"We're sorry to report that the trains are not operational at this time."

The computerized announcer repeated the same thing every couple of seconds to all of the dismayed businessmen and women trying to make their way home. I did my best to slip through the crowd. I needed to find another way across Tokyo. The downed system I figured was more of a blessing than I initially gave credit. I had no idea what I would say to Sora. We hadn't spoken in a very long time.

Things didn't go so well last time.

I slowed myself to a walk. I could feel my motivation slipping away. Her cold eyes. That's all I could think about. They wouldn't be filled with hatred or hurt. That I've dealt with. Fixed. Pure emotional detachment is much harder to repair.

Who was I kidding? I didn't have the guts for this. I didn't even have the right. I'd tell her that divorce wasn't the answer, and she'd throw my own divorce back in my face.

Walking down the platform's step, I became more invested with the televisions in the station's foyer. They had a breaking news special - their focus, the Digital World Relations building that I worked in. I got close enough to hear the anchor.

"In a landslide vote, the Digital World Relations Committees gave Closing Gap Inc. to construct a portal between the real world and the Digital World...we're bringing you live to the director."

How in the...

Impossible.

"It was with careful consideration that we decided to accept Closing Gap Inc.'s proposal. We hope that with their innovation, the Digital World will become less of a foreign place and more of a second home to the people of Earth."

My hands were shaking. The one day I left to take care of personal matters, and things fell apart. Who...what...I really couldn't think properly. I was so irate. Who in their right minds thought that this was a good thing. Did people forget what the Digital World did to the real world? Did they forget the monsters that I and the rest of the Digidestined had to face?

And the worst part. I had no power to change anyone's mind on anything. Nothing threatening from the Digital World in twenty plus years made people complacent it looked like. I punched a pillar out of frustration because I couldn't do a damn thing. For anyone.

"Sir, is everything alright?"

I looked at the police officer and nodded my head. "Sorry, rough day."

His eyes narrowed as if he were trying to decide how to proceed. He then snorted and gave a pat to his rotund girdle. As he walked away, I knew that I didn't have time for Sora or Matt at the moment. If a company finally got the ability to tinker with the Digital World, the political landscape around the world would be a clusterfuck.

I jumped into the nearest taxi and told the driver to take me to the Digital Relations building. Cameras and news channels from all across Japan were set up, interviewing any of the diplomats about the story of the year. I skipped them all. I needed to speak to the head of the research department.

Slamming open the door, I scared Izzy enough for him to drop a hard drive, "Uh, Tai. I assume you're here about the news."

"What happened? You're the one on the committee."

"I was hoping you would tell me," he said. He bent down and picked up the data storage device. After checking the damages and setting it securely on the table, Izzy gave me his full attention.

"I left the meeting early today..."

Intuition told me that Izzy would know. The look in his eye further confirmed it. He knew that only an issue between the Digidestined or an issue with the Digital World itself could make me leave a meeting. And since the Digital World hadn't had so much as a blip on the radar, Izzy concluded the former option.

He responded with a simple, "I see."

And there it was. Total confusion for the both of us. Tentomon gave his wings a moment to spread before settling between Izzy and I.

"Well, you know, not every Digimon is going to like humans parading around their homes like it's a zoo. And I'm not even talking about the snot-covered children or their ice-cream trash."

"And unfortunately. Because you weren't involved in the vote, we won't know who voted for what," Izzy said. "Only one person stood up against Closing Gap Inc."

It didn't make sense. Four months ago, the same kind of proposition was brought before the committee but struck down unanimously. This bipolar reversal would need a catalyst. Except I hadn't heard anything.

"You think they were bribed," I asked, fairly sure I already knew Izzy's response.

"It's not like people have tried before. I just don't see it."

We sat in silence. All of our brainpower couldn't give us an answer. Then every bit of concentration was disturbed. Broken. A low laugh echoed through the laboratory. When we looked to see the source, Izzy, Tentomon, and myself froze in dread. The thespian garb and the withdrawn sword shot adrenaline into our system.

"Super Shoc-"

"Oh, don't be daft," the Dark Master said, crossing his legs and spinning the blade of his sword into the tabletop like a screwdriver. "If I wanted you dead, I would have killed you already."

"What do you want..."

I could hardly believe that I had been the one to ask it. My throat clenched. I couldn't swallow. And breathing felt labored. Inside the embassy, one of our greatest enemies sat before us.

"I'm here to offer an explanation," he said. "The Digital World severed all contact with this world the moment you returned. Try as you might, there is no way in...and more importantly there is no way out."

Izzy shook his head in defiance, "There's no way. I would have caught that."

"You didn't because I didn't let you," he said.

"Why would you?"

"Simple. I needed this vote to happen. This way you would believe me. I need your help. And you're going to need mine."

A/N: Please see my profile for further comment on what I'm doing with Relapse.