Disclaimer: I don't own anything… All persons, icons, characters, and places belong to the people who created Code: Lyoko… I'm just a fan.

Code: Lyoko

Mirror, Mirror

Part I: Mysterious Acts

By: Chris Provence

"Come on, guys, pick it up! The timer is almost down to zero!", shouts Jeremie over the headset. "Easier said than done, Einstein! These shifting walls in this maze keeps slowing us up.", Odd replies as he dodges a closing wall.

"There! Up on that ledge! There's the switch!", Yumi says pointing to a small outcropping just above the maze wall height.

"Ha! Leave it to me. You guys just hang on for a minute longer. This'll be quick!", Odd says with a huge grin on his face and takes off. "Be careful, Odd.", says Aelita.

Ulrich shakes his head as he taps the dull side of his katana on his right shoulder. "Careful isn't in his vocabulary. You should know that by now.", he says.

"Heads up, guys, you've got monsters incoming.", states Jeremie. "Tarantulas. Nice.", states Yumi sarcastically as she pulls out her fans. "There's four of them coming at you but a fifth is heading towards Odd.", says Jeremie. "I hear you, Jeremie.", says Odd as he leaps up to the ledge. "But this one's in the bag!" Odd slaps the switch and turns to see the walls of the labyrinth lower into the floor producing an empty, flat room. He gives a thumbs up as the fifth tarantula falls to the floor and explodes. Ulrich blocks two laser blasts with his katana as Yumi tosses one of her fans from behind him. It finds it's mark and the tarantula explodes. Aelita dodges a blast from another tarantula and Ulrich uses his super speed to hit it from behind. "Hey guys, save me some of the action!", says Odd running over to the group. The next tarantula finds itself surrounded by Odd and Ulrich as the final tarantula tries desperately to hit a very acrobatic Yumi. She flips up and over a couple of blasts and tosses a fan. Aelita notices a shadow of movement from the direction of the exit. Odd fires a couple of laser-arrows to distract the tarantula. Ulrich sees the open window and attacks. The last two tarantulas explode almost simultaneously. A shriek from Aelita catches everyone's attention. They turn to see the Scyphozoa nearly on top of her. Odd fires two rounds as Yumi tosses both her fans. All find their mark and the creature backs off, shrieking in pain. Aelita leaps up and runs toward the exit. "Time to leave the wonderful world of Sector 5 already? Man, just when it got to feeling like home!", Odd says smirking.

The group runs out the exit and sees the elevator coming up from underneath them. They all jump on and are whisked away. The elevator finally stops and the four exit out of the dome. "Ok, here comes the vehicles.", says Jeremie typing away on the keyboard. Once all three Over-vehicles appear, Aelita activates the data interface and begins to collect more information. "Work quickly, Princess. We've got company.", says Odd and points to where three Mantas "hatch" from the sector boundary. "I should be done in a minute.", she replies without stopping. Ulrich hops onto his Overbike and Yumi jumps onto her Overwing. "Stay here and guard Aelita. The Scyphozoa could still be hanging out near by.", Yumi says to Odd. "We'll keep those Manta occupied until she finishes." Odd smiles and nods as the pair take off. "Looks like I've got bodyguard duty once again, Princess. Hope you don't mind." Aelita smiles as she works and replies, "I haven't minded before. Why start now? It's Jeremie that might mind!" Jeremie looks at the screen shocked at her statement. "What!", he exclaims, nearly knocking his headset off. Aelita laughs and winks at him. "Just practicing my humor, Jeremie. There, I've finished. I'm sending the data and you can have control back." Jeremie snorts and frowns. "I think Odd is rubbing off on you. Now if you are through telling jokes, it's time for you guys to head back to the desert sector. I've detected a tower just going active there." "Ah, our job's never done is it? Well, Princess, your carriage awaits you!", says Odd hopping on the Overboard. Aelita giggles and steps on it with him.

