Twisted Reality
By Flying Star
Disclaimer: ' Holds net.' I can't quite seem to catch the rights. In other words, I don't own Code Lyoko.
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A new story, a new concept. Time to do an AU fic. In this dark story a scanner malfunction sends Yumi into an alternate world, where Lyoko is in ruins and XANA terrorizes Earth. Author's notes at the bottom.
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Bold - You'll see.
Italics - Monotone, flat mechanical voice. Except when used for emphasis.
" " - speech.
' ' - thinking/thoughts.
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Kadic High School, situated in France. A normal school, with normal students.
" Watch me. I bet I can catch the ball with my eyes closed." The blond with purple splotched haired boy smirks as he throws the football to his companion. With a shrug, the ball flew up and back, hitting him square in the nose.
Well, mostly normal. They are but two of a group whose actions help prevent local catastrophes, attacks caused by a very unnatural being. Saving an unsuspecting populace.
Ulrich laughs as the other frowns, dusting himself off before rubbing his nose. " I'll get it next time." Odd mutters under his breath, though the tone is playful.
Our story though, is for another of the group, a girl with a strong will and equal determination.
Yumi Ishiyama.
She doesn't know it, but today her path is about to take a slight diversion. Her sanity will be tested, and difficult choices will be made.
And so we begin our tale.
1
" So anyway, Mrs. Hertz tells me that I need to think of my grades more, apply myself..." Odd says, still massaging his nose as he walks with Ulrich. School is out for the day, and the two are heading to the usual meeting place, though it looks like someone already beat them there.
The energetic youth stops, smirking slightly. " Well, well, look at the two lovebirds. " he coos, noticing the couple already occupying the bench.
Ulrich follows his gaze, smiling as he recognizes Jeremie and Aelita. The latter giggling softly as Jeremie finished whispering in her ear.
" Ah, teen love. Couples cuddling together, so cute."
Ulrich's gaze returns to Odd's. " They are cute together." He agreed.
Odd suddenly grabs his chest, gesturing dramatically. " But alas, I am but a mere bachelor." His smile turns mischievious. " So, you gonna tell her?"
" Odd." Ulrich can feel himself blushing.
" Aw, come on. Do I have to be old and wrinkled before my friends state the obvious? Jeremie and Aelita, you and Yumi. I mean if Yumi was here right now I'd..."
" You'd what?"
Odd spun around, nearly colliding with the figure behind him. " Oh uh, hey Yumi. We were just talking about how punctual you are. Weren't we, Ulrich?" He jabbed an elbow into his friend's side. " Right?"
" Yeah, that's it." Ulrich discreetly rubbed his side, giving Odd a sour look.
Odd feigns being oblivious. " Well, the gang's all here. I say we go have some fun."
" I think we'll have to take a raincheck, Odd." Yumi replies, her eyes on the other two members of their group. Both now had unhappy expressions on their faces, looks that the rest of them know all too well.
Odd voices his displeasure. " Oh, come on. We just got done fighting XANA a few days ago, can't it give us a week off for once?"
Yumi approaches the silent couple. " XANA activity?"
" XANA activity." Jeremie confirms without looking up from his laptop, which is resting on his knees. Aelita is reading the information from his side. " Don't know where though, scans indicate an activated tower, but other than that, no significant news indicating an attack, yet."
" So, the factory?" Yumi asks.
" The factory." Jeremie confirms.
1
" Well, I found our mystery attack." Jeremie announces after studying the news files.
" So, what's XANA up to this time?" Odd asks.
Jeremie turns around. " The local zoo's reporting spontaneous animal frenzies. Tigers trying to climb their enclosures, emus chasing people, apes going nuts..."
" Or bananas." Odd jokes, earning himself a quick jab to his side from Yumi.
" And numerous other animal problems." Jeremie continues, ignoring Odd's comment. He turns back to the supercalculator, typing in a few commands. " The infected tower's located in the Forest region."
" Any monsters?" Yumi asks, keeping an eye on Odd.
" Yes, five Roachsters and two Crabs are patrolling the target."
" XANA's making it too easy." Odd smirks, punching his open palm with his fist. " We'll be there and back in no time flat."
" Don't you ever take anything seriously?" Yumi scolds, wheeling on Odd, who looks a bit surprised at her sudden accusation.
