This chapter was written by me and edited by AeroJester203.
Disclaimer: Code Lyoko is copyrighted by Moonscoop.
I only Lila. Mary is owned by AeroJester203. Cameron is owned by Undeadmonkey8.
Enjoy the chapter!
Marabounta
The next day
POV Lila's
Waking up, I stretch my arms and yawn. Looking at the ceiling, I sigh internally.
What am I going to do? I don't have magic powers anymore on Lyoko… and even with a sword, I'm nowhere as good as Ulrich is. Ugh, I still can't believe they're gone. Just another thing in my life Xana's taken away… I think.
Later
In Mrs. Hertz's class
"Ants are social insects like termites or bees. A single individual isn't capable of any personal initiative. All of the decisions are made by the colony," Mrs. Hertz explains. Jeremy and I look down at the cases full of ants.
Ugh, no thank you… If Xana EVER possesses an anthill, forget trying to keep the return trips to a minimum, I'm setting them and anything around them on fire! I think.
"Ants receive a few simple orders, such as 'search for food, mark the path leading to the food, and follow a marked path,'" Mrs. Hertz continues. "As a result, we might have the impression that each ant is rather clever when, in fact, this has more to do with a collective intelligence."
"You mean an army of Sissi's could be intelligent? Heh, I don't believe it," Odd jokes, looking at the ants. All of us start laughing.
Sissi glares from her side of the table, "Very funny! Shut up bird brain!"
"Settle down, please," Mrs. Hertz firmly requests and we stop laughing. "As I was saying, thanks to their numbers, they manage to accomplish some fairly difficult tasks. Such as finding food, or defending themselves against an attacker. It would seem that ants would wage full-scale wars between different colonies."
Ulrich raises his hand, "What about killer ants? Do they exist?"
"Well… yes, maybe in movies, Ulrich," Mrs. Hertz's smile. The class starts laughing at him, Cameron and Jeremy included. Aelita and I don't, we know how dangerous Xana could be, especially if he got a hold of such insects. It never happened in my future, but this timeline is already dramatically different.
"But there are, in fact, army ants," she grants. "They destroy everything in their path. It's true, so you'd best stay out of their way."
"And, uh… do any of those filthy bugs live around here?" Sissi asks with poorly concealed unease.
"No, fortunately," Mrs. Hertz's answers. "Down there, the phenomenon is called marabounta."
"Phew, I'm glad I live in a country where there's no danger," Sissi says in relief.
Ulrich, Odd, Cameron, and I look at each other knowingly, smiling slightly at the irony of her statement. The bell rings and our classmates start leaving. Turning around I see Aelita has already left. Jeremy continues to look at the ants in the case.
"Lila?" Cameron asks.
I nod at him before turning back to the blond, "Right, uh, Jeremy are you heading out?"
"Just a sec," he answers distractedly.
Shrugging, I walk up to Cameron and we leave the classroom together.
Later
In the cafeteria
We're all at our usual table, looking down at the fish on my tray I can't help but shudder a bit internally.
I like fish as much as Odd does…. But I'm more of a vegetarian than a meat lover. Though I suppose it's not that bad, I think. Odd uses a fork to shovel more food in his mouth.
"Saturday is my favorite day. No school in the afternoon," he says between bites.
Ulrich smirks, "I like Sunday's better. No school at all."
"Mh-hmm!" Odd agrees happily while still eating his food.
Aelita notices Jeremy's silence, as he looks like he's lost in thought.
"You seem worried Jeremy. What's on your mind?" she asks.
"Franz Hopper's notes, Aelita. Cameron and I were at the lab last night. While there, I decoded an interesting part on a multi-agent system. It's the computer application of an anthill. It follows the same principle, you see. What happens is–" Jeremy starts to explain.
Odd interrupts jokingly, "Mrs. Hertz already bored us with the ant stuff. Don't you start now." He, Ulrich, Cameron, and Yumi all share a laugh.
"Seriously – this time I might have found a way to weaken Xana," Jeremy insists. "Let's all meet up after lunch, and I'll explain everything."
Aelita gets up from the table and taking her tray she says, "Well, normally I'd love to. But I have to finish my Italian homework. See you." As she walks away, Jeremy looks at Odd.
