Retcon note: I just noticed that, all the time I was typing 'Dolly', I really should have been typing 'Daisy'. I goofed,
in other words, and I apologise.
Chatsuramon looked up at the massive cloud, reddish-blue, hovering over them. "Sovereign!" he implored. "My brethren have
been struck down! How shall we avenge this strike against us? We must destroy the human blight on the two worlds!"
The cloud pulsed. Then a large, four-legged creature stepped out, the ground crumbling under its feet. "My patience wears
thin. I shall send Majiramon and Khumbiramon to the Real World, to avenge your kin."
"But they may be beaten!"
"No. This time, I shall choose the manner of their appearance. As the war continues, my power grows ever stronger. And
my power will be the end of the humans and their perverted digimon."
==
Digicross Tamers 19
'Mystic Swordsman Karatenmon'
==
==Friday, Tokyo.
Hitomi looked closely at the manga Takato had loaned her. "Ah, Takato? I don't think uncle Davis ever called Uncle Ken
'homeslice.'"
"Picky, picky." Terriermon sighed, shaking his head.
"Hey, I was curious." Takato answered, shrugging helplessly.
Hitomi smiled. "Well, I could ask him the next time we talk. Oh, Henry? What are 'mad skilz'?"
"What, they don't have L33T-speak?"
"Elite-speak?"
"Hey, maybe you could get them to re-do the series." Terriermon suggested. "Isn't TK supposed to be a writer?"
Hitomi thought about it for a second. "Well, he did help produce the 'Angel Defence Force' anime series."
"Angel...?" Takato asked.
Hitomi nodded. "It was a short anime series that all of the Japanese digidestined worked on. Dad, TK, and Aunt Kari all
did voices for the main characters in the original series."
"Oh, I get it!" Jeri said. "And Patamon, Gatomon, and your dad's Eevee were the angels?" Hitomi nodded. "That must have
been so neat. Is it still running?"
"Well, there's a new set of voice actors now. Although the original cast do come back every now and again."
==8 years ago, Celadon City
The convention hall was packed, people milling around in costumes going from booth to booth. In one room, Ken, Yolei, TK,
and Kari were all seated up front, answering questions.
"So, what was your inspiration for playing the lead villain?" one girl asked.
Yolei shrugged. "Well, I originally wanted to play the lead role, but Mimi and Kari convinced me that I could have more
fun being the bad guy. And Ken got to be my willing slave." That got a few laughs from the audience, and a beet red blush
from Ken. "And I had little Sam cheering me on. Say hi, Sam!"
Sam Inoue, all of five years old, looked up. "Um, hi?" he hazarded. He got a few 'Aww's' from the crowd. "Hey, what was
it like, having your mom play Queen Demonica?" someone asked.
"Daddy kept saying 'please, my queen, not that.' one night when I was trying to go to sleep." Sam answered. Everyone went
quiet. Seconds later, TK and Kari fell over laughing, as did a third of the audience. The rest had a massive case of the
giggles. Absolutely clueless, Sam blinked, wondering why everyone except mom and dad was laughing.
==
"Um." Henry managed. Hitomi fought back a chuckle. That story had quickly passed into convention history. "I had no idea
that the digidestined were all...otaku?"
"Only Uncle Davis. He managed to get Takeru caught up in anime too, and usually managed to drag us in as well."
Eevee snorted. "Like that time Davis convinced your mom and dad to dress you up as a Bronze Pichu Saint?" Hitomi blushed.
At Henry and Takato's incredulous glance, he went on. "Yeah, from Saint Scyther. It was an old series that Davis got
hooked on, said it was a lot funnier than Saint Seiya." The bell rang.
"Please tell me you have a picture." Jeri asked Eevee, ignoring Hitomi's frantically shaking head.
"I'll ask next chance I get. Oh, come on. I've seen it, you were adorable. Especially with the ears."
"Did you have to bring that up?" Hitomi groaned. "Alright, back inside." she held out a pokeball, recalling Eevee.
"Please don't tell anyone about this."
"Sure." Jeri replied, trying not to giggle too much. "Saint Pichu." she added, and headed for class.
==
"Will you stop moping over her already?" Kazu groaned during the break before last class. "Geez, you're like, no fun to be
around any more."
"What do you mean?" Kenta asked, hurt. Kazu had been irritable for the last few days. "Moping over who?"
"That Hitomi kid. I mean, what's come over you? Every time she's around, you turn into a complete dufus, you're always
following her around. I mean, why not Jeri? At least that'd get a rise out of Takato."
"Maybe Kenta has good taste." Jeri said, overhearing everything. "And maybe he knows better than to try to mess with
something between..." Jeri stopped, blushing.
"Oh!" Kazu said, brightening. "So there IS something between you and Takato, eh?" Annoyed, Jeri walked back to her desk
and sat down. Hitomi entered the room a second later, just seconds before the bell.
"Alright class, time for a quiz." Everyone groaned. Why did it have to be Mr. Cardynge for math?
==
"I know I bombed." Kazu moaned as he and Kenta exited the school.
"What? It was just long division." Kenta replied, still a bit put out.
"Yeah, and it took too long, alright? Why'd they send a university prof to teach us? This is cruel and unusual I tell
you!"
"Long division?" Henry asked, exiting the school. "We had to do Shakespeare. And Ms. Miller wants exact quotes. Must
have been those donuts that were dumped in the pool a while back."
"Oh great, it's coming back to haunt us all." Kenta sighed. "Good one, Kazu. We'll be doing nuclear physics by grade 6."
"Well, at least you'll have a study partner, eh?" Kazu replied, elbowing Kenta. Henry rolled his eyes and headed off.
"Look, I'm sorry about before, alright? Just...don't get cooties or anything, alright?"
"Cooties?" Kenta asked. "What, are we back in first grade or something now?"
==
Reilly glanced at the monitor again. "I think...it looks like there's some interdimensional activity from the digital
world, but I can't pin it down. Talli?"
"Nothing here. Maybe the sensor's glitched up again? It hasn't worked right since Makuramon messed with it."
Reilly stared at the screen. "There's something we're missing. Maybe..."
==
"This Saturday morning? I'm sorry, but I had plans with Ms. Asaji. Is it important?" Hitomi asked.
"Not for the morning, no. I'm really interested in these Ultimate levels the digimon have been achieving. I just want to
check on everyone's digimon. But I might need Eevee later. Will you be back by about...2:00?"
Hitomi glanced at Ms. Asaji. "How about 2:00?" The teacher nodded. "That would be fine, Mr. Wong. Okay, thank you!"
She
hung up.
"If it was important..." Ms. Asaji started to say.
"They just want to check on all the digimon who've evolved to their ultimate levels." Hitomi replied. "I think they wanted
Eevee to compare the readings with."
"A baseline." Ms. Asaji said, nodding. "Well, the play should be over by noon, so we can have lunch before we stop by
Hypnos. Is that alright?"
"Sure. What kind of play is it?"
"You'll love it." Nami replied. "Some actors from America are coming here and doing Shakespeare."
==
"Umm...no thanks." Rika said. "After Antylamon, Renamon..."
"Sure." Henry replied. "We can fill you in later, alright?" The phone clicked, and Rika hung up.
"Renamon?" Rika called. When the digimon didn't appear, Rika walked to her room, looking inside. Renamon was sitting near
the window, staring out. Saying nothing, Rika walked in and sat by her partner.
==Saturday
Suzie was quickly stuffing a few things into her backpack. Henry and dad had taken Terriermon, and she hadn't even had a
chance to try out that new dress she had gotten for Henry's 'doll'.
"Oh dear." Suzie's mom said. "Janyu left his lunch behind. But I don't have the time to take it to him."
"I'll do it mommy!" Suzie cried. "I'm big enough!"
"Suzie...well, alright. But I'll have that nice Alice McCoy take you, alright?"
"Yayy! Big sister Alice!"
==McCoy residence
Why, Alice wondered, is my blood running cold? She glanced at Dobermon, resting quietly, then went back to her homework.
"Okay. Admiral Perry arrived in..." she glanced at the ringing phone. I could use a break, she decided.
==Hypnos
It wasn't quite the welcome that Reilly had hoped. Henry and Janyu had arrived, stared a bit warily at Yamaki, then went
over to the Monster Makers. Yamaki had just finished explaining that he WASN'T trying to destroy all digimon any more, so
could they please just drop it for now and get back to work? A few minutes later, Takato and Guilmon had entered, Guilmon
had growled at Yamaki, then Takato calmed him down, stared warily at Yamaki, and got to work.
Jeri, Gabumon following her, ran into the room. "Sorry I'm late everyone, I-" She stopped as she saw Yamaki. She glared
at Yamaki, turned on her heel, and walked out.
"Well, that was...different." Yamaki sighed. "But not unexpected."
"Well, you can't blame her." Janyu replied.
"Perhaps, but if she's not willing to work with us, then-"
"I'll get her." Takato said, running out the door.
==New Bark Town
"I don't like it." Kyle said. "I know we need him, but I don't like it."
"Well, this Yamaki person did put the Juggernaut program together. Maybe he can help seal up all the holes and stop the
Devas from coming through." Izzy replied. "Don't worry. Janyu and Dolphin are keeping an eye on him. And as long as she
has Eevee, nothing will happen to her."
"Yeah." Kyle's Eevee added. "For a newcomer, he's advanced pretty quickly. I'd be surprised if he doesn't digivolve to
his Ultimate level soon." At Kyle's shiver, he sighed. "They'll. Be. Fine. Hey, her Eevee has a fit if he's not within
eyesight of her. Bit like you, Kyle."
"Yeah, I guess." Kyle admitted. "Hey, where are your two houseguests?"
"Kotemon and Houndour? Outside, I think Kotemon was practising." Izzy shrugged. "I wish Houndour would let me have
another look at that egg."
==Hypnos HQ, main floor
"Jeri, wait up!" Takato gasped, coming out of the stairwell. "Boy, those are some serious stairs."
Jeri stopped, glancing at Takato. "How can you work with...that monster?"
Huh? Oh, you mean Yamaki? Well, we don't have much of a choice. He did kinda create the program that's opening up all
the portals."
"All I see is the monster that tried to hurt Hitomi." Jeri said firmly. Takato was a bit stunned. He had never seen this
side of Jeri before. "And what he did to her...I'm sorry, I can't forgive it."
Takato tried to think of something. "Well...you don't have to, I mean, I don't think any of us have. And Henry's dad and
Mr. McCoy are keeping an eye on him, right?"
"Well..." Jeri replied.
"Hey, don't worry. I'm sure he won't try anything, alright? And if he does...well, I'll tie him up and give him to Suzie,
how about that?"
The image of Yamaki in a pink dress got a laugh out of Jeri. "Well, I guess...if it's you that's asking." She started
laughing again as soon as she saw Takato's expression.
