Disclaimer - I do not own Code Lyoko.
It seemed like nothing at first. A little strange,but hardly something that Xana would bother with. They decided to investigate anyway, just to be safe…and quickly discovered that it was the worst thing they could have possibly done…
CODE LYOKO
: Regression :
by Ambre Skye
On a parallel plane of existence, a strange mind performed analyses and calculations, lines of code and binary flickering rapidly across a nonexistent surface, interrupted occasionally by coherent lines of text that resembled remnants of the thought processes of something biological...
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Probability: Exceeded
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Reason: Undetermined
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Variable: Unknown
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Records: Inconclusive
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00: Failure
01: Failure
02: Failure
03: Failure
04: Failure
05: Failure06: Failure
07: Failure
08: Failure
09: Failure
10: Failure11: Failure
12: Failure
13: Failure
14: Failure
15: Failure16: Failure
17: Failure
18: Failure
19: Failure
20: Failure21: Failure
22: Failure
23: Failure
24: Failure
25: Failure26: Failure
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Perhaps…-
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…it is time to regress…
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Retrieve: Digital Materialization Sequence
Initiate
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Expand: Digital Materialization Sequence
Initiate
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Retrieve: Biological Merger Sequence
Initiate
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Retrieve: Virtual Merger Sequence
Initiate
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Combine: Digital Materialization Sequence
Combine: Biological Merger Sequence
Combine: Virtual Merger Sequence
Initiate
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Processing…
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Processing…
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From within the nonexistence, a swirl of thick, dark matter began to move fluidly, shaping its substance. The cloud began to condense, forming something recognizable. Arms, hands, legs, a torso, and a face, with shadowed, still-transparent features creating a twisted, grimacing visage. "Yes…" A hissing whisper of a voice sprang to existence, moving with its new embodiment and issuing forth as visible lips turned upward in a strange show of satisfaction. The swirling black fog within the figure continued to thicken, becoming more dense, more solid…more human.
The being gazed down at his new body as the black transparency began to fade, giving way to a solid tone of flesh. Eyes shone dark green, blinking through hanging locks of hair that reflected the same hue, and highlighted with remnants of the blackness. Strange, elongated ears poked their pointed tips out to the side of his head. Then a mark appeared, ominous it is familiarity. It settled in the center of his forehead like a third eye, burning its existence into the newly formed skin.
He lifted a hand, curling the fingers experimentally and tightening them into a hard fist. Fingernails dug into the skin, creating an odd sensation. When he unclenched his fist, small red crescent marks remained on his palm, and the tips of his nails were tinged with crimson. The voice spoke again, slithering through wicked, grinning teeth. "No more games, little heroes…"
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Doors banged open and the hallways became cluttered with noisy, happy children as the school bell rang for the final time that day, indicating the end of classes. The din of animated conversations and crowded clusters of youths were all too typical of the normal school day.
To one side of a certain hallway, three boys relaxed against the wall, making idle talk while awaiting the arrival of their fourth member. With all the noise surrounding them, they didn't worry about speaking quietly. And besides, should anyone happen to overhear part of the unique conversation, they probably wouldn't understand it anyway.
Odd slumped down, resting between floor and wall, looking relaxed. "So after Yumi got booted back to the real world and Aelita made a run for the tower, there were still three Kankrelat and a Megatank left. There I was, all by myself with only twenty life points and two arrows left. The Kankrelat were all circling me and backing me towards the drop-off into the void and the Megatank was charging up for the kill! But I was one step ahead. I do a one-eighty back flip, and in midair, kick the nearest Kankrelat over the edge and into digital void oblivion! So then as soon as I land, I fire off one of my arrows smack into the next Kankrelat and boom! Now there are only two monsters left." Odd raised two fingers in the middle of his narrative for emphasis. "But I still only have twenty life points, and now I'm down to one arrow. So I'm thinking, I can't take out both of them with one arrow, and I can only survive two more hits at the most! And that's when I got my stroke of genius—"
"We know, Odd," Jeremie interrupted with a wry smile. "You've told this story every day since we stopped Xana's attack last week."
"Well it's a good one!" the smaller boy argued.
Ulrich wasn't really paying attention to either of them as he glanced down the hall. "You can finish telling it again later, Odd. Here comes Yumi."
The familiar figure of a tall, black-clad girl made its way towards the three boys. As Yumi approached, they could see that her head was tilted slightly down, as though she were angry about something. Several red scratches were evident around her face, neck, and forearms, while one sleeve sported a rather noticeable rip.
Odd raised an eyebrow. "Whoa, Yumi, what happened to you?"
The dark haired girl gave him a dry look. "A stupid cat attacked me."
The three boys stared at her blankly.
"Well it did!" Yumi insisted, looking insulted. "I was walking through the courtyard to meet you guys over here, and it jumped me from a tree!"
There was an awkward pause for a moment before Jeremie broke the silence. "Uh, no offense, Yumi," he raised a hand hesitantly to rub the back of his neck in a skeptical fashion. "But cats don't usually attack people from trees."
She nodded at him seriously. "I know, that's why I want to ask you if you've noticed any indication that Xana might have activated a tower."
Jeremie's eyebrow shot up. "You think Xana activated a tower so he could take control of a stray cat?"
Odd's face was starting to crack into a grin as he leaned towards Ulrich with a mock whisper. "Poor Yumi. I always knew she'd go off the deep end one day…"
She shot him a withering glare. "Fine. How would you explain it, wise guy?"
Odd held up both hands in surrender, looking confused. "Yeesh, take it easy, Yumi, you know I'm just kidding!"
She rolled her eyes and ignored him, turning again to Jeremie. "Well? Has anything happened in Lyoko?"
