Chapter 21: The Prototype
The next 2 days flew by and before long the weekend was over. Now it was Monday, and more importantly, the day the Lyoko warriors would attack the second base containing the partial coordinates for the main Carthaginian base. However before they could attack the base they had to survive an even more grueling task, boring classes.
"And so by using the alternate interior angle theorem we can see…" the math teacher ranted on as Odd, Ulrich, and Sissi groaned in boredom. Sam, Maverick, Jeremie, and Aelita on the other hand were paying attention and actually made progress in learning the material that their friends failed to grasp.
Classes slowly but surely went by and by the time they were over a few of the Lyoko warriors were considering handing themselves over to the Carthaginians than have to sit through the same boredom tomorrow. However many people feel similar things at the end of a restful weekend.
When classes were over the group made their way to the factory and Jeremie briefed them on the mission.
"Use guys probably know the drill by now," Jeremie said facing the group, "Go into the base kick butt, and get the coordinates."
"And try not to die in the process," Odd added.
"Now there are some things I've done that should help you on the mission," Jeremie added, "I've activated a tower to help Maverick's power supply and give him the ability of pinpoint teleportation, this way you guys can actually choose what part of the base you want to appear in. This will also allow Maverick to have enough energy to do most of his fighting with his powers. This will make things a lot easier on you guys, just avoid E.M.P.'s and you should be fine."
"Anything else we should know before we head out," Yumi asked.
"Yes," Jeremie replied, "The base you are invading will have materialized monsters guarding it as well Carthaginian veterans, there is also a chance you could be facing Spetsnaz again so be on your guard. The base is also the prototype testing facility for the Carthaginians so there might some nasty surprises depending on what they're testing at the moment. If you guys are ready you should head out."
After making a detour to the Valhalla supercomputer to get their equipment, the Lyoko warriors teleported to the enemy base.
The group appeared in a large storage room filled with large crates of unknown material. After making sure they were alone in the room, Maverick spoke into the communicator in his suit.
"Einstein do you have a lock on our signal," Maverick asked.
"That I do," Jeremie replied, "And I've got the map of the base on my screen."
"From what you have, what is your best plan of action," Maverick said.
"Based on what I have here, you guys should wait until I can take the security camera's offline," Jeremie said, "Then proceed to the central command room until you get spotted. Once detected, defeat the current enemies then split into two groups. One will distract the guards and other enemies, the other will head for the command room."
"Roger that Jeremie," Maverick replied, "Give the directions once you're done with the cameras."
After a few minutes of hacking Jeremie managed to take all of the base's cameras offline. With the cameras down, he gave the group their directions.
"Head out of the storage room and take a right, then head down the hallway until you find a stairwell," Jeremie instructed. "Once you find the stairwell go down three floors and you should hit the bottom floor. From the bottom of the stairwell there should be a sign that says 'Class Alpha personnel only'. From there you will have to find it on your own because I can't detect what is down there."
"Shouldn't be a problem," Maverick replied, "Move out."
The group moved out into the hallway and followed the instructions. They headed down the hall for at least 50 meters until they found a stairwell. On the stair well they ran into a lone scientist who didn't even have time to reach for the panic button on his belt before he was shot in the head by three laser arrows. It was a little hard for Odd, or any of the group for that matter, to show mercy on someone who worked for such an evil force.
At the bottom of the stairwell, the group found the door with the words 'Class Alpha Personnel Only' and noticed that the door was locked by I.D. slide and a keypad. Maverick stopped Aelita before she could use her digital powers.
"Don't do that," He warned, "I scanned the lock before we even reached it and if we attempt to hack it, it will set off an alarm."
"I could break the door down," William offered.
"That will set off an alarm as well," Maverick said.
"Then what do we do," Ulrich asked, "Can you teleport us across."
Maverick thought for a moment and then did a quick scan of the area before answering.
"That would work," He replied "But were deep in the base right now and they might have sensors to pick up teleportation energy. It wouldn't set off an alarm but they would probably send someone to check it out and based on this location they would probably send someone from across the door."
