DDLA Episode 2: "Digiworld 2004"!
Part 2: DigiWorld Return
Date: February 15, 2004
Time: 5:00 pm
Place: Kido apartment, Joe's bedroom...
"Hold it, hold it... right there... perfect!" Jim Kido said as he clicked off another picture on his digital camera. "All right, that's all I need. Next!"
After dealing with Oikawa's apartment, most of the Digidestined present there (save Cody and Armadillomon) had to hurry to make another appointment: picture taking with Joe's brother Jim. The pictures were to be used to decorate posters advertising both the new Digimon Club Jim was forming at the Odaiba branch of Tokyo University and the lectures on Digimon Sora's dad was going to give.
"There's been a lot of interest in the monsters over there, not the least of which being that they don't seem to be like any creatures known. I've gotten a surprising amount of attraction whenever I asked about the club, so I figure it's worth trying to at least get the word out." Jim had explained when he first asked to do the photo shoot. "Problem is, I need cool, I need cute, I need friendly. Which means pictures on posters. Lots of them."
Though it seemed a little imposing, the Digidestined reluctantly accepted Jim's invitation. It had been intended to be done in the afternoon, but the sudden opening of Oikawa's apartment forced a delay. As it turned out, the delay was actually needed because of Gomamon's persistence in trying to get into the camera shots. This naturally exasperated both Jim and Joe, and finally Joe was forced to shove Gomamon under a coat and "go for a walk with him" just to get him out of the way.
Once Gomamon was finally gone, Jim could sit down and begin taking pictures of the Digimon he actually wanted to take. He had started with pictures of Patamon and Gatomon, making them first so that Jim was sure he wouldn't come up short with shots of them, as he intended them to be prominently displayed on the posters. "After all, they do make excellent poster Digimon." Jim plainly stated as his reasoning.
There was no need to explain anything, though, as Gatomon hopped down from the photography stand she had been on top of and Agumon eagerly rushed up to the block to take her place. Despite the relative length of her session, there was not much grumbling among those waiting because the session had improved her general mood, something that shouldn't be compromised.
Kari scooped up Gatomon as Tai followed Agumon over to the improvised photo booth. "You have fun?" Kari asked her partner, to which the response was an eager nod.
"That's good. Because there's going to be more where this is coming from." Jim mentioned as he adjusted his camera tripod. "This is just the start of a big thing down there. Besides the Ankokuwas, the Digimon Club Prof. Takenouchi and I are starting is the talk of the campus!"
"Ummm... exactly how big is this going to be?" Matt asked, clearly showing a nervousness that suddenly appeared concerning Jim's enthusiasm.
Jim looked over at Matt with an eager grin on his face and said "It's going to be quite big; I actually didn't plan on doing it until later in the semester, but since the interest is here now, we're striking while the iron is hot, you know what I'm sayin'? As soon as we can get these posters up, it'll be the start of even bigger things: presentations, meet and greet sessions, a show on campus, even eventually a kabuki play if we can get enough people involved!"
"Woah woah, hold up! Don't you think maybe you're going too fast on this?" T.K. objected. He was quickly joined by several others, who piped up with objections about how big the operation was.
"We've only got one shot at doing this, and we need to be big so that it will stick, otherwise it will be all undone by the next Digimon attack." Jim replied.
"Well, we're hoping that there isn't another Digimon attack in the real world, particularly anytime soon." Tai proclaimed.
"I wouldn't be too sure about that, particularly considering the record with you guys." Jim cautiously replied, returning his attention to his camera...
The DigiDestined group members sighed, apparently seeing no point to further objecting to Jim; his mind was made up, and nothing was going to change it. An uneasy calm settled in the room as Jim began snapping pictures of Agumon.
To reduce the tension, Kari began small talk: "So, has Noriko told you yet?" she asked Matt.
"About what?" Matt replied.
"Well, we're having trouble figuring out how to format and write material for the 'Digimon 101' classes being planned."
"Shouldn't that be done by the Digimon themselves?" Matt asked, only being half-serious.
"See, that's the problem. All we have so far is what we know from our adventures, and apparently some things just defy explanation. I doubt anyone who doesn't believe in Digimon already would take us seriously."
"It could be said that Digimon themselves defy explanation, but Izzy and Ken will solve the mystery one day." Matt replied, again only being half-serious.
"Matt, life is complex. It always has been, it always will be." Izzy indignantly stated as a response, which caused a couple chuckles in the group and an annoyed look from Ken toward Matt.
