Chapter 19 Sara goes “home”
Once vacation ends The Lyoko Warriors meet Sara in the lab to get the explanation she owes them. Sara stands with her arms crossed. Odd sits on the floor holding Kiwi.
Yumi: Odd why’d you bring Kiwi with you.
Odd: I overheard Jim taking to Mrs. Hertz about a supprise dorm inspection. Lucky
fur us right Kiwi?
Kiwi: Arf!
Jeremy: (shakes his head at Odd’s pun)
Ulrich: Well are you gonna say something or not?
Sara: I’m trying to figure out what you want me to explain first. There’s kind of a lot.
Aelita: Start with why you suddenly act like a completely different person sometimes.
Sara: (Sighs) That should be simple enough. So everyone who travels to other universes has a natural ability that awakens after the first time, regardless of magical ability. Usually it’s something small. This ability grows stronger with every dimension traveled to. Mine is that I’m a mimic. In difficult situations I can take on the personality or mannerisms of one of my parallels for a short time. Like when captain angst recognized me a week ago. I took on the behaviors of a parallel of mine named Alvin. Sometimes I just gain a power similar to that of one of my parallels and not the ability to copy them completely. Everything has its limits. You can gain other powers by traveling to other worlds too if you do it enough.
Jeremy: Just what do you mean when you say Parallel?
Sara: Oh right you guys wouldn’t know about that. So in every universe there is another you. They may not look like you or act exactly like you, the ones that do look like you will usually be extra different personality wise, but they are the you for that world. These other yous are called Parallels. The general rule seems to be two parallels per planet with no more than ten to one universe and no less than one per universe. For some reason all but two of my parallels so far have been men. (Sighs) It’s kind of weird. My only human friend back home had mostly parallels who are the same gender as her so I don’t understand exactly how it works.
Yumi: So there are hundreds of Odds all over the place that sounds unpleasant.
Ulrich: (laughs)
Odd: HEY!
Jeremy: I think that covers everything for now.
Everyone except Aelita looks at Jeremy with confusion.
Sara: Seriously cuz I have more things I could explain.
Jeremy: If you mean about how you’re not quite human we already know. Your DNA tells us that every time you go to Lyoko. Besides we saw you transform.
Sara: Well that’s not quite-
Aelita: Anyway Jeremy has great news.
Jeremy: I’ve found a way to use the scanners to send one of us to another universe. I think I can use it to send Sara home.
Sara: Wow already?
Odd: Aw.
Yumi: That was fast.
Jeremy: Well I worked on it all vacation.
Ulrich: Great. When were you thinking of sending her back?
Sara: Don’t talk about me like I’m not standing right here.
Aelita: We were thinking about right now.
Sara: You’re sure you’ve got the right dimension?
Jeremy: Positive.
Sara: (Rairai, Blaze, am I really going to see you soon?) Let’s get this over with then.
Sara goes down to the scanners and gets in one of them, while Jeremy inserts the disk containing the program into the supercomputer’s disk drive. Sara waits for the program to start. The scanner closes and Sara begins hovering in the tube. Back in the lab Jeremy is typing away on the keyboard. Aelita watching one of the three screens for him so he can focus, Odd, Ulrich, and Yumi watching over Jeremy’s shoulder.
Jeremy: Alright the final phase is starting.
Aelita: Everything’s stable
Jeremy: Perfect. Thirty seconds to dimensional transfer.
Yumi: What if something goes wrong.
Aelita: The worst that will happen is Sara will end up on Lyoko instead, if that happens we’ll just materialize her.
Jeremy: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Execute! (presses enter)
All windows except the maps of Lyoko close and are replaced by a window with a green plus sign in a circle. Jeremy and Aelita high five.
Yumi: So what happens if you sent her to the wrong place?
Jeremy: My calculations aren’t wrong. I got her to the right dimension. She’ll be able to get back to her family for sure.
Yumi: Are we sure she even wants to see them?
Odd: Yeah from the sound of it her uncle is worse than all five of my sisters and Ulrich’s dad combined.
