In the deep, deep blackness, the blackness of the void, 'neath the parched,
thirsting land where no thing remains free. something stirred, a shadow
within shadows, a whisper in still air.something stirred.
Chapter 2 - the meeting
By the time school ended the next day, KT had told Jake, Breddy and Ali about her adventure in the Digital World, and explained to them their digivices. All three were now keen to go there too and meet their digimon, although Breddy and Ali did not like the idea of fighting monsters. Now, as the bell rang again for the end of school, KT remembered something that had been troubling her all day, something she had heard Tai and Matt talking about. They had mentioned an urgent meeting of the "Digidestined", whatever that meant, and that they would be needed very much in order to tell the others (whoever they were) about what had happened that day. But she had not seen them at school today, even though she looked everywhere at lunch. That meant that the important information could not be delivered to their friends; and only she knew it. On impulse, she approached the person she felt she trusted most. He had brown hair, cut neatly and straight - despite obvious effort, though, it still stuck up at the sides. He was tall, and like everyone else wore a school uniform. He looked at her a little oddly - she had reason to believe he didn't really think she was telling the truth. Well, she would show him! She marched up to him and asked with a whine in her voice and her best puppy-dog eyes: "Ja-ake." "What is it now?" He asked, grinning. "Will you come with me to the computer room, please? I-I have to meet some people there, but they're all older than me, and I only know your friend Davis." "Davis?" He said, puzzled, "What's Davis doing there that he needs to meet you?" She looked at him beseechingly, and finally he sighed and agreed. "Great!" She said, instantly cheering up. "Oh, yeah. I've just gotta get something from my locker first." Patiently he waited by the door while she trotted around the corner to where their block of lockers stood. There was a bang, a crash, and some scuffling noises. Curious, he wandered over; but narrowly missed walking straight into KT, who was coming the other way with her bag hanging lopsidedly on her back and what looked like a stuffed toy cradled in her arms. He peered closer. It was a kind of fish, with big eyes and a huge grin. "KT, what's that." He began, but she ignored him and started off in the direction of the computer room. He sighed once more, scratched his head in bewilderment, and followed her down the corridor. "Girls."
As soon as the pair entered, eight heads turned towards them. KT smiled nervously. "Jake! Um. er. what are you doing here?" Davis started trying to herd them out the door. "It's all right, I know very well you're having a secret meeting thingy in there. But Davis, how do you know all those people? And KT-" here he swivelled round to face her -"how do you know all these people?" KT felt helpless. But in her arms was someone who knew exactly what to do. "Finmon, don't!" She hissed as he wriggled in her grasp, but he was a perfectly streamlined shape for such a purpose. Before she could catch hold of him, he was bouncing cheerfully across the floor, finally settling in the centre of the room, right in front of where the eight older students were seated around a computer. KT went bright red, but the others seemed not to be watching with amazement - more with mild interest and much thought. She walked into the room, wondering how on earth she could cover all this up; but before she had gotten far, a shrill, loud whistling sounded, and a light shone from the small screen of her digivice. "Oh, no." She moaned, but it was too late. In front of eight older students, some more so than others, and her dumbfounded friend, the fish-like Finmon cried out his name, before growing legs, a longer tail and snout, and a cheeky expression. ".Leviomon!" He finished triumphantly. "Cute. But more importantly than who he is, how did he get here?" A boy with glasses and dark blue hair asked. KT felt she had to speak up. "He's. mine. My partner, I mean. I'm KT, by the way," she added. The boy nodded - he looked like the eldest there. "I'm Joe, this is Sora, and that's Izzy at the computer." He introduced the other eldest kids. Sora and Izzy both had brown hair - the girl smiled and waved. Another girl, with short mousy hair and a camera around her neck, introduced herself and a boy next to her with blond hair beneath a floppy hat. "I'm Kari, and this is TK." KT nodded. Those two looked a little younger than Izzy, but a little older than the remaining four, one of whom now spoke up. He was standing behind Izzy at the computer, and his short hair was smooth and straight. "I'm Cody. Davis you know." "Hi, I'm Yolei, pleased to meet you!" A girl with glasses and long light purple hair interrupted. "OK, OK, enough with the introductions already!" Davis cried impatiently. "Everyone, this is Jake. Jake, everyone. Say hi and let's get on with this. Izzy, have you made contact with the digimon yet?" Izzy spoke for the first time. "Not yet. I'm having trouble hacking through to open the Gate, I think there's some kind of bug on the net." "KT, Jake, come on, sit