I don't own digimon.

Session 15

Joey's Very WTF Chapter

Joey opened his eyes.

The camp was still there, with him laying by the fire. The only difference he could really tell was the fire having burnt out and Tsukaimon just disappearing on him. Well, if you didn't count the unnatural gray hazy sky above.

"Hello Joey." a voice whispered and the scientist turned around, finding what appeared to be ShadowAngemon. Or would have, if the 'armor' wasn't hunched over and looked like some sort wild animal.

"Who are you?" he whispered and watched the armor 'laugh'.

"I'm you."

Joey did a double take, unsure of how to react to all of this. While he guessed that statement sort of made sense, something about made it seem otherwise. He doubted whatever force that had brought this thing to life just wanted a quick chat and send him on his way. No, there was a far bigger reason for this meaning. But what exactly? Could it be to corrupt him into some champion of darkness? Or perhaps, break him down in order to possess his body.

"Uh... That isn't why you were brought here."

The two focused their vision upon each other, intent on figuring out the other's motives. At best, it was an intense staring contest. At worst, the two were just wasting time.

"Then why am I even here?" Joey whispered, only for the armor to 'sigh'. A pair of shadowy spikes shot out of the opponent's hands, ready to slice his body into a million pieces.

"There are many that wish to see if you're ready to truly behold the shadows and what supposedly lies beyond it."

"Such as?"

There was no answer, only the screech of an unknown beast. He pulled his staff out and gave it a slight flick, watching it extend. Yet, there was something different about it. It felt heavier than the usual, with a bit of the weight focused on the upper end of the weapon. It would explained the light gray 'runes' carved near the top.

"Okay..." he thought and watched as the armor charged towards him.

Dark Pact!

Pain surged through his body once more, bringing forth some unnatural strength as the beast charged towards him. He swung his staff out, watching it pass through. In retrospect, he probably should have realized that wouldn't work.

Shadow Flare!

A purple fireball shot out of the creature's helmet, hurtling right towards the boy. At least this time, Joey could actually reflect the projectile.

"So how many people want to know about me?" Joey inquired, only for the armor to just stare at him.

"Uh... Let me go ask my boss about that." the armor answered and stood back up, pulling out a phone in the process. "After Joey, who else do I have terrorize? Oh. I mean, how many people want to know about this guy. He seems like a loser."

"Hey!"

"Uh, I mean he seems like an alright dude."

"You do realize that we're paying you to do absolutely nothing, nya?" the voice on the other end remarked, only to suddenly cut off.

"Crap." the armor whispered as drifted over to Joey. "Uh... I think you're going to need me."

"Why?"

"I mouthed off to someone I shouldn't have." the armor added as Joey gave it a confused glance. While it made sense that their existed a more powerful beings in the upper levels within the 'darkness', one would think they were on at least alright terms. Of course, this was the digitalverse. Expecting things such as a stable chain of command or a proper management structure were an absolute joke.

"Seriously?" Joey whispered and watched as the armor faded back into his body. A few seconds later, black mist filled the area. When that finally dissipated, a figure draped in a gray hooded cloak appeared before him. "Who are you?"

The figure only laughed.

"I could ask the same of you."

Everything went black as the world began to swirl all around the scientist.

Joey was nine now, bright-eyed and naive about the world.

Already, he had been ferried through at least a half dozen foster homes, each of which never quite being good matches for the boy. Whether it be due to Joey being unable to quite get acquainted with his host family, their other children or some other issue he couldn't quite remember.

And then he met 'him'. The man in question possibly had an actual name, not that he ever told the scientist it. No, he was the sort of guy who rather teach a child about robotics and engineering while putting it to use in the real world.

Here, the scientist's fascination with the shadows began. He started by looking through the various book given to him by his caretaker, eventually moving to the various sorts of literature scattered about the lab the two had called 'home'. But no matter how hard he tried, it felt like grasping at straws. The man didn't seem to help, usually telling him to dig deeper into oneself. Whatever that meant.

It was soon after that conversation that the two had to part. Not because the two weren't a good fit, no. More of, because the person in question had to leave for a far-off place for an unknown period of time.

He gave Joey two things.

The first, his notes on the shadows. While most of the stuff listed upon was possibly basic elementary stuff, it was still progress. The second, was something far less material. If one wanted to argue it, this particular memento did not count. But for Joey, it meant the world.

A pair of sentences, a purpose for the boy.

You can reach me in the digital adventure. I'll be awaiting you there.

At first glance, it seemed vague and unsatisfactory. Yet, that was what led him here. Like the shadows, it had started out simple enough. He would just watch the various seasons, searching for the supposed 'digital adventure'. In a way, he put just as much effort into that as he did the dark, endlessly searching for the supposed 'digital adventure'. It haunted him in his dreams, showing the boy an abandoned lab just out of reach, with the man waiting to see him.

And yet, the boy chose to continue his research.

This somehow brought him to an unknown person's attention, since it brought him both Tsukaimon and later, a copy of Digital Adventures Online.

Of course, that was a story for a later time, with our hero returning back to his battle.

Shadow Neko Scratch!

A pair of shadowy cat claws shot out of the staff, scratching up the figure.

"Did I pass?" Joey inquired and stared towards his opponent.

"Of course." the figure whispered. "I grant you the title of Shadow Scientist."

"Thanks?"

With that, everything went black.

.

Joey opened his eyes.

At first glance, everything looked the same as before. He was still in the camp, with Tsukaimon sleeping beside him. Yet, something seemed off. Elena and Alice were sitting at the edge of their makeshift base, talking about something. Polly and Aegiochusmon he couldn't really see, but were possibly bickering about something. Which left...

"You're awake." a voice whispered and Joey looked up, finding Aaron and Cutemon standing over him. "You should be good in a couple hours."

The duo then headed off, leaving the shadow scientist to his own devices.

Notes:

And this is why I don't do Joey chapters. I guess it's an improvement over the original chapter.

.

Next Time: You reap what you sow. And now, it's harvest time.