Jeremy: That does sound bad.
Ulrich: (Shakes his head) Nothing we can do now.
Yumi: anyway what makes you think you got it right?
Jeremy: I matched the energy frequency of her transformation to the universe she came from. There’s no way I’m wrong.
Odd: I bet you ten bucks you messed up.
Ulrich: I’ll go in on that too.
Jeremy: That is a bet you gentlemen will lose.
Yumi: (Rolls her eyes) Really guys really?
Jeremy: It’s not like you guys can do the math to prove me wrong.
Yumi: (shakes her head)
Odd: We don’t have to do math we can just call her. (Pulls out his phone and tries to call Sara’s pokegear)
Jeremy: She’s in another universe. There’s no way that’ll work.
Yumi: (Sighs) Come on Aelita, let’s go back to school before someone notices that we’re gone.
Sara appears in a different universe and is immediately in pain for a few seconds. when she regains her composure she finds herself standing in front of a large pale pink building the only man insight is a leprechaun who shapeshifts himself into a ferret. Sara facepalms.
Sara: Wow Jeremy was way off. At least I know where I am. (Scaly tail swishes like an agitated cat. She blinks and looks back at her tail then notices her clothes.) I look like I do on Lyoko. Why? Am I only here in virtual form? There’s only one way to find out for sure. Go provoke my Parallel in this world and her friends.
Sara wanders around inside the pink building, every group of girls she passes as she roams the halls whispers about her, mostly about her clothes. Sara ignores them and continues her search until a girl with very long blond hair exits a room and bumps into her.
???: Youch! Hey watch where you’re going.
Sara: You’re the one who didn’t look when you exited that room! (Low growl forms in throat)
???: Your outfit is hideous! You have to let me fix it.
Sara: Uh no. Not happening miss pushy.
???: Wait I know you! You’re that girl from a different dimension that got stuck here last year! What was your name again.
Sara: My name is Sara and if you try to touch my clothes I will hurt you. (Growls)
???: But your clothes are so disgusting! Who dressed you!
?????: Stella who are you insulting now? (exits the room)
Sara: (tail swishes)
Stella: Bloom you’re on my side right? Her outfit is horrible she has to let me dress her!
Bloom: Just leave her alone Stella. Remember what happened last time you tried to change her look.
Stella: But this is just so bad!
Bloom: (Shakes her head.) So Sara why are you here?
Sara: Uhhh. Virtual reality accident. I’m pretty sure I’m here in virtual form. Need help proving that. If I really am here in virtual form then I have to take enough damage to be devirtualized.
Bloom: We’ll go ask Techna she should be able to help.
Sara: Whatever just hurry up and get me out of here. (
I hate being in this dimension.)
Sara follows Bloom and Stella into the room they came out of and to a room near the back with music booming through the doors.
??????: Musa do you have to have that so loud!
Musa: Sorry Techna.
The music grows quieter
Bloom: (opens the door) Hey Techna Sara here needs your help.
Techna: (Stands up from the chair she’s sitting in) Hummmm You’re here as a virtual being?
Sara: I think so but I’m not sure. If I am I need someone to attack me to send me back where I was.
Techna: (pulls a small device out or her pocket and points it at Sara) Hum. You’re definitely virtual. And you seem to already be at half health.
Sara: Someone attack me please.
Bloom: I’m sure we can find a better way.
Sara: You’re no help. I’d attack you to get myself back but I don’t want to accidently kill you.
Musa: That’s not a cool thing to say.
Sara: (Shakes her head.) I hate being in this universe so much. Maybe I can shoot myself in the foot a few times?
Aisha: (Punches Sara in the back of the head as hard as she can.) That’s for what you did last time you were here!
Sara devirtualizes.
Aisha: Woops. I didn’t mean to hit her that hard.
Sara steps out of the scanner into an empty factory.
