DISCLAIMER - I don't own Digimon, and, for the fourth frickin' time, there are original characters in this story that I created.
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Author's Note - Couple of things to clear up here.
1) This point was raised by Karei in her review of Chapter One, and I'll say it now - the kids are NOT like the Bakemon. They're flesh and blood. They were converted back when they came back to Earth after beating Apocalymon.
2) I made a mistake in the notes on the prologue. I meant to say this story falls between "Choices - LOVE, Part 3," and "Life," not "Courage, Part 3" and "Life." Whoopsie. ^_^()
3) The President in Chapter One is the President of the USA, not Japan, or anywhere else. Yes, the kids ARE still living in Japan, but the President, Reitman, and all other military men and women that will appear in the story are American, and the scenes featuring them are all SET in America, too.
and 4) If you weren't sure, Reitman's name is pronounced "Rite-Man."
And now, onward!
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Ascension
Chapter Three - "Ghosts Of The Past"
By Chris McFeely
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Mimi did her best to cover the green raindrop that was glowing brightly on her chest as she and Joe walked into the bistro, but Tai and Sora saw it immediately.
You too? Tai asked.
Mimi nodded. It happened when we were in the car, on the way here. All of a sudden, the music on the radio just... cut off, and I heard Palmon's voice in its place. It's just lucky Joe was driving, or I might've crashed, I was so shocked.
Did you hear anything, Joe? Sora asked.
I didn't hear Palmon, if that's what you mean, Joe replied. The music just kept on playing for me. But I had a dream about Gomamon last night, and then the same sorta thing happened to me this morning. He tapped his chest.
This is weird... Tai said. I don't like it.
Well, I gave Izzy a call, Sora said. Maybe he can figure it out, when he gets here.
Yeah, and I called Kari, Tai added. She's going to round up TK and Matt.
In the meantime - I'm starved! Mimi said, sitting down at the table. Let's eat!
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Kari banged her fist on the Takaishi's apartment door. C'mon, TK! she yelled. I'm not waiting all day!
Gimmie a minute, willya? came Takeru's response. He hadn't cared to be called by his childhood nickname for some time now. I'm half-naked in here!
In that case, I'm standing out here - why? Kari asked, a wicked grin on her face. She loved to tease Takeru like that.
'Cause my mom's home, that's why! Takeru yelled back. There was a series of thumps that sounded to Kari like hopping - she assumed he was pulling his pants on. Then, the door opened with a click, and Takeru was standing there in all his dishevelled glory, buckling his pants while holding a piece of toast between his teeth.
It's nearly 2pm! Kari said. Why weren't you up?
Late night, Takeru told her, removing the toast.
I phoned ahead, Takeru told her, so Matt'll meet us there. He seemed kinda flustered - talking about Gabumon and his neighbour's dog, or something.
Kari didn't reply. She was staring around herself.
Kari? Hell-oh?
You... didn't hear that?
Hear what?
There it is again!
What is it?
It... it sounded like Gatomon.
Gatomon? What wou-?
Kari clamped her hand over Takeru's mouth. Takeru listened intently, but didn't hear a thing. What kind of help? Kari asked.
Taking your hand out of my throat, for starters... Takeru mumbled.
Kari released him. It's... gone.
Takeru yelped. What the hell's going on with THAT? He whipped the hand holding the piece of toast towards her, indicating her chest. There, a pale pink flower shape glistened in the afternoon light, it's flickering light illuminating Takeru and Kari's faces.
...you think this might have something to do with why Tai's getting us all together? Kari inquired, as the light faded.
That, or lunch, Takeru replied, crunching the burnt, dry toast. I hope it's lunch.
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The bell above the bistro door chimed as Yamato Ishida entered, quickly joining the other kids at their table.
Okay, Tai, he said at once. I'm hoping you've got some reason that my next-door neighbour's dog just talked to me with Gabumon's voice, and why my chest just started glowing.
Don't look at me, dude, Tai replied. We're waiting for Izzy. But the same sorta thing's happened to all of us.
Matt muttered. Well, at least I know I'm not going insane on my own, anyway.
Everyone's attention was drawn to a crash that suddenly sounded outside, and were surprised to see Takeru, picking himself up out from a pile of garbage, as the empty can clattered on the sidewalk alongside him. Kari was with him, giggling hysterically. With a sour look on his face, Takeru shoved the door open and stormed in.
You wanna watch where you're going, little bro, Matt said, sniggered.
It's not funny! Takeru insisted. I... heard Patamon's voice, and I got... distracted.
