Chapter 34 A Really Long Day
Sara wakes up in the reverse dimension’s lab with Yumi, Aelita, and Reverse Jeremy standing over her. She sits up and looks around.
Sara: Ugh. What happened? I feel like someone stabbed me, and I got hit by a bus right after that.
Aelita: Odd and Aubere wouldn’t say.
Sara: Hua. It must have been bad for neither of them to talk about it. (Looks over at Yumi) Sorry. We found an Ulrich but It wasn’t ours.
Yumi: I know. It’s alright.
Sara: Are you Ok? You look sick.
Yumi: I- I’m fine.
Sara: What the heck did I miss!
Yumi: The IDCS Manager told us that we’ll never find Ulrich and we should just stop trying.
Sara: What a jerk.
Yumi: (
Seriously you arrogant bitch? One of your friends is lost forever and that’s all you can say?)
Aelita: That’s not exactly what he said. He said It was unlikely. And he did assure us that Ulrich is alive.
Sara: (stands up and immediately falls back down) I must not be fully healed yet.
Yumi: Pfft. (turns away from Sara)
Sara: Hey. The IDCS Jerkbag has been wrong before. He’s deffinatly wrong now.
Yumi: (
We’ll at least she’s trying.) You have no proof that he's ever been wrong.
Sara: He's wrong because he's human. even if he is an immortal.
The elevator door opens and Odd and Aubere shuffle out covered in cuts, burses, and burns with their clothing ripped and scorched and their hair messed up. Odd is in significantly worse condition than Aubere.
Aubere: I heard what you said and he's not all human he just looks it.
Sara: (again tries to stand up) Ugh.
Reverse Jeremy: What happened to you guys?
Odd: The IDCS Manager attacked us.
Aubere: With how angry he was we’re lucky he didn’t kill us.
Yumi: Was he possessed?
Aelita: He wasn’t upset when we talked to him just before you got back.
Yumi: He did seem a little annoyed though.
Odd: Well he’s pissed now.
Reverse Jeremy: Are you sure your enemy didn’t do this?
Yumi: Will you stop doing that. Our enemy’s name is Xana and he’s you’re enemy too.
Aubere: If Xana was controlling him he would have killed us immediately or at the best case scenario beat us withing a inch of our lives.
Sara: (Managed to get up and stumble over to Odd and Aubere) Are you ok?
Aubere: We’re fine. No lethal injuries.
Odd: I still have a headache from when he devitrualized us.
Sara: So that’s why I feel like bleep.
Aubere: Just cuss like a normal person Sara. It’s not cute.
Odd: I think it’s cute.
Aubere: Yeah well the IDCS Manager scrambled your brain… more. It was already messed up to begin with.
Aelita: So I found a way to contact our Jeremy. We’ll have to access sector 5 from this end though.
Aubere: Ugh. So we’ll have to go to Lyoko? Greaaaat We’re in no condition for that!
Aelita: You’re forgetting the twenty-four hour wait before I can virtualize you again. We didn’t need a return to the past so that hasn’t been reset.
Odd: It’s funny where we ended up they only had a twelve hour wait before they could go back to Lyoko.
Yumi: (rolls her eyes) Yeah that’s real interesting. I’m going to the scanners. (Walks to the elevator)
Reverse Jeremy: Ooh me too!
Aelita: No you’re staying here. Sara, Odd, and Aubere are all in a weakened state. Someone has to protect them if Xana attacks.
Sara: You’re kidding. Xana isn’t a problem. Even If I’m not at full strength I don’t need to be protected. I’ve got this.
Aubere: (
Showing more of your true personality? Is that intentional or another accident? You don’t need to hide. Everyone knows the way you really are you you should just drop the act all at once.)
Reverse Jeremy: See I can go.
Aelita: No. You’re staying If they don’t need you you can go back to school and make sure the spectors are behaving the way they should
Yumi: So Am I going on a Solo-mission?
Aelita: (Stands up and walks over to Yumi No I’m going too. Aubere will you send us to Lyoko?
Aubere: Sure. (Sits down in the chair) What co-ordinates?
Aelita: As close to the edge of any sector as possible. On our side I have this memorized but on this one-…
Aubere: Yeah I get it. I’ll figure that out for you
Aelita: Once we reach the edge of the sector a window mentioning something about either Rome or Carthage should pop up when it does enter the code Hannibal.
Aubere: Got it. Wait in the scanner room for a few minutes. I’ll let you know when I’m ready.
Sara: (Stareing off into space)
Odd: Hey Sara are you ok?
