Chapter 2: Float Like a Butterfly, Sting like a Beetlemon
With the ringing of the school bell came the end of the school year and JP Shibayama struggled to contain his excitement for summer break. Like any other student, JP couldn't wait to follow through with his plans for the long break.
JP planned to make some major headway on programming his current game project. Finally he had the time to sit down and commit to his labor of love. A particular bug in his code demanded JP's attention and the boy eagerly anticipated the challenge. With a slight skip in his step, JP collected his bag from his locker before heading off school property.
He made his way down the streets, maneuvering around other kids his age eagerly heading home to enjoy the break in their own ways. JP smiled to himself as he detoured his route home to make a little pit stop, well two pit stops, his first stop being a small convenience store down the way. The store seemed to be getting plenty of foot traffic thanks to school letting out but JP paid it no mind as he made his way inside. He grinned at the familiar clerk, Shizuo, who waved before heading into the back room.
"Hey Uncle Jiro!"
Said uncle, a man in his early 50s, typed away at an aging laptop entering inventory peacefully. Jiro jumped when JP called to him and he clenched a hand to his now racing heart and shot his nephew a dirty look.
"Boy, I told you not to startle me!"
JP smiled apologetically, "Sorry Uncle Jiro- ah, is your laptop ready to go to the shop yet?"
"Just about, let me enter the last of the inventory count from this morning," the older man huffed, "Go bother Shizuo while I finish up."
Without missing a beat, JP returned to the front of the store. Shizuo busily helped an elderly woman check out, so JP took to browsing the shelves.
"Yo JP!" Shizuo called the younger boy over once the elderly woman left. "How was school, little man?"
"Ugh Shizuo! I told you not to call me that anymore! I'm almost as tall as you are now!"
Shizuo grinned, "Yeah so? You're still a lot younger." Shizuo, despite looking quite young, had ten years over the young boy and was quite keen on not letting him forget it. He ruffled JP's hair before leaning back on the counter lazily. "Looks nice outside today."
"Looks can be deceiving, it's still chilly."
"Heh, true. Oh, are you taking Jiro's laptop with you when you head out? I couldn't clock in this morning on it. Had to write it in the books again."
"Again? Hopefully I can fix this poor thing this time. Might be on its last legs though… Uncle really needs to consider investing in a new machine..."
Shizuo shrugged, "At least it's not on fire this time."
"Please don't remind me." JP deadpanned.
The clerk laughed as Jiro came out of the back room with the laptop that had seen better days under his arm. "Here's the computer."
JP cringed a bit seeing how bad the poor laptop looked. The plethora of scratches and dents that marred the case really showcased just how rough the laptop had it and that didn't even begin to cover the cracked screen or the faded keys. JP gingerly took the laptop and stowed it away in his backpack.
"Do you need anything else Uncle Jiro?
The older man shook his head, "Just try to have that blasted thing back by tomorrow if you can."
JP nodded and shouldered his bag. "I'll start on it once I get home!"
Jiro nodded in response before turning back to tend to the store.
Once he left the store, JP made his way down the street towards a local computer parts shop. He hoped- no, prayed they carried something to repair this dinosaur of a laptop. He pushed the door open and a bell rang.
The clerk looked up and greeted JP with a nod. JP shopped here regularly, but this clerk, Mai, was the quiet type. She often kept to herself, only speaking when spoken to or asked a question.
"Hey Mai, I'm in need of assistance on this one." JP pulled the laptop out of his bag, "Jiro's machine is acting up again."
Mai looked over the computer with a look of pity. "Again?" she spoke softly.
"Yeah. At least it wasn't on fire this time"
She made a face. "We might have some parts that are compatible with this machine."
She stood up and went into the back room. Mai came back with a box of old supplies. Old keyboard letters, aging motherboards and other various parts and cables poked out of the small container.
"This is all we have- I'm not even sure any of this is logged in the system anymore."
JP looked through the box, picking through the parts.
"Just- Take it?" She pressed the whole box into his arms, "No one else uses it anyway and it's just taking up shelf space."
"Are you sure?"
She nodded. "Yeah, I'll write it off. No big deal. It's better if someone uses it instead of throwing it away."
JP grinned happily accepting the box of old supplies. "Thanks Mai!"
"You're welcome."
He stowed the random parts in his bag, thanked Mai again and headed off. JP only hoped that something useful to repair his uncle's machine lay amongst the contents.
It didn't take long until he returned to the small apartment he shared with his uncle. Once in his room, JP booted up his own computer whilst he spread out the computer parts Mai gave him on his desk. He carefully organized the pieces, sorting old motherboards, a graphics card, random keyboard buttons, a few different input cables, and a lone USB drive.
JP tilted his head looking at the flash drive in his hand. It looked brand new and out of place amongst the rest of the parts. The body was dark blue and made of a sturdy metal, with an yellow-orange symbol he didn't recognize etched into its surface.
