Chapter 20: The Favor

"Tai said he'd be right here," Gatomon said as she returned to our room.

"Great. Thanks, Gatomon," I said.

"Kari, are you really sure this is a good idea?" she asked me. She was still eying Aerial suspiciously as the alien explored the room.

"Of course I'm sure, Gatomon. Look how cute he is," I told her, laughing. "Besides, even Gaustal said he didn't see any reason why he would be dangerous. According to him Caleb doesn't lie very often."

"Very often?" Gatomon asked.

"Stop being so skeptical all the time, Gatomon. I wouldn't want all your fur falling out," I said, finally eliciting a smile out of Gatomon. "Come on, why don't you talk to him?"

"I don't know," Gatomon replied.

"Oh, just try it. I was teaching him to say your name, see," I said as I beckoned Aerial over. He jumped up onto the bed next to me. "See Aerial, that's Gatomon. Can you say Gatomon?"

"Ggggaaaattttaoaoao-" Aerial forced the syllables out of his throat. His mouth clearly wasn't made for speaking Japanese. "Mrmrmrmrooonnn," The growl was almost becoming distinguishable.

Gatomon jumped up onto my lap and looked at Aerial. She reached a claw out toward his head carefully. Aerial snapped his head up and caught Gatomon's paw gently between his teeth. Gatomon tried to jump back in surprise, but Aerial's teeth had a firm grip on her claw. It didn't hurt her though. I knew that from experience.

"Kari, it's biting me," Gatomon said, still trying to pull her paw away.

"I know. I think that's how he shows he likes you," I told her. "Let go, Aerial." Aerial obeyed immediately, looking up at me and growling.

"Mmrraa, mmrraa," he said. I rubbed his head lightly and he snapped back to bite my hand again. His bite was very gentle, not even leaving a mark on my skin.

"See Gatomon, he's just being friendly," I told her.

"I guess so," Gatomon said. Just then I heard a knock at the door.

"Kari, can I come in?" Tai asked from outside the room.

"Sure," I replied, gently pulling Aerial's mouth off of my hand.

"What's up what did you-" Tai stopped up short when he saw Aerial sitting on my bed. He was caught somewhere between leaping at the poor little thing, leaping at me to get me away from it, and leaping away from it all together.

"Tai, this is Aerial. He's my new friend," I told him happily, patting Aerial's back around the short spikes growing there.

"Kari, what on, when," Tai stuttered to find the right question. "Where'd that thing come from?!"

"His name is Aerial," I said again. "And he's the alien that came out of me. Apoc messed up his brain somehow, making him really smart," I explained. "He's even learning to talk!"

"Are you… You're kidding, right?" Tai asked, his back still pinned against the wall next t

"Not at all, come over and meet him," I replied. "Aerial, this is my brother, Tai," I told the small alien.

"mbro, therrr," Aerial stuttered. Maybe it was just my getting used to hearing it, but I think his growls were beginning to really form into sounds. "Tai." I looked at Tai, smiling, as Aerial repeated his name about eight more times. Tai just stared at the thing, awestruck. Finally he began to step forward.

"It really can talk then?" he asked.

"Yup. He's only two days old, I think, and already he knows words. Pretty soon he'll be able to talk just like a normal person," I said triumphantly.

Now it was Tai's turn to reach out his hand and try to pet Aerial's head. Aerial sniffed his hand a few times before latching onto it, just as he had started doing with Gatomon and me. Just as Gatomon did, he immediately jerked back. He was quite a bit larger than Gatomon, though, and Aerial's firm grip caused him to pull the alien right off of the bed. Aerial released Tai's hand and dropped to the floor with a small squeak.

"Tai, why'd you do that?" I asked.

"The thing bit me!" Tai exclaimed. I picked Aerial back up and setting him on the bed.

"That just means he likes you. He wouldn't hurt you," I explained. Tai carefully scrutinized his hand.

"I guess so," he replied.

