Meteorite Attack!

Karen

All the dragons flew through their routines normally. Then Yumi was given a job among the smaller dragons, and…blue –

Their schedules ran normally, and they all were talking in Jeremie's room, with Yumi making a comment that sparked a laugh.

I opened my eyes. This was not what I had in mind. What would we be doing in Lyoko? Anyway, I was all ready to avoid a repetition of the problem two days ago.

We were sailing through the digital sea in the Skid. I looked over my shoulder nervously.

"It's so strange to be without my wings. Oh, and Jeremie? You'll have to launch a return trip at some point."

"Okay, but why?"

"Why else? An activated tower. And if you were asking why I'm telling you, it's because I don't want to be on Lyoko when it's launched."

Odd got a little cocky. "Ooh, someone's getting touchy."

That did it. "Odd. The last time I was on Lyoko during a Return to the Past, I was seeing humans as dragons. For a week and a half. Do you honestly think I'm interested in repeating the experience?!"

Jeremie stopped any other comments. "Okay, okay, we all get the message. Don't worry, Karen; if I still have time, I'll bring you back to Earth."

I settled back in my seat. I couldn't ask for more than he could give, and he might not have time.

Then Jeremie told us to turn around: an activated tower on Lyoko.

Yumi

I was just getting tired of dealing with my brother in this solar system project. Hiroki could really be a pain, and when Johnny was with him, it could be near impossible getting them to work. Then Jeremie called, telling me about the activated tower. Brilliant news to me!

I was almost to the sewers when it occurred to me that the school must be evacuated, so I turned around and went back.

It was more than a little frustrating getting Jim and Mrs. Hertz to believe me, but then some of the meteors came into the atmosphere, silencing their complaints quickly. After getting permission from Mr. Delmas, the students started moving away from the school.

Jeremie called me, though. He told me to get his laptop up to the top of the science building and hook it up to the antenna, so that he could try to take control of the satellite again and change the meteorite's path.

Well, what did I have to lose?

Aelita

All of us were trying to destroy Xana's monsters so that we could get to the tower. The trouble was, William was with them, coordinating their attacks.

Odd wound up getting shot, and I ran over to help him, with Karen hovering just above both of us. And then I noticed something strange: the Tarantulas started shooting at Ulrich instead! Odd and I were the vulnerable ones, even with Karen right there, and they were shooting at Ulrich!

That gave me an idea. I flew upwards, getting Karen's attention, and landed in front of the boys. After a second, Karen followed suit.

Odd asked, "What are you doing, Aelita?" He sounded like he thought I was crazy.

I answered, "Forcing Xana to make a choice."

William just stood there for the longest time staring at us. Then he smirked, like he thought this was easy, and started walking towards us.

I glanced back. "Odd, devirtualize me."

"What???"

Karen spoke up, forming a fireball in her hand. "You devirtualize me, and I'll do the same."

I shrugged and tossed an energy field at her while she pitched her fireball. When the scanner opened, I looked over at Karen with a smile. "Sometimes in order to win, you have to know how to lose."

Karen just smiled.

I went back up to Jeremie and explained to Yumi over the phone as the attack was neutralized, "Xana wanted to capture either me or Karen more than he wanted to destroy the supercomputer. With both of us on Earth, he couldn't do either."

Then it was Jeremie's turn to talk: "Return to the Past now."

Karen

I rubbed my head ruefully. I may not be seeing dragons anymore, but the return trips always made me feel strange.

Yumi came in and Odd asked, "So, how did it go?"

"You might not believe this, but we got the highest grade!"

After we all congratulated her, she tossed a small ball in the air and continued, "So I decided to keep Johnny's moon. I owe him that much, even if he doesn't remember anything."

Ulrich commented, "So your brother isn't as bad as you make him out to be, is he?"

Yumi sort of backed off that subject. "Yeah…he can be pretty handy when he wants to be. That's what worries me."

I asked, "Really? How come?"

Yumi closed Jeremie's door and turned around. "Because now I know that it's pointless locking the door to my room."