Prologue
The Digital Era
Several Months Ago, Crystal Springs, Southeastern Sector..
A lone figure hopped amongst the many piles of rubble littering the streets. It seemed the recompilation program hadn't yet been unleashed here, meaning that if the figure was going to find any remaining Digital Code from the incident, it would be now before any otherwise considered damaged Data was removed. The smart watch they wore on their wrist began beeping, the figure pressing a button on one side making the screen light up, a holographic map of the area appearing in the air before them.
The figure rotated the map with the DR- Digital Reality- manipulating gloves they wore, the map bending to their will as they analyzed the incoming data. A warning blared over the tiny speaker of the smart watch as a voice spoke up. "According to the data, the Spare Code is close by. Be warned, Kale. Something is wrong with that data cluster. Further, closer analysis required."
"I see that, Impmon, thank you." Said the now named Kale as he moved closer still to the signal he was following. He was thankful the cloak he wore- bought from a known, semi-Black Market dealer in the Kowloon Sector Marketplace- protected him from prying eyes otherwise the Administrative Programs used to start the Recompilation process would have not only identified his trespassing into what was considered off-limits to the Ruling System; but also put Kale through the absolutely torturous process of Reformation, where the data and DNA that made up his being would be destroyed before being reset, and he would not even know who he was anymore. Despite this danger, Kale kept moving forward. He needed that Data.
Kale finally found the cluster of Data he was searching for, the code inside the sphere rotating this way and that. Kale brought his watch closer to it and pressed anl different button than before, a scanning beam of light entering and reading the Data in front of him. His watch pinged back the results, which made the alarm begin again as Impmon's voice sounded again, now much more urgent. "Kale, don't! That Data is bugged! It contains the X- aghh!" The companion's voice screamed in agony as whatever he was trying to warn Kale of took control of the Rookie level creature before enveloping Kale in a whirlwind of purple and black darkness. Somewhere, deep in the furthest reaches of the Digital Underworld that now existed below the surface, an ancient thought-forgotten evil laughed as they gained a new minion.
Present Day, Crystal Springs High School..
Seventeen year old Nick Negron yawned as he walked up to the entrance of the school. He yelped as a hand ran down his back. "Morning, Nick."
Nick sighed as he saw his best friend (and longtime crush) Sameera Priyani next to him. "Oh, hey, Meera." He replied, smiling back.
"You okay? Getting enough sleep?" Sameera asked, seeing the darker than average circles under Nick's eyes.
Nick nodded. "Enough. I mean, there's always a new Digimon attack lately so I get what sleep I can when the neighborhood is going to shit."
Sameera nodded, eying her own smartwatch for a moment. "I feel that. I'm sure you'll be fine, though. A restless night has never stopped you from over performing at school, after all." She giggled.
"That's true. What about you? You doing alright?"
"Yeah, of course. Nothing out of the ordinary, you know? I mean, other than the fact it's almost that time of year again."
"Yeah.. the Crystalis Commons Massacre.. I don't see how the government, both human and Digimon, can allow such things when the world is supposed to be at peace."
"You know how it is, Nicky." Sameera shrugged. "Even with peace there are outliers who want chaos. Like that Dark King guy running around lately."
"Yeah, guess you're right. Well, I gotta get inside. That damned science project isn't gonna finish itself."
Sameera frowned as Nick went inside. "But.. that project isn't even due for another month.. Why do you avoid me like this, Nick?" She said, now muttering to herself as her watch chimed.
"Why do you keep secrets from him, still?" Came the voice of Sameera's partner Digimon.
"Strabimon, you know I can't just tell him why me and the rest of our friends are avoiding him. He can't know we're the ones out there every other night and causing him not to sleep. I feel bad enough that we're the cause.."
"You know, you humans and your feelings are sometimes much more complicated than we Digimon think. I mean you love that boy, yet you constantly push him away."
"I'm not talking about this with you, Strabimon. Again. Just stay quiet." Sameera said, huffing as she muted the Digimon with a button press before going into the school herself.
Shortly after, Sameera and Nick's homeroom was abuzz with the other students as they all began filing into the classroom. Nick, currently, was talking to Bruce Taylor, his best guy friend and captain of the school football team. "How do you guys always look so.. fresh while I always look sleep deprived?" Nick asked the jock, who laughed.
"It's all about the state of mind, Nick. I personally meditate before bed. So, any luck with our beautiful friend over there?" Bruce said, crossing his arms and nodding towards where Sameera sat in the back of the classroom, talking animatedly with her best girlfriend, Leena Gillani.
