Digital Demons IV - Part 1
by Nopporn Wongrassamee
Summary - A Digimon Tamers/Jackie Chan Adventures/ Gatekeepers
crossover. While the team keeps busy, their other half goes on an
adventure of their own.
Disclaimer - None of these characters are mine, nor am I making a
profit here.
As was their wont, the Demon Sorcerers had erected enormous palaces
for themselves. Given their increased size as Digimon and their desire
to have their residences be roomy, the structures practically loomed
over this plane of the Digital World.
In the shadows of these palaces, a motley assortment of Digimon had
gathered. They had been recruited more or less at random, drawn by
promises. Promises of great rewards if they said yes, oblivion if they
said no. Given that the Demon Sorcerers had defeated the Sovereigns,
nobody said them nay.
At least, no one they had heard of.
But it wasn't one of the Sorcerers who appeared before them. It was an
ordinary Digimon, a Rookie level one at that like most of the recruits.
A couple recruits were Champion level, however, but held their peace
when the purple Rookie with the bandanna took center stage.
"Friends, fellow Digimon," Impmon began. "Lend me your ears!"
"Er, most of us don't have ears," a reptilian Digimon interjected.
"It's a metaphor, ya dip," Impmon retorted. "Now, shaddup. I'm talking
here!" He resumed his speech. "I suppose yer all wondering why you're
here."
"Well, it was that or death..." a Digimon with a horn in his forehead
began. He immediately clammed up at Impmon's glare.
"You have all been called upon to serve the Great Masters," Impmon
continued.
"Great Masters?" asked a leafy Digimon, puzzled.
"Hey, that's what They," Impmon jerked a thumb over his shoulder,
indicating the palaces and their residents, "want us to call them. You
wanna go over and argue it out with them?"
"Um, no."
"Didn't think so," Impmon snorted. "Anyway..." He paused, glaring at
the assembled Digimon to see if anyone else was going to interupt. No
one did. "Anyway, we're the Great Masters' new commando team. We'll
be tasked to do all the litte dirty work the Masters don't wanna bother
themselves with. Now, I'll bet you're wondering what you get out of the
deal."
Impmon paused again. The Digimon just stared back silently.
"Hey, folks, that's yer cue," Impmon said, exasperated.
Some querying noises came back at him.
"Oh, I'm sooo glad you asked," Impmon beamed sarcastically. "Our first
job is that we're gonna go after the Catalyst. With the Catalyst, we'll all
be able to Digivolve. Y'all wanna be Megas again, right?"
"RIGHT!" the Digimon chorused back, suddenly enthusiastic, not to
mention on cue.
"Right, so here's what we're gonna do," Impmon began explaining.
"First, we're gonna work on our teamwork..."
As Impmon began droning about training, two Digimon in the back of
the small crowd held a whispered conversation.
"Oh dear, this sounds terrible!" Guardromon fretted. "What about our
Tamers?"
"Shhh," Lopmon hushed him. "That's supposed to be a secret. We're
supposed to be ordinary Digimon, remember? It's part of the plan.
Trust Impmon."
"Hey! You two in the back!" Impmon blared. Suddenly Lopmon and
Guardromon found themselves the object of everyone's attention. "No
talking in the ranks!" Impmon harangued them. "Drop and give me
twenty!"
***
"Hi, kids," Ruriko greeted as she entered their space, a part of Section
13's main bay set aside for them. It had become very cluttered since
the shopping trip. She set a tray of snacks she had brought with her on
a relatively clear spot on the picnic table. "Busy? I brought you some
refreshments."
"Thanks, Mrs. Ukiya," Takato complimented from where he was
organizing Modify cards by the stack. The floor around him was littered
with discarded wrappers. Behind him, Guilmon was reading one of the
comic books Rika had bought. "You're the best."
"That's my Grandma," Rika said distractedly. She was frowning at a
blank sheet of paper, with pencil in hand and several comic books
open next to her. Calumon sat on the table next to her, also engrossed
in one of comic books. Around Rika were at least a dozen crumpled
pieces of paper. Renamon hovered nearby.
"Is something wrong, dear?" Ruriko asked her granddaughter,
concerned.
