The bell signaling the start of class rang through the school, scattering students into their respective classrooms. Jazik followed Marinette into Ms. Bustier's room, taking a seat beside her as the class began. But something seemed amiss; Marinette was restless. There was a subtle tremor in her hands and an uncharacteristic flush high on her cheeks.
"Marinette?" he asked quietly, leaning closer. "Are you alright?"
She offered a quick, bright smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Fine! Totally fine. Why wouldn't I be?" She fidgeted with the ribbons in her pigtails, her gaze darting around the room before finally settling on him. "I just… had a really busy afternoon yesterday. That's all."
"Busy doing what?" he asked.
She hesitated, a flicker of something unreadable crossing her features. "Oh, you know," she said quickly, too quickly. "Girl stuff. Helping my mom with a… a big order. Yeah, a big order."
He observed her, cataloging the nervous energy thrumming through her, the way she avoided his gaze, the slight tremor in her voice. It was a clumsy performance, so unlike the usually open and honest Marinette. She's hiding something.
He let the silence linger for a moment, then nodded slowly, his expression unreadable. "If you say so," he murmured, turning his attention to Ms. Bustier.
He decided to wait. Whatever she was hiding, it would come out eventually. His attention was drawn back to the books. Ms. Bustier had assigned the class reading. And for the first time, the words began to make sense.
Jazik followed Marinette into their homeroom, where a peculiar stillness seemed to have settled. Ms. Bustier greeted them with a warm smile, her eyes crinkling at the corners. Jazik returned a nod, his gaze sweeping the room. Alya's usual boisterous presence was conspicuously absent.
"Where's Alya?" Marinette asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Nino leaned in, his usual cheerfulness dimmed with concern. "Suspended, dude."
Marinette's eyes widened in shock.
"What?!" she blurted, her voice a little too loud for the classroom.
Ms. Bustier gently but firmly said, "Marinette, don't disturb the class."
"Sorry…" Marinette whispered to Nino, her brow furrowed with concern. "What happened to her?"
Nino leaned in, lowering his voice. "The short story? Accused of breaking into Chloé's locker. I mean, Ladybug's locker…"
Marinette's eyes widened in disbelief. She almost shouted, "Wha–" but Jazik swiftly covered her mouth with his hand, silencing her outburst.
Nearby, Adrien leaned towards Nino, his expression curious. "What are you talking about?" he whispered.
Nino shrugged, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial murmur. "Exactly what I said, bro. Alya says Chloé is Ladybug! She is crazy!"
Jazik removed his hand from Marinette's mouth. Chloé, Ladybug? The idea was ludicrous. He may not have known Chloé for very long, but he'd interacted with Ladybug enough to know they were polar opposites. He was one hundred percent sure that Chloé was not Ladybug. However, the seed of worry took root. If Alya is suspended for pursuing this theory, then things are already getting more complicated.
The projector in the classroom snapped to life, the familiar chalkboard replaced by a live broadcast. A figure materialized on the screen, sleek and menacing in a black suit, a glowing white Wi-Fi symbol emblazoned on her chest. Lady Wifi.
"I'm Lady Wifi, revealer of the truth!" Her voice, distorted and amplified, echoed through the room. "Principal Damoclès, you stand accused of unjustly silencing a student, a journalist seeking only to uncover the truth! Alya Césaire, your suspension is a testament to your own bias."
Damoclès, pale and sweating, appeared on screen beside her, his face contorted in a mixture of fear and defiance. Under Lady Wifi's relentless questioning, he stammered, admitting his actions had been swayed by pressure from Chloé and a desire to maintain the school's reputation. He conceded that her suspension was a mistake, a clear abuse of power.
Jazik's gaze flicked to Marinette. He saw the recognition dawn in her eyes as she caught sight of the familiar cell phone, the small ladybug charm dangling from its side. A chill, colder than any G.O.D. experiment, seemed to run through her.
"Oh, no! Alya!" she breathed, her voice barely audible above the growing commotion in the classroom.
Lady Wifi, oblivious to Marinette's inner turmoil, continued her broadcast. "And now," she announced, her voice dripping with malice, "for my next scoop, I reveal the girl hiding behind the Ladybug mask!"
