Chapter 14: 4-1-1
I'm in the grand-foyer of my school. The stairs are across from me, the library doors to my left, the hallways to my right. I was alone. From the hallway I saw a man I didn't know coming towards me. I couldn't make out his face no matter how I tried. He was being chased by a another, I hesitate to say, person. It was covered in shadow. It was very tall, and it looked like it had either a knife or a clawed hand. However it was also lithe and thin. The man came to me and whispered "Help me, Help." Then yelled "Help Me!"
Suddenly the monster was behind him. I looked into his face for a split second before he brought down his hand and destroyed the man literally, he was gone. And now I was alone with it, in the dark hall. His face was largely in shadow, but I could make out glasses, and a very familiar toothless grin.
I woke up. Herpetomon was over me, shaking me awake.
"Oh man, I just had the weirdest dream." I said.
"You too?" Herpetomon said
"Ok, that's weird, you first." I said.
"Mine was pretty short. I was in a building I've never seen before, there were people everywhere. The bad part is, I slaughtered one of them. Out of the blue, I couldn't stop it. It was worse than alert mode. I don't understand it. So, how about you?" Herpetomon explained.
"Mine started in my school. This guy ran up to me, asking for help, he was being chased by this tall shadowy thing. I couldn't do anything, then the shadowy guy killed the other guy right in front of me. Then I saw his face. He wore glasses and he smiled at me. The thing that really worried me was he looked a lot like me. Symbolism much?" I said. Trying to lighten things up. "Both our dreams involved killing. Us killing other people, that's not good. I think this was just a coincidence though, nothing to worry about. Let's just forget about it."
"Yeah, no problem." Herpetomon responded. It was pretty awkward so I got up and went to have breakfast. While I was eating mom came down.
"Hey Brend, K says she's coming over later." Mom said.
"Random, but Ok." I said, then I remembered Gotsumon would be with her, that could be fun. I finished the cereal up quickly to tell Herpetomon. Put my stuff in the dishwasher and went back to my room. Herpetomon was tracing the designs on his body.
"Uhh, yeah, Kayla and Gotsumon are coming over soon." I said.
"Oh cool," He said. So we hung out for a while, talking, until we heard the car pull in. I left Herpetomon in my room and then K came to the front door. She had her backpack with her, which I assumed she was using to carry Gotsumon again. Mom let her in. There was the usual exchange of "Hi, how's it going, how's your mom, etc." When everything was through Kay came into the den and I shut the door.
"So what's up? Why did you want to come over?" I said as I went to let Herpetomon out. The den is connected to my room and the kitchen, I shut the kitchen door so is t was ok to let him out.
" I just felt like hanging with my cuz, son. Plus I needed to get Gotsumon out of the house, my mom's having a few friends over." K explained. Herpetomon came over and let Gotsumon out.
"Aww, I hate having to be in the bag, I wish I could just walk around." Gotsumon said.
"Well, hold on." I said "Let's go down to the basement, I'd feel much safer there." We put Gotsumon back in the bag, Herpetomon went back to my room, then K and I went to the basement.
"What are you guys doing?" Mom asked "Why're you going to the basement?"
"Nothing, geez." K said. As we were going down the stairs K asked "Is she always like that?"
"Pretty much." I said. When we got to the basement we let Gotsumon out, he ran into the next room and jumped on the couch. Then I went to the bulkhead and opened it so Herpetomon could jump down and come in. Soon after, he did. He joined Gotsumon and Kayla on the couch. I sat across from them, until I saw Herpetomon who was giving me the 'feed me' look. A strange expression that expresses hope, wanting, and sorrow all at the same time.
"Ok, I'm going to get some food. Try to keep the noise down, you guys are out of control!" I said, joking. I ran upstairs and grabbed some food. Blueberries for Herpetomon, crackers for K, I had no idea what Gotsumon might eat so I grabbed some Funyons. Went back downstairs, ignored whatever mom may have said, and gave out the food. I enjoyed the Blueberries with Herpetomon who was regret to lay his hands off them. It was cool for a while were all just sitting down there, watching TV. Herpetomon and I gentleman and mon-like gave up the blanket to Kayla and Gotsumon, who technically should've given it up, but who knows. I can't tell with Gotsumon, he's a pretty funny little guy, I like him. He's the smallest of the Digimon, but he tries hard.
It was glorious, "The Price is Right" came on and we guessed the prices. It sounds very lame, but it was nice, just laughing and relaxing. Our Digimon and us.
"Oh come on, 501$ for a set of kitchen ware! No way! That's rediculous." Said Herpetomon.
"Pffft, like you know any better." Said Gotsumon. We all laughed.
"Heha ha, you're such a moron." Kayla said to Herpetomon.
"Ouch, harsh." I said, the laughing continued. Herpetomon was looking strange.
"Ohh, no, not now." He said, clearly a Digimon was on it's way. He was up like a shot.
"Kayla, a Digimon is coming." Gotsumon said, turning to K. He too got up.
