Code: Lyoko
Combat
Abstract: Furious at the mysterious player for imposing his/herself on their mission to stop the Invaders, Aelita issues a challenge. The two fight even as the Invaders take over another Tower and start manipulating the world's computer network.
Team Lyoko and the Invaders were once again in battle. This time, the Invaders had set up a siege line in the polar region. The Obelisk could be seen in the distance.
"These guys just won't give up," Odd complained as he finished off a Skeleton.
"Yeah, but no matter what, we have to get Aelita to the Obelisk so she can turn it back into a Tower," Yumi said.
"Any ideas how?" Aelita asked. "These Invaders aren't going to make it easy for us, we need help."
Like an angry swarm, a fleet of Hornets and Tentapods descended on the Invader army.
"Look like the cavalry's here," Ulrich said noting Xana appear with two Mega Tanks.
"Come on, guys, this is your chance," Jeremie encouraged. Ulrich, Yumi, Odd, and Aelita took off towards the Obelisk. The four of them made their way through the labyrinth outlining the Obelisk and into the Obelisk itself. There, a giant three-headed beast faced them.
The pre-battle screen showed Yumi, Ulrich, Odd, Aelita vs. Cyberus.
"It looks pretty big," Ulrich said. "Let's move in."
"Sure, move towards the giant three-headed dog with teeth bigger than me," Odd said sarcastically.
"Precisely," Ulrich said. "It's so big that it won't be able to reach us at close range."
"Oh, I get it now." Ulrich drew his two swords and strafed Cyberus' side with them. Odd leapt onto its back and began stabbing it with his claws. Yumi used her bladed disks while Aelita provided defense. No matter how hard Cyberus tried, it couldn't reach around or down enough to get them.
"You're almost there," Jeremie reported. "A couple more hits should… everyone, get away from it now!" When Jeremie shouted, that was a clue that it was dire. Everyone ran away as a spinning fire wheel struck Cyberus and delivered the deathblow. Everyone turned to see the Phantom Player (as they have known to call it).
"Thanks," Ulrich said as Cyberus dissolved.
"Don't thank me, I was actually aiming for all of you," the Phantom Player said.
"What's your problem, man?" Odd asked. In case you're not keeping score, we're the good guys. We're trying to prevent the Invaders from taking over Lyoko and our world too."
"Odd's right, we mean Lyoko no harm."
"It doesn't matter, Aelita and Xana should be the only ones allowed in Lyoko, the rest of you should leave and never come back."
"Says you, geek," Yumi said. "Aelita's our friend and we would never leave her unprotected."
"This is not open to discussion," the Phantom Player said separating his weapon into two axes. "I'll keep knocking you out of Lyoko until you three get a clue."
"Not this time around," Jeremie said. "Return to the past now!"
Back in time, the gang sat around Ulrich's and Odd's room.
"What is with that guy?" Odd asked as Kiwi laid his head across the boy's leg. "He's acting like we're just as bad as the Invaders."
"When you think about it, in some ways we are like them," Ulrich mused. "Just like them, we're not native to Lyoko, we're… guests, I guess is a polite term."
"Even so, that doesn't give him the right to play bouncer to Lyoko," Yumi argued.
"At least the Tower's deactivated," Jeremie said. "All towers seem to be pretty quiet for now."
"We're still not sure whose side this Phantom Player's on," Ulrich said. "We should probably avoid unnecessary trips to Lyoko until we figure it out."
"Agreed," Jeremie said nodding. "In the mean time, we should try to figure out who created Lyoko and why?"
"I'd say our main clue is that room at the end of the hall on the second floor," Odd said. "Yumi and I were about to explore it before the Invaders attacked."
Aelita lowered her head in shame. The only reason they weren't able to explore the room the first time was because I panicked at the last second. I still don't see why, I never been in that room before, so I really have no reason to panic… am I losing my mind? Have I outlived my usefulness?
"Hey Aelita, you okay?" Jeremie asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Aelita said with a weak smile.