Yumi dodges another mine coming straight at her and glances behind her to see the final Manta slam into it and explode. Ulrich sheaths his katana and pulls up next to her. "Nice moves, Yumi." "Thanks. You too." The two blush and smile nervously at each other. Odd and Aelita joins them and asks, "I don't suppose you two left any for me?" "Um, not this time. But I'm sure that since the tower in the desert sector is active, there'll be plenty of monsters for you to waste. Ok, Jeremie, we're ready to go now.", Ulrich says. "Roger. Activating the data stream.", replies Jeremie as he finishes typing the commands. The group flies in to the stream.

Deep inside the core of Sector 5, an expectant X.A.N.A waits eagerly. If he had a mouth, a large, excited, and evil grin would be plastered on it.

The teleporter takes off back into the sky and disappears. "Ok, the tower is just about a hundred meters due north of your position.", states Jeremie. "What about the welcoming committee? What does that consist of?", asks Yumi. "Um, well, that's a weird thing. I'm not picking any monsters up just yet but keep your eyes peeled. They could spring up at any moment!", warns Jeremie. "Gotcha, Einstein! Let's go!", says Odd.

They arrive at the tower without incident. "This worries me. X.A.N.A activated tower and didn't send any monsters to protect it. It's as if he wanted us to get this close without being held up.", says Yumi with a worried look on her face as she looks all around the surrounding area intensely. "Yeah, I know. This… could be a trap. Stay sharp.", agrees Ulrich fingering the handle of his katana. A very tense moment passes and finally Odd breaks the silence. "Should we let Aelita enter the tower and deactivate it?" Just then, Aelita grips Odd's shoulder tightly and gasps. "Odd….", she barely squeaks out. Odd turns to ask her what is wrong but stops when he sees what she sees. Ulrich and Yumi turn and gasp themselves. The familiar growl of the Scyphozoa breaks the silence as it floats down between the group and the tower. Ulrich and Yumi hop off their vehicles and draw their weapons. Odd frowns and turns the Overboard around as to put himself between Aelita and the Scyphozoa. He raises his arm and cocks his laser arrow. Suddenly Ulrich hears a tremendous commotion behind him. He turns and grows wide-eyed. "Whoa…" is the only thing he can say. Yumi glances at him and turns also. "No way… Um, Jeremie….", she starts. Jeremie blinks and rubs his eyes in disbelief. He adjusts his glasses and swallows nervously. "I see them! I… I don't know where they came from! They weren't there just a minute ago! I count…. twenty Mega-tanks. There's no way you can take on that many! Just try to distract them while Aelita gets into the tower and deactivates it." "Wait. Why aren't they attacking?", asks Ulrich. "I don't know, but focus on getting the Scyphozoa out of Aelita's way to the tower.", replies Jeremie. "No problem.", smiles Odd deviously as he takes aim at the Eye of the Scyphozoa. Then, the Scyphozoa raises all it's tentacles and points them at the four. The tentacle's tips begin to glow with an electric blue color. "This is new…" is all Odd can say before blue lightning streaks out toward them. Each bolt strikes all four of them fully. Aelita screams in pain and falls to the ground hard. Odd too yells and accidentally fires a laser-arrow wildly but it just thunks into a rock harmlessly. He, too, falls to the ground as the Overboard de-virtualizes beneath him. Ulrich and Yumi are caught from behind and yelp in pain before falling forward to the ground. Ulrich tries to look over at Yumi but can't focus on her. Then, a deep blackness floods his mind. Finally, there is nothing.

"Odd! Yumi! Ulrich! Aelita!"

The voice seems so distant to Aelita. As if it were a mile away.

"Aelita! Aelita! Can you hear me? Odd! Ulrich! Yumi, are you there?"

That voice. So… familiar…. Head hurts… Aelita's thoughts are interrupted by a stab of pain in her head.

"Come on, guys! Give me a sign! Please!"

Jeremie….? Is that…..? It is….Jeremie…. Wait… the others… where….?

She strains to open her eyes and lift her head. She sees Odd next to her lying motionless. She turns painfully to look for Ulrich and Yumi. She sees them lying face-down motionless also. Just then, a voice pierces the apparent silence.

"Aelita! Aelita, are you ok? Answer me, please, Aelita!"

"Jeremie?"

