"So the inverse of a matrix is 0101?"
Yolei kept her eyes glued to her notebook. "Uh huh."
Matt frowned. "I still don't get it." He threw his pencil down in disgust. I'll never get this stuff."
"Just accept it, and get on with your life." Advised Yolei. "It's a lot easier." She, Matt, Tai, Izzy, TK, Davis and Sora were stuck in the library, doing study hall time.
Thunk…thunk…thunk…thunk…
"Davis, you know knocking yourself unconscious will not help the situation." Said Izzy over his shoulder.
Davis stopped hitting his head on the table and frowned at the older boy. "Yeah, I know. I just felt like I needed to do something productive."
"And how is bruising up your head productive?" asked Kari. "You're just proving you're a masochist."
"What's that?" asked Davis.
TK sighed and handed the boy a dictionary. "Look it up."
"Any word from Ntropy yet?" asked Kari.
Izzy checked his laptop and his Digivice. "Not yet. Ntropy said he'd or she'd contact us around now."
Suddenly, a brown headed figure dashed into the library and ducked behind the table the Digidestined occupied. Cody gasped for breath. "I got here as fast as I could. Security's getting tighter nowadays."
"Glad you could make it Cody." Grinned Kari. "She tried pulling him to his feet. "C'mon take a seat."
"I'll get caught!"
TK stripped off his sports jacket and handed it to Cody. "Put this on, you'll look less suspicious." The younger boy took it gratefully. "Hey, at least you look like a really young freshman."
"Funny." Scowled Cody. "So where's-" suddenly, all of their Digivices beeped.
/** Sorry it took so long. I got some information might want to see."
/** Bring it on! **/ Tapped out Yolei on her D-Terminal. They had networked their terminals so they could all talk to Ntropy at one time.
/** Bad news first. I found out that there's absolutely no way to get you guys new Digivices. Plus, there's nothing in the prophecy files of a new generation of Digidestined prophesized to be activate. **/ More than half of them groaned in despair. /** Have no fear, I is here! One thing you gotta understand, is that Digidestined generations aren't integers. There may not be any generation due to be activate, but there is an in-between. **/
/** If I may comment, **/ said Davis. /** Huh? **/
/** 02 courage/friendship DD, right? LOL. Figures. There's a half step generation of Digidestined that can be activated if the regular Digidestined are rendered inactive. Rather than human trait crests, they are purely elemental. **/
/** As in the four elements? **/ Asked Izzy.
/** Five actually. Since we're talking Digiworld, there's earth, wind, fire, water, and electricity cuz everything related to computers runs on energy as its source of life. **/
/** How do we find these support Digidestined? **/ Asked Cody.
/** Good question. **/ said Ntropy. /** I'm searching the digi-database for it right now. Knowledge, give me a hand, will you? 02 Love/sincerity? **/
/** Aye aye! **/ Replied Yolei.
/** It might take a while, but we'll find them. **/ Said Ntropy.
/** Why's it taking so long? **/ asked Tai curiously.
/** There are too many variables. **/ Explained Izzy. /** A Digidestined most likely encounters their Digimon at least once in their past. They also have a tendency towards having some unusual talent or quality, like your leadership, my knowledge. We're also assuming that they live in Japan. We're linked up to the Japan Internet and searching though the personnel databases. **/
/** Kudos, Knowledge. **/
/** Is this going to give us names? **/ Asked Sora.
/** Affirmative. **/
/** Do you know ours? **/ Asked Matt.
There was a long pause. /** I'm working on that part. **/
/** You going to tell us yours? **/ Said Matt.
/** I ain't stupid. **/
The bell for the next period rang, startling all of them. /** We have to go, keep us updated. **/ Typed Izzy quickly.
/** Will do. **/ Ntropy logged off.
"Ahh!" cried out Cody. He dashed out of the library. "Sorry guys. I gotta get back! See ya."
"Hey, he still has my jacket." Exclaimed TK. Kari snickered.
"Oh let him have it." She took his arm and dragged him and Davis out of the library. "Come on guys. We have global."
The group of teenagers made their way out of the library and into the crowded hallways. Little did they know, Ntropy was eyeing them suspiciously. A grin spread on Ntropy's face, satisfied the legendary Digidestined had been found. Or at least, gave Ntropy an idea who they were. There was time to ponder over the new revelation later. Right now, there was class to attend. A black messenger bag was swept of the floor and slung over green uniformed shoulders. A sigh followed suit.
A very worn out looking Cody dodged into his math class just in time to be counted for attendance. "Whew."
Jinjo and Max darted to him. "Hey, where did you go?" asked Jinjo. "You weren't at French tutoring."
Cody wiped his sweaty forehead. "I had to go somewhere important?"
"Ooh, Cody cut class." Teased Max. Cody clapped his hand over Max's mouth.
"Shh! Not so loud!"
"Well, it's kinda obvious." Said Jinjo. She tugged at the green sports jacket he still wore. "If I'm not mistaken, this is an Odaiba High school uniform jacket. One that most of your friends wear."
Cody looked at himself, startled. "! I forgot!" he yanked off the jacket. "TK's gonna kill me!"
"What was so important?" said Max.
"Well," Cody debated with himself. He was tired of covering up everything, especially to some of his closest friends. "To keep it simple, my friends and I are looking for…a long lost relative of someone's. It's really important because…well, the relative has something we need…it's supposed to get someone out trouble. We need to find that person ASAP. "
"Oh," said Jinjo. "I understand. Do you need any help? We're always willing to help ya out Cody." Max nodded his agreement.
