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Odd One Out

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Disclaimer
I do not own Code: Lyoko. Nope.

Summary
Yumi and Ulrich. Jeremy and Aelita. Odd feels like some sort of fifth wheel and it's driving him mad. Little does he know, this creates the perfect opportunity for X.A.N.A., and Odd finds himself stumbling into something he's not sure to escape with his mind intact.

IMPORTANT Author's Note
I haven't seen many of the new episodes (Maybe a grand total of five or six). If anything I write contradicts the contents of them, I apologize, but I will only fix it if it isn't vital to the plot.
Also, I have NO earthly idea what X.A.N.A. looks like OR the background of Aelita and Lyoko, so it's my own creation. It's based on what I've seen so far of Aelita's memories and the most logical turns (to me) with a twist. If you don't like it, I'm sorry.
(Added later)
I haven't seen 'The Key', but I do know enough that it conflicts with my plot. So this is minorly AU.

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Chapter 1
Feeling a Bit Blue?

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It was 2:39 and you could feel the tension in the room. The student's focus seemed only on the second hand of the circular clock, rather than the droning voice of the teacher. Odd was one of these said students, as he had been waiting all day for that Friday night.

Friday nights for Odd were always spent hanging out with Yumi, Ulrich, Jeremy, and more recently, Aelita. X.A.N.A. had been particularly inactive that week, something Odd found himself missing somewhat. It was something they all could do together without worrying about…relationships.

Said topic currently a rough spot for Odd. He was not in a relationship as of now, mind you, the real problem was that everyone else was. Ulrich had Yumi, Jeremy had Aelita. Who did Odd have? No one.

Who would like someone like you, anyway? You only exist to give people a laugh.

Odd attempted to pay no heed to the voice in his head, but the words rang though his ears. Just like the bell.

With newfound excitement, Odd jumped from his seat and commenced dancing and screaming in delight. His friends only rolled their eyes in a good-natured manner at his actions.

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Odd, continued to be in a cheerful mood back at his dorm room with Ulrich. "So, Ulrich what should we do tonight? Maybe go watch that new movie, 'Hospital Horror II', I think it's-"

"Um, Odd," Ulrich interrupted, "I'm…well, I'm kind of going somewhere with Yumi tonight."

Odd's eyes widened along with his grin. "Ooh, finally told her, did you, Romeo?" He chuckled when the blush rose on Ulrich's face. This action caused Odd's grin only to widen.

But his outward appearance betrayed his true emotions. This was just one fine example of howhis friends hormonesjust seemed to be in his way. "I'll ask Jeremy and Aelita then – though they're not really into horror. Hmm…oh well."

Ulrich's blush intensified; he turned his head away. "Actually, Odd…they're going with us…like, err…" the brunette stuttered, attempting to complete his sentence.

Odd's smile faltered, but he tried to keep his voice as cheery as possible. "Oh…like a double date, eh? You and Jeremy sure take the initiative as of late!"

By this time Ulrich's face was a dark shade of red; he then retaliated. "Shut up, Odd," he spoke with authority.

The blonde's laugh was muffled by the pillow thrown at his face.

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You could've been watching a movie with all your friends right now, couldn't you? Too bad they're too busy with their'love' to worry about you. But why should they even bother with a worthless kitten like you? You're no good for anything.

Odd lay on his bed in his empty dorm, trying - but to no avail - to block out the voice in his head. It was a nasty, biting voice that had the power to make anyone feel inferior.

"I can't be that bad, can I? I mean…they've kept me around this long – trusted me with their secret…"

Like they had a choice! It was you that discovered their secret – they didn't willingly tell you. As for keeping you around – the 'double date' tonight is obviously an act to force you away. (1)

The blonde teen solemnly hung his head, as if admitting defeat to the inner-workings of his very own mind.

From across the room, a loud, shrill ring interrupted Odd from his stupor. 'My cell phone!' He quickly hopped from his position on the bed to answer it. Jeremy's panicked voice echoed into his ear.

"Odd – it's X.A.N.A! He's launched another attack – there's no time to explain! You need to get to the factory now!"

"Gotcha, Jeremy."

Odd clicked off his cell phone then stealthily jumped out his window, hanging to the walls of the school. As soon as the teen reached ground, he made a break for the park.

Go ahead. Just try to prove yourself to them.

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Odd swung down the rope to the floor of the factory, panting for breath. He had tried to get to their 'headquarters' faster than ever, as if he was attempting to prove that scathing voice in his mind wrong.

"Odd, just go ahead to the scanner room, okay?" echoed Jeremy's voice around the abandoned factory. It sounded relatively calm, though Odd could sense panic hidden beneath.

The blonde hastily entered the elevator, entered the code, and then depressed the down arrow. After a few seconds wait, the elevator doors slid open revealing four slim scanners. Odd dashed for one.

"Ready, Jeremy," her spoke confidently. He really tended not to worry about journeying to Lyoko anymore – it wasn't like he could actually experience pain there. Really, the worst that could happen to him was being returned to Earth. He still knew his job was important, however; Aelita and her memory needed to be protected at all costs.

"Scanner, Odd…Virtualization."

The tone of Jeremy's voice unnerved the boy; it had almost…sinister undertones. He had no chance to dwell on this, however. Odd closed his eyes, waiting for the feeling of senselessness to engulf him.

It didn't.

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Blue.

