Lyoko, Mountain Sector

Just another routine mission. That's how it always starts. Jeremie's scanners have detected X.A.N.A. activating another tower in the Mountain Sector. There was no sign on what exactly the A.I. was planning, but it was clear the problem had to be resolved before anybody got hurt. So Odd, Ulrich, Yumi, and Aelita virtualized onto Lyoko and made their trek across the sector to get to the tower.

But this routine mission turned into a slaughter. The tower was located in a massive crater that had a path spiraling down along the wall like a funnel. Suspicion filled the air when there was not a single monster in sight. As it on cue, hundreds upon hundreds of Tarantulas, Kankrelats, and Bloks surrounded the perimeter. The creatures opened fire like a firing squad into the dust bowl while the Kankrelats scurried down the spiral path.

After twenty minutes of fighting, the Lyoko Gang were all still alive, though many of them only had about twenty to forty life points left. Aelita tossed an energy orb into a Blok, destroying it.

Inside every monster's subconscious, a voice spoke. Kill one, and another hundred replace it.

The creatures obeyed their master without haste. The overwhelmed warriors were still baffled at how X.A.N.A. is able to produce so many monsters in the same place, and why he was protecting this one tower with such ferocity.

"There's just no end to 'em!" Yumi commented as her fans ricochet off of two Kankrelats.

Ulrich deflected a laser with his sword. "Jeremie! Got a plan?"

Through his microphone, he said, "Just keep holding them off! Maybe I can override this program X.A.N.A. is using!"

And just like that, the monsters ceased fire. They stood their like mindless drones, leaving the warriors puzzled and quite uncomfortable.

I will direct this problem myself. A Tarantula jumped off the ledge and landed on all fours several feet away from the group. They kept their weapons at the ready. Jeremie's voice became static until the connection was cut off.

The spider-like monster began to twitch. It's arms bent in opposite directions, it's head cocked to the side, and it's entire body shook violently.

"What's it doing?" Aelita whispered.

The Tarantula stopped shaking. It stood on all fours ad looked straight at the team, staying as still as a statue. The creature's vocals became distorted, sounding like static.

"Hu-mans." It croaked. Yumi dropped her fans.

"Humans." It said i a much clearer, yet gravely tone.

"Looks like X.A.N.A.'s pets learned a new trick." Odd muttered as he prepared to fire a laser arrow, aiming right at the eye of X.A.N.A.

Aelita gently put her hand on his wrist, lowering it. "Wait a second, Odd. This...this isn't natural." She stepped forward, despite Ulrich putting a hand on her shoulder as a sign to step back.

"Who are you?" She asked inquisitively.

The Tarantula spoke in it's deep, gritty voice, "X86 Artificial NAT Antivirus. X.A.N.A."

Everyone but Odd were shocked to hear X.A.N.A. actually communicating with them. "Huh. So that's what it stands for."

There were so many questions the gang wanted to ask the being, but he had his own agenda. "We have been monitoring your world since the day we were reactivated. After gaining enough data within mere hours, we have finally reached a consensus-"

"We?" Aelita interrupted. "Who else is with you? Is there someone else besides you?"

After a pause, the Tarantula host scanned the individual members of the team. "No." He said flatly. "There is only X.A.N.A. We are one."

Yumi exchanged glances with Ulrich. "Then why do you refer to yourself as 'we.'" Yumi said in the most demanding voice possible.

There was another long period of silence. "No data available." X.A.N.A. replied, his voice was lifeless devoid of any feelings.

"What do you want?" Ulrich pointed his sword at the monster.

The A.I. scanned the sword. "Since our reactivation, we have slowly been spreading our influence across the global mainframe, keeping you in the dark with pathetic excuses for which you call, 'attacks.' And now we have full access to the world's nuclear weaponry."

Yumi dismissed this. "You're lying. Somebody would've detected it. A tower would be activated."

"The towers are a ruse. We never had any need for them. It was a distraction so you wouldn't realize our plan...until it was to late."

"And what plan is that?" Aelita demanded.

Another pause. "Nuclear annihilation."

"You wouldn't dare." Ulrich growled.

"Our consensus: The human race is to weak to live."

Odd waved his hand in dismissal. "Buddy, we could flip a switch and that would mean lights out for you. You're callin' that weak?"

X.A.N.A. explained, "The human race is weak. We planted a virus in the construct to test your mental strength. Killing us would kill the construct. You humans decided the fate of one lab accident was more valuable than the lives of billions. Machines have no attachments. We are therefore, superior."

"Construct?" Ulrich badgered. "What'd ya mean Aelita's a construct?"

"Irrelevant."

Aelita was not offended by the A.I.'s comment. She was rather intrigued. "And that's what makes humans and machines different. We have attachments that make us strong. Your kind just acts like a horde of mindless zombies."

X.A.N.A. computed. "Love. A wasteful emotion that only benefits the weak and the insecure. Creates weakness and sometimes, mutiny. Insufficient."

Out of anger, Yumi tossed her fan at the Tarantula, killing it.

The the group's left, X.A.N.A.'s staticy voice was heard coming from a Kankrelat. "We are everywhere." It slowly marched forward. "Anger. A dangerous emotion that clouds others thoughts and actions. Useful, yet unpredictable. Insufficient."

The small roach stopped in the place the Tarantula once stood. It's glowing red eye locked on Aelita.

Odd aimed at the monster host. "Let's cream this guy! He's probably to chicken to come out and face us."

"Odd!' Yumi hissed.

"What? If he's telling the truth, then the Earth's probably a microwave already!"

"Don't say that!" Aelita pleaded.

"Yeah, Odd." Ulrich smacked him upside the head.

The robot cut in on their argument. "There is away to stop the coming nuclear fire."

They all looked at the puny monster intently. "Do what we say."

Aelita stuttered. "Wh-What?"

"Do what we say. Use eachother like we use you. Do this, and we'll let you go. We'll let all of you go."

Their blood ran cold, just as their hearts stopped beating.