Proposition

Whining crickets suddenly cease their irritating chattering, the insects scatter amongst the bountiful blades of green grass. A young girl pranced her lovely but stone cold face around the city; it was Rika, followed closely by Renamon. Fresh from their latest triumph over another destructive Digimon, the duo headed home for long awaited rest. Unaware was Rika that the two were being followed by a mysterious stranger, watching them very closely.

The dim streetlamp provided little light on this dark and dreary shadowy world. Once at the house, Rika yawned and wished Renamon goodnight before preparing for bed. All seemed to go well that is until something caught the girl's attention, something long, shiny, and sharp. The mysterious man, who had been hounding Henry and the other Digimon Tamers, had arrived. The man's sights were clearly on Rika as he quietly approached her.


The man smiled "Nice night wouldn't you say? I hear construction sites look real pretty in the moonlight".

Rika frowned, "HMP is that supposed to intimidate me?".

"Intrigue was actually what I was going for, but regardless of how badly you want me to leave I can't help but notice" he replied.

Rika shrugged "Notice what?".

The man replied "That you haven't demanded I leave your sight at once, surely you're curious of why I'm here".

"Doesn't mean I have to act like I care now does it? So what if you saw me at the construction site, no one will believe you if you tell anyone about it. They'll think you're crazier then they already think you are" Rika said.

The man laughed "Now who said I was going to do that Ms. Nonaka? Was it your yellow foxy friend back there?".

The young girl gasped, but kept it to a silent one as not to give this creep any satisfaction at his discovery. Somehow he knew about Digimon, but most importantly he knew about Renamon. The fox Digimon appeared in the shadows right behind Rika.

"Just say the word and he's gone Rika" Renamon stated.

"Doesn't anyone know how to talk politely these days?" the man asked.

"Spill it buddy, who the hell are you and how do you know about me and Renamon?" Rika demanded.

The man quietly approached the girl even closer, revealing his bizarre appearance in the dim light of the street lamp. The stranger was tall, hair was a dark blue green color, with jagged cuts on the side and a small ponytail in the back. The man's face sported what looked like double sets of aqua blue glasses, covering a pair of scheming silver eyes. The coat the man wore was also silver, designed in silver colored squares bunched together very tightly.

The coat almost had a bathroom tile design to it, tied tightly with thick black colored thin lines. Shirt and pants colors were both a dark royal blue, topped off with a reddish brown leather belt and midnight black shoes. The man's left hand still dangled those ever noticeable double index finger claw blades.

"My name is Tallos, Gemini Tallos and I am here in regards of a proposition for you Ms. Nonaka" he announced.

A baffled Rika blinked "Proposition? What kind of proposition?".

Tallos smirked "It has come to the government's attention that these digital creatures you children control are appearing more then expected. We had originally believed the problem was properly contained, only to find out were in fact far behind schedule".

But Rika just groaned "How sad, you're breaking my heart. Now get to the point 8 eyes".

Tallos smirked as he continued "As you wish. It is through these creatures we have made an incredible discovery, a discovery not even your digital pets could comprehend. While this discovery is of the utmost importance to us, we sadly cannot obtain this prize without a little help, that's where you come in".

Rika scoffed "This is stupid, you're not making any sense. Why should I even listen to you let alone help you on your looney little quest?".

"Calmness, calmness Ms. Nonaka, there is no need for hostility here. All I ask is that you do us this one simple little favor, and I shall leave you and your family in peace for as long as I live" Tallos explained.

Once again, Rika smirked "Now that's a laugh. I don't need to do a dam thing for you or your government, the only one I work with is Renamon".

Tallos questioned "Ironic considering you have been known to associate with both Mr. Matsuki and Mr. Wong".

Rika quickly answered "As if, those little boy scouts butt in of their own free will. I don't need anyone's help to do anything, and especially not theirs".

"That's right, you're the best, the best there is and probably the best there ever will be, so who better to ask for help then from the best?" Tallos said.

Rika grinned "Now you're finally making some sense. But like I said before, I run a one woman show and Renamon's got the only backstage pass. Move along freak show, were done here".