Sara: hua? Oh um. I’m fine.
Odd: Are you sure.
Sara: Yeah I was just thinking about something.(looks up and sees everyone starring at her) Why are you all staring at me like that? I said I’m fine!
Reverse Sara paces around the lab carefully stepping over Reverse Odd and Reverse Ulrich who are unconscious. Reverse Yumi is standing in the corner reading a magazine. Jeremy just watches in silence. Finally he sighs.
Jeremy: Do you want to talk about what happened?
Reverse Sara: N-not really.
Jeremy: Look you seem really freaked out. Is this going to affect me and my friends?
Reverse Sara: I-I don’t know. It’s possible.
Jeremy: Then I need to know what happened.
Reverse Sara: We were just talking. I found out that Ulrich had stolen my MP3 player and I got upset… then I sensed something. Some sort of very powerful energy it… it felt familiar somehow. I don’t know if it was Xana or something else but it’s dangerous. I used false rage as an excuse to get us out of there as fast as I could. I can still sense it not as well as in the other dimension but I can still feel it. Are you sure HE hasn’t escaped.
Jeremy: If you mean your dimension’s William then I’m sure. He’s right where you left him.
Reverse Sara: I think we should reorganize the teams. I’m going to go find Aelita and Aubere. Can one of you keep an eye on them until they wake up?
Reverse Yumi: (Looks up from her magazine and gives reverse Sara a thumbs up.)
Reverse Sara: Thank you (walks towards the elevator) I’ll be back soon. (Presses the button to close the door)
Ten minutes later Reverse Odd and Reverse Ulrich wake up. Reverse Yumi is still reading and Jeremy is typing something.
Reverse Odd: Ugh. (Rubs his head)
Reverse Ulrich: Looks like we’re back.
Reverse Odd: Where’d Sara go.
Jeremy: (typing) She went to get your dimension’s Aubere and Aelita. She should be back soon.
Reverse Odd: Alright then. So how long till you can get us home.
Jeremy: (Still typing) If we can’t establish communications with your side of Lyoko it will be at least another week
Reverse Odd: Another week. Man that’s more time for your dimension’s version of me to ruin my grades.
Jeremy: (Stops typing) That’s weird. There’s some sort of anomaly in the forest sector.
Reverse Ulrich: Want us to go check it out. I could really use the action.
Jeremy: Not just yet. (resumes typing) Can all of you just wait in the scanner room just in case?
Reverse Ulrich: Ok. (walks to the elevator) Sounds boring but it’s still better than nothing.
Reverse Yumi: (nods and moves towards the elevator)
Reverse Odd: C-can I stay here?
Reverse Ulrich and Reverse Yumi leave for the scanner room.
Jeremy: Sure I guess. (stops typing) Uh oh. It looks like the anomaly just released your dimension’s William.
Reverse Odd: That doesn't look like a monster.
Jeremy: (Adjusts his glasses and leans closer to the screen) Hua? How did I not notice that? (begins typing again) I hope it’s not too late. (Presses enter) Materialization Ulrich.
Reverse Odd: Your Dimension’s Ulrich? How’d he get back here? Didn’t you cut all the connections?
Jeremy: Except sector 5 but he was in the forest. I have no idea how he got there. Anyway We”ll get out answers in a minute.
Reverse Odd: Or once your Ulrich wakes up.
Jeremy: Go to the scanner room and see if you can’t help the others I’ll be right behind you.
Reverse Odd: (Heads for the maintenance hatch) I’m on it!
Reverse Ulrich and Reverse Yumi stand in front of a closed scanner waiting for the door to open. both are braced for combat. When the scanner opens Reverse Yumi reverts to a calmer stance while Reverse Ulrich punches without thinking.
Ulrich: (Rubs his cheek) You’re going to regret doing that.
Reverse Ulrich: Dude are you supposed to be me?
Reverse Yumi: (Facepalm)
Reverse Odd: (Climbing down the ladder) What the heck is he awake already? I thought traveling between dimensions knocked people out?
Ulrich: (Kicks his Reverse Self in the stomach then steps out of the scanner)
Reverse Ulrich: So you want to fight do you? I’m going to enjoy this. I can beat you because I know all your moves. (Tries to kick Ulrich who counters the attack with a kick of his own)
Reverse Odd: (Steps off the ladder and turns around) Why is almost everyone I know an Idiot?
Reverse Yumi: (clears her throat then crosses her arms angrily)
Reverse Odd: (Looks at Reverse Yumi) What? I said Almost!