down. Tell us how you got Leviomon." Said Sora, motioning them to a couple of empty seats. TK asked Jake, "Do you have a digimon?" Jake shook his head. The movement seemed to remind him to close his mouth at last. He opened it again to ask what that thing now sitting in KT's lap was, but thought better of it - the others would only get at him for not believing her earlier. Suddenly, Kari turned to the others. "Where's my brother?" She asked. She was Tai's little sister, and had been the first to make friends with Agumon in his very lowest form, all those years ago. "And mine! It's not like them not to turn up without telling us why," said TK. Matt was his older sibling, though both had been on the first adventure together. "That's. what I need to tell you about," said KT. All of them except Izzy, concentrating furiously on the computer, hushed and looked at her. She coughed awkwardly before continuing. "Yesterday, I found this digivice in my schoolbag. So did Jake, and three of my friends. Today Breddy told me her little brother's friend, Paul, found one too." The hairs rose on the back of her neck, and she had the strange feeling she was being watched by hostile eyes. "Tai and Matt found me in the computer room, trying to research about them. They took me to the Digital World, and they met their digimon there. But they also." "Who are you?" A voice suddenly asked from the back of the room. A figure stepped forward, and KT furrowed her brows. He was somehow familiar. "Oh yes, this is Ken!" Apologised Davis. KT's eyes widened - Ken! She knew where she had heard that name before! "I know I recognise you from somewhere, and your digimon." Ken was saying in puzzlement. "You!" KT screamed. "You're all in league with him!" Kari rushed forward, and Davis leaped up. "With who, KT? You're not making any sense?" She said, trying to maintain calm. "With the Evil Emperor! With the Dark Lord! He"- she pointed dramatically at Ken -"is the Evil Emperor!" She could see the others were confused. "KT, it's all right! He's good now, don't you see? We destroyed the Evil Emperor ages ago, now there's just Ken!" Protested Sora. KT stopped, but only to take a gulp of air. "When we went to the Digital World, just yesterday, he was there! Tai and Matt, they called him Ken, but they were confused as well! He had dark rings around three digimon - I think they were called. Ikkakumon, Birdramon, and. Kabuterimon!" Joe and Sora leaped to their feet. Even Izzy turned from the computer screen, looking worried. "Greymon and. Garurumon, I think. they tried to fight them, but couldn't do it without the help of Mermon here." She let a touch of pride sneak into her voice. Leviomon looked up at her and opened his mouth to start talking, but before he could Ken shook his head in disbelief and began muttering haltingly and quietly; yet somehow managing to focus everyone's attention on him. "No. that can't be! I-I came here tonight to pass on a message which Wormmon gave me, that's why I gave you that note!" They all looked at him questioningly, allowing him to speak. " Wormmon spoke to me on my computer. He told me to send Matt and Tai to the Digital World, because their digimon needed their help. He told me to bring together four girls and three boys, new kids in the year below - I think these are two of them, the new Digidestined. He told me we had to find the Warrior of the Sea, who or whatever that may be. And he told me. to give this to you." Slowly, with a slightly trembling hand, he pulled out his black Digivice. The others waited, grouped around him in an unconscious semicircle. "I suppose Tai, as the original leader of our rapidly growing little gang, should be the one to accept this." Kari suggested. "But as he isn't here, I say we give this responsibility to Davis." Joe, Sora, TK, Yolei and Cody all nodded. Izzy was typing faster than ever, not seeming even to notice what was happening in the room. Davis looked around in surprise. "Who, me?" He asked incredulously. Yolei sighed in exasperation, as if to say: "Who else?" Davis got the message, and gravely stepped forward. A slight flash passed over Ken's eyes as he held out the digivice to the younger boy; but it left instantly, and Davis carefully picked up the digivice and pocketed it. "Well," sighed Joe, "Now that that's done, we can think about why Ken had to hand over his digivice. Without that, Wormmon can't digevolve - a skill he'll need if he wants to fight this here Dark Lord." "That's what Wormmon said," Ken said gloomily. "He said you'd have a hard time of it if he could digevolve." "What on earth can that mean?" cried Sora. KT shuddered. From her lap, Leviomon spoke at last. "That seems sensible to me. After all, it's bad enough having an Evil Emperor with digimon as his slaves, without having Stingmon as his friend." There was a stunned silence. Then Cody tentatively asked in his grating voice, "Ken, where were you yesterday after school?" Ken put his head into his hands. "I don't know!" He wailed despairingly. Yolei could contain herself no longer and rushed forward to hug him. But as she put her arms round his neck, she gasped and pulled back. "I think I see what's going on," she said, her voice quavering just slightly. Everyone held his or her breath as she stood