Code Lyoko: Revolutions and Evolutions

Chapter 26

AN: Here is the next chapter in my story, and I sincerely hope all of you enjoy this as much as I did writing it. I was inspired in part by a dream I had a few days ago to pursue this chapter in its theme, and the rest by the grace of God wrote itself, and it's a form of nuance that I am pleased to see. Thank you, all readers and reviewers. Your continued support means a lot to me. As always, read, review, and enjoy. Pagliacci-11

It was silent in Kadic as the last of the homeward-bound students got into their parent's car to leave the premises. The Kadic occupancy at this time of year was traditionally quite low. If one was lucky, you would find a maximum of maybe fourteen students per floor. As a result of this drastically reduced number, the staff was reduced to the bare necessities at least until the fourth week, where the new students would move in to acclimate to the dorms until school started back up. This sparsity of staff allowed most students to go freely around the grounds with minimal interference. As for the likes of Jeremy and Aelita, it provided more than ample time to research the aspects in the background regarding specific events.

As Jeremy typed lines of code into his computer, he was looking at critical elements that caused Kadic's influx of new students. Unfortunately for him, he was growing increasingly frustrated. Why? It was because of what Ulrich had said. For North-Gate to hide behind the most unadorned and mundane action was not at all beyond the reach of reason. Usually, it was Jeremy who would more readily attribute something to XANA, oh how wonderful those days were. The days when he didn't have to second-guess every little thing. As he typed, Jeremy admitted to himself that at least with XANA because of his lack of understanding of people, his methods and means of enacting his will was a bit outlandish and more natural to spot.

What frustrated Jeremy most was that North-Gate was an entity he couldn't get a read on was she a friend, he couldn't tell. Was she an enemy, again she didn't give any direct signs. It was a tense, and dare he say an almost hellish form of seeming indifference. Whatever moves this program made was hard to pinpoint and even harder to be sure of their overall aspect. The computer was behind the bombing of the station; this was something Jeremy had privately come to terms with. John Barrow was her chameleon to hem in the team under the veil of protection. Someone acting as the program had been testing them, mentally fucking with the team, and especially him. Right now, Jeremy's view of North-Gate was chaotic at best and skeptical at worst.

Jeremy's door opened gently, and Aelita came in with a plate of macaroons and a glass of lemonade, "How's the search going? Is it yielding anything?"

Jeremy sighed as he leaned back in his chair, "Nothing out of the ordinary. Apparently, Kadic has been given stellar reviews by various academic papers, and honestly, I see that as the reason for this surge of students. Not that it's a bad thing, Aelita. It's just—what Ulrich said today stuck with me, that North-Gate could use this a means to trap us in a sense."

Aelita sat on his bed after she had set down the macaroons and lemonade, "Jeremy, be honest with yourself, and please, be honest with me. You were not at all dissimilar when XANA was active. You saw XANA behind every hedge, so to speak."

Jeremy turned to face her, "That is only because as he advanced, he had evolving strategies. He was knowledgeable Aelita, but—"

"But what, Jeremy?" Aelita asked, "What's bothering you?"

Jeremy hesitated and then said, "I'm bothered by the fact that XANA seemed like he was child's play compared to his so-called sister. I—I can't get a handle on this thing, and that's what scares me. Where XANA was in the open and could be detected within reason, this new program is slow, it takes its time. I feel like the character in the pit and the pendulum—that blade inching ever-closer."