Digimon World Tour Chapter 53: The Tournament, a digimon fanfic

Digimon World Tour

Recap

[Matt] I'm starting to get worried about the team. So many things have happened so quickly, like President Obama's kids being able to use their DigiSoul. During our launch party, Rika got to sing a duet with Pink, but I think she let that get to her head. Then, President Obama signed an executive order that basically gave us full support from the U.S. government. Greg met Anya's dad, who quickly got drunk while celebrating. Davis shocked a lot of us with his singing ability. We were divided on whether he actually had talent. He's not tone-deaf, I'll just say that. Heh, it's funny. My band has changed so much from what I imagined it to be.

Chapter 53: The Tournament

Yolei

We were going to hold the tournament in an open field somewhere, but when Commander Sampson and President Obama heard about it, they moved it to FedEx Field, where the Washington Redskins played football. Then, they invited a whole bunch of people from the U.S. military, including Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel. "But why would a bunch of old men want to see us fight?" I wondered. "It's because the military has to know what you're capable of," Obama answered.

Before we left, Rika came up with a great idea to prank all those politicians who didn't support us. Obama gave us his blessing. He thought it was hilarious.

["Womanizer"

Written by Nikeshia Briscoe and Rafael Akinyemi

Performed by Yolei Inoue (Tiffany Christun)

Backing Vocals: Rika Ishida (Melissa Fahn)]

Inside the Recording Studio of the United States House of Representatives, Thomas acts as reluctant producer while Gaomon is the engineer. The girls huddle around microphones wearing headphones. Yolei giggles. "Quiet in the studio!" Gaomon instructs. A few seconds later, the two give the signal as the original instrumental backing track plays.

Yolei:

Superstar
Where you from, how's it going?
I know you
Got a clue, what you doing

You can play brand new to
All the other chicks out here
But I know what you are
What you are, baby

Look at you
Gettin' more than just a re-up
Baby you
Got all the puppets with their strings up

Fakin' like a good one
But I call 'em like I see 'em
I know what you are
What you are, baby

The song is broadcast through the House of Representatives as the female representatives and secretaries are driven to dance around to the song in the name of female empowerment.

Yolei: (VO)

Womanizer, woman-womanizer
You're a womanizer
Oh, womanizer, oh
You're a womanizer, baby

You, you, you are
You, you, you are
Womanizer, womanizer
Womanizer (Rika: Womanizer)

Boy don't try to front, uh, I
Know just, just, what you are, ah, ah
Boy don't try to front, uh, I
Know just, just, what you are, ah, ah
You got me going
You're oh so charming
But I can't do it
You womanizer
Boy don't try to front, uh, I
Know just, just, what you are, ah, ah
Boy don't try to front, uh, I
Know just, just, what you are, ah, ah

You say I'm crazy
I got you crazy
You're nothing but a
Womanizer

We go back into the studio where Rika has taken off her shirt and is dancing around the recording booth.

Yolei:

Daddy-O
You got the swagger of a champion
Too bad for you
You just can't find the right companion

I guess when you have one too many
Makes it hard, it could be easy
Who you are
That's just who you are, baby

Lollipop
Must mistake me, you're the sucker
To think that I
Would be a victim, not another

Say it, play it, how you wanna
But no way I'm ever gonna
Fall for you
Never you, baby

Womanizer, woman-womanizer
You're a womanizer
Oh, womanizer, oh
You're a womanizer, baby

You, you, you are
You, you, you are
Womanizer, womanizer
Womanizer (Rika: Womanizer)

Back in the House, the female "dance-in" continues as even some arguably gay male members of the staff join in.

Yolei: (VO)

You say I'm crazy
I got you crazy
You're nothing but a
Womanizer

Back in the studio.

Yolei:

Maybe if
We both lived in a
Different world
(Rika: Womanizer, womanizer, womanizer, womanizer)

It would be all good
And maybe I could be your girl
But I can't
'Cause we don't, you

The female representatives and secretaries on revolt dance their way out of the Capitol Building and create a scene, much to the chagrin and annoyance of the straight males in the building and on the street.

Yolei: (VO)

Womanizer, woman-womanizer
You're a womanizer
Oh, womanizer, oh
You're a womanizer, baby

You, you, you are
You, you, you are
Womanizer, womanizer
Womanizer (Rika: Womanizer)

You say I'm crazy
I got you crazy
You're nothing but a
Womanizer

Boy don't try to front, uh, I
Know just, just, what you are, ah, ah
Boy don't try to front, uh, I
Know just, just, what you are, ah, ah

Womanizer, woman-womanizer
You're a womanizer
Oh, womanizer, oh
You're a womanizer, baby

Fade to next scene.