aside and slowly lifted Ken's chin. Then Kari cried out. Firmly clamped around his own neck was a Dark Ring. "So that's why he can't remember anything." Joe began, but was cut off by a shout from Izzy. "I'm through! The Gate is open!" Immediately, everyone crowded round the screen. "Looks like we need some answers," said Izzy. "Hopefully our digimon will be able to give them to us." The red light was on, and gradually the hillside scene fuzzed into view. When it was clear, they could see two large shapes. "Hey! Gatomon, is that you?" Kari shouted at them. They stirred and moved closer, coming into clear view. "Tai! Matt! What are you doing?" Joe yelled. Tai shook his head in bewilderment. "I don't know why, but we can't get back through the Gate. We tried just now, when it appeared to be open. The digimon think it's some doing of this Dark Lord, whatever or whoever he is." As one, Joe, Sora and Izzy interrupted him. "How's Biyomon?" "Is Gomamon OK?" "What about Tentomon?" Tai laughed. "Yes, the Dark Rings on them were broken. And -" he added, seeing five other mouths open to ask the same, "- Veemon, Gatomon, Patamon, Hawkmon and Armadillomon are right here. They have something to say." Everyone crowed with delight when his or her digimon appeared on the screen. Hawkmon inclined his head politely at them. "We request your permission." Hawkmon began - "To come aboard!" Patamon cried gleefully. Gatomon smiled, and explained. "We've done our homework - we asked around to gather what information we could about this Dark Lord. About himself, we know basically nothing; though we have heard rumours that without the Dark Rings and the Evil Emperor, all he has left are a few naturally evil digimon." "That's no biggie", said Armadillomon lazily, "We done plenty o' that kinda stuff before. Nah, we got two main problems: one, what exactly to do about this Evil Emperor, or Ken (possibly); two, how to defeat the Dark Lord. Now, it strikes me that if he needs so much defence, can he really be all that strong himself?" Hawkmon nodded. "That is a good point you have there, Armadillomon. Besides that, if he should need so greatly the Evil Emperor, then he cannot even create his own slaves." "We figured the only way to defeat him was in your world," chirped Veemon in a nasal voice. "So, we're coming over to stay for a while!" Davis laughed. "Wait a minute, you mean.?" But to his and the others' surprise, the shapes of all five digimon were leaping straight out toward them, getting larger and larger.
Five seconds later, Tentomon's voice cut through the mass of groaning limbs and bodies on the floor. "Izzy! Come on, what are you doing wasting time down there? Help us out, we can't follow through!" From beneath a human leg, a torso and a feathery digimon body, Izzy thanked his lucky stars for his short height. Carefully, methodically, he wriggled his way out from the bottom of the pile like a snake and surveyed the damage. In squeezing out, he had overturned a chair for its second turn, which was one of many sticking up here and there among the bruised and moaning mess. A movement in the middle burst out into a blue, bright-eyed digimon - Veemon. Hawkmon, a brown bird with a white head, fluttered squashed wings and managed to lift himself clear. Armadillomon rolled out, a yellow shell and humorous eyes that emerged from under it; Leviomon slithered alongside. One by one, the digimon crawled, flapped or forced their way out into fresh air, leaving the cumbersome humans to their own hurts. Izzy turned back to the computer. Tentomon, Gomamon and Biyomon were still standing there, looking slightly sad and lonely. "It must be the same thing Tai and Matt found," he said thoughtfully to the three despondent digimon on the screen. "It doesn't matter, you guys - we don't really have time any more, what with homework and study and all. That reminds me, we have to figure out a way of getting them back soon. Not only are they missing loads of work, but their teachers, Matt's band - not to mention their parents! - have been looking all over for them. And they really don't like hearing the digimon thing again!" Suddenly, Izzy heard a noise. He turned his head; it had sounded like a tiny whimper. His eyes widened in shock. "Ken!" He shouted. Davis, Kari and Jake had managed to unscramble themselves, and were clambering to their feet as delicately as possible. At the back, Ken was clearly struggling with something, choking and grasping at the ring around his neck. But that was not all; his eyes glowed a bright red, and his fingers eventually fell. His breathing was calm again now, but a snide sneer was on his contorted face. In a flash, he had brought up his arm, and was holding something out to the computer. With a shout of dismay, Davis realised that in the confusion he had managed to get hold of his black digivice. Desperately, he lunged for the evil boy, but his fingers closed around empty air; Ken was gone. Tentomon, Biyomon and Gomamon yelled at Ken as he appeared on their side in cape, boots, wild hair and dark glasses; the Evil Emperor impatiently barged past them and strode down the hillside. With a click of his fingers, three huge, snake-like forms rose out of the trees and swooped down to him. As one of them glided past, Ken nimbly