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A stormtrooper lost in the Digiworld
Chapter 3: the Meeting.
First of all I want to thank everybody for the reviews. It was really pleasant to see that someone actually reads this. Standard disclaimer: I do not own digimon, star wars or the prototype of the hero of the story, who will appear in this chapter. I am terribly sorry for my grammatical mistakes and if someone knows a good internet site or a program which can help me with that – I'm begging you to tell me about it. And, of course, just about any reviews would be much appreciated.
… He was in pair with Renamon in their night – guarding duty. As usual, he took his position on the ground, while she had the post on a tree. Stormtrooper had two commlinks in his helmet – one was actually used by him, and the other was a spare one, but was carried in the helmet. He gave that spare commlink to Renamon, just in case if something happens, so that they could warn each other of any thread. Although the commlink could be considered "from the future", Renamon understood how to use it, because she was an intelligent digimon. That small piece of electronics also allowed them to have brief discussions, without leaving their posts.
"So, are you going to tell me, why you have volunteered to guard all night today?" asked Renamon.
"If that is what you wish. I had a dream five days ago, and the dream said that after five days something will happen. And since today is the fifth day, I have decided to stay on guard all night, just to make sure nothing happens."
"I see. Can I ask you another question?" she asked patiently.
"You can ask me as many questions as you desire." mechanical voice replied.
"I'm glad to hear that. I wanted to ask you about your lectures with Rika. How are they going?"
"I'm trying my best to learn, but that is not enough. The progress is rather slow. Rika is a good teacher, yet I find strange the fact that I'm not getting a hit in the head for any mistake I make, like it was in the Imperial Military Academy.
"If I would receive a hit for any mistake I made during my training, I would be nothing but scars and bruises. Yes. When I first met Rika and became her partner, she saw me as a pack of data, without a character, mind or soul, just a battle machine. And she gave me a very harsh training. I think I had no actual punishment, because she is just a child and she has no strength to hit me."
"Any training has its purpose."
"Yes. I have another question for you. Why have helped us in the desert? I mean, you just entered this dimension, and decided to help some children and some creatures you never heard about?"
"If a dimensional rift opens, the chance of opening another to the dimension I came from is 3548973364129 to one. This is the basic rule in interdimensional mechanics. In other words – I can not go back, and I have no place to go. I was lucky to meet your group and that you were kind enough to let a stranger go with you. For that I will be forever grateful, and will be forever loyal to any of you."
Renamon almost fell out of the tree when she heard that answer. "Of course! That's why he came with us. And thought I was smart. Although, I actually feel sorry for that white-clad guy over there." she thought.
"I'm sorry that I asked." she said.
"You shouldn't be sorry. I have no regrets. What's done is done and nothing can change it." replied the same emotionless voice.
That emotionless mechanical voice gave chills even to Renamon, but she controlled her emotions well enough not to show a shivering.
"Why can't you take of that helmet?" she nodded.
"Military engagement protocol: all soldiers must wear full body armor while being in the enemy territory."
"But it hides your face. And people don't like when they can't see someone's face. It makes them nervous."
"I have been in this helmet for a long time. It is my face now. It clearly represents what I am."
"Yes, but it doesn't represent who you are."
"Is there a difference?"
Renamon didn't answer. She just had nothing to say. "And I thought Rika was heartless. Compare to him, she is a highly sensitive child. And I know now the meaning of the word "machine"." she thought. Their discussion ended. Suddenly a cold wind came out of nowhere. It was so cold, that the blood was icing in the veins.
"Did you feel that?" she asked the trooper.
"Wind. Temperature -9 Celsius. Speed – 93 km/h." NZ replied.
"Wait, I think I feel someone coming." There was a full moon, and the passage they were going through was lighted. Then, they heard a scream. But not a normal scream, it was more like a shriek. A dreadful shriek, it woke up everybody in the camp. It was so horrible, that Renamon finally fell of that tree. For it was the cry of the dead, the one that makes even the bravest hearts tremble with fear, that tear your ears apart, that makes you fall on your knees and cry. Actually, that's what happened to the children in the camp. Takato and Henry were shivering along with their digimon, while Rika was crying in the pillow. No matter what she thought of herself, she was only a little girl, and her "guardian angel" was not with her at the moment.
"Renamon, Renamon, can you hear me? Respond! I have heard a high-intensity shriek. Respond at once!" stormtrooper said in his commlink.
"Yes. Renamon responding. I am here. I just fell of the tree. Be prepared for anything. Oh, and you were right about your dream. I can feel someone approaching."
