Tamer Evolution
Part 4
by Christian "Sid" Lang
"Mikino." the eldest member of the Makino family whispers.
Ruki's mother only grunts, having slept for an hour only.
Rumiko shows her the phone.
"It's the hospital, they say it's-"
She doesn't have a chance to finish her sentence since Mikino has already grabbed the phone.
"Mikino Makino speaking, what is it?" she asks, being completely awake by now.
There is a slight pause. Mikino pales.
Rumiko gasps when her daughter suddenly collapses, having passed out.
She curses and grabs the phone.
"What happened to Ruki?" she hisses at the doctor who had asked to speak with Mikino.
Your grand-daughter has probably been kidnapped, Mrs. Makino. the doctor sighs.
Her grip on the receiver tightens as Rumiko tries to remain calm.
"Kidnapped? PROBABLY? Does that mean you have no idea where she is?" she hisses.
We only know of a nude red-haired woman coming out of her empty room.
I must be dreaming. This is just a nightmare. Rumiko tells herself.
She says good-bye and drops the receiver.
Then she covers her face with her hands and weeps.
Renamon stops at a corner and tries to catch her breath.
She has cursed Ruki's body at least a hundred times during the last three minutes.
The fact that she couldn't simply vanish had not surprised her too much.
But it seems as if she has Ruki's old endurance. Meaning no endurance at all.
Boy, she should have trained a bit. Renamon thinks and smiles.
She admits that she has done things normal humans couldn't have done.
But it feels less remarkable when compared to her old body.
Stop daydreaming and get home! she scolds herself.
Renamon shakes her head when she realizes that the Makino home is still far away.
Too far, considering her current constitution.
She curses loudly and slams her fist against a lamp pole.
Seconds later she yelps as the pole falling towards her.
Okay! I take back everything bad I have thought about this body!
Renamon smiles at the new crash site. Then she looks at her fist.
Her fist looks merely bruised, but not really injured.
Nodding, she starts to run down the street, away from the crash site.
Yamaki paces through his apartment, cursing himself.
He has always been a thinker, not a fighter.
And now I'm leading a bunch of kids and their Digimon against a small army!
He wonders whether he has gone too far this time.
"Am I doing this only because I lost my job? Am I only seeking revenge?"
Nobody answers him. Nobody is there to answer.
"No. I have only lost my job because... because..."
...because I wanted to protect the Tamers and their partners.
Yamaki cocks his head and frowns.
"I've... tried to help them. And I will help them!" he whispers and nods.
His great moment of self-awareness is ruined by a beeping sound of his laptop.
The ex-Hypnos employee sighs and looks at the screen.
When he sees who has sent the mail that caused his laptop to beep, he quickly sits down.
Minutes later, he curses loudly.
That changes everything. In fact, I think we'll be too late to rescue Ruki.
He blinks when he realizes that his first thought has been about the well-being of the kid.
Oh. Yeah. And the world is once again in terrible danger.
Yamaki snickers when he realizes how his priorities have shifted.
Still he decides not to tell the Tamers about this mail.
They would still go in, no matter what I tell them.
He nods and sighs.
It would be foolish to crush their fighting spirit just now.
"Still so far away..." Renamon groans.
She asks herself why Ruki had to be delivered into a hospital that far away from home.
When she smells bread nearby, she realizes that she hasn't eaten anything since her meeting.
I'll leave them a note who to bill for all this. she promises and nods.
She quickly runs to the place where the smells come from.
Just as she wants to rip off a car bumper, Renamon realizes that she knows this building.
Snickering, she thanks all the Gods she knows for her good luck.
Then she jumps up and grabs the edge of the balcony above her.
I hope Takato isn't sleeping yet... she thinks as she climbs onto the balcony.
"I... I don't think we should do this..." Juri whispers "Why not?" Takato asks as he gently kisses her cheek.
"It's just because... Ruki." the girl finally admits.
Takato sighs and holds his friend in the darkness of his room.
"I know. But Ruki's fate has shown me that we should enjoy life while we can."
"You talk about Ruki as if she's dead." Juri hisses.
The boy gulps when he realizes that she is right.
