The Rival
"It's 17 degrees, quite a bit warmer than Vienna, Master Thomas", the middle aged butler greeted as he tried to make small talk. The blond haired, blue eyed youth ignored him completely, as he exited the shower room in a black silk robe. He took a towel from a silver platter the butler offered.
He went without comment or greeting to his bedroom, and looked out over the city scape spread before him.
"Home", he said without much enthusiasm. Thomas had just arrived back in Tokyo the day before.
"Farewell Master Thomas", three maids and the butler saw the young man off as he entered the limousine. Once again, he didn't acknowledge their existence in the slightest. Nor did he greet, or say anything, to the driver who knew where they were going this morning.
0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Masaru was doing some late morning running. The Blue Tooth device chimed, and Masaru paused to answer.
"We're picking up signs of digimon near you", he was informed. "Area C-7, can you handle it?"
"We're on our way", he disconnected. "All right!", he said to Dorumon, "our first assignment to kick some digimon ass officially", he celebrated. "Nothing like a good fight to break up the monotony".
Even though it was a Sunday morning, the three stoners were pretty much gone. They were sitting in front of a store that wasn't open, but there were vending machines nearby to slake their dry mouth from all the pot and hash they'd smoked that night.
"Nothing interesting ever happens around here anymore", the blond one was saying.
"I agree!", the ball cap wearing one replied.
"Hey, that's pretty good: throwing your voice while drinking soda. I didn't know you could do that".
"What're you talking about?", the one with a ball cap asked, as he hadn't been paying attention.
"Wow, fire", the bald one said. That was all the reaction the sight of a pile of trash set by the curb suddenly bursting into flame prompted. He stood as a fire digimon appeared.
"Way weird", he said as he watched it ignite another pile of trash next door.
"There he is!", Masaru said as he ran past the trio. The fire digimon spat a fireball at Masaru's feet.
"Metal Cannon!", Dorumon fired back. This attack proved ineffective.
"It went right through it!", Dorumon announced, as the projectile came down farther down the street. "I need to evolve..."
"It doesn't work that way", he had yet to figure out how to summon the DNA charge at will.
"Will you stop that!", Masaru reprimanded the digimon as it set yet another fire. There was little else he could do. How do you defeat an opponent who's as unsubstantial as a will 'o the wisp?
"What are those things?", one stoner asked another.
"I dunnow, a fire monster and a blue squirrel?"
"They're called 'digimon' and you'll never have to think about them again".
"Huh..."
Thomas energized the memory obliteration device he held. The stoners dropped, unconscious. This device, like a pen light, had a single LED that flashed in a sequence that could eradicate the victim's short term memory. Another relic of the Cold War that became possible only after that was was well over: LEDs bright enough, and also the processing power.
"Memory erase accomplished", he announced. Though he wondered if this was really necessary, given the condition these three were in. "Pursue and secure", he said to himself as he consulted a hand held.
"Gaomon", he called back into the limo.
"Sir, yes sir", replied what looked like a blue and white teddy bear who was wearing a pair of red boxing gloves.
DATS Headquarters
"I'm beat", Masaru was complaining.
"Don't worry about it", Yoshie informed him. "No one here thought you'd succeed, so you didn't let us down".
"What're you saying?", he challenged.
"It's your first time out, you and your partner are inexperienced. That's all I meant", Yoshie apologized. "You'll get better with time".
A new guy Masaru had not seen before arrived with a bright yellow digiegg decorated with an orange flame pattern. "Digimon secured", he announced as he placed it on the table next to Yoshie. He ignored Masaru completely.
"Hey Blondie, who're you?", he challenged.
"Pleased to...", Dorumon started, but the blue and white "teddy bear" dismissed him with a soft snort.
"Sort of a snooty bastard", Dorumon remarked to his partner.
"Hey!", Masaru challenged. "It's polite to at least say 'Hello'"
"Thomas is back!", two of the support techs squealed. Their uniforms greatly resembled those of elementary school girls. Now, they were acting as they were dressed.
"When did you get in?", one asked.
"This is such a pleasant surprise", the other agreed.
The new guy didn't acknowledge them either as he stood before the podium: "Commander Satsuma: Thomas H. Norstein reporting back from Vienna, ready for duty", as he threw Satsuma a crisp salute. "I studied your reports during the flight. There would seem to be an increasing number of incursions lately".
"And he's a brown noser too", Masaru told Dorumon.
"A what?", Dorumon asked, as he'd never heard that expression before.
