Code Lyoko: Season 5 - The Girl

Ulrich, Odd, Yumi, and Aelita sat at their usual spot in the lunch room. Ulrich watched Odd with a disgusted look on his face as Odd gobbled down every part in his meal, not stopping to enjoy the sanctity flavor of the crap Rosa called food. Yumi also watched Odd and did a face palm. Aelita just continued eating, some what like Odd, but not as messy or fast. Then, Jeremie came with his tray, as well as William. Jeremie sat down next to Yumi.

"So," Jeremie began. "I decided to do some research on that girl you all encountered yesterday, and guess what…"

Odd looked up from his meal to look at Jeremie. Aelita, Ulrich, and Yumi also stared.

"It turns out she lives in Sector 5, much like the Scyphozoa. The thing is, she can recover her life points and now they are signaling 1000. It seems she increased her power as well. I would really love to know how she survived in Lyoko even when the super computer was turned off."

"Maybe Lyoko itself never turned off." Odd suggested. Jeremie just looked at him. "Maybe turning off the super computer only closed the door to Lyoko, or the virtual world for that matter. Maybe while it was off, Lyoko was still alive."

Jeremie shook his head in thought. "If anything, I would love to get some data on this girl. She isn't from our world, that's for sure."

"You don't think Aelita had a twin, do you Jeremie?" Yumi asked.

"Impossible, otherwise she would be in the pictures with Aelita. Usually, twins are very close to each other, especially identical twins. If she is and was separated from her father and sister, then how did she come to Lyoko?" Jeremie asked her. Yumi looked down in puzzlement.

Ulrich spoke up. "Maybe Sector 5 may have some data on her."

Jeremie shook his head. "No, otherwise, we would have gotten it long ago. I believe I may be able to get some data if we can turn the tables on her. I'll go to the computer lab and try to straighten this thing out." Jeremie started packing his bag and pushed his lunch toward Odd until a mister Principle Delmas spoke up.

He cleared his throat. "Eh hem… your attention please, students. Your attention please."

"MR. DELMAS SAID QUIET!" barked a coach, Jim Morales.

"Um, thank you, Jim."

"No problem, sir, always happy to help." Jim responded.

"Now, students, I want to introduce you to two of our newest staff who will most possibly be spending a lot of time with all you border students, one of which is not here right now. Say hello, to Mr. Hunter eh… well, Hunter."

Principle Delmas motioned his hand to a broad man about in his 19's or 20's. He looked very young.

"Hey…" Ulrich whispered. "He's the guy I saw walking in the hallway yesterday, I was wondering what he was doing at this school and why he was inspecting the dorms." Jeremie and the others looked at him. He just stood behind Principle Delmas, with that same cold look on his face.

"Uh, Hunter, wouldn't mind saying a few words to the students?" Principle Delmas asked him. He nodded and walked forward.

"Hello to all of you." He said. His voice was stern, much like Ulrich's father, but it was also different and struck much more authority. "I am going to be your Dorm Instructor and Student Discipline Chief. I am hard, but I am also fair with any student given the actions he or she may have performed. Now, I am not here to scare you or make your life a living hell. I am here to protect you and keep you organized and well behaved. Is that clear!"

No students said anything. Even Sissi, with that big ego of hers, didn't say anything to this frightening individual.

"I said, is that clear!" he repeated.

"Yes sir!" the student body said. Jeremie and the others just looked at one another. Jeremie nodded at them and got up to walk to the factory. He headed for the door when Hunter grabbed his arm. Jeremie looked at him.

"And, just where exactly are you going, Mr. Belpois?" Hunter asked with that strong voice of his. Jeremie lowered his head a little.

"Um… to my, room."

"Students are not allowed in the dormitories during School Hours. Now, head back to your table and finish your lunch. You've got classes up ahead, and you must be well prepared."

"Uh, Mister Hunter." Principle Delmas stated. He put a hand on his shoulder and Hunter looked at him. "Jeremie Belpois is one of the finest students we have at this academy and is really well prepared for his future classes and life. I believe it's okay to let him slide by when he needs to." Hunter just looked back at Jeremie and then firmly let go of him. Jeremie could feel the blood resume circulating throughout his body again. Hunter scared him, if not, all the students here right now. Jeremie looked into his eyes to find anything suspicious, but the eye of XANA was no where, infact, nothing was in his eyes, as if he was trained to be like this or had his life been crushed and only wanted to insure others' lives didn't end like his.

"Fine." Hunter simply stated. "You may go to your room." He looked ahead of him and then proceeded to grab a tray. Principle Delmas patted Jeremie on the back and said "Good boy." and walked away as well. Jeremie continued outside and ran down the forest to the secret entrance in the woods. Jeremie climbed down the ladder and got his scooter. He then rushed to the factory, jumped down the ropes, and into the computer lab he went. He sat on the computer and started typing away as he put the mike to his ear by habit.

Now… if only I could contact this girl. Nah, she wouldn't. Well, time to get to work. It's time I create something that can grab data as well. We're going to need it.

Several hours later, in class, Yumi got a text from Jeremie. Yumi looked down at her phone, trying not to let the teacher see it. William became curious. "What is it, Yumi."