"I'm sorry. But let's forget Ruki just for a few minutes..." he whispers.
Just as he wants to kiss Juri's neck, somebody violently knocks at the balcony window.
Both Tamers yelp, blushing like mad.
"God, if this is some silly joke, I-" Juri hisses as she marches to the curtains covering the window.
She quickly moves the curtains aside and yelps again. Louder this time.
Takato rushes to the window and yelps, too.
A strange woman is standing on the balcony, waving her hand.
"Who is it, Takato?"
Takato whirls around and shrieks when he sees Guilmon standing behind him.
"How'd you get in here?" he asks his partner.
"I haven't been gone. I slept under these blankets." the Digimon mutters.
Takato gulps and blushes when he realizes that his partner had almost witnessed him and Juri doing-
A gentle knock at the window prevents him from getting a nosebleed.
While Takato turns around once again, Guilmon moves closer to the window.
The woman bows down and stares into the dino's eyes.
For a long time, nothing happens. Then, finally Guilmon cocks his head.
"Ruki...mon?" he asks, making both Tamers gasp.
"Thanks." Renamon mutters as she sinks to her knees after entering the room.
"Okay, this is... weird." Juri whispers as she moves closer to Takato.
"R... Ruki?" Takato only stammers, frowning.
Renamon cant actually blame him.
"Actually Ruki and Renamon. I... kinda digivolved." she tries to explain.
"So you fused with Ruki's body?" Juri asks.
Renamon nods weakly, remembering why she came here.
"Could I please have some food? I'm starving!" she begs.
Takato frowns, then snickers.
"Now what's so darn funny?" Renamon asks flatly.
"Are you sure you didn't fuse with Guilmon, too?" Takato mutters.
Renamon snarls and holds up her hand.
"This hand has broken a lamp post. Wanna find out what it can do to your face?"
The Digimon smiles when she sees Takato leaving the room in a hurry, mumbling something about food.
Guilmon joins him, probably wanting some food himself.
That leaves only Renamon and Juri.
Juri can't help but stare at Renamon's new form.
"What?" Renamon asks after a while, sounding bored and annoyed.
"You're... errrm... how should I put it..." the Tamer stammers.
"I'm what?" Renamon asks, sounding as if she expects a taunt.
"...beautiful..." Juri mutters, her eyes still fixed on the woman/Digimon.
Renamon blinks in surprise.
"Say what? Beautiful?" Renamon asks.
"Yeah... You look like the adult version of Ruki... sort of."
"Only sort of?"
"Well, I don't think Ruki would ever wear her hair like that." Juri points out and snickers.
Renamon just groans.
"Here I am, having done the unimaginable, and you only comment my hair style?"
Juri laughs and moves closer to hug the Digimon.
"I'm sorry. At least you found a solution for the problem of transporting Ruki."
Renamon nods happily.
"By the way: How did you convince the hospital staff to release her?" Juri suddenly asks.
"Oh boy." Renamon mutters and gulps.
I didn't even think of that...
She realizes that the hospital guys might miss Ruki's body by now.
And Renamon has seen enough movies to know what the police might think.
"My God, I need a phone!" she mutters and jumps to her feet.
"You mean they don't-"
"OF COURSE NOT!" Renamon yells at the Tamer.
Then she closes her eyes and sighs.
"S-Sorry. But I really have to phone the Makino's!"
Rumiko Makino.
Renamon bites her lower lip. Rumiko sounds weak. Beaten.
"R-Rumiko? It... It's..."
Who is there? I don't recognize your voice.
"Oh God... It's..."
The Digimon closes her eyes. She feels as if she has done something bad.
As if she is responisble for the way Rumiko is feeling.
Oh God... You're the kidnapper, aren't you? Rumiko suddenly gasps.
KIDNAPPER?
"Rumiko! No! It's me! Renamon!" Renamon shouts desperately.
R-Renamon? Oh thank God. The police called! Ruki has been kidnapped! Rumiko sobs.
"Rumiko, listen to me! Ruki is all right. Believe me!" Renamon tells her.
She... is? But how? The police told us-
"I can imagine it. But you have to believe me."
Are you sure? Rumiko sobs, sounding a bit relieved.
