Keyo: Updates, you are beautiful! Updates, you are beautiful! With your notes in all the right places!

Do we really have to keep saying we don't own Digimon?

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Chapter 25: Horizon count down!

Baggage check before the new frontier!

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As the bell rang, Tanya gathered up her things in a far more hurried fashion than normal, cramming them into her bag before throwing it over one shoulder and making a dash for the door, only to skid to a halt as her books and paper spilled back out to crash down upon the floor.

"Oh snap!" She seemed to exhale, rather than say, dropping down and once more sticking things haphazardly back into the pink pack, growing frustrated, as they seemed to refuse to fit.

"Calm down Tanny." Charley stooped to help her friend, pulling her hands away from the books and reorganising them so they would fit. "Honestly, you've been rushing around like a madwoman being chased by a mob of flamingo's recently. What gives?"

"Sorry Charley." Tanya apologised, pulling her bag up onto her back. "I've been sorta, kinda, busy recently." She explained as they began to walk out, albeit at a brisk pace.

"This about that game of yours again?" Charley narrowed her eyes a little, supplementing it with a friendly prod to the shoulder.

Five days ago Tanya had joined the Nightmare Soldiers organization and had been sworn to absolute secrecy in regards to their existence. The problem was, that she was a rather terrible liar, especially when it came to her best friend. The gears in her brain jutting and whirring, she struggled to pull together an excuse, before finding she couldn't and settled for stammering out little, teeny bits of truth.

"Well, yes, b-but it's been nothing bad! That all got sorted out, and I would have been stuck in that funk forever if you hadn't dragged me out and, and…"

"Tanny, you're hyperventilating." Charley placed her hands on her friend's shoulders, forcing them to stop. "Deep breaths girl, deep breaths."

Placing a hand over her heart, Tanya followed the cheerleader's command and brought her breathing back under control. Nodding that she was okay, Charlie gave her a checking glance before releasing her friend and resuming the walk, adjusting her duffel bag as she did so.

"Okay, okay I get it. So what is it that's got you so worked up these days? Is it that 40 year old pervert of yours?"

"The, geh….NO!" Tanya cried, halting briefly to give her friend an incredulous look with a flushed red face, before giving a small huff and quickly shoving her glasses back up her nose. "Okay it does involve him, but he's not a 40 year old pervert…" She muttered beneath her breath.

"Ah I knew it." Charley grinned, prompting her friend back into motion by patting her on the back. "So are you up to some illicit…" Catching her friend's glowering look, Charley caught on and stopped her teasing. "So what have you been up to anyway that's got you so busy?"

"Er well, I joined his guild and we've, ehm, we've been trying to put together a private event for the release of the new expansion." Tanya felt alright saying it, and it wasn't exactly a lie, and Cait had helped her rehearse the excuse a good few times during their last sortie.

"Well, as long as he's not got you dancing naked for him." Charley let the wicked smile grow back on her face before breaking into a run. "And speaking of events I've got to get to cheer practice, see you tomorrow!"

"Charley! You…you…grah!" Tanya exclaimed, before turning and storming out towards the exit, her friend's laughter ringing in her ears.

---

Sitting in the lunch hall, Vincent passed a concerned look to Liz before leaning over the table and poking the sagging form of their friend and child genius, Jan Tepes, who promptly released an unearthly groan of such dismal proportions that it actually caused his two friends to shudder.

"He's been like this all day. You don't think he's died and become one of the living dead do you?" Vincent asked the girl, sounding all too serious about the proposal.

"Well, zombies certainly would be drawn to that big juicy brain of his." Liz returned with almost equal serious consideration.

"Shouldn't you be careful as well then? I mean if they're targeting A-Grade students then you're definitely on the list." The brown haired boy warned.

"Cofffeeee…" Jan droned, making Liz and Vincent Jump, his head rolling up before dropping back down to rest against his chest.

A plastic cup was then placed down on the table before him as Richard, appearing from nowhere as usual, took his seat beside the boy. Gratefully, and with an almost surprising burst of speed, Jan reached out and snatched the cup before beginning what was to be a long sip, his expression changing from deep satisfaction to irritation in rapid succession as his sip was suddenly shortened and he pulled back the cup and gulped down what was in his mouth.

"This isn't coffee!" The child prodigy exclaimed, taking an aghast look at the cool, sparkling black liquid.

"It's Black Gold Cola." Richard supplied, now sipping apple juice from a carton. "You're too young for coffee."

"Couldn't you have at least given me an energy drink like Rad Buck or Unrelenting?"

