Author's note: I've seen the whole series more times that I'm comfortable admitting, both in English and French. I don't know what's with it, but even though it's full of inconsistencies and script problems, it did something that clicked with me. That said, there's a whole lot of things within the series that make me say "I would have made that differently". This project is the result of overthinking all of those things and attempting to portray them in a coherent story.

What to expect from this:

- This is an overall rewriting of the Code Lyoko series. It does not attempt to stay within the canon, other than in terms of character and setting coherence. Of course, it takes its main inspiration from it, and several scenes are directly based off of the source material.
- The story is more character-focused than action-focused. The most ammount of action probably happens outside Lyoko rather than inside.
- The story is mostly driven by dialogue and written in dialogue form; narrator descriptions are minimal.
- I tried my best to make all the story's aspects consistent. If you notice something inconsistent, please let me know and, if I agree, I'll acknowledge it and most likely correct it.
- I tried to make the main characters nicer and friendlier to each other, which is something I really liked on the first season and missed on the others.
- Most characters have evident differences w.r. to the originals: Jeremie and Yumi are more enthusiastic and emotionally mature; Ulrich is grumpier; Sissi, Nicholas and Herve are meaner; the last two are also taller and more intimidating. The ones more similar to the originals in terms of personality are Odd, Aelita and Jim.
- Aelita's arc is different. You'll notice soon enough.
- Lyoko is completely different, mostly for narrative purposes.
- No William (sorry, William fans).
- No return to the past. Although I acknowledge it as a cool narrative resource (Ghost Channel isn't possible without it), it has too many ambiguities for my taste.
- Narration contains nerdy computer and programming slang that is somewhat realistic. If you're a programming nerd like me, maybe you'll enjoy it.
- There's noticeable inspiration from the Garage Kids short.
- Warning for potentially awkward English (I'm not a native English speaker). Let me know if you notice something that could sound better.

Final note: There are at least two more chapters already written, but in Spanish. I'll upload them as soon as I translate them.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Code Lyoko series, nor part of it. This is a fan project.

CODE LYOKO: REBOOT

Chapter 1: The Hidden Computer

Jeremie and Ulrich are at the old factory for the second time, looking for scraps for their science project.

Jeremie: Hmm, I haven't been able to find more. You got any luck?
Ulrich: I found a loose metal tube, but nothing more.
Jeremie: Okay, there's only one place we haven't looked: the utility room.
Ulrich: Yeah, true, but I don't know if I'm into the idea.
Jeremie: You're never into any idea, Ulrich. I think we need to enter, glory awaits us!
Ulrich: I don't think an annual science fair is worth the looting of an entire factory.
Jeremie: Oh, come on! This factory has been abandoned for at least ten years now. Nobody will complain if we loot a little more.
Ulrich: (sighs) All right. Let's go then.

Ulrich pushes the door, then kicks it softly, making noise. The door doesn't move.

Ulrich: Brute force is useless against this door, it's totally still. If it moved a little, maybe I would've been able to open it.
Jeremie: It's okay… Looks like time has come for a little surgery.

Jeremie takes out a couple of lockpicks from his back pocket and proceeds to unlock the door. After about twenty seconds, he succeeds.

Jeremie: Done! (tries to push it but barely moves) Ulrich, help me push the door.

The two kids push the door, which requires a lot of their effort. They manage to open it about ten centimeters (four inches).

Jeremie: Let's use the tube you found as a lever.

The tube does the trick: they manage to move the door a little more, after which it loosens. They hear the noise of heavy objects falling to the ground.

Jeremie: Wow, the door was barred!
Ulrich: This means there might be someone inside. I don't like this, Jeremie.

Jeremie barely gets his head in and starts coughing and sneezing.

Jeremie: Agh, the room's full of dust! Hold on…
Ulrich: What's up?
Jeremie: It's full of dust! This means there hasn't been any movement here in a long time.
Ulrich: You sure? Don't forget the room was barred from the inside.
Jeremie: Pretty sure. Now… I'm not liking the next conclusion…
Ulrich: Why?
Jeremie: (covers his nose with his sweater and sniffs inside) No, doesn't seem like… (enters the room definitely, still sniffing) No, I think we're fine.
Ulrich: What are you trying to smell?
Jeremie: A stench. But it doesn't seem to be the case. Come in, the dust has settled. Look, there's the light switch!

Jeremie activates the large switch on the wall. The light from several gas lamps reveals the room.

Jeremie: Whooah! Ulrich, you've got to see this!

Ulrich gets inside.

Ulrich: Wow! This must be like paradise to you. It's pretty impressive, I don't deny it.
Jeremie: It's perfect! I've dreamed with a place like this for years! Come on, let's see what we can scrap from here!

