Crossed Circuits
By Flying Star
Disclaimer: The wind whispers a disheartening cry. "You'll never own, you'll never own." In other words, I don't own Code Lyoko.
--------------------------------
MystDragon2k: Yes, very serious. And Sissi's so much fun to mess around with. Here's the next part.
Amber Skye: Crossed circuits indeed. 'laughs'. Now things get more serious.
Pieces of my Soul/ Star Way: I've been wanting to do something like that to Sissi for awhile.
D. Wolf Falls: Half and half eh? Now the balance will be broken, since this chapter is definitely more serious.
dantheman7777: Sorry about not much gender-bending humor, I'm nearing the end. So it's focusing more on saving "Aeltia's" life now. But glad you liked it.
CBIzumi: Glad you liked it. Things are a lot more serious in this chapter.
THIS was by far, the hardest chapter to write, so much writer's block and such. But I think it turned out okay.
--------------------------------
Chapter five: Impossible Odds?
"Aelita" nodded, her feelings mixed as she thought about Jeremie's safety. " Okay, I'm sending in Ulrich to accompany you."
Ulrich nodded as he went to the scanner room.
" Transfer, Ulrich, Scanner, Ulrich, virtualization!"
" You're a natural at this, you know that?" "Jeremie" said, smiling as he ran to the transfer tower, unable to see "Aelita" blush in the real world. Standing outside, he watched Ulrich's body form in the air, and then land without making a sound. " You make it look so simple. " "Jeremie" mused as Ulrich ran up to him.
" Hey, after all the times we've come in here, it's second nature now." Ulrich said. " Okay, this time I'm coming inside."
" Good idea. After those last few mishaps, we can't take any chances."
The two stepped forward, then jumped back as four Blocks emerged from behind the tower.
" I see the welcoming commitee has arrived." Ulrich said, pulling his weapon.
" So why don't I feel welcome?" " Jeremie" half-joked as he stood behind Ulrich.
" Because XANA doesn't want you inside." Ulrich said as he adjusted his grip on his sword.
" All the more reason to believe that the code download will work." "Jeremie" answered as he stared at the monsters. They were a lot larger than he thought they would be.
" Go hide, I'll be right back."
" Jeremie" nodded, backing away from his protector to find a suitable hiding place.
" Triplicate!" Ulrich ran forward, his form blurring as it split, two separate bodies forming from his, both identical to him. He gestured to each one. " You, over there. You take that one, I'll take this one." His commands issued, the original Ulrich ran to the closest Block, his body going skyward. " Impact!" The sword hit it's mark, stabbing deep into the XANA symbol.
Ulrich pulled his sword out, jumping back as the Block shattered, wincing as he watched one of his clones disintegrate. The other one jumped up as well, dispatching of another Block before succumbing to a laser hit. Inwardly, Ulrich felt each hit as his life points decreased by 20. Shaking off the acute sense of loss that came with losing his other selves, he turned to the remaining pair.(1)
Artificial sunlight reflected off the blade of his sword as he stared down the two Blocks, his mouth curving into a slight smirk as he adjusted his blade, gripping it in one hand as he gestured with the other. " Bring it on." The monsters didn't hesitate to oblige.
"Jeremie" watched from behind an icy slab, studying the battle with a sense of awe. Being that he never actually witnessed his friends fight, only seeing their battle cards and stats when he was observing from the Supercalculator. But now he was able to watch in full three-d clarity as Ulrich rushed to meet the twin enemies, his sword flashing as he literally sliced both of them in half, before coming to a rest a few feet away. Ulrich flashed him a thumbs up.
" See, piece of..."
The laser blast hit him in the mid-section, throwing his body a good ten feet from where "Jeremie" was hiding, his sword clattering just out of his grasp. "Aelita's" voice came a second later.
" Twenty life points lost, and two Crabs in the vicinity!"
" I know. " Ulrich called back, taking a moment to regain his senses before standing to greet the new arrivals. The Crabs were less than patient, one opening fire just as he reached for his weapon, hitting him in the shoulder.
" Ten life points lost. You have fifty life points left." "Aelita's" voice held a note of worry.
" Tell me something I don't know." Ulrich said tightly as he retrieved his weapon, deflecting the Crab's next shot. Wait a minute, the Crab? There were two...
