Leonardo and Gabumon jumped out the way as a large black dart came flying through the air towards them. It struck the ground where they had been only a few seconds before. The pair gazed into the darkness, as did Ricki and Dracmon.

"Tch" The female voice came again as two figures became clear walking towards them. One was where Ricki presumed the voice had come from. The other was not human. "We missed"
As she finished speaking, their forms became clear. The girl had black slightly wavy hair, and was probably around the same height as Ricki. The digimon beside her was a whole lot bigger. Riki's first impression was a centaur, but was black and sort of puppet like. It had a gold visor, as well as a gold plate on its chest and shoulders.

Leonardo Maygold looked at the newcomers and smirked. "Well maybe if you hadn't called out first you might have hit us. That wasn't a very tactical move. Especially for you, Katelyn Wilde" He took a step forwards towards the girl. "You two are under arrest for..."

Katie interrupted him "Under arrest? You know it's funny, I swear that's what you said 7 months ago too" She grinned at him. "And we all know what happened then. Why should it happen differently now?"

Leo's face contorted in anger for a brief second. " Back then you had a friend"

"So did you" She replied quickly, still smiling.

Leo was about to throw back a retort when Gabumon tugged at his arm. "Do not let her tricks fool you Leo. Unless she's changed from last time, she's probably up to something. Otherwise she wouldn't waste time talking to us"

Katie heard the exchange, and her smile widened. "Well I can't say you've changed Gabumon. As calm and wise as ever. But sadly also a bit slow. It's too late"

Leo frowned. "What do you mean? What could you gain from keeping us talki...?" Suddenly it clicked and the VCA agent whirled around. But as Katie had said, it was too late. Ricki and Dracmon had vanished.

"Do you think this was a wise idea Ricki?"
"I don't know Dracmon"
"Isn't following a guy we don't know into the sewers a bit dangerous Ricki?
"I don't know Dracmon"
"Where do you think w...?"
"I can hear you, you know?" Someone sighed from in front of them. The pair shut up and followed him, mainly because he was the only one with a torch, and he seemed to know where he was going, unlike the two trailing him. As they carried on Ricki thought over Dracmon's question. Soon after the girl had arrived and attacked the VCA officer the boy they were now following had popped out of the man hole next to them, and told them to follow him while their pursuer was distracted. Ricki wondered if he was really on their side.

"I am your friend, you know. I too am wanted by the VCA" The boy ahead of them called back. "So stop worrying and speed up. We have to hurry"

Ricki started at the sudden command, and looked at their 'rescuer'. In the light he could make out long light brown hair. That and he was a good few inches taller than him. " Who are you?" Ricki quizzed him, at the same time speeding up as asked

"Ryan Colt" His voice didn't betray much emotion.

"Okay. Ryan, where are we going, and why must we hurry?"

"Far away from the VCA, where they can't find us. And we have to hurry because we're taking a detour, and I want to get there as soon as possible" Ryan replied in a calm voice, devoid of emotion.

"Okay then. Is it really wise to leave that girl back there with that VCA guy"

He heard a short laugh from Ryan, and when the answer came, this time he could hear the boy was smiling. "Don't worry. Katie will be perfectly fine"

"Gabumon, Howl!" Leo called as he held up his digivice. A blue light shot out of the device, and enshrouded the reptilian digimon. Then his form began to change as he crouched on all fours, and grew. As the light faded his new form emerged. A large white and blue striped wolf. "Gabumon digivolve to Garurumon!" The new champion howled, before leaping straight at Katie's partner.

"Dodge it KnightChessmon" Katie called, but KnightChessmon was already in mid leap. As she landed behind Garurumon her dart that had been stuck in the floor during the entire confrontation flew into her hand. Immediately the Centaur like digimon spun and threw it. "Big Dart!"

"Howling Blaster!" Garurmon counteracted firing an ice cold beam from his mouth that sent the dart spinning into the side of the wall. Maygold smirked.

"So what if the boy escaped? You are a much more wanted criminal" He smiled, "Garurumon, defeat that despicable virus."

"Doing so." Garurumon replied calmly. "Howling Blaster" he attacked again, but KnightChessmon easily jumped the blast, landing next to Katie, at the same time as retrieving her dart again. She moved forward to counterattack but Katie stopped her. The welsh girl was looking at her digivice.

"Hmm, 10:40. They should have got away now. Come on KnightChessmon" The girl leapt up on her partners back, sitting sideways. KnightChessmon nodded, and bent her legs.

"What, you are running away?" Leo called out in dismay. "Are you a coward?"

"It's not running away Leonardo. It's a tactical retreat. We weren't meant to beat you, only distract you. And now that's done, the best tactical move is to draw back. So now we'll be taking our leave" With those last words KnightChessmon leapt high into the air, easily making it into one of the buildings. She continued to jump from building to building, heading away from the city centre.
"Argghh" Leo growled. "Garurumon, we're going after them!" He called, running to his partner.

"That is not the best decision Leo. They have a head start and an advantage in speed. We must head back for today"

"But..." Leo started, but was interrupted.

"It would be a wise idea to listen to your partner, for he is right" A soft voice spoke to them as to people emerged from an alleyway. They were both the same size, however on was a light brown haired girl, while the other was obviously a digimon, looking somewhat like a yellow humanoid fox.

"Maria! Renamon" Leo turned to them.

"Sorry we were late Leo." The girl had an apologetic look on her face. "We came as fast as we could"

Leo sighed. He was obviously outnumbered. "Fine, we'll head back. But next time things will be different"

"This is what was so important?" Ricki said in disbelief, as he struggled under all the boxes he was carrying.

"Yes" Came Ryans reply. He too was carrying boxes. "We couldn't let them get cold, could we"

"I guess, but seriously. You come to rescues me from the VCA, but on as were getting away we detour to get pizza!"

"No actually it's the other way round. I came to get pizza, but took a detour to rescue you. I was fetching it when I was told about you"

"Yep, yep, that is true" The digimon at the front of the precession called. It was a dark turquoise dragon that had met them outside the pizza shop. Apparently it's name was Ryu, and was Ryan's partner.

"Actually, we never asked, why are you helping us" Dracmon suddenly asked from behind Ricki.

" Why?" Ryan echoed, and stopped to look at the two behind him. "Because we're like you. Virus partners, and we are hated and hunted for it. Katie as well" Ryan started walking again. "Jen will tell you all about it when we get back. He stopped again at a ladder, handed the boxes to his partner and started to climb. Ricki followed suit. As he stuck his head out of the manhole his eyes widened in surprise.

"Where are we?" He asked. All around them were the ruins of burned and destroyed buildings.

"The abandoned part of the city. It was almost completely destroyed by some rampaging Viruses way back, and they never rebuilt it. Makes a good place to hide." He walked towards a large house, which seemed to have been partially repaired.
"Welcome to your new home Ricki Maits" He said as he opened the door and stepped in. "Welcome to VDS"