Post-production note: I started and finished this series using only season 1 as a guide since it didn't come out until I'd almost completed everything. I also thought the only way for Jeremy to devirtualize them was through Towers since he didn't do that until...was it season 3?

Janika has moved to Kadic and helped thwart X.A.N.A. three times already: helping the gang reach a Tower through the treetops, deleting new monsters X.A.N.A. stole from her, and keeping Aelita from falling to her death. Now she may be the object of the evil computer's new plot...

Just for the record, I made up the name "Janika" and did not copy it from any band or company or whatever. I am a very original person who works with her own ideas (which is why I write fanfiction).

4-1: Freeze

(((-1-)))

Janika felt her pulse quicken as she raced across the barren landscape, her friend at her side. The cold seemed to emanate from everything around her, especially Yumi. They drew closer to the Tower and halted just outside.

The cheetah-girl lowered herself into a crouching position to inspect the place. Aelita was within and the coast appeared clear. Casting a final chilling glance in her direction, Yumi ran into the Tower's wall.

Janika nervously surveyed the area. This place was really getting to her head. She felt like something was always watching her. She turned around quickly, but nothing was there. After a few more moments she forced herself to relax. Jitters. Just jitters.

With an apprehensive sigh she leaned against a huge light-colored root. It felt warm for some reason. Daydreams and memories began to pester her. If only Odd hadn't squealed on her the week before then Yumi never would have started competing with her for Ulrich's affections.

But if Ulrich would only spend more time with her, she knew he would see something that made her special.

If. That in itself was the catch. Anytime she got too close, her mouth gummed up and her thoughts got stuck in quicksand. What was she doing wrong? Why didn't he ever look straight at her? Odd always looked at her. He was kinda cute and funny sometimes. But still...

Janika's eye caught a strange light. It passed through the pale rootlike structure she was leaning against. One of her weapons was in her hand in a flash. Nothing happened. She eased up a bit.

Maybe her eyes were just playing tricks on her. With a flourish she experimentally tossed the shuriken at the weird root. It held fast.

(V)

A red beam of energy traveled along the root's path, intent on taking control of another Tower. Something was in its way! Unable to stop, the energy encompassed the strange program that was blocking it. The program was linked to a larger one... one with a consciousness.

(V)

Suddenly Janika saw bright lights streaking across her vision! Explosions went off in her brain and her body shook from the shock. The feeling was gone in a second, but she leaned heavily on her hands, her chest feeling constricted. Numbness settled on her limbs, dragging them down. What just happened?

The teenager stood up unsteadily. Her knees trembled. Where were Yumi and Aelita?

"J-Jeremy?" she stuttered.

"Right here, Janika. Is something wrong?"

"Maybe. There's a root and...I feel weak. How are my stats?"

There was a pause as the computer's operator brought up her information. "Everything checks out. Lifepoints are at maximum. How do you feel?"

Janika ignored the question as she tried to stay on her feet. She swayed precariously. "Where are Aelita and Yumi?"

Jeremy called and the two girls answered promptly. "They're inside. Maybe you should join them."

"I guess so."

She started walking, but as soon as she'd taken a step, she fell flat on her face. Janika groaned, but made no move to get up. All strength was being sapped from her body, ebbing as though she were being drained dry by some sort of Lyokan vampire.

Jeremy was getting very worried. "Maybe I should materialize you."

Just then the two girls left the Tower. They stepped out into the frozen landscape and started at the sight of Janika lying on the ground without moving.

"Jeremy, what happened?" Yumi demanded. "Was she attacked?"

"No, she just tripped."

Aelita ran over to her friend. "I was finishing the survey of the area to find the Tower I thought X.A.N.A. might be trying to activate next, but it wasn't even touched. I must have made a miscalculation."

Jeremy recalled the reason they were there: to test Aelita's prediction of X.A.N.A.'s attack-pattern and stop him before he could warp Earth's reality again. But it looked like there wasn't a pattern and all the assaults were whims of a thinking creature that operated through both logic and chaos. Like a human.

"Never mind. I don't know what's wrong with Janika. Can you take her inside the Tower so I can materialize her?"

"Of course."

Yumi and Aelita both took an arm and carried their friend toward the Tower. She moaned again and tried to say something, but it was soft and hard to distinguish. The taller girl did catch her whispering Ulrich's name and nearly dropped her right there.

Once inside, Jeremy pressed a combination of keys and Janika vanished from Lyoko. Yumi looked at Aelita. "What was wrong with her?"

We all know where this is going. Oh, and this chappie was dedicated to Tanzi to keep her from whining at me. (She's kind of a crybaby).