1-7: Left Behind

Not that! Anything but that! But how did X.A.N.A. get the doggone thing up there?

(((-7-)))

The Megatank took aim. Everyone waited to see which way it would fire. As the monster's center appeared, they leaped out of the way. All but Janika, who didn't know what to expect.

The burst of energy caught her hard in the midsection. She cried out, her face contorted in pain. Odd flew past her in a bound, firing arrows as he went. The Megatank wasn't prepared for the barrage and perished in a fiery explosion for that mistake.

Ulrich rushed to her. She couldn't keep the pain out of her voice. "I didn't know what it felt like until just now." She stared nervously at them. "What happens if I lose all my life points?"

"You'll materialize back home. It's one heck of a trip, though, so I wouldn't recommend it," Odd supplied.

Janika looked down at her spotted tail as she rubbed her middle. "Thank you for killing it."

"You're welcome."

The young samurai helped her to her feet. "Maybe you should stay behind. You've helped us, but now it would probably be best for you to rest here."

She nodded miserably. "I wish..." Janika stopped and cleared her throat. She turned to Aelita. "I noticed you don't seem to have a weapon. Take this." She handed the virtual girl a shuriken.

Aelita took it. "I appreciate it."

"Don't thank me until it saves you." The teenage girl swallowed forcefully and gave a half-hearted smile. "See you on the other side. Don't wait up for me."

Reluctantly, the three teammates left her behind.

(V)

Yumi rushed to her friend's side, worried. "Do you feel ok?" she asked, dropping the bar.

"If I did I would be standing up right now. Don't pester me. I just feel a bit tired." He pushed weakly at her.

"Not good, Jeremy. Sit still. I'll put my backpack under your head."

He chuckled dryly. "I guess your textbooks would be softer than the floor. Yeah, soft..." His head lolled to one side and he stopped moving.

"Jeremy?" He was out cold, his pulse slow and his breathing irregular. She shook his shoulder, but there was no response. "Don't do this to me! Wake up!" She didn't know what to do!

Yumi looked around as she heard something like metal sliding against metal. She stood up and spun about. A pair of wicked scarlet eyes glared out from the inky shadows in the corner where the green glow of the hologram couldn't reach.

It was back.

She froze, paralyzed with fright. If it had poisoned Jeremy without any qualms, then there was no doubt it would do the same to her in a heartbeat.

X.A.N.A.'s creature slithered toward the globe of Lyoko and reared up to reach the sphere. Yumi snapped out of her lethargy and grabbed a chair. The snake's eyes narrowed as the foolish girl tried to herd it away.

"If you do anything to them..." She left the threat incomplete. X.A.N.A. could fill in the blanks. He was smart enough.

Yumi swung the chair and struck the tile where it had been a second earlier. The snake was deadly quick! As she tried to recover from the lunge, fangs pierced her calf. The pain was so intense that she dropped her only weapon. With a shout, she grabbed the metal snake's tail and yanked it away. She bit back a louder cry as its teeth tore away from her flesh. It flew across the room and slammed up against the wall.

Dragging one leg, she managed to reach the computer. "Guys, we have a real problem here. Hurry up! Jeremy is seriously hurt and I just got bitten."

"Yumi, you go bitten?" Ulrich's voice came over. "By what?"

"Janika's laptop. X.A.N.A.'s taken control of it. Yaaahh!" She leaped up as the snake struck at her from behind but her leg slowed her down. "Now would be a good time to deactivate the Tower, Aelita!"

Yumi jumped over the creature and staggered as fast as she could to the far side of the room. She hoped it wouldn't take too long.