The first new one, it's good to be back…

Chapter Eight – Gina's Game

Gina delighted in the cool air that rushed passed her face, whipping around her body, encasing her in a refreshing shell. It brought back good memories, of her grandmother's ranch outside of Charlotte, riding her favorite pony, Goldenrod. Gina had always loved riding for hours because it gave her a rush and a sense of exhilaration.

However, this was nothing like riding a horse through the country side, currently she was perched on the back of a large dragon that sailed in the heavy wind currents above an expansive blue ocean. If you had told her only a few years ago what she would be doing today, she would have probably smacked you in the face for talking crazy.

Indeed, she was a very different girl only a few years ago.

"Gina," Airdramon groaned from his massive mouth, "If I'm going too fast just tell me."

Gina giggled, "That's very considerate of you, but you can actually go a little faster." She yelled down to him.

"Will do!" He yelled as he redoubled his speed.

Indeed, before she got her Digimon she'd been a very different person. Growing up in Charlotte, North Carolina, she was nothing like the stereotype of the sweet southern girl. She was picky and fussy, often called a snob and a bitch, she would rebel for the stupidest of causes and hold practically everything against everybody, nothing back then was her fault it seemed, even though plenty happened around her. It was a low point in her history.

Then one day, as she was, grudgingly pruning the hedges in her front back yard she nearly clipped the limbs off of a Cherrymon, who was very much angered by it. Frighten nearly to tears, she had fled into her house, and when she had returned with her reluctant big brother and a chainsaw, the creature was gone. Not long after a Digiegg came to her from out of an e-mail.

From then on her life was different. Through her interaction with the little Digimon that appeared from it, caring for it and addressing it's needs, she began to change.

With in a short time, she had done a complete 180. She was now a caring and friendly girl, easy to talk to, and great at giving advise. Her new attitude permeated the hard hearts of those that she had once alienated, and became a guide and leader of sorts. She was the president of her class, a star pupil, befriended by the girls and chased after by the boys. Her whole life was better thanks to the little creature who had only ever known her as a kind friend.

Gifted in looks and brains, the world was now her oyster, but some one was now trying to steal the pearl it contained. A malevolent evil was hunting her down, so her perfect world of her on make had to be put on hold, as she traveled the Digital World in hopes of finding a way to fight back. Her only hope was that her skills and abilities would come in handy in upcoming battles.

Gina came out of her trance as she felt, the massive digimon beneath her slowed it's speed, "Airdramon, what's wrong?"

"Up ahead." Airdramon nudged.

Looking up ahead, Gina sighted it, protruding out of the water like a tiny artificial island. It appeared to be an oil platform, quipped with massive observation towers, oil containers, drills of all sizes, and cranes galore.

"I have a feeling..." Airdramon mused.

Removing the crest from around her neck she held it up. It whipped about in the heavy winds, but soon it's mysterious powers stilled it, making it like a stiff board. The empty frame glowed it's unusual purple hue, put suddenly, like a slow reacting flash light, a purple beam of light burst off of the empty plate and shot straight toward the platform, pointing to some unidentified area.

"Thank the lord." Airdramon exclaimed, I was worried it was going to be in the water, and you know how I hate water."

"Yeah, I know. Take 'er down, Airdramon."

Airdramon made a rapid decent and swooped in over the platform. Now Gina could see creatures scurrying about the deck, completing various tasks aboard the platform. With the first fly by that Airdramon did, they seemed surprised and ran about in general chaos, except for one imposing figure who stood on the deck with bright red skin, an enormous cruel mouth, and wild gray hair. One Airdramon's second fly-by, it was a Fugamon, who didn't look happy as he followed them with his eyes.

The Fugamon finally lifted one giant clawed hand, and brandished one menacing finger at them, "HEY!!! The is a no-fly zone, get down here right now!"

"You little punk, we don't work for you!" Airdramon growled down at him.

Gina patted Airdramon on the back of his head to calm him down, "We should do as he asks, we may need him to help us find the crest.

Airdramon mumbled a garbled agreement and sunk to the deck.

Gina quickly leaped off and patted down her sleek black hair and put her red coat back on, making herself as presentable as possible.

Airdramon coiled up next to here glaring at Fugamon warily, remaining in Champion form, probably encase Fugamon proved to be less then friendly.

Fugamon folded his arms as he stared fearlessly at Airdramon.

Gina smiled up at him, "Excuse me Mr. Fugamon..."

"My position is Foreman on this rig and you will address me as so." Fugamon chastised rudely as he continued to stare Airdramon down.

Gina padded Airdramon again, "Foreman Fugamon, me and my companion here are on a quest. We're look for a collection of symbols that may seem strange and unexplained, aboard this rig maybe?"

Fugamon's eyes shifted toward the young girl, "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about."

"Then maybe you can let us look around for a bit."

"Nobody goes anywhere or does anything on this rig unless they work here." He groaned.

Airdramon flashed his teeth, "Why do you make a little exception for us, huh?" He said as malevolently as possible.

