11) A Tamer is Born
Takato, Kenta, and Kazu were at the dinosaur shaped shelter, playing the card game as they usually did whenever they could find the free time. Kenta was watching, as Takato and Kazu were going at it.
Takato laid down a card: "High Speed Plug-In B: Double Speed", he announced. He laid another card on top: "White Wings: Ariel Attack! I win!"
"Ohhhhh!", Kazu said. "What was that?"
"An awesome combo!", Kenta explicated. "I wasn't expecting that!", he congratulated. It was a rare occasion for Takato to best Kazu, who was the best player, second only to the Digimon Queen herself.
"What can I say?", Takato explained. "Winning real battles, I can't lose at cards, can I?"
He quickly began gathering his cards and layout, having realized what he'd just said.
"You're leaving already?", Kazu said. "I demand a rematch. Rematch!"
"What did you mean, 'real battles'?", Kenta asked.
"Ahhhhh... did I say that?", Takato tried his best to fake innocence, "you must be imagining things".
"No, I heard you too", Kazu replied. "What do you mean by 'real battles'?"
"I gotta run", Takato said as he jumped from the shelter. "Dammit!", he thought to himself, "that was a close call... way too close". Hopefully, they'd forget what he'd said.
0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
West Shinjuku: By the railroad overpass
"Why did you insist on coming, if you're so bored?", Jenyra asked Terriermon, who was perched on his Tamer's head, impersonating a plushie as he usually did in public.
"If I stay home, shit happens", Terriermon explained. He thought of the price he paid for pretending to be a doll: the little girl games Jen's younger sister, and the youngest member of the family, played with him.
They were crossing a pedestrian bridge over the busy parkway when they saw it: a bank of "fog" that began appearing over the railway overpass.
Hypnos HQ
"Chief, we're too late. It's begun to materialize".
"Launch Yuggoths!", he ordered.
"If we do that, it could affect the Material World", another tech objected.
"Stop the damn thing, then we'll worry about fixing the Material World"
She had no choice but to do as he said. She launched the Yuggoths...
"That's...", Jen began.
"...A digital field", Terriermon completed that thought, as he jumped to the hand rail, and began running off. Jen gave chase, caught him by one of his long ears.
"Jenyra!", Terriermon exclaimed.
"Terriermon, we're going home..."
"If that digimon breaks through, who knows what damage it might do?"
"It's none of our business".
Terriermon pulled free, only to be pulled back: "Stop it now, before someone sees!"
As they watched, the "fog" cleared as quickly, and as mysteriously, as it had appeared.
"A digital field, but no digimon?", he asked. He'd never seen a materialization "abort" like this one undeniably did. At least its disappearance meant he wouldn't have to struggle with Terriermon.
"Jen, why did you stop me?", Terriermon asked.
"I don't want you to fight".
"How come?"
"It's true video game digimon were created for fighting...", he began.
"It doesn't have to be that way in the Material World", Terriermon completed the thought.
"If you knew the answer, then why did you ask?"
Terriermon jumped to the ground: "You once said my appearance in your world wasn't normal. Do you find me to be an annoyance? Would you like me to disappear like Renamon did?"
"How could you even think such a thing?"
"Then why? Don't we have a duty to protect people from dangerous digimon?"
"You don't know that digimon would have been dangerous, besides, there are authorities who have that responsibility. We need to mind our own business; let them take care of it".
Jenyra picked Terriermon up, and they continued towards their home. "But I'm still a digimon", Terriermon thought to himself. "I can't deny what I am".
Hypnos HQ
"How dare you", came an announcement over the PA. "I shall avenge myself on you!", it threatened. Somehow, that digimon had hacked into Hypnos itself.
Yamaki wasn't expecting that. "Artificial life that tried to become physical, and now it's just data drifting around the 'Net", he thought to himself.
Chou Park
It wasn't until the weekend before Koichi and Renamon could finally meet the others she'd told him about. As they approached the concrete shed that had become Guilmon's Material World home...
"Renamon!", Takato called out, "we were so worried about you! You're all right?"