Sara: Ugh I can’t believe that got me back. (Walks towards the elevator) I bet they all went back to class. They’ll find me next time there’s a Xana attack if I wait in the lab. I could call one of them but I only have Odd, and Aelita’s numbers it wouldn’t be a big deal if my pokegear could text. (sighs) I’m talking to myself out loud again.
Back at Kadic Jeremy and Aelita are standing next to the vending machine waiting for the others when Yumi walks up.
Aelita: Have you seen Odd or Ulrich anywhere.
Yumi: (Laughs) Aren’t they in your class.
Jeremy: We haven’t seen them since history.
Yumi: You sure Odd’s not in the cafeteria?
Jeremy: We already checked there. It’s weird for him to miss lunch like this.
William (happens to walk by)
Aelita: Hey William can you let us know If you see Odd or Ulrich anywhere.
William: Yeah sure. (Gives the group an unenthusiastic thumbs up and keeps walking)
Yumi: (once William is out of earshot) Do you think it’s Xana?
Jeremy: I wish I knew. Turns out sending Sara back where she came from bugged up the superscan. I launched the old scan but it’s going to take a little while longer.
Aelita: Maybe we’re worrying over nothing and they just went to check on Kiwi. If they’re not back before lunch ends then we should worry.
Sara steps out of the elevator into the lab to find Kiwi whimpering on the floor. she doesn’t notice him at first.
Sara: (the elevator was slower than normal)
Kiwi: (Sees Sara and sits up) Bad!
Sara: (Looks at Kiwi) Oh hey I forgot you’d be here.
Kiwi: Bad! Bad! BAD!
Sara: Why do you think I’m bad?
Kiwi: Bad! You took away my human!
Sara: Hold on what do you think I did to Odd?
Kiwi: You came and took away my human and spare human! You hurt them real bad first! Bad!
Sara: (shakes her head.) I really miss my Pokemon right now. Look Kiwi even without language barriers I’m still having trouble understanding you. I know you’re upset but please try to bark more clearly.
Kiwi: (growls) You are bad! (sniffs the air) Wah? (walks over to Sara and sniffs her) Oh! You’re not bad. Bad you smells very different.
Sara: I think I get what you’re trying to tell me. Do you know where Bad Me took Odd and… Uh your spare human? I can’t remember weather spare human meant Ulrich or Jeremy.
Kiwi: (tilts head) Spare human is spare human. Don’t know where they went but I can smell My Human.
Sara: Can you lead me to him?
Kiwi: (wags tail) Yes! You’re going to help?
Sara: (nods) We have to hurry.
Kiwi: The smell goes up first. (trots over to the elevator)
Odd wakes up chained to the underside of a metal table. He struggles against the chains.
Ulrich: Good you’re alive too.
Odd: (Stops squirming) Ulrich? Where are you?
Ulrich: Chained to the top of this table. Guess I could have it worse.
Odd: No kidding. Why would Sara lose it like that? So much for Jeremy sending her home. Maybe Xana possessed her?
Ulrich: Not really important right now.
Sara?: Your friends will come for you and then I can destroy you all at once. I can’t believe you thought I was ever on your side.
Odd: See that sounds more like something Xana would say.
Ulrich: Seriously Odd shut up!
Sara follows Kiwi to a row of warehouses. She hears Odd and Ulrich both scream.
Sara: Wait here Kiwi I’ll take it from here.
Kiwi: (Hides in a bush) Don’t have to tell me twice lizard.
Sara: (groans) I’m not a lizard. (
What am I going to do though? I need to have the element of surprise. Whoever’s in there probably isn’t expecting me… unless Aras found this universe then she’s totally expecting me. Although If I was someone no one really expects… [Grabs a charm bracelet that hangs from her wrist just under her shirt.]) Mimicry.
Sara?: Hum. I was sure someone would be here by now.
A second Sara with black hair jumps down from the rafters.
????: Alright this time we end this for-…. wait you’re not the original… You’re not Sevey either? Who are you? Did they make more?
Odd: What the hell is going on all I can see is the floor.
Ulrich: I have no idea what I’m looking at right now.