" Ulrich, the other Crab's heading toward Jeremie!"
Ulrich's head whipped to "Jeremie's" hiding place as he felt another shot hit him in the knee. Sure enough, the other Crab was nearly on top of the frightened boy stuck in Aelita's body.
He wasted no time in leaping at his current target, plunging his sword into it's weak point, before leaping off and running toward the other one. " Hey, hey you! Yeah, I'm talking to you! Try picking on someone your own size!" A lame line, yes, but it worked as the Crab turned it's attention to the approaching samurai, it's laser powering up.
Ulrich never gave it a chance to fire as he sliced off it's legs before his blade made contact with the XANA symbol. The Crab shattered, it's remains vanishing as "Jeremie" emerged from behind the ice wall.
Ulrich's gaze went skyward. " Aelita, any more surprises?!"
" You're all clear, no enemies in sight. But I advise that you hurry, XANA's bound to be preparing more of his creations." She paused. " Actually, correct that. It seems XANA's growing impatient." "Aelita" looked up from the map, turning up the volume of the newscast that had suddenly popped up onscreen. The reporter didn't look pleased.
" While the origin of the smog is unknown. It's intentions are definitely hostile." The camera panned back to reveal a huge black cloud steadily growing in size. " It's confirmed to have a highly corrosive effect on anything made of metal. Police have already issued evacuation orders..." The camera suddenly jerked to the side as a small part of the cloud landed on it's lense, splattering like tar. Within seconds the image fizzled and winked out as it's circuitry was fried.
"Aelita" looked back to "Jeremie". " XANA's not waiting to take over the Earth. You have to hurry."
"Jeremie" and Ulrich exchanged nods before turning their attention to the tower. Entering through the wall, they walked to the tower's lower platform before rising to the upper level. Ulrich stayed back, watching carefully as "Jeremie" walked to the center circle, staying ready for any signs of distress.
" Okay Aelita, I'm ready." "Jeremie" said as he instinctively raised his arms. Moments later his body rose up, lines of code swirling around him and entering through his chest.
' Download initiated......10 percent....20 percent...'
"Aelita" watched the transfer nervously, praying that the download would complete without flaws, and that the firewall she installed would keep XANA out.
.....50 percent.....60 percent.....
"Jeremie" remained completely still as his body continued to hover over the platform, eyes closed as the information continued to pour into him at a steady pace.
....90 percent....100 percent... Download complete.
-------------------------------------------------
The growing darkness observed "Jeremie's" triumph with a mounting sense of frustration. It's form seething with anger as it continued clawing at the crackling embers surrounding the tower.
The sprite's firewall, though hastily thrown together, was strong enough to render intrusion on it's part impossible. But even this wall of energy couldn't keep it's eyes out as it stared through the wall.
But what it saw had infuritated it even more. Despite it's earlier attacks, the programmer and Lyoko pest had still managed to complete a feat it had originally dismissed as impossible. And that oversight meant that the programmer now had the means to defeat it.
No! It wouldn't let him. It's attention turned outward, through the link established to the real world, to the face of the one whose code was embedded in the other. Despite her being inside the programmer's body , it could easily see her source code. She was the problem, her constant interferences had thwarted many attempts. And now, with victory in it's grasp, that pest, Aelita, had again found a loophole around it's interference.
It's 'mouth' stretched open, almost seeming to smile. Well, if they were so eager to stop it, it would just have to speed up her deletion. But first, a few more playmates for the two inside the tower. Reaching up and then out it silently called, it's minions coming forth, heeding the word of their master, XANA.
Having finished the task, XANA focused it's attention on it's other half, the cloud of darkness it had forming in the real world. Establishing it's link, it gazed out through it's 'eyes', searching across the distance until it found the factory, and found her.
Closing it's eyes, it recited the code familar to it, the signal for the activation. Before reaching out for her, tendrils of dark hate, invisible to the naked eye, swarming away from the main mass and toward her unaware body. It was going to personally make sure her demise was as painful as possible.
-----------------------------------------------------
Ulrich ran to "Jeremie's" side as his body slowly lowered to the ground, his hand on his chest. " Are you okay?" he asked, concerned at the way "Jeremie" slumped to the ground.