"I'm glad to see you again", Jen explained, "I wasn't sure if you'd go back to the Digital World, or do something...", he couldn't make himself complete that thought.
"Moumentai!", Terriermon called out.
"I'm happy to see you again", Guilmon said.
"Culu?", Calumon called out.
"Who's the old dude?", Takato asked.
"I have a new Tamer", Renamon explained. "Koichi Lonnegan is his name".
"And you're just kids", Koichi replied. "How the hell old are you anyway?"
"We're in the fifth grade", Jen explained. "We can't explain it either".
"No matter, I still need your help", Koichi explained, "I have the digivice, but it didn't come with a manual".
"C'mon in", Takato invited, as he led the way into Guilmon's shed.
"Yes, I have an odd name", Koichi was introducing himself. "My father is Irish-American, and he was stationed at the Navy base in Okinawa. It was there he met my mother, Yuka Hiroshi, who was a civilian employee. They dated, and fell in love. Father had to jump through all sorts of bureaucratic hoops, but he did it. They were married, and he brought his new bride home to America.
Five years later, I came along, then Sis. As for naming us kids, they decided on a compromise. Irish last name, and Japanese first name".
"Similar to my situation", Jenyra explained, "except my dad's Chinese - from Hong Kong. So your mom didn't come?"
"She... died", Koichi began. "Two years ago... a drunk driver. They say she never knew what hit her..."
"I'm sorry", Jen said.
"That's so sad", Guilmon agreed.
"I had no idea", Terriermon said.
"Culu?", Calumon understood, being an empath, he felt the same as Koichi.
"So sorry for your loss", Takato said. He knew that neither he nor Jenyra could understand the loss of a parent.
"Anyway, Father and Gran came, you know, to show me the land mom called home. I'll be attending university here, though Gran will be going back since she came to help us get settled here in Tokyo".
"You're among friends now", Jen was saying. "You'll see: Renamon will be the best friend you ever had. I tried explaining that to Ruki, but she just would not, or could not, see it... In a way, I feel sorry for her".
"Yeah", Takato agreed. "Guilmon's my best friend, as well as my partner".
"Takato would never betray me", Guilmon agreed.
"I swore I would never betray Renamon", Koichi confirmed. "And I never will. I'd die first..."
"I will protect your life even if it costs mine", Renamon told him. "Not on my watch, Koichi, not on my watch".
"What about the cards and digivices?", Koichi asked.
"Oh yeah", Takato said, remembering why they were there in the first place. He pulled one from a pocket, and passed it to Koichi. He turned it over and over, noticing one side had a logo that looked like a stylized '2', and a slogan: "Battle and Evolution". The reverse side had a magnetic strip, like a credit card, and a picture of a digimon, with a description and point value.
"This looks like..."
"It is, and you can buy them in almost any store that deals with video and other games", Jen explained.
"It was supposed to be just a game", Takato explicated. "My friends, Kenta and Kazu and I, play all the time. Only now, it turned out that it isn't just a game. It's for real. Yeah, I was a little bored with the game, and thought I'd add something different. I set out to design a new character. He'd be like Augomon because he was always my favorite, but better, with more powerful attacks. Oh, and he'd be a Virus type, but a good Virus, as there aren't very many who are. That would add to the uniqueness... then there was that day.
It was weird, lots of wind, clouds swirling in the sky like I'd never seen before, lots of static electricity in the air, but it never rained. Then, this Blue Card turned my score keeper into a digivice. I scanned all the notes and drawings I'd made, and a couple of days later, my character came to life..."
"That would be me", Guilmon added.
"Yeah, I had a real, live digimon. I never figured... it could really happen".
"Blue Card?", Koichi asked.
"That's how it happened for me as well", Jen explained. "My dad got me the new, deluxe version of the Digital Monsters video game. I connected it to my computer, and went through the character selections until I chose Terriermon. I played all the time, until I got the idea that these game characters had lives of their own. Of course, that was silly. They're just programs, or so I told myself, and Father agreed. You can't really hurt them, or can you?