"Takato! Jeri!"
"Eh?" Takato, jolted out of his reverie, mumbled. "Oh, hi Suzie. What brings you here?"
"Daddy forgot something at home and I had to bring it to him and Henry was all mean and took Terriermon away from me and he
wouldn't tell me where he was going and mommy couldn't take me but Alice was able to but I seem to have lost her."
"Does she even breathe?" Jeri asked, staring at Suzie.
"There you are." Alice said, walking over. "Hello you two. Are we interrupting anything?"
"You'll never know." Jeri replied, putting her arm around Takato's.
"Yes, it's a mystery to all." Alice replied dryly. "Suzie?"
"Oh, are they going all mommy and daddy on us?" Alice politely tried not to laugh as both Jeri and Takato blushed.
==
Kenta sighed, sure that he would be bored silly. Why did he have to go to some stupid play on a perfectly good Saturday
morning?
"Kenta?"
Kenta glanced several people ahead, and spotted Hitomi waving. "Oh, hey. You get dragged here too?"
"Actually." Nami answered for her, "I asked, and she was willing to come see it. And what brings you here?"
"We do." Kenta's father said. "Too nice a day to be cooped up inside playing video games, eh?" He glanced at Hitomi.
"So, you're Hitomi, eh?"
"Dad!" Kenta hissed.
"What? I was just going to say...ah, right." he winked, none too subtly, getting a confused look from Hitomi. "And Ms.
Asaji. I hope our boy's not being too much trouble."
"Not at all." Nami replied diplomatically. No sense bringing Kazu into it. "In fact, he's improved quite a bit."
==Hypnos
Yamaki stared at the readings on the screen. "Well, without a reading before he evolved, I can't say how Calumon's energy
burst was able to influence Terriermon's evolution. Though I note that this sequence of DDNA here seems slightly
irregular."
"DDNA?" Henry asked.
"Digital DNA." Dolphin answered. "When Digimon appear in this world, they have to synthesize physical bodies in order to
survive; pure data would just fly apart here. The 'digital fields' you've encountered seem to create the DDNA for digimon
to use."
"We also know that this DDNA is fragile; if a digimon suffers enough damage, it disintegrates." Babel added. "Those
fragments you see digimon break into when you defeat them is their DDNA disintegrating."
"And the victorious digimon can absorb it to increase its own power." Yamaki finished. The dark tone of his voice
indicated what he thought of the whole process.
"Don't look at me!" Terriermon complained. "I haven't loaded anyone's data in ages!"
"None of us have." Henry said. "Ever since Renamon managed to digivolve, come to think of it. Hey, what about Eevee?
Didn't Hitomi say he was some kind of hybrid?"
"I observed that, yes." Yamaki said. "Although Reilly destroyed the data after..." he trailed off. "Where is Reilly,
anyway?"
"Babysitting." Babel answered, aiming a grin at Janyu. "And Talli's up in the main scanner room."
==A few levels down.
"Wow." Suzie gasped. "This place is a lot bigger than home. But where's daddy?"
Reilly smiled. "He's doing some very important work right now, and can't be disturbed."
"But Alice got to go see him." Suzie whined.
"Well, when you're a bit older, then you can go see where your dad works, alright?"
==And back up...
Alice stepped through the door, glanced at Yamaki, and walked over to Janyu. "You forgot your lunch." she explained,
handing a small paper bag to the researcher. Slightly mortified, Janyu placed the bag on his desk, then motioned to a
chair, allowing Alice to sit down. Dobermon sat by her, never taking his eyes off of Yamaki.
I suppose I deserve this, Yamaki decided, and went back to work. "I'm transmitting our findings to Mr. Izumi on Hitomi's
world."
==Okay, at the play, Intermission *phew!*
Hitomi took a sip from the lemonade Nami had bought her. It was a bit sweeter than she liked, but it was drinkable.
"Kenta," she called, seeing the boy. "Where were you? We were up front, so we couldn't see you."
"Oh, I was two rows back." Kenta replied. He had spent the first half of the play splitting his attention between the play
and Hitomi. "So...enjoying it? I think I could get to like Shakespeare."
"It's fun, yes." Hitomi answered. She resisted the urge to chuckle. In some ways, Kenta reminded her of Hiroki; Kenta
acted a bit like Hiroki, especially when she was...
Oh dear, Hitomi suddenly realized. A bell sounded, indicating that the play was about to resume. "We'll talk after the
play." Hitomi said, then ran back to her seat.
==New Bark Town.
Izzy studied the readings he was getting from the scan he was doing of the alternate digital world. "Odd, I'm getting some
strange power readings. It's almost as if..." Quickly, he keyed in a message. "Blocked? What's going on over there?"
"What is wrong?" Kotemon asked, wandering in. Houndour followed him in.
"There's something coming out of the digital world attached to the world Hitomi's on, and it's larger than any signature
I've seen before."
==Hypnos, main floor.
Jeri, her arm around Takato's, stepped into the elevator. "Takato? Maybe...we can study together sometime?"
Takato was sure that his reply would sweep Jeri off his feet. He opened his mouth, then the elevator they were in rudely
decided to stop.
==Lab
"What was that?" Henry asked, knocked to the floor.
"Massive power surge from the digital world, targeted at our mainframe!" Talli's voice said over the intercom. "I
think..." her voice fizzled out, as a light grey mist started forming.
"A digital field!" Dobermon gasped. "Here in Hypnos!"
"They must be planning to destroy this place." Yamaki snarled. "I guess we were a bigger threat to them after all." He
ran to a console and typed in a series of commands. Almost immediately, sirens and alarms started ringing.
==1st floor.
"Suzie, stay here, alright?" Reilly told the girl. "I'll get your brother to come get you, alright? Promise that you'll
wait here for him, okay?"
"*sniff* Okay. But...what if something attacks me?"
"Hey, you're safe here. And I'll send your brother to get you as soon as possible."
==Park
Impmon stared at Calumon, flexing his fingers. He'd loaded quite a bit of data by now, and he was sure that the flying
creampuff would trigger his evolution. If he didn't have that stupid freak living inside of him, he thought.
"Alright, I'll just surprise him and take his data." He took a step forward, but stopped as grey mist started swirling
around him.
"Are you so sure, Impmon?" a voice asked.
"Huh? Who said that? Come on out so I can zap ya."
"You threaten Chatsuramon, Master of the Devas? Humorous. But I am not here to fight, Impmon."
"What then?"
"To talk of you, that human you are bound with...and your evolution..."
==Park, near the play.
"Hitomi!" Nami gasped. Everything had stopped as soon as the mist appeared. The two started looking around, wondering
where the digimon would be attacking from.
"I'll go check." Hitomi said. "You should get out of here."
"I'm not letting you face some monster alone! What if..."
Hitomi was speechless for a moment, taken aback by the emotion in Nami's voice. She put her arms around the teacher,
reassuring her. "I'll be fine. But I have to at least find out what's appearing here before it breaks out of the digital
field and starts attacking everyone." She got up, and headed out the exit, D-Arc in hand.
"Be careful..." Nami said, then got up.
Hitomi had gotten several feet away from the tent, and the mist was almost impossible to see through. "Eevee, come on
out."
Eevee appeared, and glanced around, fur already standing up. "Careful. Whatever's here is incredibly powerful. Maybe we
should get one of the other tamers to help."
"There's too many people here. If the digimon in the field attacks, we might have to hold it off." A hand touched her
shoulder, causing her to yelp in surprise.
"Hitomi!" Kenta gasped. "What are you doing out here?"
"K...Kenta? You shouldn't be here, there might be a digimon attacking!"
"Well, I saw you leave and...well, I wanted to help." he finished weakly.
"Kenta..." Hitomi whispered. Then she had an idea. "Go and get Rika; her place is closer than the Hypnos building, where
the other tamers are. Tell her to hurry." She gave Kenta a quick hug, then nodded to him. Kenta nodded back, and ran
off, hoping he was headed in the right direction.
==Hypnos
"We have to get out of here." Alice said. "Suzie's in the building!"
"WHAT?" Henry and Janyu both yelled.
"She was with Ms. Reilly." Alice said defensively. "I'm sure she got her to a safe place."
"If digimon are attacking, then I doubt any place in here would be safe." Yamaki noted, voice grim. "If we just knew where
they were going to appear."
"Right here, human worms!" a high pitched voice announced. A glowing disk appeared on the floor, and a small digimon came
through it. It was a bizarre looking creature, a cross of a rat's head, spider's legs, and a metal sphere for a body.
"Behold Khumbiramon, Messenger of the Devas and your doom!"
"I'm not impressed." Dobermon snarled, advancing on the Deva. Alice had a card in hand, ready to use it.
"They must be desperate if they sent a spare parts digimon. What, someone forget to read the manual when they put you
together?" Terriermon cracked.
"Terriermon." Henry muttered.
"What? That shrimp's smaller than me! One stomp should take care of him. I mean, what could he possibly do?"
Khumbiramon grinned, and the small rod on his back glowed, releasing bolts of greenish energy. The computers started to
spark alarmingly. "Why do I set myself up like this?"
"I may be small, but my power is the greatest of all the Devas. Now, arise fallen digimon, and claim your vengeance on the
humans who destroyed you!"
Yamaki's eyes widened as ghostly shapes started to appear. "You have been busy." Dolphin growled, picking up a chair and
getting ready to defend himself. "Henry, make with the gun toting rabbit, like NOW, maybe?"
"Digi-modify! Digivolution activate!"
"Terriermon, digivolve to...Gargomon! Henry, aside from rat-boy, the rest are all rookies or low level champions. We can
take 'em!"
"You think?" Khumbiramon taunted. "Deva Clone!" he shouted, as several copies of Khumbiramon appeared.
"I'm going to stop talking now." Gargomon groaned. "I'm tired of being this creep's straight 'mon.
==
Gabumon and Guilmon managed to force the Elevator doors open. "Takato, I smell digimon!" Guilmon warned.
"Yeah, the mist was kind of a give-away." Takato replied. "But I don't see any digimon."
"Ahh!" Jeri gasped. "Suzie's in here! We have to find her!"
"We're about to be too busy." Gabumon growled as several ghostly digimon appeared. "And these halls are too small for us
to digivolve in!"
"Running sounds good." Takato suggested. "I don't think we can fight all of these digimon." As he spoke, the digimon
started to solidify, all glaring at Takato and Jeri. Guilmon and Gabumon moved to defend them.
"I don't think we have a choice. Ready?" Jeri said to Takato, taking a card out.
"Would you believe me if I said yes?" he replied, voice quavering a bit, as he also took out a card.
"Digi-Modify!"
==New Bark Town
Izzy worked frantically. Seconds ago, he had lost contact with Hypnos, and something *weird* had managed to detach itself
from the digital world there and attach itself to the computer system inside Hypnos. "I've never heard of this happening!
