A/N: With only 4 more chapters of this mini-arc to go, we will go into the anime filler chapters before a main case chapter. Remember, there will be three anime filler chapters each before a main case. There will also be regular filler chapters after all the anime shows have been introduced. So here is Chapter 5.
Chapter 5: IS Girls and Digimon Partners: Part 3 of 7: Ling and Gatomon
Not long after saving Renamon from Unimon and her becoming Cecilia's partner, Ichika and Cecilia returned to the real world where their friends are all waiting for them. Upon arriving back in the Kyoko Detective Agency, everyone surrounded them to see if their friends were okay.
"Welcome back, you two." Kyoko greeted "Nice to see you're both back in one piece. When we saw Unimon gaining the upper hand or hoof in his case, we thought that you were done for until Renamon digivolved into Kyubimon and deleted him. So I take the mission was successful?"
"Yeah, we were able to save Renamon from Unimon." Ichika answered with a smile. "Cecilia was able to bond with her and helped us win against Unimon when she digivolved. Of course, she did kinda took noticed of my body being half-digital and threaten to delete me if I step out of line or hurt Cecilia."
"Wait, she threaten you because of your body being half-digital?" Ling asked in shock. "Why would she threaten you like that? It's not like you wanted to be like that in the first place."
"Don't worry, I'm sure she was just being cautious, Ling." Ichika reassured her. "She was just protecting Cecilia and making sure she was safe, that's all. It'll take some time for her to trust us, so let's just take it slow for now. I'm certain she'll open up to us down the line." Everyone nodded in agreement.
"In any case, our mission is done for now." Kyoko said with a smile. "Why don't all of you take a break and explore around Nakano? I'm sure you must've worked up an appetite while inside Kowloon and us watching."
"Now that you mention it, I'm getting pretty hungry." Houki agrees, smiling as well. "I kinda skipped breakfast this morning because I was running late and I had to make a run for the station." She then turns to her friends. *Let's head for the restaurant just down the hall, we can have s late lunch there and wait for our next case." Everyone nodded in agreement as they exited the office to have some lunch.
"I'm glad they're all getting along." Kyoko smiled "This is the first time I've seen Satoru so happy in a long time." She looks at a portrait on her desk with of herself as a teenager, her late father, late aunt and Satoru as a child in her arms and all were smiling. "I'm glad to see him smiling again, I just wish Father and Aunt were here to see him being happy again. Oh well, I'm sure they'll be watching over us from now on." Her attention was broken as her cellphone starts ringing and it was Detective Matayoshi calling. "Hmm, Detective Matayoshi? Why is he calling me? I better see what he has to say." She then answers her phone. "Yes, this is the Kuremi Detective Agency."
"Kyo-chan, I'm glad to have reached you." Matayoshi said in relief. "There have been reports of people's accounts being stolen and used without them even knowing. We believe it's the work of a hacker, so we figured you and your assistants may be able to stop this hacker before he finds more accounts."
"I see, that does sound like something a hacker would do." Kyoko said, frowning seriously. "Tell me more, I'll let my assistants know once they've returned from their lunch." Both she and Matayoshi continued talking about the hacker.
A little later, our heroes arrived at the cafe on the first floor and had some lunch. They sat around a large table as the waitress brings them their food and all started eating.
"Mmm, this is so good." Ling squealed as she take a bite out of her ramen. "Who would've guessed that a cafe would be serving meals like these? If these are the kinds of food they have, then consider me a regular here." Her friends all nodded in agreement while Satoru and Twoearle smiled.
"Glad to know you guys like it here so far." Satoru said happily. "Nakano's known for having restaurants that are not like the other restaurants you've all probably been to before, but the food here is just as good if not better than the other restaurants."
"And not to mention at a fraction of the cost." Twoearle agrees "All the restaurants and food vendors here aren't as expensive as the others, so you won't have to worry about breaking the bank. We can come here to eat any time you like."
"Well, then it's settled." Ichika smiled. "From now on, we'll be coming to eat here whenever we get hungry or just want to hang out. We can also make this our personal hangout when we feel tired." Everyone nodded in agreement as they continued eating their lunch.
