Counter-Offensive

Disclaimer: I don't own Code: Lyoko.

A/N: This is the last part in the "Broken Heart" trilogy. If you haven't read "Broken Heart" and "Opening Moves", read those first, as you won't understand many of the details that I added to the Lyoko world.

Assault - Ulrich
After I saw Brian vanish off the computer screen, I took out my cell phone and dialed Jeremie's number. I saw careful not to call anyone, because my plan needed precise timing.

"Hello, Jeremie? It's Ulrich." I said, when the phone finished dialing.

"Ulrich? Is it great to hear you or what! Yumi's been worried sick!" Jeremie exclaimed. "Wait till I tell her that you're alive!"

"NO! Jeremie, don't tell Yumi. I have a plan, but I need you to listen. If Yumi knows I'm alive, the situation will be much, MUCH worse. X.A.N.A. has a plan, a dangerous one."

"What happened?"

"When I fell into the Void, a being known as Galatos contacted me, gave me more powers. However, while I was in his lair, I had a direct link with X.A.N.A. Galatos and X.A.N.A. are one and the same, but different at the same time, like two sides of the same coin."

"I see. But what's going on with X.A.N.A.?"

"He's planning to launch an all-out assault on Earth. He sees that the situation is worse; his loyal follower, Brian, the kid who attacked Odd at the dance, betrayed him, and sacrificed himself to hurt X.A.N.A. But he only hurt one-third of the enemy. The computer virus infecting Lyoko infected two enemies: X.A.N.A., and the other one. When X.A.N.A. was deleted by Brian, the two merged together. Now X.A.N.A. is stronger, and his virtual persona is faster."

"Holy… Ulrich, I've spotted some very strange activity on the Internet."

"It's him! What's the connection?"

"Currently, he's just linking with the clones. But, soon, he'll have enough power to coordinate an attack."

"Jeremie, have Yumi come to the factory. The plan's changed. The only way to win this right now is to keep X.A.N.A. from getting enough power to attack. Jeremie, if this fails…"

"I know. We won't have a choice but to unplug the computer. But let's do everything we can. We promised Aelita."

"Right. I'll wait for you; I'm at the factory. Ulrich, out."

Hanging up, I sat down on a bench, waiting for the two to come, while monitoring the computer for X.A.N.A.'s movements. In just a few minutes, I would meet a (probably angry) Yumi for the first time in about a week. I also began thinking about Brian. He seemed to have been just a plain clone… at first. But his sacrifice seemed… peculiar to me. Why did he use that particular move?

I heard the elevator open, and faint steps. Then… "Ulrich!" came Yumi's voice, as she ran into a hug. I embraced her. "I missed you."

"I know, Yumi, but now's not the time. We have a problem, as I'm sure Jeremie informed you. Also, Jeremie, I need you to revive my Lyoko avatar. I had to devirtualize myself manually." I said.

"Will do, Ulrich." Jeremie said, sitting down at the station. "Wait, this is strange… Ulrich, your avatar still has sixty life points!"

"That's impossible! I stabbed myself with my katana!" I exclaimed.

"Let's try it out. Ulrich, Yumi, head for the scanners."

"Right." Yumi and myself replied in unison, as we headed to the elevator and want down to the scanner. The room seemed more dark, more foreboding, than it did a week ago. Perhaps it was because of why we were here. A week ago we weren't facing the prospect of World War Three.

The scanners, their gold face seeming to glow in the darkness, opened, revealing the usual backdrop. I took my scanner, and Yumi took hers.

"Scanner, Yumi. Scanner, Ulrich." Jeremie's voice came on the intercom, and the scanner began emitting a white light. "Transfer, Yumi. Transfer, Ulrich." At this, I felt myself start hovering in midair. "Virtualization!" Then, a large breeze came, throwing my hair up, and I found myself in Lyoko, next to Yumi.

We were in the desert region, and Aelita joined us. Or at least, tried to. A blue beam went flying above her, and the blast sent her flying into a wall.

I looked around for the source of the attack, and spotted a huge, beetle-like monster. It seemed red, and the huge jaw seemed to be trying to bite Aelita. Instantly, I ran forward, standing over the injured Aelita, my katana drawn. "Yumi, I'll handle this." I said.

"But…" Yumi stammered out.

"Just get Aelita and run. I can handle him." I said, as I focused on the powers Galatos had given me.

"Ulrich… What's… What's happening?" Jeremie stammered out through the microphone.

"Don't worry. This is what I meant by a 'plan'." I replied, and charged forward at the beetle, which dodged my attack easily. I spun just as rapidly, and performed my Impact, hitting the beetle on the X.A.N.A. eye on it's shell. Then, I jumped back up, and the huge bug exploded. "Guess it's score one for the good guys." Then I landed on my feet, just as easily.

"Wow…" Yumi said, flabbergasted. Then she ran up and hugged me. "I'm glad you're back, Ulrich." I felt a slight burning on my face, and Yumi chuckled lightly.

"Let's just get this over with, eh, Yumi?" I asked, kissing her lightly on the cheek.

"Yes." She replied. "And then, how about a movie?"

"Um, hate to interrupt this, lovebirds, but we've got three minutes until the signal is sent!" Jeremie yelled, urgently.

"Right, right. No need to yell." I replied playfully, and then hardened, just in time to spot a huge barrage of lasers heading at us. "Everyone, get down!" At this, everyone dropped to the virtual sand, as the laser bolts flew over us, some coming so close that I felt my clothes start to get singed. Something began telling me to close my eyes, and I did so. Instantly, the virtual code of Lyoko appeared before me. I focused on the monsters attacking me, and deleted the code. Instantly, they exploded into pixels. "Well, let's go."

"One minute, guys!" Jeremie exclaimed.

Aelita took off at a run for the tower, which we had gotten near. Jeremie announced "thirty seconds" when Aelita entered the tower.

"So, Ulrich, how about that movie?" Yumi asked.

"Sure. Which one?" I asked.

"Oh, how about an action-romance?"

"Sure." That was when the white light that precedes the trip back in time swallowed us up.

Back in the real world, I wound up back in the factory. I began walking back to Kadic, carefully trying to decide what to say… And what not to say. I knew that I couldn't reveal the truth, but, on the other hand, I had to think of a convincing excuse for being away from school without permission for a week…

On the other hand, I did have a movie with Yumi to look forward to after the whole interrogation process, so things were looking up, especially if X.A.N.A. left us alone. But that's when I heard a gunshot, and knew that that would be impossible.

I looked around, and spotted a clone assaulting two kids. Now, I knew that attacking a clone that was armed with a shotgun was suicide, but there was no way I would let two innocent kids suffer for my cowardice, so I rushed the clone. It heard me coming, swung around, and fired off a wild shot at me, which shattered the streetlight behind me.

I raised my right leg to my side, pivoted on my left, and extended, delivering a powerful roundhouse to the side of the clone's head. It twisted, and fired another shot at me. This one hit my side, splattering the pavement with blood. I grabbed the clone's shotgun when it finished reloading, wrestled with it, and managed to force the clone to shoot itself in the chest. Then everything went black.

A/N: Oh, I am evil, eh? Have Yumi and Ulrich finally plan a date, only to get Ulrich attacked by a clone. Well, injuries will be pretty much standard fare until the last three or so chapters, but none will be as serious as this one (I just HAD to have at least one life-threatening problem in the first chapter, or else I couldn't call this a story by Drafonis!)