Odd raises his hands meekly in surrender. " It's only a joke, Yumi. I'm as serious as the next guy. But come on, this will be a cakewalk."
" Hmph, right."
" Glad you agree."
" I'm typing in the coordinates now." Jeremie interupts before frowning. "Hmm."
" What's wrong?" Ulrichs asks.
" Well, we've got four people, and only three scanners. You know what that means."
" Ulrich opens his mouth, but Yumi beat him to the punch.
" I'll wait. Just make sure I don't land directly on Odd when you send me over."
" Ha, ha. Very funny. I'll remember that." Odd grumbles before heading to the elevator, Ulrich and Aelita joining him.
As Yumi watches the lift descend, a sudden feeling of uneasiness grips her. She couldn't quite explain it, but for some reason she feels like something big is going to happen, and happen soon.
" Yumi, you're up."
Shaking her head, she pushes the thought to the back of her mind as she rode the elevator down.
1
" Readying the transfer." Jeremie's voice echos from the intercom as Yumi slips into the scanner.
She still can't quite shake the sinking feeling in her gut. Something felt very wrong.
" Ready, transfer Yumi."
Her body floats up, the scanner bars gliding around her.
" Scanner Yumi. No! Abort...abor..."
Suddenly she's falling, everything going hazy as her mind rapidly descends into darkness.
...and then nothing.
1
A jolt, her eyes opening. Her first thoughts decidedly less than coherent.
' Oh, the ground's getting pretty close.'
Her eyes snap open fully as she realizes she's falling, upside down. The grounds of Lyoko swiftly approaching her falling form. Scrabbling at the air, she manages to almost right herself before...
" Oof!"
A cloud of dust rises as Yumi straightens herself. " Ow. Not one of my smoother landings." She groans as she begins brushing herself off. " Next time, I'm asking Jeremie to include something soft to land on." Wait, Jeremie. She frowns. Had something happened back in the supercalculator?
Try as she might, nothing comes to her.
It's then that she gets a look at her surroundings, and gasps.
" Oh my god, what happened?"
No longer full of lush, leafy trees, the Forest region stands in ruins. Blackened husks marking where trees once stood. Grounds and brush scorched by what looks to be laser fire.
" Scanning perimeter. Bio-life signs detected."
Yumi leaps back as something walks into the area, her eyes widening as she stares at it.
It's a Crab, but not like any she's ever seen. The creature's body awash in black, it's 'head' covered in strange bumps. She has yet to see a XANA symbol.
The creature turns, regarding her. " Subject verification unknown. Attire suggests hostile rebel, lethal action authorized."
Lasers strike the ground, prompting Yumi to leap back again, her hand automatically releasing her deadly disk. The metal fan arcs through the air, slicing through one of the bumps.
The Crab suddenly screeches as numerical data starts streaming from the punctured lump. " Life points compromised! Initiate standard retreat protocol!" It reels drunkenly before collapsing to it's knees. " Damage too severe, shutdown imminent!" The beast shatters, the pieces vanishing as Yumi stares.
She doesn't get enough time to think before...
" Companion unit destroyed. Proceed with target destruction. Backup request."
Yumi pales as multiple Crabs appear over the horizon, then falls back as a laser strikes her arm. The fan is already leaving her hand as she wonders just what the hell's going on.
1
On the other side of the ridge, two figures watch in complete silence. The air of stillness only broken by the occasional flash of sword or claw.
" Could it really be her?" The feline/human hybrid asks his stodic companion, slicing through another Block with his claws. The move is automatic and lethal, as silent as the still air inhabiting this world.
The area is littered with broken debris, the waning number of Crabs and Blocks showing the seriousness of the two warriors. Only a handful of Crabs remain, out of sight for the moment. The rest have departed, heading toward the distant figure. A lone Block advances on the distracted boy.
The samurai stares for a moment, before shaking his head in disgust. " No. Just another XANA construct, like all the others." He suddenly thrusts both swords behind him, the Block shattering before it can register it's demise.
" In Lyoko, I don't think so. XANA doesn't play that kind of game. It accomplishes nothing."
Ulrich frowns, watching the geisha tear into a Crab with her fan. Her posture practically spoke confidence. " Look at the way she moves. She never fought like that, she wouldn't, and you know it."
