Code Lyoko Porn Story: The Origin System Chapter 14

Chapter 14: The World Beneath Their
Feet

“So,
now where are we?” Manuel asked grumpily.

A
shiver went up Verdana’s spine. “Where we’re not supposed to
be,” she said ominously.

Odd felt shivers go up his spine at
that. “Do you have to do that? Now I’m officially creeped
out.”

The gang huddled closer. They were in
a large chamber, with stunning decorations on the walls and ceiling.
A groaning sound, much like a ship, came from a long passage. Then
came a beating of a drum, pounding out a marching rhythm.

“I think you’re right. So, how
do we get out of where we’re not supposed to be?” Viv asked,
realizing they couldn’t go back the way they came.

“Um, toward the freaky sounds
appears to be the only way out.”

“Great. Just wonderful. Why
don’t we just stay here and wait?” Santino muttered.

“That would be a very bad idea.”
Aelita was staring at the tunnel. Sounds were coming from it, like
things were coming down. A crab poked its head out and Aelita shot
her wave at XANA’s symbol. The crab blew up, mostly blocking the
entrance. “Run!”

They took off toward the sounds,
praying they wouldn’t run into something they didn’t want to. Their
prayers went unanswered. They ran into the people that had been
housing beneath the surface. And those people were angry.

“You have brought the scourge of
XANA down upon our world! Leave at once and never return!” said
their leader, a rather impressive program.

“Scourge of XANA? What is with
all these systems? I was the most evil thing in the network!”
Manuel grumbled.

“XANA? XANA’s dead. We killed
him. Twice! He’s not coming back!” Viv said, getting angry.

“Yeah, XANA’s dead. These, if
anything, are the remnants of his legacy.” Verdana put her
hands on her hips and glared at the leader, despite the fact he
towered above her.

“Still, you are the ones that
brought them down upon us. Therefore, you must pay the Price.”

“Price, what price?” Odd
said, his interest piqued. He was pretty sure that it was going to
involve dying, though.

“The Price. To the ones that
watch over us.”

Jeremy hit upon an idea. “We are
the ones that watch over you.”

“Nice try, young one. But it
will not work on us.”

“Listen. I know everything that
is going on in this system. Like the fact that there are only three
of you here that are real, the rest are just fakes, made to
intimidate us.” Aelita was proud. Jeremy didn’t have the
highest IQ in the school for nothing. “The sounds we’ve been
hearing are produced using those pipes in your bags. Need I go on?”

“No. That will be enough. Will
you join us in the village?”

It was a trick. Jeremy knew there was
no village. “There is no village to go to. And you are not
really members of this system. This place is their burial ground of
sorts. They are all dead and I suspect you are the ones that did
it.”

“So observant young one. But
that is going to be the cause of your very nasty end.” The
program pulled out a laser gun, as did his two companions.

Jeremy smiled. “That’s what you
think. But you’ve forgotten I can see everything. And I know
something you do not.”

The program’s scaly lip curled in
anger. “Fool. Don’t you realize your death is coming?”

“Death? My death? You are
mistaken. Now Verdana!”

Verdana created a portal and they all
jumped in. The programs were so stunned by this, they neglected to
follow them into the portal. No sooner than the portal had
disappeared, than one of the shadowy figures appeared.

“You fools!” he shouted as
he destroyed them. “You made me look incompetent! And now I
shall be Racked as well!”

The gang collapsed onto the cool
ground of the next system. It was Palov. The icy wind tore at them
again. Odd grabbed a huge pile of snow and started hugging it. This
system was empty. Sure, it had some bad memories, but it was still a
familiar place.

“I love this place!” Odd
said, burying his face in the snow. Then his face froze in a sort of
pained expression. C-c-cold! he said, brushing the snow off
his front.

“Well, it’s the best place to get
some sleep. Let’s stay one night.” Verdana pointed to the
outcropping of ice they had stayed in before.

“Fine with me.”

“Me too.”

“Wonderful.”

“Fine, I guess.”

“Cool.”

“Don’t care either way.”

“‘S okay.”

“Works for me.”

“Why not?”

Since everyone agreed, they made the
short trek over the outcropping. They lit a fire and began to warm
up. “Hey, Verdana, why don’t we fix this system when we’re in
the Origin System? It shouldn’t be that complicated. After all, the
system is still connected,” Odd asked, wondering what the frozen
wasteland looked like before.