The kids wander for a while, each on his own side, checking the artifacts displayed in the room.

Jeremie: Hold on, Ulrich! Looks like almost everything is interconnected. We'd better not touch anything yet.
Ulrich: Noted. Not that I fancy messing with all this machinery anyways.
Jeremie: Look, Ulrich! You're going to like this.

Ulrich reaches Jeremie.

Ulrich: Wow, a multi-monitor setting! Looks like a spaceship cabin.
Jeremie: Doesn't it? It's perfect for playing Space Vessels.
Ulrich: It's true! It's pretty dope.
Jeremie: Let's see, let's see… Where's the power source…

Ulrich searches for a few seconds and sees another switch in the distance.

Ulrich: There! In that wall over there.
Jeremie: Thanks, Ulrich! (approaches the switch and activates it. They hear a general sound, similar to a starting engine's, but softer)
Jeremie: Do you see something in the screens?
Ulrich: Yeah, they're on now! I think one of them has some text…
Jeremie: Coming!

Jeremie reaches the monitors and sits on the chair.

Jeremie: (looking at the left screen) "Enter command". Hmm, straight to the point. No information about the operating system or anything. This looks hand-made.
Ulrich: What does that message mean?
Jeremie: Well, obviously, that the computer is awaiting a command. I'll try a few.

CONSOLE:
In: help
Out: Unrecognised command.
Enter command.
In: info
Out: Unrecognised command.
Enter command.
In: cmd
Out: Available commmands:
- tm (task manager)
- si (system information)
- fe (file explorer)
- vi (visual interface)
- lyoko

Jeremie: Interesting! Nothing out of the ordinary, but pretty primitive all in all. This is definitely hand-made.
Ulrich: I don't understand any of these concepts. Do you?
Jeremie: Most of them, yeah. It's not that hard: the task manager lets you see the computer's active programs; the file explorer lets you access the computer's dr…
Ulrich: Don't bother, genius. I come here for scraps, not for computing lessons.
Jeremie: Okay, okay. What I don't get is this last command: "lyoko". I've no idea what it means.
Ulrich: Sounds like a word in Japanese, but I hadn't heard it before. It's similar to the word for "journey".
Jeremie: Well, well. Maybe it's just a name then. I'll see what it is.

CONSOLE:
In: lyoko
Out: Loading graphics…
Done.
Loading audio…
Done.
Loading saved state…
Done.

The main screen shows a mountainous landscape with polygonal graphics, with noticeable attention to detail in the large scale.

Jeremie: What on earth is this? Ulrich are you seeing this?
Ulrich: I'm looking, and it's awesome. Looks like a videogame map. Could this be the den of a frustrated developer?
Jeremie: It's possible. But I'd be surprised if they were using so much electronic machinery just for a videogame. Unless they were trying to push the technology further. Hmm…
Ulrich: Hey, here it says something about audio. I brought my earphones, should I connect them?
Jeremie: Okay! At least the plugs here look like they're of standard types. You should be able to plug them here (points to a small hole in the keyboard's table).

Ulrich connects his earphones. Jeremie puts on one one of the speakers and Ulrich the other one.

Jeremie: Hmm, sounds like wind between the trees. Pretty spot on for the shown landscape.
Ulrich: Yeah, sounds peaceful. (yawns) Jeremie, I think we should go back. I'm sleepy, and tomorrow we've got class with Ms Hertz.
Jeremie: Oh, but we're barely scratching the surface here! Although I guess you're right. It'll be until tomorrow then.

Suddenly, a female voice is heard through the speakers.

Voice: Hello? Is someone there?

The children get hugely startled. Jeremie almost falls of the chair.

Voice: Hello?

Ulrich instinctively unplugs the earphones. The boys look at each other for a few seconds. Then, Jeremie's phone starts ringing and the kids get startled again.
Jeremie looks at his phone: the caller isn't shown on the screen.

Jeremie: (answering the phone) Hello?

No answer.

Jeremie: Who's calling?

Silence. Jeremie hangs up.

Ulrich: Do you want me to turn this thing off?
Jeremie: Yes, please.

…

The kids are at the bridge, outside of the factory.

Ulrich: What the hell was that?
Jeremie: I've no idea. I don't know if I've ever been that scared.

Ulrich lifts the sewer cover. Jeremie goes first.

Jeremie: In any case, it was fun, wasn't it?
Ulrich: I don't know, I just want to go back to Kadic. I'll tell you tomorrow.
Jeremie: And we didn't get out empty-handed. We have an additional metal tube now.
Ulrich: That's true.

- END OF CHAPTER 1 -