Reverse Ulrich: Not much of a talker are you Mr.Freeman? (Punches Ulrich Laughing)
Ulrich: (Blocks the attack then sort of flip-jumps over his reverse self and punches him in the back of the neck)
Reverse Odd: Will you stop hitting yourself already!
Ulrich: Hey he started it I finished it.
Reverse Ulrich: How did you do that?
Ulrich: I copied what Sara does every time she beats me
by cheating. Not sure how I did that without wings. I’m athletic but not enough to do that. (
Seriously how did I do that. Wait why am I talking to these people I don’t even really know where I am)
Jeremy: (Over the intercom) Hey all of you need to get out of there! NOW!
The four teenagers vanish into thin air just as a scanner closes.
Meanwhile back in the Reverse Factory Sara and Odd are sitting in the corner of the room. Odd sleeping Sara just sitting there staring off into space. Aubere Sits in the chair looking at a map.
Aubere: Ok you need to go east alit bit.
Yumi: Got it. But couldn’t you have gotten us any closer?
Aubere: If I could have I would have… Ok now go North.
Aelita: It looks like we’re almost there.
Yumi: It’s about time.
Sara: (Looks at Aubere and just watches for about a minute before carefully scooting away from Odd)
Hey Aubere?Aubere: Yeah Sara what is it? Shouldn’t you be sleeping or something? You need to regain your strength. You’ve been through a lot of crap recently.
Sara:
I-… Can I talk to you about something?Aubere: (looks over at Sara and notices something strange about her facial expression) Sure just a sec. (looks back at the screen) Hey guys I need to check on Sara Real quick though I’m sure you heard that already. You’re almost there just keep going North. I’m going to turn off communication from my end. I’ll still be able to hear you though so just yell when you get there or if something happens. (types something then turns to Sara) So what’s wrong Sara are you ok.
Sara: (shakes her head)
No. Not really. I had a dream. But it wasn’t a normal dream. Aubere: You think you’re seeing the future?
Sara:
Don’t wake Odd up.Aubere:
Fine. Look you’re having an adverse reaction to this dimension’s energy.Sara:
I wasn’t in this dimension when I had that dream. Now I just have this feeling that the poop storm we’ve gone through is just starting up.Aubere:
I’m sure it’s nothing. Traveling to dimensions outside your zone can mess with your head. You’ll be fine once we get home.Sara:
Home? Where do you mean? Every other time you’ve said that you meant the place I’ve spent years trying to get away from. Are you still trying to make me go back there?Aubere:
I meant Kadic… not this dimensions version the other one. I’m sorry by the way. I didn’t realize how awful that place is for you. If I had known I would have brought your pokemon with me when I came looking for you. then you wouldn’t have had to go back at all.
Sara:
It’s alright. It’s not like I ever told you. Aubere:
Anyway like I said It’s probably nothing. It might keep having that dream for a little while but that’s normal in these situations. If it happens for more than a few weeks let me know then we’ll talk about it in more detail.Sara:
Yeah Ok Aubere:
Hey. Try to get some rest alright. I’m sure Odd wouldn’t mind if you used his shoulder as a pillow.Sara:
Yeah alright. Wait did you say something nice-ish about Odd? Who are you and what have you done with our Aubere?Aubere: Very funny. ( Turns back to the computer monitors then types something) Hey you were supposed to tell me when you got there what happened?
Aelita: We needed a minute to rest.
Yumi: Isn’t it strange that Xana hasn’t tried to stop us at all?
Aelita: He could be setting a trap for us in sector 5 we should careful.
Aubere: Or his attention is focused somewhere else.
Aelita: By the way Aubere how is Sara doing?
Aubere: She’s about the same as when you left. Odd is actually the only one in this room who’s condition seems to be improving at the moment. Anyway what was the code again? Hannibal?
Aelita: Yeah. We’ll need you to keep your eyes on the screen from this point forward to help watch for traps.
Aubere: Got it. (types in the code)
Sara: (moves closer to Odd and leans on his sholder)
a black sphere with Xana’s mark on the front in white drops Aelita and Yumi in the main entrance to Sector Five. They look at each other, nod then run into the next room to look for the button to keep the sector from closing in on them. Aelita just barely manages to reach it with the help of her wings and a boost from Yumi. Just as they reach the celestial dome Xana seems to finally notice them.
Aubere: Heads up the screen is showing six monsters headed for you. You guys haven’t let me do this much till now so I can’t exactly tell what they are. Wait I figured it out they’re mantas.
Yumi: We can see that.