"If there was any progress made on that front, I wouldn't feel so alone." Nick answered depressingly, glancing back at Sameera himself. "You guys are always leaving me behind these days.."
"Eh, don't let it get to you, bud. We all just have our own things to do these days. You know, growing up shit." Bruce laughed, Nick joining in as he shook his head.
"Yeah, sure. Keep your secrets, Bruce. So, how was the game last night?"
Meanwhile, across the room, Leena gasped at Sameera. "Seriously? Meera, keeping this secret so long is going to destroy your psyche. Haven't we determined Nick deserves to know about our.. other extracurricular activities around town?"
Sameera giggled sadly. "Yeah, we all did agree on that. It's only obvious, with the fact he has one of the Vital-Charge watches that signify us Digidestined. But, without him having his own Partner, we would only be putting Nick in danger."
"And that's the weirdest part about it, isn't it? The rest of us have had our Digimon for almost a full year already, but Nick hasn't even found his DiM Card, yet. You don't think..?"
"No, don't say it. If Impmon was supposed to go to Nick, not Kale, then we would have our full eight members. Plus, none of us were ever too sure Kale was even supposed to be one of the Digidestined. He just kind of appeared, helped us sort of battle the ones who tried to destroy the city and then he disappeared entirely months ago."
Leena looked towards the door of the classroom, gasping as she was about to reply. "That's true.. Oh my God, he's back." She said, pointing to the doorway where Kale Steele stood before walking silently to the open desk next to Nick.
~D:DM~
Nick looked as he saw Kale, the otherwise missing member of his group of friends, sit down at the desk next to him. "Yo, Kale! Been a minute, man. Where have you been?"
The other boy looked at Nick coldly, eyes narrowed. "None of your fucking business, Negron." He grumbled before otherwise ignoring Nick.
Nick frowned. "Alright, then. Good talk.. What the..?" Kale, Bruce, Sameera and Leena all looked at Nick as his watch began trilling loudly in a tone he'd never heard before, but the others did. After several seconds, the watch stopped but now had a message showing on the screen. Nick ignored it for now, while Bruce, Leena and Sameera specifically wanted to approach him and explain what the sound meant. Unfortunately, they couldn't because the teacher, a wise Digimon called Jijimon, entered the room to take the morning attendance. The explanation would have to wait for later.
Soon after, the students filed out of the room on their way to the next class of the day. Sameera tried to keep up with Nick, but quickly lost him in the crowd as she groaned in frustration. Leena caught up to her. "Meera, stay calm. You'll have plenty of time to tell him, now. About everything. I'm sure he'll be fine, no one else but the other seven.. well, eight, of us even know what the hell that was about. To anyone outside our group, that was probably just a glitchy alarm. And judging by Kale's avoidance of even everyone's favorite little nerd," Sameera glared at her. "Fuck off, ho. Anyway, Kale not even wanting Nick to talk to him is a first, but I'm guessing he isn't going to tell Nick what happened either."
Sameera frowned. "You have a point there, but still.. That means his Partner DiM Card is nearby. The fact we can't sense where it is ourselves is beyond me."
"It is because we are meant to be found by our Destined Partner and no one else. Hence why you are known as Digidestined. For we Digimon have chosen you through clandestine means." Came Strabimon's voice again as Sameera huffed.
"Alright, Strabimon, we get it. Thank you." She said, muting the Digimon again. "I'm sticking with him, though." Sameera pouted, making Leena laugh as they entered their first period class: Biology.
"Wouldn't have it any other way. Nick is your nerd, after all." Leena giggled as she dodged a punch from Sameera as the redhead shook her head in annoyance at her best friend, even as a small smile formed on her lips as she sat down.
About an hour and a half later, lunch dawned on Nick, Bruce, Sameera, Leena and the rest of their friends. Sans Kale, of course as the now antisocial asshat had opted to sit away from them but alone at a table still within what Sameera would consider ear shot. Other than the four, there was Mason Lomant the top student in the archery club, Cherry Darien the blonde bombshell who led the cheerleading squad. The last member- and girl- of the group was Fiona Watson, a brunette who excelled in hacking like Nick was capable of and a member of the robotics club at school. "Seriously? None of you know why this thing went off like that in homeroom?" Nick asked, getting negative responses from the rest of the group.
"I thought you had some weird alarm, to be honest." Sameera lied through her teeth, pretending to examine her nails.
Leena rolled her eyes at her bestie as Bruce shrugged. "That would be possible, I guess. Although we all know Nick is too much of a Kamen Rider nut to have something so simple as an alarm, no matter how loud. Am I right, Nick?"