"Oh, yeah, I'm just not creative," Rika replied grumpily.
"Why would you say that?" Ruriko gently probed.
"Lemme count the ways," Rika began. "One, I can't seem to think of
anything for Renamon to armor digivolve into that she can't already
get by regular digivolving. Two, my drawing skills just suck big time."
She gestured at Takato. "He can draw. Heck, Grandma, he actually
_made_ Guilmon. From scratch no less."
Ruriko blinked in surprise. "He did?"
"Oh, heh, yeah," Takato confirmed, blushing in embarassment.
"Two, take Henry, here," Rika continued, indicating said boy. Henry was
busy typing away at a spare laptop computer that Section 13 had in
storage. Apparently, a new one had exceeded his AEGIS card's credit
limit. Terriermon snoozed next to the laptop, wires connecting the
Digimon to it. Henry would occaisionally pause in typing to consult an
open book. "He knows exactly what he wants Terriermon to become.
He's even making an armor digivolve card for it."
"Rika, I'm sure you'll think of something," Ruriko comforted.
"Like what?" Rika asked. "Let's face it, Grandma. I'm a fighter, not a...
a... Digimon engineer."
"Well, um, think about what Takato did," Ruriko suggested. "He saw
something that none of your Digimon's regular digivolved forms could
handle. He designed a new form to meet the new threat. So, Rika, what
threat out there can none of your Digimon handle with their existing
digivolved forms?"
"The Demon Sorcerers," Rika stated after a moment's thought. "Still, I
don't know how..." She trailed off as an idea occured to her. Rika
turned and picked up one of Henry's books. "Hey, Henry, mind if I
borrow this?"
"Sure, no problem," Henry mumbled absently, engrossed in his work.
The book, Ruriko saw, was about modern weaponry.
***
"Hear ye, hear ye," Kazu chanted formally. "I call this meeting of the
Digimon Tamers to order."
"Kazu, it's just us," Kenta replied. "And I don't think they're impressed."
He indicated Suzie, Ai, and Mako, the "Junior" Tamers. "Not to mention
that we're kinda lacking in Digimon at the moment. For that matter,
why are we meeting here instead of at the park?"
"Here" was the Wong apartment, home of Suzie and the absent Henry.
"Oh, have some faith, Kenta," Kazu replied, agrieved. "Have I ever
steered you wrong?"
"There was that one time..." Kenta began.
"Details, details," Kazu dismissed. "The fact is, I have a plan to get our
Digimon back!"
That got everyone's attention. Everyone started speaking at once.
"What? Are you serious?"
"Will we see Impmon again?"
"Can you really do it?"
"Hewwo! Who's pwan is this again?"
There was a pause as everyone looked at an irate Suzie. Then they
turned back to Kazu, who looked a tad embarrassed.
"Okay, technically, it's Suzie's plan," Kazu admited. "But I got everyone
together."
"Uh, Suzie called us," Ai pointed out. Her brother nodded in agreement.
"Okay, but I get to be the leader of this expedition," Kazu announced.
"Don't you need goggles?" Mako asked.
"Dude, check it out the headgear," Kazu said, pointing at said
headgear.
"Those awen't goggles," Suzie pointed out
"Don't cramp my style, kid," Kazu told her. "And now, without further
ado... to Henry's room!"
***
"Jeri. Jade. There you are, I was..." Ruriko paused in mid greeting,
startled by the sight beyond the two girls.
The vehicle bay they were in was very spacious, almost as big as the
main bay. The generator AEGISmobile was parked over on one side,
pretty much neglected without a Big Gun to power. The salvaged
remains of the gun Aegismobile was piled more or less neatly against
a wall, its parking space empty.
Or it would have been empty if not for lions standing in a neat military
formation. For a moment, Ruriko had a flashback, replacing the lions
in her mind's eye with Invaders. She shook it off. The lions here were
different from the Invaders in two respects.
One: they were orange, not black. This immediately marked them as
Jeri's creations.
Two: as far as Ruriko could tell, no two were exactly alike. There were
short ones, tall ones, fat ones, and skinny ones. Some were humanoid,
some four footed, some with as many legs as a centipede, and some
even with wheels instead of legs.
