Deep Deception (Part 1)

(In the Lab, with all five Lyoko Warriors present.)

Jeremy: "All right, guys—over the past few days, Aelita and I have been running diagnostics on the Replika we found last week."

Ulrich: "What did you find?"

Aelita: "Like the Volcano Replika, this one is not based on any existing sector on Lyoko. As it turns out, this one is entirely submerged underwater."

Yumi: "Like the Digital Sea?"

Jeremy: "Not exactly. The Digital Sea is a representation of the network, but the water in this 'Ocean Replika' is just that—virtual water, similar to that found on Lyoko. And that's not all: it also consists of plateaus and towers, just like the sectors on Lyoko, only that they're flooded."

Odd: "I see...so we just use the Skid to get around?"

Jeremy: "It won't be that simple, Odd. Keep in mind that the Skid needs to be anchored to a tower while we're on a Replika. As a result, we'll have to rely on other means to get through the Replika if, say, XANA activates a tower."

Yumi: "Then what do you expect us to do, swim there?"

Jeremy (smiling): "Actually, yes."

Ulrich: "Wait, are you serious? Wouldn't we drown?"

Jeremy: "Yes—and yes. Drowning on Lyoko or the Replikas would lead to devirtualization, which is why Aelita and I have developed a solution to that problem."

(Jeremy presses a button on the keyboard, and shows everyone a visual on the monitor that displays four distinct, humanoid suits based on the Lyoko Warriors' virtual forms.)

Aelita: "We will wear special diving suits when we arrive on the Ocean Replika. They'll keep the water out, and let us breathe and talk to each other normally. We'll also be able to use our weapons underwater like we do on Lyoko and the other Replikas."

Jeremy (manipulating the interface, which shows visuals of the Replika and its real-world location): "We've also pinpointed the location of the Replika's supercomputer to an underwater research base, just off the coast of Hawaii. When we teleport you there, the diving suits should also work outside the base." (turning back to his friends) "So, are you guys ready to take the plunge?"

Odd: "Fighting monsters underwater? You can count me in, Einstein!"

Yumi: "I'm up for checking out the base."

Ulrich: "And I'll go with Yumi."

Jeremy: "Then I guess it's settled. Ulrich and Yumi will be sent to destroy the supercomputer in the base, while Aelita and Odd will stay behind to defend the Skid. Head to the scanners and I'll send you to Sector 5."

(The Lyoko Warriors walk into the elevator and press the "down" button. Its doors close and the elevator descends to the scanner room.)

(Transition)

(Cut to the Skidbladnir, in the Digital Sea, accessing the entrance to the Ocean Replika. The entryway opens, and the Skid maneuvers into the Replika.)

(Cut to the inside of the Ocean Replika, in an underwater environment. The camera is looking down at a blue layer with bits of code moving across it, similar to how the Digital Sea appeared in the Ice Sector during Seasons 1 and 2. The Skid is seen rising from the middle of this code, and the edges of the submarine glow white as it passes through the layer into the blue water that makes up the Ocean Replika.)

Ulrich: "So, are we inside the Replika now?"

Aelita (smiling): "Yes, Ulrich."

Yumi (looking outside the window of her Navskid): "It's too murky for me to see anything…no, wait! There's a tower!"

(True to Yumi's word, the scene shows a tower, standing tall atop a small, gray, rocky, submerged plateau. The tower's aura turns green as the Skid anchors itself to it.)

(Cut to the Lab, where an alarm on the interface goes off, alerting Jeremy to a new threat on the Replika.)

Jeremy: "Oh, no!"

Aelita (voice only): "What's wrong, Jeremy?"

Jeremy: "William's here—and he's brought three mantas with him!"

(Cut to elsewhere in the Ocean Replika. The Rorkal is seen speeding through the water, with three mantas trailing behind it. Inside, William sets his sights on the Skid and fires a volley of torpedoes, all of which impact the sub. Although the shields absorb the blow, the Skid shakes violently, throwing the Lyoko Warriors about inside. The Rorkal zooms past the Skid, while the mantas break formation and begin to circle around the sub and the tower, laying a barrier of mines around them.)