"Absolutely. You'll see what I mean once I get home."
Juri notices with a smirk that even Guilmon is surprised by the amount of food Renamon can eat.
"You are aware that Ruki will hate you if you leave her with a fat body?" she asks playfully.
Renamon cocks her head, then resumes eating.
"As long as she comes back, I don't care." she finally mutters.
Takato sighs as he watches the Digimon eat.
"Do you need anything else?" he asks her.
"A ride home would be really nice." Renamon instantly replies.
Takato instantly gets up to wake his parents, but Renamon holds his arm.
The boy gives her a confused look, and Renamon only frowns.
Finally she gives him a shy smile.
"Thanks. For everything." she whispers, then releases his hand.
"I'll call you tomorrow." Renamon says as she exits the car.
"See you then." Takato and Juri reply in unison.
When the car is out of sight again, Renamon rings the bell at the gate of the Makino compound.
Half a minute later, the gate is slowly opened by Rumiko.
"Wh-Who are you?" the old woman whispers.
Renamon doesn't make any sudden movements, knowing that Rumika has a Taser hidden behind her back.
She always has when she opens the door at night.
"Tell Mikino that Ruki and Renamon have arrived." Renamon whispers.
Slowly Rumiko begins to understand what Renamon has told her.
"R-Renamon? Is that you?" she whispers in awe.
"In a way. May I come in please?"
Reika covers her eyes with a hand and sighs.
The new guy, Tenbatsu, lives up to his name.
"Wrath of God". How fitting.
Reika had quickly realized that the being Tenbatsu had caught hasn't been Renamon.
It must have been Ruki. The girl that has landed in hospital. The Tamer.
And now... Now the girl's essence has been... wiped out?
She stares at her screen, as if trying to see the predator they have unleashed.
Maybe Tenbatsu will really be the Wrath of God. she thinks.
"I'm sorry." she whispers, touching the screen.
Then she frowns. Reika somehow knows that this... predator program is waiting for something.
It could spread over the entire net. Yet it stays here. What could it want?
The woman leans back in her chair and cocks her head.
"Let's hope I'll never find it out."
Part 4
by Christian "Sid" Lang
"Mikino." the eldest member of the Makino family whispers.
Ruki's mother only grunts, having slept for an hour only.
Rumiko shows her the phone.
"It's the hospital, they say it's-"
She doesn't have a chance to finish her sentence since Mikino has already grabbed the phone.
"Mikino Makino speaking, what is it?" she asks, being completely awake by now.
There is a slight pause. Mikino pales.
Rumiko gasps when her daughter suddenly collapses, having passed out.
She curses and grabs the phone.
"What happened to Ruki?" she hisses at the doctor who had asked to speak with Mikino.
Your grand-daughter has probably been kidnapped, Mrs. Makino. the doctor sighs.
Her grip on the receiver tightens as Rumiko tries to remain calm.
"Kidnapped? PROBABLY? Does that mean you have no idea where she is?" she hisses.
We only know of a nude red-haired woman coming out of her empty room.
I must be dreaming. This is just a nightmare. Rumiko tells herself.
She says good-bye and drops the receiver.
Then she covers her face with her hands and weeps.
Renamon stops at a corner and tries to catch her breath.
She has cursed Ruki's body at least a hundred times during the last three minutes.
The fact that she couldn't simply vanish had not surprised her too much.
But it seems as if she has Ruki's old endurance. Meaning no endurance at all.
Boy, she should have trained a bit. Renamon thinks and smiles.
She admits that she has done things normal humans couldn't have done.
But it feels less remarkable when compared to her old body.
Stop daydreaming and get home! she scolds herself.
Renamon shakes her head when she realizes that the Makino home is still far away.
Too far, considering her current constitution.
She curses loudly and slams her fist against a lamp pole.
Seconds later she yelps as the pole falling towards her.
Okay! I take back everything bad I have thought about this body!
Renamon smiles at the new crash site. Then she looks at her fist.
Her fist looks merely bruised, but not really injured.
Nodding, she starts to run down the street, away from the crash site.
Yamaki paces through his apartment, cursing himself.
He has always been a thinker, not a fighter.