"Jeremie?" "Aelita's" voice echoed through the tower.
"Jeremie" kept his head down. "Aelita, I can feel it."
" Feel?" The question came from inside and outside Lyoko.
" Jeremie" nodded before standing up, his hand still over his heart. " I don't know how, but I can feel your code pulsing through my chest, through my heart, it's incredible. "
" Aelita" merely smiled. " I'm reading full intergration of code." Her expression swiftly changed to one of alarm when she noticed the red icons approaching. " Jeremie, Ulrich, XANA's sending reinforcements!"
" How many?" Ulrich asked.
Yumi and Odd peered over "Aelita's" shoulder as she typed in the enemy stats. " From the readings, at least three more Blocks, and two Crabs."
" And I'm almost out of life points, not good odds, but it'll have to do. Yumi, you better get ready, just in case."
" Okay." Yumi was already heading for the elevator.
Inside Lyoko, Ulrich and "Jeremie", having already thought of a plan, emerged from behind the tower, Ulrich grabbing "Jeremie" around the waist, mindful of where he placed his hands as he leapt up the icy outcropping behind the tower. " Boy, you're lighter than I thought you'd be." Ulrich commented as he reached the top, placing " Jeremie" on his feet. Below them, XANA's monsters still milled about the tower, waiting for the pair.
" Jeremie" smirked as he wiped imaginary dust off, but then gasped, backing away. " Let's discuss body weight later, after we've escaped them!"
Ulrich turned, just in time to get a face full of laser from two Roachsters, the other three following close behind. " Jer...." His cry cut off as his body pixilated and vanished, leaving "Jeremie" alone with XANA's monsters.
They didn't hesitate, all five firing at the same time. "Jeremie" turned, running as his internal sensors informed him that he'd just lost ten life points. ' Could've been worse.' he thought, grateful that the Roachsters were such lousy shots.
He was running pretty fast without feeling the least bit tired, which didn't come as much of a surprise considering, as he had earlier discovered, that breathing wasn't a neccessity for virtual beings. But aside from outpacing the creatures, he saw a problem up ahead. He screeched to a halt as he reached the end of the cliff, the drop ominously deep. And the Roachsters were coming into view.
" Aelita, where's Yumi!? I'm stuck on the cliff edge with five enemies closing in!"
"Yumi's been virtualized, but she's still a ways away from you, and she's encountering resistance. Plus she's not on the cliff, meaning...."
" You've got to be joking?!" " Jeremie" yelled incredulously, looking over the edge. " That has to be at least a sixty foot drop straight down. There's no way I could survive that!" He winced as he sensed, rather than felt, a laser hit him. (2) Grabbing his sparking shoulder, he looked back at the five approaching Roachsters.
" You just lost ten life points! Do you want to take your chances up there?!" Odd yelled out.
" Jeremie, do you trust me?" "Aelita's" voice cut through his fear.
" Of course." He replied, just barely avoiding another laser as the Roachsters closed in.
" Then jump. You'll be fine, I promise."
" Okay." Taking a deep breath to calm himself, " Jeremie" backed up a few steps, flinching as a laser shot temporarily derezed the ground mere inches from his foot. And then started running, the edge getting closer as he heard more laser shots and saw the ground around him being struck.
And then he was soaring, floating, falling. The sudden rush of air ruffling the sleeves of his shirt as his body plunged over the edge. He stared at the rapidly approaching ground with a detached sort of fascination and horror, wondering briefly if he'd gone insane.
After all he had just WILLFULLY jumped off a cliff. The more he thought about it, the less sane it sounded.
A sudden jolt forward, combined with "Aelita's" worried voice telling him that he'd just lost twenty life points, reminded him that the alternative above was much worse.
With a soft grunt, he landed lightly on his feet, looking back up in amazement. Yes, he HAD actually jumped that far, with nary a scratch on him. It seemed physically impossible, and he commented as much to "Aelita" as Yumi joined him. There was no sign of the Crabs or Blocks that had been roaming the area. Above them, the Roachsters turned back from the ledge.
" Your laws of science and nature don't always apply in Lyoko, Jeremie." "Aelita" replied.