"Confirmed. I have a visual contact. A human-shaped figure, distance – 531 meters. Speed of approach – 4km/h."
The other tamers finally showed up with their digimon. Although they were pretty scared.
"What happened? What was that terrible scream that almost made me wet my pants?" shouted Takato.
"Yeah, and… wait, Rika, why are your eyes red? Were you crying?" Henry added.
"No I was not, stupid! I just got something in my eye, well, both of them."
"Target in the line of fire. Should I attack?" asked NZ while aiming at the dark figure, who was approaching.
"No, hold your fire, we don't know if that person is hostile, but be ready to fire if necessary. We will wait for now." replied Renamon, who wasn't overwhelmed with fear like the others.
Meanwhile the cause of their uncontrollable fear has reached the line of sight. It looked like a tall man. It wore black armor and a black cloak with a hood. And under the hood… there was nothing. No face, no helmet, nothing. Just darkness. And as this figure approached, everyone felt terror growing inside. Well, almost everyone. NZ was serving in Vader's private Elite legion, so he learned how not to pass out in front of the Dark Lord of the Sith. And he wished that the children had the same experience, because they were ready to pass out. Not because they were cowards, but because they felt that the figure approaching was an emanation of death and terror.
And they have almost fainted, when the creature approached at a distance of 10 meters, and started to talk:
"Good night to all of you." it hissed, but everyone heard it like it was hissing right in their ears.
Rika used her digivice to scan the scary visitor. The digivice quickly responded:
"Name: Ulairimon. Type: ghost. Class: Rookie. No more information available."
"Ulairimon? Never heard of that one." Rika quietly whispered to the rest of the group. When "all knowing" Henry heard that, he became pale, well, even you all." than he was, and stuttered:
"He…he…Ulairi…N…N…Naz…Nazgul!" he finally managed to say. He was shivering again like a leaf caught in a windstorm.
While the others tried to get Henry out of that state, and NZ was still aiming at the dreadful figure, Renamon took few steps forward and asked:
"Who are you and what do you want?"
"I think you have already heard the answer from your friend over there. I am Ulairimon. Do not worry, I came in peace. I was seeking your group, and once I have located it, I have sent you a message, five days ago. Have you received it?"
"Probably. So, why you were seeking us? What do you want?" Renamon replied angrily.
While Renamon was speaking to the strange visitor, Takato was trying to help Henry. But Henry was really scared, and it looked like he knew something about Ulairimon.
"Henry, what happened? I know the guy is scary, but what you were talking about?" asked Takato.
"Born of pain and raging hatred,
Created by fire and fear,
Enchanted riders of cold darkness,
The slaves of the ring."
Henry replied, while trying to stand on his without trembling.
Meanwhile the discussion between Renamon and Ulairimon continued.
"It is your right to know why I am here and why I am seeking your group. I came here in my search for a tamer. I have felt the presence of a device that you use to assist your digimon in battle, so I went after it. I believe it belongs to that strange-looking human who aims at me with his strange weapon. This is all I have to say. And I shall wait for the answer." he hissed. Everybody stared at this walking menace for a while, and then Renamon, who played the role of the main speaker, replied:
"What made you think that we won't just attack you and destroy you to make our digimon stronger?" she asked coldly.
"Because if you do, minimum one of you will fall with me, and I don't mean only digimon. I am not powerless, you know." he replied even colder. Grim silence stood for a minute… Renamon took a step back. This was a grim warning even for her, who had no mercy for the enemy digimon, but her… opponent was actually ready to strike the defenseless children. That was too much even for her, not to mention three scared little children, who were hiding behind Terriermon and Guilmon when they heard that answer. Finally Renamon managed to say:
"That's… evil. Pure evil."
"Yes, it is so. But, I still wait for a response to my proposition. Hopefully, you will make a right choice." grim voice replied.
"Fine, but we'll need some time to make a decision." she replied, regaining control of herself.
"Take any amount of time you wish. I will wait for the answer right here. And, I have to say one more thing: If you will reject my proposal, I give you my word that I will never be a threat to you or your friends."
"Very well. This is the first nice thing I heard form you. I will come back and say our final answer."
"As you wish." he hissed.
Renamon turned and said to the others quietly:
"Let's go guys, we have a decision to make. Let's go."
The others went after Renamon, with NZ going last in the column. Back at the camp everyone took their places near the fire. They have gathered to make the decision that will most probably change their life. Renamon started the discussion.
"Well, I trust you all heard what was going on and why we are here. This Ulairimon came with the proposition of becoming NZ's partner. What should we say to him?" she asked.
