Code Lyoko: Revolutions and Evolutions

Chapter 21

"This is very disconcerting," Aelita said.

"You've said it." Odd replied, "The fact that this program can hack our cellular phones is one thing, but to do that and impersonate us, it's really crossing the line."

Jeremy sighed as he looked at his inbox for his text messages, "She's up to something. I don't know what it is, but it feels like she's trying to test us again, but why?"

Ulrich, who had been silent, replied, "Honestly? I don't think this is a test. Trust goes both ways, Jeremy. This North-Gate said she gave you freedom and yet what does she do? She gives you enough leash it seems then has you high tail it back here to make it back before bed check. Something just isn't right here. My advice is to stay off the bracelet and stop talking to this program. See what happens during the day. As cautious and objective as you want to sound, this machine knows it has you by the balls, and that's what's looking to be more and more the truth. Stop playing into her hand, go about the day as you normally would and see what happens."

Jeremy nodded, "Alright. We'll do that and see just what happens."

Aelita then went to Jeremy's computer and began to type. She took Jeremy's phone and said, "I'm going to do a correlation where the signal came from mimicking our numbers. I'd hate to say what's on my mind, but if I'm right, it's going to be evidence as to what we're thinking, she's stringing us along."

"What are your thoughts, Aelita?" Odd asked.

"I'll tell you after the triangulation is complete." Aelita said as she got up, "Come on, we have Chem. II, Jeremy. We can't be late; it's finals week."

Jeremy groaned, "With so much going on, I honestly forgot!"

Aelita walked with him out the door, "Don't worry. While you're chasing our computerized puppet-master, I've been taking notes over the last quarter of the semester. You know how Ms. Hertz is, everything in the last quarter is her bread and butter."

Odd and Ulrich were left in the room. They looked at each other and Odd said, "This program is imitating us on more than just a basic level. Why?"

Ulrich looked at the computer as it ran its search, "Who knows. All I know is that its using techniques we ourselves have used."

"What do you mean?" Odd asked

"Come on, let's walk and talk on the way to breakfast," Ulrich replied.

"What I mean is that do you remember when Jeremy made a dummy voice protocol from the super-computer to get us out of certain jams?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"This program is using the same method but through phones and considering all the work that Jeremy put into the super-computer as we fought XANA, I would not at all put it beyond this machine to emulate a lot of the programs that Jeremy utilized."

Odd nodded, "Alright then, so how do we stop it?"

"That's not my department. All I know is that it will require all of us to shut this thing down."

As the group went to breakfast, they got their trays and sat down. It was a good meal this morning, waffles, fruit, strawberry yogurt, and a granola bar. As they ate, Jeremy couldn't help but think of what was going on. John Barrow was arrested for espionage he found out in addition to the events of last night. No one seemed to mention a scream, a scream that he undoubtedly heard and knew Jim ran off to check. But was Jeremy overthinking it? Possibly. He knew only that he was hungry, and right now, the food on his plate seemed a godsend to him.

Meanwhile, in Jean-Pierre's office, four men had gathered and had spoken to Jean-Pierre about the system that John Barrow had installed. They explained that it was an experimental energy program that doubtless Delmas already know about due to how he had specialized charts to clock the use of the program. However, the agents were able to explain that Johnathan had stolen this program from them about ten years prior and had illegally installed it. The system therefore both the security and energy component were to be stripped from the school and the school returned to what it once was.