"I'll explain it later".
"Do you think there's a possibility DATS could be overwhelmed by these incursions?", Satsuma asked.
"I doubt that", Thomas replied, paused as he shot a dirty look Masaru's way, "if you have the right teams in place".
Masaru made a show of exaggerated throat-clearing.
"Go on, introduce yourself", Satsuma told him.
"Why doesn't he introduce himself to me?!", Masaru complained. "I don't know who you think you are", he said to Thomas, "but I have the seniority here, even if it's only by three days. Dorumon and I are the best fighters here!"
"You are completely out of line", Satsuma reprimanded. "Thomas is your superior, and has the seniority. He's been working with our Austrian partners".
"Thomas and Gaomon are our best team", Kudamon added.
"Thomas has been here for well over a year", Yoshie explained. "We were having problems with our software, and Thomas figured out the bug in our operating system. That's why he's been overseas: working to fix the problem".
"Thomas is a genius", one tech was gushing. "He's also related to a prominent Austrian family: a real prince".
"And a Prince Charming!", the other added.
"Gaomon's fighting skills are the best of all the DATS digimon partners", Kudamon was explaining.
"And, unlike some teams, they are disciplined", Satsuma continued.
"We have to take orders from them?!", Masaru asked, incredulous.
"Allow me to say a few words about the new recruit", Thomas said to the Commander. "I don't believe they are fit to serve here at DATS, that they have nothing of any value to contribute, and that he be dismissed at once, and his partner sent back to the Digital World or assigned a new handler".
"Why don't you try saying that to my face. Look me in the eye!", Masaru challenged.
"Very well", Thomas turned to address Masaru. "You are not DATS material, your over confidence is matched only by your incompetence, and your partner would be better off with another handler - or back in the Digital World. You bring us nothing but trouble. There: happy now?"
"You sure are a pretentious asshole, Tommy..."
"That's Thomas H. Norstein to you and everyone else".
"Proved my point. Care to do your braggin' in the ring?", Masaru invited as he punched a fist into the palm of his hand.
"Believe me, that's the last thing you should want".
"Just as I suspected, talk, talk, talk: nothing but talk"
"Very well, but don't say I didn't warn you".
They reassembled in the boxing ring that was included in the DATS physical fitness center that served as a perk for all DATS employees. Lalamon and Yoshie were referees, and the techs came along as Thomas' cheering section. Dorumon being the only one present to root for Masaru.
"Your sparring helmet?", Yoshie offered.
"I'm not wearing one if he isn't wearing one", Masaru dismissed.
"OK, neutral corners. Three minute rounds; come out fighting at the bell, and keep it clean", Yoshie announced. Masaru and Thomas did the traditional face-off and fist bumps in the center of the ring before each took his neutral corner. Lalamon rang the bell.
Masaru came charging out of his corner, throwing himself at Thomas. His first punch caught nothing but air, as Thomas stepped aside at the last second.
"Just as I thought: you put all your faith in your power. No strategy, no tactics. Why did you join DATS anyway?", he asked, unconcerned.
"So I could put guys like you in your place", Masaru hissed at him.
"That's not much of a reason", Thomas said, as he landed a punch to Masaru's midsection, but not hard enough to knock him down. It did catch him by surprise. That didn't happen very often lately. This wasn't going to be as easy as he'd expected or hoped.
"Keep talkin'", Masaru challenged as he threw punches and kicks that missed completely.
"This is getting tiresome", Thomas told himself, as he landed a punch to Masaru's jaw that dropped him to cheers of the techs. Yoshie began the count as Thomas retired to his corner.
"...eight, ...nine, ...ten!", Yoshie announced, as Lalamon rang the bell. "Thomas wins!"
"Crude and vulgar people have no place with DATS", Thomas said as he was leaving the ring.
"'Samatter? Can't stand the sound of your own voice?", Masaru challenged as he got up.
"This match is over", Thomas reminded.
"What match? This is a serious fight, and it's not over so long as both of us are still standing".
With that, Masaru landed a punch that knocked Thomas down. The techs gasped at the unexpected sucker punch. ...
"Hold still", Yoshie reprimanded, as she was applying ointment and bandages to Masaru's cuts and bruises. "Just be thankful the fight was a draw. Thomas has beaten Olympic contenders in that very ring".
