The first thing that was in order when Kirito and Asuna discovered that Sinon was on the Sunny, was give her a two-for-one specialty hug.
"That's sweet. You three must go way back, huh?" Kor said.
"Me and Sinon were once fighters in the same game." Kirito said.
"Yes. We played GGO once." Sinon said.
"GGO?" Hope asked.
"Gun Gale Online. It was a game focusing more on rifles and guns." Rainbow said.
"So like Resident Evil in a way, except more Sci Fi, right?" Mari asked.
"Pretty much sums it up, yeah." David said.
"Everyone. We managed to decipher the files." Camilla said as she and Vera came in.
"Cretaceous's work here, you've got it decoded." Damien said. "This is my dad's life's work."
"Uh...well Camilla might be over exaggerating. We were able to decrypt a few titles but not the main work." Tails said. "And it was by himself alone."
"Let me look." Jexi said looking it over. "Seems he spread his work around quite a bit. Ah!"
"What is it?" Ace asked.
"Look...third one from the bottom." Jexi said pointing to a title with the words Olympos XII on it.
"It's data on me and the others." Tsuki said. "What could this mean?"
"Well, he was travelling around for most of his life, so it's no surprise that he's gotten some information on it." Sayuri said.
"It could help us." Jexi said.
"Problem is...even with us researchers working together, this is very difficult to decipher. It's a coding technique I've never even seen." Tails said.
"I always find it so amazing that Cretaceous has been involved with something in every universe, every world. The man is somewhat of a legend." Hope said.
"He seems to have been quite the dedicated researcher. Travelling across the whole multiverse and every world like Hope said. Just who was he?" Ace asked.
"You kidding? He started 25 families and left them all! Including mine." Damien said.
"Did he have a reason why he left?" Spade asked.
"That's the thing, we don't really know much about him, even though his accomplishments are among the thousands. The man's still a mystery." Gemini said.
"Does anybody know of his current whereabouts or is he MIA?" Aya asked.
"MIA. He never stays in one place for very long." Sayuri said.
"Plus there is nothing on him that can be used for tracking. He's a mystery all right. One never to be solved." Sanji said.
"All we can do now is try and find someone to help decipher the rest of the files." Ace said.
"But speaking of Mysteries, what's Sinon even doing here?" Asuna asked.
"That's what I asked last night. I honestly have no clue how I came here. I remember getting on a train back to my world. I was playing GGO in my room, next-" Sinon began.
"Sinon, I'm afraid I'll have to be blunt about this. This is a redux, a retelling of our past adventure. Unfortunately, some members that joined Jexi's team after being freed by the kingdoms are here and you were pulled into it in their place." David said.
"Kingdoms? Wait...I think I do remember something. A large castle...made to look like some kind of ninja house...surrounded by lakes of poison." Sinon said.
"Ah! That's...that sounds like that Viperia place we raided with our Aqua." Bartolomeo said.
"Viperia, the Poison Kingdom. Were you their prisoner?" Mukuro asked.
"And while we're at it, did you happen to see anyone unusual there? Someone else that was held captive?" Tsumugi asked.
"Not that I remember. I think I was just outside of the castle. But I did hear voices from what sounded like a prison." Sinon said.
"So, someone is held captive there. But it's too soon to think about that. We can worry about that once we attack the place." Sectonia said.
"And if the original timeline is anything to go by, that's the last kingdom we attacked while we were here." Jexi said. "Well, to be technical, we only attacked Avia, the other two fell by unknown means...one of them being Aqua, Bartolomeo and Cavendish. But somehow I feel that's not gonna happen twice."
"Yeah, we'll have to dispatch the fighters ourselves." David said.
"Do you know where it's located?" Phantom asked.
"Settle down, settle down. There's no need to rush." Shuichi said.
"I merely asked a question, Saihara." Phantom said.
"Yeah, he's just curious." Erica said. "But I think we should focus on today's events at Kadic."
"Right. Do you guys remember what happened today, Jexi?" Roy asked.
"No way in heck. This is something that didn't happen. All I know is that today is Tuesday and while most of our people are in class, you guys are cutting to…" Jexi said before the ground shook. "Now what?"