"I, uh, have to practice for a skateboard competition!" he excuses unconvincingly, hurriedly taking his tray and leaving.
"Yumi?" the blond asks, looking at her.
"Sorry, I've got swimming after school. Bye–bye," Yumi apologizes, getting up with her tray in tow and waving her hand goodbye.
Looking at Cameron, Ulrich, and me, Jeremy asks, "What about you three?"
"I've got to be somewhere," Ulrich says, looking away from Jeremy. I raise my eyebrow since he hasn't even tried to come up with an excuse.
"Oh yeah, where?" I challenge.
"The swimming pool," he answers curtly. Taking his tray, he leaves the table. My guess is that he's following Yumi.
Sighing at the brunet's departure, he raises an exasperated eyebrow at us, "I don't suppose you two want to…?"
"Sure, I'll go. Also… Cameron, why did Jeremy say you and he were decoding the diary at the lab last night?" I ask, looking at Cameron.
"Well… funny story, actually," he replies, then rubs his neck nervously.
Afterwards
In the lab
"Say what, now?" I ask, crossing my arms skeptically and looking at Cameron.
He rubs the back of his neck nervously, "I sort of… gave you new powers and a new avatar?"
"But how could you have done that? You would have to be very advance at computer programming, and know your way around the supercomputer since it's on a whole other level from the standard hardware, and-" I start to explain, but Jeremy interrupts me.
"He found a loophole in the computer manual. From there, I helped him a bit. But he did most of the groundwork. To be honest, this new avatar he created may be more useful than the last. The good news is we got rid of those pesky life point deductions. Bad news… your ice powers will only work for 30 seconds on a regular monster. 35 seconds on a big monster like the Tarantula, and 40 on the Scyphozoa. Still, it can hold them down for the others to take them out, and I did equip you with a bow and quiver of ten arrows just in case."
"That might be useful, then," I nod. Going over to his chair, Jeremy sits on it. Cameron and I stand at his sides.
"Here we go," he says enthusiastically, cracking his knuckles.
He begins typing on the keyboard at a quick pace. While he works, I notice something on the floor out of the corner of my eye. A small stack of ant magazines is on the floor by his chair.
Wow, Jeremy must be really invested in this program. I can't help but wonder if it'll work, I think.
Later
Cameron and I continue waiting while Jeremy types away at his keyboard, the two of us having idled around the lab over the past hour or so. We both look from our positions seated against the wall when he abruptly stops typing.
"Is it done?" Cameron asks, standing up and stretching. I do the same and we both go back to Jeremy's side.
"I think so," he replies. "Now for the moment of truth."
Jeremy presses one more key, and two windows pop up. The program's information is on the right one, and the left shows some sort of purple blob. The newly created object begins to multiply, emitting smaller copies of itself. I can see how it's modeled after an anthill since they're practically rushing out of the original.
"Everything seems to be working," Jeremy says.
I nod, "That's good." Looking at the program's code, it keeps identifying each blob that is multiplying, the list growing exponentially.
"Transfer: Prototype," Jeremy says. Pressing a key on the keyboard, he starts the process of uploading it to Lyoko.
"Scanner." A bar on the window pops up then starts filling up.
"Virtualization." He presses a key on the keyboard again. Looking at the window, he says, "Hm. Come on."
The blob on the monitor continues to multiply, as the program continues to try and track its copies. Looking at the window, I can tell it's solidified into one blob.
Jeremy grins, "Yes! Franz Hopper, you are a genius. Well, what do you guys think?"
"Pretty nifty," Cameron nods.
"It's neat. I think this will gave Xana a run for his money," I joke.
"That's an understatement!" Jeremy exclaims happily. "He better watch out now!"
Typing on the keyboard, Jeremy brings up Odd's contact number on the monitor to call him.
Odd picks up a moment later, "Jeremy?"
"I have something amazing to show you guys! Can you get the others and meet, Lila, Cameron, and I at the lab?" he asks.
"Okay, as soon as possible. We'll be there."
"Great, and don't forget to go and pick up Aelita," Jeremy says.
"Okay," Odd says, hanging up. His picture disappears.
Later
Looking at the freight elevator, the doors open to reveal Odd with Aelita. Looking at his arms, I see Odd is holding Kiwi.
