Chapter 19 Claustrophobia

Disclaimer – I do not own Code Lyoko, the plot, or the story idea. I am just a fan of the show, the plot is owned by the creators, and the story idea was submitted by LittleRedRebel.


"Aelita, do you read me?" Jeremy calls out, in his room talking to Aelita…basically, his whole life is in his room.

"Yes Jeremy, hi. All alone? Where are the others?" She wonders.

"They're out playing soccer. I was feeling tired" Jeremy explains.

"Tired? That's interesting. Jeremy, how do humans know when they feel tired?" Aelita is sitting on a plateau in the desert sector.

"Well, you feel like you don't have any energy, like having weak batteries, and so we rest a while" Jeremy tells her.

"And is resting something you like doing?" She asks.

"I used to find I really boring, but ever since I met you Aelita, it's such a pleasure hanging out together" he admits.

"It is for me too Jeremy."


Out on the field, a soccer ball sits on the field. Odd kicks it and Sissi watches as Ulrich moves with the ball. "Hey Ulrich, pass it over here!"

"You won't get by me!" Herb stands in Ulrich's way. They stare at each other intensely, Yumi and Nadia both in the stands. Ulrich kicks the ball up to his shoulders, rolling it. Ke kicks the ball up using his knee and then his foot, the ball soaring into the air. Sissi gasps, Herb and Odd staring. Ulrich jumps up, kicking the ball.

"I don't believe it! Ohh!" Sissi exclaims. Odd jumps up, head butting the ball with his head. It flies all the way to the net, Herb unable to catch it. "Oh no!"

"Another goal! 7 to 1, this is turning into a rout" Odd cheers, helping Ulrich to his feet.

"It sure is" Ulrich comments.

"Okay guys," Yumi stands up. "It's getting late. I've gotta head for home."

"Okay, so long Yumi," Ulrich waves at her. "See you tomorrow."

They smile at each other before she leaves. Nicolas kicks the ball dejectedly.

"You guys are so bad!" Sissi scolds. She picks up the ball, throwing it.

"What a couple of losers." Someone catches the ball, grabbing their attention.

"You guys need a little help?" A boy with dark brown, light orange shirt, green sweater, and blue pants asks.

"Who are you, huh?" Nicolas demands.

"Theo, I'm new around here. I just moved into town," he explains.

Sissi walking up to him, "Wow, I like this school already." She blinks, blushing. Ulrich, Nadia, and Odd give each other teasing looks. Herb looks unhappy.

"Hi, my name is Sissi," Sissi tells him. Theo raises an eyebrow, humming in approval. "And these two friends if mine are Herb and Nicolas, the worst soccer players who you ever saw." The tow frown as Theo holds out a hand.

"Nice to meet you." They don't respond, so he lowers his hand awkwardly.

"Odd's the name," Odd decides to break the tension. "He's Ulrich" he points to Ulrich.

"Hi Theo, welcome" Ulrich waves. "This is our other friend Nadia."

"Welcome to Kadic Theo" Nadia greets.

"Do you play?" Odd kicks the ball to Theo.

"Sure do, let's go. Which team should I play with?" He kicks the ball with his knee.

"We don't need you, okay?!" Nicolas tells him harshly.

"I thought you were down 7 to 1," he looks at Sissi. "What do you think Sissi?"

"Why not? Yeah, okay," she agrees, her two cronies slumping. "It sure can't get any worse.

"Nadia, you want to play?" Odd asks.

"I guess, but don't expect me to shine" she walks over.

Theo clears his throat and steps back. He prepares himself before kicking the ball.


On Lyoko, Aelita enters a way tower. She goes to the side and spreads her arms. She lets herself fall, traveling to another tower. She lands safely. "Alright Jeremy, I'm here" she exits into the forest sector.

"Okay, we're looking for the tower where part of the scanner programs are stored," he tells her. "It's at 30 degrees north Aelita" Jeremy explains.

"I'm on my way" she starts walking.