Greg

The girls went on a quick shopping trip before we rode out to FedEx Field. They met us there, and we walked into a locker room. There, Commander Sampson gave us a pep talk. "All right, team. Listen up. We have three operatives who haven't unlocked Burst Mode yet. As I read your name, please step forward. Ken Ichijouji. Yolei Inoue. And Mimi Tachikawa." They stepped forward, and Sampson continued, "What you three are about to experience will be different for each one of you. This is less of a tournament and more of a training session. There will be a victor in each fight, but there will only be a move to finish the fight when Burst Mode is achieved. All of these battles will be recorded and monitored by the military for training, research and development. We all want to see you perform at the top of your game. So, bring your heart and soul into each and every battle. Are we clear?" "Sir yes sir!" we all responded.

Ken, Yolei, and Mimi went into a separate room to make their decision as to who they would challenge. Minutes later, they came out. Mimi made her decision first. "I've been thinking carefully, and since fire is strong against grass, I choose Tai." Tai nodded. "It's gotta be my DNA Digivolution partner, Kari," Yolei decided. Kari gave a thumbs-up. Finally, it was Ken's turn. "I know two people I'm not going to pick, and that leaves only one choice. Greg." I cocked my head. The others prepared for battle.

"Hey, Greg. Can I talk to you for a second?" T.K. asked. So, I joined him in another area. "What's up?" I asked. "Well, I've got a sneaking suspicion that I'm one of the people Ken didn't choose." "Why's that, T.K.?" "It was a few years ago, when Ken was the Digimon Emperor. I may have told you this story before, but I'll tell it to you again anyway. We found his floating base in a dark whirlpool. After letting some captive Digimon go free, I saw something on a screen. Ken had stumbled onto our old nemesis, Devimon. The one that Angemon sacrificed himself to kill when I was a kid. The memories made me so angry, I decided to confront Ken and give him a piece of my mind. I even managed to get a few hits on him. I don't know if he's forgiven me for that since then." "Wow... Ken told me he was good at judo. How'd you land a punch on him?" "Mind games, mostly. Anyway, I have an idea on how to get into his head, maybe draw Burst Mode out of him." "Go on, then. I'm listening."

Finally, it was time for the first fight. I looked out in the audience, and all the higher-ups from the Department of Defense were there. There were generals from all the branches of the military, scientists, soldiers, and a number of other important people. All of them paying attention to us. We decided to set the stage by doing a number.

["We Will Rock You"

Written by Brian May

Performed by The Teenage Wolves

Lead Singer: Yamato "Matt" Ishida (Michael Reisz)]

The song starts in the usual way with the "stomp-stomp-clap-pause" rhythm that made the song famous in the first place. Marcus and Rika lead the military audience in it.

Matt:

Buddy you're a boy make a big noise
Playin' in the street gonna be a big man some day
You got mud on yo' face
You big disgrace
Kickin' your can all over the place
Singin'

Matt/Band:
We will we will rock you
(Matt: Sing it!)
We will we will rock you
(Matt: Everybody)
We will we will rock you

We will we will rock you

T.K. plays the familiar guitar solo. When he finishes, Rika and Marcus dash to their equipment. Marcus quickly taps out the beat and we're treated to a faster version with a full guitar, bass and drums backing track throughout.

Matt:

Buddy you're a boy make a big noise
Playin' in the street gonna be a big man some day
You got mud on yo' face
You big disgrace
Kickin' your can all over the place

Matt/Band:

We will we will rock you
We will we will rock you

Matt:

Buddy you're a young man hard man
Shoutin' in the street gonna take on the world some day
You got blood on yo' face
You big disgrace
Wavin' your banner all over the place

Sing it!

Matt/Band:

We will we will rock you
We will we will rock-

There's a stop for a bass solo, followed by a guitar duet between Matt and T.K. The entire place is rocking!

Matt/Band:

We will we will rock you
We will we will rock you

Matt:

Buddy you're an old man poor man
Pleadin' with your eyes gonna make you some peace some day
You got mud on your face
Big disgrace
Somebody better put you back into your place

Matt/Band:

We will we will rock you
(Matt: Sing it!)
We will we will rock you
(Matt: Everybody)
We will we will-

This stops so Marcus can get in a huge, impressive drum solo.

Matt:

rock you!

