Disclaimer: all aspects of this story are fictional and all properties belong to their respective owners

Chapter 3

"Hello, is Cody there?" said Yolei in her most polite tone of voice at Cody's front door.

"He is but I am afraid he is feeling under the weather to day. Could you come back another day?" asked his mother.

"Well I am here to take him his homework and to tell him about the condition of our project. I will only be a minute I promise."

"Well I guess it would be all right if it has to do with school work," she says as she leads Yolei in. "Just make sure to make it quick please."

"Don't worry I will."

"Cody it's me Yolei," she says as she knocks on his door. "Can I come in?"

"I don't think you should."

"I have already gotten permission from your mother anyway Cody."

"I still not sure."

"Will it make you feel better if I told you that Davis is most likely worse off than you."

The door opened a crack. "What do you mean worse off?"

"Well let's just say he doesn't look like him self and for that matter I don't think I am that normal either."

"All right, if you promise not to tell."

"I won't."

Then Cody opened the door and Yolei finally got to see how it effected him. At first glance he seamed perfectly normal but on closer inspection she could see the longer hair on his foot and the fact that his nails were longer and a little grayer.

"I figure it's a long story," said Cody noticing her examination.

"Trust me. It is."

"…and that's about all we know about the virus," concluded Yolei.

"So how did it, you know, effect you?" wondered Cody.

"You see this bandage," she explains while holding up her hand. "well maybe it's best to show you," she says as she removes the bandage to reveal the pin feathers.

"Ah so what about Davis? How did he change?"

"well last time I saw him he had scales on all his hands and feet as well as some starting on his forehead. Also his one foot that was scaly the other day is now a scaled clawed foot."

"And I thought I was bad."

"Just wait, you might be as bad in a few day's time."

"That's a disturbing thought."

"Yeah," she says as she wraps her hand again. "Hey Cody have you been having any weird dreams lately?"

"Well I did last night."

"Let me guess you had a surreal dream involving a weird digimon hybrid that turned out to be you."

"Yes that's it exactly. Did you…"

"No, but Davis did."

"Hmm it seams like the virus isn't affecting you as fast as me and Davis."

"Probably cause I didn't get as much of the slime on me as you and I guess Davis did."

"Maybe It's due to something else."

"Like what?"

"Like maybe time on digital world game," pondered Cody.

"What made you think of that?"

"Well it seems as if we are becoming weird Digimon hybrids."

"Good point."

"You had better get going my mom is probably going to get worried soon."

"Your right, I guess I should get in touch with you later," she promises as she leaves the room and the house.

"Davis, phone," shouts his mother.

"Who is it?"

"I think it's Yolei."

"Good can you bring me the phone?"

"Sure thing son," she replies as she heads to his room. She opens the door and catches the first good look at him that day.

Crud Davis thought. I forgot how I looked right now.

"Now Davis, you really should take better care of your scales. They are almost sky blue.," she said in that tone that says you can do better. She sighs and says "Here's the phone."

As Davis took the phone he did a mental double take. Did she just tell me to take better care of my scales? Maybe I misunderstood her and she really meant I should try to get rid of them…

his thought trailed of as he answered the phone "Hello."

"Davis, Cody is infected too."

"Great."

"Just wait it gets better."

"How?"

"It seams that both you and Cody are changing at a faster rate than me and Cody thought that it might be because that you and him are on the digital world game more than I am."

"So he thinks the time on the game is a trigger?"

"No we think that it just speeds up the process immensely."

"Just great."

"And it also seams that you and him are having similar dreams."

"Wait till you here what my mom just said."

"What did she say?"

"She basically told me to take better care of my scales."

"She did?"

"Yeah and it was in that no nonsense tone they use when they know that you can do better."

"This is serious."

"Why is it so serious? I thought that it was just weird."

"I now think that in some cases, maybe even our own, that the virus just might, so to speak, rewire the brain to suit the new life."

"This can't get any worse."

"You know, for once in my life I hope your right and I am wrong."

"Well I guess I'll see you later if either of us can still go into public by then."

"Scary thought. Well bye."

"Yeah bye."

Later on that night as Davis is getting ready for bed…

"Good night honey," says his mom sticking her head in his doorway.

"Hey mom,' Davis called.

"Yes my son?"

"Why did you tell me to take better care of my scales?"

"Well I thought it would be obvious. I know your sick and all but that is no reason to let your self go."

"OK I see."

"Anything else?"

"Yeah have you or dad ever played digital world game?"

"Me and your father did once when it came out but we never did again. Why do you ask?"

"Oh I am just wondering."

"Sheesh. Those kids, they want to know everything and act all roar and no bite…" she trails off as she heads done the hall to the living room.

OK this is so weird Davis thought to himself. She is acting like this is nothing unusual. Maybe Yolei was right and this virus does rewire the brains of those it infects. But then why am I still noticing my changes? I guess I'll ask Yolei tomorrow seeing she'll probably want to check on me and Cody anyway.

