"Well...no one ever said being a student was all excitement." Dan yawned as they saw through a science presentation.
"Our heating plant uses energy from our Nuclear reactor thanks to which we produce thousands of megawatts of electrical power! Here we have our cooling tower, here are the turbines, the alternator and finally the reactor. Any questions?" a scientist said.
Jeremie however was the only one to raise a hand.
"I was wondering if an atomic processor exists for fusing virtual particles and materializing them in the real world?" Jeremie asked.
"That is in the realm of science fiction, sorry." the scientist said.
"You'll have to excuse Jeremie. He is very bright but a bit of a dreamer." Mrs. Hertz said as some of the students laughed before the projector showing the blueprints shorted out. "It's all right everyone. Just a blown fuse."
The bell rang soon after, dismissing the students from their class.
"I dunno guys. I think XANA might have caused that blown fuse." Jeremie said.
"Don't get too excited. It was just a blown fuse." Pit said.
"Besides, fusing virtual particles and materializing them in the real world? Look, Jeremie, we've been through a lot of stuff, but if you go around with that in public, people will think you're crazy." David said.
"Oh, really? Well, you have the Royal Knights with you, don't you? They're digital beings, and they were able to materialize in the real world, were they?" Jeremie asked.
"That's...something completely different." David said.
"Ugh...so much science talk. Please distraction. You owe us." Kaminari said as Delmas approached them.
"Odd! I thought it over and you can form your group, the uh... Fox Trot Fanatics?" Delmas said.
"Yes!" Odd said.
"I thought you named it Pop Rock Regressive." Eijiro reminded.
"But it must be open to anyone who wishes to play, is that clear?" Delmas said.
"No problemo, sir." Odd said as Delmas left. "Let's hear it for the god of rock and roll. If we hurry, we can print up the leaflets before lunch, Jeremie."
"Eh...no. Rock and roll isn't my thing. Think I'll check out that fuse." Jeremie said.
"We'll see you later then." Yumi said.
"Well while he does that…" Odd said. "Time to get the band together."
It was later in the cafeteria that Odd was handing out leaflets all across the room.
"Odd! What are you up to now?" Jim asked.
"We're holding auditions for our band. If anyone's interested, we need a drummer." Odd said.
Odd began handing out flyers, but ignored Nicholas when he was passing by with Sissi. It wasn't until a bit after they were by the vending machines.
"Let's see now... Hot chocolate, no. Soup...No the soup tastes like dishwater." Odd murmured before Ulrich pressed a button. "Hey, you hit soup!"
"It's not that bad." Ulrich said as only a few measly drops fell out.
"This miserable machine is on the blink again." Odd said.
"Maybe it's another power failure." Jeremie suggested.
"Dang, we're getting these failures a lot these days, aren't we?" Mark pointed out.
"I'll keep checking things out." Jeremie said. "I know there's something about this connected to XANA."
"In the meantime, how about we start looking for a drummer for Odd's Band?" Ibuki asked.
"Can't you fill the spot?" Kaminari asked.
"Heck no, I'm no drummer!" Ibuki said. "Why don't we ask Craniamon?"
"Out of the question. If we bring him along, people will start getting suspicious." David said.
"Besides, we have a line up of good rockers." Odd said before they saw one of the participants in the gym at the drum set rapidly hitting the drums. "Uh...your style is...heavy metal right?" he asked as the boy shook his head yes. "Sorry but we're looking for something...traditional." Odd said as they left.
"Professionals huh?" Ibuki asked.
"Hey, it was just one guy." Odd said as a girl with red hair walked in. "Oh, Naomi. I didn't know you played drums."
"A little. I've always wanted to be in a band." she said starting to play. But the playing was very bad, like a cat screeching in pain.
"That was fantastic. I mean come on. We're not going to find anyone better." Odd asked.
"Are you serious?" Ibuki asked.
"Odd, you have to be kidding. There's still some people we haven't heard." Mark said.
"And I'll be honest here. I'm glad to have wings...but I'd have them ripped off just for the goddess to take away her drumming ability." Pit said. "Or give her it...either way, it's horrible."
"There's gotta be somebody that can carry the band and not bring it down." Ibuki sai. "A drummer's gotta lay the beat for the entire band to work with."
