A/N: Sorry to anyone who read the last chapter when it was first posted. As Count Morningstar pointed out to me a review the name of the entity at the dark ocean is Dragomon not Daigomon as I originally had in the previous chapter. I'm not sure why I thought that was his name but anyway. I have since fixed it but I figured I should mention it so that people don'e get confused when the name changes.
Worlds Apart
Chapter 9: Time
"I hope I was some help to you" Gennai said as he opened the door to allow them outside.
"Well at least now we know what we're up against... Do you know where they live?" Tai asked.
"Sorry Tai... They move around... No telling where they are right now" Gennai added, averting his eyes.
"For what it's worth... Liam and Exer might be trying to use you to get something done... But I don't think they're evil" Gennai added as the group walked away. No one gave him a reply. They were all buried to deep in thought. They reached the top of the ridge where they had all met and sat down under the large tree again.
"So... Where do we stand?" Cody asked. "As far as I can tell we aren't really any better off then when we started."
"We know more about them then we did this morning and that's a good thing" Izzy said, rubbing his forehead.
"I think for now we should wait" Tai said abruptly.
"You want us to just wait so they have more time to prepare for whatever it is they're preparing for?" Davis asked in disbelief.
"We've beaten back their monsters... Balls in their court now... I agree with Tai" Ken said, stretching.
"We can't just wait around while these... things plot against us!" Davis insisted.
"You think we should fight them?" Kari asked sarcastically. "Look Davis they aren't working overtly against us... At least as far as we know, so for the time being the only thing we really can do is wait. Even if we wanted to fight them where the hell do they live? I doubt they're in the yellow pages."
"I agree with Davis actually" Rika chipped in. "I think we should at least try to find these two and talk to them."
"And if they attack and try to kill us?" Yolei asked warily.
"Look guys I agree they're shady but so far they haven't done anything other then help us" Matt said exasperatedly. "If the time comes when we need to put them down we will. Until then I think we should assume they're on our side and assume their plan will benefit us."
"Fair point" Henry said, looking at Matt.
"I haven't heard anyone explain how the hell we're even supposed to find them yet" Takato said. A moment later she snatched her D-Arc from her belt and began looking through the functions on it.
"What are you-" T.K. began to ask.
"Liam mentioned something yesterday about us being able to contact them through our D-Arcs... But it looks like it's just an e-mail address" Takato concluded, sounding disappointed.
"Well then I guess we should send them an e-mail and ask to meet... Everyone agree?" Tai asked. There was a general murmur of approval.
"I'll contact them and send you guys the details" Takato said, checking his watch. "And now if you guys don't mind it's nearly seven o'clock so we should probably all get home." The group said their good bye's and departed. The tamers landed back in Rika's living room.
"I should probably go" Takato said immediately. "I snuck out last night to fight that monster so I'm gonna have hell to pay for this one."
"I can give you a ride home if you like" Henry said.
"Well I'll see you two later." Rika said as the two turned and left.
"So... What were you doing at Rika's house so early this morning?" Henry asked snickering as he turned the key to his car.
"Nothing like what you're thinking I was doing" Takato said flatly.
"What did you think he was doing?" Terriermon asked from the backseat.
"Uh I'll explain later Terriermon" Henry said, regretting he had brought up the subject.
"I went with Liam after the battle last night to check on Rika. Exer did some weird stuff that was supposed to heal some of injuries so I wanted to stay and make sure she hadn't poisoned her or anything" Takato said.
"So that's why you didn't go home last night" Henry laughed. "That's gonna go over really well with your parents."
"Henry... If they kill... Bring Guilmon bread will you?" Takato asked.
"Will do" Henry said as he pulled up in front of the Matsuki bakery. Takato climbed out and the car departed. Takato stepped inside and knew immediately he had crossed a hard line. His parents were sitting at the kitchen table. His mother had her hands behind her head, leaning back and his father was resting his head on his hands. They were both looking straight at them.
"Uh hey Mom... Dad" Takato said awkwardly.
"Do you have any idea how worried we were?" his mother asked. She sounded as though she was trying not to cry.
"I'm sorry but I had to... There was a Digimon that would've destroyed my friends if I hadn't gone" Takato said. Despite the fact that he felt justified in leaving, the pain in his mothers voice sent him on a guilt trip. "Look Mom... Dad... There's a chance that soon something might happen... Nothing like the D-Reaper but still something bad... If it does then I'm going to have to be a large part of it... With or without your approval." Takato expected his parents to be angry or scared, he never could've predicted what happened next.