The following morning…

Great I had that dream again thought Davis as he woke up. I wonder how I look right now. I wonder if I look even remotely human. Well no good putting off the inevitable he decides as he heads to the bathroom to check his condition. Well let's see here, okay my feat are now identical again but at least it hasn't moved up any higher than half way up my shin, my hands are now completely transformed as well, my forehead is now blue and scaly with a yellow V in the center. Well at least I don't have any extra appendages like horns or tails. Yet. Well I guess I should call Yolei and give her an update.

"Hello is Yolei there?" asked Davis when the phone was answered .

"No she's at school right now may I ask who is calling?" replied her mother.

Crud I had forgotten about school thought Davis panicking. "I'm Davis and I am calling to see if she had caught the bug that me and Cody have. But seeing that she went to school I know she is feeling fine.

"Well that was nice of you to check on her but the worse she has right now is a bad burn on her hand."

"How did that happen?"

"She forgot to use hot pads when cooking, so now she has that hand all bandaged up."

"Ah I see."

"Which now seams very unlike her. Maybe she is coming down with something…"

Crud, this is even worse mentally screamed Davis. If Yolei's mom finds out about her feathers cause of me, Yolei will not stop until she kills me.

"She wouldn't be trust me, this bug you know right away if you have it."

"Really? Well I guess you would know," she agreed while Davis gave a mental sigh of relief.

"Could you tell her to give me a call later on? I need to ask her about what homework I missed."

"Sure thing. Good bye."

"Good bye," replies Davis hanging up. "That was close. Way too close."

Later on that day…

"Davis, Dinner," called his Mom.

"Can't I eat in my room?"

"If you are well enough to go calling on your friends, you are well enough to eat dinner with your family."

Crud that's right, She thinks the changes are normal remembered Davis. I wonder if everyone else thinks that too? I guess I'll soon find out. "Coming."

It turned out that his suspicion was correct. His family treated him no differently than usual, including his sister. "Why are you moping? Can't you stand to eat with your family on time?"

"No that's not it at all."

"Oh I see, your just moping cause you only a rookie morph and you want to be a champion?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I knew it. You are embarrassed by how you morphed."

Right then and there Davis mind reached the breaking point of confusion and was rendered speechless.

"Knock it off, He has every right to be left alone, especially by you," commanded their mother

"Why me?"

"Cause I don't see you going through this."

"Well neither did you."

"Well actually, I wanted to tell you this on later but I guess we should now, we just noticed the first signs," explained their father

That thawed Davis' brain. "Your what?"

"We're going to be hybrids just like you are Davis."

That once again stunned him.

"So do you have any clue as to what kind you are?" said his sister with complete seriousness.

"Only that it's a an avian for me and a reptile for your father."

"Davis are you okay?" asked his father.

"Yeah I'm just a little shocked at the news that's all."

"Why is that?"

"Um,"

"Dear you know how unpredictable these things are, why even he didn't know he was on until Sunday."

"I hear the phone ringing, I'll get it it's probably for me."

"Hello," said Davis answering the phone.

"Davis, why did you call at nine o'clock in the morning on a school day?"

"Sorry I forgot about school. Yolei please tell me you family is still sane."

"What are you… Oh yeah the virus. Did your family notice?"

"Let me tell you every thing…"

One long story later…

"…and then my parents announced that they had fond the first signs of the transformation like they would announce a pregnancy."

"Sounds like you had a fun day."

"So tell me, how was yours and your burned hand's?"

"So you heard about my excuse?"

"Yeah your mom told me earlier today."

"So that's why your so curious about my day."

"Yeah so could you tell me?"

"Look it was normal for me okay?"

"Fine and how's your hand?"

"Let's just say I might use it and my arm as a pillow soon."

"It gotten that much worse?"

"It gets better, my other arm and my feet are starting to show signs of changing."

"It's that bad?"

"yeah it's that bad."

"So have you heard form Cody?"

"Not yet, I am going to call him after you."

"Well I have nothing else to report to I guess you should call him."

"One last question. What are your parents becoming?"

"I would rather not talk about it."

"Fine. So bye."

"Bye."

"Hello is Cody there?" asked Yolei over the phone.

"Yes he is, just a moment please."

"Hello?" came Cody's voice.

"Hey Cody it's me Yolei."

"Hey Yolei. Have you heard from Davis?"

"I just got off the phone with him. He's gotten worse but his family doesn't notice."

"How could they not notice? Does he hide himself when they come in his room?"

"Kind of hard to hide when the make you come to the table for supper. And you know that Davis can never pass up a meal."

"So all his family saw him as he is now? And none of them even noticed?"

"Not exactly. They noticed but they thought that it was completely normal."

"That is so weird. Do you think they're in denial?"

"No I think the virus some how affected their minds."

"That's a pleasant thought. But why doesn't it effect us? After all we are further along than any one else."