"Look...we'll keep auditioning people but I really think Naomi is the perfect drummer." Odd said.
"Uh huh...yeah...you're real interested in her drumming." Jiro said.
Jeremie on the meanwhile was scoping out a nearby pylon.
"Four thousand volts on a high voltage pylon. That's not right." Jeremie said before he saw the lights in his room shut off with his computer. He then ran outside the gates to see the power lines go ballistic. He then ran for the gym. "This is XANA's doing, I'm sure of it."
"What do you mean?" Luffy asked.
"The electrical current is cutting out all across the school and the pylon is way above the voltage limit. It could explode." Jeremie said.
"Why would XANA want to pull a stunt like that?" Ibuki asked.
"Your guess is as good as mine." Jeremie replied.
"Surprise." a voice said as a familiar trio walked in. "It's obvious that my friends and I aren't very welcome here, but my father did say that the band was open to anyone, right? Oh don't worry! I don't want to be in a group of deadbeat weirdos! But Nicholas just loves the drums."
"A drummer huh? What does he play? His mom's pots and pans? Show us what you got." Odd asked.
To everyone's surprise and amazement, Nicholas played the drums like a pro.
"Now THAT'S a Drummer! I say let him in the band!" Ibuki voted.
"I agree." David said.
"Now now, hold on. Sure we can say he's good but I think Naomi would really shine." Odd said.
"Oh come on, really? You're just saying that because you don't want anyone related with Sissi to be on drums. Look, let's just give Nicholas a chance." Jiro said.
"All I'm saying is this. If you want Nicholas as your drummer, then you better find another guitarist." Odd said.
"Uh...Odd. Jiro, David and Ibuki are guitarists. Better than you even." Dan said.
"What? That's a lie." Odd said.
"True. Ibuki's the ultimate musician, David has a band and pretty much everyone in my family is a musical prodigy." Jiro said.
"They got you there, Odd." Mark admitted.
"Also if you don't let Nicholas in, you'll have to find a new singer." Yumi said.
"Whoa, whoa. Let's all take a moment to…" Hope said before they heard trumpeting sounds before looking on stage to see Jim with a trombone.
"Would you guys need a slide trombone by any chance?" Jim asked.
"What?" Hope said.
Meanwhile, Jeremie had gone to the factory on his own and rang up Aelita.
"You were right Jeremie. Xana is awake. A tower was activated in the desert sector. I'm heading there now." Aelita said.
Jeremie then began to trace the current of electricity and to his shock found that it was heading for the nuclear reactor.
Back at the gym…
"So...what do you guys think?" Jim asked.
"How do we put this gently? See Jim, we're a rock band, not a military brass band." Ibuki said.
Yumi's cell phone then rang as she answered it. "Sorry Jim, were gonna have to finish your audition another time."
They quickly ran off and met up with Jeremie at the factory.
"Here's what XANA's up to. Once XANA gets enough energy into that pylon, he'll unleash it all." Jeremie said.
"Where exactly?" Ibuki asked.
"On the nuclear plant. The pylon can take one million volts. Once its all accumulated, it can blow everything up." Jeremie said.
"Nuclear sabotage? Isn't that a little over our heads? I mean if we fail on Lyoko, it's over for the whole region. We need to tell the authorities." Yumi said.
"If we do that, they'll have an inquiry and start asking questions. They'll pull the plug and XANA and Lyoko. And we'll lose Aelita." Miles said.
"We should still alert everyone though. I don't want thousands of people to die." Aelita said.
"Thank you, Aelita." Yumi said.
"I can help Yumi alert everybody." Hope said.
"Fine. You two can go tell the authorities but the rest of us are going to deactivate the tower." Jeremie said.
"Yeah, First time in Lyoko, I'm ready to rock!" Ibuki said.
Ibuki, Jiro, Kaminari and David along with Odd and Ulrich were the six chosen to enter Lyoko in two teams of three at a time. Ibuki was dressed in heavy metal style clothing in all black with a skull motif.
"Okay...all we gotta do is get Aelita to the tower. Shouldn't be too hard." Kaminari said.
"Uh...problem with that. I see Aelita ahead but...there's no tower." Ibuki said as they saw nothing but an oasis.
"What? That's impossible. There's no way. The map shows it's right there." Jeremie said.