As they continued eating, they noticed two high school girls sitting at a table next to them and were talking to each other about something. Wanting to hear what they were saying, Houki turns on her communicator and listens in on their conversation.
"Hey, have you heard the rumors?" The first girl asked worriedly. "There's been a lot of people having their accounts hacked into and either stolen or erased all together. They say it's a hacker stealing everyone's accounts and just using them for fun."
"No way, are you serious?" The second girl asked in shock. "That's exactly what happened to the office building my mom works at. All the information there was erased in less than a day and all their business just went downhill." On the table next to them, three high school boys heard them talking.
"Wait, you girls too?" The first boy asked in shock. "That's what happened with this restaurant in Shibuya. All their money was stolen and they couldn't pay the employees. So they had no choice but to close up and now they're all jobless."
"From what I've heard, this hacker has been going around Kowloon and attacking every place in Tokyo." The second boy said with a frown. "They say he's been targeting hardworking people and hacking into their accounts to steal their information and money from banks. They even say he's using one of those Digimon things to help him in his spree." That got everyone's attention as they continued eavesdropping.
"You mean one of those programs that's been going around recently?" The first girl asked in shock.
"Yeah, the very same ones." The third boy answered "They say that all their accounts were stolen so fast, they didn't react fast enough to stop it. Even the police are going around and arresting innocent people who had their accounts stolen from them and being sent to jail. They even said that, unless the hacker reveals himself, they'll release all the people they've arrested." The five high schoolers continues talking as our heroes all looked at each other.
"Looks like our next mission came sooner than we expected." Laura frowned seriously. "That hacker is going around Kowloon stealing other people's accounts for himself and watching them get arrested for his crime. We'd better find him and put a stop to his crime spree while also clearing those people's names." Everyone nodded in agreement.
"In that case, let's head back to the office." Ichika nodded in agreement. "Kyoko needs to hear what we just learned about. I have a feeling we'll be in for a tougher fight than before." Everyone nodded in agreement as they paid for their meals and headed back to the agency.
Meanwhile
In the depths of Kowloon, two lone figures were standing and laughing in glee. The first figure was a young man who was working on three panels in front of them and searching through different accounts. The larger figure behind him was a Digimon that resembles a giant mole with a drill and was laughing alongside his master.
"Man, we've really hit the big time now, Drimogemon!" The hacker laughed cruelly. "I can't believe those people were just a bunch of idiots for leaving their accounts lying around and not keeping watch of them. It was all too easy to just swipe them and make us rich in the end!"
"So what do we plan to do next, sir?" Drimogemon asked "Who's going to be our next target?"
"Not who, Drimogemon. What." The hacker answered with a dark grin. "I believe it's take we take our spree to the next level and start going for banks." He then brings up his panels as an image of a bank comes up on screen. "And I know just where to hit, the First National Bank of Tokyo. Once we hack into their network and enter the vault, we'll have all the money we want and retire for the rest of our lives!" Both he and Drimogemon started laughing as they didn't know they were being watched by a cat Digimon peeking from the corner.
"Those jerks just don't know when to stop." The cat frowned seriously. "If they think they can rob a bank and not be caught, then they've got another thing coming. I'll have to follow them and stop their plans for their greed." Both the hacker and Drimogemon started leaving for the bank as she started following them.
Back at Nakano Broadway
After hearing about a hacker stealing accounts from people, Ichika and the gang all raced back to the agency to tell Kyoko about what they had heard. Upon arriving at the office, Kyoko was still sitting on her desk waiting for them.
"Kyoko, we've got an emergency!" Houki shouted. "We've got word there's a hacker on the loose and stealing people's accounts! We've also heard that innocent people are being arrested for his crimes and won't be released until he's caught."
"I know, I just finished talking with Detective Matayoshi about that." Kyoko nodded with a frown. "He explained to me about a hacker lurking around Kowloon and breaking into accounts of everyday people and local businesses around Tokyo. He even said that the same innocent people you've mentioned are being arrested for his crimes. Unless we catch him and bring him to justice, he'll be continuing his crime spree while innocent people get the blame for his actions."
