Unknown Hope

Henry looked out as the scenery passed by, but he was taking in none of it; only when everything was still did he react, as he knew it meant the car wasn't moving.

"Dammit!" the Tamer cried out after they stopped for the fourth time at an intersection, slamming his fist into the side of the car.

"Henry, moumantai…" Terriermon tried to calm him down, while his father gave him a puzzling look.

"Henry what is going on," Janyu asked his son as they pulled off from the intersection, "This doesn't seem like you. And as happy as I am to bring you to work I'm not going to break traffic laws just to get there faster."

"You won't understand, it'll sound ridiculous," Henry retorted.

"Really? Me, one of the Monster Makers who helped create Digimon, would find your explanation ridiculous?" Janyu countered. He has a point, Henry thought to himself, and after a few calming breaths he decided to let his father in on what he was doing.

"I need to see Rob," Henry started to explain. "I think he can help me with a situation."

"And what might that be?"

"To…to save someone I know. Apparently she's related to him."

"How?" Janyu asked, as they paused at another red light.

"She says that she's his granddaughter."

Henry's father gave him a bewildered look. After they started to move again it was a few moments before he spoke.

"Are you sure about that?" He enquired.

"Of course. Is that so weird?" Henry looked at his dad, wondering what was so strange about the statement. Janyu didn't say anything as the blue-haired boy was momentarily distracted by what was coming up ahead of them.

At long last Henry could finally see the buildings that made up the university where his father and Rob McCoy worked. Surrounded by high-rising business buildings cladded in glass, it was as if it was hidden away, like the city's little secret; only by approaching the location could you tell where the business sector ends and the university begins, as the buildings change from an orderly tone to a more welcoming feel, as if inviting students into its halls of learning. After clearing the security checkpoint the Wong car pulled into the staff carpark, but before Henry could get out he was stopped by a hand on his shoulder, and he turned to hear what his father had to say.

"This isn't really my place to speak," Janyu forewarned his son as they sat in the carpark. "It is Rob's story, after all. But sometimes things are best left in the past; it helps people to…keep moving forward." Henry looked into his dad's eyes but couldn't figure out what he was trying to imply. Janyu sighed before unlocking the door, indicating that he and Terriermon should follow suit. "He's on the same floor as me," his father said as they headed towards the elevator. "By now Rob should already be at his desk."

Chiaki University was an up and coming school. Initially starting out as a college, it quickly progressed into different fields; from departments in Psychology to Humanities, to more scientific fields like Engineering and Pharmaceutical Sciences, the college soon achieved the title of university, and with that comes expanding the campus. With the acquisition of the newly rechristened Kaizawa Building came an opening for several jobs in the Department of Electronics and Computer Science and the Department of Physics, so the Monster Makers saw an opportunity to move back together in one location.

After the attack of the D-Reaper the group was faced with a choice presented by Yamaki, who had been working tirelessly to create plausible explanations for the destruction caused.

"Though the threat has been dealt with, it doesn't mean it will stay that way indefinitely," Yamaki explained his situation to them, after they had gathered together one lunch time. "We at Hypnos have acquired enough information over the last few years to deal with the minor fallout of the D-Reaper attack, but any larger occurrences could prove problematic. I understand that what I am about to ask is a lot to think about, but would you consider lending your expertise and relocating to Japan?"

Indeed it was a tall order to ask of them. Though they had gathered to Japan to help with the D-Reaper, everyone thought it would be a temporary situation. Most of the Monster Makers, save Janyu, had gone their separate ways and built up lives in their respective countries; to move to Shinjuku took some serious thought.

Ultimately, the group made a decision because of one unexpected event, labelled the Runaway Locomon incident. By that time they had already turned down the offer, but after hearing about the incident from Janyu the Monster Makers contacted one another, and each agreed that maybe it would be better for them to stay in Shinjuku, at least for a short period. Though the Tamers managed to contain the Locomon incident the Monster Makers were uneasy as to how such an event could occur, and one by one they made plans to transfer to Shinjuku to better understand how the Digital and Human Worlds interact. Miraculously, through another one of Yamaki's contacts, they managed to work out a plan to join Chiaki University; some like Janyu and Rob worked on a more permanent basis, joining the staff full-time at the university, while others such as Curly and Babel would transfer there for six months at a time to work with the Monster Makers, with their cover being guest lecturers and researchers at the university.