Nick held his watch up, pressing the two buttons several times before a techno beat started to play. "When I shine, darkness fades!" Ended the tone before it replayed, Nick stopping it then. "Ooh, I remember when you first watched that one. That was Zero-One's Ultimate form henshin phrase." Laughed Fiona, who blushed at the narrowed, pointed stare Sameera pointed her way.
Nick nodded. "Yeah, the shout before the words is usually what first gets me up. That's so weird, though. Even with the updates, I've never heard a sound that shrill."
"Maybe it was just a small glitch. I'm sure Security Programs are already dealing with it." Offered Mason as he took a bite of his sandwich.
Nick shrugged. "Maybe." As he went to take his own bite of food, Kale slammed his hand on the table next to Nick, eyes narrowed at the rest of the assembled group of friends. "Kale?"
"Stop fucking lying to him. What are you guys hiding it for?" He said, raising Nick's wrist. "This version of the watch? Only us eight have it, well nine but I see Tyson isn't at school today," Indeed, the group was missing one member, the karate club star Tyson Ryuga. "That's because they aren't just smart watches. These watches are Digivices, Nick. For Digimon Partners to hide in plain sight from those who would rather.. See them gone." He said menacingly, shoving Nick's arm away again and walking off again as Nick looked at his friends, who all looked down or away, but not at him.
"You guys.. Have Digimon living in your watches?!" He asked them, shocked at the revelation. "But.. Digimon were responsible for killing all those we've lost in our lives, never to be reborn like Digimon can be. Why the fuck would you all..?"
"Nicky.." Sameera said, reaching out for Nick as the boy pulled away, Sameera bringing her hand back up to her chest. "Those Digimon aren't the same ones we keep with us. Ours were.. Predestined to us by an ancient prophecy in the Digital World from even before the worlds were merged. Ours fight the ones who keep attacking, that's why the city hasn't been nearly as destroyed during their fights as of the last year since we started finding the DiM Cards that held their Memory Cores."
Nick was following, he knew how many Digimon worked as entities separate from humanity. To their Memory Cores instead of Hearts and Data instead of DNA, even though human DNA had merged with Data just as the worlds had years earlier. Even their insane, reversible process of Digivolution, and the saving of extra Data when reverting to a previous form to make that form slightly more powerful in the long run. "That shouldn't matter. Meera, one killed both of your parents, forcing you to live with Leena. Leena lost her father like I did not six months after that! Fighting alongside them makes no sense." Nick huffed, getting up from the table and walking away as Kale had, the others saddened by his departure.
Nick caught up to Kale as the hostile boy reached the front doors of the school. "Hey, Kale! What do you know about all this?" Kale ignored Nick, making the latter run after Kale, grabbing him and pushing him against the wall. "What's with you, Kale? The least you could do is tell me what you know!" Nick shouted, Kale smirking at him.
"Why should I tell you anything? That watch will get you killed just like all the others the Digimon have killed since the Worlds became one. You really want to know so badly? Go ask your girlfriend." Kale pushes at Nick, forcing himself out of the latter's grasp as Kale dusted off his jacket and walked away, leaving Nick there, confused.
Girlfriend.. Does he mean Sameera? Nick thought as he decided to ditch the rest of school, going back to the homeroom classroom to tell Jijimon that there was a family emergency and he had to leave immediately, to which the understanding, paternal Digimon accepted. Nick left the school several minutes later, after gathering any assignments he would need to make up for the day as he started making his way home.
~D:DM~
Back in the cafeteria, Sameera sighed, her hand holding her head up at an angle at the suddenly somber mood. "So, I guess the secret is out." Bruce said sullenly.
"Yeah. Cat jumped right out." Leena agreed, nodding.
"What do we do, guys?" Sameera's voice was quiet. "Nick isn't going to trust us after learning that.."
"He won't trust any of us seriously right now. None of us, except you, Meera. And you know it. You have to tell him the truth. All of it." Fiona said, scowling at Sameera who leaned back.
"The fuck do you mean, Fi?" Sameera asked back as Fiona rolled her eyes in irritation.
"Don't give us that shit now, Meera. Everyone here knows how totally into Nick you are. How he's the same for you. You cherish that boy to the point you make sure any Digimon that goes rogue near his neighborhood- one you both share, might I add not to be totally biased on this- is gone before it even truly gets its bearings. You're brutal to protect him, and now we know for damn sure he's about to get his own Digimon Partner. And without knowing the truth only you carry with you about the night you first found Strabimon," Sameera looked away. "There, that face says you know exactly what I mean. He needs to know, or he'll never trust any of us again. Now go fucking after him!" Fiona finished, pointing at the doors where Kale and Nick had left the cafeteria from.