"Ah, there you are. But where's Ulrich?" Jeremy asks.
Aelita walks over to my side, and Odd walks over to Cameron's, letting Kiwi down to the ground.
"He's sulking," Odd replies with a shrug. "I don't know what his problem is."
Looking at the open windows on the monitors, Aelita asks, "What's this program?"
"It's Marabounta," Jeremy replies. "My own creation."
"And what does it do, exactly?" Odd asks with his hand on his hip.
"It's a multi-agent system that functions according to the same principal as an anthill. But instead of ants, we have these little spheres whose main mission is to search for and destroy Xana's monsters," he explains. Kiwi goes over to the ant magazines and starts sniffing them.
"I get it. While the monsters are getting wiped out by your ants, Xana leaves us alone on Lyoko. Is that it?" Odd asks.
Jeremy nods, "You guessed it."
"Hey, that's great!" Odd exclaims with a grin.
Aelita doesn't look so sure, asking, "But, what if there's a real bug in the program?"
"I've been wondering that myself," Cameron adds.
I nod, "Me too."
"Impossible," Jeremy replies with a smile while lifting his finger. "Remember, Franz Hopper was a genius."
"Yeah, that's right! What do you say we go to Lyoko and check it out? If this thing really works, nothing can happen to us," Odd suggests.
"You read my mind Odd," Jeremy agrees. "Go to the scanner room; I'll transfer you."
"Awesome. I can't wait to see my new look on Lyoko, and test out my new powers," I say.
Odd looks at me curiously, "New powers?"
"Yeah. It was something Jeremy and I worked on last night," Cameron answers.
Odd and Cameron start going over to the freight elevator. Aelita closes her eyes as she stands nervously, Jeremy and I look at her with concern.
"If there's the slightest problem, I'll pull the plug. Promise," Jeremy reassures. Aelita opens her eyes and looks at him with a slight smile. The two of us then follow the boys to the freight elevator.
In the scanner room
Aelita takes the middle scanner while Odd takes the right and I take the left, the three of us stepping in at the same time.
"Cameron you'll have to go last, hope you don't mind," Jeremy says.
"Not at all," Cameron replies.
As I turn around to face forward in the scanner, the doors close.
"Transfer: Aelita, Transfer: Odd, Transfer: Lila."
I close my eyes as the scanner starts to whir, the inner mechanisms spinning.
"Scanner: Odd, Scanner: Aelita, Scanner: Lila."
The scanner continues to whir, and spin, the noise growing in volume.
"Virtualization!"
The gush of wind and bright light engulf me, billowing my time machine necklace and hair. I'm virtualized to Lyoko.
Lyoko's Forest Sector
Aelita, Odd, and I land in the Forest Sector. Looking at myself, I notice I'm wearing a navy-blue tailcoat, and the coattail has been shortened—probably so that it doesn't get in the way when I fight. Looking at the outside edges, I see that it's trimmed to have it taper into a point in the back, formed from the two halves.
On my back, I have a white quiver with at least ten black arrows. The quiver is attached to my shoulders via a leather strap going through a pair of slits in the back of my coat, along with the bow. Feeling around, my fingers touch a wide metal hook that the bow is wedged into. Looking back at my front, I notice underneath the tailcoat is a white collared shirt with a golden tie formed into a cravat knot in the collar. My pants are slim around my legs, but not quite formfitting. The bottoms of the legs are stuffed into my black leather boots, which sort of feel shallow. Around my waist under the tailcoat, there's a black leather belt with a silver buckle. Looking at my amulet, I can see that the gem in it has changed to blue.
"Virtualization!"
Looking up, Cameron is virtualized and lands safely.
After standing up from his crouch, he looks at me, "Not bad. Wasn't sure about the outfit, but it works. What do you think of your hairstyle?"
"My hairstyle?" I ask, realizing I couldn't see my hair earlier. Feeling my head, I can tell that my hair has been shortened significantly, and only reaches the top of my neck.
"You look really neat Lila. Jeremy, I want an upgrade!" Odd complains.
"We'll see Odd. Anyways, you guys are south of the Marabounta. Take the path to your right. Sorry, but you'll have to go without vehicles. I don't have enough machine resources to bring them up. If there are any, watch out for the monsters. Xana may have his hands full, but you never know," Jeremy chuckles.