And I can't get through all the interference to find out what's happening!"
"What do you think's happening?" Kyle asked, feeling helpless.
"I think...I think they're being invaded by whatever's taken over the digital world there!"
Kotemon and Houndour, carrying the digiegg she had found, ran in. "It is an invasion! I know it!" Kotemon said. "We have
to get there now!"
"We don't have anything close to a portal!" Ken replied, getting a little frantic. "We can't even communicate with them!"
Kotemon said something unrepeatable, and glared at the main monitor. "Janyu." he said suddenly. At that word, the
digivices around Kotemon and Houndour's necks lit up, and the monitor they were staring at resolved into a familiar image.
"A Digiport." Izzy gasped. Then he saw the two monsters jump for it, vanishing as they did. "No, wait!" he cried, then
felt Kyle pulling him backwards as the entire screen exploded.
==Hypnos
Gargomon dodged one digimon, a Gazimon, took aim at an attacking Black Agumon, and managed to thoroughly miss seeing the
Mushroomon that went after Janyu. "Dad!" Henry yelled, unable to do anything to save his father.
"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Kotemon shouted, sword out and appearing through a Digiport on one of the surviving computer screens in
the room. His shinai, already wrapped in flames, sliced the Mushroomon in two, killing it.
"So...you on our side?" Gargomon asked as everyone else, digimon included, stared at the newcomer.
"Let's find out. Catch!" Kotemon yelled, taking the digivice from around his neck and throwing it to Janyu. He caught it,
and it immediately shifted into a D-Arc. "Hmm. Where'd Houndour go?"
==Floor down
"Henryyy! Help me!" Suzie wailed.
"Quiet, worm!" the Flarizamon replied darkly. "You shall soon be joining all the other humans in this building!"
Flarizamon advanced on the young girl, claws out.
"Back away from her."
Flarizamon whirled around, staring at the newcomer. "Huh...who...You are no digimon!"
"No. The name's Houndour, but you can call me the queen (bleep) of this junkyard."
Suzie blinked. "Uh...I don't think daddy would like me hearing grown up words like that."
"Way to wreck my entrance kid." Houndour sighed. She went over to Suzie's side. "Here, hold this for a second." she said,
kneeling down and indicating the egg she was carrying in a sling on her back. Suzie took it, and accidentally brushed the
digivice around the pokemon's neck. It shivered, then shifted into a pink-ringed D-arc.
"Ahh...nuts." Houndour sighed again.
"Language!" Suzie commanded.
"Fine. Just let me take care of that overgrown firecracker first." She looked up and grinned at Flarizamon.
(And no, it wasn't a very nice grin, either -ed)
==Park
Hitomi got to her feet, knocked over by something flying right over her head. It hadn't hit, but the wind it kicked up as
it skimmed over the ground had been enough to send the tamer flying. Eevee ran over, concerned. "It's big." he said, a
bit unnecessarily. "I think it might be a dragon type. Maybe an Airdramon, but I didn't see any wings."
"Because I have no need of them. I am Majiramon, master of the skies and Deva. I, along with Khumbiramon, have been sent
to avenge the deaths of my comrades that you and those other humans are responsible for." In the mist, Hitomi could just
make out a long, serpentine shape circling above her.
"Easy." Eevee said, noticing Hitomi start to tremble a bit. "I can take him, even without that overgrown featherduster's
help. Just like we practised, alright?"
Hitomi nodded, took a deep breath, and pulled a card out. "Digi-modify. Digivolution activate!"
"Eevee, digivolve to...Jolteon!"
"So, you have mastered the ability to digivolve." Majiramon observed. "A shame I must destroy you before I can learn your
secrets. The Sovereign would be interested."
"Send him this." Jolteon replied. "Zap Cannon!" The ball of lightning shot towards Majiramon, struck, and failed to do
any damage whatsoever. "Pin Missile!"
Majiramon hovered th4ere, simply taking the attacks without doing anything. "I commend your bravery, human and digimon.
But my duty is clear." He shot up, and circled over Jolteon and Hitomi. "Treasure Arrow!" he called, summoning a swarm of
arrows and dropping them on the two.
==
Rika wondered if this was what it was like to meditate. She and Renamon had sat staring out the window for what felt like
hours now, neither one saying anything.
Finally, Renamon looked over. "Thank you." she said quietly.
"For what?"
"For being there. For giving me the strength to make the right choice."
"But...Antylamon was your...your..."
Renamon nodded, and looked out the window again. "She was not the Antylamon I knew back in the digital world. Something
changed her, made her attack you. We must find who did this to her and make sure this does not happen again." She glanced
up, and vanished.
Yuka Nonaka entered Rika's room, looking troubled. "Rika? One of your friends is here, I think. It's that boy with the
glasses that goes to Hitomi's school?" She glanced at Rika, curious. While Rika was the apple of her eye, and (in
Rumiko's mind) the most beautiful daughter anyone was ever blessed with, she was a bit put out when a boy she had only seen
glimpses of ran up to the doorstep and fairly yelled "I need Rika!"
"Kenta? If he's looking for Hitomi, she's not here."
Kenta chose that moment to burst in. "Park...digimon...Hitomi's fighting it alone!"
"WHAT?" Rika shouted as Renamon appeared beside her. She glanced at her D-Arc. Nothing. "Renamon?"
"I didn't sense...No, two of them. We have to go to her!"
==
Okay, maybe it does look a bit dumb, Henry thought as he saw his dad use the same motions he did as he slashed one of
Henry's evolution cards. "Digi-modify! Digivolution activate!"
"Kotemon, digivolve to...Dino Humon!"
"I guess it's official!" Gargomon called, blasting another digimon to dust. "I guess we'll have to take down the 'no
grownups' sign on the clubhouse!"
"Duck!" Dino Humon roared. On evolving, Dino Humon found that he was shorter now, maybe half again Janyu's size. Just as
well, this room was built with humans in mind. The warrior digimon drew his shortswords and leaped at the nearest digimon,
a Dokugumon that had appeared. "Lizard Dance!" he called, landing a number of slashes on the spider's body.
"I did that?" Janyu gasped.
"I guess you and Henry can really do some bonding now." Dolphin answered. "Maybe I should get a digimon partner too, so
Alice and I can connect, eh?" Alice pointedly ignored her father, concentrating on aiding Dobermon.
Yamaki frowned, still trying to get to one of the consoles. "I have an idea. Dolphin, Babel, I need...I need your help."
==
"I will have my revenge!" Sepikmon cackled, swinging his boomerang at Guilmon.
"This isn't working!" Takato said to Jeri. "For every digimon we beat, two more take its place."
"I know! Digi-Modify! Gargo Laser activate!" Jeri used a Gargomon card, giving Gabumon a chance to lay down suppressing
fire (Oh, if only Takeru could see this. He'd be jealous. Trust me. -ed) "And we still have to get to Suzie! She's all
alone in here!"
Okay, Takato thought, time to say something heroic. He almost had it, when fate decided to mock him.
A big black dog grabbed Sepikmon's boomerang, snapped it in two, and then incinerated Sepikmon with a stream of flame. "I
hate playing fetch." Houndour growled. She then turned to the rest of the advancing digimon, and roared as loud as she
could. Some of them backed off, a few of the braver ones still advanced.
"Digi-modify! Metal Wolf claw, activate!"
"Raaarr!" Guilmon howled, firing a large missile, which then split into several more, striking the oncoming digimon and
freezing them.
"Nice shot, red." Houndour commented, then glared at the remaining digimon. Suzie ran out from a doorway and wrapped her
arms around Houndour.
"Houndour! You were so brave back there!" Suzie wailed. "But we still have to do something about your language, young
lady."
"Please, tell me you want to trade!" Houndour begged Takato and Jeri.
"Suzie..." Jeri hazarded. "Is that...your digimon?"
"Uh-huh!" Suzie announced, holding up a pink-ringed digivice. "See, it changed when I touched it! Now I have a puppy dog
just like big sister Alice's!"
"Uh...right." Takato murmured. "Henry's not gonna like this." he whispered to Jeri. Jeri nodded, keeping an eye on the
remaining digimon.
==Elsewhere.
"So, this...Yamaki, you called him, hates digimon?"
"Yeah." Impmon huffed. "But scumbag works too. He tried to build some kind of super digimon destroyer in that weird
building he runs. I think one of your Devas messed it up, though."
"Ah, his Juggernaut. Humans are intelligent, in a mean, small-souled sort of way. Too dangerous to be left alone. That
is how we Devas are able to come to the Human World."
"So," Impmon asked, "what about you? Not that I mind havin' a friendly ear to bend, but I still don't get what you're
gettin' out of all this."
"We both see humans as an obstacle that must be destroyed. I merely have a...broader view than you. And I see great
potential in you. It will be hard, it will be painful, but I think I can induce an evolution in you, with the
right...equipment."
==Park
Calumon flew over to where Hitomi was fighting Majiramon. "She's fighting again." Calumon whispered. "I know, they're
trying to stop that big meanie from destroying the city, but... really? Okay, but when it's time, can I come with you?
Okay, sure!"
Hitomi and Jolteon missed all of this. Jolteon was darting back and forth, trying to find a weak spot.
Hitomi was just scared.
One of her biggest fears when she got Eevee was that she would be, forever more, little more than a scared little girl who
had to be saved by everyone around her. She knew, almost without a doubt, that she would never be good enough. "I...I
wish Takeru was here."
Jolteon stopped, stunned. "Huh?"
"I...I'm not as brave...I'm not as good a trainer as he is!"
"Intelligence." Majiramon noted, then dodged as Jolteon fired another ball of lighting at him. "I tire of this." Majiramon
then regarded the digital field, seeking a way to break the walls confining him.
Jolteon took advantage of the break to run over to his partner. "Are you out of your mind? Okay, I could see wishing that
mom and dad were here, but...Takeru? Even...even Rika would be better than him."
"Takeru's braver than I am." Hitomi replied, shakily.
"He's an idiot!" Jolteon replied. "He's only braver 'cause he never thinks things through. Just like his dad."
"But..."
"Look. You're a great trainer. Yeah, Majiramon there's about 20 times bigger than both of us put together, he's an
Ultimate, and he's...well, he's got us outgunned. Hey, no big. Digidestined like us have been putting these creeps on ice
for, what, 30 years now? Come on, let's beat this nut and go home. I need to put Takeru in his place."
"Can I come too?" Calumon said, flying over to Hitomi. "Unown's decided he wants to go home too, now, and he said I can
come too, if I want to."
"You'll help?" Hitomi asked.
"Yep. I finally know what I am! I'm Calumon, and I can help digimon digio... dogibu... oh, that thing where they get all
glowy and big!" As he spoke, the red triangle on Calumon's forehead shone. "Crystal Matrix activate!"