"Oh great, and we were just starting to have fun, Fine. Herpetomon take to the roofs, check things out, but please, please don't start fighting 'till we get there. Please just try to resist." I said. He looked me in the eyes and nodded, somehow I felt he meant it this time. "Good, now K…" I was about to tell her to put Gotsumon back in the bag, but she already had, she was catching on. "Good, now let's go."
I led out the bulkhead. And up to the door. "Hey mom, we're going for a walk." I yelled into the kitchen.
"Alright, bye." She responded. Clear. We began running down the street to the right. I could see on the houses Herpetomon was just ahead of us. We were being led by the D-Gadgets down the street adjacent to my house. We were a little late, I could see Nick, Fatomon, and Herpetomon waiting for us in the lot outside the factory where Herpetomon and I first fought Gazimon.
"Hey, sorry we're late." K said.
"No, you're not late, the party is just beginning." Said Fatomon.
Sure enough the Digital Field popped up. I had a decidedly bad feeling about this fight. Foreboding, portentous. There was little waiting this time, the display popped up.
"Frigimon, Damn, as if it weren't cold enough. Champion, vaccine, his attack is subzero ice punch." Kayla explained.
"Ok, Herpetomon let's do it up right this time. Digivolve!"
:Digivolution Activate:
"Herpetomon digivolve too…!"
"…Skymon."
It's been a while since I've seen him. Larger version of Herpetomon, wears blue pants, and has extended patterns on his body, also has a new finger, giving him 4 counting the thumb.
"You too Fatomon." Nick said.
"Right."
:Digivolution Activate:
"Fatomon digivolve too…!"
"…Castimon."
The field began to disappear and Frigimon was exposed. Nick and I had our Champions and Kayla had Gotsumon. The fight began
"Subzero Ice Punch!" Frigimon yelled. He punched at Castimon who happened to be closest to him. He was hit on the shoulder, causing a thick frost to grow on his left arm's armor. Castimon drew his long sword and went on the offensive slashing and hacking at Frigimon. He wasn't causing much damage, it was like Frigimon was made of snow, the slashes were being filled in as he made them. He continued to slash while Skymon made his move he ran up behind it and began slashing as well. Still no affect. Gotsumon joined in too. Frigimon was standing boldly, taking it all easily.
"Wait, stop, you're wasting your energy." I yelled. As soon as they stopped attacking Frigimon attacked. "Subzero Ice Punch." He went for Skymon this time, He tried and uppercut, but Skymon swiftly dodged it, but didn't see the other fist. The other wasn't the subzero punch, but it still hit him square in the chest.
"Thousand Stabs." Castimon called, he began driving his sword in and out, faster, faster, furiously. Despite the cold his blade was glowing red. I think we were all hoping the heat from his blade would melt him or something, but nothing. In the middle of his attack Frigimon turned on him and gave him a subzero Ice Punch to the face. Luckily Castimon had that form-fitting helmet, because it quickly became covered in ice. While Castimon fixed himself up Frigimon gave him another blow, sending him to the ground. Meanwhile Skymon had gotten back on his feet. "Lizard Claw" He yelled and shot the green beam from his hands into Frigimon. The beam seamed to melt right through him. Shooting through and hitting the street on the other side.
"Skymon, you can't use that, you might damage the area, please stop." I yelled. He looked down at me for a second and turned just to see Frigimon's fist crack into his face. He was down too, leaving Gotsumon and the rest of us. I ran to Skymon, Nick to Castimon. We tried as best as we could, but they couldn't seem to move. I assumed mild paralysis. Gotsumon was trying to fight, but he was having the same problem the others were. He tried to lift up Frigimon and drop him to the ground, but Frigimon just went through his hands. He tried using Boulder Burst, but his chunk of ground would just get caught in Frigimon side. Frigimon advanced on Kayla, Gotsumon stood between them, arms spread.
"No, stop, I won't let you hurt her! Stay back!" Gotsumon yelled.
"Gotsumon, can you digivolve like the others?" Kayla asked. Gotsumon turned his head to look back at her.
"I think so, but I don't know how." He responded.
"Please Gotsumon, do it, for me." She pleaded. When she said this Frigimon called "Subzero Ice Punch."
"Nooooo."
:Digivolution Activate:
"Gotsumon Digivolve too…!"
Gotsumon was covered in a brilliant white light, it converged around him and changed his color from gray to white.
"Icemon!"
Frigimon was thrown back from the arrival of our final Champion. Kayla was unscathed and looking up at our new champion. It looked almost exactly like Gotsumon only Icemon is pure white. While Frigimon recovered Icemon bent over and picked up the remnants of his boulder attack. He threw them with an even stronger force than normal and displaced some snow from Frigimon. Frigimon had fallen over from the burst. Icemon took the initiative "Ice Bomb." He jumped up in the air and his each of his hands was covered with some kind of snowy particles, then he threw them together which created a huge ball of mixed ice and rock. Icemon threw this huge projectile as he was landing. Not only did it hit Frigimon with tremendous force, but I also noticed it began to freeze him slowly, he began to move slower and slower until he was frozen solid. Not necessarily covered in ice, but Icemon's ball must've frozen him up. While he was incapacitated Icemon took up another boulder and hurled it at Frigimon cracking him up and releasing his data. Icemon absorbed it, and we were victorious. Kayla walked over too him.