Sameera groaned as she stood up. "Fuck.. fine! I get it, alright? I'll go. Someone tell Jijimon I had to go home for an emergency, I have to catch up to Nick." She slung her bookbag over her shoulder and stalked off, noticeably upset by what Fiona was talking about.
"What was that about?" Bruce asked, dumbfounded.
"Girl talk, your guy brain wouldn't understand." Fiona retorted, sticking her tongue out at him as the others laughed.
~D:DM~
"Nick, wait up!" Nick heard Sameera over the sound of his music, but ignored her anyway. "Nick, seriously." She grabbed his arm and pulled him back to face her, the girl rolling her eyes as she plucked the earbud out of his ear. "I need to explain it to you. Please."
Nick huffed. "Why? So you can tell me another lie?"
Sameera's watch chimed. "Watch yourself. Sameera has done far more than you realize to keep you safe. Listen to what she has to say, or you'll prove all the years you've been friends have been a waste." Growled out Strabimon from the device.
Nick sighed as he shook Sameera's grip from his arm, the glare in his eyes softening. "Alright, alright. That may have been a bit too far.. Over here." He led Sameera into the nearby alley between one of the local florist shops and a farmer's market. At the end of the alley, there was a small patch of woods Sameera remembered spending days hanging out with the rest of the gang years earlier.
Nick sat down on a stump in the clearing, one of nine that encircled a small clearing behind the usually crowded street. As Sameera sat on another one, her legs together and leaning to one side, he cleared his throat. "Alright, so talk, Meera. What are you hiding?"
Sameera sighed, looking up at the sky above them. "Oh, Nicky.. There's a lot you don't know about all this, especially my personal part in being on this team." She looked at her watch. "But it started when I first found Strabimon's DiM Card a little over a year ago."
"What do you mean found?" Nick asked.
"As Digidestined, we usually find our Partners when they're ready to reveal themselves to you. That alarm this morning was.. the signal meaning yours was revealing itself. Where it is, however, only your Digivice- the watch- will tell you the exact location. That's just how that bit works. Anyway," Sameera's purple eyes met Nick's. "I found the Card and thought it was just another App chip. It was called Spirit of Friendship's Light, so it sounded like a fun little game to screw with. After Strabimon hatched from his Digi-Egg, though.. That was when things began to escalate.
"The others began finding their own DiM Cards. Like Kale with his Darkness Redeemed that spawned his Impmon. Then, the Rogue Digimon started attacking. The first one almost took your house out of existence, if I hadn't already been rushing over with Strabimon warning me of the threat. He took care of it, and that was when I was contacted over the watch by a more.. ethereal voice. They never revealed their identity, but they told me the grand plan that included our team of Digidestined coming together to fight some incoming threat to both sides of our merged reality of a world. It's a war, Nick, between Digimon who wish to see humanity dead and those who seek the peace we've otherwise maintained, you know?
"But I told the voice I didn't want anything to do with all that, I just wanted to live my life, the battle I had just witnessed had become scarred into my mind already, and I didn't want to see such destruction again so close to me. Then, the voice mentioned you. Not by name, but it was obvious she meant you when she said the leader was closer to me than I thought. I only signed on fully to this shit, Nick, to make sure you weren't needed. To protect you. The last year has been hell fighting this shadow war. And the enemy is after us, now. They know the Digidestined are active, but they still don't know who we are. It's the only advantage we have right now.." She finished, holding one arm in anxious anticipation of Nick's next words. "Unless our suspicions of Kale are right.."
"What? What do you mean by suspicions about Kale? And why would my protection be so important to you, Sameera?"
Sameera giggled, shaking her head. "Always the oblivious one, despite your usual level of insight. Does it truly matter why I accepted this responsibility, this risk, because of you right now? You'll figure it out soon enough, I'm sure. I'm not letting you out of my sight anymore, not knowing you're close to joining this fucking crusade. As for Kale, well he was missing the last several months, after he went after some Spare Data left in the wake of a Digimon attack. None of us had heard anything from or about him until he showed up in school this morning. Bruce thinks he was captured all this time, but his attitude says a lot more in the way of brainwashing and manipulation over trauma from being caught for so long. I don't want to believe he's joined the evil side of this conflict, but his actions so far prove he has, or is in the process of it..
"But, the point is that you were chosen, just like the rest of us. I've protected you this long, I don't mind continuing that trend if it means you stay safe, Digimon Partner or not."
"So you struck a deal with the Digimon to.. what, exactly?"
