Part 3
Created By: Jason Wong
"Tai, Tai! Answer." thought Matt desperately trying to find the link to Tai.
"M-Matt?" asked Tai timidly.
"Tai? Why didn't you tell us you were sick? How long?" thought Matt.
"I didn't want to worry you guys. I've known for almost a week. The doctors give me about a month to live at best." said Tai sadly.
Matt faced TK. "There's a small snag." he told him. "Tai's gonna kick the bucket soon."
TK looked mildly shocked. "I never would have guessed, but it does explain allot. But I won't change the plan. We save his body first then worry about illness."
Without warning, a hand clamped onto Matt's shoulder. He struggled but was unable to break free. Tk's face displayed horror and disappointment as he saw who was behind Matt.
"So, you've figured out my little secret with the help of the little boy. I guess in that case you should call me by my proper name. I am called David." said David.
Matt realized he was already making choices. Something he normally wouldn't have done under the circumstances. It took him a moment to realize that it was Tai's thought process, weighing the options. Matt also realized that David hadn't a clue as to who TK was and that Tai's spirit was inside him.
"What'd you do to Tai? And what do you want?" demanded Matt trying to control the situation.
"Your friend is somewhere nearby, I'm sure. As for what I want? I want this body, and to leave this cruddy dimension." replied David.
"No you don't." shouted TK, lunging at Tai.
"No, I think not little boy. One more step and he dies. Back off. If I see you again around here, I'll kill him." said David digging a knife into Matt's back.
TK backed off and vanished.
"Matt, just go along with him. But be ready to attack. I'll call for help." said Tai.
"Help?!" thought Matt. "From who?"
But at that moment, the knife dug into his back again.
"Get up, we're leaving." said David. "We just need to find my portal generator and I'm outta here."
"And Tai?" asked Matt hopefully.
"What about him. He can rot for all I care. I'm leaving in this body." sneered David.
Matt frowned. "You'll regret this you know."
"Sure kid. And who's to stop me? Not you. And the other brat surely will not attack me if he thinks you're my hostage.
Matt lashed out fiercely. He hit with a ferocious agility and accuracy that surprised the both of them. Only after the fact did Matt realize Tai had fed him those instructions subconsciously. David was sent sprawling.
"Remind me never to get in a fight with you." thought Matt.
But David wasn't out of the picture. Before Matt could pin him down, he was on his feet.
"That's it!" shouted David. Within seconds he had Matt on the ground tied up. Roping him to a tree, David sprinted off.
"TK, TK, TK." shouted Matt at the top of his lungs. He kept calling despite Tai's repeated warnings that TK wouldn't be able to help. It took several minutes, but Tk reappeared once more.
"Matt, why are you wasting time." exclaimed TK. "I'm a spirit. I can't exactly help you. I can't untie you. You're on your own for that."
"Then go find someone who can." said Matt desperately.
"Nobody almost ever comes her. This is the realm of death. By the time I locate someone, David'll be long gone."
"Matt, oh Matt." called Tai from deep within his mind.
"What is it?" demanded Matt. "I'm trying to think of a way to get us down."
"But I may have a way." said Tai.
"Then spit it out." complained Matt.
"Well, because I'm sort of in you, you may have inherited some of my powers temporarily. Why don't you try to burn off the ropes?" asked Tai.
Matt reflected on this idea. It was pretty good, and they really didn't have all that much choice. He began concentrating on the ropes. Ever slow slowly, he felt the sensation of warmth around his wrists. One by one, the strands of rope browned and caught fire. It took only minutes for Matt to free himself. Ignoring the pain from a burn on his hand, Matt sprinted off in the direction David had gone.
Minutes went by and they entered an area of green lands. Matt could feel Tai beginning to slip away. TK told Matt that it meant someone was forcing David out of Tai's body at the spiritual level and that Tai was re-entering it.
Matt reached a small clearing just as Tai slipped away completely. The scene was a wreck. A large electronic device appeared to have exploded. Shocking was the two spirits that had evidently driven David out. Gabumon and Agumon, Tai's so called 'Help'. but the greatest shock was Tai. He lay near the center of destruction. He was a broken doll, burns covered a great deal of his exposed skin and it looked as though he'd broken several bones in several places. After reassuring himself that Tai hadn't suffered any back or neak injuries, he carefully picked him up and carried him back to a small shack he'd passed. He left only to retrieve his gear. Tai's gear appeared to have been scattered and destroyed.
"Come on Tai. You've got to pull through." muttered Matt as he carefully cleaned Tai's wounds. "Can't you guys do anything to help?"
"Matt, for the last time. We are spirits!" shouted TK. "We can't help. We can give you moral support and advise."
Tai's condition was growing progressively worse as time passed. He'd reached a point where it seemed almost better to put him out of his misery. But Matt couldn't bring himself to mutilate his friend. He'd been however, running on pure adrenalin, and he was tiering quickly. He was slowly fighting a losing battle with sleep. Without even realizing it, he drifted off.
"MATT!!" cried a voice that was mind shatteringly loud. Matt woke with a jolt and was horrified. Tai lay motionless on the bed. He was pale as a sheet, and looked dead. The only indication that proved otherwise was the slow rhythmic rising of his chest. Gabumon floated through a wall scaring Matt half to death.
"Don't do that." exploded Matt.
"Sorry." replied Gabumon. "But we found the other first aid kit. It looks ok and survived the explosion."
Matt stared visibly. He hadn't expected the other larger kit to have survived. He was torn. He needed to stay with Tai 24/7, but he also needed the extra supplies. In the end he sprinted out as fast as he could and dragged the kit back to the shack. He immediately bandaged the remaining wounds and gave Tai an injection of adrenalin. Finally after many hours of hard labour, he managed to stabilize Tai. He lay down to rest after TK assured him he'd wake Matt up if anything happened.
"Matt, get up. SOmethings going on." shouted TK.
Once again Matt jolted awake. He peered at Tai. Tai's eyes were open, but looked strange. Matt realized Tai was slipping into shock. Matt fumbled with an epipen before stabbing Tai's leg with it. Matt knew they were designed for allergies but they 'were' pure adrenalin.
"Don't die on me Tai." whispered Matt. "You're my only way home. You're the only one who can open that portal. Without you, I'll never get back open."
Will Matt be able to save Tai? Will they ever get home? And what about TK, Agumon and Gabumon? Even if Tai recovers, will Tai survive his disease? Find out these answers in "Recovery" part 4. And don't miss the series final in "The Aftermath", coming soon.