Matt pretended to ignore Izzy's statement and changed the subject: "Anyway, while were on the subject, Sora told me about Hiroshi. He's been going to the flower shop after school to hang out and try to draw some nice ads for the shop, Digimon-free of course. They technically can't hire him as an artist, as that would be against the law, but Sora says that Hiroshi might get paid commissions by her mom for ad work he draws up."
"Wow, that's good!" Kari replied. "Is he getting paid now?"
"No, they're doing a trial run of his artwork in the shop in right now. If enough people like his drawings, he'll start getting paid commissions and maybe he can get some money for those drawings. Problem is, schoolwork is taking up a lot of his time, so he doesn't have much opportunity to practice or do artwork except on weekends."
"Yeah, that is a problem. Well, I hope that works out."
"Me too. What about, uh, Keiko? How's she doing?"
"She hasn't contacted me much actually. She brought some cookies a couple days ago to us, but I think she just prefers cooking for her family. She comes to the meetings, but I'm not sure she's big on doing one-on-one work though. Let's just wait and see, because the cookies were pretty good."
"All right that's good."
Silence fell for a minute before Kari spoke again: "T.K., you haven't told me anything about Takashi recently."
"Well, until the weather warms up, there isn't much chance for him to practice. And we have the same problem as Hiroshi: schoolwork always in the way." T.K. replied.
"Yeah, I know the feeling..."
Before anything else could happen in the room, many of the D-Terminals owned by the kids started beeping, indicating they had received new messages. At this, just about everyone else in the room (except Jim, who was merely annoyed that Agumon had run off after the beeping) was drawn attention to those who had gotten the messages.
The message turned out to be an "all-points bulletin" (meaning it was addressed to all the Japanese Digidestined that had been established before the new year) from Gennai, stating to come quickly to the Digital World as he had important news to share with them.
"What do you think it means?" Tai asked as a small chatter of worry and disbelief broke out amongst the group.
"The more important question is how to get to the Digital World? All the DigiPorts we used to use route to the Highton View Terrace gate, and that's been closed off." T.K. pointed out.
"I don't know, but Gennai must have made a way, otherwise he wouldn't have asked us to come. Now who's going?" Ken stated.
"It looks urgent, but I don't know how many of us can get there right now, or even available to try getting there." Matt stated.
"The four of us in the DDLA will try. This looks too urgent to ignore it." Izzy stated. Most of the other Digidestined looked at him like he wasn't exactly being serious.
"You mean your 'detective agency' is for real?" Davis asked.
"Sure, I meant what I said, every word of it. The DDLA is one method of organizing the group and allowing for a quick response without having to coordinate a huge group."
The DDLA members (Izzy, Tentomon, T.K., Patamon, Kari, Gatomon, Ken and Wormmon) went over to Jim to ask him where to find a computer while the others just looked at each other and shrugged shoulders, figuring that if a way was found in, they would be called if needed.
Jim, trying not to look annoyed at the fact that he was wasting precious time while the others talked, mumbled something about a computer in Joe's room. Izzy thanked him, then lead the other members to the room.
The computer was sitting idle, the monitor glowing with a picture of Gomamon as the background. "Anyone want to try? I don't think my Digivice will work." Izzy offered.
"I'll try." T.K. replied as he held up his D-3 to the monitor. "Digi-Port open!"
To both surprised and relieved expressions, a Digi-Port appeared on the monitor screen. However, it looked slightly different from the familiar screen they used before: the display of the opening was now circular, initially showing a bright white barrier. The D-3 beeped, and the barrier opened to show part of the Digital World. The screen flashed, and then the DigiDestined near it began to be pulled in...
As they traveled through the portal, the dream world in which the MaloMyotismon fight took place was glimpsed, here and gone in an eyeblink, before the Digital World appeared. The group was unsympathetically tossed out onto the ground in front of a TV set which would act as the portal back to the real world.
"Ouch! We've got to remember to watch our landings!" T.K. stated as he rubbed his sore behind.
"My concern is whether we're actually in the Digital World or not." Izzy stated as he got up and began to look around.
"Of course you are, where else would you be?" came a voice from behind the group. The members all quickly turned their attention toward the voice and saw a figure coming over a ridge behind them... a very familiar figure for some of the group members.
"LEOMON!" T.K. exclaimed as soon as he recognized the Digimon, and instantly both him and Izzy were running to meet him, hugging and greeting him like the old friend he was while Ken and Kari watched from where they were, looking at each other and scratching their heads.
Quickly Leomon was half-dragged over to Kari and Ken by an excited T.K. "Kari and Ken." T.K. breathlessly stated as an introduction.
"I know." Leomon graciously replied before turning to Kari, offering a hand to shake. "I've heard a lot about both of them."