"The deal was for you to be untouched by the duties of the Digidestined until you were absolutely needed, not before. I guess I can only consider myself lucky it lasted a year before that happened. Which means we need to find your DiM Card fast. Me and the others have all had more than enough experience and battles where our Digimon shouldn't come across much of a threat, but yours would still be at the beginner level, only possessing the base power of a Rookie once it settles down. Although staying in shape helps, since our watches act like FitBits which also gives our Partners a little extra power, like an old school AFK game."
Nick sighed when, as if it was cued to happen, his watch sprang to life with a holographic map, both teens recognizing the area shown to be where they were presently, the flashing dot symbolizing Nick's DiM Card located a short distance away. Sameera nodded to him as they both walked towards the signal, seeing a physical light several meters ahead of them, inside the den of a squirrel about ten feet up a tree. Sameera shook her head in amusement. "Not the most out there place to find one, I guess. Leena found her DiM Card literally in the middle of a book she read so often she said it was a miracle it never fell out before that day. Like, she had just read the portion of the book the Card fell from. How are you gonna get to it?"
Nick and Sameera looked at each other, the latter confused why Nick had such a shit-eating grin on his face. "Be right back." He said before jogging towards the tree, jumping up and, wrapping his arms around the tree, found a way to shimmy his way to the squirrel den. Once there, he thrust his arm into the hole, aiming for the bright light within.
His watch stopped making noise, as did the shining object. Wait, the Card was making noise, too? Nick thought to himself before shrugging as he jumped down, turning in midair to roll on the ground on impact. Standing back up, he saw Sameera's shocked face as she grabbed his collar, shaking him back and forth. "Do not fucking do that, Nick! You could have hurt yourself!" She looked away, wringing one hand with the other as she backed up a step. "What would the last year of doing this shit to protect you mean if you go and off yourself, huh?" She pouted, Nick chuckling in response. "It's not funny!"
"It isn't that. Meera, you know I appreciate your concern, times these days are tough, with the threat of being deleted or whatever it is when we humans die. I'm laughing because you still have an adorable pouty face. I haven't seen you this riled up in a while, but I can't take you completely serious." He chuckled again as Sameera eyed him curiously, the boy inserting the DiM Card into his watch, the words Fiery Spirit of Courage flashing on the small object as it began loading the data for Nick's own Partner Digimon onto the wrist-based Digivice.
"And just why the fuck not?!" Sameera said, her anger rising until Nick looked her way, the smile on his face melting all that anger away in an instant.
"Because you're too beautiful, Meera. Even when pissed." Before either of them could say anything more, Nick's watch glowed as his DiM Card popped out of the slot into Nick's open hand, the boy pocketing the tech as the glow got brighter. "Uh, any of you guys see this happen before?"
Sameera shook her head as the forested area around them began to glitch here and there, a branch clipping through a neighboring tree trunk or some other oddity. "Never so soon after loading the initial Data, just what is- ahh!" She shrieked as the forest stopped glitching and the light got bright enough to blind both teenagers before finally fading away, leaving a small humanoid Digimon standing there.
The digital monster had mostly humanoid features, but with claws replacing its nails. Its skin was a light tannish brown with a white tribal-looking tattoo adorning its chest that seemed to extend at least down its legs to its clawed feet. Its hair was crimson red, and it wore red pants held up by a belt that had the Japanese kanji for Fire on the buckle. The Digimon also had a tail made of flames wafting around in the air as it stood up, looking at them, particularly Sameera, with a scowl on its face. "You are a right bitch, you know that?!" The Digimon yelled at the teenage girl, it's voice feminine. "I should have been active fucking months ago when Kale first disappeared off of the Higher Powers' Radar, but no! You had to keep him to yourself which, frankly, hasn't fucking worked has it?!"
Sameera was about to retort when her own watch glowed for a moment before her own Partner Strabimon emerged from the device. Strabimon stood up and looked fairly humanoid as well, but was a definite rendition of a werewolf's Data from cyberspace. The werewolf threw one arm across where Sameera stood, glaring at the newcomer. "Give her a break, Flamon. She did it to try keeping him safe, out of this conflict. Even you can admire how courageous that line of thinking can be." Strabimon said, huffing with a slight growl to his voice.
