Chapter 11: New Enemy, New Territory
Disclaimer: I do not Own Code Lyoko
Claimer: I do own Maverick
"You said you found a solution to Xana's life-point bug," Yumi asked as she, Aelita, and Maverick came out of the elevator.
"I think so," Jeremie replied, "Xana used some pretty advanced code, so I'm not completely sure if the life-point program will be fully repaired."
Jeremie ran the program and after about a minute the results came up saying that the life point program was 100 percent repaired.
The Lyoko gang let out a sigh of relief.
"That looks like it went better than expected" Ulrich commented, "When are we going to use our new program."
"I think we've done enough for today," Jeremie said putting his down his headset, "We can try it out tomorrow, for now we should go get some dinner."
"Yeah, Odd stomach could implode at any second," Ulrich joked, "That could cause the end of all things as we know it."
Ulrich's comment got him a few laughs and a glare from Odd before everyone headed off to the cafeteria.
"Out of meatballs what shame," Maverick chuckled as he sat down.
"Say that again and you're dead meat," Odd threatened.
Maverick snickered and began to eat with the others when a boy of Odd's height walked over to them followed by Nicholas and Herve. He had very short brown hair, stupid looking fats lip and had the appearance of someone who doesn't take no for an answer.
"My friends tell me that the nine of you have been up to something lately," the boy asked, "You should tell us before you get yourself into trouble."
"I'm afraid that's none of your business," Jeremie replied curtly, "You have don't have any business sticking your nose into what we do whoever you are."
"My name is Colin for your information," the boy replied, "And I think it does it is my business if all of you are hiding something from the school."
"Look," Maverick said rolling his eyes, "Just because you managed to get those two idiotic sidekicks doesn't mean you're intimidating, so for your own good, buzz off if you know what's good for you."
"Um… we'll see about that," Colin replied stupidly before walking away, "Yeah, we'll see about who's intimidating when we find out what your little secret is."
"Well that was odd," Odd said, "Let's hope that guy isn't serious."
"I'm afraid he probably is serious," Sissi said, "If managed to get Nicholas and Herve as his sidekicks then there is no way he'll leave us alone."
"We'll cross that bridge when the time comes," Ulrich muttered.
***The next day
Knock, knock, knock
"Come in," Maverick said as he leaned on his bed reading an issue of Popular Mechanics. The door opened to reveal Aelita who walked in and sat down on the edge of Maverick's bed.
"Maverick can I talk to you for a second," Aelita asked with a slightly anxious look on her face.
"Sure, what do you want to talk about." Maverick replied closing his magazine.
Aelita was silent for a moment before speaking, "I know that you and Jeremie talked things over a while back, and I know that both of you decided to try to keep me occupied so that I wouldn't feel torn between you two."
"How did you know?" Maverick asked with raised eyebrow.
"I don't have to be psychic to figure these things out." Aelita replied, "Ever since you and Jeremie spoke to each other both of you have become distant too me to try to not make me feel torn but all it did was make me miss both of you."
"I'm..sorry Aelita I didn't think that would be the outcome," Maverick stuttered.
"Maverick I'm not blaming you," Aelita said sweetly. "I came here to tell you that I have made a decision."
"That's wonderful," Maverick said smiling, "Who?"
Aelita sighed before speaking again, "Maverick first you must understand that I have always loved you just as you loved me. You were always there for me, you always knew how to make me smile, and you were my only friend for most of my life. But times have changed and Jeremie and I are already off to a great start, that is why I have chosen him."
Maverick smiled, "I will never think any less of you Aelita, my only wish is that you will be happy."
"Thank you Maverick," Aelita said planting a kiss on his cheek. Right after she did so, her phone rang
"Hello, oh hi Jeremie….yes….okay meet you there."
Aelita hung up and spoke to Maverick, "Jeremie has located another replica, it's time to test out code assimilate."
"Let's go," Maverick said getting up and following Aelita out of his room.
As soon as the two had left the hallway, Herve came out of a broom closet holding his cell phone.
"Hey Colin, this is Herve, targets are on the move, I repeat, targets are on the move."
***Later
"Navskids away,"
First the first time in a while, Xana had bothered to put a force of his aquatic creatures into combat, a smart move since the Lyoko warriors were a little rusty on their fighting skills in the digital sea.
"Smoked salmon coming right up," William said as he locked onto an eel and fired. But at the last second the eel took a sharp turn and dodged the attack.
"DANG IT," William shouted as the eel came around for an attack but was obliterated by Aelita who shot it with the skid's main guns.
Ulrich, Sissi, and Maverick were having worse luck than William as they being pursued by a trio of sharks. Sissi was of little help since she was panicking out of her skin.
"FOR GOD'S SAKE MAVERICK WILL YOU JUST USE YOUR FRICKIN POWERS," Ulrich shouted at his friend
"WERE GOING TO DIE, WERE GOING TO DIE," Sissi shouted as her shields were now at 20 percent.