The piece ends spectacularly. The band waves to everyone as the other DigiDestined, President Obama, Maxwell, Juliet, and Commander Sampson cheer and applaud. The others... well, not so much. "Thank you! You're a great audience!" Matt shouts to the crowd.

Greg

After clearing the field, it was time for the first fight, Tai vs. Mimi. Mimi had changed her style yet again. This time, she was sporting a black mini-dress along with a white undershirt inside a V-shaped neck with a short pink skirt, and pink knee-high boots with black socks underneath. Tai wore his usual summer outfit. The two of them wore headset mics so their voices could be broadcast to the people in the stands.

Commander Sampson and Kudamon acted as referee. The two of them shook hands and went to their corners. "DigiDestined, present your Digivices," Kudamon instructed. They unclipped them and held them forward. "Realize your Digimon," Sampson continued.

Tai went first. "Agumon, realize!" Within seconds, Agumon came out of the Digivice, ready to fight. His stats appeared on the big screen. Mimi followed. "OK, then! Palmon, realize!" Palmon came out of her Digivice, and her stats appeared on the giant TV.

"This first match is between Taichi Kamiya and Mimi Tachikawa DigiDestined, ignite your DigiSoul, and Digivolve your partners to Mega level," Sampson instructed. Mimi spun around, letting her DigiSoul "blossom" around her body. Tai fired an uppercut and gained an orange aura. Their hands went right for the sensors on their Digivices at the same time. It was like watching a gunfight.

"DigiSoul, Charge! OVERDRIVE!" "Agumon Double Warp Digivolve to... AncientGreymon!"

"DigiSoul, Charge! OVERDRIVE!" "Palmon Double Warp Digivolve to... Rosemon!"

Like before, their stats appeared on the screen. The two Digimon stared each other down, and a lot of security and safety barriers had to be set up around our VIPs. Sampson raised his arm and quickly dropped it. "Begin!"

The fight began as Tai and Mimi ran to safety.

Tai

AncientGreymon and Rosemon started sparring with each other. "So, are you excited, Mimi?" I asked my opponent. "Yeah, I guess. To be honest, which I always am, I've got something else on my mind." "What?" "I can't decide between Izzy, Joe, and Michael." "Really? Tell me about it." "Well, Michael has a crush on me, and I've kinda got a crush on him. And the fact that his father's a famous movie star really helps. ...Although when I think about it, that's kind of superficial." "Well, yeah."

Sampson

When I arrived back in the stands, I could hear some of the personnel talking. "I don't know what I should take notes on, the Digimon's firepower or which boy Mimi likes," one of them murmured. "Oh no, this isn't going to be another one of those teen soap operas, is it?" a female scientist groaned.

Tai

The Digimon fight looked just as real as a professional wrestling match. They both fought hard and impressed the military, but neither of them could really let go without hurting each other. It was really difficult on AncientGreymon. He would fly around and breathe fire while Rosemon avoided it. Then, Rosemon put him to sleep with rose petals. Then, she pretended to put a chokehold on him with her whip. It was frustrating.

In the meantime, Mimi kept going on and on about how she couldn't decide between Izzy and Joe. That was only after she finally decided that all the reasons she liked Michael were superficial and that she should break up with him. Finally, I'd had enough. "Come on, Mimi! Focus! We're fighting here so you can unlock Rosemon's Burst Mode," I said. "I know, I know. But there's no real danger here. You can't just force these things." "You can't force- oh no!" She was right!

It was a good thing we were miced. "Commander Sampson! Commander Sampson! We have to stop this battle now!" I turned off my mic and ran the long way around the stadium towards the commander. It took me about 10 minutes to get there.

Finally, I made it to where the military was seated. "Taichi! Why aren't you down there?" Commander Sampson demanded to know. "Sir, do you remember when I told you about when I was a kid and I tried to force Agumon to Digivolve to Ultimate?" "Yes?" "Well, that didn't work. We have to stop this battle now. This whole thing. The same thing could happen to some Digimon what happened to mine." Commander Sampson gasped. "I'm a fool!" he cried.

He turned to the president. "President Obama, we have to stop this now!" The president looked shocked. "Are you crazy!? I just spent $50 million of our taxpayers' money on reserving this stadium and installing all these safety precautions. We can't stop now!" I told him the story of what happened.

Just then, Kari ran in. "Please, Mr. President, we have to stop this now!" she pleaded. "Kari. Why do you think we should stop?" "Because I tried to force Burst Mode, and it went wrong. President Obama, things like this can't be forced. It has to happen naturally. Just ask Tai." "That's what I was going to tell him," I said.