jumped onto its back. "Airdramon!" Whispered TK in awe. "And that's not all. Look! They wear Dark Rings!" Kari exclaimed. The Airdramon were soon no more than tiny shapes rapidly disappearing into the distant clouds - KT noticed that in that particular corner, for some reason, dark clouds were gathering thickly. Jake let out a deep breath in relief. "Well, at least he's gone!" He said. "What do you mean, at least?" Davis said. "We now have to chase after him!" "No." Sora shook her head. "We don't." The others looked at her, confused. "We cannot defeat him in that world. The Dark Lord gives him extra power through the Dark Ring." Cody said matter-of-factly. They all looked at him, making him feel uneasy. Still, he continued. "We must try to break the Ring in this world, while he is not under its influence as much. Our only problem will be how, especially if he uses Stingmon." "Yeah, the Dark Lord will probably have given Stingmon super-powers too. That means he might be able to digevolve even further, up to his Ultimate", Joe added. There was a long silence, then Davis frowned determinedly. "Well, he'll have to come back sometime. And when he does, we'll be waiting!" Yolei laughed. "But who'll be waiting? We can't just sit here until tomorrow morning, or perhaps even later!" "I'm sorry, guys, but I can't even stay any longer." Joe said gloomily. "I've got an essay to write and a test to revise for, plus I gotta lot of extra studying to do." "Me too, I'm learning a new way of cracking really top security systems at the moment. Out-of-school, that is!" Izzy grinned. The two boys got up, collected their schoolbags which had luckily been placed on the other side of the room. When they had gone, Sora seemed to have thought of another problem. "OK, so say we manage to defeat Ken in this world. What do we do then about the Dark Lord in that? Not only does he have who-knows- how-many digimon under his control; he might be super-powerful himself. Even if our digimon did manage to defeat hundreds of others, they would be too exhausted to fight an ultimately evil being!" Yolei groaned, and put her head in her hands. "Let's just think about that afterwards. I can't cope with any more of this doom and gloom!" "I'm afraid I'm not going to be able to help you, either," said Sora. "I have to keep on top of my school work, and besides I won't be much use without Biyomon." "That's OK." Davis said. "Jake and KT, I think it would be better if you stayed put on this one. It's nothing personal, but I guess we have had a little more experience. Just try and stay out of trouble!" KT nodded obediently, but catching Jake's eye knew that neither of them had any intention of doing so. "OK, at least the "who" is sorted." Kari said. "Now we need to think about "where". They all sat and thought. TK sighed. "I know it isn't the ideal option, and looks a little low-down and thievish, but. I think we have only one choice." Everyone knew what was coming, but listened anyway. "We're gonna have to wait outside his house for him to come home." "That won't work," Yolei said wretchedly. "We have to do it the other way." Davis flinched. "His mom knows we're friends of his," said Cody. "We've got no choice but to go and wait inside his house." There was a long silence as each of them racked their brains trying to think up an alternative method. But however hard they tried, there did not seem to be one. "It's gotta be done," said Davis, "We'll tell his mum that he said to meet him at his house. We'll wait inside his room for him to come in through the laptop, with our digimon in their Champion forms. Between them and us, we'll break his Dark Ring. Then all we have to do is ensure he goes nowhere near a computer until we've gotten rid of the Dark Lord." "It sounds so simple when you put it like that. But we can make it tomorrow if that suits everyone, because his mum's working then." Yolei pointed out. The team agreed on the date as the next day. TK yawned. "It's getting dark, you guys. We all have to get back home before people start worrying." Veemon asked if the digimon should reduce themselves to In Training forms to be subtler, but Davis said they might as well stay as they were. "So what do we do now?" Leviomon asked KT as they walked home. "Davis said we ought to stay put, but I'd get bored! And besides, Jake and your friends need to find their digimon! Otherwise, what would be the point of the Digital World sending them digivices? I know! Let's take them there tomorrow, after school! Those other digimon were nice, but a bit boring. I want some friends! Friends who are young like me! Oh please let's go tomorrow, KT, please! You can 'phone your friends tonight and get them to tell their parents that they're going to your house! Do you have a computer? Oh good, we can use that! Does it have cool games? I'll need something to do while you're at school." KT smothered a laugh as she listened to her digimon's incessant chattering. But as she walked into the house, her laugh was silenced. The atmosphere in there was extremely depressing, and she walked straight to her room, fast, so that she would not have to linger in it. Her dinner was laid out on her bed, and as Leviomon enthused about it and about food in general, she was not hearing him.