"As soon as you're connected, I'll download the data that you find. It'll help me understand materialization better."


Odd kicks the ball to Ulrich. He kicks it back. "Okay guys, we've gotta stop. It's time for dinner" Ulrich starts walking.

"9 – 10. We beat 'em. What do you think princess?" Theo brags.

"Hey, he saved you guys from humiliation" Odd jokes, Herb walking past him.

"Who cares about soccer? It's a dumb game" Herb says in resentment. Ulrich raises an eyebrow, shrugging at the two.

"If you ask me, Herb's got it in for Theo…" Odd points out.

"I'm sure Ulrich feels better with Theo around, Sissi can stop annoying him and our group" Nadia adds.

"Life without Sissi is a dream. Sadly, I don't think will come true" Ulrich replies.

"Say Nadia, you didn't do too bad. If you were more accurate, you could have made a goal or two" Odd comments.

"Sports and athletics are not my thing. I'm open for trying new things, but honestly, I'm more of a computer girl" Nadia replies.

"Like Einstein?"

"Not Jeremy level, but I wouldn't mind an IT level, kinda like my mom."

The bell rings for dinner, everyone walking to the cafeteria. "Great, peas and carrots for the umpteenth time" Odd complains.

"It's a school cafeteria Odd. Not a five star restaurant" Nadia tells him.

"Well a little more of a selection wouldn't hurt. It's like being in prison."


Sissi slurps her drink. Herb and Sissi hold hands. "Sissi…uh…" They get closer, but it was all in Herb's head. He laughs nervously. In his dream, they're about to kiss, but Theo shows up.

"Hey!" Herb shakes his head, turning to the boy. He's holding his dinner tray. All of it was a dream…

"Hey, why don't you eat with us champ?" Odd offers, sensing the tension between him and Herb. Theo holds the chair next to him away.

"Thanks a lot, but I can't abandon my team." Sissi giggles as he approaches her.

"Hey, stop trying to worm your way in!" Herb stands up, getting in his face. "You're not in our group, so go take a hike!"

"Well, yeah, I know Herb, but I'd love to join your group, or should I say Sissi's group, is that it?" Theo sits next to Sissi. "Well, what do I have to do?"

"Well, you've gotta pass our initiation test and they're really dangerous and hard!"

"Hmm" Sissi eyes him.

"Much too hard for you!" Herb finishes harshly.

"Initiation tests?" Theo raises an eyebrow. "Tell me a little about them" he leans towards Sissi. Herb growls at how close they are.

"Test number one! Uh, you have to clean all the toilets with a toothbrush!" Herb declares.

"That sounds like a pretty dumb test. It's like the kind they give to ten-year olds at summer camp, so I'll pass on that one" Theo shrugs.

"Okay, since you refuse to pass our tests, ciao!" Herb shows him his hand.

"Hey," Sissi speaks up. "Since when do you decide on our tests? I'll tell you what you have to do. You're gonna mummify the skeleton we use in the science room."

"Okay, now that sounds cool!" Theo comments, Nicolas laughing. Herb glares at him and he stops. Herb pouts at him.


"Jeremy, did you manage to gather all the data?" Aelita wonders. Jeremy didn't go to dinner because he's too focused on gathering some more information on materialization.

"I did, but it won't do any good. Not unless I can pirate the access codes for the scanner program" he answers. Odd rubs Kiwi's belly.

"But that's almost impossible!" Aelita says. Odd turns to them.

"No Aelita, I think it can be done" Odd goes back to rubbing Kiwi's belly. Jeremy starts typing as Ulrich looks around. He sees Herb knocking on Nicolas' door. He smiles, hiding as the two leave.

"Okay, they've left their room" he reports to Odd.

"Let's hope Nadia gets back soon" Odd responds as a knock is heard.

"I got one pillow sheet for you scheme" Nadia tells him.

"Excellent. We'll tell you all about Operation Theo later!" Odd calls out as he runs out with Kiwi. Nadia follows and Ulrich closes the door.

"Here I go!" Ulrich says.