And now I'm leading a bunch of kids and their Digimon against a small army!
He wonders whether he has gone too far this time.
"Am I doing this only because I lost my job? Am I only seeking revenge?"
Nobody answers him. Nobody is there to answer.
"No. I have only lost my job because... because..."
...because I wanted to protect the Tamers and their partners.
Yamaki cocks his head and frowns.
"I've... tried to help them. And I will help them!" he whispers and nods.
His great moment of self-awareness is ruined by a beeping sound of his laptop.
The ex-Hypnos employee sighs and looks at the screen.
When he sees who has sent the mail that caused his laptop to beep, he quickly sits down.
Minutes later, he curses loudly.
That changes everything. In fact, I think we'll be too late to rescue Ruki.
He blinks when he realizes that his first thought has been about the well-being of the kid.
Oh. Yeah. And the world is once again in terrible danger.
Yamaki snickers when he realizes how his priorities have shifted.
Still he decides not to tell the Tamers about this mail.
They would still go in, no matter what I tell them.
He nods and sighs.
It would be foolish to crush their fighting spirit just now.
"Still so far away..." Renamon groans.
She asks herself why Ruki had to be delivered into a hospital that far away from home.
When she smells bread nearby, she realizes that she hasn't eaten anything since her meeting.
I'll leave them a note who to bill for all this. she promises and nods.
She quickly runs to the place where the smells come from.
Just as she wants to rip off a car bumper, Renamon realizes that she knows this building.
Snickering, she thanks all the Gods she knows for her good luck.
Then she jumps up and grabs the edge of the balcony above her.
I hope Takato isn't sleeping yet... she thinks as she climbs onto the balcony.
"I... I don't think we should do this..." Juri whispers "Why not?" Takato asks as he gently kisses her cheek.
"It's just because... Ruki." the girl finally admits.
Takato sighs and holds his friend in the darkness of his room.
"I know. But Ruki's fate has shown me that we should enjoy life while we can."
"You talk about Ruki as if she's dead." Juri hisses.
The boy gulps when he realizes that she is right.
"I'm sorry. But let's forget Ruki just for a few minutes..." he whispers.
Just as he wants to kiss Juri's neck, somebody violently knocks at the balcony window.
Both Tamers yelp, blushing like mad.
"God, if this is some silly joke, I-" Juri hisses as she marches to the curtains covering the window.
She quickly moves the curtains aside and yelps again. Louder this time.
Takato rushes to the window and yelps, too.
A strange woman is standing on the balcony, waving her hand.
"Who is it, Takato?"
Takato whirls around and shrieks when he sees Guilmon standing behind him.
"How'd you get in here?" he asks his partner.
"I haven't been gone. I slept under these blankets." the Digimon mutters.
Takato gulps and blushes when he realizes that his partner had almost witnessed him and Juri doing-
A gentle knock at the window prevents him from getting a nosebleed.
While Takato turns around once again, Guilmon moves closer to the window.
The woman bows down and stares into the dino's eyes.
For a long time, nothing happens. Then, finally Guilmon cocks his head.
"Ruki...mon?" he asks, making both Tamers gasp.
"Thanks." Renamon mutters as she sinks to her knees after entering the room.
"Okay, this is... weird." Juri whispers as she moves closer to Takato.
"R... Ruki?" Takato only stammers, frowning.
Renamon cant actually blame him.
"Actually Ruki and Renamon. I... kinda digivolved." she tries to explain.
"So you fused with Ruki's body?" Juri asks.
Renamon nods weakly, remembering why she came here.
"Could I please have some food? I'm starving!" she begs.
Takato frowns, then snickers.
"Now what's so darn funny?" Renamon asks flatly.
"Are you sure you didn't fuse with Guilmon, too?" Takato mutters.
Renamon snarls and holds up her hand.
"This hand has broken a lamp post. Wanna find out what it can do to your face?"
The Digimon smiles when she sees Takato leaving the room in a hurry, mumbling something about food.
Guilmon joins him, probably wanting some food himself.
That leaves only Renamon and Juri.
Juri can't help but stare at Renamon's new form.
"What?" Renamon asks after a while, sounding bored and annoyed.
