Davis' friends tried to cheer him up and it seemed to have work. However, whenever something good happens, something bad happens. The mysterious Marinda showed herself and pulled out a gun to shoot at Davis. She took the shot and aimed to kill Davis with the sound going off, but he was saved. At the last moment, Fria stepped in and used the A.I.C. to block the bullet.

"Fria!" Davis said.

"Damn you. How dare you attack him." Fria said.

"You should have stayed out of this. You might have lived longer." Marinda said.

"Davis, who is this savage?" Fria asked.

"I really don't know, but her voice does sound familiar." Davis said.

"So you wish to do this the hard way and not die quickly? Very well." Marinda said as she held up her metal glove and it shined with her I.S. coming out and it revealed to be Tartarus unit.

"Tartarus!" Fria said.

"That's why she sounded familiar. She was the pilot that day at the tournament." Davis said. Marinda powered up her cannons and fired them. Fria tried to block the attack, but it had some power to it.

"Fria, lookout!" Veemon shouted. Marinda pulled out her sword-like weapon and tried to smash her, but Fria jumped back and avoided the attack. Marinda was about to attack again, but she just received a message.

"Very well." Marinda said and ended the message and flew in the air. "I'll just deal with you next time. Though you should vow this warning. Stay out of the way."

"You're not going anywhere." Davis said.

"He's right. You're coming with us for interrogation." Fria said, but Marinda wasn't listening. She fired her cannons again, but Fria blocked it again. When the smoke cleared away, she was nowhere in sight. "She got away."

"That was nuts. Fria, are you okay?" Davis asked.

"That is what I should be asking you." Fria said.

"She was aiming right at you, Davis. Are you sure you're not hurt?" Veemon asked.

"I'm fine. Thanks for the save Fria." Davis said.

"Yeah. Your timing was actually perfect." Veemon said.

"A little too perfect. How did you know I was going to be attack?" Davis asked and Fria got nervous with her face turning red.

"Well….I may or may not have been following you so I could find a moment to be alone with you." Fria said.

"What?" Davis said as he got closer to her face and Fria was getting a little more nervous. Then, Davis made a curious face as he looked right at her.

"What? What is it?" Fria said.

"Your eyes. I never noticed how blue your eyes are." Davis said.

"Is that a problem?" Fria asked.

"No. Blue's actually my favorite color. Your eyes are like two sapphire gems." Davis said.

"My eyes are like two gems? It's also your favorite color." Fria said. She's never felt so emotional before and wasn't handling it all that well as she smacked him across the face and knocked him down. She felt embarrassed after that.

"What was that for?" Davis said through the pain.

….

Marinda

Marinda retreated back to her little base because the message that was sent to her was by Lineer. Marinda entered the base and was faced with Lineer who was helping herself to some wine.

"Why did you call me back? I had the boy right where I wanted him." Marinda said.

"Why did you go after him in the first place?" Lineer said. "I don't remember saying that was okay. Is this about our last talk? I didn't mean to give you the wrong idea. I just find the two interesting."

"Ooh! Marinda sounds like she's in trouble." Harina said as she played around.

"I would ask if there's ever a time you're not a child, but I know you too well." Marinda said with some annoyance.

"Aw! Thanks." Harina said, but realized what Marinda just said and began to rethink that.

"I'm sorry, Marinda. I didn't mean to scare you or give you the wrong idea about those boys." Lineer said.

"I wasn't scared. I just believe that all threats must be eliminated no matter how big or small they must be." Marinda said. "After I was done with Motomiya, I was going to go after Orimura next."

"They really aren't any different than any other pilot in that academy." Lineer said. "Do you really think anyone in that academy is a threat to us?"

"Of course not. They don't know the true potential of the I.S. units." Marinda said. "They see it as some form of game in competition."

"There you go." Lineer said. "My master plan is near completion. If you really want a threat to eliminate, there is him. He is aware of my plans and his vast knowledge could be a problem to us."

"He's just one guy. How much damage could he really do?" Harina asked.

"Careful, Harina." Marinda said. "If one has the right power, one person could actually defeat an entire army. This one man is aware of Lineer's plan and as long as he's out there, he is a problem. One misplaced piece could cause an entire building to come down. How long do we have before all that you worked for comes to fruition?"

"Not long actually. We just have about another day or two to go." Lineer said. "In the meantime, you two should try to find our little problem since Marinda believes all threats should be eliminated. I should hold a toast to Tabune Shinonono, who to which it wouldn't be possible." She took a sip of her wine as she savored what could be a near triumph for her. "Soon, the entire world will have everlasting peace."

