This chapter was written by me and edited by AwesomeFanFictionAuthor.
Disclaimer: I do not own Code Lyoko, all copyrighting goes to Moonscoop.
I only own Lila. Mary is owned by AeroJester203. Cameron is owned by Undeadmonkey8. Title recommended by Undeadmonkey8.
First Mix
POV Lila's
In the lab
Aelita, Jeremy and I are in the lab watching Jeremy run a program. He types away on the keyboard, analyzing the data he's collected on the chips.
It's hard to believe a week has passed since we discovered the chips inside the necklace and charm bracelet. It's also been a week since I've seen Cameron, and I'm rather worried, I think.
"Alright, I think I've finally got something. Only took a week," Jeremy says, giving the computer a stink eye.
"So, what are they exactly?" I ask.
"The microchips are dampeners of sorts," Jeremy explains.
"Dampeners? What do they do?" Aelita asks.
"They weaken you," Jeremy explains, "Think about it. The moment you wore your necklace, you were easily weakened to the point that Xana could control you through the chip. Lila's dampener weakened her to the point where she couldn't use her abilities on Lyoko."
"So, each chip is a dampener, but they work on us differently?" Aelita asks.
"Exactly. What Xana intended to do with them… I have no idea. For that, you'll have to ask Xana."
"Ugh, no thanks," I groan.
"Should we tell the others?" Aelita asks.
"Yes, but until we do, I'd rather secure a safe place to hide them. It's not that I don't trust the others. I do, but… if we were to lose these… that'd be bad for us," Jeremy answers.
"Okay, I think that's fair," I say.
A few days later
In the courtyard
Walking in the courtyard, I spot Cameron on one of the benches. We make eye contact, and I walk up to him.
"How are you doing?" I ask.
"I... I apologize for the way I acted last week. I'm usually not like that," Cameron explains quickly.
"I understand... the truth is... my father and mother both died a long time ago," I tell him, "And my adoptive mother is so busy with her work... it hurts when she's not here. It's really tough on her, being on her own. She raised me as a single parent."
Cameron looks at me and nods, "I'm sorry to hear that." He looks down, thinking, then seems to decide something, and turns back to look up at me. "Whenever I'm feeling down... I like to play some music on my flute."
"Do you only use the flute to relax, or do you also play professionally?" I ask.
"Professionally sometimes," Cameron replies, "In fact, I'm on my way to help Jim and some of your friends set up the gymnasium for the concert tonight. I'll also be playing after the DJ does, whoever that'll be. Would you like to join us?"
"Sure," I nod.
In the gymnasium
Cameron and I walk into the gymnasium. Our fellow classmates and other students are helping move equipment around. Odd and Ulrich are helping as well. Jim is supervising and spots us.
"What are the two of you looking at?" Jim asks, "Are you going to help?"
"Nothing sir, of course, we'll help," I answer. Cameron and I pick up some microphone equipment and bring it to the stage to set up.
"Dunbar, put some leg into it!" Jim exclaims, whistling at him.
I really hope there's a way I can avoid having William join the group. I'd rather have Cameron join the group than William. Cameron seems to be more reliable, and besides… he's not as hot-headed as William. I remember Aunt Yumi telling me stories of just how much of a hot head William was when he was younger, I think.
He's caught off-guard by Jim and drops a circuit board.
"Dunbar! Now, look what you did! Now we have to find someone to fix it!" Jim exclaims.
"Sorry Jim," William says.
"Jim, I think Aelita would be willing to help fix it," I say.
"Find Stones and bring her back here," Jim nods, giving me permission. He goes back to surveying the gym. Odd and Ulrich look at me, I shrug. I know Aelita would be more than happy to help with fixing the circuit board. After all, my dad once told me she used to play techno music as a DJ.
Outside Jeremy's room
I knock on the door.
"It's open!" Jeremy says.
I open the door, Jeremy is typing away at his computer and Aelita is sitting on the bed.
"Jeremy, would it be okay if Aelita helped fix a circuit board for the concert tonight?" I ask. Jeremy stops typing and turns to speak to me.
"Aelita can go if she wants to, but I'm still trying to analyze those dampener chips. There's tremendous data in these chips, and I just can't analyze them by myself."
