Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon

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Chapter 3: Gathering Part I

Gennai's House

R.J.'s POV

As soon as we appeared at Gennai's House, the older Digidestined greeted us. "Great job you guys," Yolei started.

Cody walked up to me and put his hand on my shoulder, "T.K. would be proud."

"Thanks Cody," I replied.

"I hate to ruin the celebration, but the fight is not over yet," Gennai interrupted, "Signs show a Drone portal opening in the city of Austin."

"Why Austin," Victoria asked out loud.

"We'll figure that out later," I replied, "What's our next move Gennai?"

"So does this mean your back," Davis asked annoyingly.

I looked over at him and smiled, "You better believe it; after all, can't have a team without a leader."

"Can't be a leader without a full team," Davis replied with a slight smile.

"And that is why that is the next move," Gennai interjected, "you need to gather the rest of the Digidestined."

"Let's do it," Funke yelled enthusiastically, "Who are they?"

"I'll pull up the files right now," Gennai said turning back to his computer.

Cody turned back to me again, "I'm glad you decided to return."

"I couldn't stand the thought of innocent people getting hurt, or having what happened to T.K. and the others happen to Funke and Victoria. It's my responsibility to make sure that doesn't happen," I replied.

Cody chuckled, "See, it's qualities like those that make it obvious that you are T.K.'s apprentice."

"Here they are," Gennai said. Funke, Victoria and I walked over to the screen and looked at the old pictures from 10 years ago. For some strange reason the faces all seemed familiar to me; it was only after observing the names that it hit me, "Oh shit."

"What is it," Victoria asked.

"I know them," I replied in shock, "all of them."

"Seriously," Funke asked rhetorically.

I walked over to the screen and pointed them out, "Dana Arismendez is a girl I knew back in high school because we did theatre together; I even had a crush on her for a while, but we were just friends. Keith Perkins and Brian Silva are two of friends from the school; Armando Covarrubias hangs out with us too but we just call him "Mando". Crystal Frost is a freshman; I just met her this month."

"That's convenient," Victoria commented.

"It's destiny," Gennai added.

"This is gonna be difficult," I added.

"What makes you say that," Yolei asked.

"Imagine if instead of getting your D3 first, T.K. and Kari had to actually go recruit you before you became Digidestined," I asked.

"Point taken," Cody answered, "but you know these people."

"The guys yes but that's still a lot to take in. I hardly know Crystal; plus, I haven't spoken to Dana in years," I explained.

"Is she hot," Funke asked.

"Funke," I replied annoyed.

"I'm just saying, if she is, then it's a good reason to talk to her again," Funke replied.

"She has a boyfriend Funke," I replied annoyed.

"Your point," Funke asked again.

"Funke," Victoria, Yolei and I yelled annoyed. Funke just laughed.

"Anyways," I changed the subject, "she's not even in San Antonio; she goes to a different school in...Oh no."

"What," Funke asked.

I realized the Drones plan, "she goes to school in Austin."

"Dude," Funke started, realizing what I had figured out, "They're going after Dana like they came after us."

"I don't get how, but they must've figured out a way to track us," I said.

"Which means they'll probably attack our school again too," Victoria deduced, "because the others are still there."

"So what's your next move," Gennai asked.

I thought for a few seconds on how best to handle bringing in my friends in so abruptly into this world; then I figured, abruptly might actually be the best option.

"How long until the Drones make it to Austin," I asked.

"Not long," Gennai answered.

"How many," I asked again.

Gennai turned back to his computer, "By the size of the portal, it shouldn't be more than 30."

"That's a lot for just going after one Digidestined," Victoria commented.

"Probably cuz they saw what three of us did to them," Funke added, "they probably don't wanna take any chances."

I turned to Funke and Victoria, "Alright, here's what we'll do; you two will go back to campus and get Keith, Armando, Brian and Crystal. I'll go to Austin and get Dana; we'll bring them back here and explain everything."

"You sure man," Funke asked, "I mean I'd rather go with you in case there's a fight."

"I'm sure there will be, but after seeing how they work today, I know I can handle 30 of these things," I replied.

