2-7: Termination

Well, she's doing it. She'll be hero of the day. Maybe Ulrich will admit he likes her back once she proves she can be useful.

(((-7-)))

Janika found herself in the thick of battle. The final Krab had been demolished, but a laser from one of the two remaining Ratts took Yumi out just as the dark-haired girl appeared. Ulrich sent Aelita running again and used Impact on another Ratt.

The last one hissed menacingly and turned to Janika standing there unarmed. She held up her hand as the Samurai ran toward her.

"No, Ulrich. I have to do this or else X.A.N.A. will have control of the Ratts forever." Her voice was almost too quiet, and she spoke slowly as though nothing were wrong in the world.

Ulrich stepped back and observed. She stood still as it converged on her using its quick little legs. The knee-high monster shot a laser, but Janika hardly flinched. She was completely calm.

(V)

"What is she doing?!" Odd yelled.

"The program downloaded into her acts like a sedative. She's losing lifepoints even without that Ratt's help. She probably doesn't even know she's being attacked!" Jeremy turned on his friend. "Now do you understand why I didn't want to do this?"

"All I know is that she knows what she's doing," he replied stubbornly.

(V)

Aelita reached the destructive Tower, disappearing inside. She walked to the center of the symbol and then floated up to the platform high above.

Ulrich watched in amazement as Janika walked toward the Ratt, intent only on its bristling, spiky form. It seemed to be confused now, staring in awe as the cheetah-like person continued to advance without any fear or revulsion. She was close. Two steps away.

It calmed, its eyes changing from furious red to a somber blue.

Lyoko's sole inhabitant placed her hand on the screen and was identified.

Janika knelt in front of the Ratt, crooning strangely. "You'll be better now."

She picked it up and held it close, the deadly spikes driving inter her body. Her lifepoints circulated down to zero and she faded from existence. Ulrich watched as the strange rodent gave a soft, contented squeak and vanished along with her.

Aelita entered the code and the past reasserted itself...

(V)

The four friends stood together in the school's courtyard. Ulrich looked at Jeremy. "What happened? She just walked over and picked the Ratt up, then they both disappeared."

Jeremy seemed detached. "The Ratts were originally her creations. Even though X.A.N.A. stole them, their programs were written by her and once they were given artificial intelligence in Lyoko, they could remember where they came from. In other words they had an affinity with Janika."

"You mean like the same affinity you and Aelita have?" Odd snickered.

He tried to disguise his flushing face with anger. "Be serious! It's not even a good analogy because I didn't create Aelita."

"Jeremy," Yumi interrupted, "he's just trying to embarrass you. Ignore him."

"R-right. Anyway, despite being controlled by X.A.N.A., they always attacked Janika when she was there because they recognized her. She took their primary program and made an opposite that would nullify all of them if they devirtualized her directly." Jeremy shook his head. "I just hope she did it in time. If Aelita put in the code before she disappeared, she might not have survived."

The gang all looked down, hoping this wasn't the end of their friend.

"Well, then I guess you'll be disappointed, because I did." Everyone turned around as Janika joined the group. "I figured you guys might need a little help later on down the road, so I stuck around. Besides, it's always fun to make you think I died and then sneak up when you guys aren't looking!"

Odd slapped his friend on her back. "Glad to have you back! Just...tone down the drama, will you?"

How nice! Everyone survived and the world returned to normal with no bad consequences. Now what other methods of madness will X.A.N.A. come up with? Seriously. I can't think of any. I need reader-input here.