Chapter 40 - Gaining Power
Deciding on taking the safer path first, I went to the person whose name I only vaguely remembered, as opposed to Jun.
I'll need the backup for that one.
BlackGuilmon trailing behind me like a loyal dog… er, dragon, we made our way to an upscale apartment. BlackGuilmon hid himself in the shadows while I was knocking on the door listed on the address. A girl who appeared to be a few years older than me answered the door, brown hair drawn into a bun on the back of her head. She looked at me quizzically.
"May I help you?"
I looked down at the sheet again.
"Are you Ms. Carmela Shultz?"
She paused.
"Yes…?"
I smiled and extended my hand.
"Takato Matsuki. This may sound a bit strange, but I was told you have a digimon?"
She blinked, then stuttered.
"W-What makes you think that?"
My turn to blink.
"BlackGuilmon…?"
He stepped calmly out of the shadows, and she drew in her breath sharply. Then there was a voice from inside.
"Carmela? What's wrong?"
Now why would Gomamon be… Oh. Right.
Now I remembered where I'd heard her name before.
"Gomamon!"
BlackGuilmon slammed into me, running into the apartment. I rolled over on her doorstep.
"Sorry. He does that sometimes…"
Then I heard yet another voice from inside.
"Back! Back foul dragon! THUNDER KOTE!"
Oh no…
I scrambled to my feet, past the shell-shocked Carmela, and into her living room. BlackGuilmon was cowering on the floor while a Kotemon was whacking him in the head with his sword, Gomamon laughing hysterically.
"Takatomon, help me!
"Kotemon, stop that!"
He looked up and past me, at the now recovered Carmela.
"But miss, it's a dragon! And a virus to boot! You need to be defended."
I groaned.
"The only things you have to defend from him are bread stores…"
Gomamon laughed.
"Yeah. He can put a dozen bakeries out of business before lunch."
I looked over at Carmela.
"Um, sorry about this…"
She smiled a little hesitantly, but motioned for me to sit down. She went into the kitchen, and came out with some glasses of water for us.
"May I ask what this is about?"
I sighed.
"Gomamon, you're not gonna like this either… Sora and Cody were kidnapped today."
Gomamon blanched.
"You mean… we're… it?"
"Well, almost."
I looked over at Carmela.
"We were kind of hoping that you might consider coming with us?"
She looked at me goggle eyed.
"Me?!"
"Well, Gomamon and I can't do it alone, and since the other person coming with us is Jun…"
Gomamon promptly sprayed the room with his water. I chuckled.
"Yeah, that was about my reaction."
She looked down for a moment.
"We're going to find Joe?"
"And the others, yes."
She nodded.
"Okay, I'll go."
Kotemon stepped up.
"And I will defend ye, miss."
I smiled as a glowing light appeared between them and became a small squarish digivice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was feeling quite pleased with myself as I dragged my latest catch into Murmuxmon's fortress. The mega digimon looked up from the table he was at as I entered the room.
"Hmmm. Got the last one there?"
"Of course. I don't understand why he won't just let me take out the Matsuki kid."
Murmuxmon looked down at me.
"I understand quite well. You are simply no match for him. He is from the southern quadrant as well."
I snorted.
"Oh come on. How much of a problem can he be if I warp Keramon?"
His eyes narrowed.
"Plenty. You simply don't have the strength to stand up to him. He'd feel you coming, and then decimate you."
"Humph. I still think I can take him."
"That is your opinion… and your mistake. Now, to other matters. Show me this one."
I grumbled a bit, but had Infermon dump the boy in front of him. He looked at him for a second, and then looked troubled. His face hardened, and he started barking orders.
"Put this one in isolation, and watch him. When he awakes, question him. I want a report on every aspect of him, no matter how trivial the detail."
I narrowed my eyes.
"Why?"
He sneered.
"The why is not for you to know. You do not need to understand these orders, you simply have to follow them. You may tell your master of this, I care not. He may ask me himself. Go."
When I made no move to comply, he snarled.
"NOW!"
I went.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I glanced around idly as we walked up the steps to Jun's house.
This will not be pleasant.
A glance behind me proved that everyone was still behind me. Carmela looked nervous, while Kotemon kept peering into dark alleys and looking at people suspiciously. BlackJyarimon was thankfully back in my hood, and Gomamon in Carmela's bag, which reminded me creepily of Joe's bag from the first season. I took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
Jun answered the door looking… strange. Even for her. She was dressed in camouflage gear, with a heavy backpack and a green beret.