Kari took the offered hand, her cheeks glowing a bright pink. Ken looked at Leomon with a confusing sense of deja vu.
"Something wrong Ken?" Izzy asked when he noticed Ken's behavior.
"I don't know. I can't put my finger on it, but he seems familiar for some reason..." Ken replied, trailing off as a flashback from his days as the "Digimon Emperor" jumped into his mind:
"Drat! He got away again! He's like those pesky brats, he always gets away from me!"he had said after another unsuccessful attempt at capturing a lion-like Digimon with a Dark Ring.
"Yes, master. There are always fish in the sea that get away. Now maybe you should find something easier to catch, like some Numamon maybe?" Wormmon had tentatively offered.
"Quiet! I happen to like a challenge, thank you very much! And don't you forget it!" the Emperor Ken angrily replied, pulling out his whip and cracking it near Wormmon to scare the Digimon into silence.
"Yes, master."
When he came out of the flashback, Ken felt a shiver go down his spine. He had come close to doing to Leomon what he had done to many other Digimon: controlling them through the Black Rings. Nevertheless it appeared Leomon had forgiven and forgotten, and Ken half-smirked as he too shook Leomon's hand.
"It is glad to see you all, but unfortunately something has come up while I was on my way here." Leomon firmly stated.
"What's up?" Kari asked.
"Gennai sent me to bring you all to his house to tell the news, but something bad has come up. The Primary Village has been threatened by intruders and some of you need to go there immediately to stop him."
"Intruders?" This seemed to be very bad news; had Oikawa's barrier already been compromised?
"Yes, though it doesn't appear to be either human or Digimon. They looks human, but they often seem to stop and listen for something, maybe directions from somewhere outside the Digital World. They could be manifestations of a dangerous program."
"How many of these intruders are there?" T.K. asked.
"Just two. One seems to be lead by the other, but both seem to need to listen for directions we can't find the source for. They've already captured most of the Digimon they've encountered, including many of your friends."
"What? How?"
"They seem to carry some kind of glowing green crystal that affects any attempt to attack them. I know this because I ran into them and when I attacked one of them held up the crystal. The attack was bounced back to me and nearly knocked me out. I only escaped because they had no intention about dragging me off. I've heard that they've used the crystal to weaken other Digimon, like how the Control Spires once worked; if exposed to it, they become too weak to fight back and are taken somewhere. I'm guessing that didn't happen to me because they only wanted to stop my attack."
"Would it have any affect on us?"
"We're not sure, that's part of the reason we summoned you. The other part is that Gennai requests Kari and Ken's presence, as he has someone waiting for them."
Kari and Ken looked at each other. The only thought of who it might be was Oikawa, but the only way to know for sure was to go and find out. They looked over at T.K. and Izzy, waiting for their response.
"It's all right. If we need help, we'll call to the real world and tell how to get there. You two can go to Gennai's and see what is going on there." Izzy stated.
"We're settled then. Kari and Ken will need to follow me to Gennai's. Primary Village is out that way." Leomon stated, pointing behind him as he spoke the last sentence.
"All right, Izzy and I'll get on it right away." T.K. stated, pulling out his D-3 as he did so.
"OK, but you must hurry. And be careful! We don't know how the crystal will affect your Digimon and the Digivices."
"Let's go! DigiArmor Energize!"
1001011010011101
Patamon Armor Digivolve to...
Pegasusmon, Flying Hope!
1001010111011100
1010010111011010
Tentomon Digivolve to...
Kabuterimon!
11101110111011101
T.K. and Izzy mounted their respective Digimon and flew off in the direction Leomon specified. After seeing them off, Leomon turned to Ken and Kari. "It will go faster if you can ride your Digimon so that I don't have to wait up for you."
"That's not a problem. Ken and Wormmon can ride with me on Nefertimon." Kari stated to Leomon before turning to her partner and asking if she was up to it. When Gatomon replied that she was, Kari pulled out her D-3. "DigiArmor Energize!"
111011010010111
Gatomon Armor Digivolve to...
Nefertimon, the Angel of Light!
110101101011100
Kari mounted Nefertimon, then helped Ken (who was holding Wormmon) up as well. Leomon pointed in the direction he wanted them to go, then took off running. Nefertimon quickly took to the air and followed Leomon toward Gennai's house, none certain of what was going to happen next...
The DigiDestined have returned to the Digital World, but many questions still remain unanswered, and the intruder now threatens one of the most important sites in the Digital World: Primary Village! Be sure to stick around for Part 3, "Oikawa's Woe", to see questions answered and villains confronted!