"Roger-dodger, Einstein!" Odd replies.
We start running in the direction of the Marabounta. After a few minutes, Jeremy announces, "A Krab at two o clock! Follow it, it's heading in the right direction."
Looking across the path, we see the Krab heading our way and it passes us. Odd and Cameron go on ahead to follow it with Aelita and me close behind. They turn the corner, looking out from behind a tree, and stop.
"Jeremy I've got it!" Odd exclaims. "I can see the Marabounta!"
"Same here!" Cameron says.
"Well, what's it like?"
Aelita and I catch up and take our own look. We gasp at the sight of the multiplied Marabounta enveloping the Krab, climbing its legs as it struggles to break free and cutting off its escape by encircling it and closing in.
"Pretty scary, honestly," Cameron replies.
Once it's fully covered with the dark gray substance, the Krab sinks into the layer of Marabounta below it like it's standing in quicksand, screeching before an explosion booms from within the virtual ant colony. We hear more whirring movements along with the buzz of Hornets and look to see more of Xana's monsters.
A Tarantula approaches the Marabounta, raising one of its front legs to fire at it, two blasts managing to vaporize small patches, but ultimately futile against the whole. The spheres attach themselves onto the arm of the Tarantula, causing it to struggle to shake them off before blasting a laser to destroy them at point-blank range.
The Hornets stay well above the Marabounta, firing from afar to try wearing it down. But a mass of the substance erupts upward like a low-powered geyser, bringing them down to the ground and consuming them.
Hearing a large object rolling along the ground, we look and gawk to see a Megatank of all things coming in. Xana must be getting desperate to find a way to destroy the Marabounta if he used the resources to create one of them.
Rolling its way in, the Megatank opens, revealing the eye of Xana and charging its laser wave. It fires against the Marabounta and cleaves a divide between them, the spheres in the way devirtualizing. But the colony simply continues forward as the split closes with new spheres to replace the lost ones. It closes up in an apparent effort to defend itself, but gets enveloped anyway and sinks down before exploding after a slightly longer period of time.
Odd turns to us, "I never thought I'd ever say it, but I really feel bad for Xana."
"That's for sure," Cameron nods.
Aelita seems unnerved, "I'll uplink you a visual Jeremy."
A few seconds later, and Jeremy says, "It's working even better than I thought it would."
"If you want my opinion Einstein, you've invented yourself a nasty piece of work," Odd says.
I nod, "I can agree to that."
Looking at the Tarantula, it screeches as it's finally engulfed by the Marabounta.
"Jeremy… I've seen enough. I want to come in," Aelita requests.
"Me too," I nod.
"Okay, you two. I'll bring you back. Lila once Aelita is there I'll start your devirtualization. Head southwest."
"Got it!" Cameron and Odd exclaim before they start running in the indicated direction.
Aelita and I are about to follow when the Marabounta gets in our way.
We gasp as it starts moving closer, and I call, "Odd! Cameron! There's a bit of a problem!"
Turning back our way, Odd and Cameron look at us. The spheres continue to surround us.
"You guys what's going on?!" Jeremy asks worriedly.
Odd and Cameron start running to get to us, the former firing his Laser Arrows.
"Answer me!"
As Odd fires a salvo of Laser Arrows, the Marabounta retreats slightly as its units are destroyed, giving Aelita and I room to move. Odd continues to fire at the swarm as we run away from it, Cameron moving with us.
"Of all the times my flute has to be on a cycle! Never using all the notes at once again!" Cameron exclaims, frustrated.
Odd soon catches up to us on all fours to fall into step next to us before standing up and aiming back as he runs at our speed now. I glance over my shoulder and see the Marabounta is chasing us.
"Laser Arrow!" he exclaims, firing off another arrowhead.
"Cameron, how do I use the ice powers?" I urgently ask. "Now would be a good time to use them!"
"Just think and release," Cameron answers.
Uh, okay. Ice powers… activate? I think. Feeling my hands getting cold, I notice a thin layer of frost beginning to form on them.
"Everyone get behind me!" I exclaim while skidding to a stop and turning around. Aelita, Odd, and Cameron move on ahead to put me between them and the Marabounta. Aiming my hands at the incoming swarm, I think, Fire!