"Then we'd better find this jerk and stop before more innocent people are blamed for his crimes!" Ling frowned as she slams her fist into her palm. "We can't let him have his way with everyone's accounts and making people suffer for his enjoyment!" Everyone nodded in agreement as Kyoko stands up from her desk and grabs her keys.
"Well then, we'd better find that hacker and stop him before this gets out of control." Kyoko agreed. "Matayoshi said that his next target is the First National Bank of Tokyo. It's a two hour drive from Nakano, so we'd better hurry over there. There's no telling what he can do in those two hours." Everyone nodded in agreement until Kanzashi realized something.
"But how are we going to drive over to the bank?" Kanzashi asked worriedly. "Most of us still don't have Digimon partners like the others and I don't think all of us can fit in your car." Everyone looked at each other and realized she was right until Kyoko spoke up.
"I've thought about that and I came up with a solution." Kyoko said with a smile. "For those who have Digimon partners will come with me to the bank while everyone else stays here." She turns to Ichika, Satoru, Houki and Cecilia. "And since you four are the only ones with Digimon so far, you'll be coming with me to stop the hacker and bring him to justice." The four friends all nodded in agreement as Ling steps forward.
"Kyoko, let me come with you." Ling pleaded. "I have this gut feeling that something's about to happen over there and I want to see it for myself, I just know it. So please, let me come with you, Kyoko."
"If that's how you really feel, then I won't stop you." Kyoko nods. "Just make sure you stay behind Ichika and the others until you find a Digimon partner. If your gut feeling is correct, then you'll find your partner soon enough." Ling nodded as she turned to everyone else. "The rest of you will be staying here and hold down the fort for us. Make sure you all keep your communicators on and stay in touch, we don't want anything bad happen while we're out."
"Not to worry, we'll keep watch over the agency, Kyoko." Tatenashi said with a thumbs up. "We'll make sure everyone's in order until you guys return from your mission and stopping that hacker." Her friends and sister all nodded in agreement.
"Right then, we'll be heading out now." Kyoko said "Make sure to stay in touch with us, we're counting on you to make sure your friends make it out safely." Everyone nodded in agreement as she, Ichika, Satoru, Houki, Cecilia and Ling all left the office and headed for the bank while Twoearle flips up Satoru's laptop and everyone activated their communicators.
First National Bank of Tokyo
After driving for two hours, our heroes arrived at the First National Bank of Tokyo. This is an important building because all the money of Tokyo are kept here. Kyoko and her group arrived at the front of the bank. Kyoko got her cellphone ready. "We arrived at the First National Bank. Did you find out where the hacker is, Twoearle?"
"Already on it, Kyoko." Twoearle typed away on Satoru's computer until she got the hacker's signal. "Got him! He's right near the servers of the First National Bank! …Hmm?" She detected an Digimon signal and it's blinking. "Hey, there's a Digimon confronting the hacker. I'm not sure what the outcome will be, but we need to hurry to save the Digimon and stop the hacker!"
"Got it." Ichika nodded as he and his friends looked around. "Now where to Connect Jump into?" Ichika then noticed a glowing light on the second ATM. "Bingo!" He turned to his four friends. "Alright, now this is where things get serious. Ling, stay close to us and we'll help what may be your future Digimon partner."
"O-Okay." Ling nodded as they got near the ATM.
"Alright, be careful and good luck." Kyoko nodded. "I'll keep watch to see if there is any susipous activity." Ichika and his four friends nodded as Ichika used his Connect Jump to jump into the ATM with Houki, Satoru, Cecilia and Ling.
(Meanwhile, in Kwoloon…)
"Ugh!" The cat Digimon grunted as she was knocked back by Drimogemon. She was forced on her knees as the hacker and Drimogemon laughed evilly as Drimogenmon readies his drill.
"Hehehe, a Digimon like you is planning to stop my greatest hack on the First National Bank? Pathetic!" The hacker sneered cruelly.
"You… You won't get away with this!" The cat Digimon growled as she tried to stand up.
"Hah! You don't have a partner, that's why you lost!" Drimogemon mocked before turning to his master. "Shall I finish her off, boss?"
"Hahahah! Do it!" The hacker grinned darkly.
