The Enemy Within

By Flying Star

Disclaimer: ' Singing'. Code Lyoko, the rights I'll never hold. In other words I don't own Code Lyoko.

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Palantiri: Yep, not good. Maybe, maybe not. You'll see in this chapter. Glad you liked it.

D Wolf Falls: Thanks, I hope this is to your liking.

Hikaru: Thanks for sticking with the story, here's the next part.

Well, this is where things come to a head. XANA reveals his true plan, and takes on the Lyoko team. And once the dust clears, one shall die. X-Jeremie refers to XANA in Jeremie's body.

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Chapter three: Sacrifice

She stared into the eyes of evil, XANA's eyes. The creature that had taken over her friend, Jeremie. Using his body like a puppeteer controlled a puppet.

" You know what I like about you humans?" X-Jeremie cackled. Not waiting for an answer, he slammed his hands into the wall on both sides of her head, making her jump and unfortunately drop the bar. " Your fear, " he purred. " How easy it is to make you creatures cower and tremble." he frowned.

" Humans." he spat, " Such vile creatures, overruning this planet, overusing this planet. Unnecessary chaos, that I've tried to eliminate." his frown became a snarl. " And how I've tried, countless time, to delete the chaos. It was satisfying to see the scourge of your world run around in utter confusion as I took control of your technology. "

He backed up a step, allowing Yumi a moment to breath as he examined her.

" But your group operates outside the limitations and boundaries of what I've come to expect. Defeating me time and time again, managing to save your race. Breaking the rules of the game. Well..."

Yumi pressed her back against the wall as a calm smile settled on his face.

" I've learned much about your group, observing what makes you so successful in thwarting my attempts. And I found a simple answer, you work as a team, each lending the other their strength and support when trouble arose." X-Jeremie turned his back to her, idly looking around the factory as he continued. " And in that I found my solution, tear apart your team, starting with the controller of the group, your Jeremie."

" H-how?" Yumi asked, keeping one eye on him while she edged toward the elevator.

X-Jeremie didn't look back. " It was easy, his body was weak from lack of sufficient restoration."

" Restoration?"

" I believe you humans call it sleep. He didn't have the strength to fight me as I invaded his internal systems, overruning and taking control of his primary motor functions and hard drive. But that was only the first step, with him in my possession I began the second phase of my plan." he walked up to the monitor, resting his hand on the console before turning to face Yumi.

" By dividing the rest of you pitiful beings, first by activating your primitive vehicles and ordering them to circle the school. They kept your Ulrich and Odd busy while I diverted you from the factory. Allowing me to hack their templates, disabling their weapons and implanting false directions to the tower. With all three of you busy it gave me the time to conduct a search, a search that is nearing completion."

" So the buses...."

" Were merely a distraction for a much bigger event. Let's check the news, shall we?"

Yumi began edging closer to the elevator, but stopped cold as she heard.

" Sources confirm the simultaneous activation of every nuclear facility available. From the United States to North Korea, every factory computer has suddenly began preparations for...." X-Jeremie turned off the secondary screen, observing Yumi's pale face as she stood, shocked.

" Y-you can't be serious? Do you even know what you're doing?" she choked out.

" Yes! I know exactly what I'm doing. In mere minutes the countdown will start, and once the countdown reaches zero, every nuclear missile silo on your world will launch, sending their payload into the air, detonating and raining down the material needed to purge this planet of the human virus!"

Yumi had heard enough, forgoing caution she ran for the elevator. She needed to find a way to contact Ulrich and the others. XANA was talking about pure nuclear annihilation, extinction of the human race. He was beyond mad. And she knew she was trying to do the impossible, but she had to try. That is, until she hit what felt like a brick wall, and bounced back on her behind. Looking up, she gasped.

" Surely, you didn't think I forgot about you, my dear." X-Jeremie cooed as he stood over her, his eyes literally shining with malicious intent. " I fear our time together is at an end, say farwell Yumi."

