Memories of Light: Chapter One
Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon or Cowboy Bebop.
A/N: The identity of the narrator of this story is going to be a secret that the readers will have to uncover. However, from the clues so far, you should be able to tell that he's someone from the first two seasons of Digimon. Did I mention this was a crossover with 02/03? Anyway, the four girls and at least two of the guys are out of the question so that leaves you with a shortened list of who to suspect. Another reason I did this is because I wanted to experiment with the first person writing style. My other two Digimon stories are third person and I thought that it would be fun to do a story from a first person viewpoint. The fic will switch to third person when Ruki shows up but will remain first person when it switches back to the narrator.
After the convenience store debacle, I head back to the apartment. An encounter with the police is probably not the best idea at the moment. Because of this, I avoid the major pathways and stick to the back alleys, taking a circuitous route back to the apartment. Finally making it back to the apartment, I flick on the lights and toss the city map I took from the convenience store on my cot. It will come in useful later on when I need to navigate the city again.
Walking over to the computer, I sit down at the desk and move the mouse. The computer screen flicks on as the screensaver is disengaged. Three things about the desktop immediately catch my attention. Two of them are the document file and movie file icons on the desktop. The third thing is that the starter bar is completely removed from the system to prevent any type of hacking. My memories of this old technology are limited at best so I'm fairly sure that this type of measure is enough to keep me out.
Sighing, I click on the movie link. The desktop flickers and the screen turns black. A moment later, Gennai's face appears on screen. He starts speaking without preamble.
"The following footage was taken from a traffic camera. The scene takes place in Times Square in New York City." The screen changes from the old man's face to a large intersection at the midst of Times Square. A large white pickup truck enters the scene, its tires squealing as it comes to a direct halt, stopping traffic in all four directions. The door to the truck slowly opens and out steps a bearded man. I recognize him immediately as Akiyama. He closes the truck door and starts walking, oblivious to the wailing honks coming from all around him.
And then, the truck behind him explodes.
The screen changes back to Gennai. "This took place two days ago. The truck carried a viral agent that spread to most of the people in that place. Calculating the wind trajectory at that time, we have determined that it has spread through most of New York by now. The moment you step outside, you will be infected. Thankfully, the virus comes in two doses. The first dose is dormant until the second is introduced. This whole scenario was our first indication that something had gone wrong. When our attempts to contact Akiyama were unsuccessful, we sent a team of agents after him." The screen changes to a room littered with dead bodies. "This was the result." Gennai's face reappeared on the screen. "The other file on the desktop talks about a company called Gen-U-Tech. They have a head office here in New York City. I suggest you start your investigation there." The computer screen flickers again and returns to the familiar desktop.
I click on the document file and another window pops up. The document is long, detailing the history of the company. It extends back nearly a century to three researchers who discovered a viral strain in the jungles of Africa. Making that the basis of their research, they formed the company Gen-U-Tech. Over time, their ancestors moved away from viral research into genetics. Currently, the company is one of the largest suppliers of pharmaceutical products in the world. Their headquarters are in downtown New York. An address is listed at the end of the document file. Memorizing it, I shut off the computer.
Getting up from the uncomfortable desk chair, I switch off the light and flop down on my cot.
The situation does not make any sense. Furthermore, just about every instinctual alarm I have is going off full blast. There is more to this then is readily apparent. Even the timeline doesn't make sense. The IDF (Inter-Dimension Force) must have known Ryo's exact whereabouts to send a team after him. It didn't make sense that they had gotten to him so quickly just a day ago but were now forcing me to conduct my own investigation to find him. There is something deeper going on here and every instinct in me says that I'll find more answers at Gen-U-Tech.
But that is something I will explore in the morning after a night of rest.
As I lay there on the bed, I raise a hand in the air above me. My penchant for philosophical thought seems to be kicking in as I begin to wonder just exactly what I am. As it is, all I was, I sacrificed for a greater purpose once upon a time. It was supposed to end then and all of what I was, supposed to be gone; leafs scattered in the wind. But, now I am back... or at least my memories are. However, what are memories if I don't have my soul? Is there less moral obligation in me now, being housed in a body that was most likely created in a test tube?
Damn, I'm a deep person.
Sighing, I lower my hand and close my eyes. All this can wait. I have a job and afterwards, I'll finally be allowed to rest. At least that is what the old man told me.
I still don't believe him.
Earth # 2127
"I should come with you Ruki."
"You know the laws of dimensional travel, Renamon." Ruki replied, keying in the coordinates on her digivice. "You won't be able to exist in a world which does not have the right elements to hold you. Humans are the constant while digimon are the variety. Besides, I know how to take care of myself."
Renamon sighed, knowing that it wasn't much use arguing with Ruki when she had made up her mind. "Are you sure he is in trouble?"
Ruki frowned, her brow furrowing. "He has never been so late before. Six months is tool long and," she hesitated, "I... I have a feeling..."
Nodding in understanding, Renamon laid a paw on her partner's shoulder. "Just be careful, ok."
"I will," Ruki replied, keying in the final coordinates.
A slit of white light opened up before her and saying her final farewell to Renamon, she stepped through it.
Well, that's it for this part. In the next part we get to the meat of things. And, I'm trying to preserve mystery so there is stuff that isn't going to make sense but it'll all get resolved at the end.
Now, go ahead and review.
