Crossed Circuits Chapter 2: You're Going As Me?, a code lyoko fanfic

Crossed Circuits

By Flying Star

Disclaimer: XANA prevents me from buying the rights. In other words, I don't own Code Lyoko.

----------------------------------------------

Thanks for all the reviews. I'm glad people liked the first chapter.

Neo Aguni: Yep, I hope this is good enough.

Cybra: Interesting indeed, though there isn't much humor in this chapter. The next chapter will.

Zim: Thanks, hope you like this chapter.

D Wolf Falls: You're one of my favorite reviewers, since you're always so current on leaving reviews. Thanks, and I hope you like this chapter.

Palantiri: Yep, thanks to you, Cybra, and D Wolf Falls, I decided to continue in this catagory. Here's the newest chapter.

Star Breacher: Thanks, yep, XANA switched them. I look forward to the next chapter of your " Thicker than Blood" story.

MystDragon2k: No problem, sometimes it's best to wait till the end to rate a story. I don't mind. Here's the next part.

Ron'sGirl2000: Glad you liked it, and you're absolutely correct.

Edhelith: laughs Did you read my mind? Though chapter three is where your question will be answered. Hope you like this chapter.

Unknownyumi: Yep, they switched. Here's the next chapter.

--------------------------------------

This chapter really just advances the plot some. It's short, but the good news is the next chapter pretty far along, so hopefully it won't take too long to finish.

So they're switched, how can they switch back? Jeremie looks for the answer, while Aelita has to play pretend.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

" Jeremie"- refers to Jeremie in Aelita's body.

"Aelita" - refers to Aelita in Jeremie's body.

---------------------------------------------

Chapter 2: You're going as me?

The sound of grinding gears, accompanied by a hiss of steam, signaled the arrival of Lyoko's other two warriors. The elevator doors parting to admit Ulrich and Yumi into the main floor of the factory, the two running into the room.

" Sorry it took us so long, what's the emergency?" The two were breathing hard as they looked around the room.

Odd, having since recovered from his fainting spell, looked up from where he, Aelita, and Jeremie were conversing. His face a mix between amused and disbelief, as Jeremie and Aelita watched silently, their expressions unreadable. " Better late than never." he quipped quietly.

Seeing the originator of the phone call, Yumi frowned. " Odd, what's going on? You were almost hysterical on the phone, but I don't see anything here that counts as a emergency."

Odd looked back at the two other occupants, receiving a nod from the both of them. He turned back, not looking Yumi or Ulrich in the eye as he addressed them. " Well, you see. XANA activated a tower, and I accompanied Aelita while she investigated..."

"Wait a minute. " Ulrich interupted. " You went into Lyoko alone, why didn't Jeremie call us?"

Odd seemed ashamed. " It was supposed to be a simple mission. Aelita was going to check out the tower since it didn't show up on Jeremie's scan. There didn't seem to be a need for more than one escort."

" So, explain why you're out here, and not still in Lyoko."

Odd grinned sheepishly. " I...um got a little too cocky when I finished fighting XANA's blocks. I got ambushed and deleted just as I heard Aelita scream from inside the tower."

The two suddenly realized how silent the genius and computer sprite were, and said as much. Jeremie and Aelita though, remained quiet.

Ulrich turned back to Odd, knowing how much he enjoyed pranking others. " Is this some kind of joke, Odd. There's nothing wrong that I see. Did you put them up to this because I'm not in the mood for games!"

Odd couldn't help himself, he cracked a knowing grin. " Believe me, Ulrich. We do have a rather, unique problem on our hands. But, I think it's best that Jeremie explains what's going on." He stepped aside as " Aelita", still seated, looked at them, and then moved aside, revealing "Jeremie's" grim face onscreen as he spoke.

" XANA set a trap for Aelita, using an activated tower. As near as I can tell he set up a shared link virus that activated as soon as she imputed her name. My guess is that the link flowed through Aelita and I, creating a sortof digital conversion transfer that..." he paused as he saw the opened mouthed stares that Ulrich and Yumi were giving him, and realized what they saw. " Basically what I mean is, we switched."

Yumi was the first to recover. "You mean like bodies?"

"Jeremie" nodded. " Yes, it means that I'm in Aelita's body..."

" And I'm in Jeremie's." "Aelita" finished.

" Ae- I mean Jeremie. " Yumi shook her head, this was gonna take getting used to. " Do you have any clue as to why XANA did this?

Onscreen, "Jeremie" frowned. " No, we both feel fine. Despite the overall oddity of being in each other's bodies, it's more of an inconvenience." He leaned forward, his gaze on "Aelita", who blushed. " But not much of one." he added.

" How can you be so calm?" Yumi asked, surprised at how well he was handling the situation.

" Jeremie" shrugged. " I think it's rather fascinating." He answered, examining his image on the ice wall behind him, grinning as he wiggled Aelita's elfen ears. Watching 'her' face light up as he smiled. " Strange, but so incredible."