"How do we convince them to come with us," Victoria asked, "can't we just send them Digivices and teleport them here like we were?"

"I think it's best if we bring them ourselves, saves us time; besides, I doubt 22 to 17 year olds are going to recognize Digivices at first glance, let alone pick it up."

"So how do we convince them to come with us," Victoria asked again.

"Just tell them they have to come; mention me if you have to," I answered.

"Really," Victoria said concerned.

"I know it sounds far-fetched, but if Gennai's right about this being destiny, I think there's a reason I ended up being friends with all these people; so I think we should use that," I explained.

"Sounds good to me," Funke said.

"Alright," Victoria said, "you're the leader."

"Alright then," I turned back to Gennai, "Gennai, is there a way for you to teleport me to Austin?"

"Already working on it," Gennai responded.

"Cool," I turned back to the others, "you two head back to campus; make sure you stay in your armor, just in case anybody else sees you." They both nodded and activated their armors; then they walked back up to the screen we came out of, "Good luck," I said.

"Relax, we got this," Funke said. He and Victoria put there D-Phones up to the screen, "Digi-Port, open," and they were gone.

As Gennai prepared the portal for me, I stood there nervously hoping that the others would listen to Funke and Victoria; I was even more nervous about how seeing Dana after almost three years and coming to her with this was going to play out, "Piece of cake," I said to myself sarcastically.

College Campus

Victoria's POV

Funke and I found ourselves back on campus; after I looked around to make sure no one saw us, and that we still had our armor on, I knew it was time to get to work.

"What do we do know," Funke asked.

I pulled out some photos I took from the files at Gennai's, "We need to find these people as quickly as we can."

"How," Funke asked again.

I had to think about it for a second, but then I got an idea, "we'll go around campus and just look; the school, and probably the city, is in a state of emergency so everyone is probably still here. We can probably get away with just walking around helping maintain order while we look for them." I took the one female file and gave the others to Funke, "I'll find this Crystal girl and you find the guys."

"Whoa whoa whoa, why do I have to find three," Funke asked.

"Because R.J. said that they're all friends," I explained, "so they're probably hanging out together and if they're not, they probably know where the others are."

"Fair enough," Funke said taking the pictures from me, "I'm gonna head to the student center; meet back here when we're done?"

"Sounds like a plan," I replied, "good luck."

"Same to you," I said as Funke headed off.

I turned and headed for the nearest building. I went inside and saw students in the hallway helping other students who had been hurt in the attack; a couple of campus policemen talking to a professor so I approached them and got their attention, "Excuse me."

One policeman recognized me right away, "You, you were one of those kids from earlier."

"What's going on here," I asked trying to change the subject.

"We're just maintaining some sort of order here until we get instructions from the city," the officer explained, "Some of these students are pretty shaken."

"Do you mind if I take a look around," I asked, "Just to make sure no one is too badly hurt."

"We basically have it under control, but be my guest," the professor said.

"Thank you," I nodded at them and walked away.

As I walked down the halls, I could see that the officer wasn't exaggerating; some students were still very much afraid and a lot more people were hurt than I thought. I could hear conversations going on all around me until something specific caught my attention, "Crystal…" I heard call. I turned my attention to where it was coming from and as luck would have it, there she was. She stood a bit shorter than me; she had nearly pale skin, blonde hair, and brown eyes. She wore a white top with jeans; she had a jean jacket, brown boots, and glasses. Suddenly, she walked away from the people she was talking to and headed around the corner. I fast walked around the corner myself and lucky found her by herself at a water fountain.

I took a deep breath, "Excuse me," she turned to me, "Is you're name Crystal Frost?"

She looked at me surprised, "Yeah…"

"And do you know a guy named R.J.?"

She looked at me confused, "I'm sure that's the name of that guy from the student center; hey, are you one of those fighters everyone's been talking about?"

"Yes," I answered as I pulled off my hood, "my name is Victoria Herrera and you're who I'm looking for."

"Okay?" she replied, "So how did you know my name?"

I took another deep breath, "Because I was sent here to get you."