"Aelita! You're awake! Oh my gosh! You're awake!"

"Jeremie! What… happened?"

"I'm not sure. That was something new from the Scyphozoa. What about the others? Are they ok?", Jeremie asks. Aelita glances around at the others and replies, "I'll check and see."

"Odd?"

No…. it's a Saturday….. No school… today….

"Odd, wake up."

"Umph, five…. more minutes….. still sleeping….."

"Odd, wake up. Now."

"No, Kiwi….. go away….. Get Ulrich to take you to the tree….. Sleepy…."

"HEY! WAKE UP!"

Odd bolts awake and rolls over then sits up. Then he grabs his head as pain begins to throb. "Geez… don't hafta shout… ooh, my head." Yumi frowns at him. "Man, I thought we'd have to have Aelita create some water for us to dump on him to get him to wake up. Is he this hard to wake during the school week?" "Just about.", replies Ulrich. "Wait, the Scyphozoa and the tanks! Where… are they?", Ulrich continues whirling around, looking frantically for the monsters. "Jeremie, where are the Mega-tanks and the Scyphozoa?", asks Yumi. "Uh, I'm not sure. Shortly after the Scyphozoa blasted you, well, I really don't know. The Scyphozoa behaved rather…oddly. It moved over to each one of you. I'm not sure why or what it did, but it didn't steal anyone's memories, not even Aelita's.", he replies. "Not like it needs to anymore….", interjects Yumi frowning. "Anyways, the Mega-tanks just sat there. Once the Scyphozoa was done, they all left. And here's the weird part. The tower de-activated all by itself. I also checked the news out here and nothing was going on. Apparently X.A.N.A. concentrated only on you guys." Yumi helps Odd stand and he brushes himself off. "Well, if there's nothing else to do, how about bringing us home?", Odd asks. "Yeah, I'd like to get a little rest before Ms. Hertz' class.", agrees Ulrich. "Give me a moment to check the rest of the towers. I also want to scan each of you to make sure the Scyphozoa didn't mess with your digital DNA or implant you with something.", replies Jeremie typing away at the keyboard. "Then, I'll start bringing you home."

Yumi opens her eyes and blinks a few times to get them to adjust quicker. She sees the typical golden interior of the scanner and stands carefully, bracing herself against the wall of the scanner. The doors open and through the steam exiting the scanner, she sees her Ulrich standing in front of the scanner waiting, hands in his pockets, smiling big at her. She returns the smile and steps out. Her leg nearly gives out due to weakness, but he's there to catch and steady her. "Thanks.", she whispers to him. "Anytime.", he replies just as softly. "You know, you two do a horrible job of being modest in front of us." Ulrich snaps his head toward the voice. "I mean, we all know that you two are a thing now. You don't have to hide it from us. Just be open about it!", Odd continues with his hands stretched open wide and with a huge smile on his face. "Odd! Shut up!", snaps Ulrich. "Yeah, Odd. Maybe we don't want you guys to see us… having a moment.", Yumi says carefully choosing her words as to not be too lewd. "There ARE times when we don't want to SHARE our… moments, as Yumi tactfully put them.", says Ulrich. Odd chuckles and replies, "Yeah, well, try harder next time. Anyways, Einstein wants to show you something. He's waiting for us upstairs."

Jeremie sets his headset down on the keyboard and sighs. Aelita gently touches his left arm and smiles softly at him. "It just bugs me, Aelita. I still can't figure out what the Scyphozoa did while you all where unconscious." Just then the doors open to the computer room where they are at and Odd, Ulrich, and Yumi step in and gather around the computer screen. "What's up, Jeremie? Odd said you wanted to show us something.", says Yumi crossing her arms and gently leaning against Ulrich. "Yes, I think that last bit of data Aelita downloaded will be enough to lock the second of the seven Seals needed to re-contain X.A.N.A on Lyoko. And… that's the good news." "Uh-oh. Usually after 'good news' comes 'bad news'.", states Odd raising his eyebrows worriedly. Jeremie sighs again and feels a gentle squeeze from Aelita's hand on his arm as he searches for the right words. "Well, I… don't know what all happened when the Scyphozoa blasted you. I've reviewed the video log a couple of times, but I can't really tell what went on.", he says looking down at the floor. "Hey, don't sweat it, Jeremie. You'll figure it out.", reassures Ulrich. "Yeah, we have faith in you.", agrees Yumi. "Though it will have to wait until tomorrow. It is getting late and Jim will be very upset if catches us out again.", says Aelita indicating the time on the computer screen. Ulrich's heart sinks. "Aw, man! I STILL have to study for my chemistry test tomorrow!", he says wiping his face with his hand. Jeremie sides to the floor next to Aelita. "Well, even still, once I have some free time tomorrow, I will work on what happened today."