"Look Takato" his father said in a resigned voice. "You've grown up a lot faster then we wanted you to have to... Hell you work at a government agency and your still a few month shy of seventeen... I guess what I'm trying to say is... Whether we like it or not... Your a man now... And I guess we need to treat you like one." Takato blinked thinking he must be halucinating.
"Uh... Seriously?" Takato asked in amazement.
"We've been treating you like you're just an average teenager... But you aren't... You and your friends are exceptional and I guess it's time we give you the space to do what you need to do" his mother said still sounding emotional. "But whatever happens Takato. You're still my little boy you know!" Takato walked over and hugged his mother.
"I think she's trying to tell you to leave a note next time" his father added. After a moment Takato let his mother go.
"I'll try to remember that" Takato said.
"So what's this danger we might be in?" his other asked. Takato sighed knowing it would take a long time to explain the events of the passed few days.
Meanwhile in the digital world Gennai was trying to get some answers of his own. He dropped out of a data field in front of a large mansion. Gennai walked up and without knocking threw the doors open as hard as he could. They banged against the walls causing a loud crashing sound as we walked in.
"LIAM!" Gennai yelled.
"You know we have this new technology... It's called a door bell." Liam said from near by. Gennai looked over to see Liam sitting in a large reclining chair with his feet up, reading a book. It was the first time in a while Gennai had seen Liam wear anything other then his trench coat. Today he was clad in a pair of blue jeans and a black t-shirt. Liam set the book aside looking up at his old friend.
"What the fuck are you doing?" Gennai asked angrily, walking towards him.
"Reading "All Quiet on the Western Front"" Liam said in a would be casual tone.
"You know what I meant!" Gennai said still nearly yelling. "With the children! The tamers and the children!"
"As I understand the tamers are still children themselves by most peoples standards and you can drop the blind rage thing... The yelling is getting annoying." Liam said in an even tone. "And how did you find out about that anyway?" Gennai took several calming breathes before he spoke again.
"They came to me... Together asking questions about you and Exer... They said you brought them together... What the hell are you thinking?" Gennai asked. "You know it's one of the Sovereigns most fundamental laws... The worlds must know NOTHING of one another!"
"Yeah because listening to the Sovereign has worked out so well for me in the past!" Liam spat back. Anger flaring up at the mention of the Sovereign. "I think if I see fit for the worlds protectors to know about each other then they will know! And if the Sovereign don't like it they can find themselves another pawn."
"And what if they do?" Gennai asked harshly. "What if they destroy you both and whatever the hell this is comes to nothing?"
"Then it amounts to the same thing!" Liam was the one shouting now. "For too long we've been playing this game. Them looking down on us from their fortresses in the sky. Gennai I've had enough of picking up the pieces! I have a chance to get ahead of something here and I'm going to... If you feel like you have to tell the Sovereign then do so... We won't blame you... But don't come in to my house acting indignant because I defied the Gods you so foolishly place all your trust in!" Liam finished breathing heavily.
"So this is what it's come to?" Gennai asked.
"You can either be loyal to me or loyal to them" Liam said coldly.
"What the hell is this plan supposed to accomplish anyway?" Gennai asked.
"I can't tell you" Liam said, turning away.
"From what they told me, you've been trying to kill them" Gennai said. "And I know that's not true."
"We've been trying to get rid of some of our old enemy's... We've been having them fight them for us" Liam said, picking his words very carefully.
"It sounds to me like your just toying with them" Gennai concerned. "You and Exer are much stronger now then you were them. If you wanted the Zodiac dead... They'd be dead."
"That's not exactly true... Anyway I promise there's a larger plan at work here" Liam replied, turning to face Gennai again. "I'll understand if you go to Azulongmon with this... But it won't change anything."
"Just tell-" Gennai began before a loud bang interrupted him. Exer threw one of the doors open and slumped against the door frame. It was dark outside now and it was raining hard outside. Exer's clothes were soaked through. She had the look of someone who was on the loosing end of a fight. Several cuts ran across her face, her clothes were torn in various places and her eye's were a deep blood red. She took another step forward and began to fall forward.