As they travelled up the elevator Henry could see that, from the Monster Makers' floor in the Kaizawa Building, they would have an amazing view overlooking Shinjuku from where they stood, with the sunlight highlighting the different features of the Ward. Hearing a slight shiver, the Tamer looked at his Partner, who was rubbing his shoulders as if to warm himself up, an odd habit since the weather was already getting hotter.

"Are you okay, Terriermon?" He asked the little Digimon.

"Don't know," he replied honestly, "Ever since we stopped you from your nightmare I've felt kinda…fuzzy, I guess that's the best way to describe it." He tried to dispel the feeling by giving his head a little shake, his two ears swinging to and fro. "It's like I've got way too much data inside."

"We'll get you looked over by the others after this," Henry promised his Partner, as the elevator stopped at their destination. The doors opened to a wide corridor, with several doors on either side leading into different offices. As they made their way to Janyu's office Henry saw several other rooms for conferences, as well as a break room for the staff to have lunch in or to relax before returning to whatever research they're currently pursuing. On the door of the room they were entering there were two signs, one with Janyu's name and the other with Rob's, and sitting at one of the desks was the man himself. He had a few more wrinkles and a few greying hairs, but otherwise it was the same Rob McCoy, having only seen him a few weeks beforehand when he came to the Wong household to go over work with Janyu. Judging by the state of the desks Henry guessed that Rob was more of a free-flowing thinker, his papers seemingly all over the place in a disorganised fashion, whereas his dad had every last folder down in the allotted space provided. At first he barely acknowledged his co-worker and his group, appearing to be deep in thought over some complicated graphs and statistics.

"Hey Tao," he called Janyu, using the alias Henry's father had during the Monster Makers.

"Morning Dolphin," Janyu responded in kind, "I've brought someone along who wishes to see you,"

"Hm?" Turning to see what his friend was talking about,Rob smiled at who Janyu's companions were. "Well this is a pleasant surprise. And what brings you two to our fine establishment?"

"Hello Mr McCoy," Henry replied. After heeding his father's warning he was unsure about how to bring it up, but soon decided the quickest possible way to get Alice help would be the direct approach. "I need to talk to you about your granddaughter."

Though he was still smiling, something in Rob's eyes changed and Henry knew he was not expecting this. After a few moments he turned to his laptop and typed away, and at the same time Janyu's computer started to beep indicating a message was received.

"Janyu could you take a look at this data?" Rob said as he got up, taking with him a picture frame sitting at his desk. "I've put my theory in the file and if you agree with it then you can call Yamaki and tell him the news. I would like to have a word with your son."

"Sure thing." Janyu replied, and with that he lead Henry and Terriermon out and into a nearby conference room.

""Not many people are in this early, so we should be safe in here." The leader of the Monster Makers explained as he locked the door behind them, closing the blinds to the windows looking into the room. He invited Henry to sit down while the professor leaned against the table.

"Henry…" Terriermon started to tug at Henry's jeans, but the Tamer waved him off for now, focusing his attention on Rob.

"This…is not the easiest thing to talk about." Rob began. "In fact, very few people even know I had a granddaughter."

Dolphin placed down the picture frame which he brought in with them. In it sat a younger Rob McCoy, wearing a yellow shirt and reclining on a brown couch. Behind him was a man with blonde hair and a green shirt and tie combination; it didn't stretch the imagination to believe that the two men were father and son. Standing in the foreground, with her arms wrapped around Rob's, was a young girl with a grey shirt and navy sleeves; she wore her blonde hair in pigtails and had a smile Henry almost immediately recognised.

"I'm assuming this is what you are talking about?" The professor asked.

Terriermon started tugging at his Partner's leg again. "Henry something feels weird inside me…" he told his Partner, who was looking at the picture; it seemed it was taken quite a while ago.

"I promise I'll help you after this, just a little bit longer," the Tamer assured his Digimon friend, before looking at Rob. "I'm sorry, sir, but this is the first time I've seen this picture."

Rob's brow furrowed, "Then how do you know her?"

"Because I've met her; once three years ago during the D-Reaper Attack, and…recently in my dreams." Even as Henry said it his meetings sounded ridiculous, and the professor started to look sceptical.

"So what makes you assume she's my granddaughter?" he questioned the Tamer.

"She told me. And she looks like the girl in the picture, but a bit older."

"She would've been your age," Dolphin seemed to have told this more to himself than to Henry, before addressing the Tamer again. "But that is still not possible."

"Why not?" Henry was finding it difficult to understand what was so hard to believe about his story.

