Code Lyoko: Revolutions and Evolutions

Chapter 68

AN: Dear readers, thank you so much for your time in waiting for this chapter. I also thank God for His help getting my engines running again. The last two weeks were a vacation for me as frankly, I'd put out a chapter, sometimes two, every week since August of last year, and I just hit burnout productivity wise. So, I took two weeks to rest and just relax. I hope you all had a nice Halloween and so without further ado, enjoy the chapter, and I'll see you next time.

 Further, in acknowledgement  of Fanfiction's  issues  at  present, please come here  to stay up to date and inbox me your review. Thanks.

Pagliacci-11

Chapter 68

The last few nights had been hard for the Ishiyama family as they had made frequent transit switches culminating finally in the crossing over into what was designated as a safe zone. Akiko was beyond tired. Even with steadfast alternations with Takeo, she still had this overwhelming sensation of being run ragged.

Takeo placed his hand on her shoulder, and Akiko looked at him. He motioned with his eyes at the back seat. Akiko looked back through the rearview and saw Hiroki peacefully sleeping, his head propped against Yumi's ribs. However, Yumi had maintained a stoic face as the car pushed through the last glimpses of the night into the breaking light of dawn. As Akiko had noticed, not even in sleep had Yumi's expression changed, always stoic or calm, never agitated.

Akiko looked at Takeo, "We can't lose focus. As much as may not understand, or like it, Yumi was never exactly our child in the first place."

Takeo replied, "We don't have to like it either. I know her purpose just as well as you do, it doesn't change you birthed her, and together we raised her. Sylvia can say whatever she wants; she's still our child."

Akiko sighed and spoke exceptionally low, "Yes, our Yumi may be that way, not the one back there. Our Yumi is receiving her education in the world that is to come; she may be hardened, but this is needed." while privately she thought, "and in my view, preferred."

"Why don't we just drop this one off at the next depot?" Takeo asked.

Akiko shook her head, "Do you want to be shot for treachery and sedition? You aren't Eddie, nor are you Mengele; you can't get away as easily with idle threats, even in jest."

Takeo gently leaned back, but his face was agitated, "Mengele," he growled between his teeth, "why the fuck does she get so many exceptions? It's the lot of us down here who shovel the raw shit that fuels nightmares; she just processes the data."

"Want to ask the commander?" Akiko asked, "She's right back there."

Takeo gave a long sigh, which partially fogged the window. Akiko could not hold this against him, but she was performing her function like so many others. She had stood alongside Sylvia before Takeo had been taken from the resource sector for their mission. As a result, Akiko had a lot more faith in North-Gate's dreams of prevention than most of Takeo's position. This faith was rooted in that because she'd seen the raw actions and sources of those actions. Sylvia's accusations were not without grounding, nor were they pulled out of her ass, and none knew this better than Akiko.

"If this is genuinely how you feel, why not come out and say so, Taki?" asked the specter from the back.

Takeo's blood went cold, and he felt as if he were going to die where he sat.

"Relax, relax. Believe me, if I wanted to kill you, I wouldn't do it that way. Look, you of all people should know why Mengele gets a cushy job. Why? Because that woman's busted her ass for it. She's no more privileged than you are. The difference is she took the initiative, whereas you just did what you had to do to get by. That's why, for this mission, you were assigned to the civilian sector. You have no ambition; why would I reward that? A man who is comfortable having enough will have just that, enough. No more, no less.