Digimon Z Chapter 27

Foreword: My computer died and it took until September to get a new along a new Email address. After that, being the "genius" that I am, I had the "brilliant" idea of mentioning the Email change while ff.net was being rebuilt! So I never got the confirmation letter! I can't get back into my account, so I started this. Same name with a lower-case "r". I'm reposting the entire fic. If any of you can tell me how to get back into my old account, PLEASE TELL ME! The Email on my old account's bio says n/a. I'm thinking I might have made a typo. I need to make sure, but I can't. At least I had the brains to save everything on disk, so I'm not a complete screw-up.

The Digi-Destined's training was uneventful. They got through it in few weeks. Because TK couldn't access his powers fully, he just watched. "I've done all I can," said Pixiemon cheerfully, "Let's take at your new power levels." He pulled out a scouter. "Joe-33,000. Mimi-33,000, Izzy-38,000, Sora-42,000, Matt-48,000, Tai-50,000. Am I good or what? You might as well take off the weighted clothes now." They did. "Whoa!" said Tai, "I feel lighter than air!" "Now what?" asked Matt, "Do we try to take on this Etomon?" "No," answered Pixiemon, "you're not ready for him. You may be strong, but he's a lot stronger. His power is in the hundred-thousands." "How the heck do we get our power levels THAT high?" Matt asked, "It took us weeks just to get our power levels here." "There is a way to increase your powers even further," Pixiemon answered. "How?" asked Tai. "Well," answered Pixiemon, "I was told that your powers are supplied by your digivices. But not completely. The digivices couldn't hold all the energy be given, so, some special crests were to hold the rest. The crests were supposed to be sent with the digivices, but the Virus Brigade found out about the crests and stole them." "Who told you that?" "An old man named Gennai. He knows more about your powers than I do. I'd suggest you find him. I'd take you myself, but the Brigade will be watching and it's not safe for me to exert any energy for a while. If I do, they'll find us in no time. Just remember to keep your power levels down."

***

Through his binoculars, Sting watched Pixiemon's training area. It took Sting a while, but he managed to find Pixiemon's place. It was hidden deep in a jungle. So deep, even Etomon's network didn't reach it. That would require patience, since Sting didn't know how long it took for Pixiemon to train. His helmet's scanners showed multiple lifeforms inside the building. I just need to wait and see if those lifeforms are my targets. Most bounty hunters would charge in, but Sting was patient. Very patient. Sting didn't spend the whole time just watching, he had sensors that could detect movement set up, which allowed him to scout the area. The door on Pixiemon's place opened. Some kids walked out.

***

"I'm hot and tired," whined Mimi. The Digi-Destined had to avoid exerting energy, and that meant no flying and walking through the jungle Pixiemon was hiding in was tiring. "Alright already!" said Tai, tired of Mimi's whining, "We'll stop here!" The kids all sat down. "I can see a pond nearby," said Mimi, "I going over to it." "What ever," answered Tai. Mimi walked over to it and sat down.

***

Sting, following the kids at a distance, watched Mimi walk over to the nearby pond.

***

Mimi relaxed by the pond. Then she heard foot steps. She turned around only to see a green figure with big red eyes. It looked like a bug, sort of. He pointed some sort of a gun at her. She was gripped with fear. She tried to scream out, but no sound came. The figure then pulled the trigger.

***

"Mimi's sure been gone a while," commented Sora. "Maybe she just fell asleep," suggested Tai. "I'll go check."

***

Sora looked around the pond. she wondered. Then she saw something. A hat. Mimi's hat. The stranger then pulled the trigger. As he did so, Sora called out "HELP!".

***

"Help!" Sora's voice was heard. "That's it," said Tai, "I'm going over there." "I'm coming too," said Matt, "Going alone doesn't seem like a good idea." "I'm also coming," said Izzy. "I'm just gonna stay here and, uh, guard the spot," said Joe. "I'll have TK stay also," said Matt. He looked at TK, anticipating a complaint, but saw TK was asleep. "Let's go," said Tai.

***

"Where'd they go?" asked Tai when they reached the pond. They walked over there, but found nothing. "Doesn't even look like a struggle happened," said Matt. "Whatever's doing this must be very strong," said Tai, "and smart. It attacked Sora and probably Mimi when they were alone here, yet when the three of us came, it didn't show." "If what you're saying is true," started Izzy, "then whatever's doing this wants us apart." "TK!" Matt blurted out.

***

"They're gone!" exclaimed Izzy, "Joe and TK are gone!" Matt fell to his knees and started hitting the ground. "No!" he yelled, "How could this happen?! I'm supposed to be protecting TK!" "Calm down Matt!" said Tai, "They might still be alright! We just have to find who's doing this!" "Why's my laptop way over there?" Izzy asked pointing some distance away. He ran over to it. "Careful, Izzy!" Tai yelled to him. Too late. Something flew from the trees to the left and hit Izzy, knocking him out of view to the right. Tai and Matt ran after. I'll go left, you go right," Tai said. Matt nodded. They split up.

***

Matt ran to where Izzy was. He found Izzy, lying on the ground with the others, and everyone had nets wrapped around them. "Who did this?!" Matt demanded. Before anyone could answer, a calm, flat, emotionless voice spoke from behind. "I did." Matt turned to see who it was. "Who are you?!" he demanded. "I am Sting," the starnger answered. "The bounty hunter?" "Yes." "Why are you doing this?" "The credits. You are worth fifty-thousand dead, seventy-thousand alive." With that, Sting fired a net a Matt. Matt leapt out of the way and lunged at Sting. Sting side-stepped and fired again. This time, the net wrapped around Matt. Matt stuggled to break free. "Don't bother," Sting said, "These nets are made of Chrome Digizoid. Even after your training, you won't break free like that. If you do, I'll have to tranquilize you."

***

Tai felt a flash of energy from where Matt went. He ran over to where Matt went and saw everyone with nets wrapped around him. "It was Sting," Matt said. "You mean the guy who's supposedly the best bounty hunter ever?" Tai asked. "The very same," Matt answered, "Careful, he's smart. It was his plan to get us while we seperated. And he's behind you!" Tai whipped around and saw Sting. "You're the last one," Sting said. Sting fired a net at Tai. "Nova Blast!" Tai retaliated with his fire ball. The fireball hit the net and disappeared, while the net wrapped around itself. Tai leapt into the air, Sting followed. Tai flew at Sting with a punch. Sting blocked and threw a kick. Tai dodged and managed to kick Sting in the back. Sting hit the ground, but immediately fired another net at Tai. Tai dodged just in time and threw three Nova Blasts at Sting. Sting dodged the first two, but the third caught him in the chest. Tai followed that attack with a massive energy beam where Sting was. "I think I got him," said Tai. "Now how about getting us out of here?" suggested Joe.

***

Sting got to his feet after the beam hit. He checked his armor's status. He thought about the battle a bit. I should've been able to dodge that kick. He knew the reason why he couldn't dodge it. Not because he was caught by surprise, but because he was getting a bit old. When he was younger, he would never have been hit, but his age catching up with him. He walked back to the BOUNTY. Considering how strong their leader was and how his Sting's age was slowing him down, this could be a challenge. Sting smiled under the helmet. It's been so long since he last had a challenge. He's going to enjoy this.

Afterword: Not much of a fight, but a big battle isn't Sting's style. I was originally going to have him attack Pixiemon's training area, but that isn't how Sting does things. This method was much easier for me. Next time, on Digimon Z: The DD's encounter a small army that's bent on destroying the Virus Brigade, while Andro decides to have a surprise meeting with Sting. But sill it be Sting who is surprised by this?