Two spherical blasts of white energy tinged with light blue and wreathed in ice crystals shoot out of my hands, hitting the front line of spheres and spreading a crystalline layer of ice that spreads back and stops the Marabounta in its tracks. The rear portion backs off to keep from being frozen as well and mills about as vapor emanates from the ice coating the swarm.
"That'll buy us 40 seconds! Run for it!" Cameron exclaims.
Running away from the Marabounta, Aelita speaks, "Jeremy, the Marabounta is chasing Lila and me!"
"What?! But it shouldn't… it's only meant to go after Xana and his monsters."
"That's what you said! So what happened, Einstein?" Odd asks as we continue running.
"I'm not sure, unless… Oh, Jeremy, you idiot!" he mutters to himself. "It's my fault! It's the virus implanted in Aelita! And the link Lila has to Xana! The Marabounta think that they're Xana's monsters!"
"Great, nice work, Frankenstein," Odd complains.
"Whose Franken-" I look at Odd. He and Cameron seem surprised that I don't know who Frankenstein is.
"Oh never mind, I'll find out in time," I say.
Looking back from behind us, the Marabounta has started to chase us again. Evidently, it determined that it wouldn't get frozen by going over its incapacitated portion. The still-thawing spheres are further back on the path.
Ugh… why does Jeremy like to make things that want to kill Aelita and consequently me? I think.
Odd has one hand over the other, ready to fire as he runs, "I thought we had nothing to worry about!"
"I was wrong."
"Yeah, no kidding!" Cameron exclaims.
"Okay just head for the tower. I'll kill the program."
We continue running along the path as we wait to hear from Jeremy.
"Jeremy now would be as good a time as any!" I exclaim.
"I can't deactivate the program! It seems that the Marabounta doesn't want to die. It's become autonomous; it will submerge everything and everyone in its path," Jeremy explains.
We look back at the swarm still chasing us persistently from a distance.
"I'll brief Yumi and Ulrich," Jeremy announces.
We continue running along the path and connect to a path that goes in three different directions. We look at each path.
"Okay, good news: It looks like we lost the Marabounta," Cameron reports to Jeremy. "Bad news? I think we got lost ourselves."
"I – uh – sorry guys. Take off in the direction due west. The Marabounta hasn't hit that sector yet. In the meantime, I'll find a way to stop it."
"Don't blow it okay?" Odd asks, "I don't want to end up as chewing gum!"
We start running again, knowing that we need to keep ahead of the swarm before we run out of places to go.
Afterwards
Reaching the tower, we gasp as the Marabounta has covered the area all around it and begun climbing the structure itself.
"Jeremy, bad news," Odd says. "The Marabounta got here first. The towers are unreachable."
"This won't take long. I'll find a way to stop it! And, Ulrich and Yumi are on their way!"
Aelita gasps, getting our attention to what she's looking at. The Marabounta has started to spread around us. Odd covers us as he begins firing his Laser Arrows. Taking out his flute, Cameron presses the button and it extends it into a three-piece staff. Using his staff, he guards us, and we begin backing away from the encroaching swarm.
As Odd continues to fire his shots, I look at the ground and realize the Marabounta has gotten a lot closer, narrowing the space between the boys and us. Aelita and I widen our eyes as Odd starts running to us. He goes over and fires his laser arrows at the Marbounta from a distance while Cameron stays close to guard us.
"Cameron, a little help!" Odd calls.
"Sorry, Odd, but all I can do is make sure this flute staff is ready for defending them! It's on a cycle!" he explains.
The Marabounta starts getting closer, Aelita and I back up against a tree. As we place our hands on the tree, the swarm starts to spread itself on it.
As we hurriedly back away from it, running out of space to move, Jeremy says, "Careful! Xana is sending two monsters!"
Looking up, Aelita and I see two Krabs being materialized, their digital frame being red before it's filled in with their details. They fully form and fall to the ground in front of us with heavy thuds. I ready my hands for an ice blast, while Aelita covers herself in fear.
However, the Krabs offers their legs and make no move to attack as the Marabounta draws closer. We stare for a moment until one of them drones in a strangely urgent manner. Nodding, the two of us climb on each of their legs. The Krabs swing us, sending us flying and over the Marabounta. We scream and hit the ground, right next to Odd and Cameron, who had managed to get out of their own stretch of the colony. The Krabs are devoured by the Marabounta, exploding like the others when they're fully submerged. Getting up, Aelita and I look confused.
