DISCLAIMER - I don't own Digimon, but there are some original characters in this story that I created.
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Author's Notes: Well, this part's actually got most of the DigiDestined in it. Remember, they're all six years older. And there's a eency-teency, teeny-WEENY bit of implied sexual goings-on towards the end.
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Ascension
Chapter Two - "A Little Bird Told Me"
By Chris McFeely
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God, honey, you look terrible.
Thanks a bunch, Tai groaned, rubbing his eyes. He had just arrived to collect Sora for their lunch date, and she hadn't wasted any time in noting that he wasn't himself. I didn't get much sleep last night.
Sora said, sympathetically. She tousled his gargantuan mop of hair and kissed him on the cheek.
Bad dreams?
Yeah, actually, Tai replied, taking her hand.
Wanna talk about it?
As the young couple walked along, Tai told Sora about his experience the previous night. They took a short-cut through the park, as Tai went on.
Sora asked.
Tai replied. I mean, I think about the little guy a lot, and all... but never anything like this before.
I know what you mean, Sora replied. I think about Biyomon a lot, too...
I sure miss them, Tai said, wistfully.
Maybe it was just your subconscious, or something, Sora suggested.
I... don't think so... Tai said, chewing on his lip. When I woke up... well... - he paused to indicate his chest - it was happening again.
You... you mean, the Crest?
Tai nodded. And my DigiVice, as well. That's never happened before, either.
Sora scratched her head. Maybe we should get in touch with some of the others...
Tai agreed. Agumon talked about I didn't really put it together then, but I guess he must have meant... y'know,
Sora intertwined her arm with Tai's. Well, that's one thing we can always be certain of - there'll always be
Tai smiled widely, and the young lovers bent inwards to kiss. Their lips met.
We need your help, Sora.
Sora's eyes snapped open, and she staggered away from Tai. Wh...what did you say?
Tai looked at her, a shocked expression on his face that mirrored her own. I didn't say anything...
The barriers are breaking.
There it is again! Sora exclaimed. C-can't you hear it?
Tai cupped an ear. I don't hear anything, Sora.
It... it... Sora stammered, ...it sounded like Biyomon.
It is me, Sora, the voice came to Sora's ears again. We need your help.
What is it, Sora? Tai asked. What are you hearing?
It.. it says it's Biyomon, Sora replied, looking around her, for some sort of rationalisation. It... oh, God... it says it needs our help.
Ask what we can do! Tai told her.
What can we do? Sora asked thin air.
No response came.
Silence.
Sora collapsed to her knees, and Tai darted to her side, to hold her shivering body.
Wh...what's going on, Tai? Sora asked. What's happening to us?
Tai did not reply, but instead merely pointed a finger at Sora's chest. Looking downward, Sora saw the spirals of magenta energy swirling from the glowing heart-shape that had appeared on her breast. The Crest of Love.
This settles it, Tai said. We've got to get everyone together -- now.
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Koushiro Izumi stepped off the elevator as the doors pinged open. Now at the age of 16, Izzy had got himself a summer job working at Odaiba's major electronics company, imaginatively named OdaibaTech. As he walked down the corridor, those that he passed nodded their greetings to him - he was well known in the city as a child prodigy. He responded in kind.
Hey, Koushiro.
Hi, Izumi.
We need your help, Izzy.
Izzy froze in his tracks. What did you say, Kusawa?
Kusawa, the man whom Izzy had just passed, turned back. I said, Hi Izumi.
No, no, Izzy said, making flustered hand motions. After that.
I didn't say anything.
Oh... right... Izzy said. He calmly ran a hand through his red hair. Must be hearing things.
Kusawa cracked a smile, and walked off.
That sounded like... Izzy thought to himself, ...no, it couldn't have been... could it?
It is, Izzy.
Izzy yelped and immediately ducked in the men's room, just off to his left. Thankfully, it was empty. Who's speaking?
It's me, Izzy, the voice replied.
Izzy breathed. But... it can't be!
The DigiWorld needs you, Izzy, Tentomon's voice said. We need you. All of you.
Need me? Izzy echoed. For what?
There was no reply.
Nothing. Izzy scratched his chin, and calmly looked down, to observe the parallel circles of the Crest of Knowledge glowing a dull purple on his chest.
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...don't hang up, DON'T HANG UP! Mimi Tachikawa staggered in her front room, clothed in only a towel. Her pink hair was neatly wrapped up in another towel, as she attempted to balance it atop her head while holding up the towel swathed around her, and reaching the phone at the same time. Juggling all three activities, she held the phone between her ear and shoulder, and spoke into it. This better be good! I was in the shower!
Hey Mimi, Sora's voice came down the line.
Oh, hey Sora, Mimi said, organising her towels. Sorry I snapped.
Mimi, can you meet Tai and me at the bistro near the park in, say, half an hour?
Sure thing! Mimi replied. Anyone else coming?
Sora said. Tell Joe, would you?
You got it, Mimi told her. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm dripping on the carpet.
Mimi set the phone down with a click, and turned to yell back in to her bedroom. Joe! Wake up!
There was a grunt and a groan, and the face of Jyou Kido appeared around the doorframe. What is
it?
We're going out, Mimi instructed him, drying her hair off.
Joe blinked, and flicked sleep out of his eyes. Well... anything so I don't have a dream like THAT again...
Mimi stopped drying her hair long enough to link her arms around his waist. What dream?
Ah, it was about Gomamon, Joe told her. He said he needed help, or something. I dunno.
Well, right now, Tai and Sora sound like they're the ones who need help, Mimi said. So, let's... let's... l..
Mimi's voice trailed off as she saw the greyish light radiating from Joe's bare chest. The shimmering outline of the Crest of Reliability glistened brightly there, and then slowly began to fade out. Joe saw it too.
There was silence for a minute.
Let's... get dressed, Joe said.
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Progress report, General Reitman demanded.
The process is continuing as scheduled, sir, a technician replied.
Reitman nodded. He spun on his heel, to look at the massive circular construct built into the wall of the underground bunker. A set of scientifically-placed lasers were generating fierce crimson beams, all directed as specific points within the circle, cleaving the air with deadly accuracy. Reitman scowled again as he recalled the president's words. He turned back to the technician.
Reduce power to 75% he ordered.
You heard me, Reitman said. President's orders. The science-heads have deduced there'll be a massive release of energy when the boundary is breached. Not fatal, but enough to disrupt our work here. We need to find a way to counteract it before we break through.
Yes, sir, the technician said, tapping a series of keys on the console in front of him. The glowing scarlet lasers dimmed in colour, as they continued to focus on the circle.
Good work, soldier, Reitman told him.
Of course, Reitman hadn't told the technician everything - specifically, how the energy release accompanying the penetration would result in digital transmutation. It would only be temporary, as the president had noted, but even that was undesirable. No telling what godforsaken thing could come through while all the soldiers were running about like headless digital chickens. Reitman didn't want that, and conceded that they did need some form of mechanism to absorb the energy.
Reitman grinned to himself, and patted the folder that remained tucked inside his jacket. They were all fools.
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Sorry to all Matt, TK and Kari fans - they'll be in the next part! As will some familiar faces... keep reading, you'll see! In the meantime - I BEG YOU! - write a review!! ^_^
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