: What happened, Jeremie?
Ulrich: (looking to his left) I think I have a theory.

The rest of the group follows Ulrich's gaze and see Sissi next to Herve, both vigilant, in the upper stands.

Yumi: Well, we have some time now… Anyone interested in making a more sophisticated prank to Sissi?
Odd: I'm in!
Ulrich: It's not like we'll be losing anything. Let's do it!
Yumi: Before that, may we accompany you to the headmaster's, Jeremie?
Jeremie: Sure.

The kids head towards the administration building.

Odd: Wow, I'm liking Kadic's schedule already!
Ulrich: On Thursdays we have nap time on the schedule as well.
Odd: I see! And when's the salsa class?
Yumi: That actually depends on Jim's availability.

The kids laugh, including Ulrich. They keep joking for a while when they arrive to the administration building.

Jeremie: Okay, we're here. See you later, guys.
Yumi: Good luck, Jeremie.

Jeremie enters the building and heads towards the headmaster's office. Delmas and Jim are inside.

Delmas: Come in, Jeremie.
Jeremie: What's this meeting about, sir?
Delmas: If everything's okay, it should be just routine.
Jeremie: I don't understand.
Delmas: (takes off his glasses and rubs his eyes) Jeremie, I don't want to mind your activities outside class, but my daughter made a somewhat big accusation about you. (puts on his glasses again) I'd like you to answer a few questions for me.
Jeremie: …Okay.
Jim: And you'd better answer honestly, young Belpois!
Delmas: Quiet, Jim. Jeremie, do you know what happened yesterday?
Jeremie: …As far as I know, there was an incident with some cell phones. I understand that they blew up and set fire to the campus.
Delmas: That is correct. Your new classmate, Odd, helped us prevent a fire inside the bedroom building.
Jeremie: That is what he told me.
Delmas: Well, I'm glad he's making friends already. Jeremie, do you have any clue about how this incident came to happen?
Jeremie: Are you referring to a possible mechanism?
Jim: Don't dodge the question, Belp…!
Delmas: Jim!

Jim shuts up.

Delmas: (sighs) Yes, I'm referring to a mechanism.
Jeremie: To be honest, sir, I did not know that something like that could happen. Although it is physically possible that cell phones can heat up due to their usage, I would have supposed that they had a security system that prevented it.
Delmas: Indeed, that's exactly what the manufacturers of my daughter's phone have told me. You are aware that one of the affected phones is Sissi's, right?
Jeremie: Yes, sir.
Delmas: Could you come up with a reason for this security system to fail?
Jeremie: (thinks for a moment) It depends on whether it's a software or a hardware malfunction, sir.

Jim grunts.

Delmas: Why?
Jeremie: Let me explain, sir: if it's a software malfunction, the security mechanism is an internal cellphone program; if it's a hardware malfunction, the mechanism is a device that reacts mechanically to the temperature differences. In the first case, an external virus is enough to override the program. In the second case, It's necessary to make a physical intervetion on the cell phone in order to sabotage the mechanism.
Delmas: What do you think the mechanism's nature is, in this case?
Jeremie: Given the challenge it proves to access it, I would presume that current cell phones use the second mechanism.
Delmas: Indeed, it's a physical one. You're telling me that it shouldn't be accessible externally, correct?
Jeremie: Correct, sir.
Delmas: Sissi tells me she never left her cell phone alone, so I cannot understand how somebody could have intervened it. Can you think of any way this could have happened?
Jeremie: No, sir; I would have thought that it was impossible to intervene it at a distance given the case.
Delmas: I understand, Jeremie. Thank you for your answers. My daughter accused you of having intervened her phone, Nicholas' and Herve's. Is there anything you'd want to say about that?
Jeremie: Well, I don't exactly get along with any of them (sorry for referring to your daughter here)…
Delmas: No problem; please continue.
Jeremie: I've had my moments of friction with Sissi and her friends, but nothing motivates me to put them in mortal danger. As I explained, I know the consequences that such an aggresion would have, and because of it, even if I could, I wouldn't do it.
Delmas: I believe you, Jeremie, and I thank you. In any case, it's still strange to Jim, Sissi, and me that precisely the three of them were the ones affected. Do you know anything about a possible reason?
Jeremie: No, sir, I have no idea. It's true that it doesn't seem like a coincidence, but given that I don't even know how it happened, I'm incapable of inferring the reasons why.
Delmas: (joins his hands over the desk) Very well. Thank you for your time, Jeremie, and I apologize for the pressure we've put over you.
Jim: One moment, headmaster sir! Remember the kids were missing at the time of the incident yesterday. Jeremie, where were you yesterday afternoon at 18:15 hours?
Delmas: That's enough, Jim.
Jim: (looking straight at Jeremie) Belpois?
Jeremie: I was at the bottom of the forest, next to the campus' northern wall.
Jim: And what were you doing, huh?
Delmas: (stands up) Enough, Jim! If you insist in this redundant questionnaire, you'll be stepped out of this investigation!

