Not much humor in this one I'm afraid, but at least I got it out fast!
Btw, Kyer is always on the lookout for Wizfic. So if you see such fic and my name is not on the Reviews then please notify me of it. I absolutely adore Wiz! {{Oo,
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Part 20: Invoking The Past
The Feminine and very French voice at the other end lightly snickered in amusement.
["Well, well... my favorite vampire cop needs a... what is the human term… stool pigeon? So what else is new? What is it this time, mon chere? Another criminal terrorizing the city? One of your human pets getting too close to the truth?"]
Lips pressed tightly together, De Brabant rolled his eyes. He loved Janette, but did she have to spend half of their time together mocking him?
"No, Janette. Please listen---this is serious."
["All your human relation problems are, mon frere. You should give up this silly quest of yours, Nicola. Stop playing Don Quixote with your Doctor 'Sanchez' and return to us; to me."] The last was said in a sultry whisper laden with meaning.
Her brother---literally by blood if not necessarily by genetics---squirmed, uncomfortably aware of Dr. Lambert's presence as she glared at the phone from across the room. He shrugged in apology.
Natalie disliked DuCharme as a rival and he really couldn't blame her. Janette and he had had quite a history---they'd even been married once during the Renaissance and her 'divorcing' him after 97 years out of 'boredom' had left him demoralized for decades afterwards. She could be petty in her desires and ruthless in her revenge. But despite that and her later betraying his position to Lacroix almost a century earlier, he willingly kept their relationship open. She had been the reason he had embraced vampirism in the first place and he still loved her dearly despite having nearly lost all desire for 'the night life'. Along with flying, she sometimes made him think twice about his quest to regain his mortality.
Unfortunately, he now also loved Natalie. Humane, warm, down-to-Earth Natalie with her quick sense of humor and acceptance of his 'drinking problem'---at least to desire to cure it. The very *human* Natalie that he yearned to have children with one day, but whom---he constantly reminded himself---his Beast could drain in a heartbeat if he lost control over it.
Janette was two centuries his senior, set in her opinions, and quite willing to voice them ad nauseam to her brother. He'd better cut this short or she'd harangue him till dawn came!
"Can we discuss this another time? Right now I need to speak with Merlin. Do you know where he is?"
The seductive voice immediately turned anxious upon the mention of the name.
["Merlin? Oh, Nicola! You are in trouble again, aren't you? Have you contacted Aristotle about choosing a new identity? Does Lacroix know? Or is it him you need to avoid? You know it's useless to run from him---he always finds you. However, there is this wonderful chateau located just outside Paris where we can--"]
Nick switched the phone to his other ear while he did a fast 10 count. "No, Janette---and thanks, by the way, for the vote of confidence; however, I need Merlin's services for someone else."
["Oh. A pity really... we could have moved on together. Paris is lovely this decade. Of course, Paris is lovely in any decade. How about we take a trip there for old times sake?"]
"Janette!" Nicholas nearly exploded in exasperation. "Get Merlin? As in *tonight*?"
["You were so much more fun during the early Renaissance, Nicola. Now you are always so stressed. It's that horrible diet, I suppose. And those humans you insist on congregating with." Deciding she'd toyed with her brother's mounting impatience long enough, Janette duCharme switched the subject. "But the one you seek is here right now, in fact. Finishing up with a contract. Hold on."]
A few moments later another voice came over the phone.
["Nicholas! It is a pleasure. Or is this---as your esteemed sibling intimated---a business call? What can I do for you, my friend?"]
Merlin was another vampire named for his wizardry at the computer. He could hack into nigh well anywhere and create documents to full even the most cynical eye. Another, Aristotle, did this as well as finding placements for vampires who needed to 'move on' because of their never-changing appearances, but he was the common route for many vampires and the waiting list could be days. Merlin was a more pricy entrepreneur, but Nicholas could well afford his services.
"I need you to set up an artificial history for someone. Also I'll need some i.d. cards for an immigrant from Norway." He gave the other vampire the specifics, spying out of the corner of his eye that Natalie had succeeded in cleaning up the digimon from the gummy effects of her culinary work...
["I'll need a first name and a photo to do it.] Merlin told him. ["Afraid just 'Wizardmon' won't cut it with the authorities, you know. And shouldn't you pick something a little more subtle than such an odd moniker if this bloke of yours needs to hide his real identity?"]