" Not today!" Yumi yelled as she kicked his legs out from under him, scrambling to her feet and running as she heard a fierce growl.

" You little WENCH!!!"

Yumi didn't look back as she slapped her hand against the open button, willing the doors to open. Practically throwing herself into the elevator, she let out a sigh as the doors closed just in time, cutting off the angry roar from the other side.

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Reaching the scanner room, she saw the truth in XANA's words. All three scanners were unplugged, the cords laying a few feet away.

' Great, so not only do I have to plug them back in, which is a feat in itself, but I have to do it before XANA gets up here. Can things get any more difficult?'

Grabbing the first pile of cords, she dragged them to the first closed scanner. ' I think this is Ulrich's.' she surmised as she began shoving the first few cords into the intake.

The sound of the elevator ascending made her work faster. Frustration mounting as the final plug refused to connect. With a final ding the doors slid open.

" Huuummmann!!!" the voice sounding more demonic than human.

Focusing on her task and running on adrenaline, Yumi managed to shove the last cord home as she stood up from the scanner, and felt something slam into her back, sending her flying into a stack of crates. Wincing in pain, she warily looked about, unaware of the twisting mass of darkness rising behind her.

Hot pain slashed through her back and head as she fell to the ground, her mind on the verge of blackout. Hearing footsteps she grew still, hoping XANA thought she was dead.

Relief flooded through her as she watched his feet, encased in shadows, walk past her face. From her vantage point on the floor she could see where he was heading, the only open scanner. She screwed her eyes shut as XANA looked her way.

" With two humans out of the way, I think I'll have my fun with the other two before the end of this world." he growled, entering the pod. " Transfer XANA, " the scanner hummed to life, power running from X-Jeremie's body into the machine. " Scanner XANA, virtualization!"

" No." Yumi whispered as she succumbed to the darkness.

Up in the main floor, the countdown began.

1:00:00.......59:59....59:58......

They had less than one hour to save the world.

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In Lyoko, things weren't going much better for the rest of the team.

As soon she landed, Aelita knew something was wrong. Ulrich and Odd had never appeared in the receiving tower with her, vanishing moments before arrival. She exited the tower, calling their names, but to no avail.

And though the pulsations were very strong, they also split, flowing in two different directions, north and south. With Lyoko's two warriors missing and no contact from Jeremie or Yumi, she'd have to....

" Go alone," she whispered. " just like I used to." Walking up to the north path, she examined the trail.

" Aelitaaa....." The growling rasp drew the attention of the resident sprite as she turned around, and gasped.

" Jeremie?"

The being leaning against the tower certainly resembled Jeremie, if you didn't count the white, glowing eyes, the stretched, distorted limbs, and the multiple writhing, smoky tendrils that lashed out from his back.

" Wh-what are you?!" she backed away in fear, watching him bare his teeth in anger.

" Such pathetic creatures, these humans, and so very frail. Why do you insist on serving them, helping them?" He growled as Odd and Ulrich joined Aelita, staring at the figure before them.

Odd nudged Ulrich. " Doesn't that thing sortof look like Jeremie?"

" Oh sure." he whispered back sarcastically. " What with the tentacles, and let's not forget the glowing eyes staring at us."

" Where were you two?" Aelita whispered, interupting their argument.

" Don't know." Odd shrugged.

" I think the tower ejected us. " Ulrich interjected. " We ended up over there." he pointed to the cliffs behind the tower. " We heard your voice. So we followed until we found you."

" Who's the Jeremie wannabe?" Odd flicked his thumb in the creature's general direction.

" Your executioner." The being hissed. " Unless you agree to my compromise. Join me and live. Refuse....and you shall suffer the same fate as your human female friend."

Ulrich knew immediately who he was talking about. " What did you do to Yumi!?" he shouted, his grip tightening on his sword.

" Oh, her?" The being smiled as he licked the crooked ends of his fingertips. " She got in my way."