"That's crazy!" Odd exclaims. "Those Krabs just sacrificed each other for the both of you! I don't get it!"
"That's weird…" Jeremy comments. Bloks start walking in, their mechanical legs whirring and clanking as they move toward the Marabounta.
What is going on exactly? Is… is Xana helping us? No, he couldn't be, that's ridiculous! I think in surprise. The Bloks start guarding us, whirling about to display another side before firing freeze lasers at patches of the Marabounta to hold it off. More whirring steps sound as a small group of Kankrelats move in single file to offer support.
"I think I understand," Jeremy says. "Xana knows he can't let Aelita die. He needs her memory. I believe that's the same for Lila since she's tied to Xana too."
Looking at the Kankrelats that are on our right side, they open fire on the Marabounta.
Cameron readies his flute staff, "I just don't get it. What are they doing?"
"They're protecting us," Aelita whispers.
"In order to use us later," I remind Aelita with a shake of my head. I've seen too much of Xana's evil in the future to be taken in by the sight.
Jeremy chimes in, "Aelita and Lila are right. Odd, use them as allies to defeat the Marabounta. Cameron, after this mission I'm going to make a secondary weapon for you. You'll be Aelita and Lila's last defense, should Odd and the monsters not succeed."
"Got it, Einstein," Cameron says and readies his flute staff.
"Odd, Aelita, Cameron, Lila. Hang on. The cavalry is coming."
Watching Odd fight with the monsters, they all fire their attacks at the Marabounta. The Kankrelats focus their fire on any chunks of the colony that have been frozen to remove them from the battle. Meanwhile, the Bloks continue freezing any pieces of the swarm that they can.
"Laser Arrow!" Odd exclaims and continues firing at the Marabounta, the arrowheads able to devirtualize small clusters of spheres with each shot fired. Looking to the right of us, I spot a Krab and it fires its larger laser blast, able to clear out bigger patches as it stands protectively next to us. The Marabounta tries its best as it tries to get closer to us.
More Kankrelats arrive, bringing the total up to seven as they line up in a row. Charging their lasers, they fire at the Marabounta to eliminate a scattered amount and push the swarm back slightly. Hearing the sound of virtualization, I look up and see Yumi's avatar forming in the sky before she drops down and takes her fan out.
"Hiya!" she exclaims as she throws her weapon at a Blok, slashing the eye of Xana and causing it to explode.
"No, Yumi, not them," Aelita says.
The fan goes back to her, and she catches it while looking to us for an explanation.
"The Marabounta is the one you want to go after," I explain and point to the incoming swarm.
Turning to it, Yumi's eyes widen, "Eck. What is that horrible thing?"
"One of Jeremy's bright ideas," Odd deadpans, glancing over his shoulder for a moment before going back to firing his Laser Arrows.
"The world has turned upside down," Yumi says, shaking her head. Taking her fan, she jumps in the air and throws it at the Marabounta. It slices through the colony, devirtualizing a small divide among them before it comes back to her hand.
"How it's coming, Jeremy?" Aelita asks.
"I'll never make it. I really am the biggest loser ever to walk on the face of the Earth!" Jeremy laments.
Aelita replies, "You couldn't have known that my virus or Lila's link to Xana would be a problem."
"Yeah, she's right, Jeremy," I agree.
"A virus! What if-" Jeremy starts to ramble before going quiet, likely working vigorously to get his idea ready.
The others continue to protect us. Taking her second fan out, Yumi throws both at once and they slice right through the Marabounta. Odd and the Kankrelats start backing up as they fire their weapons. The swarm is getting closer and begins surrounding us again. The Bloks move towards Odd.
"Whatever you do, don't let them make any headway. Attack from the rear," Odd orders.
The Krab protecting Aelita and I fires at Odd's command. Odd and Yumi are now protecting Aelita and I. Cameron continues to use his flute staff to guard us.
"You're a really good combat general Odd," Yumi compliments.
"It takes strategy you know? The only thing stupider than a Blok is two Bloks," Odd jokes. Yumi throws one of her fans at the Marabounta, slicing through it again.