"No. At least, there's nothing concerning Xana," Jeremie replied seriously, "He's been quiet since we stopped his attack last week. But I have started testing a new virtual sequence for Aelita." He smiled slightly and pushed his glasses up on his nose. "Since we can't permanently materialize her in human form right now, I'm trying to design the extra sequence to accept her configurations."
Odd raised an eyebrow.
"An extra life, if you want to simplify the concept that way," Jeremie explained further. "If anything goes wrong and she loses too many life points, I can download her essence onto the spare sequence, as a kind of temporary body. Just until her true self has a chance to reform."
"So, you're making an extra one of those Lyoko cards for her?" Yumi tilted her head.
"Actually," Jeremie launched into an explanation, "there are two different types of Lyoko cards, because there are two programs that activate when you're virtualized. First of all, your physical essence has to be downloaded into the computer through a Digital Materialization Sequence. I guess you could call it a blueprint. It registers and outlines the virtual form that you'll have when you enter, but if that were the only program we used during virtualization, you'd enter Lyoko looking just like you do here. That's your basic Lyoko card, no swords or fans or special abilities like telekinesis. I used one of those when I went into Xana's alternate reality to get you guys out."
"Then a different program adds the special abilities, right?" Yumi inquired.
"Through the second program, the Virtual Form Sequence. It takes the basic blueprint from the Digital Materialization Sequence that you've already been downloaded into, and adds to it. And it's that complete form that materializes inside Lyoko." Jeremie pushed lightly at his glasses again. "I just merged those two programs into one process, so you enter Lyoko immediately in your virtualized forms without going through two downloads."
"So, are you making extra blueprints or extra virtual forms?" Ulrich raised an eyebrow.
"Blueprints," Jeremie answered immediately. "I'm only creating more basic cards, because they're the only ones that sustain damage. The virtual forms are just extra weapons and abilities that are laid over the basic structure. And if their abilities are exhausted, like if Odd runs out of arrows, I can reload them pretty easily. It's the digital blueprint structure—the basic card—that has the limited life points. In Aelita's case, her basic digital structure and virtual abilities are connected, like when she uses her gaiakinesis and it depletes her life points. Having an extra basic card to use should give her more freedom to use her abilities, and she won't have to worry as much about sustaining damage during battles."
"Ah," Ulrich nodded appreciatively. "And you're making them just for Aelita?"
Jeremie smiled knowingly. "Don't worry, I've got a copy of Aelita's spare sequence and I'll be ready to start adapting it to create multiple sequences for you and Odd and Yumi, too. Eventually, we may not have to worry about life points at all. The spare sequences would replace each other automatically while the damaged one regenerates."
"Cool!" Odd looked excited. "Unlimited monster-vanquishing capabilities! We'll be practically invincible!"
His exclamations were interrupted a moment later, as a sickeningly sweet voice sounded from nearby. "Hiiiiiiiii, Ulrich!" The long vowels were drawn out in a high-pitched, girlish swoon.
Ulrich winced visibly.
Sissi sashayed her way prissily towards the object of her affections, giving a characteristic hair toss and know-it-all smile as she did so. Standing before him, arms crossed in the usual fashion, Sissi eyed him like predator that was about to make a kill. "So, Ulrich," she began, the intonation in her voice still swaying up and down like waves. It was almost enough to make one feel seasick. "Are you ready to go?"
Ulrich blinked up at her, one eyebrow cocked. "Beg pardon?"
Sissi ran a hand femininely through her dark hair. "Oh, you're being silly again, Ulrich. I know that you'd never forget our date!"
At the mention of the word 'date', Yumi's eye twitched. She looked down at Ulrich, an expression on her face saying that she was trying to hide any fury or shock. "Date! What date?"
Clueless, Ulrich shrugged. "I have no idea what she's talking about."
Sissi placed hands on hips and her expression darkened. "Don't play coy with me just because Yumi's here, Ulrich!" She pointed an accusing finger and poked it at his chest. "I don't know why you think you need to keep our relationship a secret from her, but I'll print off that email and show it to all your little friends to prove it if I have to!"
"What email?" Ulrich demanded.
"The one you sent me this morning asking me on a date, you moron!" Sissi fumed.
Odd grinned. "Ah, Sissi. The only girl we know who can say 'yes' to her date and insult him at the same time."
"I'm not her date!" Ulrich argued.
Sissi steamed at Odd. "You're so childish," she lifted her nose in the air and tried to look maturely superior. "Ulrich! Aren't you going to defend me?"
At this, Ulrich ceased to look confused. He cocked his eyebrow again and gave a wry smile, unable to resist the opportunity to poke fun at her comment "What for? You're stuck up enough to stick up for yourself!"
The Snob Wonder gave an involuntary growl of frustration, glaring at each of them in turn. "You think you're all so clever! But just you wait…someday, Ulrich, you'll come crawling to me!" With another hair toss, she stormed away.
When she was out of hearing range, Yumi turned to Ulrich. "Why'd you send her an email?"
Ulrich held his hands up defensively. "I didn't!"
Odd blinked at them. "That's kind of weird, Sissi getting an email that you never sent. Maybe Xana's up to something after all."
"It doesn't make any sense though," Jeremie argued, logical as always. "Taking control of a stray cat and faking an email from Ulrich to Sissi? There's no connection."
"Can't you just make sure?" Yumi asked. "I mean, it's not going to hurt anything to double-check with Aelita, right?"
Jeremie shrugged. "I guess you're right." He gathered his book bag and prepared to leave. "I wanted to work more on the extra sequences anyway. I'll ask her as soon as I get back to my room."
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