"How about this? I'll stay here and help you analyze the data. If Aelita wants to, she can help fix it," I suggest.
"I'll go, after all, it is my choice," Aelita reminds us.
"Of course," Jeremy nods. Odd enters the room, he seems to be out of breath.
"Hey, Jeremy, can Aelita-"
"I'm coming, Odd," Aelita says. She gets up from Jeremy's bed. Odd catches his breath. She and Odd walk out, and Odd closes the door.
"Is everything okay with you two?" I ask.
"This whole concert in the gym... I think it's a waste of time if you ask me."
"Jeremy, everyone can take a break every now and then," I say, sitting on the bed. "I know you're concerned about the chips, and I'm concerned as well. I'm also concerned about MB's laptop, Jeremy. I've already tried multiple combinations for the passcode and nothing's work yet! And I'm just concerned that… there's something strange about this laptop."
"Like what?" he asks, as he stops typing. He turns his chair and looks at me.
"I'm not sure… I feel as if MB is someone special."
"Who?" Jeremy asks.
"No idea..." I trail off.
"Well anyways, I do believe you're the only who can figure out the passcode for MB's laptop," Jeremy says.
"Thanks, Einstein," I smile. He looks at me, surprised.
"That's the first time you've called me that. Odd, Yumi, and Ulrich usually call me that. But, you and Aelita really don't. It's a bit strange hearing you calling me that honestly. To be honest... I keep thinking how strange it is that one day I'll help create Mary since you told me I created her," he says.
"That's true, it does sound weird when I call you that. Well about that... have you ever heard about a book called the Theories and Quantum mechanics on time travel?" I ask him. He shakes his head.
"No, I haven't. What's it about? Besides time travel I mean," Jeremy says.
"Well, basically it's the book you would want to have if you're a time traveler. Honestly… it's almost as if a time traveler invented the book. Though, that can't be possible. But anyways, to summarize the book it basically explains there are multiple timelines, that exists with multiple and different versions of the Earth. We all share the same universe. Though, it also said that if there was a first-time traveler, they would be the one to change everything in the history of their Earth. Creating new timelines in their Earth too, should they ever use a time machine to go back in time and create a new timeline. It would be as if a new branch started to grow on a tree. Though, the one problem I have with this book is that it said a time traveler can't return to the past of their original timeline. Only the present, in which their original timeline is currently in. If that makes sense. So if my timeline is still out there, I'd be traveling to the present time of my timeline, but that's it. Does that make sense?"
He nods,
"Yeah, it does. Do you believe in this?"
"I do. Honestly… I believe my timeline is still out there. That's why I believe I'm not in my timeline's past at all, but rather a second timeline's past. And just because a version of you may have created Mary, that doesn't mean you'll create her. Especially, if I can find a way to destroy Xana completely… it'll mean that this timeline – will have an entirely different future than the one I'm from."
It also means should anything ever happen to you or Aelita, I won't blink out of existence. Though... I'll never let anything like that happen, ever, I think.
"I think I understand. All the more reason why I want to put our focus on these dampener chips. I know the supercomputer has already analyzed them but I'm double checking on something. If they're truly a danger to us, we need to know. Otherwise, things might change for the worse."
I nod,
"Right, let's get to work then."
Nodding, Jeremy goes back to typing on his keyboard. Getting up from his bed, I go over to his side and watch him type on the keyboard.
Later
In Mrs. Hertz's class
Mrs. Hertz's hands out the first part of our exam, and Jim hands out the second part.
"You have two hours for physics, and then two hours for chemistry. My colleagues and I will grade your papers this afternoon. After that, the principal himself will grade them, and then announce the results," Mrs. Hertz explains, she looks at the clock, waiting for it to be exactly on the hour.
"You may begin."
Looking at the equations, I can tell they are simple ones. I think about them, and start writing down the answers.
Those dampener chips Jeremy and I analyzed... I hope they're not too dangerous, I think.
In Lila and Aelita's room
That exam was so easy! Though, I can't help but wonder if being an artificial intelligence means that I'm cheating? It's not like I have a photographic memory or anything. So, I guess, in a way, I'm not cheating after all, I think, as I sit in my chair and listen to some relaxation music. I turn up the volume on the music pod.