"Eh?" Majiramon broke off his contemplation, staring at the ground. "The Catalyst! SO he does have the power of
evolution!"
"And you can't have it you...you big meanie!" Calumon yelled back.
Hitomi's digivice was pulsing with light now. She took out a card, saw that it was a Renamon, and smiled. "We're going
home!" she cried. As she did, the card turned blue. "Digi-modify! Matrix Digivolution activate!"
"Jolteon, Matrix digivolve to...Karatenmon!"
==
Chatsuramon looked up. "Ah. The Catalyst has used his power."
Impmon blinked. "Huh? Cata-what? Hey, you don't mean that flying creampuff, do ya?"
"I do, if you mean Calumon. Don't you know? He is the very essence of digivolution. With him, the Sovereign could end
the war now and bring order to both worlds."
"Huh. Who knew. But he's got some weird creature in him, too."
"Easily handled." Chatsuramon answered. "But tell me everything you know about Calumon."
==
Kyuubimon, carrying both Rika and Kenta, tore into the park. Spotting the digimon, Nami ran over. "She went that way!"
Nami said, pointing towards the middle of the park. Rika and Kenta glanced in that direction; the mist from the digital
field had dissipated, leaving a large dome. The dome then burst, and two digimon shot out of it.
"Hitomi!" Nami and Rika both yelled.
"Majiramon!" Kyuubimon hissed. "But I don't recognize the second one."
Rika glanced at her D-Arc. An image appeared of the second digimon. "Karatenmon. Ultimate level Vaccine type digimon.
Special attacks are Shadow Flash and Raven blades."
"Huh?" Kenta asked. "I thought Karatenmon was a virus type digimon."
Rika opened her mouth to reply, then glanced at the readout again. "No, make that Vaccine...Normal? It's a hybrid
digimon!" She glanced at the picture, and realized that, unlike the Karatenmon on the cards, this one wore a broad-brimmed
hat, and that it's beak was a bit longer.
"There!" Nami yelled, pointing at Karatenmon. "He's got Hitomi with him!" Indeed, Karatenmon had Hitomi with him, the
tamer nestled in one of the bird digimon's arms.
"I guess Eevee figured she'd be safer with him than on the ground." Kenta reasoned.
"Where's Calumon?" Rika wondered. "I think we're going to need Taomon for this one."
"Majiramon is one of the strongest of the Devas." Kyuubimon agreed. "And being able to fly would be an asset in this
fight."
"Someone call?" Calumon asked, wandering over. "Oh, hi Rika! Isn't Hitomi's partner neat? Getting all big and flying off
into the night to chase away that awful meanie?"
"Yeah, sure. Listen, I need to digivolve Kyuubimon to Taomon." Calumon nodded. "Well?"
"Well, what?"
Rika counted to ten (quickly), and spoke more slowly. "I need you to use your power to help Kyuubimon digivolve."
"Well...I don't think you really need me for that."
"Huh?" Kenta asked. "But I thought you were digivolution itself or something." Rika made a note to have a word with
Takato about how much he told Kenta later. "Don't you like, light up and shoot a big beam of energy?"
"Oh, that? Well, I think I just showed you how to do it, really. You just have to want it to happen."
"You're joking, right?" Rika asked.
"Please, Rika, try it!" Nami begged. Rika glanced at Nami, stunned.
"Alright." Rika replied, taking a card out. Hitomi, you'd better not die up there, she thought as the card turned blue.
"Digi-modify! Matrix Digivolution activate!"
"Kyuubimon, Matrix Digivolve to...Taomon!"
==Hypnos
Yamaki worked furiously at the console while the battle raged around him. "This isn't good!" he yelled. "The portal isn't
shrinking; I think it's actually expanding!"
"At least the digimon are letting up!" Henry called. "Gargomon, behind you!"
Gargomon started to turn to face the Allomon that was jumping him, then relaxed a bit as Dobermon tackled it. "Thanks!" he
called.
"Keep them back!" Janyu yelled. "We've almost got a solution...okay, NOW!"
"Activate Yuugoth!" Babel grinned, finger stabbing a button. Instantly, all the attacking digimon stopped, only the kids'
(and one adult's) digimon remaining unaffected. "Yes! One limited field Yuugoth capture program, by yours truly!"
"You mean 'us', Babel." Dolphin replied, smirking. Why DID Daisy ever give up this line of work, just to be a police
officer?"
"Her loss." Janyu sighed as the imprisoned digimon dissipated. "Now we just have to find Khumbiramon. I think he might be
too powerful to be affected by the program."
"You mean that small rat guy?" Takato asked, entering the room.
"Takato!" Henry gasped. "Where's Suzie?"
"Oh, she's fine..." he glanced down the hall. Curious, Henry looked down the hall, and saw Suzie, Jeri, Gabumon, and a
large black dog, faintly resembling Dobermon. "Houndour," Takato continued, "Meet Henry. Henry, this is Houndour.
Suzie's...partner."
"Ha ha, Takato. Very funny."
"Hennnryyy!" Suzie yelled, running over and waving her digivice around. "I have a puppy now just like Alice's and now
daddy has to buy me all those pretty black dresses like Alice has!"
"Shoot me. Please." Houndour tried to mutter, teeth firmly latched onto a still struggling Khumbiramon.
==Park
Majiramon glanced at Karatenmon, impressed. "You digivolved to the Ultimate level. You continue to surprise me. But
bringing your human along shows that you are weak. Your devotion to that pathetic creature will be your end."
"It's my devotion to Hitomi that made my evolution possible." Karatenmon snarled, not impressed. "But I guess I'll have to
hammer that lesson into your thick skull the hard way, antler-face."
"How quaint. Vedaka!" From Majiramon's mouth came a massive bolt of energy, shaped like a giant arrow. Wings flapping,
Karatenmon dodged the missile. "You can't use your full power and keep your pet safe. Unless she can grow wings, fool!"
"Hitomi?" Karatenmon asked. "Well, she is an angel, but I won't ask her to show off her wings. Rika might get jealous,
you know. But speaking of wings...Shadow Flash!" Karatenmon's wings opened full up, and two blasts of black energy shot
out, striking the dragon in the face. His free arm snapped forward, sword crackling with electric energy, and sliced off a
piece of one of Majiramon's antlers. "Slow or quick, you're going to lose." Karatenmon said slowly, voice filled with
menace.
"I think not. One of your arms is still occupied with your pet." Majiramon smirked, confident he would win.
"Allow me." Taomon said, appearing beside Karatenmon. With a wave of her arm, she created a ghostly Yin-Yang symbol, and
set Rika down on it. "This will keep Hitomi safe while you finish this Deva."
"Thanks." Karatenmon replied, setting Hitomi on the spell-platform beside Rika. "I've got a few things to settle with
scaleface over there. Keep an eye on Hitomi, alright?"
"She will be safe." Taomon replied sombrely. "I will aid you, if you request it. Or not." she said as Karatenmon drew his
remaining sword.
Karatenmon shot at Majiramon, now completely free to act. The Deva thought to distract him by launching an attack at
Hitomi and Rika, but it was blocked by Taomon, giving Karatenmon a chance to cut two long gashes down Majiramon's body.
The two then truly set at each other, Majiramon's long snakelike body twisting around to avoid Karatenmon's blades.
"Here." Rika said, as she and Hitomi watched the battle. "Use this card." Unnoticed, Taomon arched an eyebrow.
"A Hyper Speed card?" Hitomi gasped as she took it from Rika. "Rika..."
"Hey, don't get all mushy on me, alright? Taomon just wants to see how good Karatenmon is."
Smiling, Hitomi nodded. "Digi-modify! Hyper-Speed Activate!"
"Ohh YEAH!" Karatenmon yelled as he felt his speed increase. He easily dodged another swarm of arrows, then, both swords
out, began crackling with electrical energy. "Hey, Majiramon! One last thing before I finish this fight!"
"What?" Majiramon roared, gathering his power for one final assault.
"When fighting a digimon with a human partner: NEVER attack the partner. Just makes us mad! Raven Blades!" Wrapped in
energy, Karatenmon shot -through- Majiramon, appearing again on the other side of him. Majiramon disintegrated, data
flying apart. "Heh. Piece of cake."
"Not bad." Taomon replied. "But I could have done it in half the time."
"Keep telling yourself that, feather duster."
"Plush toy." Taomon replied.
Rika shook her head. "This is all your fault." she said to Hitomi. "That overgrown gerbil's a bad influence on her."
"Um...I'm sorry?"
"AND QUIT APOLOGIZING!"
==Hypnos
"Okay, we're all cleaned out." Janyu announced. "Now...Suzie, I know that this...Houndour?"
"Yeah, I'm not to thrilled about it either." Houndour replied.
"Huh?" Henry suddenly asked. "Hey, what's wrong with Suzie?"
"Look, I'm a Houndour. Dark pokemon. Scourge of the night, y'know?"
"I think you two make a nice match." Kotemon observed. "She's obviously already accepted you as her partner." (And he
switched back off-screen. -ed)
"No-one's accepting anything!" Janyu almost demanded. "After all that's just happened, do you think I really want Suzie to
go off to who knows where fighting giant monsters?"
"Henry does it!" Suzie countered. "I can too!"
"NO!" Both Janyu and Henry said, then stopped, glancing at each other. "We've lost this fight, haven't we?" Janyu asked
Henry. Suzie had already wrapped both arms around Houndour's neck. Helplessly, Henry nodded. "I'm too old for this.
Well?"
"Khumbiramon is contained." Yamaki said. "But...oh no..." Yamaki backed away from the terminal he was working on. "We
have to shut down Juggernaut NOW!" he tried to say, but the building decided to interrupt him.
"What's happening?" Dolphin shouted as everyone was knocked to the floor by what seemed like an earthquake.
Reilly and Talli burst through the door. "Everyone, out of the building!" both said, then ran.
Outside, everyone looked up and saw that a giant green...something was floating over the top of the Hypnos building. All
the digimon were bristling.
"What is this power I'm feeling?" Kotemon wondered. "Is this that Juggernaut device?"
"No!" Gabumon said. "It's a digimon!"
"A Deva?" Jeri asked.
"No." Dobermon said. "This is bigger..."
"HUMANS." A powerful voice thundered. "YOU HAVE DESTROYED MY AGENTS, BUT TO NO AVAIL. FOR THEIR PASSING HAS GIVEN ME THE
POWER TO ENTER YOUR WORLD MYSELF. BEHOLD THE INSTRUMENT OF YOUR DESTRUCTION. I, BAIHUMON, SWEAR THAT THIS DAY, THE EARTH
ITSELF SHALL DIE!"
==Next Episode
Baihumon attacks, and all of the tamers must join together to fight this powerful new menace. But can even all of their
powers combined be enough to defeat Baihumon, a Mega-level digimon? And why is Impmon attacking Yamaki? Next time, on
Digicross Tamers:
'Rally! Defeat the king of the west, Baihumon!'
in other words, and I apologise.