I felt so bad, seeing Terriermon hurt like that. I was gonna lose him, but then this Blue Card appeared, and I ran it through the game's card reader. Just like that, the card reader turned into a digivice, and the Terriermon on the screen faded out, while a very real Terriermon appeared in my lap. I apologized for all the digimon I hurt, but he forgave me. We've been together ever since".
"I don't know about that", Koichi said. "My digivice just materialized out of thin air. It just appeared. No Blue Cards, or any other kind of cards. I still don't quite understand the purpose of that".
"We'll do our best to explain", Takato said. "The first thing you should do is get yourself a collection of cards. Then show us what you have".
"How do you mean?"
"You don't get all the cards in the same set", Hen explained. "Trading cards is as much a part of the game as actually playing. Just watch out for Kazu Shioda, he's a ruthless card trader".
Takato took out one of his cards to explain.
"For our purpose, ignore the point count. That applies only if you're playing Battle Cards. Of course, if you'd like to play, we can do that too. This particular card is a "High Speed Plug-In B" card. What that means is it gives your digimon the ability to move twice as fast as normally. You might want to use it in order to allow Renamon to escape, or to attack an unusually fast digimon against whom she wouldn't otherwise score a hit. There are other cards with different attributes. Like the 'Devil Chip' card: this one enhances normal attacks, making them more devastating..."
"How long do the effects last?"
"That's just it: once, maybe twice, but no longer than that"
"I see...", Koichi said. "Then it's important to get the timing right".
"Yes, it is. There are other cards, character cards", Takato took out another one.
"Kyukimon", Koichi read the back of the card.
"If you used this card, then Renamon would acquire Kyukimon's special attack: Blade Twister. That also would last for just one time".
"How would I apply this in the heat of battle?", he asked.
"Your best bet", Jen explained, "would be to memorize as many as you can, and get an organizer so that you can select a card rapidly. Your partner's life could depend on it".
"Would it help to know this card game?"
"I doubt that it's all that apropos. It's one thing, playing cards where you have all the time you need to set up strategies, analyze what your opponent's doing. In a real digibattle, you may not have even a second to decide".
"This is beginning to sound a good deal more complicated than I thought..."
"Koichi, I believe in you", Renamon reassured. "It's not like you will be there, all alone. I can also suggest how you can best help me. All partners do that for their Tamers".
"We've known Renamon longer than you have, and seen her in action. You have a very capable partner. You'll do just fine", Jen reassured.
"Don't forget about the most powerful card", Takato showed him a "Super Evolution Plug-In S" card. That one was self-explanatory. "Just be sure you use that only when it's absolutely necessary. Also, be aware: sometimes it doesn't work, and sometimes it does. Ruki was always complaining that the card never worked for her".
"Have you tried it?"
"I never did", Jen explained. "Terriermon has had enough fighting in the Digital World. I don't want him fighting here as well, and I never needed it".
"I haven't either", Takato explained. "I leave it up to Guilmon if he wants to evolve or not. I'm good either way, how he decides".
"Really?", Guilmon asked. "I got the impression you weren't very happy with it".
"Yeah, Growlmon was scary at first, you can't deny that. And inconvenient: it's hard enough hiding you as you are, let alone Growlmon's size... but now that we found that tunnel, that solves that little problem".
"I get the idea you haven't told your parents?"
"I don't know how we'd explain... Have you?"
"Right away: they know all about Renamon... Age has its privileges after all".
West Shinjuku: Takato's School
"What're you looking at?", Jen asked Takato. It was the end of another day, however Takato didn't seem interested in getting away as soon as possible, like the other kids.
"I was just hoping, you know, to see a digital field. After Guilmon beat Devidramon..."
"You've changed, you know", he commented.
"Do you think so? I don't..."
"There you are!" Just then, Takato was accosted by Kazu, who put him in a head lock: "I want revenge!", he announced. "You're not getting away this time!"
"Yeah, Kazu's got some new cards he wants to try out", Kenta explained.