"Not really. This case is... kind of off the usual track. Hold on." Nicholas turned to the others in the room. "Nat, can I beg the use of your digital camera and laptop? Merlin's going to need Wizardmon's picture. Wizardmon, make sure you cover your mouth for the photo. And for an identity, how do you feel about having 'Sven' as a first name?"
The digimon blinked while Natalie took out her new camera and checked its power supply, the coroner grumbling half-heartedly about how knowing Nick was getting her involved in yet more criminal activities as if faking morgue documents for vampire kills wasn't enough.
"Lady Natalie," Wizardmon asked softly while the vampires talked some more over the phone, "what is a first name and why are they used? Digimon do not have such things. And is 'Sven' a good one to have?"
The coroner coughed as she tried to figure out how to explain the origin of 'christian' names in twenty words or less to the earnest-looking monster before her.
"Uh... There to help tell people of the same name apart to avoid confusion about who is being addressed. Just consider yourself 'Sven Wizardmon' when asked for your full name. Oh, by the way, better take off the hat, Sven," she chuckled, indicating the article in question, "That skull won't make a good impression on anyone in government." She adjusted the camera to frame his face in the lens after he removed the head gear. "Better cover the cloak pin with your hand. And try to look less sinister. Smile or something, okay? You're still looking like a mad scientist about to lecture the hero on how you're plotting to take over the world."
Wizardmon grimaced at her remark. Take over the world, indeed! He was a Data, not some megalomaniacal Virus like Myotismon. Whatever would he do with an entire world? Bios---wasn't he having enough trouble dealing with his own affairs? He wasn't even sure of his own alias! 'Sven Wizardmon' It didn't sound like a proper digimon name. But then, he wasn't a proper digimon. Oh, sludge---he was supposed to be smiling for Natalie!
Several minutes and almost a pack of wasted film later, they finally had a decent picture. Nicholas fed it through Natalie's internet mail program and sent it on its way to Merlin's.
A short while later, Merlin's bemused voice came over the phone. ["You're kidding?"]
"Nope."
["This bloke looks like one of those 'monster' hosts on television who promote horror shows."]
"Never mind what he looks like, Merlin. I just want nice, official-looking documents---he's not going for glamour work or a CEO position."
["Well, it's your money."] Merlin chuckled a bit. ["Okay...this won't take long, but it's already too late to get together today. Where would you like to meet me?"]
Nicholas agreed. Same-Day mail courier services could get the documents to him just as fast, but this was one of those things you simple didn't trust the humans with. Better to handle everything about the Community within the Community. "At the loft, tomorrow at sunset."
["Not a problem."]
That taken care of, Nicholas started to put away his cell phone away when it's digital Mozart theme alerted him to an incoming call. He flipped it back open.
"Knight."
["Nick, pard? I've got news."]
It was Schanke sounding peeved about something.
["You're not going to believe this, but Patterson has gone missing."]
"What?" De Brabant hissed into the mouthpiece, eyes going golden. "How did he escape?"
["Darned if we know. O'Keefe was on guard duty when he said he suddenly felt drowsy. Next thing he knew, Sam was gone. Cohen over here is breathing fire and fit to be tied. Man o man---you're lucky you're clocked off! Anyway, I thought you might like to know, seeing as your friend helped put him away in the first place. Patterson might be holding a grudge and try to hurt the little guy if he runs into him on the street again."]
"Thanks for the word, Schanke. But I think he'll be okay for now. He's staying with Nat for the time being."
[Natalie? Hehe… Better watch out Nick---the guy may not have your looks, but he outshines you in the charm department. Might be competition for you, pard."]
"Can the matchmaker routine, Schanke," Nicholas growled, in no mood for Don's teasing just now. "You're no good at it!"
["Hey, no need to unleash the Knightmare on me! Save it for the bad guys."]
Running his hand through his hair, Nicholas sighed, thankful that his friend wasn't really there to see just how much of a Knightmare his coworker really was. He really had to do something about his temper.
Eyes back to their original blue, he apologized for his outburst. "Sorry, Schanke. Just find Patterson, okay?"
["Will do. See you tonight, Nick. And try to get some sleep. Dayshift'll get him back."]
Frowning, De Brabant pocketed his phone, not needing to consult his wrist watch. Dawn was less than an hour away; despite his desire to fly over he really didn't have time to check in at work and see if he could find any clues the others had missed. Patterson's break out had sounded suspiciously like the work of a vampire. If only he could travel in the daylight!