"Let me guess," Ruriko said finally, "you've been practicing with the
Legos?"
"Oh, yeah," Jeri nodded enthusiastically.
"I think Jeri's finally got this programming thing down pat," Jade added.
"Oh?"
"When I made them, I made them with one purpose in mind," Jeri told
her. "They follow my orders and nothing else."
"But that's not the neatest part," Jade interjected. She nudged Jeri. "Go
on. Show her."
"Okay." Jeri turned to her minions. "All right guys. Unite! Form of a...
uh... um..."
"AEGISmobile," Jade suggested.
"Form of an AEGISMOBILE!" Jeri completed.
As one, the lions turned and leaped into the air, morphing into
interlocking shapes. In seconds, an orange AEGISmobile complete
with gun stood pristine in the bay.
"Neat, isn't it, Mrs. Ukiya?" Jeri said proudly, admiring her creation.
When there was no reply, the girls turned around to see what was
wrong. "Mrs. Ukiya? Are you okay?"
Ruriko had gone deathly pale, as if scared out of her wits. Jeri's lions
combining together was all too similar to the Invaders' ability to fuse
into their combat forms. Once, a long time ago, her husband had told
her that the Invaders were in fact the creation of some ancient
Gatekeeper. She hadn't believed him back then.
Ruriko believed him now.
"Rurippe?" Jade called, putting a hand on Ruriko's arm. "Are you okay?"
The hated nickname startled Ruriko back to the present. With a jerk,
she slapped Jade lightly on the back of the head.
"Ow!"
"Jade, you may have helped me put my soul back together and I thank
you," Ruriko told her. "But don't ever call me that."
Before either girl could say a word in reply, Ruriko turned and quickly
departed, leaving Jeri and Jade wondering what had just happened.
***
"Hey, kids," Captain Black greeted.
"Oh, hi, Captain Black," Takato replied. Neither Henry nor Rika showed
any notice. They were too engrossed in their work. Terriermon snored.
"Hi, Captain Blackmon," Guilmon echoed happily.
"Hello!" Calumon said cheerfully.
"What up? Trouble brewing?" Takato asked eagerly.
"No, just some paperwork I have to go over with your team leader,"
Black told them. He frowned. "We really must come up with a name for
you guys. We can't just keep refering to you as 'the team'. Any ideas?"
"How about G-Force?" Takato suggested.
"Or maybe the Ultimates?" Guilmon asked, holding up the comic book
he was reading.
"I know! The Super Family!" Calumon piped in.
"How about something that won't get us sued?" Black replied drily.
"What's sued?" Calumon asked, puzzled.
"I don't know," Guilmon replied thoughtfully. "Takatomon...?"
"Later, boy," Takato said quickly.
"I'll leave you kids to think it over," Black told them, amused. He began
to turn away, then paused. "I've been meaning to ask this, but it kept
slipping my mind. Calumon, you're a Digimon, right?"
"Yes, I am!" Calumon said enthusiastically.
"And you also carry the Catalyst for Digivolution, right?" Black asked.
"Yes..." Calumon confirmed, uncertain where he was going. Being the
Catalyst was a sensitive subject with him.
"So, um, can you digivolve yourself?"
"Gee, I never thought to try," Calumon said slowly. He looked at his
hands. "I don't think I can zap myself, though."
"Hey, I wonder why I never thought of that," Takato wondered.
"Oh, that's alright then," Black told him as he left. "Thanks for satisfying
my curiosity."
"Okay," Calumon replied, deep in thought.
***
"Gentlemen, I give you...the Red Cards!" Shibumi said dramatically,
presenting the other Monster Makers with three such cards. There were
a few moments of silence.
"Uh, Shibumi, we might be more impressed if you told us what they
do," Daisy finally said.
"Oh, right. They'll let the Tamers biomerge with their Digimon in the
Real World," Shibumi explained.
The others stared at him in dumbfounded silence.
"How'd you manage that?" Dolphin asked.
"Well, the short version is that I had to use alot of energy, alot of hard
to get materials, and some... very unorthodox programming," Shibumi
replied. "Oh, and not to mention a few shortcuts too."
"Shortcuts?" Janyu asked suspiciously. If his son was going to use
these, he wanted to make sure they were absolutely safe first.