"Jeremie texted me, saying that he wants all of us at the factory as soon as school's done. We are going girl hunting."

William smiled. "So, we're going back to Lyoko again?"

Yumi nodded.

"Sweet!" William whispered. As the bell rang 24 minutes later, William and Yumi bolted out the classroom and met with Odd, Ulrich, and Aelita in the park.

"So…" Odd stated. "We all going to the factory?"

"Jeremie said he wanted to meet us there." William said. "Best not keep him waiting."

The others nodded in agreement and opened the opening to the sewers. They headed down the ladder and on the way they were to the factory. In what seemed like seconds, the group were in the elevator and now in the computer lab. They walked to Jeremie and surrounded him as usual for their mission briefing. Jeremie looked at them all and smiled.

"So…" he started. "Are you all ready to go back to sector 5?"

Everyone nodded. "Alright then. Now listen, I only have one rule. Don't, kill the girl." The others looked at him in confusion. "She may have more data we could need in the future, but she is still very dangerous, so don't get caught alone with her. Now, I have created a way to drain information out of this girl, so, who wants the attachment for this round?" Yumi raised her hand.

"I guess I'll do it."

Jeremie nodded. "Alright then. Head down to the scanner room, I'm sending you all in."

The group nodded and headed into the elevator. Then, the elevator took them to the scanner room. The door opened. Yumi and Aelita stepped in their respective scanners. The doors closed.

"Transfer Aelita, Transfer Yumi. Scanner Aelita, Scanner Yumi. Virtualization!" Jeremie hit the key.

INSIDE LYOKO

Aelita and Yumi landed on the rotating XANA eye on the floor of the dome area. Then Odd, Ulrich, and William landed behind them. The corridor opened and the group ran toward it. They continued down the corridor and then stopped at the intersection room.

"Hey, Einstein?" Odd asked. "Which way do we go, right or left?"

OUTSIDE LYOKO

Jeremie positioned his mike. "Um, I guess left. She lives in that area of Sector 5, though she could have wandered somewhere else."

INSIDE LYOKO

The group continued into the corridor and it soon became darker. Aelita formed an energy field.

"You guys be careful, XANA is getting back to his old power level. He may send monsters."

"Relax, Jeremie." Yumi said. "XANA isn't in Lyoko anymore, he probably doesn't know we're here."

The group continued further. They made a right turn. Then shortly, a left. Then another left and stopped at the cliff. They found themselves in the same room of the dome area.

Ulrich looked up. "Jeremie, we're going to need our vehicles."

"Coming right up, just give me a second. Okay, done!"

The vehicles materialized in front of them. Odd jumped on his Over board while Yumi got on her Over wing with Aelita. Ulrich jumped on his Over bike. William just looked around.

"Uh… Jeremie? What do I use?" William asked.

"Maybe you should ask one of them. I don't have a vehicle for you yet… It'll take me some time to make one from scratch, just like the others, but it shouldn't be that long."

William looked at Odd.

"Sorry, buddy. I only fly solo." Odd replied doing a wavy like motion with his arm and hand. William looked at Ulrich.

Ulrich only shook his head, he still didn't seem happy about William coming to Lyoko with them. William looked at Yumi and Aelita.

"Sorry." Yumi said, motioning to Aelita. "I already have a passenger."

OUTSIDE LYOKO

Jeremie got an irritated look on his face. "Alright, I understand you all don't feel comfortable with William there, but we got a bigger problem to face than your feelings. Ulrich, I can understand yours… kinda. Now, someone decide who William will ride with."

INSIDE LYOKO

Yumi looked at Odd. "Come on, Odd, don't be so sexist. Let him ride with you."

"He did save you after all." Aelita supported.

"No way." Odd said shaking his head. "Unlike you, Aelita, William's heavier and it will only mess up the aerodynamics my Over Board has."

"That's it, if you all can't decide, I will. Aelita, get off of Yumi's Over Wing and stay with Odd. William, you partner up with Yumi. And no, Ulrich, you can't say anything. I have had it with the tears in this group. We recruited him and you will be a TEAM in Lyoko, got that?"

Everyone else nodded. Aelita got off the Over Wing and nodded to William with that smile of hers. She mounted up on Odd's Over Board. William proceeded to getting on with Yumi.

"Uh…" William said. "Where do I grab?"

"My hips, William." Yumi answered. William grabbed her hips and he felt a warm, but nervous feeling in him. Yumi noticed this. "Any higher, and it won't be falling off you have to worry about."

William held his hands forward in self-defense. "Okay, Okay. I got it, chill. I'm not that kind of guy."

Yumi smirked at him.

"Okay you 5, time to go after her."

"You got it, Einstein!" Odd exclaimed. He was the first to take the lead. Ulrich and Yumi drove off after him.

Ulrich looked at Odd. "I can't wait to see what this side of Sector 5 looks like."

"I can't either." Odd told him. "Something tells me that we are going be needing a flashlight though, it's getting even darker."

Aelita smiled at Odd. "I can't wait to see where this girl stays."

One after the other, they headed into the corridor and soon, another doorway came. It looked like a ventilation shaft sort of passage. Aelita looked upwards.

"Jeremie, I don't think we can fit our vehicles through here, and it looks like a secret passage."