Fugamon looked extremely offended by this statement and growled devilishly at Airdramon, "I don't make exceptions here, not for you, not for anyone!"

"Then, can we have a job." Gina interjected.

Both Digimon looked at her in disbelief, Gina just smiled. If this was the path that had to be taken to save the world, then she would do it gladly.

Fugamon groaned, "You think you're up to the job, little lady."

"I can take whatever you can dish out." Gina said smirking.

By now most of the workers had quietly gathered around the trio, all were of the Numemon and Sukamon persuasion, looking intently with their big eyes. In the brief silence that followed Gina's boast, Fugamon finally noticed that all his laborers had stopped working.

Growling like a monster, he turned around to face them, "GET BACK TO WORK!! THIS IS DINNER THEATER, YOU USELESS PILES OF POOP!!"

The Numemon, scared out of their minds, screamed in unison, scattering quickly and returning to their assigned tasks. The Sukamon, freaked out more by the frantic Numemon then by Fugamon, did likewise.

In that time, Airdramon leaned in close to Gina, "Are you sure this is the best idea, I don't entirely trust this guy."

"Trust me, I think this is the best way."

Thoroughly enthused now, Fugamon turned to the pair, "Alright, if you want a job with me, there are two things you gotta do!"

"Name 'em." Gina smirked.

"First, you gotta be willing to work."

"No problem."

"Second, to prevent against you deserting on the job, I need some form of collateral to make sure you don't leave before your work is done."

Gina was a bit taken aback by that one, "What do you want?"

A conspicuous smile slide across his massive maw. He lifted one finger and pointed to her chest, "That trinket right there will do just fine."

Looking down, Gina realize, as well as Airdramon, that he was referring to tag. Before Gina could stop him, Airdramon, roared fiercely at Fugamon.

"NO ONE GETS OUR TAG! NO ONE!" He bellowed.

"Fine, then no job, and you can take your leave of my rig right now."

Knowing she had to do it, Gina removed the tag and walked up to Fugamon.

"Gina, no..." Airdramon pleaded behind her.

"It has to be done, Airdramon." She said as she placed the tag in Fugamon's giant outstretched hand.

"Very nice..." Fugamon moaned as he examined the tag in his palm. Closing his hand tightly, he looked up at Gina, "Time to prove your worth..."

Looking up he searched the area for something, stopping on that something, he lifted his other hand and point in that direction, "You three, stop what you're doing.

Gina turned to see what he was referring to, over near what looked like a massive silo, a trio of Numemon were struggling to lift a massive black tube, and connect it with the proper port in the side of the silo. Upon being order by Fugamon, the group dropped the tube with a thud and backed off.

Turning back to Fugamon, Gina found him smiling at her, "You're first job, is to attach that hose to that valve."

Airdramon growled, "She can't do that! Don't ask her to!"

"No." Gina said, smirking once again and removing her fine red leather jacket, "I can do this."

The gathering crowd watched her as she moved toward the tube. Putting her arms around it, she could barely reach her hands on the other side, but she tried to lift it anyway, it was only short distance. The pipe was covered in grease and was slippery to the touch and had the thick stench of oil. Her first attempt to lift it met with failure, it being perhaps, more then she could lift. The second attempt came close, as she nearly had the tube flush with the hole when her arms gave out.

A disappointed groan went through the crowd of Numemon and Sukamon, who could obviously feel her pain. Fugamon just stared at her intently.

"Gina, let me help." Airdramon offered.

Gina put up a hand, stopping him, "No, I got this."

Her one pristine white V-neck shirt was now thick with brown sludge, and her hands and arms were covered in the slimy substance as well. She reached all the way around the pipe and lifted with all her might. She let out a strained groan to accentuate her struggle. Sure enough though, it paid off and she was able to put the tube into place, sliding it deep with the valve.

The crowd cheered as she did, but she soon silenced them with her very focused grimace.

"Wrench!" She called.

A Sukamon carrying a large wrench in it's stumpy, gelatinous hands came forward and handed it to Gina. Taking the big thing, she tightened the three bolts that ringed the valve so that the tube would stay in place.

A second cheer resounded from the Numemon as she finished the job and that cute, girlish smile returned to her face as she wiped the sweat off her brow with her arm.

Airdramon chuckled quietly to himself as he watched her smear the strange liquid on her forehead.

Fugamon simple nodded, then pointed at the three Numemon who had been working the pipe before, "Since you three got off so easy, go man that pump, and the rest of you, I thought I told you to get back to work!"

With a similar response to the last time they were yelled at, the Numemon scurried off to do their duties.

Looking back toward Gina, the Fugamon pointed to a set of Numemon who were vigorously cleaning several large drill tips, "Go help them clean those, make sure they shine."

Gina nodded and went to work.

Gina heard Fugamon speak to Airdramon as she walked to her task, "She's certainly got spirit, it's going to be a pleasure having her work for me."

"Just remember, we're on a quest here, and if you interfere any further, it'll be the last mistake you ever make."

Gina smiled, Airdramon had taught her the error of her ways long ago, but she had also taught him some of the ways of error. This was going to be a difficult test for both of them.