Chapter 2 - the meeting
By the time school ended the next day, KT had told Jake, Breddy and Ali about her adventure in the Digital World, and explained to them their digivices. All three were now keen to go there too and meet their digimon, although Breddy and Ali did not like the idea of fighting monsters. Now, as the bell rang again for the end of school, KT remembered something that had been troubling her all day, something she had heard Tai and Matt talking about. They had mentioned an urgent meeting of the "Digidestined", whatever that meant, and that they would be needed very much in order to tell the others (whoever they were) about what had happened that day. But she had not seen them at school today, even though she looked everywhere at lunch. That meant that the important information could not be delivered to their friends; and only she knew it. On impulse, she approached the person she felt she trusted most. He had brown hair, cut neatly and straight - despite obvious effort, though, it still stuck up at the sides. He was tall, and like everyone else wore a school uniform. He looked at her a little oddly - she had reason to believe he didn't really think she was telling the truth. Well, she would show him! She marched up to him and asked with a whine in her voice and her best puppy-dog eyes: "Ja-ake." "What is it now?" He asked, grinning. "Will you come with me to the computer room, please? I-I have to meet some people there, but they're all older than me, and I only know your friend Davis." "Davis?" He said, puzzled, "What's Davis doing there that he needs to meet you?" She looked at him beseechingly, and finally he sighed and agreed. "Great!" She said, instantly cheering up. "Oh, yeah. I've just gotta get something from my locker first." Patiently he waited by the door while she trotted around the corner to where their block of lockers stood. There was a bang, a crash, and some scuffling noises. Curious, he wandered over; but narrowly missed walking straight into KT, who was coming the other way with her bag hanging lopsidedly on her back and what looked like a stuffed toy cradled in her arms. He peered closer. It was a kind of fish, with big eyes and a huge grin. "KT, what's that." He began, but she ignored him and started off in the direction of the computer room. He sighed once more, scratched his head in bewilderment, and followed her down the corridor. "Girls."
As soon as the pair entered, eight heads turned towards them. KT smiled nervously. "Jake! Um. er. what are you doing here?" Davis started trying to herd them out the door. "It's all right, I know very well you're having a secret meeting thingy in there. But Davis, how do you know all those people? And KT-" here he swivelled round to face her -"how do you know all these people?" KT felt helpless. But in her arms was someone who knew exactly what to do. "Finmon, don't!" She hissed as he wriggled in her grasp, but he was a perfectly streamlined shape for such a purpose. Before she could catch hold of him, he was bouncing cheerfully across the floor, finally settling in the centre of the room, right in front of where the eight older students were seated around a computer. KT went bright red, but the others seemed not to be watching with amazement - more with mild interest and much thought. She walked into the room, wondering how on earth she could cover all this up; but before she had gotten far, a shrill, loud whistling sounded, and a light shone from the small screen of her digivice. "Oh, no." She moaned, but it was too late. In front of eight older students, some more so than others, and her dumbfounded friend, the fish-like Finmon cried out his name, before growing legs, a longer tail and snout, and a cheeky expression. ".Leviomon!" He finished triumphantly. "Cute. But more importantly than who he is, how did he get here?" A boy with glasses and dark blue hair asked. KT felt she had to speak up. "He's. mine. My partner, I mean. I'm KT, by the way," she added. The boy nodded - he looked like the eldest there. "I'm Joe, this is Sora, and that's Izzy at the computer." He introduced the other eldest kids. Sora and Izzy both had brown hair - the girl smiled and waved. Another girl, with short mousy hair and a camera around her neck, introduced herself and a boy next to her with blond hair beneath a floppy hat. "I'm Kari, and this is TK." KT nodded. Those two looked a little younger than Izzy, but a little older than the remaining four, one of whom now spoke up. He was standing behind Izzy at the computer, and his short hair was smooth and straight. "I'm Cody. Davis you know." "Hi, I'm Yolei, pleased to meet you!" A girl with glasses and long light purple hair interrupted. "OK, OK, enough with the introductions already!" Davis cried impatiently. "Everyone, this is Jake. Jake, everyone. Say hi and let's get on with this. Izzy, have you made contact with the digimon yet?" Izzy spoke for the first time. "Not yet. I'm having trouble hacking through to open the Gate, I think there's some kind of bug on the net." "KT, Jake, come on, sit down. Tell us how you got Leviomon." Said Sora, motioning them to a couple of empty seats. TK asked Jake, "Do you have a digimon?" Jake shook his head. The