"Naturally, I'd tell two of you to keep going down the path, but since this is uncharted territory, 3 of you are going to leave the vehicles and the other 2 will guard them. Yumi, Odd, it'd be best for you two to stay behind. Ulrich, Aelita, William, you go into the holeway."

"Alright, Jeremie." Aelita replied. She ushered Odd to drive the Over board close enough to the hole to crawl in. He did so and Aelita put one arm in, then the next. Finally, one knee and the with a bit of push from Odd, Aelita crawled in. She shot a look at Odd for pushing her, who only gave her one of those smiles of his. She shook her head and continued. Yumi piloted her Over Wing next to the hole. She nodded at William. He looked at the hole and cautiously crawled in. He didn't want the group to blame him for another mistake he would make, so any decision here had to be thought out before he acted on it. He crawled in after Aelita. His sword made a dragging sound and everyone looked at it. Willaim made a I-didn't-mean-to look to Aelita who only slightly shook her head and smiled at him. She offered to help William with his heavy sword and Ulrich was the last to crawl in.

They made their way deeper in the hole, and soon, a cliff-way came. Aelita gasped when she almost crawled out of the hole and fell. "Looks like it's a dead-end." Aelita told them.

William shook his head. "We can't see anything, how can you tell if it's a dead end or not? Use one of your little energy balls to make more light again."

Aelita looked forward and held out her hand. Soon, an energy field formed and some light was given to them. What astounded them all was the sight of an enormous dark room. It was full of darkness and only one path was in the room. It was a T like path. Aelita activated her wings and fell out of the hole. She gained altitude and hoisted William out of the hole. She struggled to carry him AND his sword to the path. She let him down and he smiled up at her. She nodded at him and flew to get Ulrich. He was easier to carry and she landed him on the same path William stood. Aelita finally let go of her wings and landed next to them. She lit up another energy field and started walking. They continued silently for awhile until they saw something that astounded them.

Odd and Yumi waited near the vent hole… thing path to guard the 3 vehicles. Odd looked Yumi up and down. Yumi eyes looked at him in a suspicious way.

"What are you doing?" Yumi asked.

"Uh…" Odd turned away, blushing slightly. "Nothing, just kinda, sizing you up, that's all."

Yumi turned to him and put her hand on her hip. "What would you need to size me up for?"

"You know, to see if you're, uh… Ulrich's speed! Yeah, that's it, Ulrich's speed." Odd finished, crossing his arms and grinning widely. Yumi just looked at him.

"Are you sure Odd. You turned away pretty quickly… were you hiding that blush I see."

"NO!" Odd denied. "Of course not, you're not that pretty."

Yumi got offended by this and Odd caught the danger. He waved his hands in front of him. "Not that way, I mean, you're just…"

"I hope you have head insurance, Odd. I know what you meant, you think I'm ugly, don't you?"

"No, I don't, I swear! I didn't mean it like that!"

Yumi growled at him. She took out one of her fans. "Odd… you better clear this away and quick."

"Hey you two. Don't cause any trouble, we don't want XANA knowing we are here. Remember what I said, a team in Lyoko."

Yumi just looked at Odd.

Odd got a worried look. "Please, Yumi, you know I didn't mean that. Listen, if it helps…" Odd put his paws together and bowed to her. "I'm sorry."

"Oh, so now you're making fun of my heritage, is that it?"

Odd shot up in fright. "No! Yumi, I mean I am sorry, I am truly sorry!"

Yumi just sighed and turned away. "Odd, until you can come up with a proper reason why you said that and a proper apology, please don't speak to me, don't even look at me."

Odd sighed. "Yes ma'am…"

Aelita, Ulrich, and William all just stood there at what they were seeing.

Ulrich looked forward. "Is, is that-"

Aelita cut him off. "Yes, it is."

William looked at them. "Then let's stay quiet."

They nodded in agreement as they crept toward the thing they saw. Infront of them, the mysterious girl was sleeping on a big, soft cube which was at floor level with the 3 paths. It conjoined them. Ulrich, William, and Aelita crept up to her until they set foot on the cube. It felt plushy.

"Shh…" Aelita told Ulrich and William. "We don't want to wake her up."

All 3 of them surrounded her and Aelita then carefully and quietly got over her. She looked her dead in her closed eyes in amazement. She appeared almost exactly as she did before Jeremie updated their uniforms. Aelita looked at her eyelids. It looked like her eyes were moving rapidly… she was dreaming. Aelita looked upwards.

"Jeremie…" she whispered. "Should this girl be dreaming?"

OUTISE LYOKO

Jeremie leaned in to the monitor. "You found her?"

"Yes, Jeremie." Aelita replied over the monitor. "I am right over her. She's… sleeping… and dreaming."

Jeremie smiled. "Well, it seems XANA created an actual human being! This is amazing!"

INSIDE LYOKO

Aelita just looked at her.

"I never thought XANA had the kind of intelligence to create a human being who could dream, let alone sleep in Lyoko! But still, be careful around her, she is still a threat. I'm going to get Yumi into the room while she is still sleeping. If that girl catches you, she might alert that monster in the room."

Aelita, William, and Ulrich all looked forward in fear. There was a monster in the room somewhere else. William looked behind him.