They ran outside to see a large mech heading towards them. "Great...I forgot...he was in this past too." Nami said as Flux was seen in the seat.
"Seriously? This idiot?" Leviathan asked.
"Okay, Dimensional Heroes. I'm on a busy schedule right now so I'll make this fast...my father's research notes. I know you took them and now I want them." Flux said.
"Just try and take it." Aya said before slicing off the mechs legs. "Sorry, my hand slipped."
"Son of a bitch!" He said before it fell over as he rolled out.
"Okay...I'm gonna make this quick. It's already close to noon so…" Jexi said about to punch him before they were all suddenly back on the ship the same time at the morning. "What the?"
"What's going on? Why are we back in our rooms this morning?" Sinon asked.
"God dammit, we went back in time!" Saki yelled.
"Was that a Return to the Past? Why did it fire off?" Hope asked.
"I don't know. Think there might be something wrong here." Ace said.
"It's strange. There wasn't even an activated tower so a RTTP shouldn't have gone off." Kid said.
"Jeremie should be able to pick up on an activated tower if that's the case." Miu said.
"So what? We're just going to relive what we did this morning?" Ban asked.
"That's generally the idea. Which means we get to wreck Flux over and over again. Positive."
"We can't go through that continuously, though." Tapu Lele said.
"Which means we have to strike at the source. Miu, when XANA launches it again, head straight for the factory and see if a tower is up." David said.
"On it." Miu said.
Suddenly the ground shook again.
"I've got him." Flamberge said walking out as Flux's mech burst up out of the ground. "Here I come!" Flamberge said going for the legs with her sword only to see the mech undamaged. "Huh?"
"You fools think you're the only ones able to learn from mistakes. Thanks to this little do over...my mech is now immune to cutting attacks and fire!" Flux said.
"How about water then? Camisade Rasengan!" Ace called out as he dashed forward with a swirling orb of water as he hit the mech while a spout of water pierced through it.
"God dammit!" Flux shouted.
"Nice work Ace." Flamberge said grabbing Flux. "Now I finally get to punch you in the face!" she said before the dome of light spread before she was in her room. "What? Ah...what?!"
"Are you kidding me?! Again?!" Kagura yelled annoyed.
"I know it's annoying but...I think me and Jeremie figured out what happened. It's XANA. Some of the code we got from sector 5, it was trapped. XANA's using it to gain control to the RTTP program." Miu said.
"So we're just gonna live the same day over and over again, Groundhog day style?" Hope asked.
"Seems that way. But if it happens again someone's gonna flip." Aya said.
"Not true. Since we were scanned and so was Flux's group, and the barrier around the kingdoms, we're the only ones immune to the RTTP. Everyone else wouldn't notice a thing." Tails said.
"But some of us weren't scanned and yet we still remember. How?" Ryu asked.
"By the time we answer that, XANA is gonna launch the program again. We have to go to the factory now!" David said.
"Agreed. We need to go now." Sinon said before they ran outside before Flux blocked them.
"Ha! I got here early today. I am just loving this day. It's like god is allowing me to make up for all my past failures." Flux said.
"Shut up!" Fefnir yelled as he slammed the mech.
"Ah...so sorry. Thanks to yester...I mean today...man this is confusing. Point is, it's now elements, slash, bullet and blunt proof." Flux said.
"Oh my god. Okay… I'm just going to end this fast." Law said. "Room! Shambles." Law said swapping Flux with a passing seagull as Flux's mech fell into the ocean.
"It is however...too heavy to swim." Flux said groaning.
"We gotta hurry guys. The more RTTPs go off, the more Flux makes his mech stronger." Hope said.
"Less flapping, more running!" David said as they took off to the Factory.
"Okay...Jeremie already sent in Team Lyoko. We just need to…" Jexi said before the light dome spread as they ended up on the ship. "Oh that wasn't even the full time!"
"We got bigger problems!" Miu said looking at the monitor showing Aelita was the only one on Lyoko.
"This time, let's just power through to the factory. I'll just punch out Flux and end this before…'' Hope said only to see Sissi at the door instead. "Sissi...what are you...Ack!" he said as she grabbed his neck.