Sara?: (eyes flash Xana’s emblem) Who are you again You seem like the forgettable sort.
????: I am Aras. And You are more phony than me. Never thought I’d be saying that one.
Red Headed boy?: (steps into the warehouse holding a metal pipe) Now don’t fight over me my darling hunnies. There’s enough of Zelos to go around. (
Ugh I feel sick saying that. If I could have been someone else I would have.)
Aras: (Raises an eyebrow) Who are you?
Sara?: Stay out of this.
Zelos?: Hum… You must be the imposter the Real Sara asked me to take care of for her. (points at Sara?. Xana’s clone)
Sara?: (Kicks the table Odd and Ulrich are chained to onto its side.)
Aras: This isn’t my business. I’m out. (Disappears into the shadows.)
Ulrich: Great now I can’t see anything.
Odd: Are we sure the guy with long red hair isn’t a pretty lady.
Zelos?: I am insulted by that comment now do you want me to save you or are you zeros going to be a distraction. (Rushes the Xana-clone with the pipe only to phase through.) That’s how you want to play eh? Well have some of this. Lightning! (Calls down a bolt of lightning from nowhere on the clone who quickly recovers)
Sara?: (fights back grabbing Zelos?’s arm and throwing “him”).
Zelos?: (aerial recovers, lands, then swings the pipe close to the ground then straight up) Demon Fang!
Sara?: (steps around the energy that travels along the ground towards her.) Pathetic.
Zelos?: (runs towards the Xana-copy and swings pipe at it) Light sphere!
Odd: That attack contained neither of those things!
The Xana-clone takes Odd’s distraction as a chance to fling Zelos? against the ceiling. A silver bracelet falls off landing right in front of Odd. Zelos? turns back into Sara before hitting the ground.
Sara: Dang it. At least that confused Aras into leaving but dang it! (Stands up) Looks like that charade was a bust.
Xana-clone: (Surrounds herself with electricity and looks at Odd and Ulrich)
Sara: Oh no you don’t! (waits for the last second then jumps in front of the attack. While the clone recharges She breaks the chain holding her friends with her bear hands causing them both to fall) Time to go.
Ulrich: (gets up)
Odd: (Grabs the bracelet then gets up)
The three teenagers flee the warehouse Sara using herself as a shield for the others one more time on the way out.
Odd: That was close
Ulrich: Close and weird as heck! What was all that.
Sara: I told you guys I had more things to explain. By the way Jeremy got the wrong universe.
Ulrich: The others are probably worried about us lets go back to the factory.
Sara: So uh. Just a warning the black haired girl that called herself Aras she’s my clone and is actively trying to find and kill me. She’s not evil she just really hates me so she should leave you guys alone as long as you don’t get in her way. If she does attack just leave everything to me. She and I are equally matched so she usually runs away. (
I’m better than she is though.)
Odd: How’d you find us.
Sara: Thank Kiwi.
Kiwi pops out of the bushes and the group hurries back to the factory talking along the way.
Ulrich: How’d you turn into that red head?
Sara: I can temporarily take the form of one of my parallels if I have a strong enough bond with them and if I have something that belongs or belonged to them. The red headed guy I took the form of is Zelos Wilder. The fact that I’m paralleled with him at all raises a lot of questions that I do not have the answers to.
Odd: I don’t think She’s following us anymore.
A blue light passes over the city.
Jeremy sits in the chair in the lab frowning. Everyone else is as they were right before They sent Sara "home".
Jeremy: I was sure it would work.
Sara: Well it didn’t. I was in virtual form so even If I did get back it would have been temporary and it was the wrong universe.
Ulrich: Looks like someone owes us ten bucks.
Odd: Each.
Jeremy: (Groans)
Yumi: (shakes her head)
Aelita: Well since we know you’ll end up in virtual form each time we can keep trying until we find the right dimension then work on getting you there permanently.
Sara: True but it sounds like Jeremy still owes Odd and Ulrich ten bucks.
Odd: Each.
Sara and Odd both start laughing.
