Reloaded
It is autumn here at Kadic Academy, and the courtyard is busier than ever. The students have moved up a grade, upgraded their wardrobe, and expanded their social calendar. Odd is editing his latest film for the film club while drinking a complex drink from Starlight Coins. "I wasted some much time trying to get Samantha's attention that I forgot the deadline. Samantha or Sam was Odd's old flame from years ago. The last time they saw each other was at the skateboarding competition when Samantha did give Ulrich's message to Odd, and they had a small quarrel. As Odd edits his film, he sees an image of Dawn, and his heart skips a beat. "Dawn and I agreed to be friends. It was a moment, and now we moved on." Odd looks up and blushes when he sees Dawn standing above him. "Hey, Director. How's the movie?" "Um. Fine," Odd stumbles. Ulrich walks over with a rose, and Odd pulls him away. "Thank goodness you're here," Odd said. "Why? Was there something going on between you and Dawn?" Ulrich asks. "No. I knew that you would come to your senses about Yumi." Ulrich blushes. "I-I-I only need to talk to her." "Well, be honest and be bold," Odd says as he pushes Ulrich right into Yumi and William. "Yumi, can we talk?" Ulrich stammers. "Sure, where over by the benches?" Yumi asks. "Sure," Ulrich agrees and takes Yumi there when William stops them. "Excuse me? Are you going to acknowledge me?" "Hello. We can talk later," Ulrich said as he took Yumi away. William rolls his eyes as he sees Aelita and Jeremy listening to music in the park. "Your music is getting a lot of likes," Jeremy said. "Thanks. I got permission to play around with 'Hold Up' by Beyonce," Aelita said. Jeremy plants a kiss on Aelita's cheek. "What about the Cyberspace program?" "I was able to expand the programming to complete basic tasks such as alerting users if there is a spelling mistake in an email so that they can proofread it." William smile and walks back to Dawn and sees Brock talking to her about cheerleading. "Sissi is scaring the new students. Allison said she would try to convince two to try out, and Alice will make sure that it is fair in the tryouts," Dawn said. "Good for you. I love that Jim made you and Allison assistant captains," Brock said. "How is your internship?" "Good. It is weird because I studied this all in Pokemon Medical School, but due to my age, I have to back to regular school. But medicine is changing to I am learning a new skill." Allison walks by with headphones on and does not notice William. "Ouch," William said. "Sorry. I was testing something on my computer," Allison said. "What is it?" "It is coding that I have been working on that gives you a 'score' based on your time management. If your score is in the green zone, you are doing great with your time management if great. Yellow needs improvement, and red is readjusting your life." "Wow. I think I'm in the red. It has been months, and I still haven't got back into the swings of things, and everyone still thinks I might go 'stupid' again." "I'm sorry. The clone was the best Jerem could do at the time." "I know." They join Dawn and Brock. "Have you seen Odd? He left his laptop?" Dawn asks. "He was helping Ulrich's romantic gesture," William scoffs. "He is finally going to ask. I thought we would stage an intervention for him," Brock jokes. Ash arrives and sits down next to Allison, all out of breath. "I forgot I was meeting you all here," Ash said. "What was your doing? Battling?" Willam teases. "You know that we can't do that, right?" Allison said. "I was fencing," Ash said. "Fencing?" Brock and Dawn ask. "You are surprised?" "Yes," Brock said. "Well, I like it." "and you look hot," Allison teases, making Ash blush. "So, since Ash sometimes watches you at cheerleading practice, you watch him at fencing practice," Dawn said. "I do. He is good." Meanwhile, Ulrich is still talking to Yumi. "What I am trying to say is well. I want us to try-" "Try the new Mexican restaurant. They have virgin margaritas," Yumi said. "No. I mean, yes, but not the question," Ulrich said. This was the conversation the whole time until Yumi started to laugh. "What is so funny?" Ulrich demands to know. "I know that you want to be more than friends. I was hoping you would have gotten to the point, but I decided to have some fun when you were struggling," Yumi said. Ulrich frown but surprises Yumi with a kiss on the lips. "I'll pick you up at 5:30 tomorrow for a movie." Yumi blushes and nods. The courtyard erupts with cheers and a "finally" moment. Aelita sees the commotion and gets up to see when she is hit with a "wave" and collapses into Jeremy's arms. "Are you okay?" Jeremy asks. "Yeah. I think the heat has gotten to me," Aelita said. "Let's grab lunch." They go to the cafeteria, but Aelita looks around and sees some pulsations.
