Post-production note: since I hadn't seen anything but season 1 by the time I started writing, some things may seem a little off. Don't complain b/c I took artistic license.

2-1: Combat

It all started when Sissy's cousin came to Kadic and sneaked onto Jeremy's computer to get some stuff to sell online. Before she knew it, Janika had created her own Lyoko-identity and was fighting beside our heroes. Unfortunately, X.A.N.A. isn't as dumb as she took him for...

Janika is really living up to her name. It means 'Enigma'. If you readers out there enjoy her I'll keep writing, but you have to tell me because if you don't Janika will vanish forever. And don't forget to send in your ideas regarding possible future episodes. I can't do it all on my own!

(((-1-)))

Janika peeked around the boulder, checking in every direction. She didn't trust the silence. They were out there somewhere, but the trees revealed nothing to her. Suddenly her instincts screamed and she ducked just as a missile blasted into the rock. The digital image wavered, then reformed.

The girl dove behind a tree trunk as more shots were fired. One clipped her on the side and she doubled over. Gasping for air, Janika got ready to sprint. Her rival had revealed his hiding place. Every muscle was stretched taut and she would have been sweating if she had been able to. Lyoko was very dry in some areas.

No further shots came, but her sensitive catlike ears picked up her opponent's steps. Her breaths quieted and slowed. She was ready. A ninja star appeared in her hand like black lightning.

With a great burst of speed, the cheetah-girl soared out from behind the tree, casting her own missile straight at the creature. But as she ran, a new weapon appeared on the scene. A whirring disk of light slammed into her and she struck the ground heavily. Janika was struggling to her knees when the tip of a sword pressed against her throat. She glared at her attacker.

"You're out," Ulrich said between clenched teeth.

Janika couldn't keep a straight face and burst out laughing. The samurai relaxed and sheathed his sword while Yumi came out of hiding. Odd approached holding out her throwing star and rubbing his arm.

"You guys are hard to beat."

"We should be," Yumi chuckled. "You may be speedy, but teamwork is what really counts."

Odd nodded. "We formed a triangle around you so that no matter who you attacked, the others could nail you from two directions at once. Unfortunately you went after me."

She smiled apologetically as she stood up. "I hope my idea to play this game helps us. I really need to master my techniques, as you can see."

"You're getting better, but we never really played games here," Ulrich said. "We only came when we needed to."

Janika looked at them. "I'm probably pretty low on life points. Jeremy?"

Before the mega-computer's operator could speak Ulrich slammed into her yelling, "Look out!"

As she fell to the ground with Ulrich on top of her, a beam of red energy blasted the spot she'd been standing a split-second earlier. Yumi's fan and Odd's Laser Arrow flew toward the source and there was an explosion.

Jeremy's voice came over. "Guys, what just happened? There was nothing on my sensors."

"It was a Rochster," Ulrich panted. He seemed shaken. "At least I think it was."

Yumi folded her fan and looked at Odd. "I didn't get a good look at it, but..."

"Yeah, I think so too," he agreed.

"What?" Janika wondered.

"Later. Let's get back home."

The dark-haired girl stood there as they wandered back toward the Tower nearby. "What is it? Hey! I want to know!"

(V)

"I win," Aelita said. "Janika lasted longer than five minutes this time."

Jeremy smiled. "Yeah sure. I guess I owe you an ice cream Sunday next time you feel like coming to our world."

"She is getting better. Is that the purpose of these 'games'? To improve?"

"Yes, and no. Janika wants to get better, but she also wants to have fun."

"I don't quite understand how being attacked by comrades constitutes as 'fun'."

Jeremy wasn't sure how to reply to that. "She's trying to test her skills on Lyoko against theirs."

"But she always loses. If she knows she will lose, why does she test herself?"

The blonde boy sighed hopelessly.