Ulrich and Yumi arrive at the Ishiyama house and Yumi unlocks the front gate. Ulrich hesitates for a moment before following. Yumi turns and smiles at him comforting. He returns the smile with a weak smile and follows her up to the front door. She opens the door and steps in. "Hey, you gonna just stand out there or come inside?", she asks, poking her head out the door. He swallows nervously and steps inside. "Mom? I'm home. And I have a guest.", says Yumi. Ulrich can feel his heart begin to race as he hears foot steps coming down the staircase. He feels sweat begin to form on his brow. "Hey, relax, Babe, it's going to be alright. I've had a week to prepare them for this.", Yumi says taking his hand and gently squeezing it. He smiles as best as he can.

"Hey, Yumi! Whoa…!", says a young boy's voice. "Ulrich! Wow! You ARE really here! Cool!"

Ulrich sees Yumi's younger brother Hiroki come barreling toward him from the foot of the stairs.

"I thought Yumi was just making it up that you two were really…."

"Hiroki!", Yumi says sternly with a bit of aggravation.

"Hey, can you show me some of those cool karate moves?", Hiroki asks excitedly.

"Um, it's not karate…", Ulrich starts.

"Hiroki, don't bother us! Where's mom?", Yumi interjects.

"Aww, you're no fun! Look, I'm glad Ulrich is gonna be hangin' around more! I'd rather have had a big brother than a lousy, annoying big sister….", Hiroki says giving Yumi an ugly look and crossing his arms. "Mom's upstairs. She'll be down in a minute." He turns and walks into the living room.

"Oh! Your shoes!", says Yumi suddenly bending down and beginning to untie her boots.

"Oh, right.", he says and unties his shoes. He'd never really been in Yumi's house before but he knew that they still held onto some of the traditions of their homeland. He sets his shoes next to Yumi's and shoves his hands back into his pockets. He hears another set of footsteps coming down the staircase. Yumi slides next to him and winks at him. He tries to calm himself as he sees Yumi's mother stop at the foot of the stairs and look up to see the two standing there.

"Oh! Yumi, you're home a bit early. And this must be Ulrich.", she says stepping towards them. She smiles gently. "Good to finally meet you. Officially."

Ulrich returns the smile weakly and replies politely, "Nice to finally meet you too, Mrs. Ishiyama."

"Yumi has told us a lot about you. I'm glad that we can get to know you more on the face-to-face level.", Mrs. Ishiyama replies. "Please, come in and sit."

"Thank you, Ma'am, I will, but I can't stay too long. I, uh, have to get back to my dorm and finish studying for my chemistry exam tomorrow.", Ulrich says.

"Well, it's good to know that you are putting your studies ahead of everything else. Unlike another boy in this house!", she replies turning to look at Hiroki. Hiroki sees his mother glaring at him and stands up quickly.

"Um, I just remembered! I, uh, have to finishing…. doubling checking my… math!", Hiroki says off the top of his head as he takes off upstairs. Ulrich smiles and remembers that he used to do that same thing.

"Where's dad? I thought he was going to be here?", asks Yumi as the three walk into the living room.

Her mother sighs and sits down. "His boss called earlier and asked if he could work a little bit tonight. I guess that comes with the recent promotion… Anyways, I'm interested in what you want to be Ulrich when you get out of school." Ulrich smiles, feeling a bit more relaxed, and says, "Well, Yumi did warn me that you would play Twenty Questions." Mrs. Ishiyama chuckles and replies, "Just twenty? She didn't prepare YOU very well then!" Yumi sighs in embarrassment and says, "Oh, mother, please don't make him anymore nervous than he already is!"