Aelita giggles as Jeremy turns around to her.


Theo runs to the science building, paper towels in his arms. Herb and Nicolas peek out, hiding from Jim as he walks by. They check to make sure he's not looking before taking off. Ulrich, Nadia, and Odd peek from the cafeteria, Kiwi with them.

Theo starts mummifying the skeleton, Herb and Nicolas watching him. He wanted to get Theo in trouble so he could get as far away from Sissi as possible. "Still a long way to go" Herb and Nicolas snicker, Herb pulling out his phone.

"What are you gonna do Herb?" Nicolas asks.

"I'm gonna warn our old friend Jim. They'll kick Theo out of school, and we'll be home free!" They suddenly hear howling and Herb drops his phone.

"What was that weird sound?" They turn to the doors, shivering in fear. The sound repeats. Suddenly Kiwi, dressed as a ghost, run up to them. They scream, running away. Kiwi runs back to the doors, the three friends giggling. Ulrich opens the door for him.

"Nice work, little ghost" he comments.

Theo opens the door. "What are you guys doing here?"

"It's okay. We were gonna tell you" Odd starts as Ulrich holds Kiwi. Theo looking unamused.

Meanwhile, Xana has woken up and pulsations can be heard in the forest sector. Xana uses one of his ghosts to infect the school's electricity system. The ghost leaves, infecting the cafeteria…


The next day, the outlets spark. Yumi drops her fork, and she picks it up. While she's still near the floor, she sees Theo at Sissi's table. "Hey, things look serious between Sissi and Theo."

"They sure do" Odd comments as Jeremy stands up.

"You finished lunch already?" Ulrich asks in surprise.

"No, but I wanna see Aelita for a while before class" he starts to walk.

"I wouldn't mind either. We'll go together, okay?" Yumi stands up.

"Leave your trays. It's a shame to let good desserts go to waste" Odd requests.

"Odd, don't you ever stop eating, huh?" Jeremy wonders as he and Yumi leave, the outlet behind the counter sparking.

Odd hums happily as he eats his dessert. He takes a big bite out of his, Ulrich and Nadia staring at him. "Odd, you're gonna explode if you keep this up" Ulrich jokes. Odd dismisses him, sipping his drink. He wipes his mouth.

"I know some people say, 'never change,' but don't you think you should slow down?" Nadia questions.

"Why? Is food going to go extinct?" Odd says as he slides a second tray to him.

"No, but I do fear the figure of yours won't stay in a few years."

The outlets spark and explode, Odd shouts in surprise.

"Hey" Ulrich notices it too and Odd shrugs.

"Did the outlets have a surge?" Nadia asks.

"For them to explode? They would need a lot of volts."

"Xana?"

"Which sector are you in now?" Yumi wonders.

"I was just in the forest, and I thought I sensed some pulsations, but I'm not sure" Aelita answers hesitantly.

The outlets let out some smoke, Odd staring at them. He turns to Ulrich and Nadia. "Looks a lot like Xana. Nadia may be right."

"I'll call Jeremy" Ulrich dials him.

Jeremy answers his phone. "Jeremy, weird things are happening in the lunchroom. Could be Xana's doing."

"Why? What's the problem?" Jeremy asks.

"There are short circuits everywhere." Jeremy thinks on why Xana would do that before hanging up.

"Aelita, could you check thinks out on Lyoko?"

"I will" she nods.

"I'll launch a scan to see if Xana has activated a tower" he presses enter, the scan beginning.

The lights short circuit as well. "Let's get out of here" Odd suggests, feeling a little uneasy. He runs to the door, but when he touches it, he receives a powerful electrical charge.

"Odd!" Ulrich shouts. He pushes Odd away from the door and he rolls onto the floor, unconscious.

Nadia bends down to him, Ulrich and Theo look at her. "He's still breathing, but he took a lot of volts."

Aelita walks slowly, hearing the pulsations. "Oh no…I wasn't mistaken."

The scan has finished. "Tower localized." Aelita appears on his screen.