The door burst open startling Kiwi and making the dog run underneath Odd's bed. Jim stood in the doorway. "Ah-ha, staying in your rooms during the day time is off-limits!"
"Jim, do you mind, we're kind of having a serious discussion," Odd said.
"Yeah, 'kind of' being the key word here. Well never mind, the Principal wants to see everyone in the gymnasium pronto!"
The students lined up like soldiers while the Principal stood behind a podium. "Everyone, I have some somber news," he began.
"Uh-oh, this isn't good," Odd whispered.
"The school's computer network has come under attack by a hacker. School records are trashed and out of order, and important business files are missing. The only way they could end up in this predicament is if they were hacked."
A low murmur rose among the students.
"Until this hacker is found, I must confiscate all computers and laptops." The students burst into protest. "Now, now, I'm sorry it has to come to this, but it's for the safety of your equipment as well as the school's equipment. Don't worry, once we repaired the mainframe and catch whoever hacked the school's computer files, everything will be returned to you and I promise that the school will keep all your equipment safe."
"This isn't good," Jeremie whispered to the others as the students disbanded. "Without my computer, I won't be able to check to see if the Invaders are attacking."
"Relax, Jeremie, I'll use my computer," Yumi volunteered. "Because I'm a day student and don't live in the dorms, I don't have to hand over my computer." She gave them a sly smile. "Unless they have a search warrant."
"Thanks, Yumi," Jeremie said.
Aelita was lying on her bed. Jim had already confiscated her computer. So without her computer, there was nothing she could do from the dorms.
But Aelita had more important things on her mind. That room in the Factory that scared her. It also intrigued her because she didn't know why it frightened her. Fear was one aspect that she could never understand. Sure, she could understand being afraid of something that would be harmful, but to be afraid of such mundane things like a room, especially a room she never been in before, it almost seemed ridiculous. Since she didn't have a computer, she would have to do it the old fashion way.
Aelita left her room but unfortunately, she caught Jim's eye.
"Hold it right there, Ms. Lyoko, where are you going?"
"L… Lib… Library," Aelita stuttered.
"Oh, well I'm coming along to keep an eye on you."
"What about the other kids' computers?"
"There are other faculty members here, they can handle it." Jim crossed his arms in defiance.
Aelita surprised Jim by going directly to the library. There, he watched her as she picked up books on psychology and dreams. She plopped herself down at a table and began opening the books.
Aelita learned a lot in that hour she was at the library. One of the books said that fears sometime manifest from a painful experience of the past. But that didn't make any sense she had always been a part of Lyoko, hasn't she?
Shutting the book, Aelita opened another one. This one had methods on how to conquer fears. She read three books on the subject and they all had one recommendation in common: that the person confronts the fear head-on.
Aelita recalled the Phantom Player's cryptic words to her when he first appeared.
"Ye, of all people, should know the truth unless... I see. I was afraid of this."
What is the truth? Could it be that there was someone else in Lyoko all this time, someone who hasn't revealed themselves until recently? The more Aelita thought about it, the more she felt that the key to conquering this lied in that room. No matter how scared she was, she would have to go into that room.
She stood and said, "I'll do it."
Jim, who had been sleeping in a chair, was wakened with a shock. "Huh, what, what'll you do?"
"Oh, it's nothing, Jim."
Jim looked outside and noticed that the sun was setting. "Come on, you need to get back to your room now. You can continue reading in study hall tomorrow."
But this might be my only chance to overcome my fear. I have to get to the Factory now.
Jim escorted Aelita out of the library and back to the dorms. Aelita sat in her room with the lights off until she was sure Jim was out of sight. She then snuck out and over to the Factory. She crept up the steps to the second floor and stared at the door at the other end of the hall. "Okay, let's just take this nice and slow," she said. She decided to explore the other rooms first. As she went down the hallway, she began to feel her heart beat faster and faster. She was panting half-way down, but sucked it up and moved on. Finally, she left the lounge, the room next to the mystery room. By now her heart was practically jumping into her throat. As she reached for the brass door knob, her hand started shaking wildly.