AncientGreymon

I was still asleep, but I finally came to. "Psssst. Rosemon," I whispered. "Huh?" "I just thought of something. Do you remember when Tai forced me to Digivolve, and I became SkullGreymon?" "Yeah. Yeah I do." "If this keeps up, it could happen to you too." "Oh no!" With that, she and I both powered down to our Rookie forms.

Tai's Agumon

I held up my claws to the public. "We're sorry. We just can't do it," I said.

Greg

Tai gave us the "all-clear" signal and we came out to join the others. "I knew it would be a bad idea all the time," Thomas claimed. "Then why didn't you say anything?" I asked him. "It was only to maintain respect for my superior officer." "Uh huh."

Commander Sampson was the first to speak. "Everyone, Taichi and Hikari have reminded me of something very important. I had a momentary lapse of judgment, and I apologize." Ken was the first to say, "I forgive you, Commander." We all ended up forgiving him, because he was our commander. Nothing more needed to be said.

Suddenly, we heard a loud noise, like a motorcycle revving up. It got louder and louder until it came in through the stands, going around to us and breaking through the safety barrier. A number of people got out of the way as the motorcycle came to a stop. Its rider was this rough, biker-looking Digimon with a long, metallic tail. I looked him up on my Digimon Analyzer. He was Beelzemon, a Mega-level Demon Man Digimon.

He pointed his two shotguns at us. "Dis is a stick-up!" he loudly announced. Like that, I threw everything I had at his feet. Wallets, keys, everything went flying to his feet. He looked down at it. "Well whaddya know? Dis looks like a lot. But dat leads me to one question. What am I gonna do wit' all dis? Nuthin'. Why? 'Cause I'm a FRICKIN' DIGIMON!"

He started moving his guns around, looking for the right person to shoot. Then, he put his guns down. "Aww, dis ain't no fun. Ain't somebody gonna put up a fight?" Marcus nearly volunteered, but I grabbed him by the back of his collar and brought him into the huddle with the rest of us.

"I'll do it," Ken volunteered. "Ken, but why?" Yolei asked in concern. "Because he still hasn't completely atoned for his sins as the Digimon Emperor," I answered for him. Ken growled. It was working. Davis hit me hard in the shoulder. "Not cool, Greg!"

"It's still true. Ken, Yolei and the others told me about you sending Daemon to the Dark Ocean. That's cool and all, but being the former Digimon Emperor is something that will never completely go away." "Not with you reminding me of it," Ken grumbled. "Whatever. The only way to completely redeem yourself is to become a martyr. That wipes the slate clean!" "Fine!" Ken gave Yolei a quick kiss on the lips and then left, resolved. Out of sight to the others, T.K. gave me a thumbs up.

Ken bravely turned towards Beelzemon. "First off, what's your name?" he asked the Digimon. "My name? Dey call me Beelzemon." "Very well. As the former Digimon Emperor, I accept your challenge." That took him by surprise. "Aha! Well well well, what do we have here? So, you're the former Digimon Emperor, eh? Well den, it'll be my honor to kill ya!"

The two went down to the field. Ken took out his Digivice and brought it forward. "Wormmon, realize!" he called, and in seconds, Wormmon was on the field.

Ken

"I heard the whole thing, Ken. You really don't have to do this alone. That Greg's a jerk," Wormmon said as he climbed up to my shoulder. I had my mind made up. "He may be a jerk, but he's sort of right. Now, the sooner we finish this, the sooner we can go home." He jumped off. "All right then. I'm ready when you are."

I formed the hand seal of the ram as I ignited my DigiSoul around my body. Then, I took out my Digivice.

"DigiSoul, Charge! OVERDRIVE!" "Wormmon Double Warp Digivolve to... GranKuwagamon!"

Beelzemon didn't look impressed. "Eh, dat's just like ya, ya filthy insect! Do ya know whatcha did to my family!? Huh!?" "I'm trying to forget, but go ahead and refresh my memory." "You destroyed my village, captured my old man, and then killed my family! Then, you made him fight another Digimon just for a laugh!" I didn't want to do it, but I racked my brain anyway, trying to remember his father. Then, it finally hit me. "I remember now..." "You sadistic bum. I know now what I hafta do." After a few grunts, he sprouted wings, changed his eye color from red to green, and mounted a giant gun to his right arm.

"Let me ask you sumtin', you scumbag. You ever dance with da devil in the pale moonlight?" Beelzemon asked me. "More times than I dare to count. Get him, GranKuwagamon!" Both of them went airborne, and it was an even fight.

