Tai growled as he was thrown to the ground by a blast. He rolled over and stood. "Come on metalgreymon!"
He and Matt had tried to get their partners to warp digivolve but nothing happened. Tai saw Mimi on her knees and quickly went to help his friend.
"Lillymon! No!" Tai looked up as Mimi cried out to her partner. Lillymon was struck in the chest and was about to fall to the ground.
"Weregarurumon!" Matt yelled and his digimon was quick to change directions and catch the falling digimon. Lillymon de-digivolved to tanemon and Mimi ran to retrieve her partner.
"Tanemon? You okay?" Tanemon groaned. Tai looked back to his own partner and could see metalgreymon was struggling. He watched the four digimon attacking his own and was frustrated seeing they were overpowering him. Tai opened his mouth to call to Matt but stopped. What would he say? He couldn't think straight. They were losing and he wasn't sure what else they could do. Tai closed his eyes and his shoulders shook.
"Ah! Metalgreymon! Matt! Fall back!" Tai yelled.
"What?!" Matt exclaimed and Tai squared off to his friend to explain.
"Were losing Matt! Tanemon needs a rest and it's only a matter of time before Metalgreymon and Weregarurumon get tired out! We need to regroup! There are more digimon coming through the distortions!" Tai could see Matt's lips purse but was grateful his friend kept them shut.
"Weregarurumon!" Matt shouted,
"Fall back!" Tai let out a breath and prepared for metalgreymon to retreat.
"Tai, what do we do now? Those digimon will just attack us!" Mimi stepped next to Tai. He looked at her and shook his head,
"I don't think they will. I don't know why but they seem to be trying to get some where. I think once we pull back, they'll move along." Tai could see Mimi hold Tanemon closer to herself,
"But what if they hurt people Tai! We need to stop them!" Tai knew Mimi was right and wished he could do something. He clenched his hands and looked to Matt who was watching the two of them.
"Tai's right Meem's, we can't do anything right now. We need to go to the others." Mimi huffed but stayed quiet. Tai nodded at Matt who then turned to face his digimon.
"Gabumon?!" Tai looked seeing Gabumon on the ground. He then saw Agumon next to him.
"What the-" he stopped and looked up. The distortion was huge now. A datamon stared down at Tai. Tai felt his world slow down as he looked up at the digimon. The datamon, Tai thought, was going to start attacking him. But then, it flew away taking the other digimon from the distortion with it. Tai kept his eyes to the sky,
"See, I told you they'd move on." He mumbled speaking to no one in particular. He felt a hand on his shoulder,
"You okay Tai?" Tai could hear Matt but his friend sounded far away. Tai slowly moved his eyes to look at his partner.
"Lets move." He said and he went and lifted Agumon into his arms. He wasn't sure if Matt and Mimi were following and he didn't care. Something inside Tai had snapped and he was determined to find answers. He walked briskly towards the convention centre paying no attention to his surroundings. He was far into his thoughts. He knew who he had to talk to. There were missing pieces and he figured out who they belonged to. Mei, her partner and her father, Mr. Nisijima and how he knows about the digimon, and finally, Maki Himekawa. He wanted to know who she was and what her connection to them and the digital world was. He rounded the corner and paused taking in the area. Sora and Mei were standing together while the rest of the digidestined were sitting on the ground surrounded by their exhausted partners.
"Tai!" Sora exclaimed and she jogged over to him. Tai stopped as Sora approached him and looked past her.
"What happened?" Sora looked at the ground.
"The Gennai and Cherrymon were here. They attacked the convention centre." Sora explained. Tai heard Matt and Mimi stand on either side of him. Sora continued.
"Kari was in there, she and TK made it out but not before Ophanimon attacked." Tai squinted,
"Who's that?" He asked,
"It's gatomon." Tai shuffled to see Kari standing staring at him. He heard her but didn't register her words. He wanted to check her over. He placed Agumon on the ground and walked over to his sister. He then forcefully wrapped his arms around her and held her. She was tense but Tai didn't let go.
"You okay?" He asked and he felt her nod her head against his shoulder. He then released her and looked her over. She inhaled and kept her gaze down.
"Sorry about your shirt." She whispered and Tai furrowed his brow,
"My what?" He looked down and noticed a small stain of blood on the right side of his shirt. He then snapped his head up to Kari who's nose was running. He stepped forward again but Kari swatted him away with her hand.
"Don't bother." She mumbled and then she turned and walked towards the group of tired digimon. Tai was dumbstruck watching his sister. He didn't understand her actions and was unsure whether to be annoyed or concerned.
