Chapter 3 Risk vs. Reward (Seeing is Believing)
A.N. – The name of this chapter will be revealed as you read the chapter. I can't say much about this to avoid spoilers. Just read on, so let's begin!
Short Summary – Aelita plans the next attack for Xana but doesn't tell Aelita what he is thinking of. With the stakes high, Aelita will have to try to stop the attack herself.
Disclaimer – I do not own Code Lyoko or the story idea. I am just a fan of the show and the idea was submitted by James Marshall.
Aelita was relaxing in the simulation bubble. Since time didn't affect Aelita in anyway, she spent most of her time here, so she didn't age much. The only time she would have to leave would be to speak with Xana or to head back to Earth. She didn't like manipulating her friends by allying with Xana, but she needed both parties to play out like they did in the past. If anything were to play out different, she would not get a second chance. The time for the second attack has come. She stepped outside.
"Come on out" Aelita said to nothingness, and Xana appeared.
"So, what do you have this time?" Xana asked her.
"Since, you can control electricity, try to do something with that."
Xana though about it for a moment. "Since my first attack failed, I must take a different approach. I have the perfect idea."
"What is it?"
"You'll see."
Xana disappeared and with that Aelita headed back to Earth. She needed to prepare to assist the warriors in order to continue to gain their trust.
Aelita was walking around the town today, but the weird thing she was noticing is that some of the buildings were dark, while others were lit. She didn't live in this point, but she knew that these businesses were still operational when she was materialized. This was mildly concerning so she asked one of the store owners what was happening.
"Excuse me sir, but what's the problem?" Aelita asks the store owner.
"Sudden power outage. I was just sitting in my office and then boom, power goes out. It's nothing serious, these kinds of things happen all the time, but this outage seems kind of strange. From the school to her, there is no power. I'm sure the plant will have it figured out soon" the store owner responded.
"What plant?"
"The nuclear power plant. They covert the nuclear energy there to power this whole city. Pretty amazing isn't it."
"Yeah, it is." Aelita turns away. "Except I know what's going on." Aelita whispers, remembering this attack from reading Jeremy's diary.
Aelita ran to where the school entrance is and saw the pylon overloading. This was certainly Xana's attack. Aelita though this was a little overkill and a little extreme, especially where Xana is concerned. She had to know what he was thinking. She found a secluded part in the forest and used the Lyoko door to reenter Lyoko.
"Xana, we got an issue" Aelita called him out.
"What? I'm in the middle of something" Xana told her.
"Doesn't this seem a bit overkill?"
"How do you know exactly what I'm up too?"
"I saw the pylon."
"You think I'm going to blow that up? Oh no, I'm thinking bigger."
"Let me guess, the nuclear power plant."
"Yes, everyone dies, and then you and I start planning how to get the keys."
"And then what? Enslave a dead race? Nuclear fallout doesn't go away as easily as you think. Considering what you're planning, this place and any surrounding area will be highly eradiated for hundreds of years."
"I think we're too deep now to consider backing out. The pylon is still gaining energy and now that is past 50% the energy cannot be disposed of easily. Plus, the warriors are on their way."
"You can't do anything about that?"
"Sure, but the thing will explode. There is no safe option here. Either way, people will die. But this way is more effective."
With that Xana disappeared and Aelita grunted angrily. She returned to Earth and had to think of a way to stop Xana's attack before it was too late.
Night has fallen and Aelita knew the pylon was close to hitting max, but now the city was in blackout mode. No one had any power at this point.
"I don't know how he is still gaining power, but my time is short. Xana is not going to give up easily." At this time she saw Yumi running back to the academy. "Hey, where are you going?"
"Listen, I'm not going to explain. Just leave this city if you can!" Yumi exclaims.
"Listen, don't ask how, but I know of the last attack. I remember everything, so tell me what is going on?"
"An AI called Xana is storing energy in pylon. Once he accumulates enough, he will release it onto the nuclear power plant."
Aelita confirmed what Xana said earlier. "Where are you going?"
"I'm going to try to convince the scientist. Maybe he can do something that if my friends fail, maybe we can still avoid the nuclear fallout."
"I'm coming with you. We'll discuss this later."
The two arrived at the principal's office and burst in. "We're sorry to disturb you sir, but it's really important. You've gotta trust us. I know it's gonna sound crazy sir, but please, hear us out, at least me. The nuclear plant is in danger of blowing up!"