"Jeremy, there are very strong pulsations in the forest" she reports.

"Yeah, the scan confirms it. And Nadia, Ulrich, and Odd are trapped in the cafeteria," he turns to Yumi. "Yumi, I'll head for the factory. Warn the principal and then meet me over there." She nods in understanding.

The principal is writing when Yumi knocks on his door. "Come in."

"Uh, can I see you for a minute sir, please? It's important." He furrows his eyebrows.

Jeremy runs down the tunnel from the boiler room. When he gets to the sewers, he takes his scooter through the tunnels. He climbs the ladder.

Jim, the principal, and Ms. Hertz run to the cafeteria after Yumi warned them. Jim tries to open it, only to be shocked. Ulrich, Nadia, and Odd watch him be flown across. "Did you see that?" Ulrich asks.

"Jim! Are you okay?" Ms. Hertz wonders. "Oh Jim, say something."

"Are you alright?" Principal Delmas questions. "We've got to cut the current now!"

Yumi runs into the park.

Jeremy slides to the computer in his chair.

Ulrich prepares to throw a chair. Sissi is on the phone with her father. "Hello, is that you dad? We don't know what happened."

"Move!" Ulrich runs forward.

"There's electricity everywhere. We're trying to break a window to get out." Ulrich throws the chair, bit it goes flying onto the table.

"I wanna get out!" Milly cries. Nadia calls Jeremy.

"Nadia, what's going on?" He asks.

"Xana's trapped us in an electrified prison. No one can get in or out" she reports to him.

"I'll send Yumi to Lyoko."

"We'll try to hold on. Just be quick, I don't think trapping us was Xana's only plan."

"Yumi, hurry up. We don't have a lot of time."

"I told the principal. I'm in the passage in the park now" she pants as she reaches the secret entrance. She pulls the manhole cover and slips inside.

"What is this?" Jim returns, the electricity surrounding the place. "I just cut all the power!"

"With no effect at all" Ms. Hertz finishes.

"The firemen are on their way" Principal Delmas says, just getting off the phone with them.

Yumi grabs her skateboard. She runs and throws it, jumping on it and speeding off.

"I have no idea what Xana wants to do this time" Jeremy tells Aelita.

"If Nadia's right, Xana has something else planned. What about in town? Have any of the other buildings been hit?"

"No, that's why I'm worried" he answers. Aelita nods, equally as worried. Yumi crawls onto the bridge, running across it. She jumps down using the rope and pushes the button. The elevator descends down into the scanner room.

Herb hides under a table, looking afraid. Theo places a hand on his shoulder. "We'll get out of this, don't worry Herb."

"Let me go, will ya?!" Herb pushes Theo off him, turning away. Tamiya hugs a crying Milly.

"Everything will be okay" she tells her.

"Help is on the way" Sissi tells them.

"There, you see?"

"We could try the roof" Odd suggests.

"It's probably the same" Theo dismisses.

"It's like an inescapable jail cell" Nadia adds.

"It's worth trying" Odd grabs a chair.

"Out of the way!" He declares. He throws the chair, but it comes crashing down on the table, breaking it.

"Nadia is right. It's like a prison!" Theo exclaims, Tamiya looking nervously.

"But how come Xana set his sights on the cafeteria? It makes no sense at all. He can't gain access to the city through the school…" Jeremy talks to Ulrich.

"He probably has other ideas" Ulrich suggests.

"Wait, I think I understand. It's the five of us he's after" Jeremy theorizes.

"Us? You sure?" Ulrich wonders, looking outside.

"Yumi and I left lunch before dessert. If not, we'd have all been there!"

Ulrich touches the window. "Ow!" He waves his hand.

"He wanted to catch us all together" Jeremy finishes.

"What's his backup plan? True, he only has Yumi, but if Aelita were to succeed on her own, he must have a way to deal with us."

"Keep an eye on it and play for time. Yumi's gonna need every second to protect Aelita."

"We'll do the best we can."