"It's alright." Said Cody. "We have it under control. Sorta. We have an…informant…to help us out."
"Informant?" said Max. "Sounds fancy."
"Yeah, well…" Cody drifted off. It was the truth, a little bent at the edges, but it was still the truth.
Matt yawned, submitting to the lethargic atmosphere of his history class. His professor was droning on and on about some war in the early 18th century. He wasn't sure where, or when, just that it was boring him out of his mind. He switched on his D-Terminal, hoping someone was online. There was: Ntropy.
/** Any luck? **/ he asked. /** This is 01DDfriendship. **/
/** Yes, I know… **/ There seemed to be some hesitation in the response, or was it lag? /** Are you Matt. **/
Matt nearly choked. The professor rapped on his desk. "Mister Ishida. Are you all right?"
"Uh, yes sir. Sorry sir." Said Matt quickly. Ntropy glanced in his direction and smirked.
/** I take that a yes. **/
Matt made sure the teacher wasn't looking and typed back. /** You can see me? **/
/** Yes. I'm in your class. Quiet your tapping or the teacher'll hear you! **/
Matt pecked quietly. /** Where are you? **/
/** Like I said, I ain't stupid. I'm not saying. It's safer for me. **/
Matt darted his eyes around the room. Everyone either was paying droopy attention to the teacher, or had their heads on their desks, catching a nap. None of them had computers.
He set the textbook onto his lap and pretended to read.
/** You're making me paranoid, you know that? **/
/** Yes. **/
A foot suddenly kicked his shin. He hissed and looked at his desk partner. A new transfer student, she was quick to learn the ways of the class and warned Matt whenever she could if the teacher was eying him for not paying attention. It happened more often than not. "The teacher's givin' you the look." She whispered.
Matt looked up. Sure enough, the teacher was sparing him evil looks as he demonstrated something on the old worn out map pinned up on the wall. "Thanks Rita."
"Anytime." Matt looked back to his computer. Ntropy was already gone.
That night, after an hour or so of groaning over his homework, Max was done. Just when he was about to turn on his N64…
"Max! Dinner! Yelled his dad.
"Coming!" yelled Max. He ran out he door and almost crashed into his sister. Alexis was digging her fingers into her ears.
"Does everyone gotta yell all the time?"
He and Alexis set the table. Max did his usual complaining about Alexis forgetting his cup. Well, she never did know what to get him to drink anyway.
His dad dug into his rice. "So how was school, Max?"
"Good."
"So how was school Alexis?"
"Cool."
"How was your spelling test, Max?" asked his mom.
"Pretty good. I got a 95."
"So that's a medium egg?"
"Yeah!" cried Max. Alexis just rolled her eyes.
At the end of dinner, the phone rang. Max and Alexis leapt from their seats to answer the phone. Max got to it first. "Hello? Who is this?"
"Erm, hi...Max? This is Yolei. You met me this morning."
Max grinned ear to ear. "Hi! Wow! I didn't think anyone besides Sefie would call me! This is cool."
"Uh…yeah. Um, sorry but, uh, is Rita there? She's your sister right? Um, I kinda need help about the math homework."
Max sweat dropped. "Yeah. Hold on." He took the receiver from his ear and held it out to his sister. "Ate, it's Yolei."
Alexis jumped and grabbed the phone. She stepped into the kitchen with it. "Hey Yolei, s'up? Oh the math? Yah, it's kind weird, right? Uh huh. Madie and Clyde…Radius 50 tree orchard, remember…uh huh…" a few minutes later she hung up the phone and sat back down to dinner.
"Math homework." She explained, and tried to finish her serving of beef with broccoli.
"Ring ring ring."
Max grabbed the phone. "Hello? Who's this?"
"Hi Max, it's Izzy."
"Hi!" said Max, cheering up. "How are you doing?"
"Fine…er, I kind of called for a specific reason…heh, is Rita there? I need to discuss the math homework with her."
Max groaned. "Ugh, yeah. Hold on." He held it out to his sister. "It's Izzy."
"Oh cool." Grinned Ate. She took the phone again. "Hey Iz…uh huh…yeah…I got a formula too…Yeah. No! I didn't get that! What'cha do?…uh huh…hah! You forgot to…"
A few minutes later, she sat back down. "Math again."
The phone began to ring once more. Max got it. "Hello? Who's this?"
"Um, hi. It's me. Tai."
Max racked his brain, trying to remember. "Oh yeah big hair High school dude from this morning, right?"
"Uh, yeah." Max could almost hear the sweat drops forming on the older boy's head. "Say, is Rita there? I need to ask about the English homework." Max already had the receiver held out to Alexis before Tai finished his sentence.
"It's Tai."
Alexis took the receiver. "Hey Tai…the English? Oh yeah. We have to write an essay about the morality of hop-frog's actions…yeah, kinda idiotic if you ask me…he just went too far…that's true…300 words…stop your moaning Taichi!"
She hung up a minute later. "He's from AP English," She explained.
"How do you know all these people?!" exclaimed Max.
"They're in my classes. And they all value my opinion," Grinned Alexis.
"All during dinner?" cried Max. He pouted. "And I thought they were calling for me. I know them too, ya know."
"Really. Oh…well, um…" Alexis tried to come up with an answer but instead plunked another slice of bread on Max's plate using the don't-ask method, trying to change the subject.
"Hey! I didn't ask for this!"
"So."
Max fumed at her but ate the bread anyway. The phone rang once more. Max got it. "Homework center!"
"Uh, do I have the right number? I'm looking for Rita." Said Komal.
Max disgustedly handed the phone to Alexis.