"Uh…"
She smiled.
"So do I get to go on a mission now?"
My right eye twitched. There are times, I swear, that the only thing that keeps me from breaking down and crying in frustration is my pride. A Bearmon strode up beside her, also wearing a backpack.
Oh no…
I was afraid to ask, but had to anyways.
"Um, hi Jun. Uh, what's in the packs?"
Three seconds later, we were covered in miscellaneous camping gear, and food which was currently being mysteriously sucked into my hood.
"Kotemon, no!"
"But they tried to hurt you miss! I must defend you from the oddly shaped Garbagemon!"
A look behind me showed Carmela holding Kotemon back from attacking.
This is a nightmare.
"Well, Jun, I was planning on asking you to come with us, but, um, this is a bit much. We're not going camping after all."
She frowned.
"Matt's told me all about when he was in the digital world."
I groaned.
"Look, this isn't like then. We're going in less than a day. I'm pretty sure I know where they're being held. We don't need to bring all this. We're going to give you guys a few days training, and then we'll just go marching in. We'll have plenty of food where we're going."
She blinked.
"Oh. Sorry."
Carmela cleared her throat.
"Yes?"
"Are you sure that a few days training will be enough?"
"Yes. Absolutely. Most of the training any Digidestined gets is a sort of 'trial by fire' anyways. I'm just hoping to give you some idea of what you're doing before we go in."
And see if there are a few places I can conveniently use the catalyst too…
She narrowed her eyes.
"And then what?"
"We pray."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Why did this have to happen?
Mimi and Izzy were on their honeymoon when they were kidnapped.
Kidnapped!
I slammed my fist down on the table in frustration. Lou raised a calming hand.
"Calmly Maria. Let's settle down and talk about this…"
I gave him an incredulous look.
"Mimi's missing, and you want to sit here and talk?!"
"We can't do anything unless we decide-"
"What's there to decide?! We go in, find her, and kick the crap out of whatever creep is holding them hostage!"
Phil tried to calm me down, a little nervous.
"Now honey, we just-"
"Stuff it Phil!"
Lou let out a polite cough.
"Please. If you would let me finish, I was going to say that we have to decide where to begin looking for them. I had assumed that going after them was assumed."
I blushed and sat back down.
"Sorry."
He shrugged.
"You're worried. It's normal, but please try to keep it under control."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"BEAR FIST!"
Bearmon's fist thudded into Kotemon's blade, but Kotemon was knocked back, allowing Bearmon to follow through.
"BEAR ROLL!"
I winced as the somersaulting bear slammed into him, throwing him back. I looked down at him.
"Come on, Kotemon. This is important. I can't find Joe without you. And whether I like or not, that means we have to fight. Just remember that this is practice."
He nodded, and got up.
"Do not worry! I shall uphold your honor!"
I felt a little worried as he ran in against Bearmon. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Takato watching form our left.
"THUNDER KOTE!"
Kotemon's attack drew my attention back down to the field. Bearmon was twitching from the electricity, allowing Kotemon to get in a few hits with his sword. Then there was a beeping from Jun's digivice, as a glow engulfed Bearmon.
Digivolution_
Bearmon Digivolve to… Grizzmon!
Kotemon stood his ground. I had a bad feeling remembering his fight against Rhinomon.
"That shall not help you! HOT HEAD!"
His head glowed, and he was about to head butt Grizzmon, but Grizzmon was a bit too much.
"MAUL ATTACK!"
A massive paw swung out, sending Kotemon flying. He hit the ground hard.
"Kotemon! Are you alright?"
He nodded slowly, getting up.
"I am thankful for the concern, milady, but you should retreat until yon savage beast is dealt with."
He rolled to his feet again, a little shaky this time, but still ran forwards towards his enemy.
"FIREBALL!"
Kotemon swung his sword to deflect the unexpected attack, even as Grizzmon looked on surprised. The fireball flew right through his sword lighting both it and him on fire as he ran around in circles trying to put it out. Finally he jumped into the stream. He came out, his head glowing red hot.
"You… you… conniving…!"
Before I could stop him, he was rushing BlackGuilmon. I didn't know what Takato was doing either, but I didn't think he'd really try to kill us. He'd had plenty of other chances to do it if he wanted to.
Digivolution_
Kotemon Digivolve to… Yasyamon!
"DOUBLE STRIKE!"
Takato drew and swiped a card.
DIGI-MODIFY! Power Activate!
BlackGuilmon caught both swords easily. Kotemon raged.