"There, now shouldn't we go introduce him to everyone else?" I asked, picking Aerial up.

"You can. Gaustal mentioned that he wanted to talk to me earlier," Tai replied.

"If you say so. Say goodbye Aerial," I smiled. Aerial tried to choke out the word, but wasn't able to assemble it correctly. Tai reached forward and patted his head cautiously. Aerial snapped at him again, but this time Tai pulled his hand back in time.

"Heh, see ya," Tai said, stepping backwards out of the room.

"Bye!" I said as a wide smile spread quickly across my face. I was holding in the urge to laugh. After Tai was gone I set Aerial back down.

"Come on Gatomon. I bet Sora will flip when she meets Aerial," I laughed.

"I can almost guarantee she will," Gatomon replied, following me out of the room.

.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.

As predicted, Sora almost hit the ceiling when she saw Aerial. Matt, Biyomon, and Gabumon did as well. I thought it was rather funny that they'd react like that, but I guess I couldn't blame them. We had the rest of the, well, we had a period of time off. Probably about ten hours. I took another quick nap and picked up some food in that time. Sora and Biyomon were with us for most of it, and I think Sora really started to like Aerial. When we ran into Blitz and Shadow in a hallway the former actually did hit his head on the ceiling. Shadow just kind of stared at him until I explained what had happened.

Gaustal had summoned us again. He apparently had prepared our next mission, as Sablin had located the next piece of Almeadon. This time we had a very interesting team gathered up. Lica, Blitz, and Apoc were there, as were Izzy and Tentomon. Sora and Biyomon were with us as well. Tai, matt, Agumon, and Gabumon had not been asked for, but they showed up anyways.

"Welcome back, everyone. I hope you've all had plenty of rest!" Gaustal began.

"Not really. I wouldn't call fifty hours a lot of rest," Apoc said.

"Fine, I'll give you all another thirty before we depart. The Chaos Emperor said he'd wait as long as necessary," Gaustal replied, placing an enormous emphasis on the Chaos Emperor as if he was dropping some name that would command the respect of the entire audience. As usual, it didn't.

"Spectacular," Blitz replied. "Now get on with it!" Blitz said in an overly enthusiastic, almost epic tone that made the entire room laugh. Gaustal joined in while he waited for everyone to calm down. At least he could take a joke.

"As you wish," Gaustal began again. "The Chaos Emperor has located another map piece for us. It is locked within a strange puzzle room in a cloud city. The city is abandoned, and buildings routinely fall from it as the clouds weaken. I believe the palace we'll be entering has not yet fallen. He will meet us there and lead us to the puzzle room. We solve the puzzle and get the map piece. After that there will only be two pieces remaining!" Gaustal triumphantly held up two fingers, throwing out his chest in his overused not quite majestic way. "Now then, the team will consist of some of our best minds, Izzy, Apoc, and myself. Sablin would come, but she prefers the ship. No worries, we should be able to figure it out. Blitz will come in case of emergencies. Sora, Kari, and Lica will be there as well should a problem arise. Note that I have intelligently thought to include many people who can fly. That way if we do fall out of the city someone can catch us before we smash ourselves to pieces upon the planet's cragged peeks!"

"You've got a way with words, you know that?" Blitz said.

"Can Aerial come too?" I asked hopefully.

"Why not!?" Gaustal replied eagerly. "Wait, what?"

"Never mind," I laughed.

"In that case, we are off!"

"I thought we were going to rest some more?" Gatomon spoke up.

"Oh yeah,"" Gaustal said. "Then I guess you should go do that. Rest as long as you all need. We can depart whenever you're ready, as the ship will enter the atmosphere in about forty minutes."

The room started to empty again. I looked around, thinking Caleb might have been there to listen in, but I didn't see him. "Come on Gatomon. I want to go talk to someone," I said.

"Who?" she asked as she started to follow me out of the room. Aerial trailed behind slightly.

"Caleb of course," I smiled, causing Gatomon to raise an eyebrow.