While I was cheering him on, I was thinking about what Greg had said, and how wrong he was. I started talking to myself. "Rrrgh... that Greg. He had to bring up my past like that. That's just low. Doesn't he know that I'm trying to redeem myself every day? Doesn't he know about the nightmares I have every night?"

Greg

Davis and Yolei had an immediate issue with what I said to Ken. Davis shoved me to the side. "Greg, you jerk! How could you say something like that to Ken, huh?" "It's part of a plan T.K. and I came up with when I was going to battle him." "Wait, what plan?"

It was a good thing our microphones weren't on. "Well, Takeru, why don't you tell them?" "All right. I've been thinking for the longest time on how to help Ken get over his past. If Greg reminded him, then perhaps he could finally see the need to forgive himself. I know it sounds cruel, but sometimes the hardest struggle is within yourself." That started an argument.

Ken

"Double Impact!" Beelzemon fired his guns at GranKuwagamon, who used Dimension Scissors to deflect the gunshots. The tension kept building until Beelzemon slammed into my partner, who fell into part of the stadium. " GranKuwagamon!" I shouted. He'd gone down. Beelzemon snickered at the whole thing.

I shook my head. Was it going to end like this? Maybe. Maybe it was. I ran towards my friend, the first true friend I'd ever had. This was my big chance to become a martyr! I finally arrived, and while I was still catching my breath, I spread my body in front of GranKuwagamon's foot. "Beelzemon! It's me that you want... not him! Leave my... partner alone!"

Suddenly, time stopped, and the background melted away. I was alone with Wormmon. "Ken... what are you thinking?" he asked. "Don't try to stop me, Wormmon. I'm going to die for you right now. This is my chance to become a martyr and completely redeem myself for my sins. I'll wipe the slate clean!" "Oh Ken... why do you beat yourself up like this? You told me that you were finished beating yourself up, and that you'd paid for your sins." "I thought I had. But it seems that no matter what happens, someone won't let my wounds heal." "Have you ever considered that the hardest person to be kind to... is yourself?"

My eyes widened in shock. Some part of me knew he was right, but I couldn't believe it. "Wormmon..." "It's true. You may have had a rough start, but you're working harder now than you ever have been at being the kind and gentle person I know you really are. Haters will hate, but there's nothing you can do about them. You have friends and family who care about you, and you have me. I've forgiven you, and so have they." "But then why did Greg bring it up?" "Why? Hmmm... I've got it. Maybe I was being harder on him than I thought. Maybe, in his own way, he wanted to help you heal yourself." "Heal myself? That's it. I'll do it. I'll finally forgive myself." I picked up Wormmon and held him in my arms. "Thank you so much, my friend. You've helped me see the light. I've got the Crest of Kindness, and that means being kind to myself as well. I'm going to forgive myself for what I've done as the Digimon Emperor! For real, this time!" "I'm so glad!"

In order to begin what I thought was the healing process, I closed my eyes and focused. Suddenly, my life flashed before my eyes. I saw everything that I had ever done as the Digimon Emperor, and it hurt me. But then, I remembered finding Wormmon again in Primary Village. I remembered Davis reaching out to me, even when the others wouldn't dare. You could say the good memories neutralized the bad ones enough for me to let go of the pain, yet remember not to make the same mistakes twice. When I was done, I felt like I was letting go of a giant burden.

I opened my eyes. My Digivice lit up with a light I'd never seen before. Wormmon and I were becoming connected, and I was becoming much stronger. We were sharing our energy with each other.

We returned to the real world, where GranKuwagamon and I were glowing. "Huh? What's dis light here?!" Beelzemon wondered. I unclipped my Digivice and posed with it. "Beelzemon, I'm sorry for your loss. I'm very sorry for what I did to your family. However, I can't allow you to hurt anyone else for what I've done." GranKuwagamon flew up into the sky as I pressed the three buttons from right to left.

I shifted the Digivice to the side, slowly bringing my free hand into the beam of light the Signal Port was giving off. I noticed my aura being fed into the Digivice as I swung it. "CHARGE! DigiSoul...BURST MODE!" I called. After the Digivice beeped, I thrust both hands fully out to my sides and fired the beam.

GranKuwagamon accepted the power and shined even brighter. His entire body became metallic, his wings straightened out and became sharper, and sharp claws extended themselves out of his hands. He even stood upright, becoming an insectoid soldier. "GranKuwagamon, Burst Mode!"