A collective gasp swept through the room. Before anyone could react, Lady Wifi raised her hand, and a pink stop icon shot from her phone, freezing Principal Damoclès in mid-sentence. The screen went black as she signed off with her catchphrase, distorted and chilling: "Stay connected!"
Ms. Bustier, her face etched with a mixture of fear and a desperate attempt to maintain normalcy, clasped her hands together and rose, her voice trembling slightly but still holding a teacher's authority. "Everyone, for your own safety, go directly home right now!" she ordered, her eyes pleading with the students to comply. "And don't forget to read chapters four and five!"
The students erupted, grabbing their belongings and rushing for the exits in a chaotic swirl of hurried movements. Jazik also moved, his instincts screaming at him to find a safe place to transform. However, his eyes caught Marinette darting off on her own,
"Marinette! Where are you going?!" Jazik called out, his voice a touch louder than he intended, cutting through the departing students' chatter.
She paused, turning back with a slightly strained smile. "Oh, just gotta grab something from my locker. Be right back!" And with that, she disappeared into the throng.
Jazik watched her go,
The school was emptying quickly, and Jazik knew he had to make a decision. He wanted to save Alya.
His gaze drifted towards the main entrance just as Chloé swept out, her sunglasses perched atop her head, a smug expression plastered across her face. Sabrina trailed behind her, laden with bags. A sleek black limousine idled at the curb, its tinted windows hiding the driver from view.
It was clear, almost insultingly so. Lady Wifi wanted to reveal the truth. And the only truth Chloé cared about was herself.
The most likely target is Chloé.
He had to find Lady Wifi before she found Chloé. To find Lady Wifi, follow Chloé. It wasn't much of a plan, but it was a start. The gears began turning in his mind, his gaze now intently focused on the retreating limousine.
Jazik quickly dug into his pocket, his fingers brushing against the familiar shapes within. He retrieved the Zakuzakuchips Gochizo. The crunchy texture is ideal for reconnaissance. The little potato chip, a crisp blue sliver with sharp wing-edges, stared up at him with wide, trusting eyes (°▽°) !
He held it aloft, murmuring his instructions. The creature tilted its tiny head, its expression shifting to one of determination ( ᎑´ )و`. Jazik flicked his wrist, sending the Gochizo soaring skyward.
A moment later, it landed with a barely audible tick on the roof of Chloé's limousine, clinging to the smooth surface like a crisp, blue stowaway. It will be hard to notice up there, Jazik thought. Zakuzakuchips' flat shape and neutral expression would help it blend into the roof without anyone taking notice. The wind ruffled its edges slightly, yet it held firm, a silent guardian on its mission.
…
With the scout deployed, Jazik scanned the alleyway for a place out of sight. He pulled the Candy Gochizo from his Gavv; its hard, jawbreaker shell gleamed softly. He chewed and swallowed, and the familiar surge of energy pulsed through him. The Gavv organ on his stomach shifted ( ๑ ╹ ꇴ ╹ ๑ ).
[EAT CANDY!]
[EAT CANDY!]
[EAT CANDY!]
He focused his thoughts, picturing the Vrocanbuggy, but not in its usual flamboyant form. I need to follow without drawing attention. Appearances can be changed, so it needs to look normal.
A wave of energy washed over him, and instead of the buggy's usual flamboyant colors, a sleek, dual-sport motorcycle materialized. It had high ground clearance, a slender frame, and knobby tires designed for both on-road and off-road travel. The bike was predominantly hot pink on the front cowl and fuel tank area, accented by a bright blue panel on the side shroud. The rest of the mechanical components, including the frame, engine, and seat, were matte black or dark grey. A black full-face motorcycle helmet hung from the right handlebar, indicating its function as Jazik's personal transport. It looked like a normal motorcycle, designed to blend in with the Paris traffic.
He donned the helmet, the cool plastic settling over his head with a reassuring click. He swung a leg over the seat, the machine humming beneath him, waiting.
So far, so good. The engine revved quietly.
It's time.
He gripped the handlebars, his knuckles white, and prepared to follow Chloé's limousine.
[VROCAN!]
***
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