"You're... errrm... how should I put it..." the Tamer stammers.
"I'm what?" Renamon asks, sounding as if she expects a taunt.
"...beautiful..." Juri mutters, her eyes still fixed on the woman/Digimon.
Renamon blinks in surprise.
"Say what? Beautiful?" Renamon asks.
"Yeah... You look like the adult version of Ruki... sort of."
"Only sort of?"
"Well, I don't think Ruki would ever wear her hair like that." Juri points out and snickers.
Renamon just groans.
"Here I am, having done the unimaginable, and you only comment my hair style?"
Juri laughs and moves closer to hug the Digimon.
"I'm sorry. At least you found a solution for the problem of transporting Ruki."
Renamon nods happily.
"By the way: How did you convince the hospital staff to release her?" Juri suddenly asks.
"Oh boy." Renamon mutters and gulps.
I didn't even think of that...
She realizes that the hospital guys might miss Ruki's body by now.
And Renamon has seen enough movies to know what the police might think.
"My God, I need a phone!" she mutters and jumps to her feet.
"You mean they don't-"
"OF COURSE NOT!" Renamon yells at the Tamer.
Then she closes her eyes and sighs.
"S-Sorry. But I really have to phone the Makino's!"
Rumiko Makino.
Renamon bites her lower lip. Rumiko sounds weak. Beaten.
"R-Rumiko? It... It's..."
Who is there? I don't recognize your voice.
"Oh God... It's..."
The Digimon closes her eyes. She feels as if she has done something bad.
As if she is responisble for the way Rumiko is feeling.
Oh God... You're the kidnapper, aren't you? Rumiko suddenly gasps.
KIDNAPPER?
"Rumiko! No! It's me! Renamon!" Renamon shouts desperately.
R-Renamon? Oh thank God. The police called! Ruki has been kidnapped! Rumiko sobs.
"Rumiko, listen to me! Ruki is all right. Believe me!" Renamon tells her.
She... is? But how? The police told us-
"I can imagine it. But you have to believe me."
Are you sure? Rumiko sobs, sounding a bit relieved.
"Absolutely. You'll see what I mean once I get home."
Juri notices with a smirk that even Guilmon is surprised by the amount of food Renamon can eat.
"You are aware that Ruki will hate you if you leave her with a fat body?" she asks playfully.
Renamon cocks her head, then resumes eating.
"As long as she comes back, I don't care." she finally mutters.
Takato sighs as he watches the Digimon eat.
"Do you need anything else?" he asks her.
"A ride home would be really nice." Renamon instantly replies.
Takato instantly gets up to wake his parents, but Renamon holds his arm.
The boy gives her a confused look, and Renamon only frowns.
Finally she gives him a shy smile.
"Thanks. For everything." she whispers, then releases his hand.
"I'll call you tomorrow." Renamon says as she exits the car.
"See you then." Takato and Juri reply in unison.
When the car is out of sight again, Renamon rings the bell at the gate of the Makino compound.
Half a minute later, the gate is slowly opened by Rumiko.
"Wh-Who are you?" the old woman whispers.
Renamon doesn't make any sudden movements, knowing that Rumika has a Taser hidden behind her back.
She always has when she opens the door at night.
"Tell Mikino that Ruki and Renamon have arrived." Renamon whispers.
Slowly Rumiko begins to understand what Renamon has told her.
"R-Renamon? Is that you?" she whispers in awe.
"In a way. May I come in please?"
Reika covers her eyes with a hand and sighs.
The new guy, Tenbatsu, lives up to his name.
"Wrath of God". How fitting.
Reika had quickly realized that the being Tenbatsu had caught hasn't been Renamon.
It must have been Ruki. The girl that has landed in hospital. The Tamer.
And now... Now the girl's essence has been... wiped out?
She stares at her screen, as if trying to see the predator they have unleashed.
Maybe Tenbatsu will really be the Wrath of God. she thinks.
"I'm sorry." she whispers, touching the screen.
Then she frowns. Reika somehow knows that this... predator program is waiting for something.
It could spread over the entire net. Yet it stays here. What could it want?
The woman leans back in her chair and cocks her head.
"Let's hope I'll never find it out."