And that makes eight, Sora said, pointing at Takeru's chest, where an glowing yellow outline shaped like a tower shone.
Takeru said. He then went back to picking garbage off himself.
Ah, prodigious! came a familiar voice. Everyone's here!
everyone chorused.
In the flesh, Izzy replied, dragging a seat over to the table and squeezing between Tai and Matt. Did everyone bring their DigiVices?
Kari replied, tossing Tai his, which she had brought from their apartment.
Just like you asked, Tai, Mimi said, holding hers up. Everyone pulled out the gadgets and laid them on the table.
(Author's Note - Sora went back home and got hers in the half-hour they had to spare, if you were wondering)
Well, I don't about the rest of you, Izzy began, but when I heard Tentomon, he told me that the DigiWorld was in need of help.
The kids all nodded in turn, indicating that they had been told the same things. Agumon told me that barriers were breaking, or something, Tai said.
Biyomon said the same thing, Sora added.
What do you think they meant? Joe asked.
Could it be another evil Digimon? Mimi suggested.
Yeah, trying to break through to Earth, like Myotismon? Matt wondered.
I think it would be safe to assume something along those lines, Izzy said. He flicked open the clasps on the briefcase he had brought with him, and produced his familiar Pineapple Mac computer.
You still have that old thing? Kari asked.
Yeah, isn't it, like, obsolete by now? Takeru inquired.
We went through a little too much together for me to just throw it away, don't you think? Izzy replied with a grin. He turned on the laptop, and tapped a few keys, then snapped his DigiVice into the input port.
Haven't done this in a while...
The laptop emitted an electronic squeal, and a massive blue spark shot out of the port, drawing the attention of everyone else in the restaurant. Izzy cried. Everyone sweatdropped as the piercing gazes of the other patrons burned down on them.
Maybe we should take this somewhere else? Tai suggested.
Couldn't agree more, Matt said.
How about the park? Kari suggested.
As good a place as any, Sora agreed.
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What is it, soldier? Reitman asked.
Some kind of... power spike, sir, the technician replied. He tapped the gauge on the console. It's passed now... I can't get a lock on it's source.
Keep monitoring.
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A few minutes later, all the kids were gathered in the park, under the dense canopy of trees. Izzy reattached his DigiVice to the port.
I wouldn't do that if I were you, Izzy.
Izzy jumped up, dropping his laptop. It landed softly on the grass.
What is it, Izzy? Mimi asked.
I... I heard Tentomon again! Izzy told them.
Kari squealed suddenly. I heard Gatomon!
Gomamon, is that you?
Biyomon? Are you there?
One by one, the kids found themselves shocked into jumping to their feet, as the voices of their old Digimon friends were heard only by them.
Hold up your DigiVice, Tai, Agumon's voice said.
O... okay... Tai obeyed, lifting the small device into the air, at arm's length. As he watched, everyone else did the same, obviously having been instructed by their voices.
You realise how stupid we're going to look to anyone who happens to walk by, right? Matt commented. He found himself silenced then, as, slowly at first, but then with growing vibrancy, the DigiVices began to glow with bright blue light.
What in the heck's going on? Joe squawked.
I... I don't know! Izzy replied.
All at once, eight powerful beams of pure light lanced from the DigiVices, smashing into each other in the centre of the circle the kids had formed, in an awesome maelstrom of power.
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Good Lord! the technician exclaimed.
What, what?! Reitman yelled, shoving the man aside and looking at the console.
Another spike, sir! the technician said, staggering and then righting himself. It's massive!
As the guages on the console leapt up wildly, the crimson lasers increased in intensity, their heat forcing Reitman to cover his face as he watched.
Reitman cried. Not now... it's too soon! Not when I'm...!
It's... subsiding, sir! the technician told him, as the lasers dimmed back to their original intensity. It's... it's passed.
Reitman scowled. This is unacceptable. The Digital Inhibitor must be completed before the breakthrough occurs, but if these spikes continue, our time will be short. Locate their source... and eliminate it.
Yes, sir.
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Tai blinked once.
Twice.
He had to make sure he wasn't seeing things.
As the light from the DigiVices faded, there, floating in front of him, was the ghostly, translucent apparition of Agumon.
It's me, Tai, Agumon said. It's us. All of us.
Tai looked around himself, and saw each of the other kids, staring, open-mouthed, as the free-floating spectral image of their Digimon partner hovered before their eyes. Tai could see them all.
And we need your help.
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They're hee-eere!! Just what on Earth - or the DigiWorld - is going on here? Find out what the Digimon know next time! But for now - R&R!! For the love of GOD, R&R!!
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