"You're too young for those too." Richard chided, his damnable charisma and Jan's sleep deprived brain preventing the young boy from getting mad. With a grumble, he decided the Cola was better than nothing and promptly gulped it all down.

"Goooooh…" Was his exclamation when done. "Sorry for snapping Richard, I'm just really tired…thank you."

"Not a problem." The senior beamed, ruffling his young friend's hair.

"So what have you been losing sleep over Jan?" Liz asked, waving her sandwich in the air, biting down on it as the boy answered.

"With the expansion deadline drawing…" A large yawn punctuated his speech. "closer, I've been working overtime to make sure everything's ready. It's not easy being a genius." He finished with a small grin.

"We don't just keep you around for all the shotacons out there." Liz beamed.

"It's really close now…isn't it?" Vincent sighed in a rhetorical fashion, leaning back in his chair.

"You're sounding all thinky Vinnie." Liz grinned, tapping her friend on the skull with his knuckles.

"I think you mean introspective." Vincent grinned back.

"Whatever." The girl shrugged, swinging her arms back behind her head and leaning back even further than her cohort, so that the front legs of her chair rose off of the ground.

"Aren't you supposed to be a Grade A student?" Richard smirked at his sister, who promptly swung forward on her chair and rapped her elder sibling on the forehead.

"Just because I'm a genius in my own right doesn't mean I have to be the next Christopher Marlowe." She scoffed, settling back into her precarious leaning position.

"Don't you mean 'the next William Shakespeare?" Jan asked, before nursing a bag-bearing eye.

"I like Marlowe better." The blonde winked.

"Well, I'd love to stay and suffer more abuse but I've got to get to the band club meeting." Richard apologised, pushing back his chair and picking up his school bag. "I'll catch you all later."

With a pair of 'Bye Rich' and a 'Take care Richard' following him, the elder student departed the lunch hall, smiling and greeting those who were caught in his charisma as he went, the song the school band was presently practicing played out from his lips as he whistled along his way, the others letting their talk shift to other matters, while Jan battled to remain awake.

---

Sweating in the intense heat of the Floridian summer, Tanya had given up on her effort at jogging, having found herself once again lacking in the physical endurance department. Pausing to catch her breath as she finished mounting the stairs leading up to her apartment, hands upon knees, taking in deep breathes as Charley had shown her when they were a bit younger, in through the nose, out through the mouth. Rising, she took one final deep breath and sighed it back out before pulling out her keys and unlocking the door, slinging her jacket onto the coat rack, she proceeded to charge into her room, throwing her bag onto her bed and slapping the power on button for her PC. Taking a seat, she promptly logged in and began to boot up the Digimon Online Program, slipping the visor onto her face as she grinned almost to the point of excess as she prepared to log onto the game, almost licking her lips when the log in finished.

Welcome Dainya!

---

Whumpf!

"Welcome back Dainya!" The phrase was yelled in Stereo as Dainya found herself pinned to the cobble road of root town, Lupmon and Komodomon on top of her, grinning like maniacs before relentlessly licking her face in greeting. Giggling a little at the familiar assault, the girl had to wonder what it would actually feel like to receive the slobbery welcome.

It then occurred to her she may one day find out.

"Okay guys, that's enough." With a groan of disappointment, Komodomon and Lupmon pulled themselves off of Dainya, allowing her to stand, coming face to face with Cait's smiling image. "You've really gotten used to that haven't you?" The lieutenant colonel asked as he motioned for the girl to follow him, Komodomon and Lupmon running on ahead.

"I guess so." Dainya fell into step with her superior officer. "Lupmon's been doing it since I started playing…which has only really been two weeks but still. Though having Komodomon joining in has required a bit of an adjustment. So what are we doing today?"

Since the destruction of the Nightmare Soldier's mansion base, all operations had been forced to run purely in field. Dainya didn't know the details of how Cait, Min, and all the other higher ups had been managing to co-ordinate everything, but from the way Min had exploded the day before about how she couldn't take these conditions much longer, it wasn't a very simple system.

"We've got a stop to make before we run today's checks." Cait explained.

The 'checks' in question had been dotting the 'i's and crossing the 't's as the date of the expansion's release drew nearer and their plan would be implemented. Thinking back, Dainya remembered when Eight had made an effort to explain it to her, Lupmon, Sephy and Bulletmon.

'We're going to open a window. It's my theory that the Wild Lands and the Wild Ones are not simply an anomaly, but that this game is somehow tied to a genuine digital world, and that it is because of this link that Wild Lands and Ones exist. To simplify matters so that everyone present is able to understand, I believe that when the expansion is launched, it will cause a strong link with this digital world to appear, and with the special programs that we've planted, and I made, into all the Wild Lands, we'll be able to cause it to fall into something close to synchronization with the digital world and be able to see into it.'

