8) With Friends Like These...
While supposedly doing homework, Takato was hard at work designing a Champion form for Guilmon. He had a crude drawing of a large dinosaur-like creature sending forth a blast of yellow fire. An elaboration on Guilmon's Pyrosphere: he liked sticking with a consistent theme, and fire attacks were part of Guilmon's repertoire from the get-go.
"It should have lots of spines on its back...", he was talking to himself out loud again, "...only... I couldn't ride him with so many spines. As for a name, well, he's Guilmon now... I got it: GreatKudamon! ...ummmm... there's already a Kudamon, but he's a little ferret... that won't do... Gra... Gre... Dammit! None of those sound right..." (ah, fukit for now...)
Chou Park
The young couple sat uneasily on a park bench, first date jitters: "Errrr... ahhhh... Yoshiko?", the guy asked his date.
"Yes.. Yoshio... it's a beautiful night tonight?"
"Yes, very beautiful", he agreed.
"The stars are lovely"
"Not half as lovely as you".
The young lady blushed, and he pulled out a cigarette, and a fancy Colibri butane lighter.
"Out of fuel", he announced as the lighter's flint threw sparks, accomplishing nothing.
"Need a light?", came a voice, and a small flame.
"Thanks...", the young man started before realizing what it was who stood up from behind the bench.
The little flame flared suddenly, sent the both of them screaming down the path and into the night.
Impmon laughed. He thought the prank mildly amusing, but he had bigger plans in the works. After failing with Renamon, well, there were always alternatives. That was one thing he learned during his military career.
Guilmon's Shed
Guilmon was digging up the wicker box he kept buried in the back of his shelter. Inside, were a half-dozen rolls he kept on hand for snacks.
"Huh?", he asked himself, as one fell to the floor and began rolling towards the gate. As he bent to pick it up, a three fingered hand covered with a red gauntlet grabbed it.
"Not bad", Impmon said.
As he held out his hand: "What's with that stupid look? I want more"
Guilmon handed over another roll: "You like Takato's bread?", he asked.
"Hate it", he said while scarfing it down as fast as he could.
He snapped his fingers for a third, then a fourth...
"You sure ate a lot", Guilmon said, "Takato says you have to say: 'Thanks'..."
"Takato this and Takato that!", Impmon said as he leaped to the top of the iron bars, "That's why I say digimon who've turned their lives over to Outworlders are so pathetic. It makes me sick. It's shameful", he said as he finished off the last roll he'd gotten from Guilmon's stash.
"Take a good look at yourself: stuck here in a cage, fed by an Outworlder. Can you sincerely tell me you're happy living like this?"
"Yeah! Guilmon happy cuz Takato friend mine!"
Impmon did an overly dramatic performance of pretending to choke on the roll, drop from his perch above the gate. He was up like a shot: "Friend?! What the fuck kind of a 'friend' (finger quotes) makes you live in a cage in the middle of nowhere?! How come he hasn't bothered introducing you to his own family? Did it ever occur to you he's just using you? That he may even be ashamed to know you even exist? What happened to your pride as a digimon?!"
He jumped down the steps leading to the nature trail: "Oh well, I guess you never had any to begin with. I'm getting sick of this; I'm gonna take a leak and get some shut-eye", he said as he walked off.
Guilmon tossed the last roll into the air and caught it. At least he was able to save one for himself.
Homeroom: 5-B
"Class", Ms. Asagi had an announcement before the lesson, "it has come to my attention that some prankster has been terrifying people in the park. I don't think it was anyone here in this room, but I would greatly appreciate it if you would go directly home, and stay out of the park until the culprit has been caught".
"Yes, Sensei", everyone intoned in chorus.
Takato looked on, horrified. He was afraid he knew who was to blame for this.
"...that's when you use your High Speed Plug-in H", Kazu was regaling Kenta and a couple of other boys during a break in the lessons. "You'll win for sure"
"I see...", one of the boys said.
"Kazu's an expert on this", Kenta reinforced.
Juri was returning with a stack of test papers to hand back.
"I know what the teacher was talking about earlier", one of the girls standing around on the other side of the room announced.
"Ehhhh... what do you mean?", Yuki, Juri's friend, asked.
"I heard there's this kid who's been scaring couples along the lover's lanes after dark...", she turned to glare at Takato and his friends, "...I bet it's one of the boys in our class!", she accused.
"Yeah...", one of the other girls agreed.
"Just a damn minute!", Kazu shot back.
"None of us would do a thing like that!", Kenta agreed. "You got any proof?", he challenged.
Juri saw Takato's reaction, but misjudged the reason: "Don't worry, Takato, it's just a harmless joke", she told him.
He looked at the drawing of the as yet unnamed Champion form: "Please, don't let it be Guilmon".