Later
I walk to Jeremy's room, but before I can get there, Aelita throws the door open and storms out of there.
"You're as stubborn as a fool!" Aelita exclaims, slamming the door behind her.
"It's as stubborn as a mule!" Jeremy exclaims back. Aelita walks towards me.
"What happened? Are you two doing okay?" I ask.
"Jeremy needs to know when to take a break," Aelita replies, and walks by me.
I look back at her for a second, then shrug and knock on the door.
"Who is it?" Jeremy asks.
"It's Lila, may I come in?" I ask. A few seconds later, Jeremy opens the door.
"You're not going to the concert?" he asks.
"I... I have too much on my mind," I reply. He gestures me in and in I go.
Later that evening
Jeremy and I are taking turns analyzing the chips info structures. The chips are mostly identical, but suddenly, I spot a difference between their data.
"Jeremy, do you see this? The correlating data here and here?" I point to one window, then to the other. Jeremy's eyes widen.
I give him the keyboard. He starts typing and brings up another window.
"Unbelievable... they're not just dampeners. They're worse than we thought. Yes, they can weaken you… but what the supercomputer didn't show is if they're left on you long enough… you can lose your free will entirely. Xana wouldn't even need to bother with possessing you with one of his spectre's. You'd become his puppet," Jeremy says.
"I've never seen technology like this in my future. I wonder if-" I start to say but Jeremy shakes his head. He exits the program. He takes the chips out of his desk drawer and throws them to the ground, crushing them.
"There. Hopefully, Xana won't recreate them. They're too much of a threat."
"Well... that's one way to handle them, I suppose..." I mumble. "Well, how about we go to the concert? I'm sure Aelita would happy to see you, Jeremy."
"Okay... I might as well," Jeremy says.
In the gymnasium
Jeremy and I enter the gymnasium. Aelita's DJing, but she finishes her set just as we're walking in.
"Give it up for Aelita Stones! She did a great job!" The student announcer exclaims through the mic. The crowd cheers and Aelita sees us. She smiles and walks off the stage to meet with us.
"I'm glad you're here Jeremy - I'm - I'm sorry about our fight," Aelita says. Jeremy shakes his head,
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you like that. We have some news about the chips."
"News? What news?" Aelita asks.
"Let's go somewhere more private where we can talk. We'll tell Odd, Ulrich, and Yumi tomorrow. They look like they're having fun," Jeremy replies. We look at Odd, Ulrich, and Yumi who are dancing to a song a new DJ has put on.
Outside the gymnasium
Jeremy's finished explaining what he and I find out about the chips.
"I see... So Xana had the capability of controlling us through the chips if left on long enough," Aelita says. Jeremy nods.
"Yes, that's right. He did the same thing to you after all, but luckily we removed them in time. I fear if Lila's dampener chip was left on her long enough, it most likely would have possessed her too. But after we found out how much of a threat the chips were, I crushed them. Xana shouldn't be using them any time soon."
"That's a relief," Aelita sighs.
"What's a relief?" a voice asks from behind us. Turning to it, I see it's Cameron, holding his flute.
"Cameron, are you going on next?" I ask.
"Yes... right after I take care of something," he replies. He closes his eyes, as if he's nervous about something, then opens his eyes and they flicker with Xana's symbol.
My eyes widen.
"Cameron... oh no..." I trail off.
"He's been possessed!" Aelita exclaims.
Cameron puts his flute to his mouth and sounds a long, discordant note. A sonic wave emanates from it, sending Jeremy, Aelita, and I flying into the door of the gymnasium.
In the gymnasium
The doors fly open, and the three of us fly back, landing on the floor hard. The music stops as Yumi, Odd, and Ulrich run over to us.
"What happened?" Ulrich asks. Some of the students start murmuring, and Jim runs to us.
"What's going on?" Jim asks, reaching us. Ulrich and Odd help Jeremy up, Yumi helps Aelita up. I manage to get up on my own.
"Ulrich! Cameron's been possessed!" I exclaim, pointing to Cameron, who's walking into the gymnasium.