"That guy. I know the type. His mother squatted on home base, and he pops out thinking he hit a grand slam. Had one not one month ago in Algebra. Doesn't turn in his homework, and when the teacher was telling him that he didn't care if this Richie Rich didn't learn - he got paid the same either way, but that he might want to think about his own future. Know what he did?", Masaru asked, but didn't wait for an answer.
"He laughed at the teacher. Said that when he got out of college, he'd land a vice presidency and would be making more in a month than the teacher made all year. That's how his type are: university admission on a legacy, gentleman's C's and D's, then a bullshit vice presidency at Daddy's corporation. He'll run it into the ground, bail with his golden parachute, and it will be the working schlubs who pay the price when their jobs disappear. He won't care..."
"Thomas may be an overbearing snob, but you're no better..."
"Huh?"
"I've been to your house", Yoshi reminded him, "and your family isn't doing half bad. You're an anti-snob, and that's just the flip side of the same ugly coin. Besides, Thomas isn't like that. His father had nothing to do with Thomas' joining DATS. He didn't want Thomas to join DATS, and it was something he wanted to do on his own so he could have something he could call his own. Why don't you at least try to give him a chance?"
"Like the chance he gave me? Where does he get off telling the Commander I should be dismissed?"
"The Commander doesn't make his decisions based on what Thomas tells him".
Fortunately Masaru was saved by the klaxon before he could say the nasty come back he had in mind.
"Digimon signs in Sector C-82", one of the techs announced.
"Beginning analysis", the other replied. "Transferring to the main monitor".
"Isn't that Demimeramon?", Satsuma asked.
"Indeed it is", Kudamon confirmed. "Demimeramon have the ability to replicate at will. If one was left behind it's only a temporary set back for them. They proliferate at an astonishing rate".
The tech confirmed: "Eight... sixteen... thirty two... they're growing geometrically", she confirmed what Kudamon just said.
"The area wasn't properly swept and cleared", Kudamon agreed.
"You mean His Royal Highness screwed up?", Masaru announced with glee. "Leave this to us; we'll do the job right this time".
"I don't think so", Thomas disagreed. "We'll handle this case..."
"It's not your case", Masaru protested, "it's ours. We were assigned first. C'mon Dorumon...", as he headed out the door.
"Stand down Mister!", the Commander called out. "You're in no condition. Thomas, Gaomon, you go, and Yoshie: you and Lalamon accompany them".
"You and Dorumon should stay and observe how Thomas and Gaomon work together. You could learn something about team work from them", Kudamon advised.
"Dammit!", Masaru swore under his breathe.
"What was that, Agent Daimon?", Satsuma asked.
"Nothing, sir", Masaru replied. He knew he had no choice but to stay out of this fight.
Sector C-82
"Gaomon?", Thomas asked as they faced off with a group of demimeramon.
"Sir, yes sir!"
"Initiate Plan A", Thomas ordered.
"Double backhand!", Gaomon attacked, breaking up the fireballs the demimeramon had fired, scattering the fire digimon, but otherwise, doing them no harm.
"Plan A-2", Thomas called out. "DNA Charge!"
Gaomon digivolve toooo ...
... GAOGAMON!
The "teddy bear" had transformed into what looked like a blue and white Chow Chow but with exaggerated canines, and two fashion accessories: a bright red scarf, and two gold bands that held the braids from his ruff. Unlike the breed he superficially resembled, he had a golden star on his forehead.
"Implement plan!", Thomas ordered.
"Spiral Blow!", he attacked with an even more powerful version of his Rookie level attack. This one did it: broke up the demimeramon.
"Excellent team work", Yoshi congratulated, as she loaded the last of the digieggs into the trunk of the patrol car. "Like always".
"Three minutes and ten seconds: we beat our old record by nearly a minute", Thomas announced to Gaomon.
"Sir, yes sir!", Gaomon agreed.
"Demimeramon in Sector B-17", Yoshi was informed over her Bluetooth. Thomas and Gaomon over heard.
"Let's get on this", he ordered.
"Sir, yes sir!"
DATS Headquarters
"It's as though Thomas never left", Satsuma said, as he'd seen the whole fight on the main monitor.
"That's our Thomas", one of the techs said.
"And don't forget: he's so cute!", the other agreed.
"You see?", Kudamon asked. "There's a big difference between Thomas' and Gaomon's team and yours".
"Ohhhh...", Masaru had had enough. He ran for the elevator.
"You're not gonna stop them?", Kudamon asked.
"Not this time, and not just yet", Satsuma replied.
Masaru and Dorumon were running through the underground garage, as Masaru was unable to check a vehicle from the motor pool.
