Retribution

Chapter IV

Sector 6

Odd ran around in circles, screaming his purple and blond head off. (Blond only has an 'e' in the feminine form) That is, he was before Yumi tripped him. "Cut that out, Odd. It's not gonna help, and you're making me dizzy." said Yumi as Odd began peeling his face from the floor. "What do we do now?" questioned Aelita. This is when Jeremy's intellect really pulled through. "Although we may not be able to follow them, I can use the visual uplink in my personal G.P.S. system to watch the password X.A.N.A. uses to enter Sector 6 as it's being typed, allowing me to send us there as well." Odd got up from the floor, brushed himself off, and said "Wow, J, I never knew you could be so... so... sneaky." with the sly-est (if that's a word) look on his face. That's when something clicked in Yumi's brain. "Waaaaaaaiiiiiiiitttttt a minute... you said that you'd send us there. Are you including yourself somehow?" Jeremy (or 'J', as Odd is starting to call him for some reason) was impressed that Yumi could draw such a conclusion. "Actually, yes. I've prepared a virtual form for myself in case an emergency came about. This will be my first time using it outside a simulated battle." Aelita then said, "But Jeremy, can you actually fight?" Odd added "Last I checked, you couldn't fight a newborn baby, let alone X.A.N.A. and Ulrich!" That's when Jeremy stated that he had participated in 8 years of Aikido training and that he had designed the virtual form with his shortcomings in mind. Everone responded to that with a good, long "Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..." Then Aelita thought for a minute, and said, "How is the code going to be entered if you're coming with us?" "Glad you asked," started Jeremy matter-of-factly. "I installed a time delay program that allows me to type in commands to activate later at a time of my choosing."

"Ooh! Ooh! Just like how cameras can pause so the person

setting up can get into the picture too!"

"Yes, Odd, exactly like that." said Jeremy dryly. "Now get to the virtualization chambers so we can get to this 'Sector 6' as fast as possible."

In an abandoned factory in the mountains of Siberia...

"We're here." said X.A.N.A. "A factory?" questioned Ulrich. The image X.A.N.A. projected for Ulrich's sake rolled its eyes as he said, "Your friends use a factory, don't they? One would think you'd expect such things."

"I've learned to be inexpectant, as to avoid failure."

"Very well. Follow me."

X.A.N.A. led Ulrich to a spherical supercomputer, three times the size and width of Jeremy's. As Ulrich stared at the monstrosity of technological achievement in awe, the word 'Tetsusaiga' appeared on-screen. Back in the Factory, Odd yelled, "I knew it! X.A.N.A. WATCHES TOO MUCH INUYASHA!" Of course, we, the audience, know that there is no such thing as too much Inuyasha. Still, let us leave Odd to his delusions. Anyway, the image that looked a lot like Chase Young of Xiaolin Showdown pointed to two virtualization pods. "Hop in, my friend. We have much to discuss." said X.A.N.A. "Why are there two pods? You don't need to use one!" Ulrich, obviously. A reminiscent look glazed over the hologram's eyes as X.A.N.A. said, "This is where my sister and I were sent to Lyoko by Father..." As Ulrich stepped into the chamber, a single tear trickled down human flesh as he started to see from X.A.N.A.'s point of view...

The next thing Ulrich knew, he was in what looked like feudal era Japan. Then, he noticed that Creepers were tending the gardens, Skipezoa were selling goods, and Roachsters and blocks were pulling rickshaws and jin-rickshaws. "You seem to be surprised, Ulrich. Allow me to explain. An army cannot be a group of soulless... robots. The monsters, or Hun'dai'ra, as they call themselves, have their own culture and society to tend to. Using propaganda and such allows me to get them to fight the same ways your earth armies do. They see your kind as evil, indespicable monsters, as you theirs. As a matter of fact, mothers in this realm say that you will assassinate their children unless they are good little citizens." Ulrich stared wide-eyed as he said, "I had no idea..." X.A.N.A. re-formed himself so he was wearing an extravagant silk haori, shimmering with blues and purples unseen by Earthican eyes. "Come with me. Since I am the headman of this village, we shall dine in the lap of luxury. My manor is your manor." Ulrich was awestruck by their destination. A two story manor, built like a flattened pagoda and shining with the same colours as X.A.N.A.'s current attire, lay before them. X.A.N.A. slid the door aside and walked through. Ulrich was careful to close it behind him, fearing a possible Hun'dai'ra revolt. He followed the virtual being up the stairs to a grand room, filled with artifacts. Various feudal era weapons hung on the walls. A naginata here, a dai-katana there, even a few manrikigusari chains and jointed staves could be seen. X.A.N.A. stood on a balcony and said, "Ulrich, do not stand by my side until I give the word." Ulrich did as he was told. X.A.N.A. pulled a great conch shell from his robes and blasted forth a harmonious sound that made the humming of monks and the long, haunting cries of whales pale in comparison. All the monsters in the village gathered at the foot of X.A.N.A.'s manor. "My people, we have met many a tribulation at the hands of the humans. Fathers and sons, proud warriors of this village, have been slain. Outposts have been stormed, the Sacred Regions defiled, and the Temple of Carthage raided. I am pleased to announce that this ends NOW! The mighty Ulrich, scourge of our people, has defected from the human forces to aid our side! Rejoice! The human threat shall be eliminated! Daishogun Nightshade shall emerge from hiding! We shall truly LIVE once more!" The populace cheered as X.A.N.A. said, "Come Ulrich, they need to see their new saviour." Ulrich stepped forward, clad in his Lyoko outfit. The cheering grew louder. Ulrich lifted his hands into the air, acting like Hercule, which most see as pathetic showboating. X.A.N.A. struggled to overcome the voices of the citizens as he said, "Treat him as you would me. That is all." He went back into the room with Ulrich, placed two mats near a table in the centre of the room, and sat down. Ulrich followed suit. X.A.N.A. clapped his hands twice, and things that looked like Kyonshee walked in with trays of food.

Meanwhile, Aelita, Yumi, and Odd were waiting for Jeremy to get there. "We got here pretty damn quick. What's takin' him so long?" pondered Odd. "Did something happen to him?" said a really nervous Aelita. "No, nothing happened." said Jeremy's voice from behind them. They turned. Jeremy was levitating. His skin was a pale ice-blue, his hair sea-green. He wore an azure monk's robe, with two large shields strapped to his arms. "Whoa! Duuuude!" Odd, undoubtedly. As Odd was saying crap like that, Aelita notice that an army of monsters was running towards them. That's when Jeremy theatrically said, "Time to give you guys a taste of my true power!"

A/N: Stay tuned for Chapter V: Hun'dai'rai mob vs. Jeremy! R&R!