"Odd and I will handle him. Yumi, Aelita, Jeremy, Lila. Head to the factory! Use the shortcut here in the gym!" Ulrich exclaims, getting ready to fight.
"Yeah, we'll handle Cameron," Odd nods.
"Okay, let's go!" Ulrich exclaims, he and Odd run at Cameron.
"Stern, Della Robbia! What in blazes do you think you're-" Jim starts, but Cameron plays another tune, unleashing another sonic wave. Jim covers his ears and ducks. Jeremy's glasses start to crack.
"My- my- glasses! We need to leave, now," Jeremy says.
"Right let's go!" Aelita exclaims.
Inside the freight elevator
Yumi, Jeremy, Aelita, and I are inside the freight elevator. The freight elevator's hangar door closed, I press the bottom red button and the freight elevator goes down.
"How's your sight?" I ask.
"It's fine, thanks. I'm going to transfer you three as close as I can to the tower. I'm not sure where it is yet, but once the activated tower is pinpointed, we'll need to be-" Jeremy explains. He gasps suddenly, his glasses cracking further in a delayed reaction. He starts to keel over, taking his glasses off just in case they shattered completely. But his glasses fall out of his hand and onto the floor of the freight elevator.
"Jeremy!" Yumi, Aelita, and I exclaim. The three of us catch him, and I pick up his glasses.
In the lab
Aelita runs into the lab and sits on Jeremy's chair. Yumi and I carry Jeremy over to the wall, we lay him down gently in a vertical position so he doesn't fall on his side. He's unconscious, and Yumi has his cracked glasses in her pants pocket.
"I'm going to have to stay here and protect Jeremy," Yumi says, "If Xana attacks, he'll have to get through me first."
"Thanks, Yumi," I say.
"I'll activate the return to the past after I've deactivated the tower. If need be, it can be activated by a person's voice. It's something Jeremy rigged up," Aelita explains. Looking at the computer, I see the super scan program confirms the activated tower.
"I found the tower. Desert sector."
"Right. Yumi can you keep an eye on Jeremy for me?" I ask.
"Me too," Aelita says. She starts typing on the keyboard, and a countdown window of one minute and thirteen seconds pops up on the screen. It starts going down.
"The self-virtualization is all set. We haven't got long," Aelita says.
"Right," I say.
I go over to the ladder shoot, as Aelita gets up from the chair and she runs over to me. Climbing down first, she follows me after, so that we can be virtualized to Lyoko.
Lyoko's Desert Sector
Aelita and I land in the Desert Sector. We land safely. Looking at the plateau, we see the tower. It's at least a yard away.
"Any monsters insight Yumi?" Aelita asks, and we start running to the tower.
"The monitors aren't showing any. I'm keeping an eye on Jeremy like you and Lila asked. I'll let you know if any popup," Yumi replies.
"Thanks, Yumi," I say.
"Xana choosing Cameron… why? Because he's our classmate?" Aelita asks.
"I'm not sure. Xana doesn't really need a reason," I reply.
"That's true," Aelita replies.
Hearing buzzing coming from behind us, Aelita and I turn around to see four Hornets.
"Aelita, Lila! You've got four Hornets and Kankrelats coming your way!" Yumi exclaims. Taking out my staff, I look at the Hornets. They start charging their lasers. Looking to the side of us, we see three Kankrelats moving towards us.
We're completely surrounded! I'll need to use my Blackout spell! I exclaim.
"Praeumbo," I chant. My amulet starts glowing black, and the world turns grey. Everything slowing down, I look around me and see the Hornets buzzing above us.
I don't have a lot of time… so how am I going to take care all of them at once? Hm… Oh, that might do it. Yeah, let's try this… I think. Gripping my staff, I start chanting:
"Exardesco, Exardesco, Exardesco," My amulet maintains the blackout spell as it lets me know my staff is charged up. Swinging my staff, I unleash three Fire Bolts at the Hornets first. The Fire Bolts make their way to the Hornets. Reaching them, they hit the Hornets and the Hornets explode. Turning to the Kankrelats, who are at least a good feet away, I get in front of Aelita who is sort of frozen in time. I see that my amulet is starting to return to normal, and the blackout spell's time is almost up.
