"There's too much traffic this time of day. It'll take me over an hour to get home," Ken said out loud, his voice filled with worry and fear.

"Wormmon digivolve to... Stingmon!" Data began to form around Wormmon as he transformed and grew into a huge green-armored figure with wings. Scooping Ken up in his arms, Stingmon shot out the open window across the Tokyo skyline towards the Ichijouji home.

Outside the Ichijouji home, a man in a black overcoat and fedora approached the door. Just as his hand was reaching for the doorknob, Ken leaped from Stingmon's arms and hit the ground, rolling. Popping up to his feet, he upholstered his gun, pointing it straight at the other man who turned with a look of shock on his face.

"Freeze, motherfucker!"

As Ken got a look at the other man, he slowly lowered his gun before holstering it and walking up offering his hand to him. The two men shook hands as Stingmon came in for a landing.

"What's going on, Ken? Why all the dramatics?" TK asked his friend with a look of concern in his eyes. Before Ken could answer, though, Yolei and Kari came to the door.

"Is everything alright?"

"Everything's just fine, honey. Come on, TK. Let's go to my den and have a drink."

With that, Ken lead the other man into the house.

A little while later inside his den, Ken poured TK a glass of bourbon before pouring himself one.

"So you can see why I reacted the way I did," Ken pointed out to TK after reciting the events of the last twenty four hours.

"I can fully understand. I would act the same way if someone threatened Kari and the children. If there's anything I can do to help, just let me know." TK placed a hand on his friend's shoulder in a show of support.

"Thanks, TK. That means a lot."

"Let me just reiterate: you should go to the police with this, Ken. It could be bigger than you and Wormmon could handle alone."

"I know, I know." Ken waved off his friend's advice just as there came a knock at the door.

"Sorry to interrupt, guys, but we should really be going, TK. We have to pick up the kids from daycare still," Kari prodded her husband.

"Take care, Ken, and let me know if there's anyway I can help out."

TK and Ken shook hands unaware that they were being watched.

"There is no help for you, Ken Ichijouji. You will never escape the darkness that is your past; I will see to that."

A shadowy figure sitting behind a huge desk let out an evil laugh as he looked through what appeared to be a portal in the Ichijouji home.