Author's Note: I do not own Code Lyoko, etc.
Chapter Twenty-One Rescue
In a chamber deep in the Warrens, Yumi was restrained and underwent modification. She was kept unconscious for the process. Though she was not in her conscious mind, her body twitched and thrashed against the restraints as her few hours on the modification table.
"What's happening?" The lizardman asked.
The rock creature stumbled over to the controls, "I don't know, no other girl went like this."
"Will she survive? I've been dying to try her out."
"If you'd shut up for a moment, I will tell you."
The lizardman went back to licking his knife as his more tech savvy friend began typing in some keys. He looked at her vitals, the machine stats, and everything else displayed on the holo-screen.
"So...?"
The rock creature paused, "I don't get it. Her vitals are normal and the machine is optimal. The only reason she'd be acting like is...is...her body is in perfect alignment with the modification process."
His friend looked at Yumi grinding against the restraints, "Yeah...perfect alignment are not the right words I'd used to describe it."
"The physical reaction is because her body is absorbing the process at an accelerated rate. She is in pain, but when she awakes, this one will be a prize amongst all those before her."
"But I still get to try her, right?" His comment receiving him yet another punch in the face.
"Don't you ever learn?"
As he stood up from the floor this time and wiping his blood aside, he smiled, "Apparently not. How soon until she's finished?"
"Due to the acceleration of the process and the six or so hours she's been under, it should be an hour or two before she's finished.
The lizardman laughed.
"What's so funny?"
"The way you were talking, you sounded like Trickster."
The rock man scoffed, "He and I were classmates at the university, but he was always the favorite. His theories on metaphysical science overshadowed my modification process."
"And so, you're here."
"Hey, a fellow's got to eat." He said, pressing a few more keys and kept track of the progress.
Ulrich, Aaron, and Airon dashed out of the backroom. The speed they traveled was nothing like Ulrich had experienced before and as such, he crashed into the safety glass door leading out of the gym.
"Whoa, kid, what's the hurry?" Halam-Kul walked from behind the counter.
The Brothers stood Ulrich up.
"Forgive us, Friend. But there is an urgent matter that we've have to deal with."
He rolled his eyes, "Again? You know this always happens when I take the time to make tea."
"We will be back shortly and then we will share words and tea, my friend."
"Again, you always say that, but..."
Airon laughed, "Forgive me, but the spirits plan for us things that we don't have control over. But this time, it is an extraction alone."
"We are rescuing Ulrich's lady love."
"What? Then what are you standing around here for? Move! Move! Move! Get out of here!" Halam-Kul shoving them out of his gym.
Back on their feet, the trio began to run at top speed toward their next destination. Closing the door to his gym, Halam-Kul breathed easy and headed deeper inside.
"Well, nothing to do now but put the tea back on the burner."
Down the hall, Ulrich smiled as he kept traveling at this new speed. The world seemed to blur past and yet he didn't feel tired. Airon and Aaron kept up with ease.
"I know why I'm moving so fast? How are you?"
"The spirits allow Airon and I to move faster. Whereas your speed comes from physical strength, ours comes from spiritual strength. Together, we'll rescue Yumi and all will be well."
Ulrich smiled as they reached the access stairs to Thrash City.
"Okay, everyone. We're now inside the enemy's territory. Everyone keep your guard up. Xelaxa, you're on lookout, tell us if anything's coming. Criska and I will be on point. Erulau, you are on special support as always and Sam..."
Sam Knight shook her head, "Yeah, yes?"
"Are you okay? You've been distracted since the briefing."
"I'm fine, can we just get this over with please?"
"You know, Sam. We're still close to Thrash City, you can go back and I'll put Erulau on protecting Xelaxa."
"No, I mean...I don't want to go. The gang needs me and that's why I'm here."
"Well...if you have a handle on it." Jergha gave a little side-glance to Erulau, the alien that is fascinated with Odd.
She placed a hand on Sam's shoulder, "We'd understand if you want to..."
"No, I'm fine. Please let's just rescue our sisters and celebrate."
Erulau nodded, "Yes, that sounds like a good idea."
Jergha nodded, "Okay, Sam. You're protecting Xelaxa."
Who turned to Sam, "Which is basically making sure no one gets near me...or letting me get killed."
Sam nodded and they moved quietly down the corridors, guided to the area where their sisters were being held. So far, there were no instances.
"Something's funny here. No way anyone would get into the Warrens this easily."
Xelaxa tapped her screen repeatedly in slight frustration, "Plus it's chaos down here. There are too many dead spots in the network. My holo-map is incomplete. I'll tell you when we reach the next dead zone."