"Leave her alone Tai. Gatomon's been tainted and is attacking us and the city. She thinks it's her fault." Sora informed the leader. Tai sighed and looked at Izzy who was staring at the building thoughtfully.
"You okay Iz?" Izzy shook his head.
"Something's missing. I can't figure out what the gain is with cherrymon. I also can't shake the fact that we still don't know who exactly this Gennai person is. None of this is making sense." Tai nodded. He opened his mouth to speak when a car came screeching towards them.
"Ah!" Mimi cried and Matt was quick to push her and Sora out of the way. Tai jumped back and Mei fell onto her back as she tried to scramble away. The car stopped right in front of the girl and TK quickly ran to help her up.
"They are attacking the city!" Mr. Nisijima Jumped out of the drivers side and Tai gaped. He watched TK check Mei over and then Tai looked at his teacher.
"Mr. Nisijima, we need a place to hide out. We haven't slept and our digimon are exhausted." The teacher nodded.
"You guys will have to pile in but I know a place." Tai turned to address the group.
"Guys lets go." The digidestined and their digimon then piled into the Idling car.
The digimon and the digidestened were sitting inside a large board room. There was a large table in the centre of the room and one side of the wall was decorated with large windows looking out over the city. Mr. Nisijima had left the group while he stepped out to fetch some blankets. Tai could see Izzy had already set up his laptop and was checking over data on the screen. The leader walked over to the door and opened it slightly. The hallway was empty and quiet. He decided that Mr. Nisijima would be a bit so he quickly closed the door and addressed the group.
"Guys we need to talk." Tai announced and he saw everyone slowly look over to him. He moved his hands towards the chairs,
"Just sit for a minute." He told them and Joe and Sora were the first to sit obediently. Tai looked to Matt who he expected to protest. Matt rolled his shoulders back and slid into a chair next to Sora. Tai nodded at his friend and then looked to Mimi, TK and Mei. The three moved around the table and each found a seat. Tai looked finally at his sister. Her back was to the group and she was looking out the window. Tai let her be and quickly spoke.
"We still don't understand how this reboot happened. We also don't know who this gennai figure is and why he is targeting us." Tai took a deep breath.
"Mei, what exactly was your fathers involvement?" He looked to Mei who quivered under his gaze. She swallowed and then spoke.
"He, uh, he did experiments on meicoomon. One day I came home and Meicoomon was in a rage attacking my father and his assistants. I just stood there shocked. But then he saw me and suddenly he was fine. He came over to me and hugged my legs. My dad wanted to do more but i stopped it. I came here with my mother to get away. I had hoped it would stop, Meicoomon and his destruction, but it just got worse." She looked at her hands in her lap.
"I'm sure my dad has been trying to find ways to control meicoomon. I haven't seen him since I left but, I think he might be around." She pressed her lips together tightly and avoided eye contact with the group. Tai could see Mimi was quick to turn her chair and comfort Mei. Izzy then spoke,
"What company does your dad work for?" He asked and Mei shrugged,
"It's always private investors who hire him for different jobs. I don't know." Tai wanted to ask more but also wanted to get through his list before Mr. Nisijima came back.
"Okay we'll circle back to Mei's dad but first, we still can't figure out who this Gennai is and where our Gennai has disappeared to. I think a clue is with the woman, Maki Himekawa. What exactly do we know about her?" Tai saw his sister flinch and that got his attention.
"She helped me." Kari whispered and Tai focused on her.
"I don't know what happened. I just remember..." she trailed off and Tai saw her look at TK. The young blond sat up in his chair. Kari quickly looked back at Tai and continued.
"TK was acting distant. He wasn't in class so I left to go find him. Suddenly I woke up in Maki's car. She said I fainted in the courtyard at school. We were at the hospital. I went in and they said I was anaemic. She then dropped me off at school. It was strange though, I didn't think I went to the courtyard."
"Where'd you go then?" TK asked and Kari put a finger on her chin.
"I think I wanted to find the digimon. I really don't remember though." Tai narrowed his eyes. This was more complicated than he was anticipating. Matt huffed,
"Well she's just making herself more and more suspicious isn't she." Matt chided. He then leaned back in his chair.
"So what's her deal then? Is she behind this too?" Tai was focused on Matt and was then startled when the door behind him shut. He quickly turned and saw Mr. Nishijima standing behind him.
"I had said once, I would do anything to protect Maki. I have known her for such a long time, but I think it's time I tell you all something I found." Tai was frozen as the teacher moved to Izzy. He spoke quietly to Izzy and Tai watched his friend stand and Mr. Nishijima take his seat. He then started typing and spoke.