"Owwww! Dammit!", Takato protested. "I don't care what new cards he has. I'll play him any time, anywhere..."
"You guys talking about Digimon again?", this time it was Takato's classmate, Juri Katou, accompanied by her long time gal-pal: Yuki. "You sure do seem to have an obsession..."
"Children!", declared Yuki as she began to giggle.
"YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT! OF COURSE WE'RE CHILDREN!", Kazu and Kenta sarcastically taunted back. Juri and Yukii were both laughing now, as they walked off.
"Hellsamatter with them?", Kenta asked. "Always pretending to be older than they really are".
"It's Digimon Battle time!", Kazu declared.
"Alright, then, show me what you got!", Takato declared. "Jen...", he looked around.
During the distraction, Jen had taken his leave. He was more the loner, scholarly type, and his only involvement with digimon was the video game. He preferred playing on-line than in person.
They were at the dinosaur shelter, Takato and Kazu were going at it. Kenta, as usual, was standing by, watching. As bad as Takato was, Kenta was even worse, and it didn't take him long to lose.
"C'mon, hurry up", Takato prompted.
"Patience, my friend, patience", Kazu replied before making his final play.
"Shit!" Takato exclaimed. "I never saw that coming! It's too much..."
"See?", Kazu explained, "When I play serious, I win", he said as if it were too obvious to explain.
"Toldja yesterday was a fluke", he continued explaining to Kenta.
"You guys act like little kids over a silly card game", Takato defended himself.
"Don't be such a sore loser", Kazu reprimanded.
"Yeah? I'd like to see how you'd do in a real battle!", Takato challenged.
"You're forgetting one thing", Kenta reminded, "there are no digimon".
"There are!", Takato insisted.
"Suuuure there are", Kazu mocked him. "Then how about you show us one?", both of them laughed.
"OK, then, you got it: come with me right now and I'll show you a real digimon!" Takato's wounded pride had finally gotten the best of him.
"Huh?", Kazu and Kenta asked one another. Surely he didn't... But he looked deadly serious. Whatever it was, they knew they had no choice but to see what their friend was up to. Takato led them to the park, down a nature trail, and finally up the steps to Guilmon's home away from home.
"He's in here", Takato warned them.
Kenta and Kazu looked around. It looked like an ordinary maintenance shed, but for the enormous hole ripped through the concrete of the rear wall that disappeared into unseen depths. They wondered how he'd managed that.
"Guilmon!", Takato called out. Nothing happened, nothing appeared.
"See? I toldja he was full of it", Kazu exclaimed in triumph. Takato couldn't produce the digimon he'd promised. Both continued looking into the depths of the excavation.
Then they heard something stirring within. Doubts were beginning to rise. Two yellow eyes glared back at them from the darkness.
Kenta and Kazu ran, screaming, from the shed and down the trail before waiting to see what came out of that hole.
"Takato?", Guilmon asked as he emerged.
"Were you asleep?", he asked.
"Taking a nap", Guilmon explained. "What was it you wanted?", he asked.
"It wasn't that important".
0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
The Akihabara
"So you want lots of Digimon Battle cards? Aren't you a little old..."
"A gift for my younger brother", Koichi explained, "he's just gone ga-ga over that, and since it's his birthday... I mean, what else do you get for a tenth birthday?"
"Buying gifts for kids is never easy", the counterman agreed.
"You're sure there's no way to select..."
"They come as they are, I'm afraid..."
"I mean, he has some cards already, what about duplicates?"
"He can always trade them. That's the whole point".
"I see... Well, I'll take all you got".
"I'm sure he'll appreciate it".
West Shinjuku: Railway Overpass
Terriermon and Jenyra were back, and having that same discussion: "You could've stayed home. After all, I'm just picking up a few things for Mom..."
"I told you: shit happens when you're not there".
"What?"
"Believe me, you don't want to know".
"Shuichon isn't that bad, is she?"
"Bad enough..."
They saw it: the digital field. "Not again".