'Maybe it fell in by mistake?' he thought to himself, turning the device over in his hand.
Natural curiosity overcame him. After checking that all his protective software was running properly, JP plugged the little device into his USB reader. He scanned the device for malware and viruses. Nothing.
[ERROR:FILE TYPE UNKNOWN:ERROR]
The computer beeped incessantly as an error message appeared across his screen.
[ERROR:FILE TYPE UNKNOWN:ERROR]
JP frowned. Something clearly wasn't right with the USB drive. He investigated and found his access to the device barred.
[ERROR:ACCESS DENIED:ERROR]
"What the hell?" JP wondered out loud. He ejected the flash drive and sat back. Never before had he seen a drive that protected. He couldn't even see how large the drive was, let alone the contents on it. The only thing he did manage to find was a copy of the same image on the physical drive itself as its identifying icon.
This is some dark web shit that's for sure… JP thought to himself as he ejected and placed the USB stick back on the desk. Something about the little device didn't sit right with him. It seemed harmless but the protections surrounding it were a little too extreme to be any normal person's drive.
JP grimaced at the thoughts racing through his head. He needed a break, something mindless to do to clear his head. He reached over to the old radio sitting on a neighboring table and turned it on. He turned the dial carefully, minding the temperamental old device. It acted finicky at best and Jiro wouldn't replace it until it absolutely quit.
He snorted to himself in amusement, his uncle would use an object until it practically fell to pieces instead of upgrading to a newer piece of technology. He cast a look at the TV in the next room. JP was pretty sure it had to be one of the first color sets produced given its age and the amount of wires rigged to it just to get cable.
JP broke from his musings when harsh static rang through his room. He covered his ears and zeroed in on the source of the noise, the radio he was messing with. "What the hell?"
The screech of the radio nearly drove the poor boy to his knees but JP acted quickly and turned the dial, shutting the radio off and bringing much-welcomed calm back to the apartment.
"Jeez… what the heck was that?" JP muttered to himself as he massaged at his aching temples. The radio had a reputation for being finicky but this was a whole other level. He swore he could still hear the static even with the ringing in his ears. "Wait a minute…"
He could still hear it. It was faint but it was still there.
JP looked down to the radio in his hands but it was still turned off. Something then caught his eye and he realized the static came from his computer.
A window took up the whole screen and turned on the camera, starting a video call. The feed on the other end of the call was nothing but video static.
"How in the world…" JP frowned and tried clicking out of the call but the trackpad wasn't responding. He couldn't even find the cursor on the screen, only static and his own video feed in the corner of the screen.
"Damn it… did my computer get infected? I just upgraded the stupid firewall-"
Something in the static caught his eye; countless red dots started glowing through the static, grouped together like a pair of compound eyes staring through at him. "W-what the hell?"
"G-give u-up t-the S-s-s-spir-r-rit…"
Oh hell no.
JP slammed the laptop shut. His heart thumped wildly in his chest as he tried to register what he just saw. What in the world was that? A cyber attack? He never saw anything like that before. It almost seemed like something out of a horror movie. "Okay… okay… let's just try and figure this out."
He caught the glint of metallic blue in the corner of his eye and focused on the lone USB drive sitting at his desk when the dots connected in his head. Whatever happened to his computer only started after he plugged in that odd flash drive. Whatever the case may be, he figured the stupid thing was way too much trouble than its worth, especially if creepy crap kept happening because of it.
He needed to take the USB back to the parts shop. If he got there quick enough maybe he could check with Mai and figure out what this was all about. If all else fails he could properly dispose of it there.
JP stuffed his laptop and the blue USB into his computer bag and made his way back outside. The streets have settled down with the evening but it did little to alleviate the creeping sensation that he was being watched.
"Okay JP, keep your cool man." JP muttered to himself despite the fright he endured back in his room. "It was just a stupid hacker. Just get rid of the flash drive and you're golden…"
He heard something heavy land atop the traffic signal in front of him and peered up at it. The lights dimmed but he made out the shadow of a large bird, a bird large enough to make the horizontal beam moan under the weight of the creature.
"W-what the heck?" he furrowed his brow and tried to make out the shape of the bird before recognizing the long tufts on either side of its head.
An owl? They don't get that big though, certainly not big enough to put a strain on the traffic signal like that.
The bird's back was turned to the boy but in one quick motion it twisted its head around and stared at JP with beady red eyes that glowed in the dark. He felt those eyes roam all over him before settling on the bag at his side. Those red eyes then came back up to meet JP's gaze when he heard a soft humming come to life, a telltale sign the boy was all too familiar with.
'Oh no…'
JP leapt back, avoiding lasers that burned holes into the pavement where he once stood. He didn't waste time examining the damage those lasers cost and instead turned and ran. He heard the owl take flight behind him but didn't dare look back as he made it to the cross section and took a hard turn around the corner.
"MN Clutch!"