"If wishes were horses then men could fly. But what do you do when you already can but are grounded anyway?" he muttered to himself.
"What was that?"
He turned around to find that Natalie was very carefully readjusting an oral thermometer in Wizardmon's mouth---in consideration of what had happened to her dental mirror. The business end of a stethoscope was shoving aside the red vest material as its owner settled it over the heart area. The resigned look on the mage's face was almost comical.
"Just bemoaning my similarities to Icarus and difficulties with the sun."
"I always thought it was more like the Wicked Witch of the West's tendency to melt at the touch of water," she snorted in amusement.
"Gee, thanks for emotional support---and it would be more like an implosion than melting."
"You worry too much. Whatever it is that happened at work, I'm sure it will be okay. You're not the only competent detective there, you know." She frowned as Wizardmon swallowed, the slight movement affecting the position of the oral device in the wide mouth. "I knew I should have invested in the aural version of these things," Natalie muttered as she readjusted the thermometer. "Try not to move it around, Wizardmon. I don't know if mercury would hurt you, but let's not find out the hard way, hmmm?" She smiled as the digimon went absolutely stiff. Looking up as her friend came over to stand over them, she asked, "So, who's Patterson?"
"The kid who knifed Wizardmon after robbing a street vendor. Schanke just called to tell me he's escaped custody."
"A kid escaped from lockup?" Natalie asked with eyebrows raised. She smoothly pulled the thermometer from its precarious placement between two of the digimon's stitches and shook it, noting where the thin mercury within the glass came to a stop. "You can relax now, Wizardmon," she told the frozen wizard, "I'm all done. Now, that wasn't so bad, was it?" He huffed at her as he relaxed, but grudgingly nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, he got free somehow" the former Crusader frowned. "And I don't like it. Patterson was into petty theft only---he doesn't have the kind of connections that would help him break out. Something feels wrong."
Wizardmon's expression turned quizzical. He wasn't really concerned about running into the human again, but he could feel his friend's anxiety. "You think one of your kindred took him? That a vampire has him?"
"I don't know. But O'Keefe is not prone to falling asleep on the job."
"And you think this hypothetical vampire whammied him into taking an unscheduled nap," Natalie surmised. "Why go to all of that trouble to get a kid, though?"
Instead of answering, Nicholas indicated the digimon. "What did you find?"
Natalie frowned, realizing that he was purposely changing the subject. What was he afraid of?
"Well, Nick, you might be surprised to know that 'Sven' here has a body temperature and a heartbeat that lands smack in the middle between a human's and a vampire's." She unplugged the stethoscope's ear piece from her head and put it back in its bag, wiping the thermometer thoroughly with disinfectant before putting it away as well. But then she reached for something else and a hypodermic appeared in her hand.
"Now, Wizardmon, I just want--"
The Data turned his head to regard her, catching the metallic glint of the needle out of the corner of his eye…
And reality shifted as he…
("Hey, Blondie!)
…reacted…
("Yeah, Lace Face! Present for ya!")
…without thinking: knocked it away with an angry yell, sending the cylinder rolling several feet along the carpet. At the same time he leapt from his seat---body remaining in mid air---the zippers on each glove splitting open at the palm to reveal a golden glow from somewhere within.
("Sleepy time!" The winged bat creature cackled at him as he whirled away, the needle missed his arm by a fraction of an inch to snag into his clothing instead of flesh.)
"Hey!" Natalie called out in alarm as he jerked his arm away just as she was about roll up the sleeve on his arm.
The demidevimon from Hall where he'd been 'initiated' into the Nightmare Army, the wizard immediately catalogued his opponent. A Rookie---but of a form known for deviousness and with the ability to fly as well. His main attack was a poisonous dart that could be deadly to younger digimon and even seriously incapacitate a Champion such as himself. He'd have to watch it or he could lose this fight. And if he lost to a mere 'child' digimon, he'd be lucky if Myotismon didn't delete him himself let alone be thrown out of the Nightmare Army---and his only chance to remain at Gatomon's side.
("Hey, Lace Face... got eyes in back of your head, huh? Well, I'll get you anyway!")
"Detecting you is easy. You think too loud and---just to be clear on it---I don't feel like sleeping while anywhere in your company."
"Well, that's gratitude for you," Natalie huffed, not realizing he wasn't speaking to her.
