Locales and Locations: What's Where

Lyoko is a virtual world created by Franz Hopper. He is also responsible for creating XANA, but the program went rogue and turned into a malevolent virus that is bent on attacking humans. One theory is that XANA was a weapons program and that when it went rogue, it carried its programming into overdrive, attacking whoever it could. Hopper created the world of Lyoko as a safe place for him and his daughter Aelita since Hopper felt that the government wouldn't let him or Aelita alone. Hopper tried to virtualize himself and Aelita into Lyoko, but only Aelita gained a virtual form. XANA, in an attempt to gain control, interfered, and as a result, Aelita lost her human memories and thought of herself as a being of Lyoko. Franz Hopper now exists as something like a computer program that in a pinch will protect Aelita and the other kids. Lyoko has four regular regions: Forest, Desert, Mountains, and Ice Barrier. They are arranged like the spokes of a wheel, and an image of this wheel comes up on Jeremy's 3D projection screen. There are 40 towers all over Lyoko, and they allow Aelita and the rest of the gang to jump from region to region. Due to the threat from XANA, they also provided Aelita with a safe haven during all of the years she spent alone in Lyoko. The fifth sector, Carthage, is a sector that does not show on Jeremy's screen unless he enters the correct password of "Scipio." It is shown mainly as a sphere filled with blocks that slide about, creating a confusing and dangerous maze. The sphere is supported by tunnels that open at times, and the gang often have to wait until one opens to leave Sector Five. To get there, they travel in a sphere that works like an express elevator to Carthage. It is a bit nauseting to ride in, according to Odd. Carthage was where XANA hid Aelita's human memories and where she regained them. It is also the place where they can access a great deal of information about XANA. It was originally thought that XANA shared Lyoko with Aelita, but it has become apparent that he uses the towers in Lyoko to attack while he lives in Sector Five.