As she catches it, she urges, "Jeremy move it! Things are getting a bit out of hand."
The monsters and Odd continue firing their weapons, but the Marabounta begins to engulf two Kankrelats, devouring them as the rest of the line is forced to back up or meet the same destruction. Using both of his paws, Odd fires off his Laser Arrows.
"I think I've figured out a way to destroy the Marabounta. Odd, I've inserted a code for a deadly virus in one of your arrows. If you hit a sphere with it, the whole colony will be infected," Jeremy explains. Our eyes widen in surprise.
"But-" Jeremy starts to say, and Odd interrupts him.
Cocking his paw, he readies his Laser Arrow, "No sweat."
"Wait! It'll only work if you hit the first sphere! The one I transferred to Lyoko and created all the others. It's at the heart of the Marabounta."
Shaking his head, Odd asks, "Great, how am I supposed to reach the heart of the Marabounta? On a camel's back?"
The Krab makes a noise. Looking up at it, we see that it's looking at Odd.
"Odd it's the only way."
Jumping onto it's back with a feline leap, Odd stands on it and extends his arm.
"Good luck!" Cameron exclaims.
"Thanks! And charge!" Odd exclaims.
The Krab and Odd start making their way across the swarm, the Krab moving as fast as it can to avoid too many spheres clinging to its legs.
Good luck, Odd, I think.
Yumi throws her fan at the Marabounta, slicing it up again. Aelita and I start backing away. Stepping into something, we look down to a part of the swarm has grabbed our legs and is climbing up.
"Aelita, Lila!" Yumi exclaims. Turning to us, she takes both of her fans and begins running to us.
"Hiya!" she exclaims. Throwing both of the fans, they slice through the Marabounta. Getting free from its grip, Cameron helps us move next to the Bloks. Yumi runs to cover the side of the incoming Marabounta. Aelita rubs her leg in pain while I do the same to mine.
"You two okay?" Cameron asks.
"We'll be fine thanks," I reply.
Aelita suddenly whispers, "Oh no."
Turning to where she is looking, we see Yumi devoured by the Marabounta. She devirtualizes before being submerged, the spheres falling back to the swarm with nothing to hold on to.
The Marabounta starts getting closer to us. Stepping in front of us, Cameron begins to swipe his flute staff across the ground. Each piece hit the spheres quick enough so that the Marabounta doesn't have time to react and grab the weapon. He continues to do this, as we back up. Hearing someone land behind us, we don't have time to look before Ulrich jumps into the surrounded area as well. He starts using his katana to attack the Marabounta as well. Cameron goes back to using his flute staff, attacking each side of the spheres in a flurry of motion.
Cameron's moving so quick… it's a three-piece flute staff. But a staff isn't accurate… it's more like the flute is a triple staff! I think.
The boys continue attacking the Marabounta. Getting my hands ready for an ice blast, I look at the swarm, a stray thought coming to mind.
I wonder why my father never talked about Marabounta before to me? Was he so ashamed by this project? I muse. The Marabounta starts moving upward, stacking on top of each other in an effort to engulf the two close-quarters fighters. Cameron is trying his best, switching back and forth between each segment of his staff as Ulrich continues to slash the Marabounta. Looking around us, the Marabounta is covering almost everything.
We barely have enough room to move! I think, concerned. I know I'll just devirtualize and go back to Earth… but the fact that Xana is trying to keep me on Lyoko, means that he must need me to feel like I can trust him. But why would he want me to think that? I think.
A bright yellow light suddenly engulfs us. Using our hands, we shield our eyes from the intensity of it. Opening our eyes, we look across to see Odd smiling as it seems he's taken care of the Marabounta generator.
The remaining Kankrelat, Blok, and Tarantula all line up in front of us. Cameron readies his weapon, Ulrich readies his katana again, and I feel for the arrows in my quiver while reaching with my left hand for my bow. Strangely enough, they don't attack, and each lift a leg before curling it inward, the Tarantula bowing while the simpler monsters simply lean their bodies forward by bending their remaining front leg slightly.
What the heck?! I think. Xana has no emotions! He shouldn't be expressing himself like this! I think, surprised by his actions.
"Look," Aelita says. We all lower our weapons.