" You MONSTER!!!" Ulrich roared as he dove at the creature, his sword slicing through one of the tendrils, before he was knocked aside.

The being screeched in pain. " Impossible, your weapons are disabled! Your sword should have no effect on me! " The tendrils lashed out, grasping Ulrich around the waist and bringing him eye level to the creature. " I won't be defeated by a bunch of children!" The symbol of XANA appeared on it's forehead.

" It's XANA!" Aelita gasped.

" Defeat this!" Ulrich cried out, driving the point of his sword into the tendril holding him.

XANA fell back, his cry of pain mixing with a very human cry of pain...Jeremie's.

" Jeremie!?" Aelita yelled, stepping forward.

" No, XANA's trying to trick you!" Ulrich yelled as he rolled to his feet, holding the point of his sword above XANA's 'throat'. " It's time we ended this, now!" the sword whistled down.

45:00.....44:59.....44:58......

Suddenly Aelita looked to the sky. " Yumi?"

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Yumi could feel the warm liquid flowing down the back of her head as she kept going in and out of consciousness, her vision blurring and focusing.

Gasping in pain, she continued her slow drag the remaining few feet to the elevator. She had regained consciousness not long after XANA had transfered himself. Feeling weak, but determined, she was trying to make it to the super calculator with what energy reserves she had left.

" I...have...to " she breathed, as she grasped the elevator open button, using it to stand up. Immediately a wave of dizziness engulfed her as she swayed, and fell into the elevator. The door closed, bringing her to the main floor.

Almost crawling, Yumi made her way to the main console, grateful that it wasn't too far away, before pulling herself up and sitting in the chair.

Immediately she saw the countdown flashing on the screen.

" Less than forty six minutes before the end of the world." she muttered as she pulled the headset down, typing in the communications line to Lyoko. " I hope I'm in time to save Jeremie."

There was static for a moment, and then....

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" Yumi?" Aelita looked up.

" Aelita, is that you?"

" Yumi?"

Aelita glanced over at Ulrich, who had stopped his sword mere inches from XANA's head, his eyes blinking in disbelief.

His gaze focused up at the eternally bright sky. " Is it really you? XANA claimed he killed you."

" XANA's there!?"

" Yes," Ulrich's gaze traveled back down to the prone figure, his face hardening. " and I'm about to destroy him."

" NO! You can't!"

" And why not?" Ulrich asked, " he's brought us nothing but pain and suffering. He deserves to die."

" Did you forget, with the virus in Aelita, you'll kill her. Not only that you'll also kill Jeremie!"

" What!?" the cry was echoed by all three.

Ulrich stumbled back. " Jeremie's not here." he stated bluntly.

" That thing IS Jeremie, Ulrich. XANA took control of his body!" Yumi's voice insisted. " He messed with your templates, and..." she trailed off, pained gasps were heard.

" That explains our malfunctioning weapons, well at least mine." Odd said, keeping an eye out for monsters.

" I don't know how long I can stay conscious, so l-listen, he also disconnected the scanners. I only managed to plug in one, s-so you have to be careful..."silence filled the area as the connection went dead.

" Yumi..Yumi!!" Ulrich again looked back down at XANA, intending to finish what he started. But then slumped as a tendril slammed through his back, his body beginning to break apart.

" Never turn your back on an enemy." X-Jeremie hissed as he stood up, watching the boy's body pixilate and disappear. " One warrior to go." he grinned as he turned to the remaining two people.

.....39:00......38:59......38:58.....

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Back in the scanner room, the door to Ulrich's pod opened, depositing the disoriented youth onto the floor.

" Yumi." he gasped, boarding the elevator, and jumping out just as the doors were opening. He spotted her in the chair, her body slumped over the console, blood flowing from gashes covering the back of her head.

" Yumi, Yumi! Please wake up!" he grasped her shoulders, holding her close to him, tears mixing with the crimson liquid. " Don't leave me." he whispered.