Jergha looked down the line at Sam who was still shaking. Erulau walked next to Jergha.
"Are you really sure about this, Jergha? Maybe your faith in Sam Knight is misplaced."
"You tell me. After all, I made you a part of my core group for your abilities, not just your skills with a hoverboard."
"I thought it was for my pretty face." Her tentacle eye wavering, "But, you're right. We Morlaxians have a very limited breeding cycle and live for millennia at a time."
"Yes, one of the rarest sentient species in the known universe. Your race allows for physical contact to translate into memory scanning."
"Not an ability widely revered. I scanned both the memories of Odd and Sam when I squeezed their shoulders. Giving Sam that blaster triggered a series of traumatic memories she's spent years locking away. Her bravery is now clouded with that fear. She's loyal and strong, but refuses to wield a gun."
"We were unaware. But we've all faced our fears because of you, it is time Sam does the same."
"Is that why you took her along?"
"Not just that, she's had experience on the streets. Though not as intense in this time, the foundation of that experience is universal regardless of the age. Plus her hoverboarding skills is what drew my eye to her."
"Well, your judgment calls are above reproach."
"You do realize I heard everything you just said right?" Criska who was standing beside Jergha.
She was the tallest of their number by half-a-head. Her body was of pure black skin and lanky, though it was entirely muscle. Her webbed talons crept across the ground as her hands sported three fingers and one thumb. Her pupils were cross slits, her iris were a pale green and her sclera even paler. Her slitted nostrils were nothing compared to her puckered mouth that bore sharp teeth visible when she spoke. Her forearms, forelegs, back, shoulders, and hair were thin quills like a porcupine, though silver in color. She wore the traditional gang garb of the gray tube top and jungle camouflage khakis, but the pants were cut down in shorts and both were made not of cloth but a more sturdy material to compensate for the sharpness of the quills.
"Sorry, Criska. We were just talking."
"About Sam. I knew adding her was a bad idea."
"Yet, you were the one who wanted to nap them, right?" Erulau remarked.
"Only because Jergha wanted them."
"Yes I did and even though, Sam is the first Human member to join our gang. Her skills and background will prove invaluable."
"She still needs to earn her keep, though. Like all of us had to."
Jergha nodded, "That she does, which is why she's here."
"And what of Odd?" Erulau's smile was barely shown, "The cutie gets to stay in our hideout."
"He is the loveslave of our sister Sam. He's protected and off-limits to all other sisters unless Sam allows it, just like everyone else."
"We are now entering the dead zone." Xelaxa mentioned.
"Eyes sharp, people."
They didn't know if it was a stroke of good luck or what, but they arrived at the destination without incident. The door was quickly hacked by Xelaxa and slid open. Inside the room were women of all shapes, sizes, and races. Each looked worse for ware and yet they looked on the Fear Riders with joy."
Criska stepped first into the room looking at the three dozen of so women held in this sty, "Nahma!" She who was one not usually shouting for joy just did.
"Who?" Sam asked.
"One of our sisters and an enforcer like Criska. In fact, they are the two top enforcers in our gang. If not for Nahma, more of our sisters would have been captured."
"Criska? Is that you?" Nahma's eyes had trouble focusing.
"Yes, it's me. Stay awake."
"I'm just...so tired."
"Answer me this. Are all our sisters here?"
"Yes, we were shoved into this room after the first incident occurred. The guards left once the second incident was reported and backup was issued.
"First incident? Second?"
"First..." Nahma took a breath, "Incident was a couple of intruders started fighting their way into the Warrens. I don't know the details, but both sets of intruders were in teams of three. The second happening shortly after the first." She had trouble breathing, "Are you...going to get...us out of here?"
"Yes, sister. Jergha?"
"Sam, Xelaxa. Use your boards and find a hover truck nearby. The rest of us are going to get everyone ready to leave. The stealth part of this mission is over. I don't care how much noise we make, we're getting out of here."
Sam nodded and compiled her board. Xelaxa pulled a small panel off her back and it segmented out into it's full size. Sam got on hers as Xelaxa sat down wrapping her legs around. The two flew down the corridor away from where they came.
"Sam, the nearest hover truck is just ahead. My scanners are locked in on it."
"Can you hack it from here?"
"No, I need to directly link with the truck's computer to gain access and start it. You need to keep me covered until we meet up with the others."
"Got it."
The First Incident was Aaron, Airon, and Ulrich going through the streets of Warrens. It didn't take them long before they were neck deep in the fray. The Cavalos Brother fought as if they were dancing together, each movement in harmony.