"That means we could have company soon after we got across," Aelita said, "And there's no guarantee we can take them out before they set off an alarm.
"That's true," Ulrich interjected, "But it's the less of two dangers so I say we teleport."
There was a brief discussion among the group and the final consensus was to teleport. Maverick accessed his powers and got the group across without setting off an alarm. The group then proceeded down the main hallway looking for the control room. About thirty seconds after teleportation, as was expected, a scientist came out of a door to check out the sensors that had picked up teleportation energy and as he turned a corner, he ran smack into the Lyoko warriors.
Ulrich was the quickest and managed to stab the scientist with one of his sabers. Unfortunately, the scientist managed to hit the alarm button on his belt just before died. Alarms shrieked to life as the scientist's limp body fell to the ground and the Lyoko warriors heard a computerized voice shouting "INTRUDER ALERT, SECTOR ALPHA, INTRUDER ALERT, SECTOR ALPHA."
The Lyoko warriors heard a sound and turned to their left and saw a large hydraulic door at the end of the crossing hall open. The opening door revealed a squad of blocks and human guards who began advancing on the Lyoko warriors.
"Okay time to split up," Maverick shouted, "William, Sissi, Sam, and Odd, do what you can to draw the guards away from us. Aelita, Yumi, and Ulrich, let's go find the control room."
Maverick's group bolted down the hall the while, Odd, Sam, Sissi, and William charged at the guards and blocks.
After running down several hallways in search for the control center Maverick's group came on another squad of enemies, five guards and four materialized kankrelats. Maverick took out the kankrelats in one move, hitting the first one with a beam of Nemesis energy that arced like lighting to the other kankrelats and disintegrated them.
Ulrich, having short ranged weapons, guarded Yumi and Aelita, blocking bullets with his sabers while the girl fired from behind him. Since there was no cover in the hall, the guards soon fell to Yumi's fans and Aelita's energy fields. Between the four of them, only 20 life points were lost from their Lyoko forms.
The group continued down the hall searching for any indication of the control room but could find none and eventually came to a stop.
"This is getting us nowhere," Ulrich said as they turned onto a hallway identical to all the others.
"You're right," Aelita muttered in frustration, "Maverick, scan the area with your powers and see if you find anything."
Maverick nodded and extended his powers over the area for large power fluctuations that were associated with places computer equipment was running. He soon sensed such an area with his powers.
"This way," Maverick said pointing down a perpendicular hallway and the group took off in that direction.
The group followed Maverick down the hall towards the source of the energy and soon came to a large arena shaped room with a large beacon in the center and another set of doors on the others side.
"This can't be right Maverick," Yumi said looking at the beacon, "Why did you lead us to this room."
"I don't get it, all the power fluctuations are coming from this beacon," Maverick said confused. Seconds later realization dawned on his face.
"IT'S A TRAP," Maverick shouted as the metal doors to the room slammed shut and energy barriers appeared in front of them. Maverick tried to get through the barrier but his powers would not work on it. Seconds later a loud voice boomed out of speakers on either side of the room.
"I'm glad to see you made it this far Lyoko warriors," The voice cooed, "Feel up for a little challenge."
"Who the hell are you," Ulrich spat.
"Manners boy, " The voice chuckled, "I am your captor, Ivo Remnack, one of the members of the Carthaginian board and controller of this base."
"How about you come out and face us," Aelita snarled.
"If you managed to survive a few tests then I might give you that honor," Ivo said, "Now enough chit chat, let's have some fun."
An alarm sounded and six areas of the wall opened up to reveal hidden elevators. Out of each elevator emerged a single robot similar to the one's in Siberia.
Maverick and Yumi went on offense while Aelita and Ulrich protected them, blocking lasers and small missals. Yumi threw both of her fans at the three robots on her side. The first bounced harmlessly off its hull while the second hit a place where the plates of armor met and sliced the robot across the gut and severed most of its circuits. The two other robots destroyed one of her fans as it was returning to her and Yumi retreated and let Ulrich go on the offense. Ulrich stepped forward and threw both of his sabers at the robots. Both sabers scored hits to the chest, punctured the robot's armor, and sliced through their processors.