At lunch, Aelita thinks about the pulsations she felt in the courtyard. It felt like XANA, but it can't be? Can it? Aelita draws diamonds in her mashed potatoes. "So, my advice worked?" Odd asks as he takes a bite. "What did you tell him? He never officially asked me anything," Yumi states. "Well, he told me when all else fails, kiss the girl," Ulrich said. Yumi is taken aback by that claim. "It worked," Ash concludes. "Use it did," Ulrich assures. Allison notices her cousin staring at her food. "Is everything okay? Jeremy told us that you collapse." "Yeah. I have a feeling that something is coming,' Aelits said. "Like what?" "I don't know." William walks by and asks to sit with the group. "Sure," Brock said. He sits down and notices the group has become quiet. "Is this about Yumi and Ulrich? I'm okay. I knew that Yumi's heart belonged to Ulrich. I'm okay." The group breathes a sigh of relief. Moments later, Aelita feels the pulsations again and drops her fork. "I have a headache," she said. "Do you need some medicine?" Ash asks. "No. I think I need some air." The group heads outside, where the pulsations intensify. Aelita holds her head. I can feel it. But you're gone! Moments later, William pushes Aelita out the way as lighting strikes the spot where Aelita was. "Whoa!" Aelita screams. "I'm sorry, I had to act fast," William said. Aelita gets up. "Weird, I know the chances of that happening are slim, but still," Odd said. "How did William know?" Ulrich asks. "I don't know. But I'm glad I did." William gets a text from a student about a project. "Shit, I have a project to do. I think I'll need Allison's time management program," he said as he left. Ash J calls Allison over. "I was taking a picture of a bird when the lightning strike happened. I can send you the picture?" "Yes, please." "Is Aelita okay? She looked like she was having a migraine," Moxie said. "Yeah. I think she is stressed about her new music," Allison said. "I know. The trolls are shit," Rocky said. Ash J sends the picture to Allison, and she gasps. "Lighting looks scary on film." "Well, maybe we should film ourselves and see,' Ash J teases. "Funny," Allison said. She goes back to the group. "Guys, my brother took a picture simultaneously, and we need to see this," Allison said as she showed the group the photo. They all gasp in disbelief. "The lighting looks weird," Odd said. Aelita starts to breathe faster. "It looks purple but also black," Yumi said. "Also, looks more controlled, unlike a Thunderbolt," Ash said. Aelita gulps as the pulsations grow stronger. there was another lightning strike, but this time, it hit the science building roof and sets it on fire. The students head for the gym, but Jeremy wants to look at the photo. "I can zoom in because it looks weird and feels different," Allison said. "How can you tell?" Ulrich asks. "Lighting is my specialty. I know. this feels like an AI-created it." "Like from the university?" Brock asks. Allison zooms in the pictures as Aelita gulps. When Allison zooms in, she sees Aelita breathing erratically. "Are you okay?" "Yeah, let's see the photo," Aelita said as she squeezed Jeremy's hand. Allison zooms in and sees the Eye of XANA. "The Eye of XANA?" The group is in shock, and Aelita faints. "Aelita!" Jeremy rushes to her side. "XANA? Aelita?" Did XANA escape and go to Aelita?" Odd asks. "No. We ruled that out. XANA is dead!" "So, either XANA escape from a back door or someone recreated it," Ash said. "Is Aelita okay?" Ulrich asks. "She had a panic attack. I would, too," Dawn said. "We-we," Jeremy can't get the words out. "Factory," Yumi said. "Yes!" Jeremy said. He carries Aelita on his shoulders as she wales up ."What?" she asks. "We are going to find out!" Jeremy states. Ash J zooms into the picture and sees the Eye of XANA. "What is that?" Ash J asks himself as the roof collapse from the Science building. "Come!" Moxie shouts. Ash J runs but thinks about the picture and notes that his sister and her friends are MIA. "I thought they were done with the disappearing act," he said.