Jim, stunned, keeps quiet and straightens.

Delmas: (sighs) Thank you, Jeremie. You can go out now.
Jeremie: Thank you, sir.
Delmas: And Jeremie, if you get in serious trouble with Elizabeth and you need help, let me know.
Jeremie: I'll keep that in mind, thanks again.

Jeremie gets out of the office, closing the door behind him. Delmas turns towards Jim.

Delmas: This is not a game, Jim, I didn't hire you to extort the students!
Jim: Oh, come on, sir, Belpois clearly knows too much about how these devices work.
Delmas: Even if that were proof of anything, it does not give you the right to behave like that! I will not tolerate that the course of this investigation becomes guided by the paranoia of somebody that is incapable of positively valuing a student's intellectual skill. I will say it once more: if you insist on keeping this absurd attitude, you'll see yourself out of this investigation in an instant.

Jim doesn't say a word.

Delmas: Is that clear?
Jim: (mumbling) Yes, Mr Delmas.

The other boys plan their next prank.

Odd: So, what's your plan?
Yumi: This is the scene: Ulrich writes a note to Sissi, asking her to join him under a specific tree. When she arrives, we drop water or something else on her from the top.
Ulrich: Sounds good, but we expose ourselves too much, don't you think? How do we run away from the consequences?
Yumi: If the tree is big enough, maybe she won't be able to reach us. It's redundant to say that she won't be able to climb if she's soaking.
Odd: Good idea! Now, we'll have to look for an appropriate tree.

The kids search for a few minutes, without success.

Yumi: Damn! I had more faith in these woods. Looks like we'll have to daub her locker once again.
Odd: Hold up, I think I have an idea! What if, instead of drenching her with water, we make Kiwi go and hassle her? This way, we don't even need a tree.
Yumi: Great idea! That way, the prank will also confuse her even more. 'What's this dog doing here? Did Ulrich turn into a dog?'
Ulrich: But would Kiwi want to approach Sissi?
Odd: I have my ways to persuade him, don't worry. I'll go get him, alright?
Ulrich: I'll join you. It wouldn't come out too well if you encounter Nicholas or Herve and are unable to enter your room.
Yumi: Let's all of us go then!

On their way to the chambers, they run into Nicholas. He stands in front of them.

Ulrich: Step aside, Nicholas, we don't want trouble.

Nicholas blocks the entrance, staring at them.

Odd: I can lend you my phone if you want.
Nicholas: Shut up, you midget.
Odd: I'm surprised by your fluency when you insult smaller people. I'll take notes, it'll sure help me for French class.
Nicholas: Stern.
Ulrich: Poliakoff.
Nicholas: This midget surely doesn't know when to shut up. Why don't you lend him to me? I'll leave you alone and so will he.
Ulrich: No thanks. You get used to it after listening to him for a while.
Nicholas: Then I'd suggest you don't leave him alone. He could end up spoiled.
Yumi: It'd be a shame, his insurance policy is good. (she cracks her fingers)
Nicholas: Watch your mouth, Sakayama. Being older doesn't make you taller nor stronger.
Yumi: Strange, I still find you shorter. Is it your verbiage or just your lack of intellect?

Nicholas takes Yumi by the shoulders, but receives an enormous slap from the girl. He drops her, as his right cheek turns red.

Nicholas: Okay, take notice then: you're not safe. It'd be better to watch your backs between all of you. Who knows when something could happen to you. By the way, I see you left your four-eyes. Badly calculated, if I'm honest.

Nicholas walks away.

Yumi: What's gotten into him?
Odd: I think he wanted to thank me for putting out the fire yesterday.

Yumi laughs in silence.

Ulrich: Yumi, you okay? Did he manage to hurt you?
Yumi: Nah, don't worry. Besides, I won't be intimidated by something like that.
Ulrich: Good. Well, let's hurry up and go look for Jeremie, it wouldn't be good that Nicholas ran into him first.

- END OF CHAPTER 10 -