On Lyoko, Aelita walks until she comes to a stop, the pulsations underneath her feet. "Jeremy, the pulsations are really intense her. The tower can't be too far."

"Stay where you are. I programmed the position. Yumi's on her way."

The elevator opens to the scanner room. "Transfer Yumi." Jeremy starts up the process. Yumi steps into the scanner. "Scanner Yumi." She closes her eyes to let herself be scanned. "Virtualization." She lands in the forest sector safely, appearing right behind Aelita.

"The pulsations radiate in two directions." She explains.

"Jeremy, any news?" Yumi asks.

"Give me a little time to analyze the terrain. I'm getting contradictory signals. Impossible to tell which path is the right one!" He tells them.

"Well, we have no choice. Each of us will explore one path. We'll stay in contact via Jeremy. Let's go!" The girls separate, Aelita taking the left path and Yumi taking the right path. Aelita suddenly stops, looking at the wires.


In the electrified cafeteria, they've made a tower of tables, for more support if the ceiling caves in. "You see? This way, even if the walls cave in, we'll be safe," Tamiya says to Milly. "The roof won't fall on top of us." Something sparks behind the counter, glass breaking and pipes jumping. Some doors open, the wood flying towards Sissi. She gasps in surprise, unable to move due to shock.

"Watch out!" Theo pushes her put of the way, making Sissi drop her phone.

"Sissi, what's going on? Answer me, child! Sissi!" Theo and Sissi stare at each other.

Aelita runs as fast as she can, Yumi turning a corner. "Jeremy, how are things going with Aelita?"

"Nothing to report for now and no monsters in sight. It's really strange…it's too easy" Jeremy replies.

Aelita continues running down the path but stops as there's a hole in front of her. She looks up. "Should I go on?"

"I'll be back in 30 seconds." Jeremy takes a look. "Analysis of the surroundings…"

"I GOTTA GET OUT!" Herb runs around. "I gotta get out!"

"Wait, no, don't Herb! The electricity, it's live!" Theo grabs Herb's arm before he can touch the door.

"Leave me alone!" Herb snatches his arm back.

"Take it easy Herb. Calm down," Sissi stands up, walking up to them. Herb just stares at her with clenched fists. "You've got to." Odd and Nicolas watch them. "You understand." Sissi holds his hand, placing her other one on top of his. Herb says nothing, the thought of her and Theo still linger in his mind…

Yumi continues running before coming to a dead end. "I'm stuck." She turns around, seeing a hollow log. She looks down it. "This tunnel has got to lead somewhere."

"It's gotta lead to the path that Aelita took" Jeremy explains, seeing that the tunnel leads to the hole Aelita's at.

"Here I go" Yumi crawls in.

"Jeremy" Aelita calls out.

"Hold on Aelita. Aelita, two monsters are on the way. You're surrounded by two krabs! Run!" Aelita turns around but sees nothing. "It's impossible Jeremy."

"I cut off all the wires chief" a firefighter reports but there's no success with cutting the current.

"I doubt that. Nothing is changed."

Sissi looks up at the electricity, turning back to her phone. "Have the fireman really tried everything, Daddy?"

"They're going to keep trying dear" he assures her. Theo bends down to her.

"We'll be okay, you'll see." He places his hand on top of hers.

"Jeremy, have you got anything" Ulrich asks.

"I'm trying Ulrich!"

Nadia takes the phone. "Then try harder! The longer you take, the more time Xana has to collapse the roof on us. He's getting desperate. He wants us gone!" She hangs up.

Yumi stops running. "Aelita, can you hear me?" She gets no response, continuing down the path. "Oh no!" A krab approaches Aelita, blocking her way. Aelita closes her eyes.

"Stay out of sight Aelita! Yumi's almost there!" Jeremy warns. Aelita uses her creativity power to create a log in the hole. The krabs approach as Aelita lifts herself on the log.

"Yumi will get here in time. I know she will. I have faith in you Jeremy…"

"Oh no!" Jeremy shouts.