They all stare at the pair.
"What do blow up?" Principal Delmas asks.
"It's true. That pylon outside the school is going to overload here soon and that energy will be redirected towards the power plant!"
"Impossible! We created the power grid. We know things are acting strange, but we are in the process of finding a solution" the scientist responded.
"Then find one. Maybe find a way to stop the power consumption. Cut power lines, shut down the facility! Anything!"
"We have complete control of the situation!"
"Apparently you don't!" Aelita interjects. "If you did, you would've found a solution by now! You are powerless currently!"
"That is enough!" Delmas speaks up. "Miss Ishiyama, your revelations are absurd! And I don't know who you are miss, but you are in the same boat! Now leave or I'll suspend you Yumi and have you arrested miss!"
"That was a bust" Yumi says.
"Yeah, didn't think that was going to work" Aelita adds.
"The only option we got now is to hope the electrical workers will believe us."
Aelita didn't think it was going to work, but she had to stick with Yumi in order to gain her trust enough for her to talk to the group. If Yumi can vouch for her, it might give her the 'in' she needs.
Yumi phones someone. "Jeremy, the principal and scientist didn't believe me."
Yumi and Aelita arrive at the school gates and see the electrical discharge is even more intense. "Oh, this is bad" Aelita states, knowing what Xana is planning.
"Hey! You two!" Yumi cries out tot the police. "Are you gonna do something about this?!"
"We are trying to do something about this. But this unnatural event is unlike anything we ever encountered before" the police officer tells her.
"Well, do something or the nuclear power plant will explode from this electricity!"
"Can you repeat that?"
"The voltage that's built up in this pylon is going to be used to blow up the nuclear power plant sir! How can you just stand there, do something, before it's too late, huh?!"
"How do you know all that?" The police obviously are unconvinced.
"This is going nowhere! There's only one person who can end this!" Aelita whispers as she sneaks off to the forest.
Once Aelita was clear of any prying eyes, she used the Lyoko door and reentered the world in the mountain sector. "Okay Xana, make yourself known!"
"What now?" Xana asks.
"End this attack now! You don't realize what you're doing!"
"Sure, I'll end it, blow up the pylon, and kill just as many as I would with the original attack."
The pylon was at 98%. Xana was ready to unleash it. He had a screen popped up to watch the progress on the attack.
"Please, you don't understand what you're going to do!"
The pylon reaches 100% and Xana disperse the energy. This made Aelita furious.
"You asshole! You killed us all!" She shots him with one of her energy fields.
Xana grunts in pain but seems almost like it was not fatal enough to kill him. "I like you girl. You got spirit." Xana was laughing in amusement.
"Listen, you know what I'm capable of. You want those keys, well you're gonna have to play my game too. Killing thousands won't help anybody."
"Fine. You win, but you're still mine." Xana deactivated the tower and the electricity sparkled out in front of the plant."
Jeremy's point of View
"What?! The tower just deactivated itself. It's almost like Xana gave up" Jeremy explains.
"The run the return to the past! We can't run the risk with how much Yumi has told everyone" Ulrich says.
"Right, return to the past now!"
Aelita's point of View
"Consider yourself lucky that I did this" Xana says.
"Thank you." Aelita turned around still clearly frustrated.
Xana grabs her arm. "Don't make me regret this or I will make you suffer."
"I'm already suffering."
Aelita was in the forest as the group was heading to the band performance. She hid around the trees and listened in.
"So, what do we do about this mystery girl? Do we recruit her or leave her out?" Yumi asks.
"I don't trust her. She may be Xana in disguise. Shows up where the attack is" Ulrich adds.
"But she did rescue you from the teddy bear. I don't see we have any reason not to trust her."
"Trust is a two-way street Yumi. We all need to agree with this. Just because you vouch for her doesn't mean we can recruit anybody. Plus me and Odd haven't even seen this mystery girl" Jeremy explains.
"Looks like I got more work to do to earn their trust. But my next target is Jeremy" Aelita says setting her sights on him.
A.N. – And thus ends this chapter. I switched points of view to show the side from the Lyoko Warriors. I won't do this every episode, just ones that could use a little more context. As we move deeper in, Aelita will soon be connected to the warriors and the context may not be needed anymore. PM me with story ideas if you have any! Don't forget to review with questions or comments! I will respond! Stay safe and healthy out there! As always, till next time! See ya! -lyokowarrior97