" Jeremie" still looked amazed. " Do you do this all the time?"
" Well, yes. Don't humans?" "Aelita" replied.
"Jeremie" chuckled. " Some humans jump off of cliffs with parachutes attached, and rapple down them for the thrill. But we can't just jump off without injury."
" What's a parachute?"
-------------------------------
There! XANA could see the programmer's back as it flowed through the ceiling, the small dark threads it controlled rocketing toward the unsuspecting body, it's 'mouth' open in a malicous sneer as it struck.
--------------------------------
It happened suddenly, the sensation hitting her so hard that she nearly cried out, the feeling of crushing pain jarring through her back, between her shoulder blades. Grasping the desk and gasping sharply, yet quietly, though clenched teeth, "Aelita" focused on keeping her face as neutral as possible. She couldn't let them see her like this. The feeling subsided quickly, but left her shaking with the intrusion. Sweat started to bead on her forehead.
" Parachutes provide a break for a jumper's descent, in turn buffering....." "Jeremie" paused in mid-explaination, immediately noticing her sudden discomfort. "Aelita." That one word, said so softly, spoke volumes to the girl.
She nodded, not wanting to worry him, but knowing she couldn't keep it hidden. " I believe the virus is active, Jeremie. I feel like I did the last time I crossed over." "Worse, actually. " She whispered only to herself.
" When you tried to stay just a little too long." It wasn't a question, and "Aelita" knew what he meant.
Odd, however, did not. " What's with the whispering? You know we have a right to know too."
" Symptoms start simple. Because the virus resides here." She gestured to her stomach as she continued shaking off the aftereffects of the earlier intrusion. "I first have a feeling of general illness, like when a human comes down with the flu. It intensifies quickly though, with fever, chills, physical ill reactions." She wiped her forehead, shivering, an overwhelming feeling of nausea suddenly hitting her.
" Physical? " Odd paused as he noticed how green she was looking. Without saying another word, he grabbed a nearby waste basket.
An act that "Aelita" was very grateful for as her stomach decided to relieve itself of her last meal. After a few shaky moments, and a few tissues, "Aelita" leaned back, looking marginally better. " Thank you."
" What comes next?" Odd asked, his tone of voice completely serious.
" Aelita" kept her gaze off of Jeremie. " The pain will steadily get worse as the virus begins infecting more...." she paused, turning her head to the trash receptacle again. This time only produced dry heaves. Again she needed a moment before turning back to Odd. " As it infects more of my vital components." She finished, feeling more ill than she cared to admit.
And in truth, what she had said wasn't a lie. The virus was making her sick, but the pain in her back had been new, feeling less like something from the virus and more like.... She wouldn't get a chance to ponder as she spotted multiple icons heading in the direction of her friends. " Jeremie, Yumi, you've got company!"
---------------------------------------------------------
It's plan was working, XANA's tendrils working through the body like an infection.
With the foresight to create small multiple groups of minions, XANA now had enough to keep the wastes of virtual space busy on Lyoko while it continued to internally torment the cause of so many of it's troubles. It's mind pushing the virus through her body at a steady, yet increasing clip. Willing it to the targets it desired, the two vital areas that would be her downfall.
And even if they did manage to destroy all of it's creations. It had it's sentry posted at the tower, and one of it's more powerful creatures was waiting to engage the two as soon as half of it's creature numbers were defeated. Weaker monsters were easier to create in groups of many, so the chance of them surviving long enough to even make it to the tower was slim. But it wasn't taking any chances, not after witnessing their resilence.
This time XANA did it's best imitation of a smile. Soon, it would have no more obstacles in it's path to victory.
---------------------------------------------------
Yumi looked up. " How many?"
" Two groups of five Roachsters and four Blocks. Not far from you." Came the subdued response.
" Jeremie" winced as he heard the pain in "Aelita's" voice.
" Not too bad, how far is the infected tower?" Yumi asked.
There was a pause, and then. " Two point three miles due East. Behind XANA's monsters."
Yumi and "Jeremie" exchanged glances. The tower was far, and XANA was bound to have more monsters besides the current ones, just waiting for them to arrive. They both knew it. Nodding, the two ran, already the sound of laser shots filled the air.