A floorboard creaked.
Aelita screamed and ran back down the stairs. She didn't stop until she was safely in the lab. "That was stupid of me," Aelita scolded herself. "It's just a room, a room I've never been in before, I need to suck it up and move on as Jim would say." She collapsed into the computer chair. "Who am I kidding, I was scared senseless and I don't even know why!" She turned towards the supercomputer and booted it up. She contacted Xana then scanned Lyoko. Except for the Obelisk that the purple Invader occupied, all the Towers were pretty quiet.
As it should be.
Aelita was about to close down when the sensors picked up movement in Lyoko's forest region. It was giving off the same signature that Yumi, Ulrich, and Odd would give off when they were in avatar form. But according to the computer logs, they haven't been used since their jump back in time yesterday (or rather tomorrow). That meant it could only be one person.
The Phantom Player.
Aelita began to feel an emotion she had felt before. It was after Xana took control of Yumi and made her attack Ulrich. Aelita felt such anger towards the sentient computer virus that she challenged Xana outright to a fight to the finish. Of course, that fight was interrupted by the Invaders. Aelita felt that anger again. She contacted Xana again and asked him to upload her into Lyoko. Xana agreed and began to upload her avatar into Lyoko. Aelita herself went down to the scanner and was virtualized.
Once in Lyoko, she explored until she found the Phantom Player looking over a deactivated Tower.
"This one's dormant too," he said to himself. "Better move on to the next one." As the Phantom Player turned, Aelita stepped out from behind a tree. "What are you doing here?"
"For so long I've been alone," Aelita said scowling at the hooded figure. "The only interaction I had experienced was with Xana and that wasn't exactly friendly."
"What's your point?"
"Ulrich, Yumi, Odd, and Jeremie are the first to ever show me kindness. They talked to me and shared stories and memories, and basically treated me like an equal. And they have saved Lyoko many times. I can't count the number of times I've been in their debt."
"Again I ask, what's your point?"
"They have every right to be in Lyoko because they have saved it and me. And now you come along and suddenly decide who should stay in Lyoko and who should leave." Aelita's weapon was uploaded to her by Xana. "I want you to leave Lyoko and never come back."
"And who are you to decide who stays and who goes?"
"I am one of Lyoko's guardians and my friends and I are trying to save both worlds from a terrible threat. And if fighting is the only way to make you see the truth, then so be it!"
"That's a nice statement coming from you among anyone," the Phantom Player retorted.
She held out her staff. "I challenge you to a fight. The winner will stay in Lyoko and the loser shall never come back."
"This is pointless," the Phantom Player said. "But if you're insistent about fighting me…" He drew one of his hatchets. "Then I'll be happy to oblige." The two got ready to fight.
Unknown to them, Xana was watching from a tree.
Aelita made the first charge, swinging her staff at the Phantom Player who dodged it and countered with an attack from his hatchet. Aelita was able to block it.
"Just like the good old days," the Phantom Player said.
"What does that mean?" Aelita asked as the two backed up.
"Oh, if you only knew."
"Stop talking in riddles!" Aelita attacked again. The Phantom Player parried the attack and returned it. This duel kept going on for a few minutes until the Phantom Player was able to force Aelita back. He crossed his hatchets. Aelita felt a shiver crawl up her back, she realized he was about to use his Demi Force attack. She forced the shiver of fear back down. I can't be scared any more, she thought. I've faced plenty of dangers over time, and I've always emerged safe. He may be strong, but I will not be afraid any more!
Jeremie was sound asleep when his cell phone started beeping. Groaning, he looked at it and saw the flashing Lyoko symbol. He shot up and dressed in under a minute.
He ran through the boiler room where he was joined by Ulrich and Odd.
"What's the deal, Big-J?" Odd asked yawning.