The now-named Flamon didn't seem to care as she brought her arms up and crossed them over her chest. "That shouldn't fucking matter, Strabimon! The fate of their world hangs in the balance just as much as ours does if this war goes to total shit! The X-Virus-"
"Is a threat to us all, I know, Flamon. But Nick and you were not needed when I was already active. We are special Rookies, aren't we? Capable of taking on even some of the toughest Champions without breaking much of a sweat. Sameera and I have been perfectly capable of handling everything that's been thrown at us, which has gone up to Champion level so far thankfully since none of us seven found before you can Digivolve as of yet. At least, we haven't had to try as of yet.." Strabimon said quickly, ranting while his fiery counterpart stood there, impatiently digging her toe claws into the dirt.
"Yeah, well I'm here now, which means there's one of two things coming. Soon. And those possibilities are either an Ultimate level 'Mon is about to show up, or one infected by the X is. So fuck off, Strabimon!"
"Don't you two ever shut the fuck up?" Came another voice, distorted as a small Digimon appeared, a long tattered red scarf hanging in the air behind it, one hand radiating blue fire and the other with regular crimson flames. An eye patch with an X across it hung over one eye. "You both fight like an old married couple. Nice to see you finally got out of your bed, Flamon."
Flamon visibly tensed. "Wish I could say the same to you, Impmon."
Strabimon looked at the other beastman Digimon. "Impmon? That's the.." He couldn't finish his sentence as a feeling of dread came over the Rookie level Digimon.
"Lovely how the X Virus powers up even a little Rookie, isn't it?" Came another voice as Kale stepped out from the shadow of a nearby tree, his eyes covered by a simple mask like Robin. "And not even the Rookie level of the Spirits can stop a single X Digimon at the same level. Or, that's the theory. Let's test it, shall we?!" Kale laughed maniacally as he pointed at Nick, Sameera and their Digimon. "Take them down, Impmon X!"
"With pleasure. Night of Fire!" The X-altered Impmon sneered as flames flew from his hands, flying at both Strabimon and Flamon, who both jumped out of the way of the flames.
Flamon and Strabimon looked at one another, nodding. "I'm still mad at you, Wolfy." Flamon said as she took a breath.
"You'll get over it, my Flame, just focus on the enemy for now. That isn't our friend anymore."
"I know that, so let's kick his ass already! Noble Heart!" Flamon said as she rushed forward.
Strabimon shook his head. "Always such a hothead. Licht Bein!" He said, rushing forward as well, now enveloped in light.
Flamon's fist erupted in flames as she growled, bringing her arm up within range of the supposedly-enhanced Digimon. Impmon X seemed caught off-guard as the uppercut launched him into the air, where he was quickly rushed by the bullet of light that was Strabimon, sending Impmon X crashing through the forest behind him. Both Digimon Partners looked pleased with themselves as the dust settles, frowning as Impmon X laughed and stepped out of the fading cloud of dust, barely a scratch laid on him. "Is that the best you two got? That's not even close to my power now!" The demonic Digimon cackled.
"Damn it! How does the X Virus make a basic child so powerful?" Flamon asked angrily, her hair erupting into flame for a moment.
"Cool it, Flamon. The X Virus has evolved several times to keep getting ahead of the King's Antivirus program, each upgrade making the Virus make the afflicting Digimon even more powerful. Just focus, before you get yourself reformatted. Again."
"Tch, whatever, Wolfy. Try and keep up, then." The two Digidestined Partners went in for another attack.
On the sidelines of the fight, Nick looked at Sameera, one thumb jerked in the direction of the three fighting Rookie Digimon. "You would know.. What's the deal there between our Digimon?"
Sameera sighed. "Strabimon says they were some form of lovers, but in another Stage of their life evolution, way back before they were chosen to be Partners for our team. So their quarreling could be considered a lover's spat."
"Huh. So.. what aren't you telling me?"
"What do you mean, Nick?" Sameera asked, one eyebrow raised in confusion.
"What are you still hiding? I know you're telling me the truth, but you still left something out."
How does he do that?! Sameera thought as she giggled nervously. "Maybe I did. However, right now our lives are in danger so a little more of a heart-to-heart isn't really warranted, right?"
"True. But you aren't getting out of this, Meera. Later, you tell me everything you still haven't."
Blushing, Sameera looked down. "Of course, Nick. You deserve to know," She looked back up at him, smiling warmly. "You have even before I found Strabimon's DiM Card."
Nick nodded as the battle continued. It seemed Strabimon and Flamon had done some damage to Impmon X as the enemy Digimon panted, somewhat out of breath. But the X-infected Digimon had done more visible damage to the other two Rookies. Flamon looked at Strabimon. "Got any ideas, Wolfy?"
"I have.. one but you're.. probably gonna think it impossible.." Strabimon breathed out. "We need to Digivolve."
"I was just woken up! How do you expect me to Digivolve without any built up Energy?!"