The group enters the factory, and Odd whines. "I'm cold!" "Yeah. The Supercomputer is off. It provides the heat," Jeremy said. "Will anything happen once the Supercomputer turns on?" Ash asks. "We will see Lyoko. XANA is not on Lyoko. However, we need to see what is happening." Aelita speaks up. "I have been feeling pulsations on campus," Aelita said. "Like you did when you were on Lyoko?" Ulrich asks. "Yes, but it feels like a warning." "Like the lighting strike," Brock said. "Exactly," Aelita said. The group reached the power room and could feel the cold, dense air. "It feels creepy," Dawn said. "When it gets turned on, it will look brighter," Allison said. "Wait," Yumi says as Jeremy is about to pull the level. "Do we have to do this?" Aelita turns to Yumi. "Yes. I know you were a big advocate for turning off the Supercomputer right away, but I can feel XANA, and we have proof. We need to know." "I know, but what if we open up a pandora's box." "I think if I was only feeling the pulsations, you could argue that, but the lightning strike with XANA's mark indicates that it has already started." Yumi nods but is displeased. Jeremy turned on the Supercomputer, and a gush of wind and heat circulated the room. The group reminds quiets as they take the elevator to the lab. Jeremy sits in his chair and puts on his headphones. "Jeremy, you look uncomfortable," Brock said. "It has been six months," Jeremy jokes. Jeremy turns on the computer, and many programs start to run at once. "What is going on?" Ulrich asks. "The Supercomputer is busy," Jeremy said. As the programs run, Aelita's head starts to pound. "XANA's busy. I know it." "Is it weird that Aelita can sense XANA?" Odd asks. "No. I am the Guardian of Lyoko. I will sense XANA, but id felt like XANA lives on Earth. Like it has planted roots on Earth." "Do we need to go to Lyoko?" Ash asks. "The scanners are down. it will take twenty-four hours to be operational," Jeremy said. "Okay, then why are we all here?" Dawn asks. "You know why," Ulrich scoffs back. "I mean. We all have lives. Like real teenage lives. Jeremy is running the Young Computer Science club; Aelita is working on her music online; Odd is upgrading his films; Yumi and Ulrich are co-captains in different martial arts teams, and Yumi is the head of the Heritage Club. Also, Ash is taking fencing; Brock has started to reinstate his passion for Pokemon medicine; Allison is doing ballet, and she and I are in charge of the spirit committee; Plus, I am interested in psychology. Since we all have started this school, XANA has taken over our lives, snd n\kmow we are going back. Yes, we had another situation, but that is done, and we know it." Everyone nods. "I understand," Jeremy said. "With that being said, the quicker we get the answers, the quicker we can shut this shit down." "Amen!" Odd said. At the moment, Ash gets a phone call. "Hey, William?" The room is silent. "Hey, Ash. Where is everyone? The fire in the science building is out. Classes are canceled because of the smoke, and we will have class in a local college's science lab," William said. "What does he want?" Ulrich whispers."School is out today, science class at a college, and he wants to know where are we," Ash whispers back. "Lie!" Jeremy whispers. "Ash?" William asks. Ash gulps. "We took Aelita for a walk after the lighting strike because she felt tense." "Good. Is she okay?" "Yeah." "Okay, see you all back on campus." Ash breathes a sigh of relief. "I'm sorry that I told you to lie. I don't want William's past with XANA to influence anything," Jeremy said. "I mean right now-look!" Aelita said. The Super-scan indicates that XANA does not live on Lyoko, but it lives on a replica. "On a replica?" Allison asks. "Yes. Also, XANA can still activate towers on Lyoko. All four main sectors look good. Tomorrow, we can send some of us to Lyoko and head for Sector Five," Jeremy said. "Okay," Everyone agrees. Once they leave the factory, Aelita starts to feel pulsations again, and this time, a series of shock waves ambushed the group, and two trees were set on fire. There was a message on the ground as they ran back to campus. "I am alive!" Two more trees fall on the message a burn.