"I'm not sure, but I fear the worst." The boys rode their vehicles to the Factory. When they got there, they were surprised to see the computer had already booted up.
"How sweet, Xana already prepped the scanners for us," Odd said.
"I don't think it was Xana," Jeremie said and he donned the earpiece microphone. "Ah-ha, just as I thought."
"Huh?"
"Aelita's character has already been uploaded."
"Let's get down there and join her," Ulrich suggested.
"Right."
The Phantom Player drew a second hatchet and started batting Aelita's staff with it. Aelita grunted with each attack. She knew she was losing life points. She didn't have anyone to tell her how many life points she had left so she had to switch to long-range attacks. She jumped back. "Gravity Bind!" The area around the Phantom Player started to implode. The Phantom Player crouched down and grunted from pain. He crossed his hatchets.
"Demi Force!"
Aelita gasped knowing there was no way to stop this attack. She released her Gravity Bind spell and ran to the nearest tree leaping from branch to branch. It was her hope that the blast would pass under her.
It did.
Maybe I was wrong to challenge him. He can devirtualize all of us with one attack. What can I do?
"Aelita, can you hear me?"
"Jeremie, what are you doing at the control panel?"
"Xana sent me a signal on my cell phone, mind telling me what's going on?"
"Me and the Phantom Player are fighting."
"What? Aelita, are you nuts?"
"I'm sorry, Jeremie, I thought I could talk some sense into him but he's dead set about making sure Yumi, Ulrich, and Odd don't come back to Lyoko."
"I see, well don't worry about it, Odd and Ulrich are already on their way."
Aelita looked in the distance and saw a Tower transform into an Obelisk. "Oh no!"
All over the world, computer systems started crashing. Traffic lights went haywire, ATMs were spewing money like it was Doomsday; the global stock market began dropping faster than a rock.
At the school, the Headmaster was up late trying to rebuild his hard drive when his computer crashed. "Not again," he moaned. "Sometimes I wonder if having these things is worth the hassle."
"Jeremie, the Invaders have transformed another Tower." Silence was all she got in reply. "Jeremie? Jeremie, answer me!"
"You shouldn't take your eyes away from your opponent!" The Phantom Player scolded leaping up in front of her. "Razor Axe!" Aelita flipped over the combined spinning hatchets and landed on the ground.
"I'm sorry, but we'll have to finish this fight another day," she said. "There's an Obelisk in the distance."
"You should finish what you started," the Phantom Player advised.
"Who are you, my father?"
The Phantom Player just chuckled.
Aelita met Ulrich and Odd (with weapons) at the entrance to the labyrinth.
"Looks like you got here early," Odd joked.
"Yeah, I had some free time so I thought I would fight the Phantom Player," Aelita said in an equally kidding tone.
"I hope that bum gets what he deserves."
"Let's go, you two," Ulrich said. The three journeyed through the maze.
"Guys, I can't contact Jeremie," Aelita said.
"Jeremie, can you hear us?" Ulrich asked. He didn't receive an answer. "I hope everything's all right."
"What the heck is going on?" Jeremie asked nobody in particular. His screens were flashing useless data on the screen until it broke into vertical lines. "Ulrich, Odd, Aelita, can you hear me? Oh no, how can I help them if I can't even reach them?"
"I bet the Invaders are causing this," Ulrich said. "Once we return the Tower to normal, Jeremie can jump back into the past and we'll be all right."
"I hope so," Aelita said.
Two Skeletons and two Blow Fish appeared. "We don't have time for Bone Brains and Fish Face," Odd said. "Crescent Barrage!" The continuing attacks of laser crescents quickly destroyed them. "Let's move!" Another Skeleton appeared. "Oh come on, we don't have time for these guys."
"Odd, take care of it," Ulrich commanded. "Aelita and I will enter the Obelisk."
"You got it, Boss," Odd said as he attacked the Skeleton with his claws.
Aelita and Ulrich entered the Obelisk. A Polar Claw stood at the center. "Oh no, not this one again."