----------------------------------
"Aelita" watched the screen intently, her body trembling as she continued monitoring the icons traversing the map.
Now she could literally 'feel' the virus creeping through her veins, burning tendrils of pain leaving their mark and spreading outward from it's source of origin. She couldn't deny it any longer, the virus was moving faster than the previous times.
She wasn't afraid of dying, because for her everyday on Lyoko had been a dance with death. But she couldn't stand having Jeremie die. His life was on Earth, with his friends by his side. And she was going to make sure he survived, even if she didn't.
But she wasn't going to give in either, not without a fight.
----------------------------------
" Okay, Jeremie. Refresh my memory? " Yumi panted as the two ran, lasers barely missing them as they ducked behind a ice boulder. " Didn't Aelita say there were ten roachsters and four Blocks?" She looked out from the boulder, watching the ten Blocks, ten Roachsters, and three Wasps approaching the area. (3)
" Yeah. " " Jeremie" answered back, not the least out of breath. " XANA's not taking any chances. He might've added more monsters or altered their signals." He ducked as a laser shot missed him by mere inches. " This really doesn't look very good, rather impossible actually."
Yumi sighed, then withdrew her fan, a wicked grin on her face. " Doesn't look good and impossible are two different things. Looks like we make our stand here." Before he could protest, Yumi jumped up, her fan leaving her hand and taking out two Roachsters, before she ducked behind an adjacent wall. The Wasps, not wanting to wait, circled the wall, before diving at her, their lasers striking their target before she could release her fan. Yumi winced, her abdomen, right shoulder, and leg sparking as the Wasps came around for another attack.
" Thirty life points lost, Yumi. You're down to forty now. " There was a pause as Yumi ran back to "Jeremie". "And Jeremie, the code's starting to break down. I'm reading ten percent loss." "Aelita's" voice was more than a little shaky.
" What! Forty points left?! What happened Yumi?" "Jeremie" asked.
" I had a run-in with some of XANA's monsters before I got to you. Couple Crabs, and some Blocks. Got some lucky shots on me." Yumi turned her attention back to the three Wasps, leaping and throwing her fan at an ice wall behind them.
' Yumi, what are you doing?' " Jeremie" though as he watched the fan strike the wall. But instead of slicing through the sheet of ice, the gleaming metal disk bounced off, ricocheting between two of the Wasps, before returning to Yumi's hand. The Wasps hovered for a moment, before their heads, so neatly sheared through moments earlier, popped off, their bodies disintegrating into digital dust.
Yumi smiled over her shoulder. " It's all in the wrist." She leapt up again, lobbing her fan at the group of roachsters. To her dismay, not only did she miss, but a Roachster scored a hit to her shoulder, knocking her back next to "Jeremie".
" Thirty life points left."
" More than enough." Yumi stood, and waited. Her hand ready to toss her deadly weapon. She didn't have too wait long as the lone Wasp approached.
" Jeremie" stared out at the approaching wave, watching Yumi's fan tear into the last Wasp and three Roachsters as it ricocheted around again, before returning to her hand. " I have an idea. Since I temporarily have a copy of Aelita's code, in theory I should also have a copy of her synthesization ability. I may be able to create something to slow the monsters down."
" While I agree with you, Jeremie, " "Aelita's" increasingly strained voice called down. " you may actually speed up the disintigration of the code within you, and I can't redownload it. We only have one shot, there are no second chances."
" Jeremie, you really don't think you can..." Yumi stole a quick glance behind her as she started deflecting the shots from the remaining Blocks and couple of Roachsters, realizing what that meant. Then gasped as another group of Roachsters joined with the dwindling squad of creatures, strengthening their numbers.
" Trial and error, eh? " "Jeremie" said quietly, aloud he said, "I have to try, otherwise XANA will keep throwing monsters at us until either we're deleted or Aelita dies. We need any advantage we can get." He sunk to his knees, his head raised and eyes closed as he raised his hands skyward.
In the supercalculator, Ulrich and Odd were aware of how sick "Aelita" was looking. Ulrich spoke up. " J- I mean Aelita, maybe you should let me or Odd man the system. You need to rest."
" Aelita" shook her head, she did hurt, but it was bearable, for now. " No, as long as I still function, I'm monitoring their progress."