"Unhand my weapons you demonic dragon!"
Takato smiled.
"Got you to digivolve, didn't it?"
Yasyamon blinked, then stopped struggling, and BlackGuilmon let his swords go.
"You mean…?"
I smiled and approached Yasyamon as Takato rolled his eyes and spoke.
"You were holding back because it was practice. That's not necessarily bad, but it doesn't force you to push your limits. Jun got Bearmon to digivolve because she was giving it her all. Even if it was practice."
Yasyamon nodded.
"I… I will remember that."
I put my hand on his shoulder, he was now about my height.
"I'll do my best too."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please be okay…
Sora was unconscious beneath me, and I was getting more than a little worried. She had yet to regain consciousness from when she was brought in.
That was yesterday.
"Is she going to be okay, Joe?"
I looked over to Tai.
"I'm not sure. I don't think it's a concussion, but I'm not too sure of anything right now."
I looked down at Sora carefully, examining her as I absently scratched at my shaggy beard. I had been brought in here more than three months ago, drunk out of my mind. I had had more than enough time for it to clear since then. I sighed as I let her eye slide shut again.
"Well, I don't think there's anything immediately wrong with her. Probably just knocked unconscious."
Tai nodded, and he gathered her head into his lap. He smiled at me then.
"It's good to see you again, Joe. I just wish the circumstances were better."
I smiled a little then too.
"Yeah. I… I think I needed it though."
When Tai looked at me worried, I hurried to correct myself.
"Not the drinking binge, that wasn't the smartest thing I've ever done, but the time alone… that I needed. At least I can get up in the morning now."
He nodded, and stroked Sora's head. We both smiled as she stirred, and I got up to leave them with some privacy.
Davis was curled up in a ball, snoring loudly as he slept in the predawn light. TK and Kari were asleep against each other, as were Ken and Yolie, and Izzy and Mimi. I smiled a little to myself.
I really wish I had been with it enough to make the wedding.
Matt was still awake though, and looking out the single barred window. He spoke without turning around.
"You scared us you know."
"I know."
"Look, just… don't do it again, okay?"
"I promise."
Matt flicked his hand up to his face and wiped away what looked suspiciously like a tear. I didn't press him on, just enjoying the sentiment. He'd deny it anyways.
Deciding on taking the safer path first, I went to the person whose name I only vaguely remembered, as opposed to Jun.
I'll need the backup for that one.
BlackGuilmon trailing behind me like a loyal dog… er, dragon, we made our way to an upscale apartment. BlackGuilmon hid himself in the shadows while I was knocking on the door listed on the address. A girl who appeared to be a few years older than me answered the door, brown hair drawn into a bun on the back of her head. She looked at me quizzically.
"May I help you?"
I looked down at the sheet again.
"Are you Ms. Carmela Shultz?"
She paused.
"Yes…?"
I smiled and extended my hand.
"Takato Matsuki. This may sound a bit strange, but I was told you have a digimon?"
She blinked, then stuttered.
"W-What makes you think that?"
My turn to blink.
"BlackGuilmon…?"
He stepped calmly out of the shadows, and she drew in her breath sharply. Then there was a voice from inside.
"Carmela? What's wrong?"
Now why would Gomamon be… Oh. Right.
Now I remembered where I'd heard her name before.
"Gomamon!"
BlackGuilmon slammed into me, running into the apartment. I rolled over on her doorstep.
"Sorry. He does that sometimes…"
Then I heard yet another voice from inside.
"Back! Back foul dragon! THUNDER KOTE!"
Oh no…
I scrambled to my feet, past the shell-shocked Carmela, and into her living room. BlackGuilmon was cowering on the floor while a Kotemon was whacking him in the head with his sword, Gomamon laughing hysterically.
"Takatomon, help me!
"Kotemon, stop that!"
He looked up and past me, at the now recovered Carmela.
"But miss, it's a dragon! And a virus to boot! You need to be defended."
I groaned.
"The only things you have to defend from him are bread stores…"
Gomamon laughed.
"Yeah. He can put a dozen bakeries out of business before lunch."
I looked over at Carmela.
"Um, sorry about this…"
She smiled a little hesitantly, but motioned for me to sit down. She went into the kitchen, and came out with some glasses of water for us.
"May I ask what this is about?"
I sighed.
"Gomamon, you're not gonna like this either… Sora and Cody were kidnapped today."
Gomamon blanched.
"You mean… we're… it?"
"Well, almost."
I looked over at Carmela.