"Well, they cost a small fortune to make," Shibumi explained, "Actually
making them is a long and laborious process, and they're only good
for a single use."
"But they're are no drawbacks to the user?" Janyu asked.
"Not so far as I can tell..." Shibumi began.
"Sir!" Riley called as she barged into the meeting room. "We've detected
an outgoing portal. And it's at your apartment! Again!"
Janyu blinked in surprise. Before his mind could wrap itself around
the implications, his cell phone rang. "Janyu Wong," he answered it.
"Dear? Calm down. Tell me...She what? They did? Thank you dear, I'll
handle it...Bye now."
"Janyu?" Shibumi asked, concerned. "What is it?"
"My younger daughter and her friends just took off into the Digital
World," Janyu told all of them slowly. "I think that includes the
remaining balance of Tamers here in Japan."
"Wait a minute, did any of them have their partners?" Babel asked.
"No," Janyu said miserably. "I think that's why they went."
"But without their Digimon, they have no protection," Daisy concluded.
"Exactly right," Janyu confirmed. "We have to rescue them. Can we
build another Ark?"
"Sure, but do we have the time?" Dolphin asked.
"I don't think so," Shibumi answered. "I think the Demon Sorcerers are
going to be alert for people going into the Digital World. Time is of the
essence."
"Well, I don't see how we can get them back then," Dolphin replied.
Behind Dolphin, a Gate almost as tall as he was appeared. Alice
stepped through and the Gate vanished behind her. "Hi, Daddy," she
greeted with a modicum of cheer. Then she noticed everyone staring
at her. "Uh, what's going on?"
"Oh no," Dolphin protested to the others before anyone could say
anything. "No way!"
***
After Mrs. Ukiya's abrupt departure, Jeri decided to quit for the day.
She dispersed the lions and she and Jade had gathered up the
remaining Lego pieces. While Jade took the Legos back to the others,
Jeri had to make a quick restroom run.
As Jeri entered the restroom however, she was blinded by a brilliant
flash of light. When her eyes cleared enough for her to see, she found
herself staring at the figure before her.
"Calumon?"
by Nopporn Wongrassamee
Summary - A Digimon Tamers/Jackie Chan Adventures/ Gatekeepers
crossover. While the team keeps busy, their other half goes on an
adventure of their own.
Disclaimer - None of these characters are mine, nor am I making a
profit here.
As was their wont, the Demon Sorcerers had erected enormous palaces
for themselves. Given their increased size as Digimon and their desire
to have their residences be roomy, the structures practically loomed
over this plane of the Digital World.
In the shadows of these palaces, a motley assortment of Digimon had
gathered. They had been recruited more or less at random, drawn by
promises. Promises of great rewards if they said yes, oblivion if they
said no. Given that the Demon Sorcerers had defeated the Sovereigns,
nobody said them nay.
At least, no one they had heard of.
But it wasn't one of the Sorcerers who appeared before them. It was an
ordinary Digimon, a Rookie level one at that like most of the recruits.
A couple recruits were Champion level, however, but held their peace
when the purple Rookie with the bandanna took center stage.
"Friends, fellow Digimon," Impmon began. "Lend me your ears!"
"Er, most of us don't have ears," a reptilian Digimon interjected.
"It's a metaphor, ya dip," Impmon retorted. "Now, shaddup. I'm talking
here!" He resumed his speech. "I suppose yer all wondering why you're
here."
"Well, it was that or death..." a Digimon with a horn in his forehead
began. He immediately clammed up at Impmon's glare.
"You have all been called upon to serve the Great Masters," Impmon
continued.
"Great Masters?" asked a leafy Digimon, puzzled.
"Hey, that's what They," Impmon jerked a thumb over his shoulder,
indicating the palaces and their residents, "want us to call them. You
wanna go over and argue it out with them?"
"Um, no."
"Didn't think so," Impmon snorted. "Anyway..." He paused, glaring at
the assembled Digimon to see if anyone else was going to interupt. No
one did. "Anyway, we're the Great Masters' new commando team. We'll
be tasked to do all the litte dirty work the Masters don't wanna bother
themselves with. Now, I'll bet you're wondering what you get out of the
deal."