"Sissi stop panicking," Maverick snapped, "Hit the big red shiny button and that will send your ship back to Aelita were you can recharge your shields."
Sissi obeyed and fled back to the safety of the Skid while the two boys covered for her.
"And Ulrich," Maverick continued, "I've already told you, if I uses my powers in the digital sea it might react to the energy of the digital sea and cause an explosion big enough to destroy us and even if that didn't happen if could short out our navskid's energy and then we would be sitting ducks."
"I know that," Ulrich snapped back him while dodging a enemy torpedo, "but we have to do something or we'll be drinking the digital sea and you know the others have their hands full so we can't call the for help."
Maverick sighed he never liked to take risks that endangered his friends, He preferred to keep everyone safe and operate on a safe playing field, but things right now were far from safe and if he did nothing than he and Ulrich were almost certainly be captured by Xana.
"Alright I'll use them," Maverick said, "But be prepared to run like hell, if what I think is going to happen happens than we won't have much time to warn the others."
Maverick concentrated and summoned his powers, turning his eyes crimson. After charging the right amount of energy Maverick let it loose hurling a heavy bolt of lightning at the following monsters, deleting them instantly. But, as he expected the lightning did more than that, it mixed with energy from the digital sea and exploded into a massive storm of electricity and blinding virtual energy.
"RUN!" Maverick shouted and Ulrich did not need to be told twice.
A little ways across the digital sea, the others fighting off Xana's hoard of sea creatures when they heard a massive explosion and saw a blinding light from across the digital sea before Ulrich and Maverick shot into view shouting at the top of their lungs for the others to run. While the Lyoko warrior high-tailed it away from the roaring shockwave, Xana's monsters hesitated a little too long and were demolished by the storm of the energy.
The Lyoko warriors sped through the digital sea until the shockwave that was pursuing them weakened and died.
"Okay," Yumi growled, "What did you two idiots do this time."
"Oh nothing," Maverick retorted, "I only saved all of your A.S.S.C.I's from complete oblivion by using my powers which caused a virtual explosion and took out all of those monsters."
"Well you could at least warn us next time," Yumi snapped back, Maverick just rolled his eyes.
"If you two are done fight you should know that we have reached the replica," Aelita announced, "Jeremie can you pick the lock."
"Lock-picking in progress," Jeremie replied as he began typing some codes on his screen and within about ten seconds the replica opened and the skid entered into it reveal it to be a forest replica.
"The Skid is docked," Aelita said as the skid latched onto a tower, "What's next Jeremie?"
"Head for the nearest towers and enter assimilation code, you can't use this tower since the skid is docked to it" Jeremie said, "But be on your guard, it will take about five minutes for the supercomputer to be under our control and Xana is likely to send someone to stop you."
After their vehicles were constructed, Maverick, Aelita, Sam, and Odd set off to the way tower while the others guarded the skid. Maverick and Odd took the overdrive while Aelita and Sam took the overboard. As soon the tower was in sight Taelia, the Darkrezoa, and two scorpions appeared.
"Taelia, Taelia, or is it still Talzana," Maverick mused, "Why are you so vicious."
"Must be that time of month again," Odd snickered. Both Sam and Aelita glared at him.
"Wow I'm just joking," Odd snorted, "You two don't have go all…."
Odd was unable to finish his sentence as Maverick clamped a hand over his mouth.
"If you finish that sentence you're only going to make it worse," Maverick whispered, "So quit it with the sexist comments or every girl in the school will be hunting you down."
Maverick let go of Odd as they and the two girls entered into combat.
Herve, Nicholas, and Colin stood at the opening to the factory right next to the cables the Lyoko warriors used to descend to the elevator.
"Huh so this is where those losers hang out," Colin muttered.
"Yeah, we caught Aelita and Odd making out here once before," Nicholas said, "No one believed us though."
"That's not what we're here for idiot," Colin snapped, "We're here to find out what they are doing so start looking around."
The three boys walked over to the cables and slid down. Herve and Nicholas made it down fine but Colin lost his grip a few meters above the ground fell into large piece of metal that made a loud ringing sound when he hit it.
***Meanwhile
Odd, Sam, Maverick, Aelita unleashed a barrage of long range attacks on their enemies and their enemies responded likewise, the Darkrezoa began to fire its twin laser cannons while Taelia unleashed a spray of thorns from her whip. Before long the four Lyoko warriors were forced to take cover from their enemies.
"Were not even getting to them," Maverick hissed, "We need to at least get the scorpions to hold still or slow down."
"I'll do it," Sam said she looked out from behind the tree she was hiding and shouted "corrosion". A cloud of red dust shot out from her hand and surrounded the scorpions, rusting up their joints and making the immobile. The four then jumped out from behind the hiding spot. Sam and Odd took out the Scorpions while Maverick and Aelita began attacking Taelia and the Darkrezoa.
"Singularity," Maverick shouted as he shot a black hole at the Darkrezoa and this time it hit the energy shields of the Darkrezoa, leaving the jellyfish helpless as the vortex chewed away at its protective barriers.