"Well, I think I may have to say something. I have decided to train NZ in card game, because I thought that, when he will receive a digimon, we will have another ally, who will aid us in battle. I have to admit, that Ulairimon is strong. But on the other hand, if Renamon is always reserved, and sometimes creepy, and NZ is always creepy, and sometimes scary, than this guy looks like an abomination of pure evil. I don't know if I can trust him, but my decision relies on the strength, and I say "Yes"." Rika said seriously.
"Are you serious? That scream scared us all from our pants! Ulairi – are the most devoted servants of the Lord of Darkness, Sauron, also known as Gorthauer the Cruel, or the Lidless Eye, at least in the film. I saw that film, and there were nine of them, and they have served the cause of evil, and were able to destroy an army, while riding their Fell Beasts. You Rika must be really brave and all, but I won't be able to sleep well at night with that… thing wandering around! I vote "No!"." said Henry.
"Oh, c'mon! I think we should give the guy a chance! I mean, sure he is tall, dark, and scary and stuff like that, but if he won't scream like he did, he would be a real decent add to our company. Think on the bright side, if he was so scary to us, when he came with his proposal, and acted, well, rather peacefully, how terrifying he will be when he will attack our foes? On this one I have to agree with Rika. I say "Yes."." said Takato with a bit of optimism in his voice, as usual.
"How easily you forget how scared you were." said Henry to Takato.
"But everything turned out just fine." replied Takato.
"Well, what I have to say? I'm with Takato." said Guilmon.
"And I'm with Henry. What about you, Renamon?" asked Terriermon.
"Well, I just can't get out of my head his phrase about what he will do if we attack him. Ulairimon is dangerous, at least I think so. And I have to admit, that I am actually scared of him. Yes, I know the sky will fall to the ground any moment and I know that pigs fly, but I actually admitted it. Unfortunately, I will have to say "No"." replied Renamon, and noticed that just about everyone was staring at her… It was a good thing that no one saw her blush.
"Interesting. It is three against three. Looks like your vote will be the deciding, NZ. So, what do you have to say?" asked Rika.
"Well, I have something to say. I can say that I'm not that scared of him. I believe that, with adequate approach, he will be an excellent battle unit. My vote is "Yes"." he replied as cold, as usual.
"Well, the decision is made. With votes four against three, it is decided that Ulairimon will be NZ's partner. Although I am displeased with this outcome, I hope that my opinion is wrong. I will go and inform… Ulairimon." announced Renamon and went.
While debates were going, our new… "friend" was waiting for the outcome of his case. "Sometimes it's better to be a noble knight in shiny armor than the embodiment of pain and misery. I hope I didn't scare them, well, too much. It might create an obstacle. Probably I will get a rejection…" he thought, when he felt a presence.
"Well, Renamon, I suppose you came to tell me the decision." he hissed.
"Yes, I am here to tell you, that the "council" has approved your proposal. Yet I was against that decision, it is not my right to argue with the opinion of the majority." she replied. She was really displeased, because she had to deal now with him too.
"Excellent. I thought I will get a rejection. Sometimes it is good to be wrong. Hopefully, I will not disappoint you."
"Yeah, good for you. Now you shall impart all the duties every digimon in our group does. But remember, don't try anything suspicious, because I am watching you." she warned him.
"Don't worry, I will remember." he hissed.
"We must go back to the camp now to get you linked up to NZ's digivice. For some reason, his digivice is completely black, just as you."
"What a coincidence." he replied.
That reply almost forced Renamon to stop. "Really, what a coincidence. That is just too strange."
They have proceeded to the camp. It took some time to link up Ulairimon to the digivice. When this was done, Rika gasped:
"Fine, that's done, now you, Ulairimon, with your tamer will go to guard. Oh, and you will go too, Renamon. Keep an eye on him, just in case. We all have to get some sleep, it's been a long night. Oh, and one more thing, Ulairimon, I'm begging you, never make that shriek of yours when I'm around and you're not in combat."
"As you wish." Ulairimon and NZ replied at the same time.
"Well, good night then." she said and went to her dorm sack. "Hm, they will get along perfectly. They are quite similar. Almost too similar." she thought before going to sleep.
There were no more surprises that night. The day came in quick, and everyone was preparing to continue their journey. Takato was drawing two more mini-portraits to his ridiculous flag. When all the preparations were made, it was time to go.
The trip continues…
Well, that's another chapter. And, once again, I'm terribly sorry for any mistakes I made. Also I'm hoping to receive some reviews, to correct something that you didn't like later in the future. Also I have a message for my brother and sister: YOU OWE ME 20 FOR THIS! As for the other readers: Thank you very much for reading this story so far.