Impmon paused again. The Digimon just stared back silently.
"Hey, folks, that's yer cue," Impmon said, exasperated.
Some querying noises came back at him.
"Oh, I'm sooo glad you asked," Impmon beamed sarcastically. "Our first
job is that we're gonna go after the Catalyst. With the Catalyst, we'll all
be able to Digivolve. Y'all wanna be Megas again, right?"
"RIGHT!" the Digimon chorused back, suddenly enthusiastic, not to
mention on cue.
"Right, so here's what we're gonna do," Impmon began explaining.
"First, we're gonna work on our teamwork..."
As Impmon began droning about training, two Digimon in the back of
the small crowd held a whispered conversation.
"Oh dear, this sounds terrible!" Guardromon fretted. "What about our
Tamers?"
"Shhh," Lopmon hushed him. "That's supposed to be a secret. We're
supposed to be ordinary Digimon, remember? It's part of the plan.
Trust Impmon."
"Hey! You two in the back!" Impmon blared. Suddenly Lopmon and
Guardromon found themselves the object of everyone's attention. "No
talking in the ranks!" Impmon harangued them. "Drop and give me
twenty!"
***
"Hi, kids," Ruriko greeted as she entered their space, a part of Section
13's main bay set aside for them. It had become very cluttered since
the shopping trip. She set a tray of snacks she had brought with her on
a relatively clear spot on the picnic table. "Busy? I brought you some
refreshments."
"Thanks, Mrs. Ukiya," Takato complimented from where he was
organizing Modify cards by the stack. The floor around him was littered
with discarded wrappers. Behind him, Guilmon was reading one of the
comic books Rika had bought. "You're the best."
"That's my Grandma," Rika said distractedly. She was frowning at a
blank sheet of paper, with pencil in hand and several comic books
open next to her. Calumon sat on the table next to her, also engrossed
in one of comic books. Around Rika were at least a dozen crumpled
pieces of paper. Renamon hovered nearby.
"Is something wrong, dear?" Ruriko asked her granddaughter,
concerned.
"Oh, yeah, I'm just not creative," Rika replied grumpily.
"Why would you say that?" Ruriko gently probed.
"Lemme count the ways," Rika began. "One, I can't seem to think of
anything for Renamon to armor digivolve into that she can't already
get by regular digivolving. Two, my drawing skills just suck big time."
She gestured at Takato. "He can draw. Heck, Grandma, he actually
_made_ Guilmon. From scratch no less."
Ruriko blinked in surprise. "He did?"
"Oh, heh, yeah," Takato confirmed, blushing in embarassment.
"Two, take Henry, here," Rika continued, indicating said boy. Henry was
busy typing away at a spare laptop computer that Section 13 had in
storage. Apparently, a new one had exceeded his AEGIS card's credit
limit. Terriermon snoozed next to the laptop, wires connecting the
Digimon to it. Henry would occaisionally pause in typing to consult an
open book. "He knows exactly what he wants Terriermon to become.
He's even making an armor digivolve card for it."
"Rika, I'm sure you'll think of something," Ruriko comforted.
"Like what?" Rika asked. "Let's face it, Grandma. I'm a fighter, not a...
a... Digimon engineer."
"Well, um, think about what Takato did," Ruriko suggested. "He saw
something that none of your Digimon's regular digivolved forms could
handle. He designed a new form to meet the new threat. So, Rika, what
threat out there can none of your Digimon handle with their existing
digivolved forms?"
"The Demon Sorcerers," Rika stated after a moment's thought. "Still, I
don't know how..." She trailed off as an idea occured to her. Rika
turned and picked up one of Henry's books. "Hey, Henry, mind if I
borrow this?"
"Sure, no problem," Henry mumbled absently, engrossed in his work.
The book, Ruriko saw, was about modern weaponry.
***
"Hear ye, hear ye," Kazu chanted formally. "I call this meeting of the
Digimon Tamers to order."
"Kazu, it's just us," Kenta replied. "And I don't think they're impressed."
He indicated Suzie, Ai, and Mako, the "Junior" Tamers. "Not to mention
that we're kinda lacking in Digimon at the moment. For that matter,
why are we meeting here instead of at the park?"