….

The Next Day

"What?! Davis was attacked last night?" Serene said. Class was starting up soon, but Fria just told the girls what happened the other night.

"Da. It was the pilot of the I.S. known as Tartarus." Fria said. "He is lucky I showed up in time or else he would have a bullet right through him."

"Morning." Davis said, but the moment he walked in was when the other three went right over to him.

"Davis, are you okay?" Serene said.

"Fria just told us what happened." Sierra said.

"Why did that mysterious pilot attacked you?" Lita said.

"Calm down. Let me explain." Davis said. "Her name was Marinda, but I have no idea why she attacked me. She just showed up and tried to kill me. Good thing Fria showed up and saved me or I could be dead." Fria acted a little smug, but the rest of them weren't just going to sit around quietly about this.

"Well, you don't need to worry because I'll watch your back." Sierra said.

"You? He requires a more skillful sniper and that's where I come in." Serene said.

"No way. He doesn't need a sniper. He needs a melee fighter like me." Lita said.

"Uh…I'm not helpless you know. I can take care of myself. She just surprised me was all since I didn't know who she was." Davis said. "I will say this much about her. Back when I tried to fight her and just last night, I got this strange feeling from her. I don't know what it was, but I do know this. Whoever this Marinda is….she means business." Davis couldn't shake it off, but there was something about Marinda and he couldn't really explain it. All he knew was that he needed to keep his guard up the next time they face each other.

"By the way, how are you doing?" Serene asked. "After last night, how are you feeling about this whole thing with your parents?" That was a serious question to be asking Davis even after what's been going on.

"Um…." Davis tried to think of what to say.

"Ok. Sit down and keep your mouths shut." Chifuyu said and Maya entered the room. "Before we begin today, I want to remind you all of a special event tomorrow. Miss Yamada, would you?"

"Of course." Maya said. "Tomorrow is when we will have special visitor. Someone who is high up in the I.S. corporation franchise. We'll be gathering with around in the arena for this meeting. Now for today's lesson." As they were busy teaching a class, Serene was a little distracted. She kept her eyes on Davis.

'Davis didn't answer my question.' Serene thought. 'I wonder if he's still hurting about the whole thing. Perhaps we should have done more than just try please him last night.' Serene felt so bad for him and wants nothing more than to make Davis happy again.

…..

Serene

When Serene was free, she looked around her room. She was trying to find something that she could use to help Davis out, but she wasn't having any luck.

"Blast it. There must be something I can use to cheer Davis up if he's still upset." Serene said as she dug around the drawer. She soon came across a photo in there and if it was of a man and a woman with blonde hair that looked similar to Serene. Serene saw that with some sadness in her eyes. "I suppose I can relate to him in a way. Maybe that's how I can help him."

….

Davis

Davis stepped outside to clear his head when class was over. He just needed a quiet place to think. He hang over a railing on the rooftops and looked up to the sky.

"Davis?" Davis turned around and was met with Serene coming up to him.

"Hey, Serene." Davis said.

"I'm sorry. I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" Serene asked.

"You're fine. I just needed some time to think." Davis said as Serene walked over and stood next to him.

"You didn't really answer my question from before." Serene said. "Are you doing okay with this whole thing about your parents?"

"I don't know." Davis said as he started to get a little depressed again. "This isn't really something you can just blow off like having a bad day. They lied to me all this timed. I always thought they were my real parents, but they weren't. Now I don't even know who my parents are or if they're even alive since I was found by a car accident."

"Do your friends back home know?" Serene asked.

"Yeah. Veemon told them." Davis said. "I was so busying moping in my bed that I didn't notice they all have been sending me messages. They're all pretty worried about me themselves. I have some from my fake parents, but I don't want to hear from them."

"Davis, you can't stay mad at them?" Serene said.

"Why not?" Davis said. "I don't really plan on seeing them or forgiving them anytime soon."

"Yes, they were wrong and probably should have told you the truth before." Serene said. "Still, they raised you like you were their actual son. They love you like any parent would love a child."

"Maybe, but I don't know if I can get over this. You wouldn't really understand. I'm not sure anyone does." Davis said.

"Don't say that." Serene said. "You're making it sound like you're all alone and you're not. I thought that was clear the other night. Though, I suppose that little contest wasn't enough."

