"They got away?" Will V shouted. He had returned from his execution of Kurnip and was confronted with the news by Mackie about his failure to stop the escape of the prisoners and Caleb's breakout.

"Half of the onboard military were killed in the process, including Hannibal Dunbar." Mackie said. "Our medical staff had them cornered but then they just vanished."

"Where were they last seen?" Will asked.

"Medical Lab. Floor B, Room 8."

"Excellent." Will said smiling. "We have them right where we want them."

"What do you mean?" Mackie asked.

"If they aren't dead now, they're going to be." Will said. "Cancel any searches for the escaped convicts, they'll die at the hands of Zoltan and XANA before we know it."

"Sir, what are you talking about?" Mackie asked.

"Mr. Dietrich has notified us that his fleet is ready for commission." Will said ignoring him. "Set a course for the island of Ille Seguin, I'll handle the rest."

"Yes, my liege." Mackie said. He then turned to the officers on deck.

"Set coordinates to the given location." Mackie said.

The officers began typing on their respective consoles and the Artemis began to steer slightly so that it was facing The Wall.

"Coordinates set and ready for launch." One of the officers said.

Mackie then turned to Will who just nodded his head, giving him full consent to carry out the operation.

"Fire thrusters." Mackie said.

One of the officers just typed in a few commands. From behind, a large blast of blue energy fired from one of the large vents. Next to it on both sides, two other blasts of energy fired as the Artemis began to slowly move forward. Alongside the immense flagship were a dozen other slightly smaller warships, armed and ready for the impending invasion of South Paris. With his arms folded and with a stern look on his face, Will just stared out into the vast city, ready to relish in his seemingly imminent victory.

Meanwhile, Olivia woke up to find herself lying on the ground in an unfamiliar location. Her vision clearing, she got up, looked around and couldn't believe what she saw: She was inside a large glass-domed area. Outside was a blue void filled with many large columns and lights and surrounding the dome were evenly spaced strands of light, like spokes on a wheel, with strange looking objects traveling across them.

'The digital sea…' Olivia thought to herself.

"So where are we now?" Olivia heard a voice say.

She turned and saw Isaac and Caleb, the latter still unconscious, next to her in their Lyoko garb. Olivia looked and saw that she too was dressed in her virtual outfit as well.

"I don't know. It certainly doesn't look like Lyoko." Olivia said. "It looks like a transport hub."

"Transport hub?" Isaac asked. "But to where?"

Isaac then paused as something caught his eye. From the glass floor, Isaac could see a large rift in the sea below. Looking closer, he saw that the rift showed a view of the real world; he instantly recognized it as the view from on top of Zanbato Tower.

"I don't understand." Isaac said. "What am I looking at?"

"Those strange lights above the tower at night? It's a portal." Olivia realized.

"What would Will want with a portal to the city and a virtual transport hub programmed into the Artemis?"

"I don't know and I don't like it." Olivia said. "We have to get to Lyoko; one of those transports should take us there."

"Over here." Isaac said motioning towards a platform. Olivia looked and saw the word 'Lyoko' printed above the gateway.

"And it looks like that transport hasn't left yet." Olivia said. "Grab Caleb and let's go."

"On it." Isaac said grabbing his unconscious friend and stowing aboard the transport.

Although they were right on top of it, the transport was covered in a force field, protecting them from the effects of the digital sea. As the transport moved across the track, Isaac went over to try and help his friend.

"Oh Caleb." Isaac said. "Why didn't you listen to me when you had the chance?"

"You seem to have a strong bond." Olivia said.

"Why wouldn't we?" Isaac said. "I saved his life."

"What do you mean?"

"After his parents died, he ran away to the south." Isaac said. "I found him lying on the ground after a fight with a local gang; he seemed to have been that way for days. I took him in, my father fed him and dressed his wounds and Redmond and Danny taught him to fight. Eventually, he rose up and overthrew the Supreme Prince, becoming the new strongest man in South Paris."

"And you fought alongside him still?" Olivia asked.

"It was a blood pact; a life debt if you will." Isaac said. "I saved him, so he offers me his friendship and protection, more so than he did Redmond and Danny."

"Wow…" Olivia said.

"Ugnn…" They heard a voice groan. They turned and saw that Caleb had regained consciousness.

"Caleb, you're alive!" Olivia said.

"Thank the heavens." Isaac said. "And still in one piece."

"At least until I'm back on Earth where I'm blind and crippled." Caleb said.

"Well, they have treatments for that." Olivia said. "Thank the Patriarch for industrialization."

"Where are we? This isn't Lyoko." Caleb said.

"Not yet." Isaac said. "But once we get there, we're gonna stop XANA and save Paris."

"Good." Caleb said drawing a knife. "I'll finally give that Zoltan a good thrashing."

"Hey, what's going on?" Isaac asked.

Indeed, the ambiance did begin to change. Instead of the clear blue sea that surrounded them, a menacing, reddish fog now clouded the way.

"We must be getting close." Caleb added.

True to his suspicions, the smoke cleared to show a large bluish platform. Sitting in an ornate throne in the center was a figure they recognized as XANA, complete with the familiar visage of the Eternal Patriarch, William Dunbar III. On his sides were Appius and Zoltan; it was as if they were eagerly awaiting this transport's arrival.

"What could they be wanting?" Olivia said.

"Hey, look at this." Isaac said pointing to a glass window on the transport.

Isaac then wiped the condensation off the window as Caleb and Olivia took a look. The trio then jumped back in surprise upon what they saw: A human figure with an emaciated and tired face, mouth agape and unable to move save for his eyes darting side to side.

Just then, the transport came to a full stop and lowered to the ground. Ducking to the other side so that they wouldn't get noticed, the three looked as the transport opened up and Appius and Zoltan forced several other humans out and brought them before XANA. Once in his vicinity, XANA pulled out his sword and plunged it into the ground. Immediately, a red smoke swirled around the humans and fully covered then for a good ten seconds. Once the smoke cleared, Olivia looked in shock as the figures were now replaced with heavily armored troops in sleek, black helmets, carrying rifles and strapped with bandoliers and explosives. Immediately, the section of the platform carrying the newly made troops was lowered down.

Olivia peered down the edge of the platform and her eyes widened at what she saw: There below her stood nearly one million soldiers, lined up and awaiting orders. More than Paris could defend from; more than it would take to conquer the world. Olivia realized what Will's ambitions were.

"What the fuck is he doing?" Caleb asked confused.

"Will's creating an army." Olivia said shocked. "He's taking prisoners and using them as his new tools for world domination. That's why he created XANA. That's why he wanted Lyoko."

"So the portal…" Isaac said. "Oh no. We gotta get going."

"We only have one option now and I know nobody is gonna like hearing it, but we have no choice."

Isaac and Caleb just stared in confusion.

"We have to destroy Lyoko."

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