"You heard about the prankster?", Takato asked Jen.
"Yeah"
"Do you think... I mean... could it be Guilmon?"
Jen chuckled: "I highly doubt that! They say it's some kid. Does Guilmon look like a kid to you? Even in the dark, how could anyone possibly take Guilmon for a kid?"
"I guess you're right, that would be a hard thing to do"
"See? You worry too much... that's always been a problem for you..."
"I think it was Guilmon", Terriermon dropped from the tree they were standing by, clinging to a low branch with his feet.
"Terriermon!"
"Moumentai!"
"Oh, one more thing", Jen said, "I heard that the teachers are going to organize a patrol of the park, starting this evening"
"Shit!"
It was the last thing he needed: anyone to have any reason to pay particular attention to the park where Guilmon hid.
0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Hypnos
"Wild One detected", the tech advised.
"Launch Tracer", Yamaki ordered.
"Tracer away... They're deploying counter measures", the tech advised, "we can't get a lock on".
This was the last thing Yamaki wanted to hear. Hypnos was losing its ability to track these incursions, now that the digimon were learning...
Guilmon's Shed
"What're you doing?", Takato asked.
"Save for later", Guilmon replied, as he filled in the hole he dug to bury the wicker box filled with left over rolls, and a soft drink.
"I see", he replied, "your own personal stash"
He took this for a good sign: that Guilmon was able to delay gratification meant there was a chance he wasn't so stupid after all.
"What does Takato want?'
"I need for you to stay here. The teachers are patrolling, and I need for you to stay here, and well in the back, out of sight. I hope this won't last too long, and I know it's an inconvenience..."
"Guilmon know"
"Just what are we doing here?", Ms. Asanuma was asking Mr. Mori, "it's just a prankster, and we're not getting any overtime. Why not leave it to the police who're supposed to be earning their pay... from our taxes, no less".
"It's not just because it's possibly one of our students", he replied, "it's that no kids should be allowed here after dark, where there's so much indecency going on", he said as he watched couples seated on the various benches.
"So much indecency..."
"Mori-sensei..."
"Yes!", he replied.
"Forget about it. I'm going the other way. I have other plans".
"Asanuma-sensei..."
Guilmon's Shed
"It's you again", Guilmon greeted Impmon, "you want some more rolls?"
"Maybe later", he replied. "It's pathetic", he began another one of his rants, "You spend the whole day in that cage and your brain goes dry. How about you come on out, and we'll have us some real fun!"
"We play?!"
"That's right, c'mon out and play"
"Yeay!", Guilmon remembered.
"Well, are you comin' or aren't you?"
"Can't... Takato said..."
"Again with that 'Takato' bullshit! Alright, you stay right there with your Takato while I have some real fun! Ciao, loser".
Guilmon thought it over. What harm could there be?
"Wait!", Guilmon called after Impmon. "Wait for me".
"Is this fun?", Guilmon asked as he followed Impmon.
"Just wait, you'll see", he promised.
Impmon found what he was looking for: another couple making out in front of a reproduction of Rodin's Thinker.
Impmon produced a small fireball that he sent, circling the couple until they noticed. Then he leaped from the hedge: "BLAAAAH!", he called out.
They ran screaming down the path.
"Didjew see that?", Impmon laughed. "You see how those Outworlders ran?! Is that funny or what?"
"That not fun", Guilmon complained. "Guilmon go home now".
Guilmon was disappointed, and did not agree with Impmon's definition of fun. It wasn't fun, and it wasn't funny. It was downright nasty. More like something that Renamon and her awful partner would do. This new digimon was bad news, and he resolved to avoid him from now on.
Impmon was disappointed, as he flicked up a fireball: "Fuck're you lookin' at", he said to the statue as he flicked the fireball, striking the Thinker squarely in the forehead, leaving a burn mark.
He was walking down the path, and kicked at an empty soda can. "I underestimated the nit-wit", he thought to himself. "He's not as stupid as he acts". It would have suited his purpose better if he could have gotten Guilmon to go along.
Takato was in the path leading out of the park, so lost in thought, he didn't see the cop.
"You there!", he challenged. "you're a primary student, aren't you?"
"Uhhhh... yeah?", Takato replied nervously
"Aren't you out awfully late?"
"Uhhhhh..."
"You wouldn't be the one who's been pulling all the pranks in the park, would you?"
"Uhhhhh... N... No sir!"
"WheredoyouliveWheredoyougotoschool?"
"I... uhhhhh..."
"Well, answer me boy!"
"I..."
"Takato! There you are!", it was Ms. Asanuma.
"Problem here, Officer?"
"You know this boy?"
"He volunteered to help us with our citizen patrol. Didn't you?"