The proud tamer turned her back to Tallos and once again headed towards her house, Tallos smirked and removed something from his pocket. The man clicked a button and whispered something into the device. The device was actually a 2-way radio communicator.

Tallos sighed "I didn't want to have to resort to this but" and snapped his fingers, "You leave me no choice Ms. Nonaka".

Suddenly Renamon stopped and gasped as she looked at Rika's face, there was a tiny red dot aimed directly at her forehead. The tamer froze, sweat poured down her cheeks as she felt the disturbing heat from the dot.

A nervous Rika gasped "H-h-h-hey what is this, g-g-get it off, get it off".

Tallos replied "That just happens to be the receiving end of a state-of-the-art, long range, 50 caliber, silence modified, tactical sniper rifle. And it's locked onto your tiny, pretty, little head".

The vanishing fox Renamon appeared right before Tallos, she angrily grabbed him by the neck and jerked him up.

"Let her go before I rip that flapping tongue right out of your mouth" Renamon growled.

Tallos laughed "Go ahead see what happens. You honestly think death scares me? Harming me won't save your little friend, it'll just end up being the final signature on her death certificate".

Rika gulped "And you really think d-d-death scares me huh? N-n-n-nothing scares me".

The dark agent hummed "No? Then what about your mother, or what about your grandmother, think they feel the same way?".

Rika gasped "You……you're lying, YOU'RE LYING!".

"Try me" Tallos hissed.

The small red light scurried off Rika's head and aimed directly into her grandmother's window, the red dot shined on the woman's head. Renamon and Rika gasped in horror. In just seconds everyone Rika loved most could die right in their own homes, and it would all be her fault.

SHINK!

Renamon shouted "Rika get out of here UGH!"

Rika cried out "RENAMON!".

The wicked Gemini Tallos sliced his index claws across Renamon's yellow furry chest, the fox Digimon dropped to the ground clutching her body.

"Cc-c-c-can't move……p-paralyzed" Renamon murmured.

Tallos chuckled "Instant paralysis serum, makes for an excellent stun gun wouldn't you say?".

Immediately a teary eyed Rika ran to her Digimon, growling hatefully at the scornful sight of Tallos. But the man was too fast for the girl, Rika was bashed painfully in the stomach. Tallos grabbed Rika and shoved her against her garage door. The young girl grunted in pain feeling his fingers dig tightly into her shoulder, hovering those claws near her as if mocking her.

Tallos frowned "Now listen up you smart mouthed little brat, I've tried being nice but you continue to make things harder for yourself, so be it. Mr. Nice guy has officially left the building".

Angrily, Rika struggled "GR……let go of me you……dirt bag UGH".

"Spare me your arrogant back talk Ms. Nonaka, your egotistical pride is not at stake here, your family is. And unless you want your loved ones to see tomorrow your going to do exactly as I say" Tallos snapped.

Rika shook her head "I'm not doing jack squat slime ball, Renamon and I will……AH!".

Sharp silent cries escaped Rika's now trembling voice, Tallos was shoving his razor claws right under the girl's nostrils. Rika shivered with complete fear, twitching nervously as she felt the cold blades sitting inside her nose.

Tallos growled "The two of you will do NOTHING until I say so. From here on out I will be watching you……very closely. You will do whatever I tell you to do without question, and if you so much as even WHISPER to a cop or try anything funny, you'll be scraping your family's brains off the kitchen cabinets. So is everything perfectly understood……Ms. Nonaka?".

Rika sobbed softly "……Yes sir".

A pleased Tallos smiled "Very good Ms. Nonaka. I look forward to our assignment, of which you'll be contacted when the time is right. Goodnight Ms. Nonaka".

The young girl collapsed to the ground as the claws were removed from her nose, tears slowly run down Rika's frightened eyes. Renamon grunted and groaned as Tallos walked past the wounded warrior. The Digimon growled in silent agony, wishing so badly she had the strength to make him pay for what he's done. Tallos turned and smiled a wickedly to the crying Rika.

Tallos laughed "Don't look so sad Ms. Nonaka after all, the fun is only JUST beginning HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA!


To be continued……