" Ulrich?" came the weak, muffled response.

" Yumi! You're awake!" he pulled back, gazing into her pain-filled eyes as they focused on him.

" Thank goodness," she sighed. " I wasn't sure if I plugged in yours or Odd's scanner." she tried to sit up, but failed. " Ulrich, " she grabbed his hand, holding it for comfort. " there's more going on than we thought. XANA's going to detonate every nuclear missile in the world in less than, " she glanced at the countdown clock, her eyes widened, " thirty five minutes!"

Ulrich gently squeezed her hand, a reassuring gesture. " Tell me what to do."

Yumi smiled " Go up to the scanner room, get Odd's scanner plugged in. Don't worry about mine, I won't be much help on Lyoko in the shape I'm in."

" Okay, then what?"

Yumi winced in pain. "I'll need your help, I barely have the strength to stay awake, let alone monitor their positions and call up battle tactics at the same time. Now hurry, Odd's only got twenty health points left and he's the only thing standing between XANA and Aelita."

He nodded. " I'll be back." he carefully slid his hand out from hers before running to the elevator, but turned before the doors opened. " Yumi, if we don't survive this, I want you to know that...um." he hesitated, frustrated at his inability to just say his feelings.

" You don't have to tell me."

He looked up at her smiling face.

I already know, Ulrich. And I do too, I always have."

Ulrich smiled, a tinge of red on his cheeks as he stepped back into the elevator, the doors closing.

Yumi watched him go, before slumping down again, exhausted. ' It all comes down to faith.' she thought. ' Faith that Odd can delay XANA long enough for Aelita to get to the tower in time.'

.............30:00....29:59....29:58...

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" Can't we just discuss this like civillized computer sprites?" Odd asked as he stood in front of Aelita. " I mean we're all friends here, well the person you're inhabiting at least."

" Childish humor, how I won't miss it." X-Jeremie growled as he closed in on the two. " I give you one last chance, warrior. Join me or die."

" Let's not and say we did." Odd grabbed Aelita's hand as they turned and ran, heading down the other path.

" But Odd, we don't know if this is the correct path." Aelita said as she kept pace with him.

" Not much choice. It's either this or go back and face XANA, and I don't think I have many life points left."

" Indeed."

The two skidded to a halt as X-Jeremie appeared in front of them.

" Your life is nearing it's end, as well as the people on your world." he growled.

" What do you mean by that XANA?" Odd could see the tower in the distance. He just had to stall XANA long enough.

" Your female friend forgot to mention what's going on in your world."

" Naw, I already know, you took control of the schoolbuses."

X-Jeremie laughed. " Mere child's play, you fool. My grip has reached across your entire world, taking over your military systems." A clock appeared in the sky, floating over the distant tower. " In less than thirty five minutes your nuclear installations will launch every warhead in their arsenal, bringing about a glorious new day, a day where every human on the planet will be deleted."

Odd and Aelita stared in shock before Aelita spoke.

" You're insane, XANA! You can't do this!"

" And that's why I'll ask you again, why do you help these..humans? They offer you nothing."

Aelita glanced over at Odd, and then looked past XANA's figure, to the being within....Jeremie. " Because they'd do the same for me, they're worth saving." ' Especially Jeremie. ' she thought to herself. She gasped as Odd appeared in front of her, twin tendrils suddenly emerging from his back.

" Then die with them." X-Jeremie snarled as he withdrew the cords.

Odd fell to one knee, looking over his shoulder at her as his form flickered. " Sorry Aelita, I tried." he choked as his body vanished.

" It looks like I win." X-Jeremie smiled.

....................25:00.....24:59....24:58......

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Yumi watched as Odd's beacon winked out, fear gripping her. " Ulrich, is Odd..."

" Yes," came the reply, " I just managed to get the scanner plugged in before he fell out. Easy, you'll be okay."

' Odd.' Yumi thought. ' At least he's okay, but Aelita's alone...with XANA.'