The image of the demidevimon before Wizardmon growled, producing another of his sophomoric Demi Darts. "A mind reader, are ya? Does the pussy cat know about that? Bet not. Bet too you think I'm nothing to be concerned about. Well, Blondie, you can't be alert all the time. ")
"Alert enough. And the name is 'Wizardmon'. Now, go bother someone else, Demidevimon." Energy ball fully powered, he prepared to throw it.
("Nah...I wanna bother you, Blondie.")
Nicholas flew in front of him, blocking his aim.
"Wizardmon, what are you doing? I won't allow you to hurt Nat!" He noted the other's glazed-over look with not a little worry.
The image of a smirking Demidevimon became slightly less solid through the ghostlike form of the vampire. Wizardmon blinked at the subtle change, but did not alter his stance.
("You should dump the kitty, freak. Switch allegiance to me. We could team up. Do things together Miss Pretty Eyes wouldn't dream of doing.") The bat leered at him.
The offended mage glared at him. "I'd rather bathe in sludge…Now leave me alone or take this! Thun--!)
"Look, if you're afraid of needles all you have to do is say so," an exasperated Lambert sighed as she stooped to retrieve the implement and check it for damage. She paled as a sphere of fiery energy flew over her head.
De Brabant latched onto the digimon's arms and flew with him against the wall, pinning him there. "Wizardmon---stop it!"
"The bastard tried a Dart Attack!" a furious Wizardmon snarled, trying to get around and free from Nicholas so that he could keep his palms between himself and the digimon ghost/human female at all times.
"Who tried what?" both vampire and doctor exclaimed.
"Demidevimon! I refused to switch allegiance to him over Gatomon---and he tried to take me while I was on watch duty!"
"What are you talking about?" Nicholas tried again to get the wizard to make sense. "What's a dart attack?"
"If he'd succeeded, I would have been called on shirking my duty or losing to a lower level digimon..." Wizardmon frowned behind his cowl, now totally in tune with the present as the last vestige of the past faded away. This was not Myotismon's castle. This was…
"Nicholas? Lady Natalie? There was not a Dart Attack?" he asked in confusion.
The medical examiner held up the hypodermic beside her face. "This is a syringe. It extracts liquid and holds it. I just wanted a blood sample so I can find out what makes you tick."
"I'm a digimon. I don't 'tick'," Wizardmon retorted with as much dignity as he could muster considering how befuddled he felt. He struggled to center himself. The evil rat creature was still on Digital World. Why remember his second encounter with the slimy little ball of a digimon now?
"It's an expression," Natalie explained in a deadpan voice, glancing at De Brabant who was still guarding her with his body. "If I can find out what you are made of, I can devise a nutritional routine as well as a medical one for you." She groaned at the molten lump that was all that remained of her table lamp. "Assuming you don't kill your friendly doctor first."
The twin glows faded back into the gloves as the zippers closed. "Oh." Sheepishly, Wizardmon went limp in the other's grasp, but still eyed the needle nervously. "If you take blood from others, are you a vampire too?"
"I've had occasionally wondered that myself," Nicholas somewhat ruefully chuckled. He let go of Wizardmon's arms, but stayed between his two friends just in case. "I think she's taken more blood from me than even Lacroix."
At the evil look Natalie threw him as she pointed the hypodermic in his direction, De Brabant threw up his hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay---I recant. Don't abuse the vampire."
"Don't compare me to that oily bastard again and I'll keep your research donations to 4cc," Natalie grinned. "Alright, the needle wasn't damaged, and fortunately the lamp was not a family heirloom so without further ado," she said, looking straight at Wizardmon who had the grace to look contrite, 'if you'll roll up a sleeve?"
"My sleeve?" the digimon asked, his apprehension level jumping right back on its highest setting.
"Comments from the peanut gallery aside, I am 100% human and prefer to suck up blood samples from an arm rather than a neck." So saying she took hold of one of the digimon's arms and began pushing upwards on the sturdy fabric.
"Is this necessary?" Wizardmon asked, looking a bit panicked. "I'm really not fond of needles!"
"Few people are but I promise this won't hurt but a little," the doctor smiled. "I thought you didn't have doctors. Why are you afraid of needles?
"Bad history!" Wizardmon yelped as his lower sleeve was bunched up to allow her access to the appendage underneath.
"Well, you can relax. I know what I'm doi--- Oh!"
Underneath the yellowish fabric, a skeletal grayish-blue arm had come into view. Natalie was aghast.