Ulrich (seeing the mines): "If we try to pilot the Navskids through this mess, we'll get blown to pieces!"

(Cut to the Lab.)

Aelita (voice only): "Jeremy, the mantas' mines have trapped us—William will be able to destroy the Skid!"

Jeremy (typing in commands): "Then you'll have to deal with him without the Navskids. I'm sending you outside in your diving suits."

(Cut to the Ocean Replika.)

(At once, all four Lyoko Warriors vanish. They reappear outside in the Ocean Replika, swimming just above the plateau where the tower is. They all wear the diving suits. Although each suit differs in appearance, all of them feature a clear dome helmet over the Lyoko Warriors' heads, a special "turbo-pack" on their backs, body armor—parts of which glow—and flippers on their feet to help them swim through the water.)

(The scene shows Aelita and Ulrich, who appeared first and nearest to each other. They examine their suits, seeing how they look on them.)

Ulrich (drawing out both his katanas from behind): "Hm...not bad." (to Aelita) "You and Jeremy did a great job designing these things."

Aelita (smiling): "Why, thanks, Ulrich."

(Cut to Odd and Yumi, nearby, who are similarly inspecting their aquatic attires.)

Odd: "Nice outfit, Yumi. It really suits you." (snickers)

Yumi: "Very funny, Odd. How does it feel to be a swimming purple cat?"

Odd: "I feel like a catfish." (laughs as he tries to maneuver himself) "Whoa…well, one that doesn't really have the hang of this yet."

Yumi: "Well, you'll have to get it quickly." (points above) "Look out!"

(A manta swims down to attack the Lyoko Warriors, firing its laser. In response, Odd fires a pair of laser arrows at the manta. Being projectiles, they are somewhat slowed down by the water, giving the manta ample time to swim out of the way.)

Odd: "Aw, come on!"

Yumi (withdrawing her fans, then examining them unsurely): "Here goes nothing—yaaahh!" (throws them)

(Yumi's fans travel through the water heading in opposite directions, though curving towards each other. While the water slows them down like Odd's arrows, they reach their apex just in time to simultaneously slice through the manta's dorsal side. The manta shrieks in pain, then explodes into a flurry of bubbles. The fans return to Yumi, and she catches them.)

Odd: "Nice one, Yumi!"

Yumi: "That worked better than I thought it would."

(Cut to the inside of the Rorkal. For the second time, William locks on to the Skid and fires another series of torpedoes, which are once again absorbed by the sub's shields, before zooming away for another pass.)

(Cut to the Lab.)

Jeremy: "The Skid's shields have reached a critical level—if William makes another pass, it's game over for us!"

(Cut to the Ocean Replika, where Odd and Yumi are swimming over to Aelita and Ulrich.)

Odd: "Don't worry, Einstein, we're on it!"

Yumi: "As long as those two mantas are still around, that's easier said than done!"

Ulrich (raising his katanas and swimming upward, into the path of an oncoming manta): "Well, I'm about to cut that number in half."

Jeremy (voice only): "You won't be able to use your Super Sprint underwater, Ulrich."

Ulrich: "That's okay, I'll manage without it. Triplicate!"

(Two clones of Ulrich, clad in diving suits like he is, appear on either side of him, and the three of them start to swim towards the manta. The manta fires its laser at them and hits one of Ulrich's clones, causing it to vanish. It fires a few more shots, and eventually eliminates the other clone, but by this time Ulrich is almost on top of it. He swims just over the manta's back and slashes across the length of it as it passes underneath him. Wounded, the manta veers off, then explodes.)

(Cut to the Lab.)

Jeremy: "Well done, Ulrich, but William is on his way. You'll have to figure out a way to get rid of him, and fast!"

(Cut to the Ocean Replika.)

Odd (smiling as he notices the remaining manta swimming around the Skid and the tower, continuing to lay mines): "I think I may have an idea for taking care of him."