movement seemed to remind him to close his mouth at last. He opened it again to ask what that thing now sitting in KT's lap was, but thought better of it - the others would only get at him for not believing her earlier. Suddenly, Kari turned to the others. "Where's my brother?" She asked. She was Tai's little sister, and had been the first to make friends with Agumon in his very lowest form, all those years ago. "And mine! It's not like them not to turn up without telling us why," said TK. Matt was his older sibling, though both had been on the first adventure together. "That's. what I need to tell you about," said KT. All of them except Izzy, concentrating furiously on the computer, hushed and looked at her. She coughed awkwardly before continuing. "Yesterday, I found this digivice in my schoolbag. So did Jake, and three of my friends. Today Breddy told me her little brother's friend, Paul, found one too." The hairs rose on the back of her neck, and she had the strange feeling she was being watched by hostile eyes. "Tai and Matt found me in the computer room, trying to research about them. They took me to the Digital World, and they met their digimon there. But they also." "Who are you?" A voice suddenly asked from the back of the room. A figure stepped forward, and KT furrowed her brows. He was somehow familiar. "Oh yes, this is Ken!" Apologised Davis. KT's eyes widened - Ken! She knew where she had heard that name before! "I know I recognise you from somewhere, and your digimon." Ken was saying in puzzlement. "You!" KT screamed. "You're all in league with him!" Kari rushed forward, and Davis leaped up. "With who, KT? You're not making any sense?" She said, trying to maintain calm. "With the Evil Emperor! With the Dark Lord! He"- she pointed dramatically at Ken -"is the Evil Emperor!" She could see the others were confused. "KT, it's all right! He's good now, don't you see? We destroyed the Evil Emperor ages ago, now there's just Ken!" Protested Sora. KT stopped, but only to take a gulp of air. "When we went to the Digital World, just yesterday, he was there! Tai and Matt, they called him Ken, but they were confused as well! He had dark rings around three digimon - I think they were called. Ikkakumon, Birdramon, and. Kabuterimon!" Joe and Sora leaped to their feet. Even Izzy turned from the computer screen, looking worried. "Greymon and. Garurumon, I think. they tried to fight them, but couldn't do it without the help of Mermon here." She let a touch of pride sneak into her voice. Leviomon looked up at her and opened his mouth to start talking, but before he could Ken shook his head in disbelief and began muttering haltingly and quietly; yet somehow managing to focus everyone's attention on him. "No. that can't be! I-I came here tonight to pass on a message which Wormmon gave me, that's why I gave you that note!" They all looked at him questioningly, allowing him to speak. " Wormmon spoke to me on my computer. He told me to send Matt and Tai to the Digital World, because their digimon needed their help. He told me to bring together four girls and three boys, new kids in the year below - I think these are two of them, the new Digidestined. He told me we had to find the Warrior of the Sea, who or whatever that may be. And he told me. to give this to you." Slowly, with a slightly trembling hand, he pulled out his black Digivice. The others waited, grouped around him in an unconscious semicircle. "I suppose Tai, as the original leader of our rapidly growing little gang, should be the one to accept this." Kari suggested. "But as he isn't here, I say we give this responsibility to Davis." Joe, Sora, TK, Yolei and Cody all nodded. Izzy was typing faster than ever, not seeming even to notice what was happening in the room. Davis looked around in surprise. "Who, me?" He asked incredulously. Yolei sighed in exasperation, as if to say: "Who else?" Davis got the message, and gravely stepped forward. A slight flash passed over Ken's eyes as he held out the digivice to the younger boy; but it left instantly, and Davis carefully picked up the digivice and pocketed it. "Well," sighed Joe, "Now that that's done, we can think about why Ken had to hand over his digivice. Without that, Wormmon can't digevolve - a skill he'll need if he wants to fight this here Dark Lord." "That's what Wormmon said," Ken said gloomily. "He said you'd have a hard time of it if he could digevolve." "What on earth can that mean?" cried Sora. KT shuddered. From her lap, Leviomon spoke at last. "That seems sensible to me. After all, it's bad enough having an Evil Emperor with digimon as his slaves, without having Stingmon as his friend." There was a stunned silence. Then Cody tentatively asked in his grating voice, "Ken, where were you yesterday after school?" Ken put his head into his hands. "I don't know!" He wailed despairingly. Yolei could contain herself no longer and rushed forward to hug him. But as she put her arms round his neck, she gasped and pulled back. "I think I see what's going on," she said, her voice quavering just slightly. Everyone held his or her breath as she stood aside and slowly lifted Ken's chin. Then Kari cried out. Firmly clamped around his own neck was a Dark