Nocturnal Academy 5 - Mage against the Machine

Alice Dibble returns to the Nocturnal Academy for her second year to find that the ghost Baron Falkenstein has been made Vice Principal. He has all sorts of nasty plans lined up the school, which he believes is suffering such a bad reputation because of a serious decline in discipline.

A new boy named Harley joins the Academy. He was told he was an earth elemental, but he doesn’t feel any connection with the Earth at all. A genius and a misfit who was home-schooled until recently, he has no people skills and immediately rubs Professor Abbacus – and half his classmates – up the wrong way. Only Alice dares to become his friend.

Alice hopes her year 8 will be slightly less eventful than her year 7, but almost immediately things start to go wrong. Her brand new computer has sticky keys, other kids are starting to call her “unlucky Alice” and Baron Falkenstein catches her in the corridor after hours and puts her on detention cleaning fungus off dungeon walls.

Then she discovers something dark and evil hiding deep in the bowels of the school.

Alice, Harley and Professor Abbacus must journey into an entirely different realm to face this new danger, a collusion of threats from both outside the school and within. The entire Nocturnal Academy itself is at risk, and if these beings succeed in their vile plan, the entire school will be wiped off the face of the Earth.

Important Characters

 * Harley Erdman
 * Alice Dibble
 * Professor Abbacus
 * Baron Falkenstein

Summary
The book opens with the start of Alice's second year at the academy. She meets a new student named Harley Erdman, who is some sort of earth-spirit. Alice immediately has a problem with a sticky key on her computer. She has math, then recess, where she goes over the events of her summer with Milly and Nancy. They also discover the "Nocturnal Academy Funhouse," though it isn't open.

During Professor Abbacus' Science class, Harley repeatedly modifies his computer to make note-taking easier, much to Abbacus' chagrin. During dinner, Madam Nocturna (who has began accelerated aging) introduces Baron Falkenstein as vice principal. He is skilled in telekinesis and plans on introducing a number of reforms to the school, particularly with regards to behavior and dress code. After dinner, many people continue to gossip about Madam Nocturna's aging.

Alice continues to have a sticky key problem.

During the next week, Alice talks to Professor Abbacus about Falkenstein's reforms. She also tries to ask about the events of last summer, but he brushes her off and says that she probably shouldn't visit him (because of Falkenstein). After this, she goes to her Vampire Studies class, where Madam Nocturna explains accelerated aging. After class, she explains Professor Abbacus' aspect and the reason for Florana's staying to Alice. Alice also joins the Tooth and Claw class to learn how to fight in her wolf form.

At home, Nick mentions that there's a new kid - Andy - who keeps following him around. He also talks about his mom becoming interested in church again; the church she attends is the Church of the Stigmata. Alice tells Madam Nocturna and Professor Abbacus about this. He gives her a recording device; she also learns that it can also transmit sounds. Alice also asks Toby and Carla to try to learn more about the Church. She also rescues Harley from being bullied; the bully (Ali Malouk) comments that Alice is unlucky. Harley still doubts that he's actually an Earth elemental. However, his aura shows that he clearly is one.

She visits her dad and Janice; Janice is considering joining the Church of the Stigmata. She's seen all of the different spirits and supernaturals around town. Professor Abbacus explains that she seems to be able to see through all glamours.

Once again, Alice's keys are stuck. She realizes that the stuck keys spell out "help", and begins to type that, beginning her conversation with the machine spirit. She goes to take her computer to Professor Abbacus; however, Baron Falkenstein catches her and gives her detention. He also takes her computer away and gives her two days of detention. During detention, she has to clean a strange fungus off of the dungeon walls. This causes her to be almost late to Science, after which she finally gets the chance to explain about her computer, which Baron Falkenstein had not given to him. Professor Abbacus learns that Baron Falkenstein is trying to purge the computer; he immediately stops it and goes to his office to take the computer back. He also attempts to contact the spirit, though fails.

Throughout the next day, Alice seems to be developing a cold. She vomits and passes out during detention. In the infirmary, Matron Stein learns that some sort of fungus has infected her. If she can change form, she'll be fine; however, her being unconscious makes that impossible. Madam Nocturna tries to help with her mental abilities, but she's too weak to do so. She turns to Professor Abbacus, who uses his immortality machine. Once again at full strength, she quickly helps Alice, who soon recovers from the fungus.

A few days later, she talks to Harley about her computer problems. He searches around and quickly figures out how to communicate with the spirit. Alice and Harley then talk to Professor Abbacus, who realizes that Harley is a machine spirit. The trio enter netspace to talk to the machine spirit, named Zepheron. They start going through the mainframe to find a way to deal with Baron Falkenstein. In doing so they find a series of breaches to the Immaterium, and realize that the Baron must have been influenced by the Immaterium.

The Baron refuses to leave peacefully. A battle ensues. Zephron is killed. Professor Abbacus uses an Immaterial Scourge to banish the Baron. However, the cracks continue to grow, and Professor Abbacus has passed out. Harley becomes part of the mainframe, saving all of them.

After exiting the mainframe, Alice manages to pry information out of Professor Abbacus about what he did to Madam Nocturna. They also learn about Harley's new form.