"I have faith in you" Aelita repeats, both krabs firing at the same time. Yumi jumps as she arrives, pushing Aelita out of the way just in time. The two krabs take each other out. Aelita looks down at Yumi as they land on a different path.

"That's what I call getting carried away" Yumi jokes, Aelita giggling. Jeremy chuckles lightly, smiling at the fact that Aelita is safe.

"Sissi darling, you mustn't give up hope." The firemen have decided to go with the roof. "The firemen are going to make an opening in the roof." He turns around to see the fireman climbing back down, since the roof is too hot.

The students look up in worry, the ceiling sounding like it was about to cave in.

Yumi and Aelita run, not noticing another krab approaching. It jumps over the gap, walking down the path. "There's gotta be a passage leading to the path that goes to the tower." Once again, they're faced with two different directions.

"There!" Aelita points to a ramp.

Odd looks up at the roof as everyone else is under the fort of tables.

"It's all over now!" Herb leans towards Theo.

"Thanks for what you did before. I was pretty awful to you" Theo gives a little smile.

"Jeremy, this is urgent! Come on!" Ulrich exclaims, starting to panic a little.

"They're almost there," Jeremy reports from his headset. "Watch it! Third krab on the way!"

"There it is," Yumi stands in front of Aelita, the krab approaching. Aelita steps forward, but Yumi stops her. "No, leave him." She opens her fan. "Go on now, hurry. Don't worry about me." Aelita turns and runs for the tower. Yumi runs forward and jumps from the laser, throwing her weapon. She hits the armor, but not the eye. She catches her fan, landing on her feet.

"Good shot Yumi, but he's only damaged." The krab fires again, Yumi absorbing the laser with her fan. "You took 20 life points from him. One more shot and he'll be done for!"

She opens her fan again, the krab stopping right in front of her. Yumi jumps back, flipping to the tree. She hides behind it, Yumi dodging from the laser. She watches Aelita running for the tower. Yumi turns to her right before appearing in front of the krab. She jumps up from the laser, landing safely. Aelita has almost made it for the tower.

"Aelita's entering the tower." Yumi throws her fan at the krab, destroying it. She catches it.

Aelita starts floating to the top.

Herb shouts as the ceiling shakes, everyone under the tables.

Aelita lands on the top pad, walking up to the interface. She pushes her hand against it.

Aelita

Code

Herb, Nadia, Ulrich, and Odd all cringe as the building approaches total collapse.

Lyoko

The building stops shaking and Jeremy breathes out a sigh in relief. The tower is deactivated, and the return activates. "Return to the past now!" Time is reset to the day they met Theo.


They're back on the soccer field, Ulrich kicking the ball. "Hey Ulrich, pass it over here!" Odd calls out, running past Herb.

"You won't get by me!" Herb declares.

Ulrich does the same move from before.

"I don't believe it!" Sissi exclaims. "Oh!" Odd headbutts the ball into the goal. "Oh no!"

"Goooal!" Odd laughs.

"Unbelievable!" Sissi picks up the ball. "You losers!" She throws the ball, but Yumi catches it instead.

"Okay guys, I've gotta head for home."

"If you want, I'll walk you back" Ulrich offers, Theo standing in front of him.

"No, I'll go." He walks up to her, putting an arm around her shoulders. "So long Odd. And thanks. So, uh, which way to go, huh?"

Odd turns to Ulrich, who is pouting, Herb and Nicolas snicker. "What's wrong? It's a lot better than having to get caught up tonight to scare Herb, right? Don't you think? What's wrong, come on Ulrich."

"You're toast dude" Ulrich says.

"Oh, you're never satisfied. You got a better idea? No? Well me either." Odd insists as he follows, along with Nadia.

"Note to self Odd, never get between Ulrich and Yumi" Nadia informs him.


A.N. – Next time, Ulrich loses his memory. There will be a small change that I will address at the beginning. PM me with story ideas! Review with questions or comments! I will respond! As always, till next time! See ya! -lyokowarrior97