Always there

Chapter 16: Hiroki in Lyoko

“Scanner….Hiroki.” Jeremy said, “Virtualization.”

“Woah!” Hiroki yelled as he fell from the air to land in the Forest Sector. “Cool!” he yelled. He was wearing an orange tuxedo and carrying a massive blue hammer covered in spikes.

“Now Hiroki, run north. They need your help.” Jeremy’s disembodied voice commanded.

“Err…” Hiroki said.

“The path to your left.” Jeremy added.

“Right!” Hiroki said, running off to join the fight.

***

“Is he here yet?” Odd asked. He and Aelita were pinned down behind a rock; Yumi and Ulrich were hiding in a log.

“I can’t believe he’d blackmail us like that.” Yumi said in a whisper.

“Don’t get mad.” Ulrich said. Due to the small interior space of the log, they were pressed right up against each other. Two months ago this would have been a source of awkward silence and embarrassment. Now, they took it for granted.

“Oh, I’m not mad.” Yumi said, “I’m pissed!”

“Here I am!” Hiroki yelled, barreling into the midst of the fray.

“Hiroki! Look out!” Odd yelled as a dozen of the Mantas flew towards him.

“I got ‘em!” Hiroki yelled, swinging his hammer around him in a circle. Its weight caused him to spin around uncontrollably. He began spinning way to fast to be just centrifugal force. And he began glowing.

“Wwwooooaaaaahhhhhh!” he yelled as he spun around; an orange and blue tornado moving uncontrollably. Manta lasers deflected off of him at random angles, and whenever one got to close and touched Hiroki as he spun, it was sent flying away only to explode.
Odd to the distraction to his advantage and peered over the rock and began sniping with his laser arrows at the confused Mantas. Aelita did the same with her Energy Spheres. Yumi and Ulrich crawled out of the log, but before they could stand William was standing over them.

“Hello!” he said, swinging his sword and devirtualizing Yumi. Then Ulrich. He turned towards Aelita and Odd but was blind sighted by Hiroki, who had learned to control his movement while spinning. William vanished.

“I got him!” Hiroki yelled. The way clear with the exception of a couple dozen Mantas, Aelita sprinted for the Tower.

***

“That was so cool!” Hiroki yelled as they all climbed into the elevator to leave. Jeremy didn’t find whatever Xana had done so he didn’t bother with a return to the past. “I can’t wait to tell Johnny and Millie!”

“No!” everyone yelled at him.

“What?” Hiroki asked.

“You can’t tell anyone.” Ulrich said.

“Not even Mom and Dad.” Yumi said.

“But, Johnny’s my best friend. A Millie…” Hiroki said.

“I’m sorry Hiroki but you can’t tell anyone.” Jeremy said.

“But-“ Hiroki said.

“Hiroki,” Ulrich said, kneeling down to his level, “Some day, maybe, but for now, it has to stay a secret.”

“Hmmm, okay.” Hiroki said, though he was visibly less than pleased.

“Well, good night guys.” Ulrich said as he, Yumi, and Hiroki headed home.

“Goodnight!” Odd shouted back as he, Jeremy, and Aelita headed back to the school.