Chapter 14: Two Paths To Go By

Kari awoke with a start, she had just been dreaming about something but she couldn't remember what it was. Looking around she saw a light at the end of the cave. With an odd sense of déjà vu she got up and began walking towards it, like a moth drawn to a flame.

She stopped right before she would be able to see anything, and stood there afraid to go on. "Do you see…" a voice said from behind her. Kari whirled around fist clenched and ready to punch the faceless man, but he wasn't where he was supposed to be. "A little jumpy are we?" Jack asked from a foot beyond her fist.

"You're not supposed to be here." Kari told him, "The evil man with no face is supposed to be here." As soon as she said it Kari realized just how stupid she sounded.

Jack however didn't seem to agree with her assessment. "Did he have red hair and a black cape?" he asked.

Kari nodded, "Yeah, but how do you know?"

Jack sighed, "Those times when I said I was a prophet I meant it." Kari nodded again. "So can you see anything out there?" Jack asked.

"I'd rather not." Kari said, "In my dream my mother, brother, and Takeru were all set out there to drown."

"That's interesting," Jack said with a nod, "but the way we came in and the ocean are back there." he pointed over his shoulder with his thumb.

"So what is this?" Kari asked Jack shrugged. "Listen I'm going to check it out." Kari told him. She approached the light at the end of the cave and soon realized it was a wall of white, "Hold on to me and pull me back if anything happens." Kari reached out to touch it and her hand went through. It was warm on the other side so she stuck her head through too.

A second later Jack yanked her back out of the white wall. Kari's eyes were wide and she was gasping for air. "Well, what was it?" ha asked.

"The, the Digital World." Kari whispered breathlessly. "It's a portal to the Digital World."

"The Digital World, so we can get out of this creepy place?" Jack asked. Kari nodded. "Then let's get back to everyone else, wake them up, and leave." Jack suggested before grabbing Kari and dragging her down the cave towards the others.

It took a good fifteen minutes to get everyone up and explain what they had found. "Are you sure this is safe?" Izzy asked while looking at the white portal.

TK and Ken exchanged glances behind Izzy's back and then pushed him through the portal. "Very mature." Kari commented before walking through with Gatomon and Motimon. TK and Ken looked at each other, shrugged, and walked through the portal; their partners followed them.

"See you on the other side contrary wench." Jack told Melissa giving her a cocky salute.

"I hope you land in a pile of digimon shit argumentative bastard." Melissa told Jack as he leapt through the portal with Skullmon under one arm. A second later she leapt through as well.

When she came out on the other side Melissa turned around but saw no white portal. Like everyone before her she jumped through the space only to land, still in the Digital World.

"I think it's a one way portal." Izzy said as he looked up.

"You don't say." Melissa muttered as she pushed herself to her feet. "So we're out of the creepy ocean world, what do we do now?" she asked.

"We look for a TV so we can gate back home." Ken said.

"A TV?" Jack asked with an eyebrow raised, Ken nodded. Jack shook his head and looked at Izzy, "You come here all the time and yet you start doing drugs. This place is like a permanent high."

"Maybe I started doing drugs to rationalize what I was seeing here and in my life." Izzy suggested, "I honestly can't remember."

"Wait," Melissa butted in, "we can't just leave. I need to get my Demi egg from that Primary Village place."

"I'll bring you." Izzy told her. "People probably aren't worrying too much over where I am. So TK and Kari go on home and tell everyone that you didn't elope."

"Fine." TK said, "Good luck with Demi Melissa. I think there's a TV this way." he said walking off with Kari and Ken.

Izzy and Melissa also left, Jack followed them. "Why are you coming along?" Melissa asked.

"I feel like seeing this Primary Village place." Jack said simply. "I also Takaishi and Kari's brother can look after her."

"So you're ditching your job?" Izzy asked.

Jack shook his head, "No I'm on vacation."

"You have vacation days?" Melissa asked.

Jack shrugged, "If I don't I was suddenly taken ill and couldn't work. And if I have no sick days then yes, I am ditching my job."

"That's fine by me." Melissa said, "Welcome aboard."

Izzy mentally groaned, so much for a peaceful walk.

"This is it." TK said proudly, "Told you there was a TV around here."

Ken clapped sarcastically and held up his digivice, nothing happened. "Guarantee you to find one that doesn't work." he said.

"Let me try." TK said pushing Ken out of the way, nothing happened for him either.

Kari chuckled, "Boys, this is a job for a woman." She held up her own digivice, but again nothing happened. "Okay maybe it is broken." she said, "Who knows where another one is?"

Davis glanced at the clock impatiently; Takaishi was late and he didn't like waiting. "Forget it." he said finally. "I have called you all here for a very important meeting." he said to his audience: Yolei, Cody, and the three digimon.

"Hurry it up Bonehead." Yolei snarled; she wanted to get back on the search for the missing Ken.

"Yeah Davis," Cody said, "skip the preamble and let us get back to finding Ken."

Davis stopped his talk about setting aside old differences and glared at the younger boy. He abruptly cleared his throat, "As I was about to say, I believe I have found where Ken is." He paused long enough to dodge the questions then continued, "This however only brings up a larger problem. Ken is gone because," he paused to increase the tension, "the Digiworld is broken."

"Broken?" Cody asked. "Davis you've finally lost it."

"Lost it? When did he ever have it in the first place." Yolei commented.

"Look do you want to try." Davis said motioning to the computer.

Yolei stood up, "Fine." She took out her D3 and pointed it at the screen, "Digiport open!" the portal stayed closed, "Digiport open!" still nothing.

Cody stood up, "My turn," he said holding up his D3, "digiport open!" Again nothing happened. "Okay, we might have a problem." Cody conceded.

"I told you guys." Davis said throwing it in their faces. He shook his head in annoyance, "Where the hell is Takaishi?" he asked, "Cody, you and he live in the same building, do you have any idea where he is?"

Yolei and Cody quickly shook their heads no, far too quickly. "Okay that's it,"

Davis said, "I'm not that stupid. Where is he?" He glared at their nervous faces for a second, "You didn't? How could you let him do that?" A second later he leapt up and dashed out the door Demiveemon in tow.

"Davis, where are you going?" Yolei called after him.

"To get a plane ticket!" the goggle head replied.