Chatsuramon looked up at the massive cloud, reddish-blue, hovering over them. "Sovereign!" he implored. "My brethren have
been struck down! How shall we avenge this strike against us? We must destroy the human blight on the two worlds!"
The cloud pulsed. Then a large, four-legged creature stepped out, the ground crumbling under its feet. "My patience wears
thin. I shall send Majiramon and Khumbiramon to the Real World, to avenge your kin."
"But they may be beaten!"
"No. This time, I shall choose the manner of their appearance. As the war continues, my power grows ever stronger. And
my power will be the end of the humans and their perverted digimon."
==
Digicross Tamers 19
'Mystic Swordsman Karatenmon'
==
==Friday, Tokyo.
Hitomi looked closely at the manga Takato had loaned her. "Ah, Takato? I don't think uncle Davis ever called Uncle Ken
'homeslice.'"
"Picky, picky." Terriermon sighed, shaking his head.
"Hey, I was curious." Takato answered, shrugging helplessly.
Hitomi smiled. "Well, I could ask him the next time we talk. Oh, Henry? What are 'mad skilz'?"
"What, they don't have L33T-speak?"
"Elite-speak?"
"Hey, maybe you could get them to re-do the series." Terriermon suggested. "Isn't TK supposed to be a writer?"
Hitomi thought about it for a second. "Well, he did help produce the 'Angel Defence Force' anime series."
"Angel...?" Takato asked.
Hitomi nodded. "It was a short anime series that all of the Japanese digidestined worked on. Dad, TK, and Aunt Kari all
did voices for the main characters in the original series."
"Oh, I get it!" Jeri said. "And Patamon, Gatomon, and your dad's Eevee were the angels?" Hitomi nodded. "That must have
been so neat. Is it still running?"
"Well, there's a new set of voice actors now. Although the original cast do come back every now and again."
==8 years ago, Celadon City
The convention hall was packed, people milling around in costumes going from booth to booth. In one room, Ken, Yolei, TK,
and Kari were all seated up front, answering questions.
"So, what was your inspiration for playing the lead villain?" one girl asked.
Yolei shrugged. "Well, I originally wanted to play the lead role, but Mimi and Kari convinced me that I could have more
fun being the bad guy. And Ken got to be my willing slave." That got a few laughs from the audience, and a beet red blush
from Ken. "And I had little Sam cheering me on. Say hi, Sam!"
Sam Inoue, all of five years old, looked up. "Um, hi?" he hazarded. He got a few 'Aww's' from the crowd. "Hey, what was
it like, having your mom play Queen Demonica?" someone asked.
"Daddy kept saying 'please, my queen, not that.' one night when I was trying to go to sleep." Sam answered. Everyone went
quiet. Seconds later, TK and Kari fell over laughing, as did a third of the audience. The rest had a massive case of the
giggles. Absolutely clueless, Sam blinked, wondering why everyone except mom and dad was laughing.
==
"Um." Henry managed. Hitomi fought back a chuckle. That story had quickly passed into convention history. "I had no idea
that the digidestined were all...otaku?"
"Only Uncle Davis. He managed to get Takeru caught up in anime too, and usually managed to drag us in as well."
Eevee snorted. "Like that time Davis convinced your mom and dad to dress you up as a Bronze Pichu Saint?" Hitomi blushed.
At Henry and Takato's incredulous glance, he went on. "Yeah, from Saint Scyther. It was an old series that Davis got
hooked on, said it was a lot funnier than Saint Seiya." The bell rang.
"Please tell me you have a picture." Jeri asked Eevee, ignoring Hitomi's frantically shaking head.
"I'll ask next chance I get. Oh, come on. I've seen it, you were adorable. Especially with the ears."
"Did you have to bring that up?" Hitomi groaned. "Alright, back inside." she held out a pokeball, recalling Eevee.
"Please don't tell anyone about this."
"Sure." Jeri replied, trying not to giggle too much. "Saint Pichu." she added, and headed for class.
==
"Will you stop moping over her already?" Kazu groaned during the break before last class. "Geez, you're like, no fun to be
around any more."
"What do you mean?" Kenta asked, hurt. Kazu had been irritable for the last few days. "Moping over who?"
"That Hitomi kid. I mean, what's come over you? Every time she's around, you turn into a complete dufus, you're always
following her around. I mean, why not Jeri? At least that'd get a rise out of Takato."
"Maybe Kenta has good taste." Jeri said, overhearing everything. "And maybe he knows better than to try to mess with
something between..." Jeri stopped, blushing.
"Oh!" Kazu said, brightening. "So there IS something between you and Takato, eh?" Annoyed, Jeri walked back to her desk
and sat down. Hitomi entered the room a second later, just seconds before the bell.
"Alright class, time for a quiz." Everyone groaned. Why did it have to be Mr. Cardynge for math?
==
"I know I bombed." Kazu moaned as he and Kenta exited the school.
"What? It was just long division." Kenta replied, still a bit put out.
"Yeah, and it took too long, alright? Why'd they send a university prof to teach us? This is cruel and unusual I tell
you!"
"Long division?" Henry asked, exiting the school. "We had to do Shakespeare. And Ms. Miller wants exact quotes. Must
have been those donuts that were dumped in the pool a while back."
"Oh great, it's coming back to haunt us all." Kenta sighed. "Good one, Kazu. We'll be doing nuclear physics by grade 6."
"Well, at least you'll have a study partner, eh?" Kazu replied, elbowing Kenta. Henry rolled his eyes and headed off.
"Look, I'm sorry about before, alright? Just...don't get cooties or anything, alright?"
"Cooties?" Kenta asked. "What, are we back in first grade or something now?"
==
Reilly glanced at the monitor again. "I think...it looks like there's some interdimensional activity from the digital
world, but I can't pin it down. Talli?"
"Nothing here. Maybe the sensor's glitched up again? It hasn't worked right since Makuramon messed with it."
Reilly stared at the screen. "There's something we're missing. Maybe..."
==
"This Saturday morning? I'm sorry, but I had plans with Ms. Asaji. Is it important?" Hitomi asked.
"Not for the morning, no. I'm really interested in these Ultimate levels the digimon have been achieving. I just want to
check on everyone's digimon. But I might need Eevee later. Will you be back by about...2:00?"
Hitomi glanced at Ms. Asaji. "How about 2:00?" The teacher nodded. "That would be fine, Mr. Wong. Okay, thank you!"
She
hung up.
"If it was important..." Ms. Asaji started to say.
"They just want to check on all the digimon who've evolved to their ultimate levels." Hitomi replied. "I think they wanted
Eevee to compare the readings with."
"A baseline." Ms. Asaji said, nodding. "Well, the play should be over by noon, so we can have lunch before we stop by
Hypnos. Is that alright?"
"Sure. What kind of play is it?"
"You'll love it." Nami replied. "Some actors from America are coming here and doing Shakespeare."
==
"Umm...no thanks." Rika said. "After Antylamon, Renamon..."
"Sure." Henry replied. "We can fill you in later, alright?" The phone clicked, and Rika hung up.
"Renamon?" Rika called. When the digimon didn't appear, Rika walked to her room, looking inside. Renamon was sitting near
the window, staring out. Saying nothing, Rika walked in and sat by her partner.
==Saturday
Suzie was quickly stuffing a few things into her backpack. Henry and dad had taken Terriermon, and she hadn't even had a
chance to try out that new dress she had gotten for Henry's 'doll'.
"Oh dear." Suzie's mom said. "Janyu left his lunch behind. But I don't have the time to take it to him."
"I'll do it mommy!" Suzie cried. "I'm big enough!"
"Suzie...well, alright. But I'll have that nice Alice McCoy take you, alright?"
"Yayy! Big sister Alice!"
==McCoy residence
Why, Alice wondered, is my blood running cold? She glanced at Dobermon, resting quietly, then went back to her homework.
"Okay. Admiral Perry arrived in..." she glanced at the ringing phone. I could use a break, she decided.
==Hypnos
It wasn't quite the welcome that Reilly had hoped. Henry and Janyu had arrived, stared a bit warily at Yamaki, then went
over to the Monster Makers. Yamaki had just finished explaining that he WASN'T trying to destroy all digimon any more, so
could they please just drop it for now and get back to work? A few minutes later, Takato and Guilmon had entered, Guilmon
had growled at Yamaki, then Takato calmed him down, stared warily at Yamaki, and got to work.
Jeri, Gabumon following her, ran into the room. "Sorry I'm late everyone, I-" She stopped as she saw Yamaki. She glared
at Yamaki, turned on her heel, and walked out.
"Well, that was...different." Yamaki sighed. "But not unexpected."
"Well, you can't blame her." Janyu replied.
"Perhaps, but if she's not willing to work with us, then-"
"I'll get her." Takato said, running out the door.
==New Bark Town
"I don't like it." Kyle said. "I know we need him, but I don't like it."
"Well, this Yamaki person did put the Juggernaut program together. Maybe he can help seal up all the holes and stop the
Devas from coming through." Izzy replied. "Don't worry. Janyu and Dolphin are keeping an eye on him. And as long as she
has Eevee, nothing will happen to her."
"Yeah." Kyle's Eevee added. "For a newcomer, he's advanced pretty quickly. I'd be surprised if he doesn't digivolve to
his Ultimate level soon." At Kyle's shiver, he sighed. "They'll. Be. Fine. Hey, her Eevee has a fit if he's not within
eyesight of her. Bit like you, Kyle."
"Yeah, I guess." Kyle admitted. "Hey, where are your two houseguests?"
"Kotemon and Houndour? Outside, I think Kotemon was practising." Izzy shrugged. "I wish Houndour would let me have
another look at that egg."
==Hypnos HQ, main floor
"Jeri, wait up!" Takato gasped, coming out of the stairwell. "Boy, those are some serious stairs."
Jeri stopped, glancing at Takato. "How can you work with...that monster?"
Huh? Oh, you mean Yamaki? Well, we don't have much of a choice. He did kinda create the program that's opening up all
the portals."
"All I see is the monster that tried to hurt Hitomi." Jeri said firmly. Takato was a bit stunned. He had never seen this
side of Jeri before. "And what he did to her...I'm sorry, I can't forgive it."
Takato tried to think of something. "Well...you don't have to, I mean, I don't think any of us have. And Henry's dad and
Mr. McCoy are keeping an eye on him, right?"
"Well..." Jeri replied.
"Hey, don't worry. I'm sure he won't try anything, alright? And if he does...well, I'll tie him up and give him to Suzie,
how about that?"
The image of Yamaki in a pink dress got a laugh out of Jeri. "Well, I guess...if it's you that's asking." She started
laughing again as soon as she saw Takato's expression.
"Takato! Jeri!"