"Here" was the Wong apartment, home of Suzie and the absent Henry.
"Oh, have some faith, Kenta," Kazu replied, agrieved. "Have I ever
steered you wrong?"
"There was that one time..." Kenta began.
"Details, details," Kazu dismissed. "The fact is, I have a plan to get our
Digimon back!"
That got everyone's attention. Everyone started speaking at once.
"What? Are you serious?"
"Will we see Impmon again?"
"Can you really do it?"
"Hewwo! Who's pwan is this again?"
There was a pause as everyone looked at an irate Suzie. Then they
turned back to Kazu, who looked a tad embarrassed.
"Okay, technically, it's Suzie's plan," Kazu admited. "But I got everyone
together."
"Uh, Suzie called us," Ai pointed out. Her brother nodded in agreement.
"Okay, but I get to be the leader of this expedition," Kazu announced.
"Don't you need goggles?" Mako asked.
"Dude, check it out the headgear," Kazu said, pointing at said
headgear.
"Those awen't goggles," Suzie pointed out
"Don't cramp my style, kid," Kazu told her. "And now, without further
ado... to Henry's room!"
***
"Jeri. Jade. There you are, I was..." Ruriko paused in mid greeting,
startled by the sight beyond the two girls.
The vehicle bay they were in was very spacious, almost as big as the
main bay. The generator AEGISmobile was parked over on one side,
pretty much neglected without a Big Gun to power. The salvaged
remains of the gun Aegismobile was piled more or less neatly against
a wall, its parking space empty.
Or it would have been empty if not for lions standing in a neat military
formation. For a moment, Ruriko had a flashback, replacing the lions
in her mind's eye with Invaders. She shook it off. The lions here were
different from the Invaders in two respects.
One: they were orange, not black. This immediately marked them as
Jeri's creations.
Two: as far as Ruriko could tell, no two were exactly alike. There were
short ones, tall ones, fat ones, and skinny ones. Some were humanoid,
some four footed, some with as many legs as a centipede, and some
even with wheels instead of legs.
"Let me guess," Ruriko said finally, "you've been practicing with the
Legos?"
"Oh, yeah," Jeri nodded enthusiastically.
"I think Jeri's finally got this programming thing down pat," Jade added.
"Oh?"
"When I made them, I made them with one purpose in mind," Jeri told
her. "They follow my orders and nothing else."
"But that's not the neatest part," Jade interjected. She nudged Jeri. "Go
on. Show her."
"Okay." Jeri turned to her minions. "All right guys. Unite! Form of a...
uh... um..."
"AEGISmobile," Jade suggested.
"Form of an AEGISMOBILE!" Jeri completed.
As one, the lions turned and leaped into the air, morphing into
interlocking shapes. In seconds, an orange AEGISmobile complete
with gun stood pristine in the bay.
"Neat, isn't it, Mrs. Ukiya?" Jeri said proudly, admiring her creation.
When there was no reply, the girls turned around to see what was
wrong. "Mrs. Ukiya? Are you okay?"
Ruriko had gone deathly pale, as if scared out of her wits. Jeri's lions
combining together was all too similar to the Invaders' ability to fuse
into their combat forms. Once, a long time ago, her husband had told
her that the Invaders were in fact the creation of some ancient
Gatekeeper. She hadn't believed him back then.
Ruriko believed him now.
"Rurippe?" Jade called, putting a hand on Ruriko's arm. "Are you okay?"
The hated nickname startled Ruriko back to the present. With a jerk,
she slapped Jade lightly on the back of the head.
"Ow!"
"Jade, you may have helped me put my soul back together and I thank
you," Ruriko told her. "But don't ever call me that."
Before either girl could say a word in reply, Ruriko turned and quickly
departed, leaving Jeri and Jade wondering what had just happened.
***
"Hey, kids," Captain Black greeted.
"Oh, hi, Captain Black," Takato replied. Neither Henry nor Rika showed
any notice. They were too engrossed in their work. Terriermon snored.
"Hi, Captain Blackmon," Guilmon echoed happily.
"Hello!" Calumon said cheerfully.
"What up? Trouble brewing?" Takato asked eagerly.