"With pleasure! Iron Drill Spin!" Drimogemon drills his spin nose towards the cat Digimon. The cat Digimon gritted her teeth and closed her eyes.
Suddenly, "Not on my watch, you creeps!" A blur charged towards the cat Digimon and grabbed her just before Drimogemon can get her. The blur is revealed to be Ling holding the cat Digimon. Ling looked at the cat Digimon with a smile. "Whew! Glad we made it in time! What's your name?"
"G-Gatomon..." Gatomon gasped in awe as Ling sets her down. "Thank you for saving me. I thought I was done for." Gatomon looked at Ling. "But why did you save me even though we met for the first time?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Ling winked. "I was like you, always being bullied back when I was a kid and I felt so powerless, but thanks to a childhood friend of mine, he gave me the strength to not let people push me around. Besides, call it a hunch though, we were destined to meet." Ling smiled as she held Gatomon's paw with a smile. "So Gatomon, will you be my partner? You can't face those creeps alone."
"Good point." Gatomon agreed with a smile as she got into a battle stance. "So let's beat some crud out of them!" Suddenly, Ling's Digivice which was a cellphone with a bear palette on it rang and Ling checked it and saw that the Digimon Capture has been installed into her Digivice. She wasted no time in registering Gatomon as her partner.
"Now you're talking, Gatomon!" Ling grinned as she and Gatomon glared at the hacker and Drimogemon.
"Who the hell are you?!" The hacker demanded with a growl. Suddenly, Ichika, Houki, Cecilia and Satoru ran up to Ling and Gatomon with Ichika, Houki and Cecilia's Digimon partners already in their Champion forms.
"You got a lot of nerve trying to steal money from the First National Bank!" Cecilia growled as Kyubimon stood by, ready for orders, "A lot of people are in jail because of you!"
"So we're here to capture you and turn you in!" Houki added as Leomon readies his sword.
"So prepare to feel the wrath of Ichika Orimura, leader of the Cyber Sleuths!" Ichika yelled as he got ready to issue orders. "GeoGreymon, get ready!"
"Right, Boss!" GeoGreymon nodded as he glared at Drimogemon.
"Ichika… Orimura?" The hacker muttered before he gasped in shock. "No way! You're Chifuyu Orimura's brother!" He growled as he spit on the digital ground. "Damn it all. I guess I have to beat all of you before I rob the bank blind! Drimogemon, show them no mercy!"
"Roger! Screw Claw!" Drimogemon lashed his claws at the gang's Digimon, but Leomon blocked the attack with his fists.
"Not on my watch!" Leomon growled as he punched Drimogemon in the stomach, knocking him back.
"Hey Ling?" Cecilia looked at Ling and Gatomon. "Are you sure it's okay for your partner to be in Rookie form to fight?"
"Actually, I'm a Champion." Gatomon said proudly.
There was silence between the heroes before they gawked "WHAT?!"
"But you look like a Rookie form!" Houki gasped in shock.
"Have you ever heard the saying looks are deceiving? Now let's work together, Ling! Lightning Paw!" Gatomon charged towards Drimogemon and thrusts her paw onto the Digimon's face, knocking him back.
"Why you!" Drimogemon growled as he charged towards Kyubiimon and tried to hit her, but she leaped out of the way.
"Fox Tailed Inferno!" Kyubiimon launched her attack at Drimogemon, giving him medium damage.
"Dash Metal!" Dorumon charged towards Drimogemon and fired an iron sphere from his mouth which hit Drimogemon for medium damage.
"Crusher Bone!" Drimogemon growled in fury as he threw a bone at the team, but GeoGreymon whipped it with his tail.
"Fist of the Beast King!" Leomon yelled as he thrust his energy attack at Drimogemon, giving him large damage.
"Grrr! Don't lose to them, Drimogemon!" The hacker growled in fury as Drimogemon tried to bull rush Gatomon, but she leaped out of the way.
"Alright, Gatomon! That's the way to do it!" Ling leaped for joy. "Now try a attack that will knock their socks off!"
"Got it! Lightning Paw!" Gatomon agreed as she rushed towards Drimogemon and gave him a killer uppercut which knocked him in the air and sent him to the ground.