"Eh?" Takato, jolted out of his reverie, mumbled. "Oh, hi Suzie. What brings you here?"
"Daddy forgot something at home and I had to bring it to him and Henry was all mean and took Terriermon away from me and he
wouldn't tell me where he was going and mommy couldn't take me but Alice was able to but I seem to have lost her."
"Does she even breathe?" Jeri asked, staring at Suzie.
"There you are." Alice said, walking over. "Hello you two. Are we interrupting anything?"
"You'll never know." Jeri replied, putting her arm around Takato's.
"Yes, it's a mystery to all." Alice replied dryly. "Suzie?"
"Oh, are they going all mommy and daddy on us?" Alice politely tried not to laugh as both Jeri and Takato blushed.
==
Kenta sighed, sure that he would be bored silly. Why did he have to go to some stupid play on a perfectly good Saturday
morning?
"Kenta?"
Kenta glanced several people ahead, and spotted Hitomi waving. "Oh, hey. You get dragged here too?"
"Actually." Nami answered for her, "I asked, and she was willing to come see it. And what brings you here?"
"We do." Kenta's father said. "Too nice a day to be cooped up inside playing video games, eh?" He glanced at Hitomi.
"So, you're Hitomi, eh?"
"Dad!" Kenta hissed.
"What? I was just going to say...ah, right." he winked, none too subtly, getting a confused look from Hitomi. "And Ms.
Asaji. I hope our boy's not being too much trouble."
"Not at all." Nami replied diplomatically. No sense bringing Kazu into it. "In fact, he's improved quite a bit."
==Hypnos
Yamaki stared at the readings on the screen. "Well, without a reading before he evolved, I can't say how Calumon's energy
burst was able to influence Terriermon's evolution. Though I note that this sequence of DDNA here seems slightly
irregular."
"DDNA?" Henry asked.
"Digital DNA." Dolphin answered. "When Digimon appear in this world, they have to synthesize physical bodies in order to
survive; pure data would just fly apart here. The 'digital fields' you've encountered seem to create the DDNA for digimon
to use."
"We also know that this DDNA is fragile; if a digimon suffers enough damage, it disintegrates." Babel added. "Those
fragments you see digimon break into when you defeat them is their DDNA disintegrating."
"And the victorious digimon can absorb it to increase its own power." Yamaki finished. The dark tone of his voice
indicated what he thought of the whole process.
"Don't look at me!" Terriermon complained. "I haven't loaded anyone's data in ages!"
"None of us have." Henry said. "Ever since Renamon managed to digivolve, come to think of it. Hey, what about Eevee?
Didn't Hitomi say he was some kind of hybrid?"
"I observed that, yes." Yamaki said. "Although Reilly destroyed the data after..." he trailed off. "Where is Reilly,
anyway?"
"Babysitting." Babel answered, aiming a grin at Janyu. "And Talli's up in the main scanner room."
==A few levels down.
"Wow." Suzie gasped. "This place is a lot bigger than home. But where's daddy?"
Reilly smiled. "He's doing some very important work right now, and can't be disturbed."
"But Alice got to go see him." Suzie whined.
"Well, when you're a bit older, then you can go see where your dad works, alright?"
==And back up...
Alice stepped through the door, glanced at Yamaki, and walked over to Janyu. "You forgot your lunch." she explained,
handing a small paper bag to the researcher. Slightly mortified, Janyu placed the bag on his desk, then motioned to a
chair, allowing Alice to sit down. Dobermon sat by her, never taking his eyes off of Yamaki.
I suppose I deserve this, Yamaki decided, and went back to work. "I'm transmitting our findings to Mr. Izumi on Hitomi's
world."
==Okay, at the play, Intermission *phew!*
Hitomi took a sip from the lemonade Nami had bought her. It was a bit sweeter than she liked, but it was drinkable.
"Kenta," she called, seeing the boy. "Where were you? We were up front, so we couldn't see you."
"Oh, I was two rows back." Kenta replied. He had spent the first half of the play splitting his attention between the play
and Hitomi. "So...enjoying it? I think I could get to like Shakespeare."
"It's fun, yes." Hitomi answered. She resisted the urge to chuckle. In some ways, Kenta reminded her of Hiroki; Kenta
acted a bit like Hiroki, especially when she was...
Oh dear, Hitomi suddenly realized. A bell sounded, indicating that the play was about to resume. "We'll talk after the
play." Hitomi said, then ran back to her seat.
==New Bark Town.
Izzy studied the readings he was getting from the scan he was doing of the alternate digital world. "Odd, I'm getting some
strange power readings. It's almost as if..." Quickly, he keyed in a message. "Blocked? What's going on over there?"
"What is wrong?" Kotemon asked, wandering in. Houndour followed him in.
"There's something coming out of the digital world attached to the world Hitomi's on, and it's larger than any signature
I've seen before."
==Hypnos, main floor.
Jeri, her arm around Takato's, stepped into the elevator. "Takato? Maybe...we can study together sometime?"
Takato was sure that his reply would sweep Jeri off his feet. He opened his mouth, then the elevator they were in rudely
decided to stop.
==Lab
"What was that?" Henry asked, knocked to the floor.
"Massive power surge from the digital world, targeted at our mainframe!" Talli's voice said over the intercom. "I
think..." her voice fizzled out, as a light grey mist started forming.
"A digital field!" Dobermon gasped. "Here in Hypnos!"
"They must be planning to destroy this place." Yamaki snarled. "I guess we were a bigger threat to them after all." He
ran to a console and typed in a series of commands. Almost immediately, sirens and alarms started ringing.
==1st floor.
"Suzie, stay here, alright?" Reilly told the girl. "I'll get your brother to come get you, alright? Promise that you'll
wait here for him, okay?"
"*sniff* Okay. But...what if something attacks me?"
"Hey, you're safe here. And I'll send your brother to get you as soon as possible."
==Park
Impmon stared at Calumon, flexing his fingers. He'd loaded quite a bit of data by now, and he was sure that the flying
creampuff would trigger his evolution. If he didn't have that stupid freak living inside of him, he thought.
"Alright, I'll just surprise him and take his data." He took a step forward, but stopped as grey mist started swirling
around him.
"Are you so sure, Impmon?" a voice asked.
"Huh? Who said that? Come on out so I can zap ya."
"You threaten Chatsuramon, Master of the Devas? Humorous. But I am not here to fight, Impmon."
"What then?"
"To talk of you, that human you are bound with...and your evolution..."
==Park, near the play.
"Hitomi!" Nami gasped. Everything had stopped as soon as the mist appeared. The two started looking around, wondering
where the digimon would be attacking from.
"I'll go check." Hitomi said. "You should get out of here."
"I'm not letting you face some monster alone! What if..."
Hitomi was speechless for a moment, taken aback by the emotion in Nami's voice. She put her arms around the teacher,
reassuring her. "I'll be fine. But I have to at least find out what's appearing here before it breaks out of the digital
field and starts attacking everyone." She got up, and headed out the exit, D-Arc in hand.
"Be careful..." Nami said, then got up.
Hitomi had gotten several feet away from the tent, and the mist was almost impossible to see through. "Eevee, come on
out."
Eevee appeared, and glanced around, fur already standing up. "Careful. Whatever's here is incredibly powerful. Maybe we
should get one of the other tamers to help."
"There's too many people here. If the digimon in the field attacks, we might have to hold it off." A hand touched her
shoulder, causing her to yelp in surprise.
"Hitomi!" Kenta gasped. "What are you doing out here?"
"K...Kenta? You shouldn't be here, there might be a digimon attacking!"
"Well, I saw you leave and...well, I wanted to help." he finished weakly.
"Kenta..." Hitomi whispered. Then she had an idea. "Go and get Rika; her place is closer than the Hypnos building, where
the other tamers are. Tell her to hurry." She gave Kenta a quick hug, then nodded to him. Kenta nodded back, and ran
off, hoping he was headed in the right direction.
==Hypnos
"We have to get out of here." Alice said. "Suzie's in the building!"
"WHAT?" Henry and Janyu both yelled.
"She was with Ms. Reilly." Alice said defensively. "I'm sure she got her to a safe place."
"If digimon are attacking, then I doubt any place in here would be safe." Yamaki noted, voice grim. "If we just knew where
they were going to appear."
"Right here, human worms!" a high pitched voice announced. A glowing disk appeared on the floor, and a small digimon came
through it. It was a bizarre looking creature, a cross of a rat's head, spider's legs, and a metal sphere for a body.
"Behold Khumbiramon, Messenger of the Devas and your doom!"
"I'm not impressed." Dobermon snarled, advancing on the Deva. Alice had a card in hand, ready to use it.
"They must be desperate if they sent a spare parts digimon. What, someone forget to read the manual when they put you
together?" Terriermon cracked.
"Terriermon." Henry muttered.
"What? That shrimp's smaller than me! One stomp should take care of him. I mean, what could he possibly do?"
Khumbiramon grinned, and the small rod on his back glowed, releasing bolts of greenish energy. The computers started to
spark alarmingly. "Why do I set myself up like this?"
"I may be small, but my power is the greatest of all the Devas. Now, arise fallen digimon, and claim your vengeance on the
humans who destroyed you!"
Yamaki's eyes widened as ghostly shapes started to appear. "You have been busy." Dolphin growled, picking up a chair and
getting ready to defend himself. "Henry, make with the gun toting rabbit, like NOW, maybe?"
"Digi-modify! Digivolution activate!"
"Terriermon, digivolve to...Gargomon! Henry, aside from rat-boy, the rest are all rookies or low level champions. We can
take 'em!"
"You think?" Khumbiramon taunted. "Deva Clone!" he shouted, as several copies of Khumbiramon appeared.
"I'm going to stop talking now." Gargomon groaned. "I'm tired of being this creep's straight 'mon.
==
Gabumon and Guilmon managed to force the Elevator doors open. "Takato, I smell digimon!" Guilmon warned.
"Yeah, the mist was kind of a give-away." Takato replied. "But I don't see any digimon."
"Ahh!" Jeri gasped. "Suzie's in here! We have to find her!"
"We're about to be too busy." Gabumon growled as several ghostly digimon appeared. "And these halls are too small for us
to digivolve in!"
"Running sounds good." Takato suggested. "I don't think we can fight all of these digimon." As he spoke, the digimon
started to solidify, all glaring at Takato and Jeri. Guilmon and Gabumon moved to defend them.
"I don't think we have a choice. Ready?" Jeri said to Takato, taking a card out.
"Would you believe me if I said yes?" he replied, voice quavering a bit, as he also took out a card.
"Digi-Modify!"
==New Bark Town
Izzy worked frantically. Seconds ago, he had lost contact with Hypnos, and something *weird* had managed to detach itself
from the digital world there and attach itself to the computer system inside Hypnos. "I've never heard of this happening!
And I can't get through all the interference to find out what's happening!"