Ulrich backed down, nodding to Odd. Aelita was as stubborn as Jeremie when it came to matters of the heart, and protecting one another.
In Lyoko Yumi threw her fan, piercing a Roachster's symbol, her focus on keeping "Jeremie" safe. Now there was just, her blood ran cold as she recognized the sound of a Megatank rolling into the area. " Jeremie, we need to find a way out of here." she grunted as a laser shot hit her unprotected back.
" Twenty life points lost, Yumi. You're down to ten." "Aelita" said automatically, biting her lip to keep from crying out as another lance of pain splashed through her body. So far, XANA's virus had yet to attack any of her organs, which actually scared her more. But the pain from the virus's intrusion into her blood stream was growing worse.
" Jeremie, come on. You can't do it, and even if you could, you'll lose fifty points for using the ability. That'll drop you to ten life points. It's too dangerous. " Yumi threw her fan again, hitting the lone Roachster that had snuck up behind them.
But he was beyond hearing her. In fact he was no longer aware of anything around him. His mind delving deep into the very core of Aelita's being, seeking, searching for the ability, her ability to control the ebb and flow of her world. And he found it, nestled deep within the essence of her downloaded code. The power for synthesization.
Yumi fan went through the air. Shearing through two more Roachsters as she heard the Megatank roll up. Turning around, she saw it open, and watched it's laser begin to heat up, the rest of the creatures going over to flank it. So intent on grabbing "Jeremie" and getting the heck out of there, she looked down, just as he opened his mouth. She involuntarily cringed, not really sure about the quality of his singing voice.
But what came from his lips suprised him as much as it did her. A pure, unblemished note that carried just as strongly as Aelita's would. It continued to grow in pitch, never losing it's strength.
Yumi thought he sounded like Aelita's male equivalent. But her awe was quickly pushed aside as the Megatank's laser fired. " Jeremie!" She grabbed his shoulders, using her body as a shield against the attack, closing her eyes for the inevitable devirtualization.
She blinked, once...twice. Then opened her eyes.
The wall of destructive energy was being held back by a thick sheet of ice. The other creatures being shattered by their close proximity to the beam. She stared down at "Jeremie"in amazement as he smiled.
" It worked. Now hurry, I don't know how long it'll last." he whispered before passing out, his strength sapped from using such a life-draining power so quickly.
"Jeremie!" Yumi quickly grabbed him, surprised at how light he felt as she slung him over her shoulder. In the background she could hear the Megatank warming up for another shot, it's first shot already cracking the ice wall.
" Fifty life points lost, Jeremie." "Aelita" was scared, the realization of how close "Jeremie" came to being deleted cutting her just as deep as the pain tormenting her body.
------------------------
Yumi continued running, hearing the ice wall shatter as the megatank's second energy wall impacted. Turning quickly, she realized she'd hit a dead end as an thick ice cliff blocked her path. " I guess I don't have a choice. " she muttered as she sat " Jeremie" against the base, watching the Megatank roll up to the only means of escape, it's center opening up to reveal it's only weak spot, and it's devastating laser. Yumi brought her fan out, and then threw it, watching as it bounced off the surrounding walls of ice.
The Megatank turned to follow the fan's movements, which was what Yumi hoped for as the fan hit an adjacent wall and through sheer luck, managed to graze the inner symbol. XANA's creation closed quickly, but the damage was done as it shattered into numerous fragments.
Yumi sighed, catching her fan as she turned to "Jeremie" and picked him up. Running in the direction "Aelita" indicated.
-----------------------------------
"We're almost at the tower, Aelita!" Yumi called out as she ran into the clearing, before placing " Jeremie" on the ground. She then looked around for any signs of monsters, so far all was clear. " Aelita, any icons?"
" There's one icon about one mile due west of you, be careful." "Aelita" cautioned through clenched teeth as she grabbed the console, her vision flecked with spots of gold and black as her head started hurting, her vision blurring as she tried to focus on the map. She again ignored Ulrich's offer to man the computer, she was going to make sure Jeremie made it safely, no matter what. " I-is Jeremie conscious y-yet?" Even breathing hurt now, her lungs felt like they were on fire.