I looked him up on my Digimon Analyzer. "We've done it, Ken. By letting go of the pain of the past, we're able to reach a new tomorrow! I feel like a new insect!" The battle resumed, but this time, GranKuwagamon had the upper hand. He was faster, stronger, and more accurate with his attacks. He sliced into Beelzemon's wings and then sent him between the two 40-yard-lines with a bodyslam. Then, he finished him off with the Grandis Scissors attack, using his wings and his claws into multiple cutting tools. When Beelzemon had become a DigiEgg again, his motorcycle disappeared with him. My partner reverted back to Wormmon. I caught him and put him on my arm, then walked back to the others.

Greg

Ken calmly approached us and looked sternly at me. "Greg, I don't appreciate what you said to me at all. But thank you, anyway," he said as his face softened. I smiled and secretly fistbumped T.K.

President Obama breathed a huge sigh of relief. "So, it worked after all. Thank goodness. At least one of you has unlocked Burst Mode today. It wasn't a complete waste."

"Nooooooooo! I wanted to unlock Burst Mode today!" Yolei whined. Ken put his arm around her shoulder and gently answered, "Don't worry, Yolei. It'll happen one day. Probably when you least expect it."

We sent everyone home and went back to the White House. We had one final stop on our tour, and that was the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. So, we had one final meeting in the Oval Office the night before our departure.

Matt took the lead. "The Bagra Army is running out of options. Everything's going to hit the fan very soon, so we have to be ready. This will be the last stop on our tour, so that's when they'll hit the hardest. We have to hit harder than them." "And how will we do that?" T.K. asked.

Marcus punched his fist in his palm with a smile. "The same way we've done before, Bucket Head. We go in, we kick butt, and we get out." Ken shook his head. "It's not that simple, Marcus. I should know. When I was the Emperor, I spent weeks developing Kimeramon, my ultimate creation. At the time, I thought it was perfect. Unfortunately, thanks to Devimon, I lost control of it. I don't think the Bagra Army would be that sloppy. In fact, I think they're even more advanced than we could possibly imagine."

"That doesn't matter. If we could beat you, we can beat them!" Davis said with complete determination. "Yeah!" his Veemon cheered.

President Obama cleared his throat. "Excuse me. Now, here's what we have planned. I am keeping my daughters here, as well as Mr. Caulfield and his lovely wife Juliet, here in Washington. Commander Sampson will be here as well. I feel that only the Teenage Wolves are necessary, so the eight of you will go to Las Vegas. I will have the National Guard in three states on standby, as well as 20 unmanned aerial vehicles surrounding the entire city." "But President Obama, what about possible civilian casualties?" Thomas asked. The president gave him a look of disbelief. "Really? The United States government is giving you its full support, and you're going to ask about possible civilian casualties? How can you possibly be so ungrateful? How can you look a gift horse in the mouth?" The strange thing is, he didn't lose his cool at all. He just spoke like a stern father. Thomas was being treated like a kid who had just come home with a D+ on his test.

Thomas, of course, calmly and collectively had a comeback. "Mr. President, far be it for me to even appear ungrateful for your support, I must point out that DATS, as an organization, is committed to causing as few civilian deaths as possible. If you are not willing to guarantee the absolute safety of innocent lives, then perhaps you are not meant to hold the office you have." Obama sighed. "We're dealing with too many unknown variables, Mr. Norstein. I'll do the best I can." "Fair enough. Thank you."

"You know, I'm getting tired of all this political talk. Anybody want to join Rika and me for a game of root beer pong?" Marcus offered. We all agreed to join in.

Author's Notes:

The real reason the tournament was halted was because I couldn't think of anything compelling for Yolei or Mimi.

In 2002, the fast version of "We Will Rock You" (as described here, found at /watch?v=lUEd5FnDIL0 on YouTube) was officially released on a promo single distributed by the British tabloid The Sun. The "fast" BBC studio version can also be found on The Best of King Biscuit Live Volume 4.

The representatives and secretaries represented in this fanfic are fictitious do not necessarily reflect those who actually serve in the United States House of Representatives.

Derek Stephen Prince doesn't want me to post the links to these chapters on his Facebook fan page anymore. (He was very nice about it, though.) As a result, Beelzemon is "voiced" here by Kyle Hebert. It's kind of a moot point, when you think about it, because this fanfic is actually written. Nobody's getting paid here, not even me. Oh well, Quinton Flynn and Robert Axelrod still like these. Or at least they're being awfully nice about it.

Next chapter we head into Vegas (and sometime in the future, the Dark Ocean. Maybe).