One thug fired his gun and the bullets were blocked by Aaron who bent down after the barrage and Airon rolled over his brother to deliver the killing strike. The next thug did the same a few feet away allowing Airon to dance with his falchion as he and brother spun, exchanging places and Aaron slashed across splitting the thug in two. They went from front-to-back, side-to-side in similar approaches to wherever their new opponents with all the while deflecting, blocking, and dodging all bullets and lasers heading toward them.
Ulrich, however, fought alone and yet alongside the brothers. He kept his distance away from their blade dance while taking out what he could, so they wouldn't be overwhelmed. Instead of killing, Ulrich either disabled or rendered unconscious. He leapt upon an attacker, delivering a full roundhouse kick across his face, spending his opponent spinning off the ground before he landed hard upon it.
He smiled with the newfound strength, but his sight caught another attacker several feet away pointing his gun at him. Charging as fast as he could, a barrage of bullet met him head-on, but he didn't stop. He threw his fist forward and struck his enemy on the nose, sending him flying. He looked down at his clothes full of bullet holes, but not him. In fact, the bullets merely tickled.
"What happened?"
"Your body..." Aaron struck down another opponent, "has been conditioned in five..." He bent down allowing his brother to roll over, "times normal Earth gravity."
"So..." Airon spoke, cutting down an opponent, "your skin, muscle, bones..." He kicked off his brother's shoulder to leap into the air cutting an enemy on a balcony clean through, "are at least five times denser than normal."
"Meaning bullets don't kill me?" Ulrich swept the feet of his newest adversary and delivering a heel drop.
"Not those, but..." Aaron rolled under Airon's shoulder to deliver a fatal stab, "there are other that can..." Freeing his sword, "still go through you, so be careful."
"Are we close to Yumi?"
"The spirits say..." Airon up slashing his enemy, letting go with one hand to push him back with a piece of unearthed street curb, "she's down those stairs just ahead on your left, there is only one door."
"Thanks, I'll get her." He ran off.
"Wait! They also say..." His warning cut off as a few thugs rushed the two brothers.
Ulrich ran down the stairs, opening the steel door on his right. Looking into the dark dank room, he saw Yumi laying there still on an enclosed table.
"Yumi..." A tear left him as he entered the room.
The door slammed shut and as Ulrich looked around, a strong arm gripped around his throat and lifted him off the ground. He looked out the corner of his eyes to see the rock man holding him.
"So, this is the little bitch's boyfriend?" The lizardman said, stepping out of the shadows, juggling one of his knives.
"You've caused a whole lot of trouble in the Warrens, but don't think you're getting out of here alive."
The lizardman flashed his toothy smile, "I hope she wakes up to see what I'm about to do to you."
Ulrich looked on as he struggled against the strong arm that was holding him so.
Trickster sat on an old stool as he used the primitive tools provided to him to work on. On the dusty workbench, he began crafting a small disc while under the watchful eyes of two guards constantly look over his shoulders.
"Are you sure this is what you promised Lord Fergind?"
"Yes, this is the power core. It has to be small in order to fit properly into the fighting bot. If I make it too large, it will be an easy target."
"You sure know a lot about machines."
Trickster meekly smiled, "Thanks."
Suddenly, a large explosion was heard from a distance.
"What's that?"
Trickster stood up and looked at them, "What are you waiting for? Lord Fergind could be in danger! That sounded like it came from the palace!"
"But we...were...told..."
"To hell with the orders! What good are they if your Lord is dead?"
"You're right!"
"Let's move!"
The two guards quickly and recklessly exited the factory. Trickster smiled and returned to his work.
"God, I know I don't talk to you a lot. But I have to thank you for making guards so stupid."
About a minute earlier, inside the palace. Lord Fergind sat comfortably on his throne stroking his pet cat while his advisor brought the matters of state up to his attention.
"And there's the water shortage in the labor quarter. If we don't provide them with water soon, then the revolt may gain more speed."
"The revolt? We haven't heard anything from them in about three years. The talk of revolt is merely gibberish spread around the common rabble."
"But, sire..."
Fergind stood up, his cat roaring and running away, "There is no revolt! The Princess is still alive, but she can do nothing to us now! Enigma is dead! Trickster is mine! Nothing and I mean nothing can get in our way!"
The two large doors of the palace broke open and crashed into the main chamber. As the dust fell down, those inside looked at the one responsible. Hearing only his footsteps, they had to wait as the mystery man wafted through the dust. When he did, Fergind squealed in fear as he ran back and held tightly onto his throne.
"Fergind, you and I have a lot to talk about." Enigma stood alone with a smile on his face.
End of Chapter Twenty-One