"Maybe he's cloaked it to try and trick us." David said.
"Hmm." Jiro said plugging one of her earphones into the ground. "He's right. I hear movement on the other side. Meaning…" she said putting an earphone through the oasis. "This oasis is fake. Just some cheap optical illusion."
The group then fell through the illusion and found a hidden pathway to the activated tower.
"I'm detecting an unknown signal just up ahead. Be careful, we don't know what we're up against." Jeremie said.
"We can take care of anything thrown at us." Ulrich said.
They quickly jumped through the surface to find the tower sitting across from them with a young man sitting right in front of it.
"Well...I was wondering who would come to find me." he said. The man in question was wearing a blindfold and earplugs before removing them. "Well done. Now all you gotta do is get past me to reach your goal."
"Who's this guy?" Odd asked.
"Look... we don't have time to talk to some…" Kaminari said before the others looked shocked. "Huh? Something up?" he said before grasping himself in pain to see a hole in his arm and a gun set up near the side. "What the?"
"I said you had to get to the other side...but...I never said it was easy." the man said.
"Unbelievable… he's set up traps all the way to the tower." Jeremie said.
"That's not the issue. Kaminari didn't hear the bullet when it was as loud as can be. And he didn't even feel the pain." Jiro said. "That was cause of your power wasn't it?"
"Heh...well done. Let me tell you about myself. My name is Bat Rivers. I'm a member of the Lost Thieves, a gambler and my ability is Sensory Block." he said.
"I get it. You blocked out his sense of touch and hearing before the gun fired." Jiro said.
"That's right. Notice these?" he asked holding the blindfold and earplugs. "My ability without these...has a very short limit. But when I deprive my own senses...the limit improves greatly for a short while. In terms you can understand. I can block out the senses of anyone who gets within my range...starting where that gun fired."
"Thousands of people are going to die right now. This isn't some gamble!" Ibuki said.
"Oh you stupid girl...in real life...everything's a gamble." Bat said. "Now...who wants to try next? Oh...and I'd make your decision soon." he said pointing to the army of Crabs approaching.
"We don't have a choice. We'll have to take it." Ibuki said.
"Fine. I'll do it. I can take a few bullets." David said.
"We got a lucky challenger...let the game begin." Bat said. "(This is the guy...the one the boss told me about. David Ishihara. Yeah...even with his senses he barely shows any pain. That's why I came prepared. Moment he gets passed all the set guns...I'll take the one hidden in my back pocket and fire, devirtualizing him. Perfect plan.)"
"David...the moment you lose all your senses...just keep running and don't look back." Jiro said.
"Got it. Leave it to me." David said.
David slowly walked over to where the first gun had fired and started running.
"Now this will be...Ahh!" Bat shouted hearing a loud noise. "What is…"
"Yeah...you can cut off other people's senses...but not yours." Jiro said broadcasting the loud sound of her heartbeat.
"Damn it. She's taken my ability as a plus. I can always steal my own senses...but that would mean giving his back. I can't grab the gun either. If I let go of my ears...she'll rupture my eardrums." Bat muttered. "Damn it. I did it again. I gave away too much and they're playing the odds against me."
"Yeah...you really did. You messed up when we were picked." Jiro said.
"And another thing….you messed with the wrong heroes." Ibuki said as David made the crossing and socked Bat, knocking him out.
"Whew…That guy was a real piece of work. Thanks for the help, Jiro." David said.
"Not a problem." Jiro said as Aelita ran past them and into the tower and quickly deactivated it.
"Damn...guess I really screwed that up huh?" Bat groaned waking up.
"Yeah...you played and you lost." Jiro said.
"Yep. Still...that was kinda fun in some way." Bat said. "Guess we gotta go our separate ways for now." he said as he started to vanish.
"Hold it. The Lost Thieves goal...what is it?" Ibuki asked.
"Our goal? Huh...for now...guess we're just winging it." Bat smiled before vanishing completely.
"Huh?" they wondered before the RTTP was launched. It was later when they saw the newly formed band performing onstage with Nicholas as drummer and Jim playing trombone.
"Wow...they are really good." Kaminari said.
"Yeah. Hmm. You know, when we get back to UA, it'll be close to fall...meaning it'll be time for the cultural festival." Jiro said. "Maybe we'll do a band for that."