"No. It's not that." Davis said. "I really appreciate what you guys did and it was actually a little fun. It's just that you guys don't know it's like for me now. Ichika told me once that his parents abandoned him and Chifuyu and he doesn't want to see them again, but that's not the same. Lita's parents are dead and she doesn't know them, but she didn't have people that pretend to be her real parents."

"Davis, in a way they can relate to you." Serene said.

"How would you know?" Davis asked and this next part was a little hard for her to say, but she said it for Davis.

"It's because I'm similar to Lita." Serene said.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Davis said.

"I lost my parents as well." Serene said with a downcast look and Davis was surprised.

"You did? When?" Davis said.

"I haven't told anyone about this before. It happened when I was just a little girl." Serene said. "I was a pretty happy child with my parents in a wealthy home. They always found a way to spend some time with me despite how busy they were."

"Wait. Wealthy? You mean….you're rich?!" Davis said. Serene nodded her head and that was certainly a surprise for Davis. "No way! So what happened?"

"It all took place when I was about five." Serene said as that day reshaped her life.

….

Flashback

'My father was a respected man, but he received this phone call one day.' Serene narrated.

"I will not hear any more of this. If you make a threat like that again, you are the one who will be in a lot of trouble." Her father said and slammed the phone down as he ended the call. His wife tried to comfort him, but he noticed Serene hiding behind a door.

'I don't know what it was about, but I believed someone threatened his life or my mother and myself. When I was around, he always acted like nothing was wrong.' Serene narrated. Her father held out his arms and she ran right into them with all three of them looking so happy.

End of Flashback

…

"He sounds like he was a good guy." Davis said.

"He was. Which is why I don't understand why it happened?" Serene said.

"What happened?" Davis asked, but Serene held her hands near her heart and was starting to tremble. "Serene, if you don't want to talk about it, don't force yourself."

"No. I will if it will help." Serene said. "There were some people that were after our money, all our family fortune. So they decided to get rid of both my parents."

"You mean they killed them?" Davis said.

"Yes." Serene forcefully said. It was the most painful memory of her life. "It took a lot so that I wouldn't lose my home. When the I.S. was developed, simply put, the government agreed to protect all of it so I wouldn't lose anything if I became a representative contender. Ever since I lost my parents, I had to do a lot of growing up."

"Serene, I'm so sorry. You probably didn't even want to be a part of all this." Davis said.

"You don't need to worry about that. I'm fine because I got to meet you because of it." Serene said. "My point is that I understand, Davis. I loved both of my parents and I was so hurt when I lost them. That's how you're feeling, isn't it? I just want you to know that I do have an idea of what it's like and I'm here for you about this." Davis thought about what she just said and that meant a lot to Davis.

"Thanks, Serene." Davis said and he pleasantly surprised her with him hugging her. Serene's face was turning red almost instantly. "Thanks for sharing that with me. It's nice knowing there are people that care about me and people who understand my pain."

"Of course." Serene said as she was glad she could help him and returned the hug. 'I haven't felt this kind of warmth or comfort in a long time.' Their moment was interrupted as they both received an audio message.

"This doesn't sound good. We better get going." Davis said as he went on ahead and Serene following.

…

Chifuyu

Chifuyu called for everyone that had their own personal units and they all gathered in a meeting room.

"Davis, there you are." Kanzashi said.

"Ichika just told us about your parents. You holding up okay?" Tatenashi said. Davis gave off his genuine smile and that was a good sign for everyone as he told them he was.

"Everyone's here. Good." Chifuyu said as she and Maya were starting this meeting. "I've got a mission for all of you. We've found them." They showed visual images of Marinda and Harina flying through the air in their units

"It's them! Harina and Marinda!" Davis said.

"Yes. They've recently been spotted and are heading towards Osaka." Chifuyu said. "The government is asking for our help to apprehend them. What they're after, that hasn't been made clear yet."

"So you need us to catch them?" Lita said.

"Yes. I know this will be the first real mission for a lot of you, but that's what happens when you have your own personal unit." Chifuyu said.

"Sounds like fun to me!" Davis declared and all turned to them. "I don't know what's going on with those two, but I get that they've got to be stopped and I am so in." Davis appears to be back to his old self and he's ready for anything now.

….

Davis: Oh yeah! I'm back and I'm ready for action. That's just what I need and that's what's going to happen. Marinda and Harina are after something in Osaka and they don't seem to care what gets in their way. They're destroying everything to find it. Marinda is the one I'm the most worried about, but I'll be ready for her. She's got some skills, but I'm not going down.

Next time: The Dragon vs. The Demon

My first mission, but it might already be my last at the rate I'm going.