"It could be that red manta ray thing." he whispered.

Aelita and Ulrich nodded in agreement. Then, all of a sudden, the girl moved in her sleep, hitting one of Aelita's arms, causing Aelita to lose balance and fall onto the sleeping girl. Aelita closed her eyes tightly.

Odd looked at Yumi in a guilty way. He sighed once more. "Yumi… I-"

"Yumi, Odd, you have to get into the room Ulrich and the others are in. The girl is in there. Yumi, when you get there, I'll tell you what to do when we have her in our grasp."

Yumi nodded. "Got it, Jeremie." Yumi used her telekinesis to take Ulrich's Over Bike with her. "Jeremie, which way do I go?"

"Sorry, Yumi. I can't guide you there, but it's not far. Look for any left turns next to the wall in the path your in."

"But, Jeremie." Yumi whined. "We can't see anything in front of us. How are we supposed to pilot through this darkness." Odd's face brightened.

"I'll lead the way! I believe I can do so."

Yumi squinted at him. "And how are you going to do that, insult the darkness?"

"Hey, Yumi. Chill. You know Odd would never call you ugly, so, give him a break. Anyway, we got more important things to handle. Now, Odd, if you believe you can navigate through your path, be my guest, just don't do anything stupid."

Yumi groaned. Odd just sighed. "Sure, Jeremie, don't worry. Yumi will be perfectly safe, she's in good hands." Odd then surfed in front of Yumi and offered her to grab his tail. Yumi just looked up from her cage with a sad expression on her face and just looked at him. She had her arms crossed as if she was trying to hide something. Odd got a soft look on his face.

"Yumi, please… I didn't mean that. Now please, grab my tail and hang on, I'll go really slow, you won't get hurt." Odd assured her.

Yumi sighed and slowly grabbed the tail. She had gone from anger to hurt. She never expected Odd, out of all people, to say or suggest something like that. It hurt her very much.

Odd smiled and started going forward slowly. He put his paws against the wall and felt for another path. He soon felt an outer-corner, a left turn. He took it. Yet again, he had another wall to go through. He kept going and after what seemed like an hour to them, stopped. He sighed.

"Jeremie, for 'wall' we know, we could've passed the entrance to the room we are going to." Odd told him.

Yumi got a worried look on her face.

"Uh… I don't know what to do. Go back to the hole, looks like Yumi will have to go on her own in the hole."

Odd then noticed something behind him. "Uh, Einstein, I don't think we can this minute. I can see something." Odd pointed to a glowing XANA and Yumi looked at it also. She gasped. The dark creature then charged a laser and shot it at them. Yumi didn't have time to pull out her fan and flinched as the laser came her way. She didn't feel anything. She opened her eyes to see nothing in front of her but the XANA eye. She looked down the see Odd hanging onto her Over Wing for his life. His claws were deep in it, but they were slowly slipping. Odd's chest had electricity around it, he took the hit for her. One of Odd's claws came loose.

"Yumi, help!" Odd yelled.

Yumi gasped in horror as Odd was starting to lose his last grip. She reached down, but the creature shot her again. She winced in pain as she grabbed her right shoulder and looked up to the creature. She got a stern look on her face. She pulled out a fan and threw it at the XANA eye that gave off the creature's position. The fan cut the XANA eye and the creature roared and fell, then exploded. Yumi then looked at Odd's position… what she saw, shocked her. Odd was no longer there.

"Ah… Odd!" Yumi yelled while reaching where he was. "No, I was too late." Yumi kneeled down on the Over Wing and a tear came to her eye.

OUTSIDE LYOKO

Jeremie sat back in his chair with a worried look on his face. He positioned the mike and looked at Odd's card. It was still yellow. "Odd. Odd… can you hear me?" His shoulders slumped in disappointment. Then, Odd's Life Points went from 100 to 0. Jeremie flinched. Odd's card faded, but no scanner window pulled up, signaling of his safe return. Jeremie just looked at the monitor and then after a minute, he repositioned the mike to let Yumi know of the news.

INSIDE LYOKO

Yumi just kept looking down.

"Yumi, I don't know how to say this… but Odd's Life Points are 0 and no scanners opened up. He's not here on Earth… I believe he fell into the void."

Yumi's face got a shocked expression. She looked down in disbelief and reached her hand downward. "Odd… ODD!" She yelled. She slumped on her Over Wing crying. She couldn't believe she let Odd fall to his death. She hammered the Over Wing with an angry face as she cried into her arm.

OUTSIDE LYOKO

Jeremie just sat there in grief. He couldn't believe Odd was gone. He looked away from the monitor and shut his eyes tight, trying to wake up from the nightmare. He knew Yumi couldn't continue with the mission in the mental state she was now in. He repositioned his mike. "Yumi… I'm, so sorry. If you want, you can go back to the Dome Area and I'll materialize you."

INSIDE LYOKO

Yumi looked up from her arm, her eyes puffy and red from the sobbing she was doing. She sniffled and just looked up. "I can't believe I done that! It's all my fault!"

OUTSIDE LYOKO

Jeremie put his hand to his chin. "Maybe not. Remember the first time you all got devirtalized in Sector 5, and I couldn't bring you back. Well, maybe the same is for this area. Listen, we are aborting the mission and-"

"Jeremie, just be quiet, please." Yumi said over the monitor.