"What do you think's happening?" Kyle asked, feeling helpless.
"I think...I think they're being invaded by whatever's taken over the digital world there!"
Kotemon and Houndour, carrying the digiegg she had found, ran in. "It is an invasion! I know it!" Kotemon said. "We have
to get there now!"
"We don't have anything close to a portal!" Ken replied, getting a little frantic. "We can't even communicate with them!"
Kotemon said something unrepeatable, and glared at the main monitor. "Janyu." he said suddenly. At that word, the
digivices around Kotemon and Houndour's necks lit up, and the monitor they were staring at resolved into a familiar image.
"A Digiport." Izzy gasped. Then he saw the two monsters jump for it, vanishing as they did. "No, wait!" he cried, then
felt Kyle pulling him backwards as the entire screen exploded.
==Hypnos
Gargomon dodged one digimon, a Gazimon, took aim at an attacking Black Agumon, and managed to thoroughly miss seeing the
Mushroomon that went after Janyu. "Dad!" Henry yelled, unable to do anything to save his father.
"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Kotemon shouted, sword out and appearing through a Digiport on one of the surviving computer screens in
the room. His shinai, already wrapped in flames, sliced the Mushroomon in two, killing it.
"So...you on our side?" Gargomon asked as everyone else, digimon included, stared at the newcomer.
"Let's find out. Catch!" Kotemon yelled, taking the digivice from around his neck and throwing it to Janyu. He caught it,
and it immediately shifted into a D-Arc. "Hmm. Where'd Houndour go?"
==Floor down
"Henryyy! Help me!" Suzie wailed.
"Quiet, worm!" the Flarizamon replied darkly. "You shall soon be joining all the other humans in this building!"
Flarizamon advanced on the young girl, claws out.
"Back away from her."
Flarizamon whirled around, staring at the newcomer. "Huh...who...You are no digimon!"
"No. The name's Houndour, but you can call me the queen (bleep) of this junkyard."
Suzie blinked. "Uh...I don't think daddy would like me hearing grown up words like that."
"Way to wreck my entrance kid." Houndour sighed. She went over to Suzie's side. "Here, hold this for a second." she said,
kneeling down and indicating the egg she was carrying in a sling on her back. Suzie took it, and accidentally brushed the
digivice around the pokemon's neck. It shivered, then shifted into a pink-ringed D-arc.
"Ahh...nuts." Houndour sighed again.
"Language!" Suzie commanded.
"Fine. Just let me take care of that overgrown firecracker first." She looked up and grinned at Flarizamon.
(And no, it wasn't a very nice grin, either -ed)
==Park
Hitomi got to her feet, knocked over by something flying right over her head. It hadn't hit, but the wind it kicked up as
it skimmed over the ground had been enough to send the tamer flying. Eevee ran over, concerned. "It's big." he said, a
bit unnecessarily. "I think it might be a dragon type. Maybe an Airdramon, but I didn't see any wings."
"Because I have no need of them. I am Majiramon, master of the skies and Deva. I, along with Khumbiramon, have been sent
to avenge the deaths of my comrades that you and those other humans are responsible for." In the mist, Hitomi could just
make out a long, serpentine shape circling above her.
"Easy." Eevee said, noticing Hitomi start to tremble a bit. "I can take him, even without that overgrown featherduster's
help. Just like we practised, alright?"
Hitomi nodded, took a deep breath, and pulled a card out. "Digi-modify. Digivolution activate!"
"Eevee, digivolve to...Jolteon!"
"So, you have mastered the ability to digivolve." Majiramon observed. "A shame I must destroy you before I can learn your
secrets. The Sovereign would be interested."
"Send him this." Jolteon replied. "Zap Cannon!" The ball of lightning shot towards Majiramon, struck, and failed to do
any damage whatsoever. "Pin Missile!"
Majiramon hovered th4ere, simply taking the attacks without doing anything. "I commend your bravery, human and digimon.
But my duty is clear." He shot up, and circled over Jolteon and Hitomi. "Treasure Arrow!" he called, summoning a swarm of
arrows and dropping them on the two.
==
Rika wondered if this was what it was like to meditate. She and Renamon had sat staring out the window for what felt like
hours now, neither one saying anything.
Finally, Renamon looked over. "Thank you." she said quietly.
"For what?"
"For being there. For giving me the strength to make the right choice."
"But...Antylamon was your...your..."
Renamon nodded, and looked out the window again. "She was not the Antylamon I knew back in the digital world. Something
changed her, made her attack you. We must find who did this to her and make sure this does not happen again." She glanced
up, and vanished.
Yuka Nonaka entered Rika's room, looking troubled. "Rika? One of your friends is here, I think. It's that boy with the
glasses that goes to Hitomi's school?" She glanced at Rika, curious. While Rika was the apple of her eye, and (in
Rumiko's mind) the most beautiful daughter anyone was ever blessed with, she was a bit put out when a boy she had only seen
glimpses of ran up to the doorstep and fairly yelled "I need Rika!"
"Kenta? If he's looking for Hitomi, she's not here."
Kenta chose that moment to burst in. "Park...digimon...Hitomi's fighting it alone!"
"WHAT?" Rika shouted as Renamon appeared beside her. She glanced at her D-Arc. Nothing. "Renamon?"
"I didn't sense...No, two of them. We have to go to her!"
==
Okay, maybe it does look a bit dumb, Henry thought as he saw his dad use the same motions he did as he slashed one of
Henry's evolution cards. "Digi-modify! Digivolution activate!"
"Kotemon, digivolve to...Dino Humon!"
"I guess it's official!" Gargomon called, blasting another digimon to dust. "I guess we'll have to take down the 'no
grownups' sign on the clubhouse!"
"Duck!" Dino Humon roared. On evolving, Dino Humon found that he was shorter now, maybe half again Janyu's size. Just as
well, this room was built with humans in mind. The warrior digimon drew his shortswords and leaped at the nearest digimon,
a Dokugumon that had appeared. "Lizard Dance!" he called, landing a number of slashes on the spider's body.
"I did that?" Janyu gasped.
"I guess you and Henry can really do some bonding now." Dolphin answered. "Maybe I should get a digimon partner too, so
Alice and I can connect, eh?" Alice pointedly ignored her father, concentrating on aiding Dobermon.
Yamaki frowned, still trying to get to one of the consoles. "I have an idea. Dolphin, Babel, I need...I need your help."
==
"I will have my revenge!" Sepikmon cackled, swinging his boomerang at Guilmon.
"This isn't working!" Takato said to Jeri. "For every digimon we beat, two more take its place."
"I know! Digi-Modify! Gargo Laser activate!" Jeri used a Gargomon card, giving Gabumon a chance to lay down suppressing
fire (Oh, if only Takeru could see this. He'd be jealous. Trust me. -ed) "And we still have to get to Suzie! She's all
alone in here!"
Okay, Takato thought, time to say something heroic. He almost had it, when fate decided to mock him.
A big black dog grabbed Sepikmon's boomerang, snapped it in two, and then incinerated Sepikmon with a stream of flame. "I
hate playing fetch." Houndour growled. She then turned to the rest of the advancing digimon, and roared as loud as she
could. Some of them backed off, a few of the braver ones still advanced.
"Digi-modify! Metal Wolf claw, activate!"
"Raaarr!" Guilmon howled, firing a large missile, which then split into several more, striking the oncoming digimon and
freezing them.
"Nice shot, red." Houndour commented, then glared at the remaining digimon. Suzie ran out from a doorway and wrapped her
arms around Houndour.
"Houndour! You were so brave back there!" Suzie wailed. "But we still have to do something about your language, young
lady."
"Please, tell me you want to trade!" Houndour begged Takato and Jeri.
"Suzie..." Jeri hazarded. "Is that...your digimon?"
"Uh-huh!" Suzie announced, holding up a pink-ringed digivice. "See, it changed when I touched it! Now I have a puppy dog
just like big sister Alice's!"
"Uh...right." Takato murmured. "Henry's not gonna like this." he whispered to Jeri. Jeri nodded, keeping an eye on the
remaining digimon.
==Elsewhere.
"So, this...Yamaki, you called him, hates digimon?"
"Yeah." Impmon huffed. "But scumbag works too. He tried to build some kind of super digimon destroyer in that weird
building he runs. I think one of your Devas messed it up, though."
"Ah, his Juggernaut. Humans are intelligent, in a mean, small-souled sort of way. Too dangerous to be left alone. That
is how we Devas are able to come to the Human World."
"So," Impmon asked, "what about you? Not that I mind havin' a friendly ear to bend, but I still don't get what you're
gettin' out of all this."
"We both see humans as an obstacle that must be destroyed. I merely have a...broader view than you. And I see great
potential in you. It will be hard, it will be painful, but I think I can induce an evolution in you, with the
right...equipment."
==Park
Calumon flew over to where Hitomi was fighting Majiramon. "She's fighting again." Calumon whispered. "I know, they're
trying to stop that big meanie from destroying the city, but... really? Okay, but when it's time, can I come with you?
Okay, sure!"
Hitomi and Jolteon missed all of this. Jolteon was darting back and forth, trying to find a weak spot.
Hitomi was just scared.
One of her biggest fears when she got Eevee was that she would be, forever more, little more than a scared little girl who
had to be saved by everyone around her. She knew, almost without a doubt, that she would never be good enough. "I...I
wish Takeru was here."
Jolteon stopped, stunned. "Huh?"
"I...I'm not as brave...I'm not as good a trainer as he is!"
"Intelligence." Majiramon noted, then dodged as Jolteon fired another ball of lighting at him. "I tire of this." Majiramon
then regarded the digital field, seeking a way to break the walls confining him.
Jolteon took advantage of the break to run over to his partner. "Are you out of your mind? Okay, I could see wishing that
mom and dad were here, but...Takeru? Even...even Rika would be better than him."
"Takeru's braver than I am." Hitomi replied, shakily.
"He's an idiot!" Jolteon replied. "He's only braver 'cause he never thinks things through. Just like his dad."
"But..."
"Look. You're a great trainer. Yeah, Majiramon there's about 20 times bigger than both of us put together, he's an
Ultimate, and he's...well, he's got us outgunned. Hey, no big. Digidestined like us have been putting these creeps on ice
for, what, 30 years now? Come on, let's beat this nut and go home. I need to put Takeru in his place."
"Can I come too?" Calumon said, flying over to Hitomi. "Unown's decided he wants to go home too, now, and he said I can
come too, if I want to."
"You'll help?" Hitomi asked.
"Yep. I finally know what I am! I'm Calumon, and I can help digimon digio... dogibu... oh, that thing where they get all
glowy and big!" As he spoke, the red triangle on Calumon's forehead shone. "Crystal Matrix activate!"
"Eh?" Majiramon broke off his contemplation, staring at the ground. "The Catalyst! SO he does have the power of
evolution!"