"In relation to what," she asked intrigued, but still cautious

I hesitated, "I really can't say; unfortunately, you have to make the decision to come on your own before I can tell you anymore."

"Riiiiiighht," She said unconvinced, "Well I'm gonna go now," she said trying to walk away.

"Wait please," I pulled out her file in desperation, "please just look at this." She stared at the file before she took it from me; she grabbed it carefully and then opened it realizing it was about her, as her expressions started to change I tried to persuade her more, "Have you ever felt like you were meant to do something great; like there was a part of your life that you were missing?" By the way she stared back at me I could tell it was working, "I know this doesn't make any sense right now, but I promise that if you come with me it all will."

She looked back at the file, closed it and took a deep breath, "Okay, I'm in."

"Really," I asked excitedly

"Based on what you've shown me I guess it's at least worth checking out," she replied.

"Alright," I replied as I put back on my hood, "follow me." I led Crystal back to the grotto hoping that Funke was having the same luck I was having.

Funke's POV

The only place I could think to look for these guys was where R.J. said he always hung out with them, in the student center. So I decided to deactivate my armor for the time being to get around easier. I walked into the student center and saw a lot of people in there; still confused about what had just happened and waiting to be told they could leave. Suddenly I heard some mention the name Keith, one of the names on my list. I looked over in the direction it was coming from and there I saw three older versions of the pictures I had. The one called Keith a 6' 2" African-American with short hair and short facial hair; he was wearing capris jeans, a white and blue jersey and matching shoes. To his right was a 6' 5" Samoan kid who was a bit on the heavy side with short black hair, a thin mustache, and glasses; this was Brian. He was a red shirt, black basketball shorts and matching tennis shoes. To Keith's left was a really skinny Hispanic a little taller than me with medium length straight brown hair, a thin mustache/goatee and glasses as well; this was Mando. He was wearing a green shirt with khaki jeans, camo vans, and a beanie. I was glad that R.J. was right about them being together, now I just had to figure out how to approach them. As I was walking towards them I could make out some of their conversation…

"This shit is crazy bro," Brian stated.

"I know," Mando replied, "and they won't even let anyone leave campus yet."

"Man I hope R.J.'s alright," Keith said, "he didn't look too good leaving and it was right before all this shit went down."

"Maybe we should go look for him," Brian suggested, 'make sure he's alright."

"R.J's fine," I interrupted.

The three of them looked at me confused, "who are you," Mando asked.

"Name's Wayne, but everyone calls me 'Funke,' I'm a friend of R.J.'s," I answered.

"Yeah, I've seen you before," Brain pointed out, "You're in his fraternity right?"

"Yeah yeah yeah," I said rushing, "listen, R.J. needs you guys to come with me right now."

"Wait, what," Keith said confused.

"Yeah, like right now," I reiterated.

"Okay, why," Brian asked.

"I can't really explain until we get there, so the sooner we get there the better," I explained.

"And 'there' is," Keith asked.

"Well, I can't really tell you that either," I said as I scratched the back of my head.

"Riiiiiiight," Mando replied, "I'm gonna have to pass then."

"Yeah I'm not really a hundred percent on this either," Keith added.

The three of them began to walk away. I could only think of one other thing that might work. "Wait," I said in desperation, "what if I told you me and R.J. were the warriors from earlier?"

All three of them stop and turned around, "Imma need you to repeat that," Brian asked curiously.

"Well it was us and our friend Victoria but yeah," I answered.

"And we're just supposed to take your word for that," Mando added.

I figured that would be the case in saying what; luckily, I knew exactly how to prove myself, "Come with me," I said leading them outside. We walked over to a more secluded area and I looked around one last time to make sure no one else was around. "You guys ready," I asked the guys; they all nodded. I took out my D-Phone and activated my armor; the three guys took a step back in shock.

"Alright," Keith said surprised, "I believe him."

"Now will you come with me," I pleaded.

"Dude, I'm soooo down," Brian said enthusiastically.

"I'm definitely game," Mando said equally excited.

"Cool," I replied, "This way."

As I lead them back to the grotto, I couldn't help but smirk at the fact that it was finally happening; we were finally getting the team together.