Btw, Kyer is always on the lookout for Wizfic. So if you see such fic and my name is not on the Reviews then please notify me of it. I absolutely adore Wiz! {{Oo,
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Part 20: Invoking The Past
The Feminine and very French voice at the other end lightly snickered in amusement.
["Well, well... my favorite vampire cop needs a... what is the human term… stool pigeon? So what else is new? What is it this time, mon chere? Another criminal terrorizing the city? One of your human pets getting too close to the truth?"]
Lips pressed tightly together, De Brabant rolled his eyes. He loved Janette, but did she have to spend half of their time together mocking him?
"No, Janette. Please listen---this is serious."
["All your human relation problems are, mon frere. You should give up this silly quest of yours, Nicola. Stop playing Don Quixote with your Doctor 'Sanchez' and return to us; to me."] The last was said in a sultry whisper laden with meaning.
Her brother---literally by blood if not necessarily by genetics---squirmed, uncomfortably aware of Dr. Lambert's presence as she glared at the phone from across the room. He shrugged in apology.
Natalie disliked DuCharme as a rival and he really couldn't blame her. Janette and he had had quite a history---they'd even been married once during the Renaissance and her 'divorcing' him after 97 years out of 'boredom' had left him demoralized for decades afterwards. She could be petty in her desires and ruthless in her revenge. But despite that and her later betraying his position to Lacroix almost a century earlier, he willingly kept their relationship open. She had been the reason he had embraced vampirism in the first place and he still loved her dearly despite having nearly lost all desire for 'the night life'. Along with flying, she sometimes made him think twice about his quest to regain his mortality.
Unfortunately, he now also loved Natalie. Humane, warm, down-to-Earth Natalie with her quick sense of humor and acceptance of his 'drinking problem'---at least to desire to cure it. The very *human* Natalie that he yearned to have children with one day, but whom---he constantly reminded himself---his Beast could drain in a heartbeat if he lost control over it.
Janette was two centuries his senior, set in her opinions, and quite willing to voice them ad nauseam to her brother. He'd better cut this short or she'd harangue him till dawn came!
"Can we discuss this another time? Right now I need to speak with Merlin. Do you know where he is?"
The seductive voice immediately turned anxious upon the mention of the name.
["Merlin? Oh, Nicola! You are in trouble again, aren't you? Have you contacted Aristotle about choosing a new identity? Does Lacroix know? Or is it him you need to avoid? You know it's useless to run from him---he always finds you. However, there is this wonderful chateau located just outside Paris where we can--"]
Nick switched the phone to his other ear while he did a fast 10 count. "No, Janette---and thanks, by the way, for the vote of confidence; however, I need Merlin's services for someone else."
["Oh. A pity really... we could have moved on together. Paris is lovely this decade. Of course, Paris is lovely in any decade. How about we take a trip there for old times sake?"]
"Janette!" Nicholas nearly exploded in exasperation. "Get Merlin? As in *tonight*?"
["You were so much more fun during the early Renaissance, Nicola. Now you are always so stressed. It's that horrible diet, I suppose. And those humans you insist on congregating with." Deciding she'd toyed with her brother's mounting impatience long enough, Janette duCharme switched the subject. "But the one you seek is here right now, in fact. Finishing up with a contract. Hold on."]
A few moments later another voice came over the phone.
["Nicholas! It is a pleasure. Or is this---as your esteemed sibling intimated---a business call? What can I do for you, my friend?"]
Merlin was another vampire named for his wizardry at the computer. He could hack into nigh well anywhere and create documents to full even the most cynical eye. Another, Aristotle, did this as well as finding placements for vampires who needed to 'move on' because of their never-changing appearances, but he was the common route for many vampires and the waiting list could be days. Merlin was a more pricy entrepreneur, but Nicholas could well afford his services.
"I need you to set up an artificial history for someone. Also I'll need some i.d. cards for an immigrant from Norway." He gave the other vampire the specifics, spying out of the corner of his eye that Natalie had succeeded in cleaning up the digimon from the gummy effects of her culinary work...
["I'll need a first name and a photo to do it.] Merlin told him. ["Afraid just 'Wizardmon' won't cut it with the authorities, you know. And shouldn't you pick something a little more subtle than such an odd moniker if this bloke of yours needs to hide his real identity?"]