"You have it, Flamon. The rest of us had to be hatched before reaching our current forms, but you were loaded up straight to Rookie level, meaning the Higher Powers knew this battle was soon coming," The wolfman Digimon looked at Sameera. "It's time to use that DiM Card we got after defeating Birdramon last month. Nick should be able to use it as well, since the rest of his new Cards will probably show themselves back at his home."
Impmon X smirked as Sameera pulled the item in question out of her bra, inserting it into her watch and pressing the button to activate the function the Card held as the small screen of the watch glowed, a thin beam of light connecting to Strabimon and encasing him in an egg made of digital data before the teenager handed the DiM Card to Nick. "Digivolving won't help you two fucks either!" Impmon said as Nick looked between Sameera and the DiM Card in question before he followed her lead, Flamon being encased in a similar egg.
"Strabimon digivolve to..!" "Flamon digivolve to..!" Came both Digimon's voices as the eggs both shattered, revealing two entirely different Digimon. Strabimon had transformed into a more anthropomorphized wolf, most of the animalistic features being shifted to the white and blue armor he wore. Flamon stayed humanoid as well but with a more armored look, her body now encased in red armor as she punched the air in front of her, flames jetting out from the gauntlets encasing her hands.
"Lobomon!" Howled the former Strabimon, his mouth set in a teeth-baring snarl at Impmon X as he activated twin blades of light, one in each hand.
"Agunimon!" Said the former Flamon, punching her fists together. "Damn, it feels good to be in this form again!" She chuckled.
"Now, let's finish this before it gets even more complicated." Lobomon said as the scarf around his neck billowed in a non-existent breeze.
"Yeah, right behind you, lover boy." Agunimon winked at the other Champion level, who chuckled.
"Just don't get ahead of yourself, my Flame. X Digimon are not to be underestimated."
"Yeah, yeah. Just shut up and fight, Lobomon. Time to use our ultimate move." Lobomon nodded as both shouted out their next attack. "Shining Burn Slash!" Impmon X was surrounded by a giant dragon made of flames as spears of light crisscrossed the ring, slicing up Impmon X as the enhanced Rookie began glitching as Kale grimaced.
"Fucking bullshit!" He said as, with the press of a button on his own Digivice, Impmon X was sucked back into the device as he snarled at the other two Digidestined. "You bastards got lucky this time. Next time we fight, you won't stand a chance in hell at stopping me." He growled out before turning and walking off, seeming to shimmer out of existence once he was too far to see clearly.
Agunimon and Lobomon both shifted back to their Rookie forms, Flamon looking at herself in disappointment. "Aw."
"One day, we can be who we once were like that, Flamon. For now, we must adhere to the rules the Higher Powers have set for us, whether we like them or not." Strabimon said as Sameera recalled the Digimon into her own watch. Flamon just sighed dejectedly as Nick followed suit, Strabimon's voice sounding again afterwards. "She will be fine, she just needs some time to fully adjust to this."
Nick just nodded silently as he and Sameera started walking back out of the woods into town. "I'm sorry for hiding all this, Nick." Sameera said quietly as they entered their neighborhood several minutes later.
Nick sighed. "It's alright, Meera. I'd be a terrible friend if I held that all against you. I'm.. I'm just glad one of you guys told me the truth. Even if not all of it." He looked at Sameera, the girl feeling butterflies in her stomach at the crooked grin he wore on his face.
"Hey, I'm to blame for that. What I haven't told you, yet, is personal, between you and I. Always has been." Sameera replied. "Our Digimon made a pretty good team, huh?"
Nick laughed. "Yeah. Yeah, they did. Makes sense if they were more intimate with each other in the past. It also explains, in a way, why you and I were chosen as their Partners."
Sameera tripped over her own foot. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Another laugh. "We're considered a couple even though we aren't dating, most of the kids in school don't expect me to be anywhere without you. That is due to our history of literally being inseparable friends since we were little kids. Except for the summer before last, but we don't bring that incident up, do we?"
Sameera blushed at the memory, shaking her head. "Never. That day is and always will be our little secret. I see your point, but I don't think us being chosen- and who our Partner Digimon are- is that simply explained away." The two stop in front of Nick's house, Sameera tucking a strand of her crimson red hair back behind her ear. "Well, we're here.."
"Yeah, but you don't have to make it sound so.. final. I mean, you're coming inside with me, right?"
Sameera nodded. "Yeah, of course. I owe you the truth, and I'm going to tell you. It's.. just been a while since I was in your house at all." Sameera giggled, looking away. "We made it a habit to meet up at the library or arcade."