"No, just some paperwork I have to go over with your team leader,"
Black told them. He frowned. "We really must come up with a name for
you guys. We can't just keep refering to you as 'the team'. Any ideas?"
"How about G-Force?" Takato suggested.
"Or maybe the Ultimates?" Guilmon asked, holding up the comic book
he was reading.
"I know! The Super Family!" Calumon piped in.
"How about something that won't get us sued?" Black replied drily.
"What's sued?" Calumon asked, puzzled.
"I don't know," Guilmon replied thoughtfully. "Takatomon...?"
"Later, boy," Takato said quickly.
"I'll leave you kids to think it over," Black told them, amused. He began
to turn away, then paused. "I've been meaning to ask this, but it kept
slipping my mind. Calumon, you're a Digimon, right?"
"Yes, I am!" Calumon said enthusiastically.
"And you also carry the Catalyst for Digivolution, right?" Black asked.
"Yes..." Calumon confirmed, uncertain where he was going. Being the
Catalyst was a sensitive subject with him.
"So, um, can you digivolve yourself?"
"Gee, I never thought to try," Calumon said slowly. He looked at his
hands. "I don't think I can zap myself, though."
"Hey, I wonder why I never thought of that," Takato wondered.
"Oh, that's alright then," Black told him as he left. "Thanks for satisfying
my curiosity."
"Okay," Calumon replied, deep in thought.
***
"Gentlemen, I give you...the Red Cards!" Shibumi said dramatically,
presenting the other Monster Makers with three such cards. There were
a few moments of silence.
"Uh, Shibumi, we might be more impressed if you told us what they
do," Daisy finally said.
"Oh, right. They'll let the Tamers biomerge with their Digimon in the
Real World," Shibumi explained.
The others stared at him in dumbfounded silence.
"How'd you manage that?" Dolphin asked.
"Well, the short version is that I had to use alot of energy, alot of hard
to get materials, and some... very unorthodox programming," Shibumi
replied. "Oh, and not to mention a few shortcuts too."
"Shortcuts?" Janyu asked suspiciously. If his son was going to use
these, he wanted to make sure they were absolutely safe first.
"Well, they cost a small fortune to make," Shibumi explained, "Actually
making them is a long and laborious process, and they're only good
for a single use."
"But they're are no drawbacks to the user?" Janyu asked.
"Not so far as I can tell..." Shibumi began.
"Sir!" Riley called as she barged into the meeting room. "We've detected
an outgoing portal. And it's at your apartment! Again!"
Janyu blinked in surprise. Before his mind could wrap itself around
the implications, his cell phone rang. "Janyu Wong," he answered it.
"Dear? Calm down. Tell me...She what? They did? Thank you dear, I'll
handle it...Bye now."
"Janyu?" Shibumi asked, concerned. "What is it?"
"My younger daughter and her friends just took off into the Digital
World," Janyu told all of them slowly. "I think that includes the
remaining balance of Tamers here in Japan."
"Wait a minute, did any of them have their partners?" Babel asked.
"No," Janyu said miserably. "I think that's why they went."
"But without their Digimon, they have no protection," Daisy concluded.
"Exactly right," Janyu confirmed. "We have to rescue them. Can we
build another Ark?"
"Sure, but do we have the time?" Dolphin asked.
"I don't think so," Shibumi answered. "I think the Demon Sorcerers are
going to be alert for people going into the Digital World. Time is of the
essence."
"Well, I don't see how we can get them back then," Dolphin replied.
Behind Dolphin, a Gate almost as tall as he was appeared. Alice
stepped through and the Gate vanished behind her. "Hi, Daddy," she
greeted with a modicum of cheer. Then she noticed everyone staring
at her. "Uh, what's going on?"
"Oh no," Dolphin protested to the others before anyone could say
anything. "No way!"
***
After Mrs. Ukiya's abrupt departure, Jeri decided to quit for the day.
She dispersed the lions and she and Jade had gathered up the
remaining Lego pieces. While Jade took the Legos back to the others,
Jeri had to make a quick restroom run.
As Jeri entered the restroom however, she was blinded by a brilliant
flash of light. When her eyes cleared enough for her to see, she found
herself staring at the figure before her.
"Calumon?"