This time, the field wasn't dispersing like it did before. This time, it began at the overpass, then thickened and expanded until it covered the entire intersection, stopping all traffic, as the signals couldn't even be seen. Neither could the cross walk signals, leaving people milling about, wondering to each other what was happening.
"Jen?", Terriermon asked, but his partner said nothing, did nothing.
There was a little girl standing at the corner with her mother. She lost the balloon she was carrying, and began to cry and run after it.
"Stop!", Jen called after her. "Don't go in there!"
It did no good: "Shit!", he muttered to himself. Finally, he made a decision: he ran after the girl, pulling on his sunglasses against the glare of the digital field.
It was huge, this digimon. Jen ran an ident:
Musyamon
Champion, Virus
Demon man
Attack: Kirisute Gomen
They weren't alone: Takato and Guilmon had gotten there first, but it didn't look as though they were having much luck. Takato was scanning cards, but without any reason.
"Why are you working with a human?!", Musyamon called to Guilmon, as he took a fierce swing at the crimson dino with an enormous sword. It could easily have sliced him in half, but Guilmon was fast enough to dodge. Then he connected with a kick, sending Guilmon flying.
"White wings: digimodify!", Takato scanned the card that gave Guilmon the temporary power of flight.
"What the fuck!", Jen thought. Musyamon wasn't a flighted digimon.
With Guilmon out of the way, Musyamon advanced on the little girl with a nasty laugh. This would be easy pickin's. He raised the sword:
"Humans must die!", he said.
"Terriermon!", Jen called out.
"Onnit", he replied.
"High Speed Plug-in H: Hyper Acceleration: digimodify!". This gave Terriermon enough momentum to drive Musyamon, despite his size and mass, away from the little girl he was ready to slice in half.
"Terriermon!", he called out.
"Jen! Let's do this!", Terriermon agreed.
"Super Evolution Plug-in S: digimodify!"
Terriermon Evolve! ...
... GALGOMON!
Galgomon fired his twin 0.50s at Musyamon: "Dipshit! Bringing a sword to a gun fight!", he taunted, as golden showers of brass casings clattered to the street. At first, it didn't seem to be doing much good against Musyamon's armour.
He tried something else, as he ran at the much larger opponent: "Dum dum upper!"
Galgomon literally blew his head off. Musyamon disintegrated into particles of data, which Galgomon loaded. This time, with no objections from his Tamer. Guilmon returned to earth as he lost his White Wings, but, at least, he was able to recover the little girl's balloon.
Now they had another problem: with Musyamon gone, so, too, was the digital field which had concealed them from view. They all ran off, towards the least crowded corner. Guilmon deposited the girl, and as luck would have it, the same corner where her mother was waiting.
"That digimon saved me!", she proclaimed.
"That's nice", her mother replied in that way adults always answer kids when they're making stuff up. By the time she looked, all she saw was a street filled with ordinary pedestrians. They ran for the only sanctuary they knew of: the park.
"Jen, you really don't mind?", Galgomon asked.
He paused. "That digimon was going to kill an innocent child. There was no one else who could have prevented it: we, the Tamers, saved a life. I guess I was wrong to insist that you never fight... There are some things worth fighting for that are more important than running up a score in a video game. I guess I failed to draw that distinction. You were right all along, and I just didn't see it until now".
"I'm sorry, Guilmon", Takato apologized. "I wasn't thinking, just mindlessly scanning cards..."
"Don't worry about it, no one's perfect", Guilmon reassured. "No harm, no foul".
They didn't see Mitsou Yamaki, as he played with one of Galgomon's spent casings. What he'd only suspected was now confirmed: kids were playing with these Wild Ones. One more problem he didn't need. His Yuggoth program had turned out to be a good deal less effective than he'd hoped. It failed to destroy Musyamon, only slowing him down temporarily. Musyamon had hacked Hypnos' systems to issue his threats over the whole building's PA, and now, this time, Musyamon had deployed a countermeasure that rendered Yuggoth totally ineffective.
He could see his entire career beginning to circle the drain. Unless he did something, and soon.