It's Odd's turn to frown as he rubs his arm. " And you're forgetting that she used to, in the beginning. She fought just as hard as the rest of us, harder even sometimes."
"Used to is the key phrase." Ulrich insists quietly, but not quietly enough that Odd's keen ears couldn't hear.
Odd shook his head, then tensed, ears twitching rapidly, before suddenly jumping straight up. The laser blast strikes the ground instead. Landing neatly on the approaching Crab, he drug his claws across the numerous bumps, then plunges his hand into the nearest one before looking at Ulrich. " Fine, I'll check it out myself." He finishes quietly.
The Crab shudders as he yanks his hand free, shattering into digital dust as Odd leaps back into the fray, chasing the retreating group.
Ulrich didn't follow, keeping himself busy with the remaining Crabs. Though every so often he would glance over in her direction.
1
' This is crazy.' Yumi thinks as she throws her fan again. Her aim is perfect, but the approaching Crab doesn't fall nor shatter. Instead the bump she'd just sheered off seals back up, the Crab looking completely unharmed. As if to confirm her fears, the Crab speaks.
" Structual damage inconsequencial. Continue with target destruction."
A false bump? Maybe only one true weak point, hidden amongst the fakes? It made about as much sense as everything else.
Another hit and she's on her back, wondering briefly how many life points she has left, before she's up and fighting again. Completely unaware of the being watching her.
1
' Curiouser and curiouser.' The figure thinks, observing the girl below. He's on one of the few treetops still standing, his claws sunk into the 'wood', tail swishing gently.
" She's certainly handling herself, whoever she is." He remarks to himself. " Even seems to know about the Crab's false points." He smiles lightly, revealing sharpened fangs. " Let's see how she handles a surprise attack." He clenches his fist.
A soft click and it emerges from his wrist.
He then aims, not at her, but at the object she's holding, a little scare to shake her up.
" Laser arrow." A soft whisper, and the arrow flies out, spinning, whistling through the air as it strikes it's target with pinpoint precision.
A small gasp and she's holding her hand in disbelief, looking around for the originator of the attack.
And then she's leaping for the fallen disk as laser fire from the Crabs continue around her, grabbing it as her head goes up, almost on him.
" Odd?"
He nearly loses his balance. Though she's not looking at him, her eyes still glancing between the leftover treetops and the Crabs advancing on her, the fact that she knows his name adds another piece to this strange puzzle. An idea forms.
Satisfied that she won't be deleted or destroyed before he can relay his information to Ulrich, Odd leaves the girl.
1
" And again, I reiterate. This is crazy." Yumi says to herself as she aims high, sending her fan skimming through a tight group of Crabs. Through sheer luck, she's managed to take out a fairly good amount of the beasts, but not without taking a few hits herself.
"Probably got only twenty life points left, maybe less.' She thinks as she watches two of the four Crabs disintegrate, the fan returning to her hand as she slid back behind one of the only tree trunks remaining. After a moment, she looks out.
The remaining Crabs are shuffling warily about the edge of the woods, not shooting, but not retreating either. In fact, they almost look like they're communicating with each other.
Whatever the reason for their hesitation, it gives her a moment to contemplate the strange things that have happened in the last few minutes.
' More Crabs than expected, plus some kind of modifications to them, and not friends in sight.' He eyes went to her fan. A fairly large dent is visible on the metal. ' Strike that, at least one friend seems to be around.'
She let out a frustrated sigh. ' Odd, such a lousy shot sometimes. He's lucky he didn't hit me.' She smiles a little at the thought of Odd, who loves keeping score of his 'kills', having to explain to her why he decided to use her as target practice.
The smile fades. But why isn't he here? Even if he held a grudge for her earlier remark, he's not one to abandon anyone in the middle of a fight. And that brought up another question, just where is Ulrich? She needed some answers.
" Jeremie?" She kept her voice down, lest the Crabs heard her. " Jeremie, can you hear me?" Nothing but static greets her. " Great, add another mystery to the puzzle."
" Resume target pursuit."
Yumi's head whips up as 'wood' chips begin flying, the Crabs once again firing on her position.
' Okay, get out of this alive first, questions later.' She jumps up, her fan flying.
1
Odd is returning. Ulrich notes as he watches his small lithe form bounding across the smoking ruins. Most of the Crabs he's been fighting have been eliminated, though a few still remain hidden.