Liam moved over to catch in a flash. He turned her in his arms so he could carry her over the couch but she cringed pushed him away. She hit the floor hard, landing on her side. Gennai saw a large number of black stingers, at least half an inch in diameter protruding from her back around her should blade. Blood was seeping out from around them. Liam saw them too. Gennai and Liam each got under one of her arms and carried her over to where she could sit down in the one of the nearby chairs. She sat with the back of the chair in front of her. Resting her chin on it. Liam pulled her cloak off before walking away towards the bar in the room..
"The hell happened to you?" Gennai asked amazed. He hadn't seen her in this much pain since the Demon revolts during the rebuilding of the digital world.
"I went to visit some old friends... They weren't happy to see me" Exer said through gritted teeth. Liam returned with a large knife and a mason jar full of clear liquid.
"You're seriously doing this?" Gennai asked in disbelief as Liam dipped the knife in what Gennai knew was moonshine before passing the jar to Exer who took a large drink.
"You got a better plan MacGyver?" Liam asked.
"No" Gennai admitted after a moment. Liam cut away what remained of the back of her shirt so he could get at the stingers easier before seleting one and trying to excise it.
"So Gennai... What brings you here?" Exer asked before biting her tongue to avoid screaming as the first stinger came out. Blood poured down her back.
"Talking to Liam about what you two are planing with the destined children and the tamers" Gennai said. Exer game him a look of confusion just before Liam cut another stinger out and she let out a hair raising scream.
"How do you know?" Exer asked, blinking away tears.
"They came to me and asked me about you" Gennai replied. He couldn't believe he was having this conversation under these circumstances.
"Smart kids" Exer said. She gritted her teeth again as another stinger was pulled.
"Sorry... These things have barbs on them so I either have to cut or tear them free" Liam said as Exer trembled.
"It's okay... Are the wounds healing?" Exer asked.
"No they don't appear to be clotting" Liam said working on another stinger.
"The hell were you doing at the dark ocean anyway?" Gennai asked. Exer gave him a curious look. "I recognize those kinds of stingers... The only things that shoot those poisonous stingers are Dragomon's DarkWaspmon"
"I can't say" Exer said, turning her head to look the other way.
"What can either of you?" Gennai asked angrily.
"Nothing... and you should leave" Liam said as he toar the last stinger out of Exer's back and she let out another scream. "I forgot this poison makes healing them by normal means nearly impossible... I'm gonna have to sear them shut and I don't think you want to see that again." Liam said darkly.
The memory Liam was refering to came back to Gennai instantly. He could see Exer laying face down on a table with her back slashed open and blood pouring out. He could see the two Knightmon holding her arms down as Liam approached with a handful of red fire. He could hear her screams begging him to make the pain stop. Gennai shook his head. "Very well" Gennai said. He then turned and departed without another word.
"Think he's remember what we're remembering?" Exer asked.
"I know he is... That's why I reminded him of it... Certainly not one of our most glorious moments" Liam replied.
"Compared to that this should be easy" Exer said as she felt Liam create the fire he needed. She pulled part of her cloak up and bit down hard on it as he touched the fire to her skin. It only took a few minutes for Liam to burn the wounds shut. It was something he had gotten a lot of practice at over the years.
"You want anything?" Liam asked.
"I want this shit to be over" Exer said spitting out the cloth she had bitten down on.
"I know... I do too" Liam said softly. "Did you get what we need?"
"A dozen ampules of black water... I didn't want to get them out in front of Gennai but they're in the pocket of my cloak." Exer said resting her head on the back rest of the chair.
"Okay... We're going to have to speed things up now since Gennai's involved... But for now you need to rest" Liam said. He helped Exer off of the chair. When acted as though she might fall again he stepped in front of her. "Put your arms around my neck so I can carry you without touching your wounds". Under normal circumstances Exer would have been too proud for such treatment. However between the pain, poison, exhaustion and alcohol she decided it wasn't worth refusing. Liam carried her upstairs to their bedroom.
"Thanks" Exer said weakly. She let go of his neck and let herself fall onto the bed. Almost instantly sleep overcame her. Liam chuckled. He pulled the covers over her and switched off the lights on his way out. Liam jumped the banister and landed next to where he had laid the cloak Exer had been wearing when she returned. He found the ampules exactly where she said they would be. He took 6 of the glass tubes that were filled with a jet black substance that no one would have believed was water.
"I'm sorry this couldn't be done differently T.K." Liam muttered to himself as he pocketed the objects. "But it looks like we're just about out of time."
A/N: Whether you love it or hate it please review it and let me know!