Ring. "So that's why he can't remember anything." Joe began, but was cut off by a shout from Izzy. "I'm through! The Gate is open!" Immediately, everyone crowded round the screen. "Looks like we need some answers," said Izzy. "Hopefully our digimon will be able to give them to us." The red light was on, and gradually the hillside scene fuzzed into view. When it was clear, they could see two large shapes. "Hey! Gatomon, is that you?" Kari shouted at them. They stirred and moved closer, coming into clear view. "Tai! Matt! What are you doing?" Joe yelled. Tai shook his head in bewilderment. "I don't know why, but we can't get back through the Gate. We tried just now, when it appeared to be open. The digimon think it's some doing of this Dark Lord, whatever or whoever he is." As one, Joe, Sora and Izzy interrupted him. "How's Biyomon?" "Is Gomamon OK?" "What about Tentomon?" Tai laughed. "Yes, the Dark Rings on them were broken. And -" he added, seeing five other mouths open to ask the same, "- Veemon, Gatomon, Patamon, Hawkmon and Armadillomon are right here. They have something to say." Everyone crowed with delight when his or her digimon appeared on the screen. Hawkmon inclined his head politely at them. "We request your permission." Hawkmon began - "To come aboard!" Patamon cried gleefully. Gatomon smiled, and explained. "We've done our homework - we asked around to gather what information we could about this Dark Lord. About himself, we know basically nothing; though we have heard rumours that without the Dark Rings and the Evil Emperor, all he has left are a few naturally evil digimon." "That's no biggie", said Armadillomon lazily, "We done plenty o' that kinda stuff before. Nah, we got two main problems: one, what exactly to do about this Evil Emperor, or Ken (possibly); two, how to defeat the Dark Lord. Now, it strikes me that if he needs so much defence, can he really be all that strong himself?" Hawkmon nodded. "That is a good point you have there, Armadillomon. Besides that, if he should need so greatly the Evil Emperor, then he cannot even create his own slaves." "We figured the only way to defeat him was in your world," chirped Veemon in a nasal voice. "So, we're coming over to stay for a while!" Davis laughed. "Wait a minute, you mean.?" But to his and the others' surprise, the shapes of all five digimon were leaping straight out toward them, getting larger and larger.
Five seconds later, Tentomon's voice cut through the mass of groaning limbs and bodies on the floor. "Izzy! Come on, what are you doing wasting time down there? Help us out, we can't follow through!" From beneath a human leg, a torso and a feathery digimon body, Izzy thanked his lucky stars for his short height. Carefully, methodically, he wriggled his way out from the bottom of the pile like a snake and surveyed the damage. In squeezing out, he had overturned a chair for its second turn, which was one of many sticking up here and there among the bruised and moaning mess. A movement in the middle burst out into a blue, bright-eyed digimon - Veemon. Hawkmon, a brown bird with a white head, fluttered squashed wings and managed to lift himself clear. Armadillomon rolled out, a yellow shell and humorous eyes that emerged from under it; Leviomon slithered alongside. One by one, the digimon crawled, flapped or forced their way out into fresh air, leaving the cumbersome humans to their own hurts. Izzy turned back to the computer. Tentomon, Gomamon and Biyomon were still standing there, looking slightly sad and lonely. "It must be the same thing Tai and Matt found," he said thoughtfully to the three despondent digimon on the screen. "It doesn't matter, you guys - we don't really have time any more, what with homework and study and all. That reminds me, we have to figure out a way of getting them back soon. Not only are they missing loads of work, but their teachers, Matt's band - not to mention their parents! - have been looking all over for them. And they really don't like hearing the digimon thing again!" Suddenly, Izzy heard a noise. He turned his head; it had sounded like a tiny whimper. His eyes widened in shock. "Ken!" He shouted. Davis, Kari and Jake had managed to unscramble themselves, and were clambering to their feet as delicately as possible. At the back, Ken was clearly struggling with something, choking and grasping at the ring around his neck. But that was not all; his eyes glowed a bright red, and his fingers eventually fell. His breathing was calm again now, but a snide sneer was on his contorted face. In a flash, he had brought up his arm, and was holding something out to the computer. With a shout of dismay, Davis realised that in the confusion he had managed to get hold of his black digivice. Desperately, he lunged for the evil boy, but his fingers closed around empty air; Ken was gone. Tentomon, Biyomon and Gomamon yelled at Ken as he appeared on their side in cape, boots, wild hair and dark glasses; the Evil Emperor impatiently barged past them and strode down the hillside. With a click of his fingers, three huge, snake-like forms rose out of the trees and swooped down to him. As one of them glided past, Ken nimbly jumped onto its back. "Airdramon!" Whispered TK