"Not really. This case is... kind of off the usual track. Hold on." Nicholas turned to the others in the room. "Nat, can I beg the use of your digital camera and laptop? Merlin's going to need Wizardmon's picture. Wizardmon, make sure you cover your mouth for the photo. And for an identity, how do you feel about having 'Sven' as a first name?"
The digimon blinked while Natalie took out her new camera and checked its power supply, the coroner grumbling half-heartedly about how knowing Nick was getting her involved in yet more criminal activities as if faking morgue documents for vampire kills wasn't enough.
"Lady Natalie," Wizardmon asked softly while the vampires talked some more over the phone, "what is a first name and why are they used? Digimon do not have such things. And is 'Sven' a good one to have?"
The coroner coughed as she tried to figure out how to explain the origin of 'christian' names in twenty words or less to the earnest-looking monster before her.
"Uh... There to help tell people of the same name apart to avoid confusion about who is being addressed. Just consider yourself 'Sven Wizardmon' when asked for your full name. Oh, by the way, better take off the hat, Sven," she chuckled, indicating the article in question, "That skull won't make a good impression on anyone in government." She adjusted the camera to frame his face in the lens after he removed the head gear. "Better cover the cloak pin with your hand. And try to look less sinister. Smile or something, okay? You're still looking like a mad scientist about to lecture the hero on how you're plotting to take over the world."
Wizardmon grimaced at her remark. Take over the world, indeed! He was a Data, not some megalomaniacal Virus like Myotismon. Whatever would he do with an entire world? Bios---wasn't he having enough trouble dealing with his own affairs? He wasn't even sure of his own alias! 'Sven Wizardmon' It didn't sound like a proper digimon name. But then, he wasn't a proper digimon. Oh, sludge---he was supposed to be smiling for Natalie!
Several minutes and almost a pack of wasted film later, they finally had a decent picture. Nicholas fed it through Natalie's internet mail program and sent it on its way to Merlin's.
A short while later, Merlin's bemused voice came over the phone. ["You're kidding?"]
"Nope."
["This bloke looks like one of those 'monster' hosts on television who promote horror shows."]
"Never mind what he looks like, Merlin. I just want nice, official-looking documents---he's not going for glamour work or a CEO position."
["Well, it's your money."] Merlin chuckled a bit. ["Okay...this won't take long, but it's already too late to get together today. Where would you like to meet me?"]
Nicholas agreed. Same-Day mail courier services could get the documents to him just as fast, but this was one of those things you simple didn't trust the humans with. Better to handle everything about the Community within the Community. "At the loft, tomorrow at sunset."
["Not a problem."]
That taken care of, Nicholas started to put away his cell phone away when it's digital Mozart theme alerted him to an incoming call. He flipped it back open.
"Knight."
["Nick, pard? I've got news."]
It was Schanke sounding peeved about something.
["You're not going to believe this, but Patterson has gone missing."]
"What?" De Brabant hissed into the mouthpiece, eyes going golden. "How did he escape?"
["Darned if we know. O'Keefe was on guard duty when he said he suddenly felt drowsy. Next thing he knew, Sam was gone. Cohen over here is breathing fire and fit to be tied. Man o man---you're lucky you're clocked off! Anyway, I thought you might like to know, seeing as your friend helped put him away in the first place. Patterson might be holding a grudge and try to hurt the little guy if he runs into him on the street again."]
"Thanks for the word, Schanke. But I think he'll be okay for now. He's staying with Nat for the time being."
[Natalie? Hehe… Better watch out Nick---the guy may not have your looks, but he outshines you in the charm department. Might be competition for you, pard."]
"Can the matchmaker routine, Schanke," Nicholas growled, in no mood for Don's teasing just now. "You're no good at it!"
["Hey, no need to unleash the Knightmare on me! Save it for the bad guys."]
Running his hand through his hair, Nicholas sighed, thankful that his friend wasn't really there to see just how much of a Knightmare his coworker really was. He really had to do something about his temper.
Eyes back to their original blue, he apologized for his outburst. "Sorry, Schanke. Just find Patterson, okay?"
["Will do. See you tonight, Nick. And try to get some sleep. Dayshift'll get him back."]
Frowning, De Brabant pocketed his phone, not needing to consult his wrist watch. Dawn was less than an hour away; despite his desire to fly over he really didn't have time to check in at work and see if he could find any clues the others had missed. Patterson's break out had sounded suspiciously like the work of a vampire. If only he could travel in the daylight!