As Odd draws nearer, Ulrich notices the smoke rising from his wrist.
" Trouble?" He asks.
" No. I used one of my arrows."
"Why?"
" I wanted to see how she'd react."
" And...?"
" Surprised and a little scared. Reaction speed about average." He looks slightly disturbed. " The weird thing is, she called my name, like she knew my weapon type." His gaze went to the now closed compartment on his wrist. " I rarely use these things anymore."
" So, what do you suggest we do?"
" I advise we pull out. See if the protocol sends her back with us."
" Okay." Ulrich agreed, albeit a bit reluctantly.
" I know what you're thinking. Don't worry, if he manages to to track us through her somehow, we'll just get to the next setup point. I know it's risky."
" Try wasteful." Ulrich replies as the last two Crabs finally decide to show themselves. " But we don't have much choice, we can't leave it here to possibly cause more damage." Reflecting twin lasers back to their owners, he sheaths his weapons befor double tapping his right ear, then turns to the occupied tower.
Link established.
There's no need to be subtle. XANA obviously knew they're in Lyoko.
" Aelita, status!"
" Condensed time reversal at ninty-five percent. Expected completion in thirty seconds." A pause. " Reversal processing, secure, complete. Desired course of action request?"
" Yes, scanner retrieval protocol. Series order, two, one, three, four. Extended stasis on four."
" Four?" Came the confused response.
" Affirmative. Possible X-Y construct in fourth Lyoko avatar skin. Testing retrieval on subject, confirm?" He still has difficulties talking to Aelita like this, but while on Lyoko such protocols are deemed neccessary. Ever since that day...
" Confirmed."
Her response is clipped and cool, almost cold. Ulrich's not surprised, his feelings are quite similar when dealing with this kind of situation. He's pretty certain Odd feels the same way.
"RA Code?"
" Oh, um, three-five-seven-nine. Double mask delta four."
The RA code, or random access code, is used for hiding their activities from XANA. Each virtualization and devirtualization needed a new code to prevent XANA from deleting or corrupting their avatars. The masks kept their location secret, and allowed them to continue accessing Lyoko.
" RA code and masking successful. Initiating retrieval process. Processing. Two..."
Odd waved to Ulrich as the devirtualization circle enshrouded him. His form vanishing.
" One..."
Aelita's voice faded as she returned to Earth.
" Wait, don't leave!"
Ulrich turns to the remaining figure, the fake's eyes are wide with confusion and fear as it continues fighting XANA's creatures. He doesn't help, instead merely observing. It seems too coincidental that it's appearance has caused XANA's creatures to flock to it, even if they did seem to put up a convincing fight.
' Nice try, XANA.'
" Jeremie! Bring him back!"
" Three..."
He stiffens, feeling the tingling sensation as the circle surrounds him, his last vision of the fake reaching out for him.
1
" Humans, such curious creatures. And simple, are they not?"
The seated figure nods. " They are a curiousity,but simple they are not. Complex, unpredictable, that's what makes them dangerous." The figure adjusts his glasses, turning to the screen showing the battle in Lyoko's Forest region. Something catches his eye.
" Hmmm, what's this?" A few button presses and the screen rotates, zooming in on the object in question, particulary the face.
" A problem?"
A chuckle, the glasses once again pushing up the bridge of his nose. "A problem, hardly. Just the sudden appearace of an old friend."
"Friend?"
Another chuckle. " Former actually. Certainly not a threat to our plans." The fingers of his hands steeple, chin resting between them as he studies the image. " Welcome back," A leering grin appears, " Yumi."
To be continued.
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And chapter one is done. Yes, this is confusing, that's the way I want it to be. Answers will slowly be revealed. I have no clue how many chapters this will be. Chapter two is pretty far along, so hopefully it won't take long before I post it.
Author's notes. Yes, I know. Another story started before I've finished my other ones. I just couldn't get this idea to rest, and as it is, I've written a substancial amount already. My other stories are still being written, with "Crossed Circuits" conclusion almost complete. Oh and one more thing, this site seems to like making page break lines vanish, so I put a 1 to serve as the page break. Please forgive me if the breaks still don't appear.
Anyway, if you read, please review. I like people's thoughts.