"I found this on Maki's computer." He turned the laptop and Tai moved to stand behind Mr. Nishijima. He wasn't sure what he was looking at but Mr. Nishijima explained.
"It's the code-" Izzy then cut him off.
"It's the reboot!" He announced and Tai looked at his friend. Mr. Nishijima sighed and nodded.
"Yes. I think she made the program that caused the reboot." Tai clenched his hands,
"But why? What does she have to gain?" Mr. Nishijima stood from his seat and went to the head of the table.
"I have kept some things from you children. The reason me and Maki know about the digimon is because we were once chosen just like you." Tai went wide eyed. He shared a look with Matt and then looked back at his teacher.
"We lost though. We lost everything. Our digimon were sacrificed in order to bring the balance to the digital world. We lost them and Maki, she lost herself. She was obsessed with restoring her partner. I think that's why she made the reboot. To find her digimon." Sora moved and Tai watched her stand.
"She's been following us then. Which would explain how she came across Kari." Tai nodded at Sora and then looked over the group. Everyone's eyes were drooping and he looked to his teacher.
Mr Nishijima nodded at Tai and then opened the door. He was gone only a moment before returning with an arm full of blankets and a few pillows.
"I think you lot should get some shut eye. You're no use to anyone exhausted." He handed Tai the blankets and pillows . Tai turned and started handing the items over to TK and Sora.
"Thanks." Tai mumbled and Mr. Nishijima smiled.
"I'll be right outside. Get some sleep digidestined." He said with a smirk. He then quietly slipped out of the room and the door latched with a click.
"I don't know if I can sleep." Mimi whispered. Tai watched her rub Tanemons head while she clutched a blanket to her chest. Joe put a hand on her shoulder.
"Just lie down Meem's." He said gently and Tai moved to check on the others. He stopped at Mei who was slumped in her chair. He picked a blanket off the table and draped it over the girls shoulders.
"Oh. Tai." She sat up as the fabric touched her shoulders. Tai shrugged and continued placing the blanket on her back.
"You did good today Mei. Im sorry I've been so hard on you." Mei looked up at Tai wide eyed. Tai smiled.
"Get some sleep." He patted her back and moved to Izzy who was looking at his laptop. Tai gently closed the computer.
"Go to bed Iz. You've done enough today." Tai figured Izzy must be exhausted since the boy didn't protest. He did the same thing as Mei and slowly put his head on the table. Tai stopped him and took a small pillow from the centre of the table and put it in front of Izzy. The digidestined of knowledge placed his head onto the pillow and was out before Tai stepped away. Tai stepped over Mimi and Sora who were laying on the floor with their partners. Sora smiled up and Tai and he returned it. Her eyes slowly closed and Tai moved over to Joe. He was standing with TK and Kari. Tai hesitated to approach the three. He felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Alright you've checked in on everyone. Time for you to sleep. You heard Mr. Nishijima, he's right outside." Tai nodded and Matt sat down in one of the chairs. He put his legs up on the table and had Gabumon jump onto his lap.
"Come on squirt." Matt summoned his brother with his eyes closed. Tai watched TK plant a soft kiss on Kari's forehead. He studied the young teen a moment as he seemed reluctant to leave Kari's side. To Tai's slight relief he did go to his brother. Tai stepped aside while TK grabbed a blanket and Tokomon hopped towards him. TK laid down on the ground and pulled his partner towards him. Joe stepped in front of Tai.
"I might stay up for a bit." Joe said and Tai looked at him curiously.
"No, joe you should sleep." Tai said though he was starting to get tired himself. Joe smirked,
"Very convincing Tai. Go check on your sister and go to bed." Tai sighed and walked past the oldest digidestined. He could see his sister curled up with a blanket on the floor by the window. Agumon was sitting with her leaning against her as he slowly started to fall asleep. Tai grabbed the last available blanket and went and sat next to his sister.
"You're starting to act more like yourself." Kari commented as Tai got comfortable.
"How do you figure?" He whispered and Kari closed her eyes. She leaned against her brother and Tai stared down at her.
"I see it in how you treat the others. You're more you when you can lead. This is what you were meant to do Tai." She whispered and Tai remained quiet. Kari sat up.
"You're going to do amazing things in this world Tai. Don't forget that." She mumbled softly as she slowly laid down. Tai looked at his sister. He looked at Agumon who was now
Curled up next to Kari. Tai unfolded the blanket in his lap. He leaned over and kissed the side of Kari's head.
"Sweet dreams kiddo." He whispered. He then turned away and fell asleep.