INSIDE LYOKO

Yumi continued to look down. She sighed. "Just, let me be on my own for now… I would rather just stay alone." Yumi curled up into a ball. Then, she heard something. She pushed it off as a hallucination. Then, she heard it again. Yumi! Yumi looked downward. "Odd?"

"Yumi!" someone replied.

"ODD!" Yumi yelled louder.

"I could use a hand here… please!"

Yumi bobbed her head up and down. She grabbed the handle of the Overwing and piloted down to see Odd hanging on the wall, half of his body in some line of dark digital code which flowed through the darkness, the void. Yumi grabbed his arm and hoisted him up with the strength her adrenaline was giving her. She then pulled Odd into a hug.

OUTSIDE LYOKO

Jeremie leaned forward to the monitor in amazement as Odd's card flashed back yellow and bright and his life points were at 50! "What, what happened!"

INSIDE LYOKO

Odd just looked at Yumi, who slightly cried onto his shoulder as she hugged him. He slowly hugged back. Yumi then pulled away from him to face him. "Don't you ever do that again, you here!" Yumi told him. Odd smiled.

"I won't, I'm sorry."

Yumi pulled him in for another hug. "I know you are… I know you are."

"Uh, what happened down there?"

Yumi once again, pushed away from Odd and looked upward. "I found Odd hanging on the wall. Half of his body was in some flowing, digital code of some kind."

OUTSIDE LYOKO

Jeremie started pulling up some windows and then found the answer. "Ah ha! I found it. Odd was in the digital void, the emptiness of Sector 5. I guess when some one is in it, they become untraceable, uncommunicatable, and are marked as dead. When you pulled Odd out, the super computer must have regained contact with him again."

INSIDE LYOKO

Yumi flew Odd back to his Over Board and used telekenisis to drag Ulrich's bike along with them. She looked at Odd. He motioned to his tail, which she grabbed without hesitation.

Aelita was frozen in fear as she lied on top of the girl. She moved her head a little and merely went back to sleep. Aelita sighed and pushed herself up. The girl simply squirmed around to reposition herself into a comfortable state in her sleep. Aelita stood up.

"I swear I could feel her heart beating in there." Aelita told them.

William stepped forward. "Well, let's just sit tight until Yumi and Odd arrive, I wonder what's taking them so long."

Ulrich chuckled a little at William's stupidity. "What do you think? XANA is. And as far as I know, he could be sending that monster at us right now."

"No, the monster hasn't moved an inch."

Aelita walked over the girl. "I wonder what her name is…" Aelita softly rubbed the girl's cheek, then all of a sudden, they heard someone.

"Hey!" Yumi called out from afar. "Wouldn't mind giving me a hand?"

Aelita smiled and started running Yumi's direction and activated her wings. She then jumped from the path and gained flight. Yumi waited as Aelita came towards her with an energy field to light up the darkness. They locked hands and off they flew to the path. As soon as they landed, they ran to the girl. Yumi looked up.

"Jeremie…" she whispered. "What do I do now?"

"Okay, here's what you do. First off, you see the device on your left wrist. Well, I decided to take a look at some of the data that was recorded on some fights with Aelita's old pal, the Scyphozoa. I took some data, copied it, and made a draining type weapon that I can only equip on one person per trip. Yumi, you said you wanted to do it, well, here you go. Just point your left arm at the girl and concentrate. The program will automatically update your mind and you'll know exactly what to do next. Any data we suck from her will be given to me. Don't stop until I say so."

"Okay, Jeremie." Yumi nodded. She aimed her left arm at the girl and focused on her. To her amazement, tentacles similar to the Scyphozoa launched out of Yumi's arm and wrapped around the girl as they used to Aelita. The girl then awoke in a shocked state of mind.

"Huh!" The girl yelled while looking around her, still waking from her dream. She then stared at the Lyoko warriors surrounding her. She yelled.

Aelita and the others smiled in amusement and victory.

"What's going on, what are you all doing in my room!" The girl started squirming around, but the paralysis was keeping her from escaping. Yumi smiled as she moved three of the tentacles to the girl's head. One on each temple, and the last on the forehead, and then, they glew. The girl's face froze in fear as data started flowing out of her and into Yumi.

OUTSIDE LYOKO

Jeremie smiled as a window appeared and the girl's data and memory came up. "Great job you guys, keep it up. In no time flat, we'll have more than enough information to find out where XANA is hiding." He then leaned toward the screen.

INSIDE LYOKO

Yumi laughed in amusement. "This is so fun, now I know why the Scyphozoa liked you so much Aelita".

"Don't remind me of it." Aelita replied in laughter.

"Hey guys. I found out something. The girl has a name. Her name, is Mia."

"You mean like the name you gave me?"

"Yep, seems like XANA isn't so creative after all. But anyway, I got here that she has no form of self-defense what-so-ever. It seems like she is also mentally connected with something else… something-"

They then heard a sound, the sound of a manta. William turned around. "You mean like the Red Manta." William pointed at it. The entire Lyoko group turned around to face it."

"Everyone, protect Yumi as she continues to grab the data. But be careful, this monster has about 500 Life Points."