"If wishes were horses then men could fly. But what do you do when you already can but are grounded anyway?" he muttered to himself.
"What was that?"
He turned around to find that Natalie was very carefully readjusting an oral thermometer in Wizardmon's mouth---in consideration of what had happened to her dental mirror. The business end of a stethoscope was shoving aside the red vest material as its owner settled it over the heart area. The resigned look on the mage's face was almost comical.
"Just bemoaning my similarities to Icarus and difficulties with the sun."
"I always thought it was more like the Wicked Witch of the West's tendency to melt at the touch of water," she snorted in amusement.
"Gee, thanks for emotional support---and it would be more like an implosion than melting."
"You worry too much. Whatever it is that happened at work, I'm sure it will be okay. You're not the only competent detective there, you know." She frowned as Wizardmon swallowed, the slight movement affecting the position of the oral device in the wide mouth. "I knew I should have invested in the aural version of these things," Natalie muttered as she readjusted the thermometer. "Try not to move it around, Wizardmon. I don't know if mercury would hurt you, but let's not find out the hard way, hmmm?" She smiled as the digimon went absolutely stiff. Looking up as her friend came over to stand over them, she asked, "So, who's Patterson?"
"The kid who knifed Wizardmon after robbing a street vendor. Schanke just called to tell me he's escaped custody."
"A kid escaped from lockup?" Natalie asked with eyebrows raised. She smoothly pulled the thermometer from its precarious placement between two of the digimon's stitches and shook it, noting where the thin mercury within the glass came to a stop. "You can relax now, Wizardmon," she told the frozen wizard, "I'm all done. Now, that wasn't so bad, was it?" He huffed at her as he relaxed, but grudgingly nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, he got free somehow" the former Crusader frowned. "And I don't like it. Patterson was into petty theft only---he doesn't have the kind of connections that would help him break out. Something feels wrong."
Wizardmon's expression turned quizzical. He wasn't really concerned about running into the human again, but he could feel his friend's anxiety. "You think one of your kindred took him? That a vampire has him?"
"I don't know. But O'Keefe is not prone to falling asleep on the job."
"And you think this hypothetical vampire whammied him into taking an unscheduled nap," Natalie surmised. "Why go to all of that trouble to get a kid, though?"
Instead of answering, Nicholas indicated the digimon. "What did you find?"
Natalie frowned, realizing that he was purposely changing the subject. What was he afraid of?
"Well, Nick, you might be surprised to know that 'Sven' here has a body temperature and a heartbeat that lands smack in the middle between a human's and a vampire's." She unplugged the stethoscope's ear piece from her head and put it back in its bag, wiping the thermometer thoroughly with disinfectant before putting it away as well. But then she reached for something else and a hypodermic appeared in her hand.
"Now, Wizardmon, I just want--"
The Data turned his head to regard her, catching the metallic glint of the needle out of the corner of his eye…
And reality shifted as he…
("Hey, Blondie!)
…reacted…
("Yeah, Lace Face! Present for ya!")
…without thinking: knocked it away with an angry yell, sending the cylinder rolling several feet along the carpet. At the same time he leapt from his seat---body remaining in mid air---the zippers on each glove splitting open at the palm to reveal a golden glow from somewhere within.
("Sleepy time!" The winged bat creature cackled at him as he whirled away, the needle missed his arm by a fraction of an inch to snag into his clothing instead of flesh.)
"Hey!" Natalie called out in alarm as he jerked his arm away just as she was about roll up the sleeve on his arm.
The demidevimon from Hall where he'd been 'initiated' into the Nightmare Army, the wizard immediately catalogued his opponent. A Rookie---but of a form known for deviousness and with the ability to fly as well. His main attack was a poisonous dart that could be deadly to younger digimon and even seriously incapacitate a Champion such as himself. He'd have to watch it or he could lose this fight. And if he lost to a mere 'child' digimon, he'd be lucky if Myotismon didn't delete him himself let alone be thrown out of the Nightmare Army---and his only chance to remain at Gatomon's side.
("Hey, Lace Face... got eyes in back of your head, huh? Well, I'll get you anyway!")
"Detecting you is easy. You think too loud and---just to be clear on it---I don't feel like sleeping while anywhere in your company."
"Well, that's gratitude for you," Natalie huffed, not realizing he wasn't speaking to her.