"She's possessed by XANA! I got her!" Saki said as she tackled Sissi off of Hope. "I got...ahh!" She screamed before being shocked as Sissi phased through her.
"XANA's getting stronger if he's possessing humans." Ichiro said.
"Stronger...that's it. The reason he's setting off all the RTTP's. He's increasing his strength with each one." Hajime said.
"Great...so we gotta worry about another RTTP?" Hope asked.
"Maybe not. I figured out how to block out XANA but I need time. Head on over to Lyoko." Miu said.
"Kirumi, teleport us to the factory. We don't have time to deal with Flux right now." David said.
"Understood. Teleport!" Kirumi called as the group sans Miu warped inside the factory.
"I'll go back-." Al said.
"We don't have time for this whole pick and choose thing! Just go!" Ty said just shoving Al, Zelos and Erica in. "Just send them in!"
"Understood." Vera said as she virtualized them.
"Hastega!" Al called out as she boosted, Erica, Zelos, and her speed before…
"Time Slow." a voice said as the effect was cancelled out as a robot with a clock on its stomach and two bells on its head stood there. "Sorry but you were .000001 seconds to late."
"Gospel!" Erica said.
"Uh...no. I work for Master Flux. I am TimeMan!" he said.
"Speaking of time, you two go on ahead. Aelita needs your help." Zelos said.
Erica and Al agreed as they ran off.
"So...Flux couldn't be here?" Zelos asked.
"No...he said he was getting sick of a repeated defeat. Not sure what he meant but he sent me in his place." TimeMan said.
"Ugh, I totally know what you mean. The one thing he can't stand is a bruised ego." Zelos said as he drew his sword.
"Heh. It's only fitting. On the day that time repeats in the Groundhog effect, I get a shot at the Dimensional Heroes. And with this constant repeat...my abilities over time are infinite." Time Man said firing laser Clock arrows at Zelos.
"Wind Blade!" Zelos called as gusts of wind appeared in front of Zelos, slashing ahead of his like blades.
"Time Slow!" TimeMan said slowing down time around them before firing the arrows at Zelos only for a couple to graze them before it resumed. "In a few seconds, the RTTP will launch once more. But you...you won't last that long." TimeMan said.
"Don't be so sure. My pals and I are more resilient than you think." Zelos said.
"Three...two...one…Time is up!" TimeMan said before nothing happened. "What? It's...it's late? It can't be late!" he said astonished.
"And now...I'll show you what I'm made of…" Zelos said as red angelic wings appeared on his back.
"Wait...I...I call a time-out!" Time Man said.
"Take this! Divine Judgment!" Zelos called as beams of light fall from overhead on TimeMan. "You know, Dave would've been a good match for you. Turns out he didn't even need to fight. Your time powers...couldn't even light a candle to his."
"So very true, right Dave?" Hope asked.
"Hell yeah. I would've used Zone Speed: The World and knocked him out before he even had a chance to move." David said. "Er… Sorry about the naming. I know you're still bitter about Dio."
"Guess...time is up!" TimeMan said before exploding into pieces.
"For you at least." Zelos said. "How's everything on your end?"
"Miu was able to stop the RTTP and Aelita's already deactivated the tower. I had Iida go ahead and take Sissi back to Kadic before she wakes up." Jexi said.
"Look, Jexi, about that Dio reference that David's using with Zone Speed: The World… does it bother you at all?" Hope asked.
"You know I've found closure with that. You don't have to bring up stuff like that." Jexi said.
"You sure? I mean...he was kind of like your adoptive brother for a time." David said.
"He was no brother. Never was… never will." Jexi said.
"Alright… let's just leave it there." Kendo said. "But we have to be careful. XANA's more powerful than ever after firing off consecutive RTTPs. The next attack he does will be no joke."
"I hear that. I'm just glad this day is FINALLY over." David said. "We knew we could count on you, Miu."
"Yeah...I know. I'm pretty amazing." Miu said.
On Flux's Ship…
"Grrrah! These mechs are….USELESS!" Flux said tossing plans to the ground.
"Don't worry...I'm sure the next one will…" Ian said.
"No! I am done with mechs!" Flux said opening a vault filled with guns. "Next time I enter the field...I'm doing things how they are supposed to."