"Ain't that a bit too much?" Ulrich asked.

The Red Manta fired at Yumi. Yumi saw the laser and let go of Mia so she could dodge the blast.

OUTSIDE LYOKO

Jeremie's window disconnected. "Huh?" Hmm… it seems like in order for me to access her, you have to keep her in the Slicter's grasp. That's the name of the equipment, Slicter."

INSIDE LYOKO

The girl fell and the Red Manta charged straight for her. She landed on it's back in a woozy like state as it flew toward another corridor below. Yumi and the others ran to ledge to see Mia be taken away from them. Yumi clenched her fist. "Darn."

Ulrich looked at Yumi. "It's okay, Yumi. One blast from that monster, and you'd be in the factory with Jeremie."

Yumi nodded.

"Hey, guys." William said. They looked his direction. "We are not alone."

All 3 of them looked at what William was pointing at. Three glowing XANA eyes were moving in the darkness.

"Oh no…" Yumi complained.

Then, the XANA eyes moved and they heard some roars. They fired their directions, with horrible aim. Yumi blocked a laser with her fan. Aelita stood behind Yumi and fired an energy field at the XANA eye. It made contact and the creature fell and blew up. Aelita nodded at Ulrich. He faced the way they had came.

"Super Sprint." Ulrich said to himself, and he dashed with amazing speed. When he got close enough, he jumped to the side and reached for the hole. His eyes widened as he misjudged his distance and began to fall. He screamed when he felt a paw grab hold of his hand. He looked up, trying to see through the darkness. Then, he heard Odd's voice.

"Happy to see me?"

"Very funny." Ulrich commented. He crawled in after Odd and they made contact with their vehicles.

"Hey, Ulrich. Follow me, hang on to my tail, I did some looking around."

"Oh no…" Ulrich again commented. He grabbed hold and off they were. He felt himself go down and up for a little while, then a sharp left turn. Ulrich looked up to see a glowing figure above him. "There!"

Odd looked up and saw her. "Yeah, that's her alright." Odd headed up and Ulrich decided to go on his own path.

Mia noticed Odd and Ulrich on her tail. She gasped. She patted the Red Manta. It screeched and started laying flying mines.

Ulrich and Odd gasped as they began to dodge flying mines.

"I can't see anything out here!" Odd yelled.

"Don't worry." Ulrich told him, pointing at a corridor with light coming out. They flew in after the Red Manta and it's mate. After the light dimmed out, Ulrich and Odd smirked as they dodged more mines, easier now. Ulrich looked at Odd. "And God said, "Let there be light."

"Very funny, Ulrich." Odd commented.

At once, they boosted ahead of them. Then got in a line next to Mia. "Hey, beautiful."

Mia looked at him with that same look of fear on her face.

"Happy to see me, again?"

"No, I'm not happy at all." Mia replied. She patted her Red Manta and it dove to reveal two more blue mantas head for them.

"Uh oh." Ulrich said. "Jeremie, we got company."

"Don't worry, I'm directing the girls and William out of the room. In the meantime, survive and keep up with Mia. She's getting away."

"Alright, Einstein." Odd exclaimed. "Nothing like surfing and dodging lasers that could kill you, yes sirree." Odd then boosted forward. "Ulrich, you go after Mia, I got the sushi."

Ulrich smirked. "Okay, but only because it's you." Ulrich sped ahead. Odd turned around and fired several arrows at the mantas. They dodged all of them and dove down and then elevated back behind Odd and chased him down. "Wow, what a couple of tailgaters." Odd boosted up. The mantas charge at him. They started firing, one by one. Each laser missing until the next hit Odd in the tricep. "Ow. Hey, that hurts you know."

"Odd, you only got 30 life points left, don't waste them."

"I'd like you to come down here and see what being shot at is like." Odd faced back and shot at the mantas. One finally hit the Eye of XANA on it's back. It exploded. Odd clenched a fist in front of him and pulled it down with a "yeah". He faced forward again and sped up. The manta got Odd in it's line of fire and charged up a shot. It fired. Odd looked behind him to find the laser hit and devirtualize him. "No!" Odd yelled when he disappeared. The manta made a laughing sound and sped back to aid Mia.

For Mia, things weren't going so well. Mia patted the Red Manta and it tried to ram Ulrich off of his bike for several minutes now.

"That's it." Ulrich said. "I'm getting tired of going easy on you." He stood on his bike and jumped on top of Mia. She hit the back of her Red Manta as Ulrich's feet stood on both wrists. She tried to pull them out, but Ulrich held a sword to her neck. She gasped in fear.

"Make another move, and you won't be riding again." Ulrich threatened. She winced at the thought and moved her head away so she wouldn't have to face him. Ulrich stood tall.

"Jeremie, I got her subdued, where's Yumi?"

"Just a bit of a problem."

Way in the back, Yumi, Aelita, and William were speeding their way when the blue manta emerged from the light above them. They turned to face it as it chased them down and fired lasers. William proceeded in blocking them for the girls. Aelita jumped off the Over Wing to give William and Yumi some room. She activated her wings, gained altitude, and started flying ahead. The manta repeatedly shot at William, but he kept blocking, his sword getting heavier.