(Cut to the Lab.)

Jeremy: "What do you have in mind?"

(Cut to the Ocean Replika.)

Odd (swimming upward): "Well, I would be more than happy to tell you, except it might be too—how should I say this—impulsive for your taste?"

(Cut to the Lab.)

Jeremy (annoyed): "Odd, you had better tell me what you're planning!"

(Cut to the Ocean Replika.)

Odd (seeing the last manta approaching him): "Too late for that, Jeremy—" (the manta passes just feet away from him, and he seizes the opportunity to grab hold of its back with his claws, causing the monster to start carrying him along through the water) "—here we go!"

(Cut to the Lab.)

Jeremy: "Odd!"

(Cut to the Ocean Replika.)

(Odd has gained full control of the manta, which continues to lay mines.)

Odd: "I sure hope this works!"

(Odd steers the manta away from the tower.)

(Cut to inside the Rorkal. William once again targets the Skid. Before he has the opportunity to fire his torpedoes, however, the manta—still laying mines and with Odd still clinging on to its back—gets in the way. With a collision imminent, William makes a panicked expression, and frantically steers the Rorkal out of the way and narrowly misses them, only to inadvertently guide the mini-sub into the trail of mines left by the monster. William braces for impact.)

(Cut to outside the Rorkal, which hits the mines and causes them to detonate. The resulting large explosion happens just a few meters away from Odd and the manta. The force of the blast impacts the manta's underside, hurling it sideways. Odd can be heard screaming as the explosion appears to engulf them both.)

(Cut to the other three Lyoko Warriors near the tower, who have observed the explosion and are in shock.)

Aelita: "Odd!"

(There is a pause as the camera looks at the cloud of bubbles left by the explosion. Then Odd reappears from the middle of the cloud a few seconds later, swimming towards the Lyoko Warriors.)

Odd: "Ya-hoo! That was fantastic! I definitely have the hang of this now!"

(Cut to the Lab.)

Jeremy: "I hate to say this, but great job, Odd."

(Cut to the Ocean Replika, where Odd has reunited with the other Lyoko Warriors.)

Jeremy (voice only): "Ulrich, Yumi, I'm preparing to send you to the underwater base."

(Cut to the Lab, where Jeremy is typing some commands into the interface.)

Jeremy: "And…energize, Ulrich. Energize, Yumi."

(Cut to the Ocean Replika. Aelita and Odd watch as Ulrich and Yumi disappear.)

(Cut to an underwater environment in the real world. The water is relatively shallow—only about twenty meters below the surface—and there is a submerged, man-made structure sitting on the sandy seabed nearby. Ulrich and Yumi, still in their diving suits, materialize just above the seabed.)

Yumi: "We made it, Jeremy. The base is in sight."

Jeremy (voice only): "Great. Now, I have some good news and some bad news."

Ulrich: "How about you give us the bad news first?"

(Cut to the Lab, where Jeremy is looking at an icon of an activated tower on the interface.)

Jeremy: "The bad news is that XANA knows what we're up to—he's just activated a tower."

Yumi (voice only): "And the good news is…?"

(Cut to the Ocean Replika, where Aelita and Odd are listening.)

Jeremy (voice only): "The tower is very close by, on the neighboring plateau. Odd and Aelita should be able to reach it quickly."

(Aelita and Odd turn to see the activated tower, which the camera zooms in on. It stands on an isolated plateau quite a ways away from the one they are on.)

(Cut to the real world, outside the underwater base.)

Jeremy (voice only): "But until then, be careful. We don't know what kind of surprise XANA has in store for you yet."

Ulrich: "You know us, Jeremy. Whatever it is, we'll be ready for it." (to Yumi) "Let's go, Yumi."

(The two Lyoko Warriors start to swim towards the base. As they swim away from the camera, a dark, triangular dorsal fin—that of a shark—passes in front of it, briefly obscuring the view, then disappears out of sight.)

TO BE CONTINUED…