"That was great, you were so strong!" She said.
"Really? Did I do good?" He asked.
"Yeah, you owned." She said. Gotsumon just smiled like he does. Skymon and Castimon had recovered enough to stand, when they did we instructed them to change back to their much more convenient rookie forms, which they did promptly.
Near the factory was a small inlet of trees and grass that I'd never noticed until I saw it while we were fighting. Rather than going home so soon we hung out around there. There was an opening that was covered by bushes and shrubs, and it used 3 of the factory walls, I was disappointed I'd never found it before. It was pretty much the perfect meeting place. We all sat around. I sat on a box near the farthest wall from the entrance, Herpetomon next to me. Nick sat next to the right wall, Fatomon leaned on it next to him. Kayla and Icemon examining the place. I'd been thinking, about Nick and I, and when I think of all the time we spent together, fighting seems kind of stupid. As angry as I was it just doesn't matter anymore.
"Hey, Nick." I said quietly, I was never really used to the whole idea of apologizing. "Sorry, about the other day. I really shouldn't have gotten so mad." Everyone looked at me.
"Yeah, it's ok, now that I think of it, it was kind of stupid of me." He responded.
"Cool, but what I don't believe is that we had another fight already. I got into one yesterday, and there was Devimon the day before. It's crazy how many Digimon are coming through lately. I wish we had some answers. Where are the Sovereign when you need them?" I asked.
"Right here." A voice said from nowhere. We looked around but there was no one there. Suddenly some kind of portal opened up in the middle of the 'room' It was a spinning circle with a glowing center. A form rose out of it. It was obviously a Digimon. Clad in pearl white armor, wielding a long staff, and bearing two angelic wings. This could only be Protagamon.
"It's Protagamon!" Herpetomon and Fatomon said together. She had appeared fully and had a dire look on her mouth, the rest of her face was covered by a visor.
"Tamers! I trust Herpetomon gave you my message from the Sovereign." She said.
"Yes, he did." I responded for the group, who had moved behind Herpetomon and I.
"Good, thank you Herpetomon." she said, Herpetomon smiled "Unfortunately I come bearing very bad news. I'm sure you know about the Digital world. It is another dimension directly connected to this one. The Sovereign are essentially a governing body in the Digital world. There are four of them, each for the polar directions. I am part of the D-Corps, we work with and for the Sovereign to protect the Digital world. Recently there was an attack on a small town in the Digital World. It was made by a group of unusually strong Digimon working under someone they called 'Alice-M.' since then there have been several attacks and the group has been growing rapidly. The Sovereign request your presence in the digital world to help deal with this threat."
"You request our presence do deal with this? I'm not sure about the situation, but I feel like we should. What do you guys think?" I said.
"I'll obviously go with you wherever you go." Herpetomon said "But I'm up for it."
"Yeah, we can save the Digital world!" Nick said.
"Very good, I'll go too." Fatomon said
"Won't we be gone for a while?" K asked
"To be honest I don't know how long it would take at least a week, probably more." Protagamon explained. "This would mean that you'd have to tell your parents about your situation."
"Well, Yeah, I'll go, I'll have Icemon and the rest of you guys with me. So how do we get to the Digital world?" K asked.
"The Sovereign have granted me limited abilities to create portals to and from the Digital world, similar to the one I just came through. I can create one tomorrow at…8:30 in the morning. That is the only time I'll be able to keep one open, and it won't be open for long. I need you to be here tomorrow at 8:30 in the morning, ready and prepared. You won't need to bring food. Just be here." Protagamon explained.
"Oh, Protagamon. I have a friend who may want to come with us tomorrow. He hopes to find his own Digimon, would this be Ok?" I asked, referring to Matt.
"Yes, as long as you think he can handle it I don't mind." She answered. "Now, I must return to my Sovereign, don't forget. You must be here tomorrow at 8:30 in the morning ready to go." When she said this she called up another portal below her and she sunk into it and left us alone. Things were serious and quiet for a while.
"So, I think we should be getting home now. We have a lot to do. We need to tell our parents about the Digimon, that we have to go, and packing and other stuff. This is going to be so exciting, but it will also be more challenging than anything we've done before. But now we have purpose, we aren't just stopping the random evil Digimon anymore, we're united in an effort to stop a true villain. So go, get ready and remember, back here, tomorrow, 8: 30." I felt proud saying this, considering I'm such a bad speaker. The others seemed to be pretty inspired by it though. We said our good byes to Nick who left with Fatomon towards his house. As K, our Digimon, and I were leaving I saw a familiar car go by, Lyons. I wondered if he saw us, but I wasn't worried about that now. We were leaving tomorrow no matter what.
Gotsumon was back in the bag and I kept Herpetomon secret for now. K and I went to my mom and said K had to go home to work on a project. So K's mom came and picked her up soon after and I was alone for the moment. It was just me, I had a job to do. I needed to tell my parents what was going on. And our adventure would start. It seemed so sudden, I didn't think we'd be thrust into the middle of something so soon, but, here I am…here, we are.