"Yeah", he agreed.
"He's with you?"
"Yes, Officer"
"I see... well, carry on"
"Thanks, Asanuma-sensei"
"I know it's not you, you're much too mature for such foolishness. What are you doing here so late?"
"It's... nothing... just on my way home"
"Here, let me walk you out. It would be a good idea if you stayed away from the park after dark for awhile, though. Even if you have to take the long way home".
"Yes, Sensei"
"Now the cops are involved too?", Takato thought to himself. He didn't need this: "If that cop finds Guilmon, he'll...". He considered the possibility of capture and separation. "They wouldn't...", he thought. More likely they'd shoot first and ask questions later.
"They can't!", he called out, as he ran back into the park.
"Takato?", Ms. Asanuma called after him.
Guilmon's Shed
"Guilmon!", Takato called out as he ran up the last of the steps. He got no answer.
"Guilmon!", he called into the shed. "Dammit Guilmon! I told you not to go out!"
"Takato?", Guilmon asked as he was just now arriving. "What's wrong?', he asked.
"Where were you just now?"
"Guilmon was invited to play surprising and scaring people, but no fun. So I come home..."
"Guilmon! Damn you! I was worried sick about you, and this is how you repay me?! OK, that's how you want it, then you're on your own! I refuse to waste any more time worrying about you and trying to protect you from yourself. You can go straight to Hell for all I care!"
"Takato angry?", he asked himself as Takato stormed off.
Chou Park
Impmon saw the developing digital field: "Now there's something that looks interesting", he told himself as he went to investigate.
It towered over the gazebo right next to it. It was big and black, with four fiery eyes, bat-like wings, as it growled softly. It was just now completing its materialization. Impmon climbed to the top of the stone gazebo to get a closer look.
"What are you doing?", Impmon asked. "You mean a big, strong digimon like you can't escape its own digital field?"
It turned to face the much smaller digimon: "You're pathetic!", he laughed. "Your only purpose is to amuse me!", Impmon taunted. He was succeeding: the new digimon was growing angrier, as it roared at him.
"Come, come, come: get me if you can! You're such a pussy! Can't even get out of a simple digital field!"
If he'd known how unstable that digital field was, he would have rethought this. It began to collapse as soon as he touched it. The digimon escaped, and gave the gazebo a shove that pushed it off its foundation, sending Impmon flying. Fortunately, he landed in thick shrubs. This digimon forgot all about Impmon as it spread its considerable wings and took off.
"What the...", it startled Ms. Asanuma as it flew overhead, still gaining altitude.
"Hell's that!", people in the street called out as the apparition flew past.
"Look out!", someone called out, as the outwash from its wings blew down signs and tiles off roofs. It roared into the night.
"Guilmon!", Takato called out. He knew right away what it was, and knew Guilmon would know too. And he would come to investigate. He ran back towards the park.
It soared to the top of the Hypnos building, perching to survey its new domain.
It spotted Guilmon, recognized him as a digimon, and as potential prey. It soared right past the windows of Yamaki's office.
"It's that Wild One", he told himself – the one who somehow concealed his materialization from Hypnos.
"Guilmon!" Takato called out as he ducked to avoid that digimon. Guilmon hit the deck too. Takato took out his digivice:
Devidramon: the four-eyed devil
Champion, Virus
Evil dragon digimon
Attack: Crimson Nail
"Guilmon!", Takato called out.
Guilmon and Devidramon were just sizing each other up.
Ruki and Renamon arrived: "Renamon...", Ruki was reaching for her digivice and cards.
"Wait, Ruki, that's Guilmon's digimon"
"You're not serious?"
"It is something every digimon needs to learn for himself".
"He sure picked onehelluvan opponent for his first battle"
"Hey!", they heard. Jenyra and Terriermon were also arriving.
"Start, already!", Terriermon called out.
"Sometimes, you talk too much", Jenyra reprimanded his partner.
"Pyrosphere!", Guilmon struck the first blow.
Devidramon simply swept the fireball aside, deflecting it, breaking it up. He took flight.
"Alright", Takato said, he seemed awfully confident: "Boost Chip: digimodify!"
"Pyrosphere!", Guilmon attacked again, this time, actually scoring a hit, but it didn't do any damage as Devidramon shielded himself with his wings.
"Damn! That didn't work!", Takato called out.
"White Wings: digimodify!"
Guilmon flew at Devidramon, but just got knocked into the side of a building for his trouble.
"High Speed Plug-in B: digimodify!"
This allowed Guilmon to duck the blow Devidramon threw at him, but nothing more.
"Fuck's he doin'!", Ruki asked Jen. "Speed won't help here, it's too confined an area! He has no idea what he's doing with his cards".
