Chapter 56: Defects

"That went as we expected. Normally, I would not commend such a sacrifice, but, in this case, it allows us to occupy Blackgatomon's vacant screen with another clone."

"I've been wondering about that…what exactly is he going to look like?"

"This," the sub-major said, motioning towards the shadows. Two, purple eyes glowed in the darkness, and out stepped another Ewemon. This Ewemon was a little bit different: its sweater was striped instead of plain gray. "This is the Ewemon 2."

"He's a bender?"

"That he is."

"So…when do I get to test him out?"

"Soon…we expect that there will be a problem that will require the clone's assistance, but, until then, we have the heroes of this world to deal with…not quite yet, but soon, you are to deploy Kamnadramon and Armagemon: I have a special assignment for them…"

******

Tina would much rather be back at the college with the orphans, but this would have to do: she was out on another clean-up patrol with June, Golem, Gary, and Ash. It wasn't the best group choice: Gary seemed to have a storm cloud hovering over his head. (I mean this figuratively, not literally. I felt I had to explain, considering the climate of the Earth in MON: 2028. But, continuing…) He still wasn't over the speech that Yolei had given him about not following orders…and he looked like he wanted revenge.

June looked no better: she couldn't stop staring at Gary with a flush face. She was obviously enamored by Gary's looks, which weren't the worst in the greater Tokyo area---even Tina had to admit that much. Gary's personality, however, was the worst in the greater Tokyo area…assuming one doesn't count The Unnamed Figure pr thje menace machines.

Given how much less fun this group was than the children waiting for her back at base, Tina hoped that she'd be able to get some unfaiy-rings destroyed for her trouble, but, it took them a long time before they found:

"Ota V'ver!" A purple beam sliced over their heads.

"Obelaser!" Tibemon shouted.

June held up her digi-egg of persistence: "Digi-armor, energize!"

"Tibemon, armor-digivolve to…Kangamon, the ice of persistence!"

"Arcanine, I choose you! Use Fire Blast on that obelaser!"

"Fire, huh?" June leaned on Gary's shoulder. "You know, that's fire and ice out there, fighting for us…"

"Your point?" Gary asked.

"We make a great team…"

…Sweet! Gary thought.

Kangamon jumped up at the top of the spire. "Arctic Roundhouse!" she shouted, throwing a punch at the obelaser.

It wasn't very happy with her for that. It charged up its weapon for another attack…

"Arcanine, quick! While it's still cold from her attack, use Fire Blast and blow that thing up!" Arcanine blasted the obelaser's point, and it shattered.

June let out a sigh of contentment as the obelaser fell to the ground. "I love it when a plan comes together," she added, her mood just as hormonally influenced as before.

"Yeah…it did come together, didn't it? That was…fine."

"I wouldn't say that's fine," Golem shouted. As usual, the menace machines had backup.

"Not another catamarine!" Ash muttered. "I thought we were done with these things!"

"Oh, well," Gary said. "Arcanine, return. And, since they're vulnerable to ice, Jynx, I choose you!"

"Lapras, go!" Ash shouted.

"There's one other thing, Gary," June said.

"W-what's that?"

"It's Kangamon…I've never seen her radio-digivolved form…"

Gary swallowed. It's a waste of energy…Jynx could take this thing by herself, but I've got to treat the ladies right… "Okay, then…Kangamon, here's my moon stone."

"Kangamon, radio-digivolve to…Cryodramon, the driving ice of persistence!" Cryodramon had four wings sticking out her serpentine body, and didn't have any legs. This would make landing uncomfortable, but it didn't look like Cryodramon would have to land any time soon.

"Now, that catamarine doesn't stand a chance!" June cheered.

"Of course it doesn't! Jynx! Use Blizzard on that thing!"

"Lapras, Ice Beam!"

Cryodramon shouted, "Ice Breaker!" The three ice attacks went flying at the catamarine's head.

"Tuli Dra Jalnor!" it answered, firing lava at the ice. It didn't totally cancel the attacks, so it took damage.

"Jynx, use Blizzard, one more time!"

"Lapras, Ice Beam again!"

"Ice Breaker!" This time, the catamarine was too woozy to react. Its head fell off, and there was a new pile of scrap metal in the area.