'Unfortunately,' Komodomon had expanded. 'We can't predict which Wild Land, or Lands, will become the window, so we're going to be stretched pretty thin.

'If this game is linked to a real digital world, wouldn't Pandai know about it?' Dainya had asked, still having a little trouble in fully accepting this new reality.

'I'm a hacking genius, not a master of industrial espionage.' Eight had shrugged.

Not the most confidence inspiring of explanations, but Eight had assured them all that his unrivalled, unparalleled, infallible genius would be able to ensure everything worked out alright.

"Here we are!" Cait proclaimed, stopping outside a small house. "Our new headquarters!"

Looking at the small, rather adorable, thatched roof cottage, with its worn cream paint walls and small round windows, Dainya had to admit, at least to herself, that she wasn't exactly impressed with the new home of the Nightmare Soldiers, it was nowhere near as grand as the mansion had been, and it occurred to her it might be a little silly to have set up right in the middle of Root Town.

'But then again, Shademon did say that the moderators were unlikely to release Gizmon within a crowded area.' Dainya contemplated. 'So maybe being here does make sense.'

Pushing the door in, Cait held it to allow the others to pass, receiving a 'thank you' from Dainya while Lupmon charged in and immediately began to scurry into all the room, sniffing at the furniture and investigating every nook and cranny.

"So, what do you think?" Cait asked.

"It's very um…ah…" Dainya struggled for words as she looked over the fluffy, pink throws on the beige sofas, the knickknacks that adorned the fire place, from china dogs to brass monkeys, not to mention all of the frilly white doilies.

"Babamon like?" Komodomon supplied, while a red faced Dainya nodded, before turning back to Cait.

"Sorry." She murmured.

"Don't worry. We're an underground organization, so sometimes we've got to put up pretence. Here, come and see this."

Taking a moment to get Lupmon's attention, Dainya and her partner followed Cait and his through the living room, the girl taking time to notice that, for what was currently their headquarters, the placed seemed really empty, even if it was rare for large numbers of NS to be in one place at a time, the fact that not even Brigadier Viximon seemed to be present gave the place a slightly eerie feel. She then giggled a little inside, the Brigadier always looked so cute with her little round glasses perched on her nose and that stern look that was just so adorable on her small fuzzy form.

"In here." Cait instructed, once again holding the door open as Dainya thanked him and Lupmon rushed ahead. It was only when she had Komodomon bumping into her and Cait closing the door that she came to a realisation.

"We're in a closet."

"What did I tell you about pretence?" Cait grinned in the dark, before the small space shuddered and began to move, slipping into a long shaft before coming appearing in a massive cavern, filled with rows of shelves filled with books, a long meeting table in the center, with areas segregated off for training, already showing signs of wear, and…was that a hot spring?

"I told you we were an underground organization." The adventurer chuckled as Dainya and Lupmon stood as close to the edge of the platform as they dared, mouths and eyes wide as the looked out at what lay before them.

"Careful Lupi." Komodomon cautioned as his follower practically hung her whole body over the platform's edge.

"My, my, my! Who would have thought such a massive cave was under root town!" Stepping off the platform, Dainya gave a slightly wary smile towards the self proclaimed super genius Eight Ball, who stood surveying the den with arms spread out wide.

He looked a little different now. Gone was his large officers coat and dress uniform, replaced with a tight black tank top with hardened muscles showing through where the new trench coat didn't hide them. The right arm was covered with a metal guard, sheets of glistening steel wrapped around the limb, while upon his left hand was a modified glove, his purple and black digivice attached to the back.

"You look different." Lupmon asked in innocent curiosity, circling the tall player.

"Came with my demotion." Eight shrugged. "I didn't feel right in my flashy officer gear, so I felt this was more appropriate. Besides, don't I look at least 6 limited edition flavors of kick ass?" The hacker grinned, flexing the metal coating on his arm as Lupmon cheered.

"Major Eight Ball." Cait cut in. "Are we clear to run operations?"

"Sir, yes sir!" Eight suddenly snapped to attention, his voice a sarcastic parody of a well-drilled soldier. "I have them chasing ghosts at Tram Lake and Fossil Town, sir!"

Sighing at the hacker's over the top response, (which he supposed he'd only encouraged by casting up the new difference in their ranks), Cait nursed the bridge of his nose as he began to issue orders.

"Just…go and make sure all of your items are ready and double check the Mods' current locations."