"Don't be disappointed just because Thomas is better than you", Dorumon was telling him. "I'm still your partner, and I believe in you"
"Says who?", he shot back, just as he tripped and fell.
"I didn't mean anything by it", Dorumon apologized.
"You're right: he is better than me. I'm just too stubborn to admit it. That wasn't a fight back there, it was a brawl. Not how to be a MMA champion. I have to admit: I still have a lot to learn", as he headed for the exit. "It's never been an easy thing for me... But you didn't hear me say that".
"Hear what?", Dorumon replied.
"Damn fire!"
"It's you again?", Masaru said, as this was the third time he'd met the old fisherman. "What're you doing here?" He was beginning to suspect that these meetings were not coincidences.
"Just what it looks like: trying to grill these fish".
He was tending to a portable grill, like a Swedish stove. DATS Headquarters happened to be on the river front.
"The wind's too strong now, and it keeps blowing the fire out before it can take".
"Yeah, that's happened to me too", Masaru agreed.
"If you learn to work with the wind, then the fire can burn brighter than ever. Learn to harness power, not extinguish it".
With that, his stove heated up enough to grill his catch.
Masaru understood that the old fisherman wasn't talking about the secrets of grilling fish.
"He's right about that, use the power..."
"Masaru", he was interrupted by his Bluetooth, "we have digimon signs in Sector B-42".
"That's near the refinery!", he knew that petrol storage tanks and fire digimon were not a good combination. "Onnit!", he called back.
Yoshi broke in: "We're at least ten minutes out".
"Leave everything to me. I can get there in three", as the tank farm was within sight. "C'mon Dorumon!"
"Stay out of there!", Thomas ordered.
"Enough, Prince Thomas, you can't get here in time"
"You're disobeying orders", Satsuma cut in.
"So sue me. This time, I'm gonna get those fireballs!"
"Dorumon, what other attacks do you have? Anything fire related?"
"Pepper Breathe, but that won't work...", he began to protest.
"Just do it!", Masaru commanded. "Like the old guy said, don't fight the power, use the power".
"Is he gonna blow the tanks?!", one of the techs asked.
"He can't!", Satsuma said, but that is what he feared.
"I told you he's nothing but trouble", Kudamon objected.
"Pepper Breathe!", Dorumon attacked.
"Again!", Masaru commanded.
"Pepper Breathe!", again, it looked like it did nothing.
"Keep firing!", Masaru commanded. "It's like the old guy said: you can blow out a little flame, or fight fire with fire", he said as he watched the three Demimeramon come together and fuse into Meramon.
"Now we have something to hit", he told Dorumon.
"Yeah, but now what?", he asked. "How will I evolve?"
"Hey hot-head!", Masaru called to Meramon.
"Huh?", he asked himself.
"Burning fist!", Meramon tried to retaliate, but missed. Masaru had what he wanted.
"DNA charge!"
Dorumon digivolve toooo ...
... DORUGAMON!
Yoshi and Thomas had arrived in time to see the transformation.
"I see. He made them transform to something more substantial", Thomas figured it out.
"Power Metal!", Dorugamon fired, taking out Meramon. Three digieggs dropped to the ground, so they had not actually digivolved, and there was just the one Meramon, not three.
"He did it!", the techs exclaimed.
"I didn't think he had it in him", Kudamon said in amazement.
"I told you we shouldn't write them off so easily", Satsuma reminded.
"So that's why you didn't try to stop them?"
"I expected them to go. I don't need mindless order-takers, but rather agents who can think on their feet and improvise".
"All traces of digimon are removed from the area", one tech announced.
DATS Headquarters
"And you said I couldn't handle the Demimeramon", Masaru taunted Thomas.
"Don't get cocky. You just got lucky. No way you planned that", Thomas complained.
"I wasn't the one who didn't do the job right the first time, and you aren't the only one who knows how to plan".
"Oh yeah..."
"THAT'S ENOUGH!", Satsuma roared.
"I've never seen him this angry", Yoshi quietly mentioned to Lalamon.
"Thomas, Masaru: from now on you two are working together as partners".
"Partners?!", Masaru asked, incredulous.
"You can't: he's too undisciplined and reckless", Thomas objected. "I can't work with him, besides, we work alone".
"My decision is final: you are partners".
"I dunnow 'bout this", Yoshi said to Lalamon.
"You have something to say, Agent Fujieda?", Satsuma asked.
"No, sir", she replied.