"It'll be all over soon", Jenyra observed. He ran off, not wanting to stay around to see Guilmon defeated and loaded. He even left Terriermon behind. Devidramon pinned Guilmon to the ground, and began to beat the data right out of him.
"Guilmon!", Takato called out.
"Great! Great!", Impmon cheered Devidramon. "I knew that big guy was so much stronger than all the others".
There was more than one way to end a partnership, he realized. He slipped off the top of the road sign where he was standing to get a better view. He pulled himself back up: "Remember me?", he called out. "I got you out of that field! Impmon!"
Terriermon was watching from a nearby tree.
"This is a helluvalot more fun than scaring Outworlders!"
"So you're the Park Prankster", Terriermon said to himself.
He looked around: "Huh?", he sensed something. "Must be my imagination", he dismissed. Terriermon was gone by then.
"I wish I could be as big and strong as that guy", Impmon said to himself.
That was a sensitive issue with Impmon: he resented the Rookie weakness of his kind. He'd shot down feral, flighted digimon in dog fights, but that didn't count since he'd done it as a fighter pilot. He had never defeated an opponent like this without the assistance of technology.
Devidramon picked Guilmon up, and slammed him against a wall. "Ta...ka...to", he called out, barely conscious.
Devidramon was poised to strike: "My next card...", Takato started, but his hands were shaking so much he dropped them.
"Evolve... if you could evolve", he was saying.
"Hey Takato!", it was Terriermon. He, Jen and Ruki and Renamon were coming to join him. "I found out Guilmon wasn't the Prankster!"
Takato had recovered his dropped cards.
"It was Impmon", Terriermon continued his explanation, "a digimon who's the same size and shape as a kid. It's all his fault".
"Guilmon", he said again. It was looking worse and worse: Devidramon had Guilmon by the throat: a three-pronged tail-tip. "Don't give up Guilmon!"
Calumon came exploring, flying in unnoticed, his out sized ears doing double duty as wings.
"Please don't give up, Guilmon!"
"Ta...ka...to... not angry... no more?"
"I'm not angry", Takato told him. "I'm sorry I ever doubted you".
Devidramon tightened his hold: "GUILLLL-MONNNN!"
Calumon sensed Takato's desperation...
Guilmon evolve! …
A bright red light startled and night blinded Devidramon, who released the small red dinosaur who was becoming a large, red dinosaur.
"Guilmon! Grow...", Takato said.
"That's it! Growlmon!"
At last, he had a name for Guilmon's Champion form.
Calumon flew off: "Another one changed, culu?!", he said to himself.
Devidramon backed off: "Exhaust Flame!", Growlmon attacked.
Devidramon dodged. The yellow fire struck the Hypnos building, in whose courtyard this latest battle was being waged.
"This is... incredible!", one of the techs who'd been monitoring this latest digivolution said.
"Because it's not real", Yamaki answered.
"Sir?", she asked.
"We determine what is reality", Yamaki explained. "The media will know nothing of this. Cut off all access to the 'Net, scrub any attempts to upload anything: videos, images, text. No one will ever know".
"Understood"
The whole incident was an embarrassment that went beyond the location. Hypnos had not been able to get a Trace on this Wild One, had not even detected its materialization. His techs assumed he was simply trying to avoid a panic. He was really covering his ass. If the politicians and bureaucrats learned of Hypnos' failings, he would be through. It would also give politicians, like that Inspector, just the pretext they needed to cancel the whole project, despite how much of a disadvantage the country would have against other governments less reticent about spying on its citizens' on-line activities.
Outside, Growlmon was gouging holes in the wall, as he climbed to the roof of an adjoining building.
"Plazma Blade!", he slashed at Devidramon with a weapon that could be used as-is, or as the basis for an energy attack.
Devidramon dodged, and grappled with Growlmon to keep him from striking again. Devidramon lifted Growlmon high above the plaza, higher than the roof tops of the surrounding office towers, and dropped him.
He fell with a mighty crash, right through a pedestrian overpass.
"Growlmon!", Takato called out, as he and the others ran to see.
Growlmon's eyes glowed bright red. All Devidramon had accomplished was to really piss him off. He blinked his eyes back to normal. Devidramon was coming in for what he believed was the kill. Growlmon released an even bigger blast of Exhaust Flame.
Devidramon was too late to avoid taking the full hit, as he de-encorporated into a swarm of data, which Growlmon accepted. The only after effect was his eyes glowed, just like Devidramon's.
Guilmon had won his first victory. It was his – all his – he'd received no help whatsoever. Not from his Tamer, not from his so-called friends, not from Renamon, and not from Terriermon. Despite chaffing under his Tamer's "no fighting" rule, he took a powder though he had a damn good reason to fight for once.