"We were kind of hoping that you might consider coming with us?"
She looked at me goggle eyed.
"Me?!"
"Well, Gomamon and I can't do it alone, and since the other person coming with us is Jun…"
Gomamon promptly sprayed the room with his water. I chuckled.
"Yeah, that was about my reaction."
She looked down for a moment.
"We're going to find Joe?"
"And the others, yes."
She nodded.
"Okay, I'll go."
Kotemon stepped up.
"And I will defend ye, miss."
I smiled as a glowing light appeared between them and became a small squarish digivice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was feeling quite pleased with myself as I dragged my latest catch into Murmuxmon's fortress. The mega digimon looked up from the table he was at as I entered the room.
"Hmmm. Got the last one there?"
"Of course. I don't understand why he won't just let me take out the Matsuki kid."
Murmuxmon looked down at me.
"I understand quite well. You are simply no match for him. He is from the southern quadrant as well."
I snorted.
"Oh come on. How much of a problem can he be if I warp Keramon?"
His eyes narrowed.
"Plenty. You simply don't have the strength to stand up to him. He'd feel you coming, and then decimate you."
"Humph. I still think I can take him."
"That is your opinion… and your mistake. Now, to other matters. Show me this one."
I grumbled a bit, but had Infermon dump the boy in front of him. He looked at him for a second, and then looked troubled. His face hardened, and he started barking orders.
"Put this one in isolation, and watch him. When he awakes, question him. I want a report on every aspect of him, no matter how trivial the detail."
I narrowed my eyes.
"Why?"
He sneered.
"The why is not for you to know. You do not need to understand these orders, you simply have to follow them. You may tell your master of this, I care not. He may ask me himself. Go."
When I made no move to comply, he snarled.
"NOW!"
I went.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I glanced around idly as we walked up the steps to Jun's house.
This will not be pleasant.
A glance behind me proved that everyone was still behind me. Carmela looked nervous, while Kotemon kept peering into dark alleys and looking at people suspiciously. BlackJyarimon was thankfully back in my hood, and Gomamon in Carmela's bag, which reminded me creepily of Joe's bag from the first season. I took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
Jun answered the door looking… strange. Even for her. She was dressed in camouflage gear, with a heavy backpack and a green beret.
"Uh…"
She smiled.
"So do I get to go on a mission now?"
My right eye twitched. There are times, I swear, that the only thing that keeps me from breaking down and crying in frustration is my pride. A Bearmon strode up beside her, also wearing a backpack.
Oh no…
I was afraid to ask, but had to anyways.
"Um, hi Jun. Uh, what's in the packs?"
Three seconds later, we were covered in miscellaneous camping gear, and food which was currently being mysteriously sucked into my hood.
"Kotemon, no!"
"But they tried to hurt you miss! I must defend you from the oddly shaped Garbagemon!"
A look behind me showed Carmela holding Kotemon back from attacking.
This is a nightmare.
"Well, Jun, I was planning on asking you to come with us, but, um, this is a bit much. We're not going camping after all."
She frowned.
"Matt's told me all about when he was in the digital world."
I groaned.
"Look, this isn't like then. We're going in less than a day. I'm pretty sure I know where they're being held. We don't need to bring all this. We're going to give you guys a few days training, and then we'll just go marching in. We'll have plenty of food where we're going."
She blinked.
"Oh. Sorry."
Carmela cleared her throat.
"Yes?"
"Are you sure that a few days training will be enough?"
"Yes. Absolutely. Most of the training any Digidestined gets is a sort of 'trial by fire' anyways. I'm just hoping to give you some idea of what you're doing before we go in."
And see if there are a few places I can conveniently use the catalyst too…
She narrowed her eyes.
"And then what?"
"We pray."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Why did this have to happen?
Mimi and Izzy were on their honeymoon when they were kidnapped.
Kidnapped!
I slammed my fist down on the table in frustration. Lou raised a calming hand.
"Calmly Maria. Let's settle down and talk about this…"
I gave him an incredulous look.
"Mimi's missing, and you want to sit here and talk?!"
"We can't do anything unless we decide-"
"What's there to decide?! We go in, find her, and kick the crap out of whatever creep is holding them hostage!"
Phil tried to calm me down, a little nervous.
"Now honey, we just-"
"Stuff it Phil!"
Lou let out a polite cough.
"Please. If you would let me finish, I was going to say that we have to decide where to begin looking for them. I had assumed that going after them was assumed."
I blushed and sat back down.
"Sorry."