“I suppose. I should start
making a list.” She laughed. She stood up, doing a very good
imitation of the mayorial of Calcicar. “Friends and companions,
the fate of the Network once again rests upon our shoulders. It is
up to us, as always. And, we, their brave defenders get wondrous
rewards for our service. Medals and a one way trip to hell!”
She started laughing again. She shook her fist as the sky. “Come
on, all I’m asking for is a little vacation! Can’t it just stay
fixed and out of our business!”

There were murmurs of assent from the
rest of the gang. “I liked it better when there was only one
virus to fight and one system to defend,” Odd remarked. “I
keep forgetting all these people’s names!”

They all laughed. “I’m serious!
I even have trouble remembering who all’s in the gang!” Odd said
in mock outrage.

“Just because your memory leaks
out every time you get hit by a laser, is no excuse.” Verdana
smiled slightly smugly.

Odd didn’t say anything in return. He
just bent over and scooped up a handful of snow. He nailed Verdana
in the head. “Whoohoo!”

Verdana made an incredulous noise.
“You did not just hit me!” Odd smiled. She grabbed her
own snowball and smacked him in the face with it. He teetered and
fell over, right into Jordan. Jordan shoved him off and threw a
snowball at Verdana. Odd jerked his arm at the last moment, though,
and it hit Manuel.

Manuel roared and chucked one back.
But he hit Viv instead. Soon it grew into a full scale snowball war.
No one was safe from the flying snow. Eventually, after they were
all soaked and shivering, they huddled around the fire again.

Mind if I join you? All of them
nearly jumped out of their soaking wet skin. It was SIRS. He was
hardly recognizable. The fur that covered his entire body had grown
a lot thicker and longer to accommodate the cold. His jackal head
could hardly be seen underneath it all.

SIRS? Youre looking well.
Hows Palov working for you? Verdana asked. She had sent him to
Palov after they had returned to France and Lyoko.

It could stand to be warmer, he
said dryly and they all laughed.

Says the thing wearing the furry
carpet, Odd said in a low voice to Verdana. She laughed silently
behind SIRS back. He came to join them around the fire.

So what are you guys doing here,
anyway? SIRS asked.

Yeah, no ones bothered to
explain to me what were doing anyway, Q added.

Oh, just passing through on our way
to the Origin System.

Ahh. Sounds like fun.

Viv got up a put her hands on his
shoulders. I just want to let you know, I forgive you for what
you tried to do. It was understandable under the circumstances. And
I probably would have done the same thing.

Why thank you! SIRS said,
sounding surprised.

Hey, youre warm! Viv
exclaimed and snuggled into his fur. Jordan followed. So did Jeremy
and Aelita. SIRS looked even more surprised at this. His surprise
grew as later, Yumi and Ulrich joined the group tucked into his
shaggy fur. Soon everyone but Manuel was wrapped around him.

Dont get me wrong, Id love to
join them in the warmth, but Im the oldest and Im far too proud
for something like that, he said and smiled weakly.

Thats okay; I think Ive
gained enough weight for one night.

The next morning, everyone had a
terribly fun time, trying to extricate themselves from the ropy fur.
After about an hour, they managed to get everyone at least partly
awake and out of the fur. Well, we shall bid you adieu, SIRS. We
must continue on our journey, said Verdana as soon as they were
all standing around. With a wave, she followed the rest of the gang
through her portal.

SIRS now looked around at the deserted
outcropping. This would make a lovely home.

In the shadowy world of the shadowy
figures, there was now a different figure cowering at the feet of the
obvious leader. You fool. Did you not think this plan through
all the way? Because that is what it looks like from this end.

Please! I did not think-

Maybe that is your problem! she
snapped coldly. Let him join his companion in the Rack.

No! I beg of you! Dont do this
to me! the figure cried as he was taken away.

The gang arrived in a strange world.
For a fleeting instant it looked like an expanse of Mars. However,
it was difficult to tell, as the next instant it was replaced by a
world that looked very much like France.

Odd turned tentatively to Verdana.
But she wasnt there. Nor was anyone else for that matter.
Immensely curious, he walked forward and nearly ran into his self as
he ran in front of him. I look like Im headed for the
factory, Odd mused aloud. Sure enough, close behind him, came
Jeremy and Aelita. A short time later, Ulrich and Yumi ran past. On
a whim, he decided to follow them. He noticed his virtual form was
gone. He lookednormal, again.

Hmm. This is all seeming very
familiar.