"I have enough of you brats! Drill-?!" Drimogemon was at first, angry, but gawked as he sees GeoGreymon getting ready to end the battle.
"Time to finish this! Mega Shot!" GeoGreymon breathed fire onto Drimogemon, ending the fight. Drimogemon screamed in agony as he was deleted.
Once Drimogemon was deleted, the hacker was now defenseless as our heroes and their Digimon partners all surrounded him as he couldn't believe what just happened and fell on his butt. The Digimon all readied themselves should he try to escape.
"No…how did this happen…?" The hacker asked in shock. "I thought I was going to get off scot-free by using other people's accounts… How did you managed to defeat me…?"
"It's because we wanted to stop you from ruining everyone's lives for your enjoyment." Ichika answered with a frown. "You wanted to use other people's accounts for your selfish greed and letting them take the blame for you. But now, your crime spree is at an end and it's time for you to face the penalty for your actions." Everyone nodded in agreement as the hacker stayed silent, knowing that he lost and didn't even bother to escape as Houki and Ling ties him up with ropes.
"Okay, that should about do it." Houki smiled. "Now that we've caught the real culprit, all those people who were arrested can now be released. Let's head back to the real world and turn him in to the police." Everyone nodded in agreement as GeoGreymon, Leomon and Kyubimon all rented back to their Rookie forms while Gatomon stayed the same.
"Before we do, there's something we need to make sure." Satoru said as he opened a menu and began checking the bank's network. "We need to make sure that the bank's security system hans't been hacked into yet and everything's still in working order." Everyone nodded in agreement as he starts checking the bank's network to make sure none of it was tampered with.
"So how is it, Satoru? Is the bank's security still in one piece?" Cecilia asked.
"Yeah, everything's still intact and working properly." Satoru answered with a smile. "Our work here is done. Let's head back to the real world and turn him in to Matayoshi." Everyone nodded in agreement as they returned their Digimon partners back into their Digivices and logged out.
Back in the real world
Kyoko was still waiting in front of the ATM where Ichika and the gang entered and still keeping watch of any suspicious activity. Just then, police cars arrived on scene in front of the bank as Matayoshi and several policemen all exited their cruisers and walked up to her.
"Kyo-chan, we've got your call." Matayoshi said as he greeted Kyoko. "When we heard that you and your assistants have found the real culprit, we raced over here as fast as we could. So where is he?"
"Not to worry, Detective. My assistances will be here with our man any moment now." Kyoko said and right on cue, Ichika and the gang all arrived back in the real world with the hacker in tow. "Right on time, just as I expected from my assistances." She turns to Matayoshi. "Here he is, the real culprit. He's the one who's been hacking into people's accounts and framing them for his crimes. He almost did the same to the bank to steal all the money, but my assistants were able to stop him in time." Everyone nodded in agreement.
"I see, then we'll take it from here, kids." Matayoshi smiled. "We'll take him back to the station and release all the people he has framed." He turns to the policemen behind him. "Take him away, boys. This one will be spending his time being bars for years to come." The policemen all nodded in agreement as one of them walks over to Houki where she hands him the rope and he takes the hacker to one of the cruisers and pushes him in the back seat and closing the door. "Well the, we'll be taking our leave now. I'll send your payment later, thank you for your help." He tips his hat before entering the cruiser and drives off back to the station.
"Well, that's that." Cecilia smiled softly. Ling checked her Digivice with a smile.
"We did it, Gatomon. We caught the hacker and that'll hopefully get those who were robbed by that hacker get their businesses back." Ling said happily.
"Yeah. And I have you to thank, Ling. You were right, we were destined to meet." Gatomon smiled back.
"Now shall we head back to Nakao and tell everyone the good news?" Satoru smiled as he adjusted his glasses.
"Yeah. Plus, Ling wants to introduce everyone to her new Digimon partner." Ichika smiled in agreement as everyone boarded Kyoko's car and headed back to Nakano.
To be continued…
Next chapter: IS Girls and Digimon Partners: Part 4 of 7: Char and Biyomon
A/n: Another chapter done! Anyway, next chapter will have Char getting Biyomon as her Digimon partner, so stay tuned!