In Aelita's room, Jeremy sits with her. "I can't believe that XANA is alive. But how?" Aelita asks. "I don't know. However, since XANA is hiding on a replica. I am thinking that as the other replica was being destroyed, an artificial replica was being created. So I am thinking at a small piece of a fragment of XANA's went to the replica and wanted until it has enough strength," Jeremy said. Aelita walks around. "You know what sucks? My father is dead because of XANA. He sacrificed his life for the Multi-Agent program that didn't fucking work!" "I know that you are frustrated but look on the bright side. We know, have the experience, and we can manage this.' "The thing is. XANA also ruined my life. I mean, XANA was created to deal with Project Carthage. My mother is MIA, and my life is all in knots; I was starting to live a normal human life and not this!" Jeremy hugs Aelita. "Breathe!' Aelita hugs Jeremy back. William is in the showers and hears the other boys talking. "I'm glad they put out the fire at the park," Odd said. "Me too; I feel like it was a warning," Ulrich said. "Or a promise," Brock said. "I know we need to be there for Aelita and hope for the best," Ash said. "What about Aelita?" William asks. The boys looked at him. "We were talking about the lighting strike. That scared her," Ulrich said. "I know. I'm glad that I pushed her out the way." "Yeah. How did you know?" Odd asked. "About?" "Lighting? It is hard to predict." "I saw a black cloud in the sky," William said. "Okay. Well, she is talking to Jeremy," Ash said. "Good night!" Brock said. "Good night!" William said. Yumi calls Allison and Dawn about Aelita. "She is losing her shit!" Dawn said. "I am too. I finally have the full trust of my parents back. I can't go back. But we can't leave things like this," Yumi said. "Jeremy told me that it seems like a man-made replica because all of the XANA-made replicas at the time were destroyed," Allison said. "Right. I think we need to keep William out of the group. XANA might want him back," Yumi said. "Well, I think so too, but he should know," Dawn said. "Well, Jeremy said no, and I agree. plus, he pushed Aelita out of the way." "So what?" "Well, how did he know that was coming?" Allison asks. Ash and Brock were about to go to bed when Ash said. "I call William on his bullshit!" "Me too. There wasn't a cloud in the sky," Brock said. "No clouds allowed in the sky. So how did he know?" William sits in his room and looks at his phone. "I know that Ash was calling from the factory. Why did he lie? Why did they make him lie? Also, I felt something around campus, like a XANA feeling. It felt dark. I sense the lighting strike was going to happen directly at Aelita. I don't know if XANA wanted to kill Aelita or knew I knew. Whatever, maybe they went to clear Aelita's head. but If XANA is back or a copycat, I will find out." As William goes to bed, he hears a voice. They always let you down and think you are a hothead. Why join them when you can beat them! William stirs awake and starts to sweat. "What was that?" He looks around and goes back to sleep.
Whoa! What a day! XANA is alive. Aelita has every right to be upset. Also, the Lyoko Warriors (That wasn't said in a while) have started to regain their lives. Plus, William was feeling the pulsations as well. And he senses the lighting strike beforehand. Now he is hearing voices. So much to do and so much to read or listen to. Meanwhile, XANA has been busy. A week later, the Hall of Villians has a new Maleficent statue. XANA's ghost makes its way to the statue and animates it. It turns the statute into a girl with purple hair and hides the staff in her backpack. "I will have fun putting everyone to sleep forever!" XANA shouts.