"We did, didn't we? I wonder why, though. Seems like we used to avoid being alone together, didn't we? As best friends since childhood, I'll say that doesn't make the most sense."
Sameera played off the veiled accusation with a laugh. "We were kids, Nicky. Who knows what we were really thinking?" She smiled when Nick wasn't looking as the two made their way upstairs to Nick's room.
Sameera couldn't help but look around the room, amazed how different it was since she'd last been in the room a few years earlier, yet still the same… Since she had first realized her feelings for Nick and, in fear of being rejected even without any signs to signal such a reaction, had avoided being alone with him in private settings. He still had posters of such things as Godzilla and Pokémon on his walls, as well as a couple of other posters she didn't immediately recognize. He still had the shelf that held various Japanese toys Nick had to order online just to have since they didn't sell outside of Asia, normally, but now there was more on it, several of the devices having the accessories to go with them strewn around them. His computer set up was still as basic as it always had been, but with the technological advancements available through the merging of Earth and the Digital World, the otherwise obsolete computer ran like a military supercomputer instead. Thankfully, Nick was a nerd at heart who just loved playing video games, although it didn't look like he'd been on the computer for any gaming lately.
Nick watched Sameera from the doorway as he left the door only slightly ajar, smiling as she wandered around, her fingers brushing against an object here and there. "Why are you looking around like my room is an alien planet?"
"Because it is, Nick," Sameera laughed. "After not being in this room for the last few years, you know? There's so much new here while still being so.. the same."
Nick nodded. "Alright, I can see that. But, I'm still me, Meera. I haven't changed."
"I know that, Nick. I see that more than most, I'd like to think," Their eyes met, Sameera's purple orbs shining. "I'm the one who keeps pushing you away. Honestly, at this point it's become reflexive to me. And I'm sorry for that."
"What do you mean? Sameera, I don't blame you for not hanging out lately. I.. never really did. I thought I had done something to insult you or something, like with the-"
"Ah ah ah, no talk of that." Sameera rolled her eyes before she looked at Nick curiously. "You thought you offended me? Nicky.. You really never figured it out, did you?" She stepped closer to him, her hand resting on Nick's chest as she looked up at him. "Even after all these years, with how obvious it was.. Oh, what am I going to do with you?" She smiled, shaking her head as she leaned forward, their faces now inches apart. "I guess it's true what they say. Sometimes, you just gotta let your actions do the talking." With another light giggle, Sameera closed the distance between them, their lips meeting softly.
Elsewhere..
Kale sneered as the dark silhouette of a Digimon appeared before him. "You failed to stop their leader from gaining his Partner, boy." It said in a deep, gravelly voice. "Why should I keep you around if you've failed as all the other reformatted trash I've sent after the Digidestined have?"
"I miscalculated. I didn't think they'd be able to pull off Digivolution so soon. If they hadn't been able to use the Champion level of the Elemental Spirits, Impmon X would have destroyed them in to time."
"Hmph. We'll see about that. For now, you are to support my future minions, am I understood? Disobedience will result in your deletion."
"Yes, Lord." Kale said, teeth bared in a growling sneer as the hologram glitched out of existence, making the boy punch the wall next to him in fury. "Fucking assholes.. You'll all pay, especially you, Nick.. and your fucking little bitch, too." His eyes went to the picture taken years earlier, showing the nine Digidestined all together before he smashed it too as his bedroom became engulfed in glitching darkness.
Negron House, Several Minutes Later..
"Nick? You home?!" Called out Nick's mother Isabella as she entered the house with a bag of groceries in one hand. The silence that greeted her back surprised Isabella, knowing Nick should have been at school but had been called by the school saying he had gone home for some emergency, so him not answering didn't make sense. Then she heard the slight thud above her, where Nick's room was. Pursing her lips, she climbed up the stairs cautiously. "Nick?" Again, no answer as she slowly made her way towards the bedroom in question. Seeing it ajar, Isabella pushed it open and poked her head inside, gasping silently at the scene of Nick and Sameera, still embracing and kissing like the world around them didn't exist. Smiling, Isabella left the room, but not before taking a picture with her cell phone and sending it to Nick with a compromising caption.
A/N: And that's a wrap! Not the best beginning to a story as far as my writing goes but it got the point across. The mystery behind the exact events of the worlds merging into one will be explained over the next few chapters. This story is not a complete replacement of the Digital War but instead a semi-alternate version. Some characters will be the same, or other elements while others will be all-new. Had this particular idea bouncing around my head since I got my own Vital Monster device so figured I might as well share it here, lol.