The image of the demidevimon before Wizardmon growled, producing another of his sophomoric Demi Darts. "A mind reader, are ya? Does the pussy cat know about that? Bet not. Bet too you think I'm nothing to be concerned about. Well, Blondie, you can't be alert all the time. ")
"Alert enough. And the name is 'Wizardmon'. Now, go bother someone else, Demidevimon." Energy ball fully powered, he prepared to throw it.
("Nah...I wanna bother you, Blondie.")
Nicholas flew in front of him, blocking his aim.
"Wizardmon, what are you doing? I won't allow you to hurt Nat!" He noted the other's glazed-over look with not a little worry.
The image of a smirking Demidevimon became slightly less solid through the ghostlike form of the vampire. Wizardmon blinked at the subtle change, but did not alter his stance.
("You should dump the kitty, freak. Switch allegiance to me. We could team up. Do things together Miss Pretty Eyes wouldn't dream of doing.") The bat leered at him.
The offended mage glared at him. "I'd rather bathe in sludge…Now leave me alone or take this! Thun--!)
"Look, if you're afraid of needles all you have to do is say so," an exasperated Lambert sighed as she stooped to retrieve the implement and check it for damage. She paled as a sphere of fiery energy flew over her head.
De Brabant latched onto the digimon's arms and flew with him against the wall, pinning him there. "Wizardmon---stop it!"
"The bastard tried a Dart Attack!" a furious Wizardmon snarled, trying to get around and free from Nicholas so that he could keep his palms between himself and the digimon ghost/human female at all times.
"Who tried what?" both vampire and doctor exclaimed.
"Demidevimon! I refused to switch allegiance to him over Gatomon---and he tried to take me while I was on watch duty!"
"What are you talking about?" Nicholas tried again to get the wizard to make sense. "What's a dart attack?"
"If he'd succeeded, I would have been called on shirking my duty or losing to a lower level digimon..." Wizardmon frowned behind his cowl, now totally in tune with the present as the last vestige of the past faded away. This was not Myotismon's castle. This was…
"Nicholas? Lady Natalie? There was not a Dart Attack?" he asked in confusion.
The medical examiner held up the hypodermic beside her face. "This is a syringe. It extracts liquid and holds it. I just wanted a blood sample so I can find out what makes you tick."
"I'm a digimon. I don't 'tick'," Wizardmon retorted with as much dignity as he could muster considering how befuddled he felt. He struggled to center himself. The evil rat creature was still on Digital World. Why remember his second encounter with the slimy little ball of a digimon now?
"It's an expression," Natalie explained in a deadpan voice, glancing at De Brabant who was still guarding her with his body. "If I can find out what you are made of, I can devise a nutritional routine as well as a medical one for you." She groaned at the molten lump that was all that remained of her table lamp. "Assuming you don't kill your friendly doctor first."
The twin glows faded back into the gloves as the zippers closed. "Oh." Sheepishly, Wizardmon went limp in the other's grasp, but still eyed the needle nervously. "If you take blood from others, are you a vampire too?"
"I've had occasionally wondered that myself," Nicholas somewhat ruefully chuckled. He let go of Wizardmon's arms, but stayed between his two friends just in case. "I think she's taken more blood from me than even Lacroix."
At the evil look Natalie threw him as she pointed the hypodermic in his direction, De Brabant threw up his hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay---I recant. Don't abuse the vampire."
"Don't compare me to that oily bastard again and I'll keep your research donations to 4cc," Natalie grinned. "Alright, the needle wasn't damaged, and fortunately the lamp was not a family heirloom so without further ado," she said, looking straight at Wizardmon who had the grace to look contrite, 'if you'll roll up a sleeve?"
"My sleeve?" the digimon asked, his apprehension level jumping right back on its highest setting.
"Comments from the peanut gallery aside, I am 100% human and prefer to suck up blood samples from an arm rather than a neck." So saying she took hold of one of the digimon's arms and began pushing upwards on the sturdy fabric.
"Is this necessary?" Wizardmon asked, looking a bit panicked. "I'm really not fond of needles!"
"Few people are but I promise this won't hurt but a little," the doctor smiled. "I thought you didn't have doctors. Why are you afraid of needles?
"Bad history!" Wizardmon yelped as his lower sleeve was bunched up to allow her access to the appendage underneath.
"Well, you can relax. I know what I'm doi--- Oh!"
Underneath the yellowish fabric, a skeletal grayish-blue arm had come into view. Natalie was aghast.