"I have no idea. So how are you right now?"

"Well my hands are now looking like my feet did and my legs now have armor plates on the shin down."

"So did anything change on your head?"

"Not yet."

"Good then Davis is still farther along than you."

"I never thought that it would be a good thing for Davis to be ahead of me.

"Me neither. That's what happens when something turns the world on it's ear."

"This is definitely getting really weird."

"Truly it is. I'd better hang up, Davis probably wants to have an update on your condition."

"No doubt. Well see ya."

"Same hear, If I can still recognize you."

"That's a nice thought."

"Sorry. Well Bye."

"Bye."

"I think that is Yolei calling me back," said Davis rushing to get the phone

"Why have you been talking so much with Yolei so much?" asked his mom.

"Since she is the only one in our group that isn't sick she has to coordinate our project over the phone."

"I see," she replied, satisfied with him just for now.

"Hello," said Davis answering the phone.

"Hey Davis it's me, Yolei."

"So how is…?"

"Cody? Not as bad as you are but pretty close."

"I wonder what normal people are doing right now?"

"I guess right none of us would know right now, would we?"

"Nope."

"I have been wondering about something."

"Great what piece of bad news have you for me?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"What I mean is that when ever you start wondering about the virus you seam to find something that makes the situation seam much worse."

"Well I don't like being in the dark when I transforming into something totally different. And any way I was just wondering since we turning into digimon hybrids that we might digivolve when we are fully transformed."

"Who are you and what have you done with Yolei?"

"What are you talking about?"

"First, you actually gave some half-way good news, and secondly you actually knew something that had absolutely nothing to do with school and studying."

"Hah, Hah, very funny Davis. But I was serious."

"I know."

"Is something bothering you?"

"no nothing other than the usual is bothering me."

"Then why are you sounding so depressed then?"

"I sound depressed?"

"All right spill it, what are you hiding?"

"It's nothing, seriously."

"Just tell me already or do I have to talk to your sister?"

"you wouldn't dare…"

"try me."

"Fine I give, it's just that in the digital world game that I was never able to get my partner past the Champion level."

"That's the big secret?"

"you don't understand, anyone should be able to get to the ultimate level when you play it as much as I do but I can barely get Veemon to digivolve to ExVeemon."

"Did you just say that your partner was Veemon?"

"yeah so?"

"Just think for once in your life Davis. Your partner was Veemon and you are turning into a Veemon hybrid."

"So are you saying that we sort of merge with our digimon partners from the Digital World game?"

"Exactly. And now that I think of it, my partner was Hawkmon."

"which has red feathers on his wings."

"So have you seen Cody's partner?"

"Actually, I haven't even seen him on the game."

"Well I guess I'll have to ask him about it tomorrow."

"So will you be going to school tomorrow?"

"As long as I can hide the plumage, I will."

"So tell me, has any one at school shown any signs?"

"The Virus must be frying your brain cause that is the second time in two days that what you have said not only made sense but was something that I hadn't thought of."

"Very funny Yolei."

"thank you. But I am serious about that I never thought of that and that I should."

"Was that a complement?"

"Don't let it go to your head. What I guess I'll have to do is, if I can, go to school for one more day and look to see if any one else is infected and then if no one else is then I'll fake being sick."

"Did you just say you'd fake being sick?"

"yes. Desperate times call for desperate measures."

"Well since your willing to miss school I guess that could count as a sign that the world is ending."

"Funny. Look, I actually use my mind so I know we need to try to contain the virus, at least until some one can analyze the virus."

"That reminds me, I had gone to the foot doctor last Sunday and he had taken a sample of the slime that was on my foot. He said I should get results in about 5 days."

"That is a stroke of pure luck. Well that certainly solves the problem of having the virus tested."

"But what if he gets infected as well?"

"Davis you are really scaring me. That makes it three valid statements in the last few days. Maybe if we can ever reverse the virus we should leave you like this cause it seams to have only improved you."

"You know Yolei, those jokes are really getting old."

"Sorry. Anyway, normally I wouldn't worry about it but the fact that this virus seams to be intelligent makes me want to worry."

"So basically we are waiting in the dark until the test results come in?"

"yes that sums it up."

"Isn't life just fun right now?"

"loads, I guess I should hang up know."

"yeah I should to since my mom thinks that this is more than just two partners talking."

"You mean she thinks that you and me are…?"

"yeah."

"That is so ridiculous it's funny."

"Yeah but it is also a big problem."

"yeah if we want to keep updated on each others condition we need to come up with an excuse to keep talking with each other or get an alternate means of communication."

"What if Cody calls instead of you?"

"no that won't work. He has no reason to call both of us."

"True, well I am out of ideas"

"Easy come, easy go."

"Cut that out Yolei."

"Fine Davis. Look I'll have to call you tomorrow for sure. We can figure this out then."

"Fine by me. Bye."

"Bye."

7