Odd laughed. " Only you, would find switching bodies with a virtual being to be fascinating."

" Jeremie, may I ask what the purpose of this is?"

" Jeremie" looked back to "Aelita", just in time to see her remove his glasses. " Aelita, that's not such a good idea."

" Why?" "Aelita" gasped as she looked at his image, all she saw was a pink and tan blur, rather than "Jeremie's" amused face. " Jeremie, I can't see!" She didn't feel the situation was humorous as "Jeremie" chuckled, her optics were malfunctioning, this was serious.

" Aelita, relax. Just place the object back on your face." " Jeremie's" voice was calm and controlled.

His soft, soothing voice helped her calm down. If Jeremie wasn't worried, then she shouldn't be. It took a few tries, but after poking herself in the eye twice, she managed to get them back on, and sighed happily as her vision returned. " What happened to me?" She asked, toying with the edges of the eyewear.

" What you're wearing are corrective lenses, most often called glasses. Some human eyes don't function properly, so these lenses assist their eyes in processing and clarifying the images the brain receives. I have to wear them because I can't see objects far away, and it looks like for the time being, you'll have to."

"Then I shall wear them."

Ulrich found his voice, interupting the two. " " Ael- I mean Jeremie. Where are you at the moment? You're not inside the same tower, are you?"

" Jeremie" sobered " No, after I regained my senses, I discovered that the tower no longer exists, all that's left is a burned afterimage. So, I'm currently sitting behind an icy outcropping."

" But how can we reverse this if we don't have the tower anymore?" Yumi voiced her thoughts.

"Jeremie" smiled. " Strange as it may sound, I can feel pulsations. There is still an activated tower somewhere in this area. I'd like to investigate, but since I don't know what XANA has planned, I think I may need some company."

"Count me it. " Odd grinned.

" Uh, sorry Odd. With your avatar deleted, you can't return to Lyoko just yet." "Jeremie" said, as Odd looked crestfallen. " Yumi, how about you?"

" Can Aelita work the system?"

"Aelita" said nothing as she turned to the keyboard, typing in a series of complex commands. " There, the scanner's set up." she announced.

"Thanks, Aelita." "Jeremie" turned his attention back to Yumi. " Okay, so we're all ready. I'll meet you at the base of the ice cliff." His picture vanished as he cut the visual connection.

" Wish me luck. " Yumi called as she boarded the elevator. Taking it to the scanner room.

-------------------

Appearing in Lyoko, she looked around, spotting the familar pink hair of Lyoko's only resident, only in this case, outer appearances were definitely deceiving.

" Glad you could make it." "Jeremie" said as Yumi reached him. " The pulsations run in this direction. " He turned to the north. " We'll follow, and ....what?" He suddenly realized Yumi was trying her hardest to keep a straight face.

" What?" He asked again.

" I'm sorry, A...Jeremie. I'm so used to Aelita's mannerisms, and no offense, but you could use some lessons in female posturing." She smirked as he crossed his arms, still looking decidedly un-Aelita like.

" It's not like I choose to be like this." He said jokingly. " We'll worry about my acting skills later. Right now we need to get to the tower, and hope that XANA doesn't try anything."

" And if he does?" Yumi asked as the two started running.

" That's why we have Ulrich waiting. Since Odd can't return, he's our backup in case you're deleted."

" That's a comforting thought." Yumi commented as the two made their way to the tower.

---------------------

In the main floor Ulrich, Odd, and "Aelita" watched the two icons traverse the terrain, their eyes searching for any enemy icons. It was on one of their observations that Odd realized the time.

" Oh no, Ulrich. Science class starts in less than twenty minutes!"

"Aelita" looked up from the screen, puzzled. " I though Jeremie said school was over for the day?"

Odd shook his head. "Einstein fibbed a little. Yumi's school day may be over, but ours is only reaching the home stretch."

" Then I must let Jeremie know." " Aelita" reached for the headset, keying in Lyoko's audio channel. " Jeremie?"

In Lyoko, "Jeremie" and Yumi stopped upon hearing Aelita's voice. " Jeremie" looked up. " Yes, Aelita?"

" You, Ulrich, and Odd have class in less than twenty minutes. What should we do?"

" Jeremie" frowned, rubbing his chin as he thought. " Since I'm stuck here, and we need Ulrich in the factory in case there's any problems. I suggest Odd goes to class and says Ulrich and I are sick."

" Not gonna work, Einstein, at least not in your favor. Mrs. Hertz is tired of your constant absences, and is ready to investigate your dorm room...and call your parents if you're not in class. You..I mean Aelita's going to have to go. I can cover for Ulrich."

"Jeremie" didn't like the idea one bit, but between having Aelita pretend to be him, or having the school officials find out the secret lying in his computer and the factory...well. He sighed, resignation in his voice." Okay, but stay with her at all times. And Aelita, whatever you do, don't speak to anyone."