"Yes, sir!" Eight hollered, clicking his heels together and marching off in a ridiculously over stated fashion.

"I'm not an expert, but I'd say he's not handling being demoted very well." Dainya stared off in confusion after the hacker, until he vanished behind the shelves.

---

Padding around the new base, Lupmon took in all of the new smells that surrounded her. She liked smells, they way they were really bright and colourful and vib…vibi…shiny! The books had a nice smell, they smelled like Viximon did, and the training area made her think of Agumon. Rounding a corner, the wolf like Digimon came upon a large collection of pillows and cushions, stacks of books cropping up around them while the small, glasses wearing pillow sat curled up in the centre of the mess, eyes scanning back and forth along the lines of an open tome.

"Oh, greetings Private Lupmon." Brigadier Viximon noted the wolf's present, rising on her four stubby legs and giving a small curtsey like bow to her subordinate, who returned the gesture with much more enthusiasm. "What can I do for you?"

"Nothings, nothings." Lupmon replied with a wave of her claw. "I was just taking a looksn' seen' smell."

Smiling at the private's childish antics, Viximon stepped up to her book and, with a degree of effort, was able to flip the page over, longing for the return of hands and digits, she once more sat upon her cushions and continued reading while Lupmon sniffed around the cushions. This peace lasted only a few moments, until a small question re-entered the mind of the small in-training level Digimon.

"Private Lupmon, I have a question for you."

"Is it about tails?" Lupmon asked, dropping down to sit on her backside, her tail wagging softly, brushing the stone floor. "Because I haven't caught mine yet."

Chuckling, Viximon was able to recapture her serious attitude (privately again longing for evolution and a greater ability to control herself, rather than the bundle of nerves her in-training for seemed to be) in order to ask her question.

"As you know, I have no partner, and I was wondering if you could tell me what it's like to have one."

Lupmon took a moment to think about this, tapping at her chin with a claw, crossing her arms and furrowing her brow in a very Pooh like fashion, and even scratching at her ear with her hind claws in order to motivate her brain.

"I'm not really sure." She eventually responded. "I've always been with Dainya, and as long as I can be with her and Aniki, I know I'll be happy."

"I see." Viximon processed this, Cait had once told her that a child's simple and honest answer could be more useful than an adults effort at a complex and detailed explanation, still, it didn't clear up what it was like to have a partner, but it did help put certain things into perspective. "Thank you private."

"You're welcomes!" The wolf unleashed her doggy smile.

"Lupmon!" Dainya's voice seemed to echo through the bookshelves. "We're going now!"

"Okies!" Lupmon called back. "Bye-byes Viximon." And with that the lupine Digimon clambered onto all fours and shot off back through the maze of books, tracking her own scent out as she raced to return to her partner.

"As long as you're happy, hmmm…" Viximon contemplated out loud once, before letting the thought settle in her mind, paying it a small bit of attention as she continued with her book.

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Raven: Nothing much going on here. A look back at Vincent and his friends, and a small Bleach joke added in. There aren't many questions to answer either. At some time, Keyo has expressed he would like to do some side-stories of other NS members, and that makes me happy because I can work on new characters, so there might be some other NS stories as well. And as of now, we only have one other Spirit line we're thinking of using, and it's not the Fire spirits, so Agunimon and beyond are unlikely, but we might have a new idea and throw them in (like, for example, an NS side-story. Not that we have him set in one yet, but it's possible).

Other than that, nothing of extreme interest. We might have a little lull in action for a chapter or two, but we know what we're doing for our next magic trick, so just be patient with us and we'll continue to supply you with our quality services.

Keyo: So once again I procrastinated and suffered bouts of writers block, I really need to stop being such a lay-about and a wuss. I mean, this project was meant to help me become more organized. Le sigh.

Not much really happens here of importance, other than the explanation of the NS plan. We're basically setting up for a one final mission before hitting the real plot. I swear it's coming, honestly!

Eight gets a change in costume! This was actually more like Eight's original design, but I gave him the officer look because I couldn't remember what Raven told me, and I felt it suited his high up position. Now that's he's been demoted, and is a little cheesed off about it, he's gone for the more rebellious armoured trench coat look. At least, that's the way I remember it all being…in any case, I'm glad to have it.

One final announcement before we disappear for another week, as Raven mentioned I'm planning on writing some side-stories regarding the other, unseen, members of the Nightmare Soldiers, and because I'm so laz…I mean, such a nice guy, I'm opening the board to all character suggestions. Some events in the sides stories may even wind up affecting the main plot, so if you've got a character don't be afraid to put them forward.

Until next time, take care!

Keyo & Raven.