in awe. "And that's not all. Look! They wear Dark Rings!" Kari exclaimed. The Airdramon were soon no more than tiny shapes rapidly disappearing into the distant clouds - KT noticed that in that particular corner, for some reason, dark clouds were gathering thickly. Jake let out a deep breath in relief. "Well, at least he's gone!" He said. "What do you mean, at least?" Davis said. "We now have to chase after him!" "No." Sora shook her head. "We don't." The others looked at her, confused. "We cannot defeat him in that world. The Dark Lord gives him extra power through the Dark Ring." Cody said matter-of-factly. They all looked at him, making him feel uneasy. Still, he continued. "We must try to break the Ring in this world, while he is not under its influence as much. Our only problem will be how, especially if he uses Stingmon." "Yeah, the Dark Lord will probably have given Stingmon super-powers too. That means he might be able to digevolve even further, up to his Ultimate", Joe added. There was a long silence, then Davis frowned determinedly. "Well, he'll have to come back sometime. And when he does, we'll be waiting!" Yolei laughed. "But who'll be waiting? We can't just sit here until tomorrow morning, or perhaps even later!" "I'm sorry, guys, but I can't even stay any longer." Joe said gloomily. "I've got an essay to write and a test to revise for, plus I gotta lot of extra studying to do." "Me too, I'm learning a new way of cracking really top security systems at the moment. Out-of-school, that is!" Izzy grinned. The two boys got up, collected their schoolbags which had luckily been placed on the other side of the room. When they had gone, Sora seemed to have thought of another problem. "OK, so say we manage to defeat Ken in this world. What do we do then about the Dark Lord in that? Not only does he have who-knows- how-many digimon under his control; he might be super-powerful himself. Even if our digimon did manage to defeat hundreds of others, they would be too exhausted to fight an ultimately evil being!" Yolei groaned, and put her head in her hands. "Let's just think about that afterwards. I can't cope with any more of this doom and gloom!" "I'm afraid I'm not going to be able to help you, either," said Sora. "I have to keep on top of my school work, and besides I won't be much use without Biyomon." "That's OK." Davis said. "Jake and KT, I think it would be better if you stayed put on this one. It's nothing personal, but I guess we have had a little more experience. Just try and stay out of trouble!" KT nodded obediently, but catching Jake's eye knew that neither of them had any intention of doing so. "OK, at least the "who" is sorted." Kari said. "Now we need to think about "where". They all sat and thought. TK sighed. "I know it isn't the ideal option, and looks a little low-down and thievish, but. I think we have only one choice." Everyone knew what was coming, but listened anyway. "We're gonna have to wait outside his house for him to come home." "That won't work," Yolei said wretchedly. "We have to do it the other way." Davis flinched. "His mom knows we're friends of his," said Cody. "We've got no choice but to go and wait inside his house." There was a long silence as each of them racked their brains trying to think up an alternative method. But however hard they tried, there did not seem to be one. "It's gotta be done," said Davis, "We'll tell his mum that he said to meet him at his house. We'll wait inside his room for him to come in through the laptop, with our digimon in their Champion forms. Between them and us, we'll break his Dark Ring. Then all we have to do is ensure he goes nowhere near a computer until we've gotten rid of the Dark Lord." "It sounds so simple when you put it like that. But we can make it tomorrow if that suits everyone, because his mum's working then." Yolei pointed out. The team agreed on the date as the next day. TK yawned. "It's getting dark, you guys. We all have to get back home before people start worrying." Veemon asked if the digimon should reduce themselves to In Training forms to be subtler, but Davis said they might as well stay as they were. "So what do we do now?" Leviomon asked KT as they walked home. "Davis said we ought to stay put, but I'd get bored! And besides, Jake and your friends need to find their digimon! Otherwise, what would be the point of the Digital World sending them digivices? I know! Let's take them there tomorrow, after school! Those other digimon were nice, but a bit boring. I want some friends! Friends who are young like me! Oh please let's go tomorrow, KT, please! You can 'phone your friends tonight and get them to tell their parents that they're going to your house! Do you have a computer? Oh good, we can use that! Does it have cool games? I'll need something to do while you're at school." KT smothered a laugh as she listened to her digimon's incessant chattering. But as she walked into the house, her laugh was silenced. The atmosphere in there was extremely depressing, and she walked straight to her room, fast, so that she would not have to linger in it. Her dinner was laid out on her bed, and as Leviomon enthused about it and about food in general, she was not hearing him.