June shut her eyes and put more of her weight on Gary's shoulder. "Like I said…we make a great team."

"Jynx, return!" Gary walked away, leaving June with very little to keep her balance with. As they walked away, Gary nudged Tina and asked, "Is she always like this?"

"Usually, yeah."

Gary grinned and rubbed his hands together. "Then I'm going to like this…!"

Youngdramon sighed as Cryodramon landed and regressed back to Tibemon. "You get to have all the fun…you know that?"

"Yeah…"

"I still don't know what my radio form is…oh, well…I guess it's kind of a good thing, considering that---if we don't need to find out, then we aren't being attacked…right?"

"Yeah, exactly."

"Not more giantors," Ash muttered. "What's the plan?"

"I've got a pretty good one," Gary said, clutching his pokéball.

"Let's not go there again!" Tina spat. "How about we let Moleg handle this?" She pulled Cody's digi-egg of knowledge out of her backpack.

"Golem, module-evolve to…Moleg!"

"Advanced monster, advanced schmonster…I've seen this breed in action: they're not so hot."

"That's very true…if you're up against giantors and you refuse to help them out!! Ash, if you would be so kind…"

"Here's the sun stone!" He threw it at Moleg, and it barely tapped his armor…

"Tremor Blaster!" Moleg stomped the ground, and a purple fault line flew out at the giantors. The giantors staggered. "Again! Tremor Blaster!" This time, the giantors bought it.

"That was a waste of Moleg's energy," Gary said.

"I got more out of that than I put in," Moleg answered, matter-of-factly.

"Uh-huh. Listen, my pokémon can take anything those things can dish. I don't need any of you."

There was an awkward pause for a second as Ash, Tina, and the digimon looked on wide-eyed. But nobody was more wide-eyed than June. "Gary, are you nuts?!" Ash asked.

"You know the answer to that question," Youngdramon whispered.

"Ash, you've got to get your mind straight: these guys aren't worth your bother."

"What do you mean, Gary?"

"Yeah, what do you mean by that?" June asked, more than a little hurt by what Gary had just said.

"Except you, of course," Gary answered, running his fingers through her hair. That did more than placate June; she almost fainted again. "As I was saying, Ash, even your pokémon are better than this group's fighters. You should break off and join with me."

"Join with you in doing what?"

"Defecting! Forming my own bunch!"

"Gary, that's crazy. Even though the In-tor-net is history, you'll never make it alone!"

"Aw, yes I can! C'mon, June!"

"Sweet! Where are we going?"

"Someplace better than that old college!"

Tina's jaw dropped as she saw June, getting dragged away by her hormones. It was her first impulse to say, "June, get back here! You're crazy, and so is Gary!" But then she realized that saying that wouldn't get her anywhere. So instead, she said, "I bet Matt would date you if you came back to the college."

June stopped in her tracks. "D…d…did you say that…that Matt was actually interested in me?"

"Uh…"

"Ooooo!!! I can tell from your hesitation that it's true! It's just too great to say it out loud, isn't it?!"

"…Yeah, exactly."

June just about fainted for joy.

"What about me???" Gary asked.

"What about you?" June spat angrily. "You're just a conceited, self-centered blowhard. Matt, on the other hand, is humble, generous, selfless…"

"I'll have you know---"

June wasn't even listening to Gary. "Oh, I can picture it, now! The moonlight on the beach, with Matt in the best tuxedo we could loot and me in my best prom dress! And Champaign over candlelight and caviar…"

Ash nudged Tina as they walked back to base. "Is she always this…um…"

"High on hormones?"

"Yeah."

"Only when she's not complaining about stuff."

"I see…I have a friend who's just like her, except for the complaining part. His name is Brock, and…well, the second he sees a pretty lady…he goes into hormone mode."

"You know, I saw the two of them flirting back when they were swapping shifts at the orphanage," Tina thought out loud. "You don't suppose that there's any way we could get those two together and kill two birds with one stone…"

Tibemon gulped. "Somehow, you contemplating the fate of my human partner isn't altogether encouraging."

"Thanks, Tibemon. I appreciate your good faith in me."

"What I'm worried about is how you're going to talk Matt into having a date with her."

Tina nodded. "This is going to be a shock either to him, or to her…or both."