Odd waves good night to Jeremie and Aelita then enters his dorm and closes the door. Jeremie sighs nervously and blushes. His mind races, trying to find a suitable good night to say to Aelita. He feels her take his hand.

"Jeremie?"

He feels his glasses begin to slide down his nose. "Yes, Aelita?"

"What are you thinking about?"

"Oh, uh, just… about… what happened. I mean, something seriously bad could have happened to you!"

Aelita giggles. "You know, you should really stick to the truth. It's what you are good at."

Jeremie swallows nervously. He's still new at this, not like Ulrich and Yumi. They've been officially together for a lot longer. They have the one thing he lacks: experience at this boyfriend – girlfriend thing.

"Yeah, I know.", he replies.

"True, something could have happened to us, but for whatever reason it didn't. And another thing, don't worry, like Ulrich said. I know you can figure out what happened. And I will help you to figure it out. But right now, I want to know what is on your mind.", Aelita says.

"I—I'm still new at this…."

"So am I. But that doesn't stop me from sharing my thoughts with you, Jeremie."

"I know. And I will try harder. As for what's truly on my mind right now. Well, I'm trying to figure out the best way to say good night….", he says trailing off at the end.

Aelita smiles at him warmly and he sees a sly gleam in her eyes.

"Need some help finding a way?", she asks softly.

Jeremie finds himself smiling at the idea. "Yes, if you don't mind…."

"Not at all….."

The kiss takes him by surprise. He feels as if he's dreaming in third person and watching himself kiss Aelita there in the hallway. It lasts for what seems like an eternity, then Aelita pulls back and he is snapped back. Aelita giggles and gently shoves his glasses back upon his face.

"How's that for a good night?" she asks.

"Wow….", he states. "Couldn't have been better…."

"Good night, Jeremie. I'll see you in the morning." She turns away and starts walking down the hallway, glancing back and smiling at him.

"Good night, Aelita." He turns and enters his room, still swimming from the kiss.

Odd plops down on his bed and Kiwi hops up with him and begins to lick is master's face. "Hey, buddy! Yeah, I missed ya too!" Odd begins to scratch Kiwi's head as his cell phone rings. "Now, who could that be?", he muses and picks it up. His eyes grow wide as the caller ID pops up. "Sam?", he asks in mild shock.

"Hello?"

"Um, Odd?"

"Yeah, Sam, it's me. What's up?"

"Well, I, uh, just wanted to call you and um, apologize…."

Kiwi rolls over onto his back and Odd rubs his stomach. "Hey, it's ok, Sam. And to be honest…", he pauses. This is definitely new ground for him. "I kinda deserved what you said…."

"No. Not like I said it."

"Hey, it got through to me."

Kiwi barks happily.

"Was that Kiwi?"

"Yeah, it was. Imagine that!"

"You know, I'm surprised that Jim hasn't caught him in your room yet…"

"Oh, he has. He just doesn't remember it."

"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?"

Odd sighs and smiles. "Never mind. Maybe someday I'll explain."

"Whatever. Still the same Odd. Never making any sense. Well, I'll let you go. My turn in the shower is almost here and I can't miss it or I'll end up with cold water…Bye, Odd."

"Bye.", he says and hangs up. He lays back on the bed and sets his phone back on the nightstand. Kiwi sees an opportunity and climbs up on Odd's chest. "Well, Kiwi, looks like it's just you and me only still. Not that I mind because you're the best dog a guy could ask for!" Kiwi barks happily again and licks Odd's face as Odd pets him.

Deep in Sector 5, X.A.N.A stirs. Not requiring rest like the weak fleshlings, he works to perfect his latest work. Working through the Scyphozoa, he finishes making adjustments on a strange pod. X.A.N.A surveys his work.

It is… good. Soon, my children will rise….

X.A.N.A instructs the Scyphozoa to leave the strange pods and returns to his other plans.