" No, but his pulse is good. I think he's just tired." As she finished speaking, she noticed "Jeremie's" eyes opening. " Scratch that, he's waking up."
" Good." "Aelita" coughed roughly. " I hate to rush you Yumi, but 'my' profile is listing forty six percent disintegration of the code. We may not have enough left for....." The cough suddenly deteriorated, becoming more violent, her hand flying to her mouth as she tried to stifle the coughing fit.
------------------------------------
It's first target had been reached and infected.
-------------------------------------
" Aelita!" Both Ulrich and Odd rushed to her side, patting her back as she struggled to get air into her lungs.
" Aelita, are you okay!?" Yumi's concerned voice was soon joined by a second weak voice.
" Aelita?"
The coughing finally subsided as "Aelita" leaned back, removing her hand as she breathed raggedly, chest heaving as she looked at her hand in alarm.
She knew what blood was. Jeremie had explained it's significance to her in a previous visit, when she'd cut her finger. The red fluids helped the human's systems run, and without it they would suffer permanent system shutdown. As she stared at the crimson mist covering the palm, she felt a shiver of fear run up her spine. " This liquid should not be outside my body." She rasped weakly, fearful tears making their way down her face.
"Jeremie" was also scared, for her. "The virus is spreading quickly." he confirmed for her, knowing without seeing the blood just what she was stating. " We don't have much time then." He rose shakily to his feet, feeling only a little lightheaded as Yumi let him lean on her. "Please hang on, just a bit longer." He whispered, Fearful of her wellbeing as he heard her labored breathing.
Yumi smiled, trying to reassure him as they started jogging. " Don't worry, we're almost there. The tower should be right over that ridge." It was the last words she got out as she flew back, her chest sparking. Her eyes widened as her form flickered, vanishing as "Jeremie" collapsed to his knees, his eyes traveling up to the waiting Crab, it's laser trained on him.
----------------
In the scanner room, the door to Yumi's scanner opened, her fist pounded the ground as she realized "Jeremie" was all alone, with barely enough life points left. She quickly stood up, swaying as she regained her senses, and rushed to the elevator.
As the doors parted, she saw "Aelita" body suddenly slump onto the console and start slidding out of the chair. "Aelita!"
Both Ulrich and Odd grabbed her before she could hit the floor. Yumi quickly came up, pushing the two aside gently as she searched for a pulse, before gasping in horror.
" Ulrich, she's not breathing!"
To be continued.....
-----------------
-----------------
Author's notes/References
(1) - I read in a fic once about Ulrich's clones actually having life points of their own, and it makes sense. Especially considering how much quicker he gets devirtualized after his clones get vaporized, their points would be connected to his. As for him feeling the loss, being split into separate beings, I'd assume that it would feel like the equivalent of losing a limb.
(2) - From what I've seen, Aelita shouldn't be able to actually 'feel' the laser shots, considering touch is one of the human senses that she doesn't have. So it makes sense to have "Jeremie" only have a vague kind of 'feeling' that he's been hit, but not actually feeling the hit.
(3) - Okay, monster numbers. Yes there are many. But in the episode "Ghost Channel" XANA had like 15 or maybe even more Blocks coming to attack. And Blocks and roachsters seem to be weaker monsters. So having larger numbers of these monsters seems feasible, since XANA wouldn't need a ton of energy to make them. Megatanks are another matter, since they're so powerful, XANA couldn't make more than one or two, close to the same for Crabs, in my opinion.
-----------
Yes, this chapter is finally done! So sorry it took so long. I tried so many angles on how the virus would really affect Aelita, and went through so many rewrites. I hope this was satisfactory enough. As for it being in her stomach, eh, if I had it in the brain, she would've died too quickly since it would affect the first vital component. So placing it at about midpoint ( stomach), and having it work it's way upward, having XANA direct it with a purpose just felt right. And XANA might not be as familar with human anatomy as he thinks, so he's going for what he believes will cause her death. Plus a lot of people have it in her brain, so I wanted to be different.
And then I throw in the evil cliffhanger.
Chapter six is in the writing. When it will be done, I have no clue. There may be an epilogue, but I'm not certain. Sorry, no bonus/tidbit this time. Well as usual, if you read, please review. I like people's thoughts.