"Yumi, I want you to duck." William told her. Yumi nodded and ducked. William swung his sword back, and slashed it in the direction of the manta. A disc of energy shot toward the manta and cut right through it, taking it out. Yumi smiled and pinched William's cheek.

"You're a natural, you know that." Yumi commented.

"Yeah, now lets go get that girl." William said.

Yumi sped up to catch up with Ulrich. Meanwhile, Mia was struggling to get loose. She looked at the Red Manta. She pat it one of her hands and it started moving faster. Ulrich noticed the speed increase.

"Hey, just what are you trying to do- Wha!"

Ulrich held his arms up to guard his face from the ceiling block that was coming at him. He hit it and bounced right off of Mia. She appeared in Ulrich's sight facing at him and she smiled. She stuck out her tongue at him. She then disappeared on the Red Manta's back. Ulrich yelled as he continued to fall when Aelita grabbed him. He looked up at Aelita, happy to see her. She smiled back and flew up. They reached his Over Bike and both of them sat on it in relief.

"Man, I wish you had come sooner." Ulrich said to her.

"I wish there was atleast a floor down there… Let's go." Ulrich boosted and soon saw Yumi and William behind them.

"Hey, where's Odd?" Yumi asked.

"I guess he got devirtualize if you didn't see him back there. He ran off to fight both of the mantas."

"Hmm…" Yumi said. "There was only one, he must have got devirtualized by the one that attacked us."

"Maybe." Ulrich replied. "Let's go."

The 4 warriors boosted in the direction of the Red Manta and the girl. Far up ahead, the Red Manta let Mia get off onto a block that was sticking itself out as a half bridge. She looked to the Red Manta as it faced her, then it turned around and charged to the Lyoko Warriors that were chasing them. It screeched and Mia then turned around and started down the path. She paused, looked back at the Manta as it disappeared behind the block to fight for her life. She looked down and then ran off without looking back. She was worried that her friend wasn't going to make it.

With the Lyokians, they didn't feel the same way.

"Guys, make your next right turn and go onto the next path you find to right side of you."

"Got it, Jeremie." Aelita replied as Ulrich made the turn.

"Uh oh, Jeremie, we got big trouble headed our way." Ulrich informed him.

"You're right Ulrich, Mia's Manta is headed your direction. Be careful, one shot, and it's game over."

Ulrich nodded.

"Ulrich." William said. Ulrich looked his direction. "Do you think you and Aelita can hold it off for Yumi and I?"

"Oh no…" Ulrich said, shaking his head. "It'll be me and Yumi going after her, we work better together. You stay with Aelita."

"I don't mind staying with William, as long as we use the Over Bike, it's more flexible for battle than the Over Wing." Aelita said. Yumi smiled.

"Okay, but let's switch fast." she instructed. The others nodded. Ulrich jumped on Yumi's Over Wing while William jumped to the Over Bike. William tripped while climbing on and almost fell. Aelita quickly reached down and grabbed him. She then hoisted him up onto the Over Bike and they smiled at each other.

"Alright, Yumi and I are off." Ulrich informed.

"We got the manta." Aelita said.

"Yeah," William told them. "Don't worry, we will handle the big, bad monster." William smirked.

And with that, Ulrich and Yumi sped off. However, this Manta was unlike the others. It turned it's attention to the closest threat and fired at them. Ulrich dodged the rapid lasers trying to hit them. Yumi then pulled out a fan and blocked a laser that was aimed at Ulrich's head. He looked at her in satisfaction as she smiled back. The Red Manta fired more accurate shots at them, but they passed thanks to Yumi's blocking. The Red Manta turned around when an energy field hit it. It turned around to see Aelita charging up another one and William and herself coming at it. It screeched and charged at them.

Ulrich and Yumi soon reached the corridor Mia had taken. They got off the Over Bike and ran down the corridor, and soon, a square like room that had their path shortly ended. They looked to their left to see blocks rising from the bright light below as platforms winding against the wall, leading to an elevated floor across from them. They both watched as Mia was making another jump, and slowly climbed her way up onto the platform. She was about halfway there. Ulrich nodded at Yumi and super sprinted to the platforms. One by one, he jumped them and quickly caught up to Mia. She looked as Ulrich now stood on the platform she was on. She walked backwards until she reached the edge of the platform.

"It's over, Mia. Now cooperate and you won't be harmed." Ulrich told her.

Instead of cooperating, she turned around and ran and jumped onto another platform. She started running for the next when Ulrich sprinted in front of her. She stood, shocked at Ulrich's speed and agility. She stepped back when she bumped into Yumi. She made a sound as she turned around to find her. She stepped back.

"Please, don't do this." Mia pleaded to her.

"Don't worry." Yumi said… "You won't feel a thing." Yumi aimed her arm at her and in a second, the tentacles shot out and grabbed her. Mia tried to struggle free, but Yumi had her held tight. Soon, the three tentacles made their way to her head, and they did their routine. Yumi smiled.

"Great job, Yumi. I have access again. Ulrich, be sure to guard her."

"Got it, Jeremie." Ulrich said. I wouldn't do anything less than protect her.