I knocked on the door to Caleb's room. It was fairly easy to remember which was his, as it was the only door to a room on the inside of the ship that had any signs of use on it. I didn't receive a reply, so I tried the knob. It was unlocked, so I opened it slightly and peered inside.

The light was off and the room was as barren as ever. The beam of light streaming in through the hall revealed the papers on the desk and a figure lying on the bed flat on his back.

I motioned for Gatomon and Aerial to follow quietly. I wasn't sure If Aerial would understand, but he moved quietly enough anyways. I wanted to sneak up on him and scare him awake.

As soon as we were all inside the room, a pillow flew past my head and hit the door, slamming it shut with a loud bang. I looked back at Caleb, who was now sitting on the bed.

"I wasn't asleep. I was thinking," he said. "Don't think you'll ever catch me sleeping. You won't."

"Sorry," I said sheepishly.

"Is there a reason you came in here again?" he asked.

"I wanted to show you everything Aerial has learned," I started, "like…"

"Heard it," he said simply. I looked at him curiously, not understanding. "Look Kari, I can hear and see everything that happens on this ship at any given moment as long as I'm on it or within a mile or so of it."

"Oh, okay," I said, slightly disappointed.

"Was that it?" he asked.

"Well, uh, what were you thinking about?" I asked. I didn't want to just leave after that.

"It's not your concern, and hopefully it never will be," he replied coldly. "Get out."

"How come you're always so grumpy?!" Gatomon demanded, sounding angry.

"Anger exists to be tempered. I avoid letting it influence me. This is me," Caleb replied.

"You know Caleb," I started. I had recently decided to try and make Caleb a friend, and I thought an example of someone who was like him might help. "I know another boy who used to act mean and nasty all the time…"

"I am not Ken," he stated blankly, "nor will I ever be anything like him." I looked down. I hadn't expected him to simply crush my idea like that, or for that matter to know who Ken was. But then again…

"You should remember, Kari, I know a great deal more than you think. Some would say I know everything and while this is not true I feel I'm almost to the point. Quite honestly it's not a pleasant feeling. I endure it because I can use the knowledge as it should be used." Caleb's eyes were locked on me, the color in them blinking from shade to shade so quickly that I could hardly tell what a given color was before it would switch to the next one. "I did not find you by accident, Kari. I observed your world and you for a long time. I did extensive research on it to fully understand what it was and when I would have my opportunity. My attack on you was no fluke or random event. It was carefully premeditated. Everything I do is carefully premeditated. I rarely do anything without knowing the outcome beforehand. It's foolish to do anything else. I know Ken. I know his story and all of your stories. It will take a lot more than your ideals to change me the way you think you changed him."

"You're a big downer, you know that?' Gatomon said halfheartedly. I could only agree with her. Just a few minutes ago I had been feeling rather excited. Now I was almost sorry I came.

"I'm not trying to entertain you," Caleb stated. "I will say this, though. I am sorry if I hurt you that day in the park." I looked up again. His eyes were still locked on me. I was a little caught off guard by his comment, but I said nothing. "I have no personal grudge against you. At the time it was the only means I saw of avoiding a catastrophe. My attack was not directed at you, but at something much more involved. Again, with any luck you will never understand it. If you ever need a small favor, ask me. It will be my way of repaying tat debt."

I looked at him, again surprised that he would offer something like that. He seemed so heartless and cold, and yet something wasn't completely frozen about him. It wasn't partially thawed or changed in any real way. As I looked back at what he had done, nothing had ever really been malicious. He always seemed to be carrying on some strange duty that only he understood.

"Can you tell me what that larger thing is?" I asked. "As the favor?"

"It would not be a favor to tell you," he said simply. "It would be quite the opposite, in fact."

"Okay," I said, nodding. I opened the door to leave, but paused to look back as Gatomon rushed Aerial out of the room. "Caleb?"

"What?"

"Thanks."