Maverick and Aelita meanwhile had little trouble with their enemies. Maverick decapitated two with bolts of dark fire and then ducked at Aelita's signal so she could fire an energy field. The orb of energy hit home on the thorax of the robot and melted a hole clean through it.
"Hhhmmm," Ivo said through the speakers. "Perhaps round two will make a dent on you, get ready."
The elevators closed, and when they opened again they were packed full of enemies. Three elevators were full of robots while the other three were filled with materialized blocks.
"Uh…Maverick," Ulrich said uncertainly
"On it," Maverick replied as he started to glow blue from charging his powers.
Maverick released three massive waves of energy from his body, each of which passed his friend harmlessly but incinerated the group's enemies. After five seconds, the attack was done and the elevators were filled with metallic ash.
"Very good," Ivo said over the speakers, "You've left me with one last test, our prototype."
"Prototype what," Maverick asked.
"You'll see," Ivo snickered.
The elevators closed again and the four waited for Ivo's next test. Soon enough one of the elevators to reveal a large coffin shaped stasis tube.
"Activate prototype," Ivo said over the speakers.
The lid of the tube opened with a hiss as large amounts of mist rushed out of the enclosure. When the tube fully opened, the four Lyoko warriors saw in horror what was inside.
Lying in the tube, its eyes now open, was an exact copy of Maverick, same eyes, same hair, same facial structure, even its Lyoko outfit was the same.
"What the…" Maverick began, but he was interrupted by Ivo.
"Like it Maverick," Ivo cackled, "Using our prototype cloning technology, a copy of the powers Xana acquired, and your DNA we managed to create an exact copy of you that can use your powers just as well as you can. I call it Xaverick."
"How in the world did you get a copy of my DNA," Maverick said aghast.
"Why Xana made a copy when he took your powers," Ivo replied, "He thought it might come in handy and he was right. Now Xaverick destroy these intruders."
"Your wish is my command," The clone replied in a voice identical to Maverick's.
Xaverick raised his hands and shot a powerful beam of energy at the Lyoko warriors and Maverick conjured a barrier to block it. The clone quickly teleported behind Ulrich and kicked him in the back before teleporting again to get out of its enemies' reach. Yumi through her remaining fan at the clone but it disintegrated it with a bolt of dark fire. With no weapons to fight with, Yumi tapped her medallion to transform into her armored form. Ulrich and Aelita meanwhile, charged at the clone before Maverick could warn them and they were slammed against the wall from one of Xaverick's shockwaves.
"Stop!" Maverick shouted standing between the clone and his friends, "They have done nothing to you, your business is with me. Let's see if you can beat the original."
"With pleasure," Xaverick replied.
Xaverick and Maverick each shot powerful beams of energy at each other. The beams collided in the air and formed a stalemate of power. The two struggled to get to their beam to hit their opponent. After thirty seconds in however, the clone's beam began to flicker. Seconds later Xaverick was disintegrated as his powers gave out and the full force of Maverick's powers hit him dead on.
"What the…" Ivo shouted but Maverick interrupted him.
"I'll explain if you shut up," Maverick said coldly.
"But how," Ivo continued, "It should have matched you in every way."
"Will you listen or not," Maverick said and Ivo finally fell silent.
"You made the mistake of using the powers that Xana gave to you," Maverick smirked, "The powers that were not complete, that's why your clone's powers failed. I have fully installed powers that made me more than capable of taking out an inferior copy. Now that you know we can defeat whatever you throw at us will you show yourself?"
"I'm afraid I can't since I'm not even in the base," Ivo replied, "I retreated via teleporter to our main base as soon as we found out you were here. If you wish to find me, you will have to locate our main base. Luckily for you though, the barriers and door are programmed to open any second. I'll see you if you make it to our main base, ta-ta."
As was promised, the barriers and doors opened seconds after the speakers went silent and the Lyoko warriors proceeded down the hall the was now open. Without any further resistance, they came upon the control computer for the base, downloaded the coordinates, and teleported home.