***in the computer control room
"Nice shot Maverick," Jeremie cheered from his chair but was interrupted by a thudding sound from another part of the factory. Jeremie accessed the factory's security cameras and saw Colin getting up off the ground of the factory floor while, Herve and Nicholas laughed at him.
***back on Lyoko
"Maverick," Jeremie said over the intercom, "You're going to have to come back to Earth."
"Why what's wrong," Maverick grunted as he barely dodged a laser blast from the Darkrezoa.
"Colin, Herve, and Nicholas have found the factory," Jeremie replied, "I need you to come back and use your powers to either make them forget or scare them off. I would go up there and do something myself but I need to stay here and make sure Code: Assimilate works, and I can't use a return to the past or it will undo all the work we have done today."
"Alright," Maverick replied, "I'll be right there."
Before the others could even ask what he was doing, Maverick sprinted toward the Darkrezoa and Taelia.
"Self-destruct!" Maverick shouted when he was right next to his enemies. The blast was so powerful that it completely devirtualized Taelia and the Darkrezoa and caused the tower next to them to lean a few meters away from where Maverick self-destructed.
"All clear," Jeremie said over the intercom as Aelita entered the tower.
***On the factory floor
"So what's this," Colin grunted pointing to the elevator.
"I think it's some sort of service elevator," Herve said while examining it, "It's the one Aelita and Odd came out of last time so it might lead to where they're hiding out."
Colin sauntered over to the elevator and was about to press the button on it when the elevator activated by itself. Someone was on it and was coming up to the ground floor. After 10 seconds the elevator reached the top and stopped. Colin waited eagerly for it to open, and after about five seconds it did so. It opened to reveal Maverick standing on the other side his arms folded and his eyes a menacing blood red, something neither, Colin, Nicholas, or Herve had ever seen before.
"I warned you not to leave us alone, I warned you not to stick your nose where it doesn't belong, but you ignored me." Maverick said in a mock bad guy voice meant to put them on edge, "And now you must pay the price."
"Oh yah," Colin snickered, "There's only one of you and three of us. We'll just beat you up until you tell us what you and your friends are up too."
"Oh this is going to be fun," Maverick laughed as he took a fighting stance.
(Don't try this at home, Do it at someone else's house)
Colin charged first and threw a punch at Maverick who ducked, elbowed Colin in the stomach, and used Colin's own momentum to flip him over himself and slam him on the floor. Herve charged at him next but Maverick blocked his feeble punch and socked him the face before kneeing him in the stomach and knocking the wind out of him. By this time Colin was already up and he and Nicholas were charging at him from opposite sides. Maverick responded by stepping out of the way and let the two slammed into each other before sideswiping their legs out from under them. The two crashed to the ground and Maverick, who was not so low as to beat them up while they were on the ground, waited for them to get up.
"Had enough yet," Maverick sneered as the three idiots stood up.
"No," Colin replied coldly, "As a matter of fact we haven't."
"Well I'm getting bored," Maverick yawned, "I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave."
"Yeah right," Colin snorted as he, Nicholas, and Herve prepared to attack.
Before they could attack Maverick stomped his right foot down on the ground, using his powers to create a shockwave that sent the moronic trio flying back into a wall.
"What was that!" Colin shouted wide-eyed as he, Nicholas, and Herve got up again.
"Also none of your business," Maverick growled, "I advise you to leave before you get yourself hurt."
"Dude maybe we should just call it quits before we really piss him off," Nicholas muttered
"NO!" Colin shouted, "Not until he tells us what he and his friends are up too."
"Fine," Maverick said, "We'll do this the hard way."
Maverick held his hands out in front of him and started channeling electricity through them. Colin and the others however refused to move, obviously thinking his powers were some sort light trick. Noticing their stubbornness, Maverick began firing electricity into walls around them. This was finally enough to scare them and they bolted out of the factory. The threat gone, Maverick stopped accessing his powers and his eyes became blue once more. Even though they had seen his powers Maverick was not worried since no one would believe them if they talked about it.
Maverick's cell phone rang as soon as Colin, Herve, and Nicholas had left the factory.
"Hello," Maverick said.
"Nice job Maverick," Jeremie replied from the supercomputer, "I saw the whole thing on the security camera's and I gotta say I don't think those three will not bother us for a while. Anyway I just wanted to let you know that Code Assimilate worked and we know have another supercomputer at our disposal and this one is very powerful. With any luck we'll only need a few more before we have enough computer power to locate the Valhalla supercomputer."
"Excellent." Maverick grinned, "So what do we do now?"
"You guys can go back to the dorms if you want to." Jeremie said, "Aelita and I will stay here and start the scan for the next replica."
"You do that," Maverick replied, "She chose you by the way."
"WHAT!" Jeremie yelled in surprise.
"Yep," Maverick replied, "I'll let you two catch up on each other. It's been a long day for me so I'm going to go play some video games."
And with that, Maverick ended the call and went back to the dorms to exercise his thumbs.