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.

"you may not be done yet," Gennai interrupted, "Reports of a cloud like the ones you saw are coming out of the city of Austin."

"Why Austin," Alex 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, "I'm doing what I have to do."

"Well, you're gonna need a team," Davis replied with a slight smile.

"You need to gather the rest of the Digidestined," Gennai interjected.

"Let's do it," Vince 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 can't stand by while innocent people get hurt or having what happened to T.K. and the others happen to Vince and Alex. If I can make sure that doesn't happen I will," 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. Vince, Alex 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," Alex asked.

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

I walked over to the screen and pointed them out, Keith Perkins if a friend from 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. And Vince you seeing who I'm seeing?"

Vince looked at the last two pictures, "Dana Arismendez!? Johnathan Sepulveda!?"

"Who are they," Alex asked.

"Dana went to the all-girl school R.J. and I did theatre at," Vince began to explain, "John went to PREP with us when we were in middle school."

"That's convenient," Alex commented.

"It's destiny," Gennai added.

"Whatever it is, its 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."

"Yeah, but that's still a lot to take in. Plus, I hardly know Crystal, and I haven't spoken to Dana in years, John even more so" I explained.

"Do you still like her," Vince asked.

"Bro," I replied annoyed.

"I'm just asking," Vince replied.

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

"That doesn't answer my question," Vince asked again.

"Vince," Alex, Yolei and I yelled annoyed. Vince just laughed.

"Anyways," I changed the subject, "I don't even know if they're in San Antonio; last I heard of Dana she goes to...Oh no."

"What," Vince asked.

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

Vince 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.

"The computer shows this John guy is in town," Alex added, "what if they go after him too?"

"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 Troopmon make it to Austin," I asked.

"Not long," Gennai answered as he turned back to his computer, "But there only seems to be one cloud forming."

"Is there anyway you can get me to John or Dana without a device," I continued to ask.

"Well Izzy did intend for the D-Phones to act as access points independently. So in theory, as long you had access to the internet you can use the teleportation function."

"We're gonna have to risk it," I turned to Vince and Alex, "Alright, here's what we'll do; you two will go back to campus and get Keith, Armando and Crystal. I'll find John and then go get Dana; we'll bring them back here and explain everything."

"You sure man," Vince asked, "I mean I'd rather go with you in case there's a fight. And what if the D-Phone doesn't work"

"I'll make do," I relpied hiding my lack of confidence.

"How do we convince them to come with us," Alex 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," Alex asked again.

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

"Really," Alex 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," Vince said.

"Alright," Alex said.

"Alright then," I turned back to Gennai, "Gennai, is there a way for you to teleport me to John's location?"

"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," Vince said. He and Alex 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 Vince and Alex; 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

Alex's POV

Vince 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," Vince 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," Vince 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 is in a state of emergency so everyone is probably still here. We can probably get away with not being in our armor for now." I deactivated my armor, took the one female file and gave the others to Vince, "I'll find this Crystal girl and you find the guys."

"Fair enough," Vince said taking the pictures from me as he deactivated his armor, "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 Vince 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 were interviewing people so I snuck past them. 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 about R.J.'s height; 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?"

"Probably," I answered, "my name is Alex.."

"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 looked around to make sure no one was around and activated my armor.

Crystal took a step back in shock, "You're one of them, the ones who got rid of those monsters!"

"Please just look at this." I gave her the file I had. She grabbed it carefully and then opened it realizing it was about her. "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 eagerly, "follow me." I led Crystal back to the grotto hoping that Vince was having the same luck I was having.

Vince'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 two 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 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," Keith 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," Mando 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 Vince, I'm a friend of R.J.'s," I answered.

"Yeah, I've seen you before," Keith 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," Mano 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 two 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?"

They stop and turned around, "Imma need you to repeat that," Keith asked curiously.

"Well it was us and our friend Alex 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 guys took a step back in shock.

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

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

They looked at each other and shrugged, "I guess," Mando replied

"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.