Ulrich keeps a tight grip on his sword, though, warning, "Don't buy it, Aelita."
"Ulrich's right. The Marabounta is gone, but Xana and his monsters are still our worst enemy. He wants your memory at all costs Aelita. And Lila… he might want something from you too."
The trio of monsters leaves with their usual mechanical gait. Odd joins us again as we look at them surprised.
Xana has Mary… what more could he possibly want from me? I wonder.
Later
In the woods
Yumi covers the manhole entrance. Odd, Aelita, Cameron, Ulrich, and I are next to Jeremy.
"Next time you plan on playing mad scientist, clue us in a little first. Okay?" Odd asks.
"Well, I really tried to. But you all of you had better things to do. Only Lila and Cameron showed up," Jeremy replies, looking at Aelita and Ulrich. He turns back to Odd, "But you're right Odd – because this time I was a big zero from start to finish."
"You found a way out of it Jeremy, that's what counts," Aelita smiles.
"Yeah, that's true Jeremy," I agree. Aelita and Jeremy smile.
Back at campus
Walking back on campus, we start making our way back to the dorms.
"Well if it isn't the whole crew," Sissi says from a bench with Herb and Nicholas standing behind her. She stops reading her magazine and looks at us snidely.
"Well, if it isn't the brainless frog face," Odd retorts.
"Haha. You crack me up," Sissi says sarcastically. Herb and Nicholas look at Odd, annoyed.
"By the way, Ulrich, are you feeling better after what happened at the pool?" Sissi asks him.
Ulrich grimaces, "Cool it, Sissi."
"What happened at the pool?" Cameron asks.
"Oh, uh nothing," Yumi replies unconvincingly.
In the stairwell
"So, what happened at the pool Ulrich? Come on tell us," Odd pleads.
Ulrich and Yumi turn around to exasperatedly reply, "Nothing!"
"What?" Odd asks defensively with a coy smile. Yumi and Ulrich ignore him and start walking up the stairs.
What exactly did happen? I think.
"I really wish I knew my flute staff was more like nunchucks. I would have used them sooner," Cameron sighs.
"It's okay, Cameron," Aelita reassures as we walk up the stairs. We'll come up with a good long-range weapon for you in time. Right, Jeremy?"
"Right," he answers.
"Hopefully, I'll get a chance to try out my weapon and powers more on the next mission! The ice powers are really awesome," I smile.
Cameron smiles back, "Glad you like them."
I do miss my magic spells though, I think.
That evening
In Lila and Aelita's room
Finishing today's entry in my diary while Aelita's in the shower, I close the book and lock it before putting it back in the desk drawer. I also see Mary's old container rolling around in there.
Xana… Even if you helped us today, I'll never forget what you did in the future or that you took Mary away from me, I mentally vow. I don't know what you want from me, but it can't be anything good.
I also look at my cell phone, where she usually dwelled during the day. Even though it's one of the few things I have to remember her by, I know that Aelita didn't get a cell phone during her rough adjustment period in this timeline since I was there for her. Thinking over all the times where it would've been handy for her to possess her own, I make my decision. It may be one of the few things I have to remember Mary by, but without her, it's just a cell phone that I can replace. And besides, I know the other's numbers by heart. I can just use Mary's old cell phone, put their numbers in, and set up a new voicemail.
When Aelita eventually comes back in her pajamas and toweling off her slightly damp hair, I get her attention, "Aelita."
"Hm? Yes, Lila?" she asks curiously.
"You don't have a cell phone, right?" I point out before holding mine out to her. "Here, it'll come in handy in case you're in trouble."
"Lila, I couldn't possibly-" she protests.
I interrupt her, "Take it. I can just use Mary's cell phone. Please, I insist."
Aelita hesitates before nodding and gingerly taking the item from my hand,
"Thank you."
"You're welcome," I reply with a smile.
Author's note: Yes Aelita is getting the cell phone later a bit later than the show. Originally I believe she received her own cell phone as a gift from the others. However in my version of New Order, that did not happen. That was my mistake.
This scene was written by AeroJester203. As always, please allow 1 – 2 weeks for updates. Things are getting busier and busier in my personal life now, so that will be the time frame for our chapters.
Don't forget to review!
LyokoWarrior1994