................20:00......19:59.......19:58......

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" It's just you and me, Aelita." X-Jeremie hissed as he advanced on her.

" I'm not afraid of you, XANA."

" You should be, my dear. For I hold your life in my hands. One final chance, renounce the humans, and I may let you live."

Outwardly she looked calm, but inwardly Aelita was shaking. But as her eyes met XANA's devilish orbs, her resolve hardened. ' I wanted to prove to Jeremie that I could take care of myself, as he's always taken care of me. Now it's time I do the same.'

She looked further into his eyes, again seeing the being within, focusing only on him. " Jeremie, I know you can hear me. You have to fight him, you have to fight XANA!"

X-Jeremie chuckled as he closed the remaining distance between them. " I'm afraid he can't hear you. My control is absolute."

Aelita took a step back. " No control is absolute, even you know that. Just as I know Jeremie can hear me. I won't give up, I know you can hear me Jeremie, please, you have to fight him!" She gasped as X-Jeremie grabbed her neck, lifting her to his face.

" Enough, prepare to be deleted." he began to squeeze.

" Jeremie...please." Aelita whispered as darkness edged her vision. It was no use, she had failed.

" No, what's happening?!"

The pressure around her neck suddenly lifted as she fell to the ground, her mind fuzzy from lack of air. She gratefully sucked in air as she lifted her head, staring in wonder at the sight before her.

The beast known as XANA was on his knees, his 'face' twisted in agony. Short gasps of pain erupted from his mouth as his body starting shaking, his eyes screwed shut in pain as he shouted, " This can't be happening!? System error, system error!!" The scream became a keening wail of fear as his body arched violently, dark ichor and smoke rising from his spine.

And just as suddenly, it stopped. Jeremie's body falling to the ground, where he lay still.

" Jeremie!" Aelita stumbled to her feet, nearly falling as she ran to his body, fearing the worst.

......15:00.....14:59.....14:58.......

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Back in the super calculator, Yumi was eyeing the counter. Less than fifteen minutes to go, and still no word from Aelita. Her last transmission had been the sound of Aelita yelling for Jeremie to fight.

But now there was silence.

Ulrich was next to her, keeping an arm around her as he typed up on the secondary, trying to find the two on the map, with little success. He only knew that Aelita was somewhere in the desert region.

Odd had elected to stay in the scanner room, making sure that XANA had not sabotaged anything else. Though in actuality he was only down there because of the guilt he felt for not protecting Aelita.

Back on the main floor the speakers suddenly came to life, the sound of Aelita's voice yelling Jeremie's name. Yumi tried calling to her, but got no answer, meaning either the communication mode was messed up or Aelita choose to ignore her in her panic. Yumi feared the former as she pushed the intercom button.

" Odd, I think you should come up here."

She sat back, looking Ulrich in the eyes as he squeezed her shoulder.

" It'll be okay. " he whispered, sounding like he was trying to reassure himself as well.

Still feeling weak, Yumi smiled softly, leaning into his embrace. There was nothing more she...they could do. It all rested on Aelita.

But at least there was hope. All they could do now, was listen....and pray.

......13:00.....12:59.......12:58.......

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" Uhhhh, Aelita?"

Aelita opened her eyes, relief flooding through her as Jeremie smiled weakly. " Jeremie." It was all she could say as she looked down into his eyes, human eyes.

" I - I heard you, calling me." he whispered.

" You did?"

" Yes, before...it was all...darkness. And then...I heard your voice calling me, pulling me toward the light." he sat up slowly, giving himself a moment to look around before trying to stand up.

" Wait Jeremie, let me help you."

Jeremie didn't protest as Aelita grabbed his hands, helping him to his feet.

" How do you feel, Jeremie?" she asked.

" Much better actually, I feel like a heavy burden's been lifted from my shoulders." he blushed.