Sharp claws snatched at JP's shoulders just barely catching the boy by his shirt. JP yowled and struggled as the owl attempted to pull him off the ground. The talons tore through fabric and JP fell unceremoniously onto the ground where he struggled to get back to his feet.
JP quickly dropped back down to the ground when the monster swooped at him, this time just missing his head. He realized rather quickly that running away wasn't doing anything… he'd have to fight back somehow. JP contemplated swinging his computer bag at the owl when it made its next pass. Sure it'd probably destroy his laptop but his survival was a priority.
JP tightened his grip on the strap and waited for the monster to take another dive at him. He waited for the rustling in the air and the call of the bird's attack.
"MN Clu-Ack!" The owl staggered in the air as the bag collided with its chest, sending it reeling backwards and spilling the contents of JP's bag all over the ground.
Among the busted computer and other bits, that lone flash drive remained undamaged as it clattered at JP's feet. It caught his eye as the sleek metal surface glowed under the lamp light. It apparently caught the owl's attention as well as it attempted to rise back up to its feet. JP frowned and picked up the small device and clenched it tightly in his hand.
It started glowing in his hand and emitted a surge of vibrant blue energy that then enveloped JP and lit up the street. He felt a rush of energy flow through him. He couldn't describe it, he never felt anything like this before but it kept growing, pooling in his chest before finally bursting.
Owlmon staggered back to its feet when the light faded and a horned warrior clad in cobalt armor stood in the boy's place, lightning crackling around him as he took in his new form. Owlmon charged its laser, hoping to take the warrior out while he was distracted.
"Oh no you don't!" JP heard the hum of Owlmon's laser charging and reacted quickly, gathering lightning and clenched it tightly in his right hand. Then he opened wings he didn't know he had and flew right at Owlmon before driving his fist up into its stomach. "Thunder Fist!"
The force of JP's attack shot Owlmon up into the air but it was quick to regain its bearings and bared its claws for another pass. "MN Clutch!"
JP flew up to meet Owlmon's attack head on and defended with the heavy armor on his forearm. "Not so easy picking on someone who can actually fight back, huh?" He didn't give it a chance to respond when he struck again with another "Thunder Fist!"
Owlmon recoiled and tried getting distance between it and the cobalt beetle. Its claw attacks were woefully ineffective against that thick armor. It would have to rely on its ranged capabilities instead.
As Owlmon charged its laser for another shot JP clasped his hands together, gathering more lightning to use in a new attack. He smiled under his mask and set his focus on the heavy helmet the owl wore. "Here we go! Reverse Polarity!"
Owlmon expected some sort of ranged attack but no blast came out from the warrior's attack, confusing it. Then it felt a sudden force pull down on it, like something took hold of it and yanked it out of the sky. Owlmon was helpless as its head slammed face-down into the ground causing the laser to misfire and quite literally blow up in its face.
The misfire wrought havoc on Owlmon's helmet, destroying its laser and immobilizing it.
Not one to ignore an opportunity, JP opened wings he didn't know he had and flew right at the stunned digimon while gathering more lighting this time in the tip of his horn. "Lightning Blitz!" He struck Owlmon like a bullet. They shot through three streets as lightning tore through Owlmon and fried the machinery in its helmet, releasing a great burst of electricity with a loud clap of thunder and a bright yellow flash of light that lit up the streets for an instant before shrouding them in darkness.
Owlmon gave one final screech before its entire being shattered in a vibrant display of sparkling light leaving JP floating in the air to bask in his victory. "Hell yeah! That's what I'm talking about! You don't mess with JP Shibayama! Whoo!"
His victory was interrupted when the blaring of car alarms rang out from all of the vehicles within a five block radius.
"Huh? Oh… Uh oh…" JP looked around and grimaced, noting that many of the street lights were blown but more importantly, the surge caused a blackout in the area.
"Aw nuts…"
To say the least evolving into Beetlemon felt absolutely amazing. JP chuckled to himself wondering if his uncle felt the same exhilaration as his team scored a goal. He could hear Jiro in the next room hollering at the TV.
"JP! Come see this!"
Normally, JP held no interest in sporting events. Literally none. Something compelled him to get up and go see this time. Maybe it was the inflection of his uncle's voice? It sounded more urgent than elated.
"What is it-"
Stunned JP fell silent and looked at the screen. A massive dark blue monster bird descended onto the soccer field. Wind and lightning wiped around it. In the center of the field stood a lone figure, with long blonde hair and clad in red armor.
"No way..." JP whispered to himself, "could that be someone else like me?"
Here we go guys. Not sure if we made it clear with Takuya's chapter but we've decided to take some liberties with the characters and reestablish them with new quirks and interests while allowing dynamics to flow naturally from there. We're also going to be trying to keep this up on a weekly basis and update every Thursday. Hope you all enjoyed the chapter please feel free to leave a review and tell us what you feel. We always love feedback.