"Last time, it took both Yumi and I to beat it," Ulrich said. "Energy Wave!" The Polar Claw turned to its side and took the blast. It then roared and fired a freeze blast and froze Ulrich.
"Ulrich!"
"Aelita, run," Ulrich struggled to say.
Aelita looked from Ulrich to the Polar Claw. A determined frown appeared on her face. "I can't run any more, I can't be afraid." She twirled her staff and charged the Polar Claw. The Polar Claw swung its claw but Aelita, having learned her lesson from last time, jumped onto it and fired an energy blast directly at the Polar Claw's head. The Polar Claw reeled from it. Aelita leapt off and touched her staff to the ground. "Digital Void!" The ground opened up underneath it. The Polar Claw struggled to hold on. Aelita touched her wand to the wall and two stone pillars shot out and smashed the Polar Claw between them. The Polar Claw let go and as the pillars disappeared, the Polar Claw fell in. "I did it!" She turned towards Ulrich but found that he had been freed from the ice.
"Nice job, Aelita. Now go input the code so Jeremie can return to the past."
"Right."
"Not so fast." Ulrich and Aelita turned to see the Phantom Player poised for battle. "This just proves my point. Those three don't belong in Lyoko. The monsters can devastate them in one attack."
"Aelita, input the code," Ulrich instructed.
"Right."
"I'll admit that freeze attack took me by surprise, but all I want to do is protect Lyoko."
"You want to unplug it, don't you?"
"Huh?"
"I see that look in your eye. There were others with that look. They all wanted to unplug Lyoko but Lyoko must thrive."
"Look, that was the plan at first, but now we're concentrating on just protecting it."
"Liar!" The Phantom Player charged Ulrich. Ulrich blocked the Phantom Player's attack with his swords.
Aelita landed on the upper platform. The center screen appeared and Aelita logged in.
AELITA
"I'll destroy your character forever!" The Phantom Player declared. "That will keep you from coming back to Lyoko!"
CODE
L-Y-O-K-O
The Tower returned to normal.
The Phantom Player's hatchets started to glow an abnormal maroon color. "Mega Demi…"
"Return to the past now!"
"Oh crap," the Phantom Player moaned.
"Until this hacker is found, I must confiscate all computers and laptops." The students burst into protest. "Now, now, I'm sorry it has to come to this, but it's for the safety of your equipment as well as the school's equipment. Don't worry, once we repaired the mainframe and catch whoever hacked the school's computer files, everything will be returned to you and I promise that the school will keep all your equipment safe."
"This isn't good," Jeremie whispered to the others as the students disbanded. "Without my computer, I won't be able to check to see if the Invaders are attacking."
"Relax, Jeremie, I'll use my computer," Yumi volunteered. "Because I'm a day student and don't live in the dorms, I don't have to hand over my computer." She gave them a sly smile. "Unless they have a search warrant."
"Thanks, Yumi," Jeremie said.
Ulrich gasped, "Wait a second!"
"What's wrong?" Yumi asked.
"We've gone back in time but the principal is still confiscating our computers!"
"Since we shut down the Tower, this shouldn't have been happening," Yumi said beginning to catch on.
"That could mean only one thing," Jeremie said. "That the school's computers' being hacked was not part of the Invaders' plan."
"But then who?" Jeremie shook his head.
"Hey, where's Aelita?" Odd asked.
"Oh, she said she had to take care of something," Jeremie said. When Odd asked for a clarification, Jeremie just shrugged.
Aelita stood before the door that was giving her so much fear and grief. She was still feeling it but she didn't feel freaked by every little sound any more. She drew upon the courage of Ulrich, Odd, and Yumi and the wisdom of Jeremie to guide her through this trial.
She placed her hand on the brass door knob. Savoring its cool feel for a moment, Aelita gave the knob a turn and opened it.
Aelita explores the mysterious room and finds a clue to the secret of Lyoko, and her own past. Ulrich saves a life but for some reason, that makes Yumi jealous.