" But why, Jeremie?" "Aelita" looked puzzled.

" Think about it, the last thing we need is trying to explain to the teachers, or even the principal about 'my' sudden voice change."

" I still don't understand. " "Aelita" cocked her head in confusion.

"Jeremie" sighed, but smiled, amused at her question. " Voice changes in male humans are common at a young age. But having a person's voice suddenly change from male to female in the span of a day, isn't. There'd be too many questions to answer."

" Oh." She still didn't look fully convinced, but she trusted Jeremie, and agreed as she gave Ulrich the controls. After showing him how to retrieve Yumi, she and Odd left the factory, leaving Ulrich to smile after their retreating forms, wondering just what Odd had gotten himself into. He turned back to the screen, still grinning.

------------------------

-----------------------

In Lyoko, Yumi and "Jeremie" continued their trek uncontested, until the tower came into view.

" Why do I get the feeling this is too easy?" " Jeremie" said, examining their surroundings as they reached the base of the tower.

" Probably because it is. " Yumi answered. " XANA wouldn't allow Aelita to the tower without sending some kind of resistance, so why would he allow you?"

"Jeremie" frowned. " And yet, there's nothing here. Ulrich, what's our status?"

" All clear. " came the reply. " No monsters anywhere."

" I really don't have much of a choice. I'm going in."

Yumi looked worried. "Just be careful. It could be another trap."

" I don't think so, XANA already did what I'm sure he intended to do to us. Just watch out for monsters while I shut down the tower. But don't worry, I will be careful." He didn't wait for her to respond as he turned to the tower wall, and then turned back to her. " Um, how does Aelita enter the tower anyway, I don't see an entrance?"

Yumi chuckled. " I forgot you can't really see us in Lyoko. Aelita really just kind of...walks into the tower through the wall."

" Really? " "Jeremie" glanced back at the solid mass making up the tower base, " You're sure, right?" he asked, not really quite convinced.

" I've seen Aelita do it dozens of times."

"Jeremie" steeled himself, bracing himself for a painful impact as he stepped forward. Then blinked in surprise as his form transended the wall, flowing through effortlessly.

" Told you. " He heard Yumi call from the other side.

" Yes, you were right, but now what?" He looked to the center of the room, not seeing any kind of communication device, just a symbol engraved on the ground.

" Luckily Aelita explained to me a while back how she does it. Just walk to the center, you'll be carried to the upper level. From there just walk to the center again and the identification screen will appear. Place your hand on it, and once it identifies you, it should automatically enter the code."

" Okay." Something in her words nagged at him. Something he felt he should know as he walked to the center, each ring lighting in turn. He relaxed, allowing his body to be carried upward, where he lightly landed on the upper platform. Again the rings lit up as he reached the center, where the prompt screen appeared. Remembering what Yumi said, he placed his hand on the screen, and waited.

---------------------------

" Jeremie? Jeremie?" Mrs. Hertz looked at "Aelita", who suddenly realized she was addressing her. She raised her hand and opened her mouth.

Odd quickly saw what she was going to do, and reached around 'her' head.

" P-mmph!" "Aelita" turned her head slightly, a puzzled look in her eyes as Odd smiled apologetically, his hand still on 'her' mouth.

" Odd, what is the meaning of this!" Mrs. Hertz demanded as all eyes fell on the two.

' Oh great, my adoring audience, gotta think fast.' He removed his hand from "Aelita's" mouth as he addressed the teacher. " Uh, s-he's coming down with laryngitis." He winced inwardly, hoping the teacher hadn't caught his slip of the tongue. "Yeah, his voice is all squeaky and hoarse, so it's best that he doesn't speak."

Mrs. Hertz glared at him for a moment, before turning to "Aelita". " Is this true?"

" Just nod your head." Odd whispered, hoping the teacher didn't notice, she didn't.

"Aelita" nodded.

The teacher didn't look fully satisfied, but she returned to attendence calling.

" That was a close one, remember what you..uh ..Jeremie said." Odd whispered, amused at discussing Jeremie while speaking to the one who was supposed to be him.

The class, having lost interest, turned back to the teacher. All except one. She studied the two from her desk. She knew Odd was lying about Jeremie's voice loss because she'd seen the two talking earlier. " You may have fooled the teacher, but you don't fool me, Jeremie." Sissi said quietly to herself.

-------------------------------------

------------------------------------

Uh oh, Sissi's suspicious. Meaning "Aelita" better watch out, lest their secret is revealed. So, what did you think? The next chapter will have more humor as Aelita has to adjust to Jeremie's body, can you say, bathroom discovery? Also, in the next chapter, "Jeremie" discovers some unsettling news, and "Aelita's" confronted by Sissi. Oh yeah, I know their classes are at different times, so I made so that Yumi's classes were already done. Well, as usual, if you read, please review. I'd like to know people's thoughts on this chapter.