8-8: Remember Me

Most of you did answer the poll w/ a gracious response and I thank you. Thank you also to those few that refused to play a part in such a ridiculous survey that probably would have given you nightmares. I hope no one besides myself suffered from them. Sorry for the wait. Hope you like it.

(((-8-)))

Horthe flew darting between the trees at breakneck speed. Up ahead she saw a Tower glowing red. That must be the bad one her friends had spoken about. Samantha was right behind her, always there despite all the tricks and maneuvers the Pawn could muster. She saw the others outside the Tower arguing among themselves about something.

Suddenly they looked up and saw Horthe followed closely by a very, very upset Hornet. Odd turned, his eyes widening with alarm, and he opened his mouth to give a warning cry. But instead of a shout, he let a single bass note hang in the air. It magnified and echoed among the trees as Aelita's stolen Synthezation he had unintentionally invoked took effect.

Samantha felt her wings grow heavy and solidify as if they were being incrusted with lead. Unable to remain in the air, she crash-landed into a tree and lay there without moving, appearing unconscious.

Everyone held their hands up against their ears. Yumi cautiously removed hers, staring at Odd with surprised disgust. "So that's why you never went into choir," she surmised.

"I didn't see you prevent Samantha from pulverizing us all!" he retorted hotly (and a bit hoarsely).

Horthe settled down beside the Warriors and smiled encouragement to them, but their expressions were not very uplifting. "What's wrong?" she asked, concerned.

The computer's operator quickly summed up everything he had discovered about the Tower and Aelita's approaching deletion.

Horthe stood there silently, thinking. "I believe I understand what it is that my…what X.A.N.A. has done." She stared sorrowfully at them as though a weight was crushing down on her shoulders. "Remember me," she whispered almost vulnerably.

Without any warning, she ran into the Tower. The others cried out in astonishment and rushed forward, but Odd stopped them with an out-thrown gesture. "Jeremy said there are gaps in X.A.N.A.'s new programming that allows any one of us to deactivate the Tower. Horthe will take Aelita's place, saving her."

(V)

Horthe floated to the upper level and placed her hand on the panel. It displayed her name, accepting it readily. The dim lights of the Tower flickered and a voice appeared in her head. The Pawn paused as she was faced with the screen for the code.

You could survive and do anything you want, daughter! I know you enjoyed living, did you not? Is life worth living for someone such as yourself?

He had never called her 'daughter' before. Something about the word made her long for him to say it again. "I have never felt alive before… This…has been the most wonderful thing, Master."

Then why not continue to live your life? I cannot believe that with so much happiness before you, you would simply give it all up for nothing.

No. She wouldn't. Horthe continued to hesitate before the console.

(V)

Dorothy pulled the needle away from Janika's skin, the deadly poison rushing through her veins. She was too weak to resist or scream anymore. This was finally the end for her, trapped alone without her friends to comfort her. Without Odd.

A strange drowsiness sapped all her energy, preventing her from speaking. Burning spread from her arm throughout her body. Hurry, Aelita! she screamed in her mind.

(V)

Horthe lowered her head, eyes closed. "Master, you are mistaken. I cannot give up something that never belonged to me. Humans will not be able to survive under your rule. They are so naïve—so simplistic—that the world from their point of view is incredible! I'm sorry, Master, but you are wrong and this must be done."

The Pawn's eyes turned a lovely shade of pink as she remembered again the beautiful aromas of Earth and her Warrior friends, then she entered the code…

(V)

Janika blinked in surprise. She was standing in front of Odd's closed door. Had Aelita done it or was this just a hallucination caused by X.A.N.A.'s serum?

The door opened and Odd burst out, nearly bowling her over in a bear hug. "Are you okay? I didn't want to leave you, but I had to. Your arm is better now? No broken bones?"

She embraced him in sudden relief. He sounded so concerned that it was cute. "I'm fine. I don't remember going back in time, though. I guess I passed out when X.A.N.A. tried to pull this stunt on me. I'll tell you about it later."

Ulrich hung back in the dorm for a moment before pulling out his phone and dialing Jeremy's number. After a short whispered conversation, he joined the other two as they headed, once again, toward the art show.

"Maybe this time it won't get busted up by a lunatic with wind-powers," Odd said, fingers crossed.

They were nearly to the gym when Ulrich caught sight of Aelita and Jeremy dragging Yumi forward. He approached them and the Japanese girl angrily wrenched out of her two friends' grips.

"I have nothing to say to him," she said with a glare.

"Come on," he sighed as he took hold of her arm and pulled her away behind the gym. The others smiled at each other and went inside. Once they were safely hidden where no one would see them, Ulrich let go of her and concentrated on his clones.

They split off on either side of him, dressed in regular clothes and wearing blank expressions. The original Ulrich stumbled back, nearly overwhelmed by the amount of energy it took to make his copies. "See?" he managed to gasp.

Yumi stood staring at him and the pair of clones. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"First of all, you wouldn't listen. And second of all, I'd rather show you. It makes more sense this way."

She surprisingly chuckled. "It would only make sense to me and the others. I wonder what Sissy would do if she saw three of you."

"Well, I know what she'd do if she saw two of me," he smirked. "Can we start over now? Go to the art show and enjoy ourselves?"

"Fine. And I apologize for almost not saving you in Lyoko."

"What!"

(V)

"Odd, do you remember the story of the princess trapped in a tower by an evil wizard and a knight came to rescue her?" Janika chattered as she pulled him through the crowd.

"Er…not really. Is that what your painting is about?"

"Of course, except that the characters are leeeetle different. There it is!" They rounded the corner and saw several pictures with blue ribbons, and one in particular.

Odd stared at hers for a few seconds, a grin creeping across his face. "Cute. I like it. Is that really how muscular I am?"

"Dream on, Romeo. See that bird on the branch outside the tower window? I ran out of red paint and had to use pink for the eyes, which makes it look kind instead of evil. Sound familiar?"

The blonde boy knew what she was getting at. He and Ulrich had explained Horthe's unexpected transformation earlier and she had only laughed about it.

Odd sighed. "I wonder if she really got deleted. She didn't deserve to die."

"Hey Odd!" a voice spoke up from behind. They turned to see Samantha beaming benevolently at him and he tensed. "Is this your girlfriend?" She sidled closer and whispered in Janika's ear, "You'd better make sure this one doesn't get away. He's a real keeper."

She surveyed the artwork on the wall, mostly staring at Janika's painting. "Nice. I especially like the bird. Interesting touch. Well, I just dropped by to say hi, and now that I've done it, I'll let you two get back to your little tête-à-tête." (A/N: that's a French term for "private conversation between two people")

Odd stared after her as though he had just seen her head change into a flowerpot. That was definitely not the Samantha he remembered.

As the dark-skinned girl walked away, she wondered why she had just glibly given up someone she had fully intended to make miserable a few minutes earlier. For some reason it no longer appealed to her. She wanted to have fun instead now. And golly! She'd never paid close attention to the way things smelled before. They were really fascinating.

As she passed under a light, it cast a reflection on her dark eyes, turning them almost a cherry shade. "I hope you never forget me…" she murmured before joining her friends.

Ok, I need some help here people! I want to know what you guys think of a water Pawn and how she would use her powers against the gang. I've got the person she'll possess, so don't worry about that one. Whoever helps me gets a Mouse from Mt. Limbo!