When Odd opened wearily opened his eyes as he landed on solid ground, 'blue' was all he could begin to describe.

"Jeremy…Why am I in Sector 5?"

Silence followed Odd's question; blonde was then suddenly broken from his daze by the ground jolting beneath him and separating from the mass of land.

"…Jeremy?"

Odd tried in vain to receive an answer as he was carried over the virtual sea to the center of the large empty space. At present moment, he had no coherent idea on what could possibly be happening. Where were Yumi, Ulrich, and Aelita?

"Hello, Odd."

The blonde quickly turned to all locations, attempting to find the owner of the voice.

"…How do you know me? Show yourself!"

Feminine chuckling followed his demand. "Whatever you wish." The same voice echoed. Before Odd's eyes a figure began to take form. A figure that looked eerily like…

…Aelita.

The same facial features were present; same green eyes, same nose, same mouth, same cheekbones…but something was so much more different.

The girl looked…human. Her hair, in place of Aelita's stark pink, was a fresh shade of brown. Her outfit wasn't nearly as bizarre, either; her green and blue outfit could almost pass as street clothes.

"Who…who are you?" Odd gazed in wonderment.

"My name is Carmelita Hermitage, the artificial daughter of Franz Hopper." She replied, cracking a small smile – and unnerving one that a teacher might give to a slow student.

Odd's head was spinning. Hermitage…Franz Hopper…it all seemed to fit – yet not. "Err," he managed to choke out, "Care to elaborate?"

The girl known as Carmelita Hermitage giggled. "Franz Hopper once had a loving daughter named Carmelita that he was quite fond of. Since her mother had died in childbirth, they both attached to each other since her birth. So, naturally, the girl's sudden death cast Franz Hopper into depression, obsession, and ultimately near insanity. He wanted his daughter back…so he decided to recreate her.

"He rejected society and fled deep into the woods like a deranged hermit. He acknowledged this fact of himself, thus naming his new home and lab the Hermitage. Franz Hopper worked day and night recreating his daughter in the dead girl's image. When he was finally successful, he called the girl Carmelita Hermitage, not wanting her to steal his real daughter's identity.

"What was so remarkable about his creation was that he had finally discovered a way for his android to predict a human's actions before they were actually initiated. It was nothing that normal humans couldn't decipher, for instance: Carmelita Hermitage could predict that Mr. Hopper would take was going to eat his food once he picked up his fork.

"But soon his invention got out of hand. Carmelita could predict the outcome of almost any event; she could inform Franz that he was going to find a lottery ticket outside the grocery store before the man even contemplated leaving the house.

"Franz Hopper wasn't daft; he saw the problem that was created. Firmly believing he could never destroy the girl he had even nicknamed 'Lita' and come to love as a real daughter, he found another solution. He created a program to restrain Carmelita – a humanoid form he had dubbed A.I.-Lita; an A.I. virtual form of the girl with a world composed of several towers that represented the different programs. The password to activate the programs wasn't complex- simply one letter difference of his deceased wife's name: Kyoko. (2)

"And here we are."

Odd was perhaps more confused than ever before. Yet what he had processed had made sense somewhat. "So you…you're than android he created? Carmelita Hermitage?" the teen questioned.

Lita nodded.

"Why haven't we heard of you, then?"

A giggle escaped from the android girl's throat, but she gave no reply. Odd wasn't exactly sure what to do with the awkward silence that followed. "I…suppose you know a lot about XANA, then, huh?"

The girl seemed to stiffen up slightly. "Yes…yes, I do."

"Any chance of you telling me what X.A.N.A. stands for?"

"X.A.N.A.," the girl explained, "Is short for Xanadu, a hypertext library diligently created by Ted Nelson that ended in a terrible failure after he worked on it for 30 years. It seems Franz Hopper found something useful about it – Lyoko is based on the hypertext language of Xanadu." (3)

"You know," Odd grinned sheepishly, "I understood about zip of what you just said." There was a brief pause. "I suppose Aelita's never talked of you because she hasn't recovered her memory. I can't wait to introduce you to my friends – you'll love them!"

Lita's demeanor instantly shifted from bright to accusing. "But you don't even like your friends! I saw it…I could tell. You hate what they're doing – pushing you away…"

"And what makes you say that? I care for my friends!" Odd spat, almost enraged at the accusation.

"But I've been watching you and them recently – they don't exactly care for you! And I can tell you know this and hate it because I can read people, remember?" Her voice held a familiar biting edge, then quickly changed tone, "I-I'm sorry Odd. I didn't mean to offend you like that; it's just, well, you're the first person I've talked to in so long that –"

"Ah - its okay, Lita. I understand. I'm…just not having the best of days." The blonde responded with his gaze exploring the mundane, blue surroundings.

'You know, I'd really like to know exactly what Jeremy is doing. Einstein, just give me some kind of sign so I know you're not dead!'

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(1) – I am basing the fact that Odd joined last on the 'Garage Kids' trailer. (The original idea for Code: Lyoko.)

(2) – A.I. is pronounced like 'I' or 'Ae'. I-Lita…Ae-lita…get it? Yeah, it does make sense now…

(3) – Yes, Xanadu and Ted Nelson are real. And for the record, I don't own them.

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Authors Note II
Ok, here's the first chapter – and don't kill me for "creating" Carmalita. Believe, she'll fit in. Oh, it'll all fit in.–wicked grin-

Also, to anyone who made it this far, thanks for reading!