He shrugged.
"You're worried. It's normal, but please try to keep it under control."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"BEAR FIST!"
Bearmon's fist thudded into Kotemon's blade, but Kotemon was knocked back, allowing Bearmon to follow through.
"BEAR ROLL!"
I winced as the somersaulting bear slammed into him, throwing him back. I looked down at him.
"Come on, Kotemon. This is important. I can't find Joe without you. And whether I like or not, that means we have to fight. Just remember that this is practice."
He nodded, and got up.
"Do not worry! I shall uphold your honor!"
I felt a little worried as he ran in against Bearmon. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Takato watching form our left.
"THUNDER KOTE!"
Kotemon's attack drew my attention back down to the field. Bearmon was twitching from the electricity, allowing Kotemon to get in a few hits with his sword. Then there was a beeping from Jun's digivice, as a glow engulfed Bearmon.
Digivolution_
Bearmon Digivolve to… Grizzmon!
Kotemon stood his ground. I had a bad feeling remembering his fight against Rhinomon.
"That shall not help you! HOT HEAD!"
His head glowed, and he was about to head butt Grizzmon, but Grizzmon was a bit too much.
"MAUL ATTACK!"
A massive paw swung out, sending Kotemon flying. He hit the ground hard.
"Kotemon! Are you alright?"
He nodded slowly, getting up.
"I am thankful for the concern, milady, but you should retreat until yon savage beast is dealt with."
He rolled to his feet again, a little shaky this time, but still ran forwards towards his enemy.
"FIREBALL!"
Kotemon swung his sword to deflect the unexpected attack, even as Grizzmon looked on surprised. The fireball flew right through his sword lighting both it and him on fire as he ran around in circles trying to put it out. Finally he jumped into the stream. He came out, his head glowing red hot.
"You… you… conniving…!"
Before I could stop him, he was rushing BlackGuilmon. I didn't know what Takato was doing either, but I didn't think he'd really try to kill us. He'd had plenty of other chances to do it if he wanted to.
Digivolution_
Kotemon Digivolve to… Yasyamon!
"DOUBLE STRIKE!"
Takato drew and swiped a card.
DIGI-MODIFY! Power Activate!
BlackGuilmon caught both swords easily. Kotemon raged.
"Unhand my weapons you demonic dragon!"
Takato smiled.
"Got you to digivolve, didn't it?"
Yasyamon blinked, then stopped struggling, and BlackGuilmon let his swords go.
"You mean…?"
I smiled and approached Yasyamon as Takato rolled his eyes and spoke.
"You were holding back because it was practice. That's not necessarily bad, but it doesn't force you to push your limits. Jun got Bearmon to digivolve because she was giving it her all. Even if it was practice."
Yasyamon nodded.
"I… I will remember that."
I put my hand on his shoulder, he was now about my height.
"I'll do my best too."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please be okay…
Sora was unconscious beneath me, and I was getting more than a little worried. She had yet to regain consciousness from when she was brought in.
That was yesterday.
"Is she going to be okay, Joe?"
I looked over to Tai.
"I'm not sure. I don't think it's a concussion, but I'm not too sure of anything right now."
I looked down at Sora carefully, examining her as I absently scratched at my shaggy beard. I had been brought in here more than three months ago, drunk out of my mind. I had had more than enough time for it to clear since then. I sighed as I let her eye slide shut again.
"Well, I don't think there's anything immediately wrong with her. Probably just knocked unconscious."
Tai nodded, and he gathered her head into his lap. He smiled at me then.
"It's good to see you again, Joe. I just wish the circumstances were better."
I smiled a little then too.
"Yeah. I… I think I needed it though."
When Tai looked at me worried, I hurried to correct myself.
"Not the drinking binge, that wasn't the smartest thing I've ever done, but the time alone… that I needed. At least I can get up in the morning now."
He nodded, and stroked Sora's head. We both smiled as she stirred, and I got up to leave them with some privacy.
Davis was curled up in a ball, snoring loudly as he slept in the predawn light. TK and Kari were asleep against each other, as were Ken and Yolie, and Izzy and Mimi. I smiled a little to myself.
I really wish I had been with it enough to make the wedding.
Matt was still awake though, and looking out the single barred window. He spoke without turning around.
"You scared us you know."
"I know."
"Look, just… don't do it again, okay?"
"I promise."
Matt flicked his hand up to his face and wiped away what looked suspiciously like a tear. I didn't press him on, just enjoying the sentiment. He'd deny it anyways.