Aelita glanced down, blushing too when she realized she was still holding his hands. As she looked up to speak, she caught a glimpse of the counter still hovering in the air. And remembered what she still had to do. " Jeremie, I must get to the tower."

" I know."

" You do?"

Jeremie nodded. " Though XANA possessed my body, I could hear his thoughts. I know what he's doing, and I'm sorry I couldn't stop him."

" Don't be. You had no control. Now, come on, let's go."

Jeremie smiled. " Thanks." he said as the two ran to the tower.

......10:00...9:59.....9:58.......

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It didn't take long, but with the clock running every second counted. So it came as a surprise when nothing appeared to attack them.

" No monsters, no nothing. It's too easy. " Jeremie muttered as the two stood outside the tower. " XANA has to be around here somewhere."

" Very good, programmer, however your quest is futile." XANA' s voice echoed from above.

" How so XANA, you can't affect me anymore. And once Aelita enters the tower, things will return to normal."

Harsh laughter resonated. " Did you really think I wasn't prepared for this possibility? Look at your hand, child. My victory is assured."

Jeremie looked down, feeling sick. The symbol of XANA still pulsed on his hand, keeping in tune to XANA's 'heartbeat'.

" As you can see, " XANA gloated. " you and I are still linked. And if your dear Aelita deactivates the tower, you'll be deleted."

" No!" Aelita cried out.

Jeremie bit his lip as he stared at his hand. So, this was it, two choices. Death for him or death for the human race...and Aelita. Glancing at her worried face he knew his answer. " Aelita, I'm...I'm really glad I got to know you. And I wish things could've turned out differently."

" Jeremie, what are you saying?!" Aelita exclaimed, fearing what he was about to say.

Jeremie smiled sadly. " I'm saying goodbye, Aelita." His gaze met hers, his heart breaking at the despair and anguish reflected in her eyes.

" Jeremie, I can't...no I won't do it!" Aelita pleaded, silently cursing her inability to cry. " What about your life, what about your family, your friends, what about me?" You're asking me to do the impossible."

" No, " Jeremie shook his head, " I'm asking you to do what's right. It's only one life, my life in exchange for everyone on the planet. A fair trade."

" A fair trade?! I just got you back, and now you're leaving me again!"

Jeremie reached out, his hand gently stroking her face, even though he knew she couldn't feel it. " I'm sorry Aelita. But it has to be done. I can't be selfish." Sighing at her saddened expression, he grasped her chin, blushing hard. " But, I can give you something to remember me by."

" Remember?" Any further words were silenced as Jeremie pulled Aelita to him, pressing his lips against hers. Her eyes widened in surprise, her mind trying to process this sudden sensation.

It ended too soon.

Reluctantly parting, Jeremie gave her a quick peck on the check. " I won't forget you Aelita. No matter where I go, I won't ever forget my love for you. Now go!"

Aelita blushed, smiling shyly. " I love you too Jeremie." she replied as she ran to the tower, the counter above her reading one minute.

Entering the tower and stepping to the center, Aelita looked up, her body being carried upward. ' Why am I doing this? I'm sentencing Jeremie to death, permanent deletion.' She landed on the upper platform, each ring lighting in turn. ' Why did it have to be him?' Placing her hand on the identification screen, she knew the answer. ' Because XANA knew. Whether we freed Jeremie or stopped the firing of the warheads, he knew. Even in defeat, he had won.'

Aelita

Code

" Jeremie. I'm sorry." Aelita whispered, a single tear falling down her cheek.

.......0:10.....0:09.....0:08.....

Lyoko.

...0:07..

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Tears streaming down her face, Yumi reached for the keyboard, her finger hovering over the Enter key. " Return to the past....now." she sobbed.

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End of chapter three. Don't throw anything, there's still one last chapter. Yes, I know they don't always have to press the Enter key to implement the time reversal, I just thought it added more to the angst of the moment. I'm working on chapter four, so I hope to get it completed soon. As usual, if you read, please review. I'd like to know what people thought of this chapter.