"And you can't have it you...you big meanie!" Calumon yelled back.
Hitomi's digivice was pulsing with light now. She took out a card, saw that it was a Renamon, and smiled. "We're going
home!" she cried. As she did, the card turned blue. "Digi-modify! Matrix Digivolution activate!"
"Jolteon, Matrix digivolve to...Karatenmon!"
==
Chatsuramon looked up. "Ah. The Catalyst has used his power."
Impmon blinked. "Huh? Cata-what? Hey, you don't mean that flying creampuff, do ya?"
"I do, if you mean Calumon. Don't you know? He is the very essence of digivolution. With him, the Sovereign could end
the war now and bring order to both worlds."
"Huh. Who knew. But he's got some weird creature in him, too."
"Easily handled." Chatsuramon answered. "But tell me everything you know about Calumon."
==
Kyuubimon, carrying both Rika and Kenta, tore into the park. Spotting the digimon, Nami ran over. "She went that way!"
Nami said, pointing towards the middle of the park. Rika and Kenta glanced in that direction; the mist from the digital
field had dissipated, leaving a large dome. The dome then burst, and two digimon shot out of it.
"Hitomi!" Nami and Rika both yelled.
"Majiramon!" Kyuubimon hissed. "But I don't recognize the second one."
Rika glanced at her D-Arc. An image appeared of the second digimon. "Karatenmon. Ultimate level Vaccine type digimon.
Special attacks are Shadow Flash and Raven blades."
"Huh?" Kenta asked. "I thought Karatenmon was a virus type digimon."
Rika opened her mouth to reply, then glanced at the readout again. "No, make that Vaccine...Normal? It's a hybrid
digimon!" She glanced at the picture, and realized that, unlike the Karatenmon on the cards, this one wore a broad-brimmed
hat, and that it's beak was a bit longer.
"There!" Nami yelled, pointing at Karatenmon. "He's got Hitomi with him!" Indeed, Karatenmon had Hitomi with him, the
tamer nestled in one of the bird digimon's arms.
"I guess Eevee figured she'd be safer with him than on the ground." Kenta reasoned.
"Where's Calumon?" Rika wondered. "I think we're going to need Taomon for this one."
"Majiramon is one of the strongest of the Devas." Kyuubimon agreed. "And being able to fly would be an asset in this
fight."
"Someone call?" Calumon asked, wandering over. "Oh, hi Rika! Isn't Hitomi's partner neat? Getting all big and flying off
into the night to chase away that awful meanie?"
"Yeah, sure. Listen, I need to digivolve Kyuubimon to Taomon." Calumon nodded. "Well?"
"Well, what?"
Rika counted to ten (quickly), and spoke more slowly. "I need you to use your power to help Kyuubimon digivolve."
"Well...I don't think you really need me for that."
"Huh?" Kenta asked. "But I thought you were digivolution itself or something." Rika made a note to have a word with
Takato about how much he told Kenta later. "Don't you like, light up and shoot a big beam of energy?"
"Oh, that? Well, I think I just showed you how to do it, really. You just have to want it to happen."
"You're joking, right?" Rika asked.
"Please, Rika, try it!" Nami begged. Rika glanced at Nami, stunned.
"Alright." Rika replied, taking a card out. Hitomi, you'd better not die up there, she thought as the card turned blue.
"Digi-modify! Matrix Digivolution activate!"
"Kyuubimon, Matrix Digivolve to...Taomon!"
==Hypnos
Yamaki worked furiously at the console while the battle raged around him. "This isn't good!" he yelled. "The portal isn't
shrinking; I think it's actually expanding!"
"At least the digimon are letting up!" Henry called. "Gargomon, behind you!"
Gargomon started to turn to face the Allomon that was jumping him, then relaxed a bit as Dobermon tackled it. "Thanks!" he
called.
"Keep them back!" Janyu yelled. "We've almost got a solution...okay, NOW!"
"Activate Yuugoth!" Babel grinned, finger stabbing a button. Instantly, all the attacking digimon stopped, only the kids'
(and one adult's) digimon remaining unaffected. "Yes! One limited field Yuugoth capture program, by yours truly!"
"You mean 'us', Babel." Dolphin replied, smirking. Why DID Daisy ever give up this line of work, just to be a police
officer?"
"Her loss." Janyu sighed as the imprisoned digimon dissipated. "Now we just have to find Khumbiramon. I think he might be
too powerful to be affected by the program."
"You mean that small rat guy?" Takato asked, entering the room.
"Takato!" Henry gasped. "Where's Suzie?"
"Oh, she's fine..." he glanced down the hall. Curious, Henry looked down the hall, and saw Suzie, Jeri, Gabumon, and a
large black dog, faintly resembling Dobermon. "Houndour," Takato continued, "Meet Henry. Henry, this is Houndour.
Suzie's...partner."
"Ha ha, Takato. Very funny."
"Hennnryyy!" Suzie yelled, running over and waving her digivice around. "I have a puppy now just like Alice's and now
daddy has to buy me all those pretty black dresses like Alice has!"
"Shoot me. Please." Houndour tried to mutter, teeth firmly latched onto a still struggling Khumbiramon.
==Park
Majiramon glanced at Karatenmon, impressed. "You digivolved to the Ultimate level. You continue to surprise me. But
bringing your human along shows that you are weak. Your devotion to that pathetic creature will be your end."
"It's my devotion to Hitomi that made my evolution possible." Karatenmon snarled, not impressed. "But I guess I'll have to
hammer that lesson into your thick skull the hard way, antler-face."
"How quaint. Vedaka!" From Majiramon's mouth came a massive bolt of energy, shaped like a giant arrow. Wings flapping,
Karatenmon dodged the missile. "You can't use your full power and keep your pet safe. Unless she can grow wings, fool!"
"Hitomi?" Karatenmon asked. "Well, she is an angel, but I won't ask her to show off her wings. Rika might get jealous,
you know. But speaking of wings...Shadow Flash!" Karatenmon's wings opened full up, and two blasts of black energy shot
out, striking the dragon in the face. His free arm snapped forward, sword crackling with electric energy, and sliced off a
piece of one of Majiramon's antlers. "Slow or quick, you're going to lose." Karatenmon said slowly, voice filled with
menace.
"I think not. One of your arms is still occupied with your pet." Majiramon smirked, confident he would win.
"Allow me." Taomon said, appearing beside Karatenmon. With a wave of her arm, she created a ghostly Yin-Yang symbol, and
set Rika down on it. "This will keep Hitomi safe while you finish this Deva."
"Thanks." Karatenmon replied, setting Hitomi on the spell-platform beside Rika. "I've got a few things to settle with
scaleface over there. Keep an eye on Hitomi, alright?"
"She will be safe." Taomon replied sombrely. "I will aid you, if you request it. Or not." she said as Karatenmon drew his
remaining sword.
Karatenmon shot at Majiramon, now completely free to act. The Deva thought to distract him by launching an attack at
Hitomi and Rika, but it was blocked by Taomon, giving Karatenmon a chance to cut two long gashes down Majiramon's body.
The two then truly set at each other, Majiramon's long snakelike body twisting around to avoid Karatenmon's blades.
"Here." Rika said, as she and Hitomi watched the battle. "Use this card." Unnoticed, Taomon arched an eyebrow.
"A Hyper Speed card?" Hitomi gasped as she took it from Rika. "Rika..."
"Hey, don't get all mushy on me, alright? Taomon just wants to see how good Karatenmon is."
Smiling, Hitomi nodded. "Digi-modify! Hyper-Speed Activate!"
"Ohh YEAH!" Karatenmon yelled as he felt his speed increase. He easily dodged another swarm of arrows, then, both swords
out, began crackling with electrical energy. "Hey, Majiramon! One last thing before I finish this fight!"
"What?" Majiramon roared, gathering his power for one final assault.
"When fighting a digimon with a human partner: NEVER attack the partner. Just makes us mad! Raven Blades!" Wrapped in
energy, Karatenmon shot -through- Majiramon, appearing again on the other side of him. Majiramon disintegrated, data
flying apart. "Heh. Piece of cake."
"Not bad." Taomon replied. "But I could have done it in half the time."
"Keep telling yourself that, feather duster."
"Plush toy." Taomon replied.
Rika shook her head. "This is all your fault." she said to Hitomi. "That overgrown gerbil's a bad influence on her."
"Um...I'm sorry?"
"AND QUIT APOLOGIZING!"
==Hypnos
"Okay, we're all cleaned out." Janyu announced. "Now...Suzie, I know that this...Houndour?"
"Yeah, I'm not to thrilled about it either." Houndour replied.
"Huh?" Henry suddenly asked. "Hey, what's wrong with Suzie?"
"Look, I'm a Houndour. Dark pokemon. Scourge of the night, y'know?"
"I think you two make a nice match." Kotemon observed. "She's obviously already accepted you as her partner." (And he
switched back off-screen. -ed)
"No-one's accepting anything!" Janyu almost demanded. "After all that's just happened, do you think I really want Suzie to
go off to who knows where fighting giant monsters?"
"Henry does it!" Suzie countered. "I can too!"
"NO!" Both Janyu and Henry said, then stopped, glancing at each other. "We've lost this fight, haven't we?" Janyu asked
Henry. Suzie had already wrapped both arms around Houndour's neck. Helplessly, Henry nodded. "I'm too old for this.
Well?"
"Khumbiramon is contained." Yamaki said. "But...oh no..." Yamaki backed away from the terminal he was working on. "We
have to shut down Juggernaut NOW!" he tried to say, but the building decided to interrupt him.
"What's happening?" Dolphin shouted as everyone was knocked to the floor by what seemed like an earthquake.
Reilly and Talli burst through the door. "Everyone, out of the building!" both said, then ran.
Outside, everyone looked up and saw that a giant green...something was floating over the top of the Hypnos building. All
the digimon were bristling.
"What is this power I'm feeling?" Kotemon wondered. "Is this that Juggernaut device?"
"No!" Gabumon said. "It's a digimon!"
"A Deva?" Jeri asked.
"No." Dobermon said. "This is bigger..."
"HUMANS." A powerful voice thundered. "YOU HAVE DESTROYED MY AGENTS, BUT TO NO AVAIL. FOR THEIR PASSING HAS GIVEN ME THE
POWER TO ENTER YOUR WORLD MYSELF. BEHOLD THE INSTRUMENT OF YOUR DESTRUCTION. I, BAIHUMON, SWEAR THAT THIS DAY, THE EARTH
ITSELF SHALL DIE!"
==Next Episode
Baihumon attacks, and all of the tamers must join together to fight this powerful new menace. But can even all of their
powers combined be enough to defeat Baihumon, a Mega-level digimon? And why is Impmon attacking Yamaki? Next time, on
Digicross Tamers:
'Rally! Defeat the king of the west, Baihumon!'