"Because this was the last picture we took together." Rob sat in the chair next to Henry's, the weight of the memories coming back from that moment. "A few months later she…passed on."

Henry froze, taking in those words. She passed on? What does he mean by that?, Henry asked himself. I'm sure she's alive. She felt so real…

"With all due respect, Mr McCoy, I don't think that's the case." Henry tried to reason.

"Really? You don't think I know what happened to my own granddaughter?" Rob gave the Tamer a stern look, but one that masked pain, a loss that he had to overcome long ago. "That time was very difficult for me and my family. It is not something that can easily be forgotten."

"But I know she's alive! I've seen her, visited her in the Digital World!"

"Then show me proof. Because I've lived through this already once before, and I'd rather not have to revisit it again if I can."

Henry's mind started to race. How do I prove this?, the blue-haired boy tried to find an answer, but nothing was coming. He has spent the last few years believing that she died, how do I convince him that not only is she alive but she's in danger?...

"Henry, your Digivice…"

The Tamer looked at his Partner. Terriermon was vibrating rapidly, but it didn't cause the Digimon any discomfort; he was more concerned with the device on Henry's belt, which was also vibrating and starting to glow.

"You should probably get that checked out," Terriermon pointed out. Henry took the Digivice off his belt and looked at the screen, hoping to get some information about his Partner's current condition. Instead of Terriermon's status, however, there was a single image, one which Henry knew would help him; on the screen of his Digivice was a dolphin.

"Mr McCoy, have a look at my Digivice, it'll explain everything." Wishing more than knowing he was right Henry handed the device to Rob. The moment he held it in his hands the Digivice started to glow brighter. At the same time Terriermon also started to emit a green aura.

"Well this is new." The Digimon noted to himself.

"What's happ-." Before Rob could finish his question two brilliant lights were emitted; one from Henry's Digivice and one from Terriermon. When the two sources of light collided a stream of data emerged and flew directly into the professor; Rob cried out as his mind tried to process everything that was flooding into him.

"Mr McCoy!" Henry tried to intervene but was blinded by his Partner and his Digivice; he could only wait aimlessly by as the data continued to flow into the professor. After only a few seconds but what felt like minutes had gone by a green pulse exploded from the data stream, and just as quickly the lights had disappeared. Henry picked up Terriermon, who was lying dazed on the floor.

"You alright there, buddy?" He asked his Partner.

The Digimon shook his head to clear it, before giving Henry a thumbs up. "Surprisingly fine," Terriermon told him, signature grin in tow. "I thought I ate too many coffee buns last night, but I just had too much data, that was the problem. As soon as ol' Dolphin here took in that data I went back to normal!"

"Good to hear it," Henry smiled at his Partner, before turning to the professor. "How are you feeling Mr McCoy?"

Rob didn't say anything, but it was clear the data had an effect on him. Before he could help it a few tears fell down the professor's face; Henry didn't know what to say, seeing a man show such emotion. But these weren't tears of sadness; Rob had a smile on his face and a look as if a miracle had been performed before his eyes.

"They…they did it…" Before Henry could ask what Rob was talking about the professor jumped up from his seat and held Henry by his shoulders. "And you're sure you spoke to her? You're sure the girl from the Digital World was called Alice?"

"Y-yes." Henry replied slightly taken aback. Rob let go of Henry and sat back down again; taking off his glasses he tried to wipe away the tears but they kept falling. For a minute Rob McCoy was both crying and laughing at the same time, but all Henry could do was wait with Terriermon.

"Henry, do you have any idea what this means?" Rob asked after he settled down. "They were able to keep their promise! You meeting her is proof that she's okay!"

"What does that mean, if you don't mind me asking?" Henry was sure the Digivice delivered good news, but he still wasn't seeing the entire picture.

Rob McCoy sighed, as if a great burden had finally been lifted, and looked out of the conference room's window which overlooked a common. The sunlight reflected off the greenery, breaking through the tree branches and the shadows they cast.

"It means that six long years ago I made a foolhardy wish, one that I never knew would work. And today I've found out it was fulfilled…"

A/N: I debated with myself over whether to use a real university but, since I have no experience in Shinjuku, I decided to create one. The name Chiaki University was named after Chiaki J. Konaka, the head writer for Digimon Tamers, and the Kaizama Building was named after Yukio Kaizama, the director for Digimon Tamers.

I hope to work on this as soon as work dies down, so until then!