"Exardesco! Exardesco! Exardesco!" I exclaim, unleashing another three Fire Bolts at the three Kankrelats. The three Fire Bolts hit the three Kankrelats are hit one by one, and the three Kankrelats start exploding. My blackout spell stops, and the world returns to normal.
Aelita sees the late explosions. The kankrelats were thankfully not close enough to harm her or anything.
Her eyes widen.
"That blackout spell of yours Lila… it's very uh efficient," Aelita says.
"Yeah, it is," I say, sheathing my staff. Aelita and I start making the rest of the way to the tower.
Finally reaching it, Aelita runs up to the tower. She slowly enters it, phasing into the tower's "doorway."
"Lila… how do I start a return to the past?" Yumi asks.
"Aelita mentioned Jeremy rigged it up to be voiced activated. I assume it might be in his and her's voices only, that the program will accept. Though I could be wrong. Let's wait and see once Aelita deactivates the tower," I reply. Looking at the tower, the tower's red aura turns to blue.
Looking ahead of me, I see the big white bubble heading for us. It engulfs everything, sending us back in time.
I guess I was right, I think.
Earlier that day
In Lila and Aelita's room
Opening my eyes, I realize I'm in mine and Aelita's room. I'm listening to my music pod. Turning the music pod off, I get out of my chair and go to the door. Opening it, I close it and then make my way to the boy's dorm floor.
Upstairs
Aelita is already walking out of Jeremy's room. She closes the door and walks up to me.
"Is everything okay this time, Aelita?" I ask. Aelita nods and smiles.
"It will be. Jeremy's destroyed the chips again. And he's promised he'll go to the gymnasium."
Later that night
In the gymnasium
"Let's give it up for Aelita stones!" The student announcer exclaims. Aelita walks up to the stage. Odd, Ulrich, and Yumi walk up to Jeremy and me. Aelita puts the headphones on and connects the mixing board, then she starts to play her techno music.
"I'm glad you're here!" Yumi exclaims.
"How did the trip to Lyoko go?" Ulrich asks.
"Good, how was Xanafied Cameron?" I ask.
"He was uh..." Ulrich and Odd trails off. "Difficult," the two boys answer at the same time.
"Difficult how?" I ask.
"He's a tough fighter," Ulrich replies.
"And that enhanced flute of his really packed a punch," Odd adds.
"That's for sure," Ulrich agrees.
"Maybe one day we can recruit him as a Lyoko Warrior. But until then, let's just listen to Aelita's music," I say.
"Aelita's really amazing, isn't she?" Jeremy asks. We start to dance, and Aelita looks up at us and smiles.
She sure is Jeremy... she sure is, I think.
Looking around, I can tell that everyone is enjoying Aelita's techno music. Jim, Milly, Tamiya. Even Sissi, Herb, and Nicholas seem to be enjoying the music. Looking at Cameron, I see that he's dancing to the music in a corner with some classmates and Emily LeDuc. Going over to him, and his classmates, I reach him.
"Hey, Cameron!" I exclaim since the music is pretty loud. He stops dancing and looks at me. He smiles.
"Oh, hey Lila, what's up?" Cameron asks.
Feeling I'm starting to blush from embarrassment, I ask him:
"Would… would you want to dance with me?"
He nods.
"Sure! I'll see you guys in a bit," Cameron says, telling his classmates and Emily. They and Emily nod. Going over to a free spot on the dance floor, I look at Cameron and he looks at me. We start dancing to Aelita's techno music. I smile at him.
"I'm on next but thanks for asking me to dance with you. Hopefully, I won't totally suck at playing the flute in front of you and the rest of my peers," Cameron worries.
"Trust me, I think you'll be okay," I smile. He smiles back.
"Thanks," Cameron smiles.
"Anytime," I say.
Not sure what it is about this guy… but he makes me happy, I think.
All of us continue dancing as we dance away to Aelita's techno music. For once, we're going to dance the night away to a ton of music and enjoy ourselves. After all, everyone deserves a little break now and then.
Don't forget to review!
LyokoWarrior1994