Aubere: Do you guys need any help? I could send this dimension’s Jeremy to help you guys.
Yumi: Thanks but we don’t need it.
Aelita: We could use the overwing.
Aubere: We don’t have access to our vehicles on this end.
Aelita: What about our reverse selves? Try their vehicles.
Aubere: Can’t most of them are only half finished. The closest one to being done is a horse. A regular horse not a Pegasus or pegicorn.
Yumi: it might be able to float or something try it.
Aubere: Alrght.
a horse with half a face, one front leg missing, and empty space where it’s buttux should be so that it’s back legs are just there not attached to anything appears next to the platform where Yumi and Aelita are standing it immediately falls until it’s out of sight.
Aubere: That didn’t help any did it.
Aelita: That was supposed to be a horse?
Yumi: We are in serious trouble here.
Back in the lab on the main dimension’s side Reverse Sara, Reverse Aubere and Reverse Aelita walk in to find Reverse Yumi, Reverse Ulrich, Reverse Odd, and Ulrich unconscious. Jeremy is stuck in the metal framing above the supercomputer’s terminal. Reverse Aubere stares up at Jeremy. Reverse Aelita just stands there. Reverse Sara steps forward creates a small tornado that she uses to pull Jeremy out of the framing and lower him to the ground. Reverse Aelita turns and stares shocked at Reverse Sara.
Reverse Sara: He escaped didn’t he.
Jeremy: Nods.
Reverse Aubere: Why are there two Ulrichs
Jeremy: One of them is this dimension’s version.
Reverse Aelita: We should have them dress differently. So we can tell them apart.
Reverse Sara: That’s a good idea.
Reverse Aelita: Thanks.
Reverse Aubere: (Glares at Reverse Sara) This doesn’t mean that you’re off the hook for saying that being paired up with me is a punishment.
Reverse Sara: I’m not in trouble for that to begin with because it’s true.
Reverse Aubere: Being here has changes you. You’re starting to act like HER!
Reverse Sara: Which her do you mean? The one that lives here? Or Aras?
Reverse Aubere: Both.
Reverse Sara: I assure you I’m nothing like them. (starts checking the supercomputer for damage) We have to figure out what to do now. We can’t let the two Williams meet. Not on earth.
Reverse Odd: Ugh my head.
Reverse Aubere: Oh I see YOU’RE still alive.
Reverse Odd: Shut up. (stands up and walks towards the elevator)
Reverse Aubere: Don’t walk away when I’m talking to you.
Reverse Sara: You shouldn’t leave Odd. It’s too dangerous. With our Dimension’s William running around on earth we have to stay in a group. Two groups if we absolutely have to split up. Everyone should stick with someone who has magic at all times.
Reverse Odd: Ok I’m on your team then.
Reverse Aubere: Like hell you are!
Reverse Odd: We could actually have three groups if we wanted to. Four if this dimension’s Ulrich can make another fireball.
Reverse Sara: What? Who’s the other mage?
Reverse Odd: He is. (Points at Jeremy) He teleported us all up here right before our William was devitalized.
Jeremy: I told you before I don’t know how I did that.
Reverse Sara: Hum. Something’s off here there seems to be a blip in the central point of the holomap.
Jeremy: (sits down in the chair and pulls up the map screen for sector five.) It looks like Aelita and Yumi. The ones from here are having trouble with monsters in the celestrial dome. (Puts on the headset) Aelita can you hear me.
Reverse Aubere: (looks at Reverse Aelita) He’s talking to the one in the computer not you.
Reverse Aelita: I know I’m not stupid like you seem to think everyone else is.
Reverse Aubere: Pffft self centered little brat.
Ulrich: Ugh my head.
Jeremy: It’s no good they can’t hear me (starts typing) but maybe. (presses enter) Bingo! that should help them out some. We should all get some rest It’s been a long day.
Ulrich: Yeah no kidding
Aelita and Yumi try to attack the mantas and creepers that have them completely surrounded. Aelita just bearly manages to destroy one of the creepers as it climbs up the side of the platform. Yumi destroys a few more of them. the mantas are more difficult to hit and all of the girls’ attacks miss.
Aelita: This isn’t working we need to beable to fly and I don’t know how long I’ll be able to hold them off if I use my wings.
Yumi: We may not have a choice.
Suddenly the overwing appears next to the platform.
Aelita: Jeremy.
Yumi: I’ll take out the mantas you handle the rest of the creepers and set up communications between the two sides.
Aelita: Right. It’s been a really long day.
.....Yay ... just yay