Meanwhile, Aelita and William were struggling against the Mia's Manta. Aelita navigated through the field of flying mines as the Red Manta stayed in one place, firing at them like a turret gun. William was in charge of blocking the shots. After 3 shots, his sword was glowing pure red and was shaking rapidly. William slung it back, and then swung at his enemy. A red disc discharged from William's sword and it moved fast at the Red Manta. The Red Manta managed to dodge the disc of energy and in a flash, shot at William. He couldn't dodge the hit and got devirtualized. Aelita was on her own. The Red Manta looked down the path and screeched. It then flew in the direction Yumi and Ulrich were.

"Oh no…" Aelita told herself. "Jeremie, warn Ulrich and Yumi, the Red Manta is headed their direction! It's coming fast!"

OUTSIDE LYOKO

Jeremie sat at the computer, typing up commands. "I know, I'll warn them." He typed a bit more. "Ulrich, Yumi. Bad news."

INSIDE LYOKO

Ulrich looked up.

"William's down and Aelita can't keep up with the Red Manta. It's coming your way to reclaim Mia."

Ulrich looked forward. "That's all we needed, Mia's little play mate."

"And I think it wants to play Cat and Mouse." Yumi commented. Then, familiar roars were heard. Ulrich and Yumi looked to the elevated platform at the end to see 4 creepers. They charged and fired. Ulrich blocked the first two, but the third hit him in the shoulder and the fourth missed.

"Dang, I hate creepy crawlies." Yumi said.

"I don't mind them at all." Ulrich said. "I'll go after them." Ulrich sprinted after them, dodging the incoming lasers. He sliced the creepers in no time and put up his swords. "No sweat."

"Yumi, look out!"

"Huh?" Yumi said before a laser hit her dead in the chest. She fell down and devirtualized as Mia fell to the floor. The Red Manta emerged from the corridor and flew around the room and in front of Ulrich. He stepped backwards as the Red Manta cornered him. He pulled out his swords to defend himself when Mia tackled him into the ground. Ulrich looked at her as she formed red glowing vein like material in her palms and fired them at Ulrich's wrists and ankles. Ulrich was now completely powerless as Mia forcefully kissed him.

OUTSIDE LYOKO

Jeremie looked at Ulrich's card as Odd, William, and Yumi looked at it. The same blue number appeared under Ulrich's Life Points count and started going down. Yumi squinted. Jeremie positioned his mike. "Aelita, you're the only one left, and Ulrich is in trouble."

INSIDE LYOKO

Aelita finally reached the platform leading into the corridor. She stepped off the Over Wing and walked onto the half bridge. "Okay, Jeremie. I'm on it."

"You be careful, you here. That Red Manta is in the room guarding both of them, if Ulrich's blue number hits Zero, I don't know what could happen."

"Don't worry Jeremie. I'll take care of it. But, do I hurt the girl?"

Aelita ran in and soon reached the room where Ulrich, Mia, and the Red Manta were in. The Red Manta looked Aelita's direction and started flying at her and firing.

"If it will get her off of him, yes. If you can, kill her. The data I could gain in the future could help, but I will need a lot more time to decode it. You got two options when you confront her, if you have the equipment, use it on her, if not, I'd rather you kill her."

Aelita nodded. She jumped to dodged a laser. She formed an energy field and fired it at Mia. It slung Mia off of Ulrich with a massive push, which forced her against the wall. Aelita then fired another energy field at the Red Manta. It hit and the Red Manta shook rapidly, out of control. Aelita proceeded to free Ulrich and soon stood over him. She pulled the veins off with a lot of effort involved. Ulrich stood up and they smiled.

"Seems like they can only be pulled off by someone not being held down by them." Aelita told him

"Yeah." Ulrich said while nodding. Then he looked at Mia. She sat there in a daze. He took out his sword. "Well, since Yumi's gone, no point in sparing you. Time for you to go-" Ulrich was interrupted when he fell and devirtualized. Aelita gasped and turned around in time to be shot by the Red Manta. It then flew around the room and swooped down and swiped Mia off the floor and flew into the corridor they came in.

OUTSIDE LYOKO

Jeremie put down his mike as the windows closed when Mia disappeared off the screen. He rotated his chair and got off.

"Well, we managed to uncover some data, but not much yet. But I think I may have found a way using the data we got to remake the Skidbladnir."

Yumi smiled. "Great. Well, we have had enough for one day, it's time to get home."

"Yeah." William agreed. "If Jim catches us out this late, we will be in some huge trouble."

Odd looked at him. "Hey, I thought you fought the power?"

"Well, Odd. Now that I'm a part of your group, I should try to stay in school, right?"

Jeremie nodded. "Yes, you should William. Now, let's go and get some shut eye."

Late in the night, Yumi's cell phone rang. She lazily reached over and grabbed it. "What?" she asked with a sleepy and irritated voice.

"I wanted to apologize, for what I said in Lyoko."

Yumi sat up. "Odd, why would you want to call me this late just to apologize?"

"Well, you said never to speak or look at you again until I came up with a decent apology. Listen Yumi, I am sorry. Very sorry. I think I thought of a way to make it up to you…"

Yumi smiled. After the talk, Yumi just looked up. "Good night, Odd."

"Uh, good night, Yumi."

Odd hung up, same as she. Yumi lied back down to go to sleep.